Days
What are days for?
Days are where we live.
They come, they wake us
Time and time over.
They are to be happy in:
Where can we live but days?
Ah, solving that question
Brings the priest and the doctor
In their long coats
Running over the fields.
— Philip Larkin
Continue reading “Days”
Of the horses mentioned last night Echo Point and Strong Resolve were non runners, while Netherley and Skippers Brig were short priced winners.
Snakebite was no match for the top class Denman at Newbury last time but faces a much easier task in the 1.10 at Folkestone. This looks a good opportunity for him to get off the mark over fences.
Tony McCoy is up at Sedgefield where he rides recent winner Forty Acers for David Pipe. His main rival looks to be Good Citizen who is entitled to go close on his hurdles form.
Bye for now
Collier Hill is one of the unsung heroes of UK racing. The 8 year old won the Hong Kong Vase yesterday, scooping the winning prize of £600,000. He was competing in his seventh country in the space of eight months and has now scored in Hong Kong, Canada, Dubai, Sweden, Germany and Ireland, as well as at home. Quite an amazing record for a horse that once won a maiden hurdle at Kelso!
We had one winner from the list to follow today thanks to The Pious Prince who won the bumper at Musselburgh. Trainer Lenny Lungo has always spoken well of this horse and has now given him 3 runs in bumpers. The next stop for him now might be a novice hurdle somewhere in the north I would imagine.
Racing tomorrow is at Ayr and Plumpton but note that Plumpton is subject to a morning inspection.
Although there are no runners from my list to follow on Monday there are a few possible selections for you to consider.
Echo Point was an impressive winner at Sedgefield last season but suffered a knee injury that kept him out for a while. He was 4th on his chase debut at Carlisle and I would hope he would come on a bundle for that run. He runs in the Ayr 12.50.
Corrib Lad is one of the biggest horses in Len Lun go’s yard. He won over fences last time at Carlisle. He reverts to hurdles in the 1.20 where he may be able to take advantage of a favourable hurdles rating. He acts with plenty of give in the ground.
Strong Resolve was one of my fancies for the Grand National a couple of years back but he made a hash of the water jump and never really got back into the race. He failed to win last season but looks in better form this time round.
He is a course and distance winner and my tip for the 2.25.
All for Luck was only 6th on his UK hurdles debut but that performance was probably better than the bare form figures suggest. He was an impressive winner of a point to point in Ireland and is an interesting one. Another to consider in the 3.00 is Skippers Brig. This 5 year old gelding had some good bumper form but unseated on his hurdles debut. He is a half brother to Skippers Cleuch a winner of 10 races, 3 of them in early December!
Netherley hasn’t run for nearly 2 years so presumably something has been amiss. Netherley, trained by Venetia Williams has form figures of 212 in bumpers. He is an old fashioned chasing type who could be worth noting if fully fit. He runs in the 1.45 at Plumpton.
Hope to see you again tomorrow.
Continue reading “Diary: December 11 2006”
There were plenty of doubters about 4 year old Detroit City’s ability to beat his more experience rival Hardy Eustace at Cheltenham today but the big grey got the job done with the minimum of fuss. The race was very slowly run for much of the way and it may be that the form is not totally reliable but Terry Warner may well have another grey Champion Hurdler on his hands.
Two horses from our list to follow fought out the finish in an above average novice chase at Cheltenham. Don’t Push It, tipped by Tony McCoy on the Morning Line looked in trouble after jumping the last but got back up to beat Mr Pointment who lost nothing in defeat. The 4th Aztec Warrior overcame some sloppy jumping in the middle of the race to run on at the end.
Black Jack Ketchum made it 8 wins from 8 starts in the Relkeel Hurdle and Roman Ark was the 4th winner on the day from the list to follow. Roman Ark, a real mud lover, was always going well in the handicap chase at Market Rasen and made light of his 11 stone 12 burden. Fergus King was in the saddle.
There was an outstanding performance from Exotic Dancer who completed the Paddy Power and Boylesports Gold Cup double, becoming only the 3rd horse to do so.
There is racing at Musselburgh tomorrow where the advance going is good, good to soft in places on the chase course.
There are a few runners that catch my eye. Firstly, Celtic Carisma runs in the maiden hurdle at 12.50. This is the sort of dual purpose type that this stable excels with and she should go well.
Some Touch, who runs in the now familiar colours of Andrea and Graham Wylie has some decent form behind him. He was 2nd in the 2005 Aintree Festival bumper for example. The stable are in fine form and a bold showing is expected in the 1.20.
In the 1.50 Let’s Roll and Kamanda Laugh are both interesting recruits from the flat making their hurdles debut. They were both rated at around the 90 mark on the level.
Zeitgeist represents the Wylie/Howard Johnson team in the 2.20. He is a former winner of the Old Newton Cup on the flat. He has an each way chance here.
The Pious Prince is one of my horses to follow. The Pious Prince won an Ayr bumper before coming 5th in a much better race at Cheltenham. He should run well in the 3.20 but does carry a penalty for that win up at Ayr.
War Of Attrition's appearance in the Grade 1 John Durkan Memorial Chase (2.05) is the the main attraction at Punchestown.
Although the trip (2m4f) and the heavy ground are not likely to suit War Of Attrition, the 7yo gelding has the class to win.
Last season's Gold Cup winner faces seven rivals including rising stars In Compliance, Nickname and Justified while Hi Cloy is another with solid form at the top level.
Leading Run, winner of the Champion Bumper at Punchestown last season, has failed to jump with great fluency and was well defeated by Le Toscan at Naas in October. I fancy him to get back to winning ways in the 1.05.
There was news this week that both Kicking King and Celestial Gold have been ruled out for the season and of course injury also put paid to Ouija Board’s farewell performance.
On a lighter note there were a couple of heart-warming stories this week. The cross country races may not be everyone’s cup of tea but I find them very watchable and they often provide exciting finishes. It was great to se old Spot Thedifference win the Sporting Index Chase at Cheltenham in the week. This was his 6th win from 8 starts over the course just 3 weeks shy of his 14 birthday.
The 8 year old mare Material World won at Cheltenham in the week. Her career form figures now read 111224332523121. She is game and as tough as they come and her win at Cheltenham last week was a typically gutsy display. So why does this come in the heart-warming story category – well Material World only has one eye.
Lastly on my look back to last week the novice hurdle at Cheltenham on Friday featured a clash between Tidal Bay and Kicks for Free, who were both unbeaten over timber. They came to the final hurdle stride for stride but a mistake by the Paul Nicholls horse handed the initiative to Tidal Bay who went on to score by 6 lengths. Both look worth following.
See you tomorrow.
Continue reading “Diary: December 10 2006”
The big race at Cheltenham is the Boylesports.com Gold Cup. This race has a long history under various names and was won by the great Arkle in 1966 when called the Massey Ferguson Gold Cup. Last season it was called the Robin Cook Memorial Chase in recognition of that gentleman’s efforts on behalf of the sport. Pity that wasn’t a permanent honour but I suppose the needs of sponsorship in sport tend to prevail these days.
Saturday’s runners from the list to follow
Cheltenham 12.55 Locksmith
1.30 Black Jack Ketchum
2.05 Don’t Push It, Mr Pointment and Aztec Warrior
2.40 Cerium, Taranis, Ross River & Reveillez (Bannow Strand is an interesting runner in this)
3.15 Detroit City
3.45 The Whisperer
Market Rasen 1.50 Roman Ark
2.25 Caribou
Continue reading “Diary; December 9 2006”
We had a couple of winners from the list to follow today. Natal enjoyed a facile win at long odds on and Sound Accord scored a second bumper win for trainer Colin Tinkler. Sound Accord is a half brother to Lenny Lungo’s chaser Wild Cane Ridge and is a big strong type. He should have a future over hurdles initially, but more especially in the longer term over fences.
It was one of those days when, having seen the results, you start kicking yourself for not backing certain horses. De Soto was in my notebook for a while after finishing 2nd to the ill fated Missed That in the Cheltenham bumper of 2005. He had injury/training problems subsequently and I decided to adopt a watching brief. He came back to form today at Taunton at 11/1. Incidentally, hot favourite Ouninpohja was a disappointing 3rd in that race.
Classified was on my list to follow last season but he is another that has suffered injuries and he only ran once in 05/06. He has become something of a forgotten horse but his CV is not at all bad. He won the Cleeve Hurdle in 2003 and in the same year was 4th to Baracouda in the Stayers Hurdle. He got off the mark over fences today and if he remains sound there should be more races to be won with him.
The mare Rosita Bay has been featured in these ramblings from time to time. She won on her handicap hurdle debut today. She is apparently a bit of a madam at home but she showed a good attitude today to get the better of a Paul Nicholls trained favourite.
Cheltenham stages a quality card tomorrow. The first race is a novice chase at 12.10 and there are two runners from our list, Aces Four and Standin’ Obligation. The latter has won his last 4 starts. He has a good record here at Cheltenham and he jumped with some aplomb when winning here last month. I would give him a slight edge over Aces Four who goes for a hat trick here having won twice at Newcastle. He also jumps well. Good race in prospect.
Yaboya is a horse I have followed for some time. His trainer Philip Hobbs has brought him along steadily. He is lightly raced and has taken well to fences. He has top weight in the 12.45 but he looked in good nick when winning at Market Rasen 50 days ago. Should go well.
The 1.20 looks a tasty race. Paul Nicholls saddles both Cornish Rebel and My Will. Ruby Walsh has elected to ride My Will which is a bit of a tip in itself. He won a good contest here last month getting the better of Idle Talk up the hill and I would expect a bold show from him in conditions that should suit. He has been raised 6 lbs fro his win but remains reasonably treated. Model Son and All in the Stars represent our list to follow. Model Son appeals as a possible future Grand National candidate. He was 4th in the race won by My Will last month, getting tired after racing a bit too keenly. He ran well for a long way though and should be spot on for that run. More rain would help and he could go well at a price. All in the Stars won twice last season and generally ran creditably apart from a miserable performance towards the end of the season when well fancied for the Scottish National. He is a thorough stayer who can often get behind in his races.
The evergreen course specialist goes for yet another win in the cross country race at 1.55. Paul Nicholls saddles Le Duc, a slightly quirky type that might suit these obstacles.
There are 3 runners from our list to follow in the 3.40. Kicks for Free made it two out of two in impressive style at Haydock and is favourite for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle. He faces his toughest task to date against Tidal Bay, who finished in front of him in the Aintree bumper in April and likewise is unbeaten over hurdles, while there are also possibilities about French Saulaie, from the stable which has won this corresponding race three times in the last five years.
At Southwell Thunder Rock makes his hurdles debut for Jonjo O’Neill in the 3.30. Hec was trained by Sir Michael Stoute on the level and is worth a second look.
A good days racing in prospect.
Harringay jumped well on her chase debut at Wincanton before getting outpaced by the useful Senorita Rumbalita. She must stand a good chance of making amends in the 1.00 at Huntingdon.
Ring Back, winner of a Warwick bumper last season ran a promising 2nd on her hurdles bow at Towcester. She runs in the 2.30 at Huntingdon tomorrow and will hopefully go well.
Colin Tinkler gives Sound Accord another run in a bumper at 3.30. He won a similar race last season but could only come 6th under a penalty when reappearing 33 days ago. I suppose he is mainly gaining further experience here but he should run well.
Natal was beaten by the very useful Fair Along last time out but should find the 1.20 at Taunton a much easier task. Natal was a winner on this card last season.
Natal won the 1.50 last year and Paul Nicholls holds a good chance of winning the race again with Ouninpohja who already looks an exciting recruit to the winter game.
Rhacophorus has very solid bumper form and she is my pick in the mare’s maiden hurdle at Clonmel, 1.05.
That is about it for tonight. Take care.
Continue reading “Diary: December 7 2006”
Hexham 12.50. The Reverend has always been well thought of by his trainer. He dead heated for first place in an Irish Point to Pint at Lismore, a race that Best Mate had contested in a previous season. He continued that promise over hurdles when accounting for a decent horse of Len Lungo’s called Wild Cane Ridge but then ran into injury problems.
He started his chase career last month with a second behind One Sniff at Hexham followed by a win at Wetherby. He is a talented horse who seems to be going the right way.
1.20 Double Default is another Irish points winner. He makes his debut here fro trainer Nicky Richards.
Leicester 1.00 Genghis is a former winner of the Scottish Champion Hurdle. He makes his chase debut here and has apparently schooled well. He3 will take some beating if taking to fences. The obvious danger is Bob Hall who ran with plenty of promise when 3rd to Mr Pointment at Bangor last month.
2.30 Berengario beat Into the Shadows last time out at Huntingdon and that horse has franked the form by winning since.
I don’t have time to preview the excellent card at Fairyhouse tomorrow. Sorry about that.
I have just got back from a few days in France and I have been catching up on the racing news.
I was particularly interested in the race won by Star de Mohaison and having watched the video there was much to like about the performance of both the winner, and the runner up, The Listener. They had pulled a long way clear of the other 2 runners. I would tend to agree with the various commentators who have pointed out that The Listener was not given an especially aggressive ride by Andrew Thornton and if theses two old rivals were to meet again you could not predict the outcome with any degree of certainty.
Into The Shadows earned reward for some consistent recent efforts when landing the extended 2m 4f handicap hurdle at Wetherby This was her 8th career success, split equally between flat and hurdles and she has been a typically versatile servant to her trainer.
Wetherby tends to favour course specialists and is certainly a venue for the “horses for courses” followers. Silver Knight scored his 4th win at the Yorkshire track on Saturday and they have all come over 25 furlongs. Everyone likes a grey horse it seems, evidence Desert Orchid, Rooster Booster etc. and Silver Knight is something of a favourite of mine. I first noticed him when he won a bumper at Doncaster in 2002 and he went on to finish 6th in the Aintree Festival bumper that season in a race where Iris’s Gift was runner up and Thisthatandtother 5th.
Silver Knight won off a mark of 121 on Saturday. He won the same race last season, off exactly the same mark. Kerry Lads was second and Jungle Jinks 3rd. Kerry Lads is trained by my namesake Lucunda Russell, not that my name is Lucinda! He is 11 now and has won 7 times over fences, the last twice at Wetherby. He was running off a mark 2 lbs higher than his highest previous winning mark on Saturday so his turn may not be far away. 3 miles on soft or heavy ground is his game.
Jungle Jinks who is also 11 has won 5 times at Wetherby. He has now run there 4 times this season with form figures of 0313. These 3 will no doubt be in opposition at Wetherby again before the season is out.
Talking of favourite horses, Aldiniti will rank among many people’s top ten.. When he won the 1981 Grand National both horse, and jockey Bob Champion had recovered from life threatening illness and injury. Interestingly Bob Champion should have known what it takes to win a National as he had sat on 4 previous winners during his career. He won an Eider Chase on Highland Wedding, won a novice chase on Rag Trade, “rode out” on Rubstic and also rode Corbiere although that horse unseated him in a novice chase.
Bit I digress. Back to the present day Royal Shakespeare made his debut over fences this afternoon at Fakenham. He was not far off the top over hurdles and won the BHB Order of Merit last season (or at least shared the prize with Monkerhostin). He was beaten today though by Paul Nicholl’s Twist Magic. When Twist Magic first came to the UK it was clear that he was only biding his time over hurdles and he was always the proverbial embryo chaser. He has been likened to another inmate of the Nicholls yard, My Will and I will be watching his progress with interest.
Racing tomorrow comes from Fontwell and Sedgefield. Martin Pipe won the opener in both 2001 and 2002. The aptly named Trainedbythebest and Old California, who was later to fall fatally in the Triumph Hurdle being the winners those years. David Pipe must have a good chance of claiming the prize this year with Raslan, a well bred type frpom the flat who won a couple of times on the level at Warwick over 2 miles.
The only runner from our list to follow is Great Approach in the 2.50. He showed modest form last season in 3 runs over hurdles but he is bred to be much better over fences and he has his first run in that sphere tomorrow. He is bred for the job as he is a half-brother to smart but quirky staying chaser Harwell Lad (Whitbread winner) and two winning pointers. The dam was an unraced half-sister to Hennessy winner Approaching. He is by Simply Great, the same sire as Silver Knight.
If you want a “silly bet” you could always try a win double on Warne’s Way (Fontwell 12.40) and Flintoff (Fontwell 1.40).
That is about it for tonight. See you tomorrow.
ahorse 