The sharp frost meant no jumps racing today and tomorrow’s meetings must be in some doubt.
If racing does go ahead there are two runners from our list to follow.
Troll goes in the Carlisle 3.20 and Nobody Tells Me in the 2.00 at Ludlow.
Back tomorrow – hope to see you then.
Dom D’Orgeval won easily at Hexham today to make it two out of two over fences. The 3rd horse Tynedale might be on to keep an eye on in handicaps.
There are two runners from our list to follow running tomorrow.
Harringay showed plenty of promise when runner up to Senorita Rumbalita on her chase debut at Wincanton. She then fell when in contention at Huntingdon and was a rather disappointing 4th at Ludlow. Her form over fences so far gives her a winning chance in the 3.20 at Market Rasen.
Lenny Lungo’s Troll, a course and distance winner, runs in the Sedgefield 3.30. He was beaten under a big weight at Kelso last time. He jumps well and should make a decent chaser eventually. Has an each way chance tomorrow.
That is all for tonight. See you tomorrow.
Tomorrow’ meeting at Hexham is under threat from the frost. If it does go ahead we will have one runner from our list to follow as Dom D’Orgeval is entered in the 2.00. Formerly a smart hurdler, Dom D’Orgeval has joined David Pipe’s stable and got off to a winning start over fences at Fakenham. He should be too good for his rivals once again.
It has been a satisfactory season for our list without being spectacular so far. Kauto Star has been the most prolific winner, scoring 4 times. There are quite a few on 3 wins; Denman, Detroit City, My Way de Solzen, New Little Bric, Tidal Bay and Ungaro.
The best priced winner so far is Grecian Groom (33/1) followed by Ungaro (14/1) and Cerium (12/1).
On the Irish list Nickname and Iktitaf have 3 wins apiece.
Bye for now.
It was not at all a bad day for our list to follow with 5 winners. For the record they were Detroit City, Taranis, Dempsey, New Little Bric and Good Spirit.
There are quite a few horses from our list in action in Ireland tomorrow. In the 1.05 we have 3 runners Oulart, Numbersixvalverde and Dun Doire. Numbersixvalverde begins his preparation for the Grand National with this run over hurdles but my selection is Dun Doire who is on a favourable mark compared to his chase rating.
Top novices De Valira and Pierce Rock go head to head in the 1.35. De Valira has some solid form and has won his last two starts. I narrowly prefer Pierce Rock, the mount of Tony McCoy who was second to Silverburn at Sandown and gets 6 lbs from De Valira.
In the 2.05 I fancy another McCoy mount. He is on Signatory for Noel Meade. A winner on the flat for John Gosden Signatory looks the type to do well over timber. Nickname could hardly be in better form and has his favoured conditions in the 2.35. He might have the edge on Newmill on this occasion.
We only have one list runner in the UK tomorrow. The grey Locksmith has not really found last season’s form and has left David Pipe’s yard. He runs over hurdles in the 3.35 at Musselburgh. He is 25/1 in the RP and that is probably a fair reflection of his chance. My best bet at Musselburgh is Modicum in the 3.00.
At Fontwell course and distance winner Benetwood should go well in the 3.10.
See you tomorrow.
I thought I would point out a few more horses for you to consider today, in addition to those mentioned in last night’s ramblings.
In the big handicap hurdle at Sandown (3.15) Royals Darling trained by Nicky Henderson is another to add to the short list. I mentioned Verasi yesterday and Royals Darling was a length 2nd to that horse at Kempton last month. I thought that Royals Darling might be going novice chasing this season but he has been kept to hurdles and that has paid off. Prior to the Kempton race he won well at Ayr. He seems to handle most types of ground.
The 3.50 at Sandown is a really open affair. There are all manner of old “Russellform” favourites in this but two that appeal off reasonable racing weights are Rambling Monster and Yardbird. Rambling Minster stays and jumps and is relatively unexposed. Yardbird impressed me when running 2nd to one of our list horses, Alderburn, on his last run. I think that these two are worth an each way interest
Henry Daly’s horses have been running well and his Ordre De Bataille has an each way chance in the 4.25 at Sandown. She was awarded a race after a steward’s enquiry at Warwick two runs ago.
Lastly Allistathebarrista is my selection in the Wetherby in the 1.50. He won over course and distance last time and although he has gone up 8 lbs for that success it might not be enough to stop him going in again.
Have a good day.
From the 6 horses featured in yesterday’s preview we had 3 winners, a second, and 2 thirds, so not a bad haul. Great Approach was the best price at 8/1 while both Sir Boreus Hawk and Don’t Push It won with some authority.
Sandown is the main meeting tomorrow and the big race features the clash between Detroit City and Straw Bear in the AGFA Hurdle at 2.10. Detroit City has won his last 7 races and his form is very hard to fault. Straw Bear may not have been right when disappointing last time at Kempton and hopefully he will be back to his best here to make it a good contest. Detroit City is very hard to oppose though in what is not really a viable betting heat. The drying conditions will suit Arcalis who could spring a surprise if right back to his best. Detroit City would have to be the selection though.
My best bet of the day is New Little Bric in the 2.40 at Sandown, the Scilly Isles novice chase. Paul Nicholls won the race last season and New Little Bric has the credentials to give his trainer another success tomorrow. New Little Bric won twice over hurdles at Pau before coming to the UK and he has already scored twice over fences here. His only defeat was when 3rd behind Fair Along and My Way de Solzen and that represents very solid form.
The other runner from our list to follow in this race is Aztec Warrior, whose trainer Henrietta Knight has won this race twice in recent years, once with the great Best Mate. Aztec Warrior has been improving this season. His most recent success came at Wincanton last month where his task was made easier when his main rival fell 3 out. Although this race has only attracted 4 runners they all have a chance. Pretty Star of Alan King’s, in particular could pose a threat. He is developing into a smart staying novice and was a good winner at Newbury at the end of December.
The Sandown 1.35 looks an open arce. There are 3 runners from our list to follow in this so I will start by looking at them. Andreas has been a bit frustrating this season. He has finished 3rd in both his races, both at Ascot, but didn’t seem to go through with his challenge either time. He should have conditions to suit and is sure to run well. The more the ground dries out, the better his chance. Madison Du Berlais is in fine form having won his last 2 starts. He has gone up in the weights as a result though and this is a tougher race than either of those he won.
Dempsey has been let down by his jumping this season and has failed to complete in two of his three starts. He seems to like Sandown though and if putting in a clear round would be an obvious danger. Of the rest Chilling Place is probably the main danger to the 3 I have mentioned. This is a difficult one to call. Dempsey comes from an in form yard and his course form is impressive. At around 8/1 he could represent a value bet.
Our only runner in the handicap hurdle at 3.15 is Taranis who is also the likely favourite. He is on what looks a decent mark compared to his chase rating and has obvious claims. I think he will be in the firing line but at 7/2 he looks a bit short.
There are a number of horses in this race that I have a bit of a soft spot for, not least Lord Sam. I followed this horse almost from the start of his career. He won 9 of his first 10 starts and the only defeat was when 3rd to Hardy Eustace! He rather lost his way for a while but bounced back to form last time out with a gutsy win at Wincanton. He is 11 now, but goes well for his 5 lbs claimer and has won twice at Sandown before. Material World only has one eye but this mare is as game as they come. She has only twice been out of the first 3 in her 15 race career and is another for the short list. Verasi won a valuable handicap hurdle at Kempton on his last outing. He has only gone up 5 lbs for that but the ground was heavy that day and he may not be as effective on a drier surface. Accordello has won twice this season and runs off a low weight here, albeit 4 lbs out of the handicap. She is another with a good chance. Taranis will be hard to beat but I will go for Material World each way.
Blue Splash has already done a good job for our list to follow with a couple of wins. He could add to that tally in the Wetherby 3.30. He looked a potentially smart staying chaser when winning at Exeter last time. There are plenty of dangers, notably Royal Rosa and Hoh Viss.
The hunter chase at 4.05 looks difficult to solve. Bica was twice a winner at Auteil and is an obvious candidate. The drying ground could go against him though. At his best Jurancon ll was a fair staying chaser and won valuable handicaps at Uttoxeter and Haydock. DJ Flippance is trained by Gordy Edwards in Shropshire and goes best on soft ground. Kate Walton trains Wildfell Rufo (picture below). He has won 3 times at Wetherby. He is my selection.
Man of the Moment is an interesting newcomer in the 1.30 at Stratford. He is a half brother to the useful chaser Darkness.
Good Spirit was the subject of some very favourable reports at the start of the season but things didn’t go according to plan. He has been given a break and will be expected to do better in the 2.35.
Ingratitude showed enough on his hurdles debut at Newbury to suggest he can win the 3.10 at Stratford.
Prince of Slane has not been able to reproduce his fine form of last season this time around. He runs in the 4.15. The ground is important to him as he does not like it soft.
I will be back tomorrow with a preview of Sunday’s racing. Be lucky.
Korello Bay and Ring Back were winners for our list to follow today.
The 3.00 at Catterick features two horses from our list. Bleak House, a bumper winner at Haydock last season, has already got off the mark over hurdles at Aintree. He was 3rd to Kicks for Free last time out in a decent race at Haydock and looks sure to go well. Dual bumper winner Sir Boreus Hawk makes his hurdles debut and has reportedly schooled well. He gets 10 lbs. from Bleak House and that just persuades me to give him a slight edge.
Great Approach is related to some smart performers but has been a little disappointing so far. He is lightly raced however and may improve now that he is upped in trip. He has an each way chance in the 3.30.
Over at Chepstow Classic Fiddle seeks to extend her winning sequence to 4 in the 1.30. The stable are in fine form and she must have a winning chance.
Midas Way has not run at all badly in his efforts over hurdles this season. If he can settle a bit better he must go close in the 2.35.
Don’t Push it has plenty of ability and a good attitude to the game. He is dropped in trip in the 3.10 but does not lack speed and should still prevail.
Bye for now
ahorse 