Month: April 2007

Grand National form

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The 2007 Aintree Grand National

  

The Grand National is the longest race run in the UK, 4 and a half miles, and the fences still remain amongst the toughest.  It makes sense, if you are having a flutter on this greatest of horse races, that your choice needs to have stamina, and he needs to be a sound jumper.

  

I am going to look in depth at the form of each of this season’s hopefuls but first I want to consider the races that might help us pinpoint the winner.

  

First of all there is the Grand National itself. Some horses take to the unique Aintree fences better than others and some horses run above their normal form on the track.  Anything that has previously run well in the race is obviously worthy of consideration.  The other race run at Aintree that can be a useful pointer is the Becher Chase, which is run over 3.25 miles.

  

The other 3 major “Nationals” are my next set of important “indicators.”  Form in the Welsh (Chepstow 3 miles 5 and a half furlongs), Irish (Fairyhouse 3 miles 5 furlongs) and Scottish (Ayr 4 miles 1 furlong) can be significant.

  

Two of the top handicap for staying chasers in England are the Hennessy Gold Cup (Newbury 3 miles 2.5 furlongs) and the Betfred Gold Cup (Sandown 3 miles 5.5 furlongs).  These races are ultra competitive and attract quality fields.

  

There are a couple of races run at the Cheltenham Festival that I always take note of when weighing up the Aintree puzzle.  The Cheltenham Gold Cup (3 miles 2.5 furlongs) is the blue ribband event for staying chasers.  It is run at level weights and any horse that has run with credit in this race has to have a touch of class.  The other Festival race that can be a guide is the William Hill Trophy run over 3 miles and 110 yards.

  

The fences at Haydock Park have some similarities with the National obstacles.  It makes sense to look at the form of the two most important Haydock handicaps chases, the Peter Marsh Chase (3 miles) and the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup (3 miles 4.5 furlongs).

  

Finally there are a couple of real marathon events, The Eider Chase at Newcastle (4 miles 1 furlong) and the Midlands National at Uttoxeter (4 miles 1.5 furlongs).

  

The contenders

  

Hedgehunter meets most of the criteria for a National candidate.  He really likes the race for a start.  He fell at the final fence in 2004 when tiring.  He would have finished 4th that time I should think.  He won in 2005 and then came 2nd last season.  He is probably the best jumper in the field, the fall in 2004 was the only time he has hit the deck in 16 starts over fences.  Stamina is clearly not a problem and he also possesses that vital touch of class as shown with his 2nd in the 2006 Cheltenham Gold Cup.  Add to that the fact that his jockey, Ruby Walsh, rides Aintree as well as anyone and you have plenty on the plus side.

  

He has had an injury problem this season but came through a prep run over hurdles at Limerick a couple of weeks ago so should be OK from the fitness point of view. The negative with him is his weight.  He carries 11 stone 12 and only one horse has carried that sort of weight to victory in the last 50 years, and that was Red Rum. Don’t get me wrong.  Hedgehunter is a very good horse and I would not be at all surprised to see him in the first 4 or 5, I just don’t think he can win with that weight.

  

Eurotrek has been plagued with injury that has reduced his chasing career to just  7 starts so far. He will have his supporters on the big day as he won the Becher Chase this season, despite making a few jumping errors. He won over 3 miles 5 furlongs at Warwick last season so seems to have the stamina needed. He is set to carry 11 stone 8 which might just make life difficult for him.

  

L’Ami is the chosen ride of champion jockey Tony McCoy, who has never ridden the winner of this race.  L’Ami has a surprisingly poor strike rate with only 3 wins from 28 attempts over fences.  He made Kauto Star work hard to beat him at Newbury in February and he has run in the last 2 Gold Cups, finishing 4th and 7th.   He is normally considered best with some give in the ground but was an excellent 2nd in the Hennessy last season in good ground.  He jumps well in the main and has only fallen twice in his career, the last time being December 2004.

  

His weight and indifferent win to runs ratio just put me off him as a likely winner.

  

Monkerhostin has been a consistent performer over fences.  His furthest winning distance over fences is 2 miles 5 and a half furlongs, although he did win at 3 Miles over hurdles, albeit at Kempton, an easy tarck. He came back from some disappointing efforts to finish 4th in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last month when he was running on at the finish.  He has spent much of his career racing over shorter distances and the 4.5 miles of the National might just find his stamina out, especially as he has to carry 11 stone 6.

  

Thisthatandtother has mixed it with the best with his finest hour to date coming with his win in the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival over 2 miles 5.  Therein lies the problem though as he is a shorter distance specialist.

  

Billyvoddan comes to Aintree in good form.  He ran away with a 3 mile handicap against decent opposition at Ascot in December and then lost nothing in defeat when a close up 3rd in the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.  He will love the ground and is certainly one to consider.  The two things that put me off him slightly are slight doubts over his stamina and the fact that he wears blinkers, something I don’t like in a Grand National candidate.

  

Numbersixvalverde won the race last season.  The ground was good to soft then and it may be that the horse is at his best with give in the ground.  He won the Irish National in 2005 in soft ground.  He has proven stamina and has been lightly campaigned so far this season with another crack at the Aintree spectacular the obvious target.  He looks likely to ger round and is a danger.  However he has more weight to carry this yaer and he is unlikely to have his favoured ground.

  

Idle Talk was going to be my tip for the big race.  He won at Exeter over 3 miles 1.5 furlongs in his novice season and put in a career best effort later that season when 2nd in the Royal and Sunalliance chase at the Festival. He was 4th in the Scottish National at the end of the season.  This season he ran a cracker when just beaten by My Will over 3 miles 2.5 furlongs in a Cheltenham handicap and may have been feeling the effects of that hard race when 6th in the Hennessy.  He has unseated his rider in both his last two starts.  He made a complete horlicks of the 9th in the Cotswold Chase unshipping Richard Johnson and then was unlucky in the Gold Cup when his jockey was knocked out of the saddled when bumped by another horse. Some will take the view that he didn’t quite stay in the Scottish Natioanl and his failure to complete in his last two races is another concern. In the main though he jumps well.

  

Royal Auclair seems to have been around for ever but is actually only 10.  He has some excellent form on his CV but may not be the force he was.  His biggest career win was in the Badger Ales Chase at Wincanton in 2004 (3 miles 1.5 furlongs) He has put up some mighty efforts in defeat though, notably when carrying 11 stone 10 when runner up to Hedgehunter in the 2005 National.  He was 4th in the Cheltenham Gold Cup that season and had been a short head second to Puntal in the Betfred Gold Cup in 2004.  He fell at the first last season at Aintree and generally his performances have been below par lately.  His best recent run was when 3rd to Kauto Star (L’Ami 2nd) in the AON chase at Newbury over 3 miles where he ran well for a long time in ground that wouldn’t have suited him.  On his last start he was 6th in the Cross Country race at the Cheltenham Festival (3 miles 7 furlongs).  He is well handicapped on his best form and acts on the ground. He may run into a place but the stable have not been firing so far this week.

  

Cloudy Bays has won 6 times over fences with his best win coming over 3 miles in a valuable Leopardstown handicap in January 2004.  Looked the likely winner of the Kerry National (3 miles) at Listowel in 2003 when hitting the 2nd last and unshipping his rider.  He was a faller over hurdles at Cheltenham on his last start.  Most of his wins have come on soft or heavy ground.

  

Knowhere represents trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies who has a good record in the National.  Knowhere has won twice over fences, at Perth and Bangor, both over 2.5 miles.  He ran a  cracker to finish 2nd in the hot handicap at Cheltenham on December over 2 miles 5 furlongs but his efforts at 3 miles have so far been a bitv disappointing and there must be some doubts over his ability to get the National trip.

  

Kelami is trained in France but has put up some decent efforts in his raids across La Manche, notably when 3rd, beaten only 2 lengths in the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup, 3rd in the Betfred Gold Cup in 2005 and when winning the William Hill Trophy at the 2005 Cheltenham Festival.  Seems to handle any ground and showed his well being when 2nd at Auteil last month.  He was brought down in the 2004 National when only a 6 year old.

  

Point Barrow is a serious contender having won the Irish National last season on good ground.  He comes into the race in good form having won the valuable Pierse Handicap at Leopardstown in January carrying 11 stone 10.

  

Celtic Son represents the powerful Martin Pipe stable.  Celtic Son got his chasing career off to a spectacular success by winning the Rising Stars Novice Chase at Wincanton in November 2005 in spectacular style. He has not reproduced that form in 6 subsequent efforts though and I would imagine there must be doubts over his stamina over a marathon trip.

  

Simon is an interesting contender.  He is only an 8 year old but he has won 5 times over fences.  He has won decent 3 mile handicaps at Southwell and Kempton this term both in soft ground.  The indications are that he stays well as he ran a blinder when 2nd at Sandown in early December over 3 miles 5.5 furlongs, again on soft ground.  He was perhaps a little disappointing in the Welsh National where he finished 6th.  I am not sure he is quite good enough to win.

  

Ballycassidy has only won once in his last 17 starts which sound pretty damning but he has a better chance than the bare facts suggest.  He ran well in last years’’ National and was clear of the field when falling at Valentines on the second circuit.  He is best on good or good to firm and may well get those sort of conditions on the day.  If he gets into a rhythm he might well give you an exciting run for your money.

  

Clan Royal deserves to win a Grand National but there must be a fear that his chance may have gone now that he is in the twilight of his career.  He was 2nd in 2004, in the lead then unluckily carried out in 2005 and 3rd in 2006.  He has also twice won other races over the National fences, including the Becher Chase in 2003.  His recent form is not encouraging as he was a first fence faller in the Becher Chase and he was then pulled up in a race at Ascot. You can’t completely rule him out given his track record but it may be significant that his pilot in the last 3 Nationals, Tony McCoy has chosen to ride L’Ami this year.

  

Gallant Approach has won twice over fences, both at Newbury, the first over 3 miles.  He put in a solid performance when 3rd, beaten less than a length by Kandjar D’Allier at Haydock in December.  On his last run he was 7th in the William Hill Trophy behind Joe’s Edge.  He has only raced 6 times over fences.

  

Livingstonebramble has never won beyond 2.5 miles.  He ran well in second at Gowran Park over 3 miles in January though and will appreciate decent ground.

  

Dun Doire is a major player and has been specially prepared for the race. He won 7 times last season and was 7th to Point Barrow in the Irish National.  A slight worry would be that he fell in the Becher Chase. 

  

Kandjar D’Allier will be easy to spot if you have backed him as he is a grey.  He won over 3 miles back in December at Haydock in very testing condition.  He returned to the Lancashire track for the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup but could only finish 11th of 16.

  

Slim Pickings has not been in good form this season but was still in contention when falling at the last over 3 miles at Gowran Park in January.  He won a listed race at Cork last April and ran well in 5th at Cheltenham on his last start over 2 miles 5.  There must be big doubts over his stamina but if he does get the trip he could be a dangerous outsider.

  

Zabenz has only won once since arriving in the UK from New Zealand.  He was 9th in last season’s Scottish National.   He has some good form as a novice though.  He stays well and will act on the ground.  He has possibilities as an each way bet.

  

Bewley’s Berry is a horse I have always liked.   He is an exuberant jumper who showed he can handle the National fences when 2nd to Eurotrek in the Becher Chase in November.  He has always looked a stayer so it was somewhat surprising that he faded out of contention to finish 9th in the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup at Haydock.  The ground will not be a problem for him.

  

Longshanks has quite a good record over the National fences. He has twice contested the Topham Trophy, run over 2 miles 5.5 furlongs, finishing 2nd and 4th.  He has won over 3 miles twice, albeit in small fields, and was 6th in the Scottish National last season.  He has won on good ground and also handles soft.  He has never fallen.

  

Bothar Na was 4th in the foxhunters which sir in over the National fences (2 miles 5 furlongs) in 2006.  He was also 4th in the Cheltenham Foxhunters and that is run over an extended 3 and a quarter miles.

  

Graphic Approach has won twice over 3 miles, at Southwell and Sandown.  He was 3rd to Billyvoddan at Ascot in December.  He is one of my fancies to run well at a big price.

  

Homer Wells is an improving sort who won the BobbyJoe chase at Fairyhouse (3 miles 1 furlong) in December with Point Barrow 3rd and Numbersixvalverde 4th.  All his career wins have come in soft or heavy ground which is the point against him.

  

Liberthine will have her supporters on the basis oh her victory in the Topham Trophy at Aintree last season.  She has never won beyond 2 miles 5 furlongs though.

  

Silver Birch had his best season in 2004/5 when trained by Paul Nicholls.  He won the Becher Chase and followed up by taking the Welsh National.  Not surprisingly he was made favourite for the Grand National that season but injury prevented him from taking part.  He had rather mixed fortunes after that and was a faller in last season’s National. Recent form has been a bit more encouraging though and on his latest start he ran 2nd in the cross country race at the Cheltenham Festival.

  

Philson Run is an out and out stayer. His CV includes wins in the Midlands Grand National and the Eider Chase so his stamina is proven.   He was a faller on the only occasion he has attempted the Aintree fences, in the Becher Chase of 2005.  He was 6th in the Scottish National on ground that was probably too lively and 8th on the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup where a bad blunder cost him his chance.  He would probably need softer ground.

  

Puntal seems a moody customer and can spit the dummy out on occasions.  He is capable enough on his day though as he showed when winning the Betfred Gold Cup in 2004 beating Royal Auclair by a short head.  He hasn’t actually won since then but was 6th in last season’s Grand National.  He stays, acts on good ground and if he puts his best foot forward could well challenge for a place at any rate.

  

The Outlier won the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock in January in very heavy ground.  He has since been pulled up in both the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup and the Midlands National.  Rain would help his chance.

  

Tikram is not short on quality but he is basically a two and a half miler and would seem to lack the stamina to win a National.  The ground will suit him though.

  

McElvey seems to handle any ground from heavy to good to firm.   He won the Summer National at Uttoxeter in July over an extended 4 miles so clearly stays.  He was 6th in the Becher Chase in November so he has negotiated the fences before.  He was stating on at the finish too so the extra distance on Saturday should be OK.  He warmed up for the big race by winning over hurdles at Bangor last month.  He has clearly been aimed specifically at the National and there are worse outsiders.

  Naunton Brook does not have a stamina problem as he won over 4 miles at Hexham back in November.  He has since won at Exeter with both successes gained in soft ground.  He likes to race prominently.  

Jack High won the Betfred in 2005 in good ground. 4th to Point Barrow at Leopardstown in January. He unseated his rider last season in the Aintree National. Apart from the win at Sandown all his other successes have come in soft ground.

  

Sonevafushi won a hunter chase at Wincanton in February.  He stays and jumps but may just not be good enough.

  

Joe’s Edge will probably start favourite.  He won the Scottish National in 2005 and ran a stormer to take the William Hill Trophy at Cheltenham on his last start.  He has twice jumped round the big Aintree fences, when 7th in the National last season and the in the Becher Chase this term.  He loves good ground and has a great chance.

  

Le Duc has run over the National fences times with his best effort finishing runner up in the Becher Chase.    He unseated his rider in last season’s National.  On his most recent start he was 4th  in the cross country race at the Cheltenham Festival.

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The Mourners

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"The Mourners"


When all the light and life are sped
Of flowing tails and manes,
And flashing stars, and forelocks spread,
And foam-flecks on the reins;

I like to think from every land
And far beyond the wave
A crowd of ghosts will come and stand
In grief around that grave –

WILL H. OGILVIE "

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Diary: April 13 2007

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Tomorrow’s Aintree card kicks off at 2.00 with the Grade 2 novice chase. There are plenty of contenders here in what looks an open contest.  Yes Sir won 7 on the bounce in the summer but has struggled to recapture that form during the season proper. Faster ground will be more up his street but I would still worry about recent efforts.

  

Ungaro has won 3 times this season but could not maintain his winning streak when 6th at Cheltenham. He jumps well and will handle the ground but there is a suspicion that he is better going right handed.  Standin’ Obligation has put in a couple of dismal efforts in his last 2 runs.  We might be able to ignore these though as they were both of soft ground.  He goes well fresh and has been given a break so he has to go on the short list.

  

I was impressed with Aces Four at Cheltenham when he was about the only one to make a race of it against Denman.  He will like the ground, should act on the track and his stable are going well.  Dom D’Orgeval was a classy hurdler and won his first two starts over fences in small races.  He never got into the race at Cheltenham won by Denman.  He has done most of his winning in soft ground which might be a bit of a concern. He impressed with his jumping earlier in the season.

  

Killaghey Castle won his first start over fences beating the classy subsequent winner Briareus.  He was injured in his next race but has since come back to win a small “egg and spoon”race.  He is hard to assess as he lacks the experience of some of his rivals.  Could be very good.

  

Of the rest Turko looks to put a disappointing Cheltenham run behind him. It is possible that this flatter track will suit him better.  Jaunty Times is better with cut in the ground; Faasel is not one to rely on.  Boychuk stays well and will acts on the ground but might lack finishing speed to actually win this. 

  

Aces Four gets the selection.

  

It is hard to get away from Wichita Lineman in the 2.35.  He has won his last 3 starts and seems to handle any ground. Silverburn will appreciate the step up to 3 miles but may find the ground a bit too lively for him.

  

It seems likely that Cerium, Fota Island and Newmill will be non runners in the 3.10.  Hi Cloy won the race last year but has not been in the same form this time around.  I would be reluctant to rule him out however.  Monet’s Garden won on his only previous visit to Aintree.   I am not sure what to say about this one as this season he has flopped badly twice but sandwiched in between those efforts was a decent win over 2 miles 3 at Ascot. Taranis won the Ryanair Chase which is probably a good guide for this race.  He is consistent and handles the ground.

  

Well Chief looked a bit of a cert for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham but tipped up at the 2nd fence.  He is the class act in the field with the only really doubt being the trip, as he has never run over this distance before.  I would imagine he would be OK, particularly on this track on good ground. 

  

I would have to say that Well Chief is the likely winner.  Taranis has had quite a hard season but could take advantage if Well Chief fails.  Monet’s Garden would have to be at his absolute best.  If he is then he might just be able to run the finish out of Well Chief.  Well Chief has to be the selection.

  

The 3.45 is run over the Grand National fences.  I don’t have any strong views on this one.  Paul Nicholls seems keen on the chances of Le Volfoni so he is one to consider.  Brooklyn Breeze last ran over fences when an excellent 4th in the Robin Cook Memorial Chase at Cheltenham back in December 2005.  He is a horse I have always liked and he has won twice before at Aintree although not over the big fences.  Briery Fox comes into the reckoning on the basis of his 3rd to Rambling Minster over 3 miles at Sandown in February.  He stays well and will like the ground. 

  

My last suggestion for the short list would be On The Net.  The Irish have a good recent record in this race and On The Net has some decent form on his CV.

  

The 4.20 looks difficult to solve.  Ouninpohja has plenty of ability but has his own ideas on the game and does not always seem to give of his best. He has only been out of the first 2 twice in the last 16 runs (and he was 3rd in those).  He has to be respected on that sort of form.  Tyson is interesting on the basis of his flat form where he was a winner in both South Africa and Dubai.  He has the speed that should serve him well on this track and ground. De Soto is another that will appreciate the ground but I just wonder if he would be better on a stiffer track.  A former winner on the flat in France, Enforcer has just run the once over hurdles, winning a race named after former Man U footballer Noel Cantwell at Huntingdon. 

  

Tyson and De Soto are respected but my selection is Ouninpohja. You could also risk a little each way wager on Enforce.

  

In the 4.55 I would be inclined to look closely at those in the higher weight range.  Tamarinbleu and Reveillez are two to consider.  Of the rest Undeniable was an impressive winner at Wetherby last time out.

  

I really don’t have any view on the mare’s bumper at 5.30.

  

Good luck.

 

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April 12 2007

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There is a top quality card for the start of the Aintree Festrival with 11 runners from our list to follow among the entries.

  

In the 2.00 Inglis Drever, the winner of the World Hurdle renews his rivalry with Mighty Man, Black Jack Ketchum and Blazing Bailey.  The Howard Johnson horse has a particularly good record at Cheltenham and I have a feeling that he may not be quite as effective at Aintree.  I fancy course and distance winners Black Jack Ketchum and Mighty Man to contest the finish.  Both will like the ground.

  

In the 2.35 Exotic Dancer is clearly the form pick and the one they all have to fear.  He has had a busy season though and I just wonder if that may catch up with him.  I am going to oppose him with Turpin Green and State of Play, with slight preference for the former.

  

Andreas (4.20)  had flattered to deceive in his races until showing a much better attitude to take the Grand Annual at Cheltenham.  He has a big weight in this race as a result but the ground will suit him and he should be on the premises. Our other list runner is the grey Locksmith.  He is well handicapped and has been showing signs of a return to form recently.  He has an each way chance.

  

Tidal Bay represents our list to follow in the 4.55.  He only just failed by a neck in the Ballymore Properties Hurdle at Cheltenham and is a major player here if he handles the faster conditions.  Liberate looks the danger.

  

There are 4 runners from our list in the handicap hurdle at 5.30, Kicks for Free, Roll Along, Conna Castle and Dusky Warbler.  Kicks for Free will handle the ground, doesn’t look badly treated and gets the selection.

  

On the flat I am interested in My Arch in the 5.40 at Leicester.  At around 14/1 he is each way value.

  

Be lucky!

 

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Diary: April 11 2007

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Both the horses featured in last night’s preview won, and I see that a 3rd horse from our list to follow, De Valira, was a winner at Fairyhouse.

  

One of the most disappointing horses on our jumps list has been David Pipe’s Nobody Tells Me. His jumping has been letting him down over fences while he was well beaten behind Grand National Hopeful McKelvey last time over hurdles.  I can’t really give him a positive write up.

  

In the 3.20 2 of the 3 runners are from our list to follow.  Mr Ed is well treated on his hurdles form and will handle both ground and trip.  Fourty Acers was a winner at Ludlow on his chase debut in November but has since twice failed to complete.  This is likely to be a tactical affair with just 3 runners but I will give a very tentative vote to Mr Ed.

  

Over at Hereford Lenny the Blade has an each way chance on his handicap bow in the 2.40, while best of the rest at Hereford could be Nocivo in the 4.10.

  

See you tomorrow

 

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Diary: April 10 2007

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My tipping at Fairyhouse went somewhat awry but at least the runners from our list to follow in the UK did well.  Two wins and a third from the 3 runners. King of Confusion was a non runner at Sedgefield.

  

There are two runners from our list in action tomorrow.  Salaasa is Mark Johnston’s only runner at Pontefract (2.20)  He was 4th on his debut at Newmarket and then continued to show promise when runner up to a nice horse of Michael Bell’s at Musselburgh. That was over a mile and the extra 2 furlongs should suit tomorrow.

  

Our other runner is Aztec Warrior in the 2.40 at Fontwell.  He should win although the stable form would be a slight concern.

  

Bye for now.

 

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Diary: April 9 2007

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Having just finished my flat list to follow I promptly gave one of them a far from confident write up, only for him to win at 8/1.  Geojimali’s previous wins had all come at 6 furlongs and I wasn’t sure about him over the minimum trip.  Oh well – ever onwards!

  

The big race tomorrow is the Irish Grand National (3.55) at Fairyhouse so I will start by looking at that race.

  

There are plenty of runners from our list to follow.  Distant Thunder, All in the Stars and Cloudy Lane from England and Ross River, Whyso Mayo, Cane Brake and Oodachee trained in Ireland.

  

The 3 I like best are Cloudy Lane, Distant Thunder and Whyso Mayo.  My only reservation would be that they all had hard races at the Cheltenham Festival. There are doubts about Cloudy Lane’s stamina but if he gets the trip he should go close and he gets the selection.

  

In the 2.10 Sky’s the Limit looks the one to beat on the best of his hurdles form.

  

Elsewhere on the Fairyhouse card Mill House Girl runs in the 2.45.  She is a remarkably versatile individual.  A dual bumper winner she has also won over hurdles at Tipperary and on the flat on the sand at Laytown.  On her last start she ran well in third behind Moon over Miami in a decent novice hurdle at Cheltenham.

  

Mounthenry represents our list to follow in the 3.20.  He is yet to win this season and failed to impress when 5th of 8 behind Afsoun in the Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock in January. 

  

There are a few runners from our lists to follow in action at the various meetings in the UK.

  

Up at Musselburgh How’s She Cuttin’ looks the likely answer to the 2.20.  Her form figures for her last 5 starts read 12121 including 2 wins over course and distance. As long as she handles the fast ground I would expect a bold showing.

  

Mark Johnston’s horses have been in great form on the all weather during the winter and hopefully his good run will continue into the turf season.  He has saddled the winner of the 4.40 3 times in the last 5 years and is represented by the once raced Record Breaker this time. He just ran the once last season, finishing 4th at Ascot.  The form of that race has worked out well and with the trip unlikely to pose a problem Record Breaker is a strong fancy.

  

Over the jumps at Sedgefield I am hopeful about the chances of King of Confusion in the 2.50.  He was 2nd to Hard Act to Follow on his first run this season but has had a few problems since.  With the ground in his favour tomorrow this could be a good chance to open his account for the season.

  

Northern Jem is a half brother to that prolific winner Polar Jem who won 8 races.  Northern Jem showed promise in a couple of runs as a juvenile and reappears in the 2.25 at Yarmouth.

  

That is about it for tonight.  I hope you enjoy the bank holiday.

 

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Review of the flat – 2007

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Another year and another look back at the exploits of the horses featured on this site during what was an eventful season.

 

Poetry in Motion

 

The star of the season for me was undoubtedly Dylan Thomas.  The 4 year old was certainly not kept under wraps by the Ballydoyle team as he ran 9 times, only finishing out of the first 2 once, in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Monmouth Park. There were certainly excuses for Dylan Thomas for his showing here as torrential rain in the days leading up to the race meant the ground just went against him.  The race was appropriately enough won by a horse called English Channel on a day more suited to swimming than a world class horse race.

 

His 8 runs prior to that visit to the States had yielded 5 wins, 4 of them at Group 1 level.  He won the Irish Champion Stakes and the King George but his most dramatic win came at Longchamp in the Arc.  Produced by Kieren Fallon down the outside he veered markedly right cutting across several of his rivals and leaving connections with an anxious 30 minute wait while the stewards debated the issue.  In the end, surprisingly in view of the harsh line often taken by French stewards Dylan Thomas kept the race.  Justice was done I feel as he was the best horse in the race.  Ironically, the day after getting the right verdict at Longchamp Mr Fallon was to appear at the Old Bailey to face charges of race fixing.

 Let’s hope that Dylan Thomas now receives the praise he deserves. Few horses of recent times can match his record of six Group 1 races, or his versatility at the highest level over both a mile and a quarter and a mile and a half. The historians will probably note that an all-out defeat of Youmzain, with the outsider Sagara in third, doesn’t add up to this being one of the great Arcs but there is no getting way from the winner’s lifetime record. 

The Authorised version

 

Another horse to light up the flat season was Peter Chapple-Hyams Authorized.  An impressive winner of the Racing Post Trophy in 2006 he confirmed his well being when careering away from his field in the Dante at York and came to Epsom as a warm order for the Derby.  A repeat of his York performance saw him give Frankie Dettori his first Epsom Derby winner at the 14th attempt.

 

Next stop for Authorised was Sandown where he took on the older horses in the Eclipse. Despite winning his race on the nearside he was beaten by the enterprisingly ridden Notnowcato who ploughed a lone furrow on the opposite rail.  As Peter Chapple-Hyam commented afterwards his horse probably thought he had won!

 

Authorized easily turned the tables on Notmowcato in the Juddmonte International at York in August to restore his reputation.  Dylan Thomas was second after being “held in” to some degree by Frankie who secured first run for his mount.

 

The final race of the season for Authorised was the Arc but he was never able to get competitive and finished well down the field. There were various theories put forward for this defeat but I am inclined to put it down largely to the fact that the stable were going through a barren spell.

 

The other overriding factor – perhaps the most important guideline in racing – is that when a yard is out of form, even its best horses are not immune. The one consolation for connections is that this was clearly not Authorized’s form.

 

A Classic double

 

The Irish trained filly Finsceal Beo lit up the early part of the season with a real purple patch in the months of May landing both the English and Irish 1,000 guineas

 

Prescott

 

Anyone who has read my earlier masterpieces will know that I always include a smattering of Sir Mark Prescott 3 year olds in any list to follow.  It is a tried and tested formula that has stood me in good stead over the years.  While not getting quite the same number of multiple winners as in previous seasons most of the horses chosen visited the winner’s enclosure at least once.  Copernican was probably the most successful with 3 wins but others worth a mention are Alleviate, Hora, Ballet Boy, View from the Top and Tonnante.

 

Sprinters

 

The star sprinter of the season was Hughie Morrison’s Sakhee’s Secret who carried all before him for the first half of the season winning his first four starts.  His biggest win came in the Darley July Cup where he travelled well at the rear of the field and then quickened impressively to win by half a length from Dutch Art.  He was then made a hot favourite for the Group 1 Bertfred Sprint Cup at Haydock but could only finish 5th.  He remains a potential star and is not one to write off on the basis of one slightly disappointing effort.

 

Amadeus Wolf had been a high class juvenile and looked set to challenge the best sprinters around when landing the Group 2 Duke of York Stakes in May but he was never able to reach that level of form in his subsequent 4 outings.  Advanced, another Kevin Ryan sprinter showed a similar inconsistent profile winning just once from his 10 runs.  The win though was a prestigious one in the Ayr Gold Cup at 20/1 where Advanced carried the 3rd highest weight ever carried to victory in that race.  His best effort apart from that was probably his 2nd in a fairly weak Group 2 at Maisons-Laffitte.

 

Seldom do you see a horse in a 26-runner handicap travel as well, or win as decisively, as Utmost Respect, who was backed as though defeat were out of the question the Ayr Silver Cup.  He ran well enough next time out at Ascot over 7 furlongs off a 10 lbs higher mark but left the impression that 6 furlongs is his trip and he will be interesting next season.

 

Another from my list to follow to land a major sprint handicap was Zidane who won the Stewards Cup swooping late to nail Borderlescott on the line, with a third runner from my list, Knot in Wood close up in 3rd.  Zidane had earlier won a handicap at Ascot.  Knot in Wood who is trained by Richard Fahey ran a number of decent races during the season including one of the easiest wins you are ever likely to see in the Scottish Stewards Cup at Hamilton where he landed the spoils without coming off the bridle. 

 

The unlucky loser

 

Borderlescott must go down as one of the unluckiest horses on the season.  He finished runner up on no fewer than 5 occasions, twice being defeated by a short head.  He also played a major part in the dramatic events of the last day of the flat season.  The 2007 season was remarkable for the closely fought jockey’s championship which went right down to the lasts race on the last day of the season.  Seb Sanders had a 1 winner lead over Jamie Spencer coming into the listed Wentworth Stakes and he made a brave bid to make all on his more than willing partner Borderlescott only to be mugged on the line.  In the event Jamie Spencer won the last race of the day to tie the championship for only the 3rd time in history.  Incidentally, Knot in Wood was 3rd in that race showing that he is up to listed class.

 

Dandy Nicholls has long been regarded as the top trainer of sprinters and his Tax Free had another profitable year after wintering in Dubai.  His best win was in the Group 3 Palace House Stakes at Newmarket but he also won a Group 3 contest at Longchamps.

 

I also followed a selection of other handicapped sprinters.  These horses can often show a level stakes profit if backed blindly and Terentia, trained by Ed McMahon was a good example of this.  She ran 5 times, winning the 3rd of these, a handicap at York at 12/1.  The 3rd that day was Hogmaneigh who won the Vodaphone Dash at Epsom on his next run.  He also showed a level stakes profit, albeit only just as he ran 7 times in all and this was his sole win.

 

Another to show a profit from a solitary win was Deserted Dane whose only success came at Carlisle at 20/1 but not a bad profit given that he ran 8 times.

 

How’ She Cuttin’ was far more consistent winning 3 of her 7 starts. She has been either first or second 9 times in a 14 race career and just taking her runs at Musselburgh her form figures read 11121.  Her one fault is that she tends to hang right and she did this markedly in the finish of one of her Musselburgh wins when she veered across the track and nearly lost out to the Jim Goldie trained Blazing Heights.  The latter was another from my list to follow but proved pretty expensive to follow as she failed to score a win in her first 13 runs of the season.  His followers had to wait until the penultimate day of the flat season when Jim Goldie’s sprinter finally got it together to take a 5 furlong Musselburgh handicap, a race he had won in 2006.

 

Blazing Height’s full brother Geojimali had a similar profile.  Like his brother he won just once from 14 attempts, the win coming at 8/1, surprise in a 5 furlong Musselburgh handicap. Things could have been different though as he was only beaten a short head in a handicap at Doncaster at 13/2.  As ever in racing it is a very fine line between success and failure.

 

Bo McGinty has been a regular on my list to follow and I was quite hopeful that he would show a level stakes profit.  It was not to be however and he was largely a victim of his own consistency.  He ran no fewer than 20 times and won but once, at 7/1 in a handicap at Haydock.  That sounds like a pretty dismal season but the bare facts don’t tell the full story as he was 2nd 3 times, 3rd 4 times and 4th on 5 occasions including the race won by Deserted Dane at Carlisle.  In a very wet summer he also had to run on unsuitable ground much of the time as he shows his best form on a fast surface.  He must be a real fun horse to own I should imagine.

 

Dig Deep was another to be kept busy; in fact his trainer Willie Haggas followed the Goldie method of entering sprinters by running him 14 times.  Unlike his counterparts north of Hadrian’s Wall though Dig Deep managed 3 wins. Trying to fathom just when he was going to repay my support proved about as easy as eating ice cream with your fingers.  Well maybe I should have tried harder.  He ran twice over 6 furlongs and beat just 4 of his 29 rivals so we can safely say that 5 appears to be his trip.  Having said that his 3 wins before the start of the 2007 season all came at 7 furlongs. Oh well.  Someone was doing a better job of working him out than me as he was made favourite on 5 occasions and won 3 of them.

 

I was optimistic that River Thames would make his mark in sprint handicaps.  He’d been a decent juvenile, finishing 3rd in the Flying Childers but had failed to win at 3, finding himself high in the weights.  Over the close season the horse had changed hands and gone to Kevin Ryan’s stable and started the season off a tempting mark.  He didn’t begin much like a handicap snip though and his first 5 runs didn’t set the pulses arcing.  Then all of a sudden he popped up at Ayr at 5/1.  In fact he absolutely dotted up without being asked a serious question by Jamie Spencer.  In truth he was entitled to win as he ran off a mark of 70, and had been as high as 100. He was then turned out 6 days later under a penalty as he was due to be raised 12 lbs. He was a nailed on certainty to follow up at Redcar with J Spencer on board right? Wrong, he was 4th at 5/6. As it turned out the win at Ayr was his solitary success.  He did come close to showing a level stakes profit though as he was only beaten a neck at Chester on his penultimate start at 20/1.  He ended the season coming 8th of 8 at Wolverhampton. Horses are difficult to fathom aren’t they?

 

John Gosden’s Transcend had shown the right sort of signs as a two year old and had clearly impressed someone at home as he was sent off favourite on 3 of his first 4 starts as a 3 year old.  He only won one of them though and seemed to be going backwards until winning his final start at Brighton.  He was dropped back to 5 furlongs for this final run and it may well be that sprinting is his game.  He is a nice type on looks and may be one to follow next season.

 

Some success stories and classic trials

 

Hearthstead Maison won the much coveted award as highest priced winner on the Russellform list to follow!  One thing you can rely on Mark Johnston’s runners for is effort and this fellow certainly didn’t lack in that department.  The win in question came at 25/1 in a 10 furlong Newmarket handicap.  The horse had shown some decent form before finishing 3rd to Lucano (4th in the Derby) and 2nd to Aqaleem (3rd in the Derby).  He won 3 races in all at 9/1, 25/1 and 9/2 with the final win coming in a Group 3 at Leopardstown.  He ran 11 times in all with perhaps the key to him being the trip.  Over 10 furlongs his form figures read 13101.  Two of his wins came when ridden by champion apprentice Greg Fairlie.

 

Aqaleem, trained by Marcus Tregoning had won the Lingfield Derby Trial at 12/1.  His 3rd in the Derby was followed by a 2nd only beaten a neck in the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood.

 

Another to make a handsome profit to level stakes was Mount Kilimanjaro.  He won first time out at 20/1 in a listed race at Nottingham in early April.  He was 4th of 7 in the Henry ll Stakes at Sandown behind Allegretto and was not seen after that.  Mount Kilimanjaro was one early season winner for the list to follow and further success followed in the various classic trials. Regime, Michael Bell’s colt won at Sandown in a race that has dipped in class since its heyday as the Guardian Classic Trial.  He made no show at Epsom but was involved in a couple of close finishes with other horses from the list to follow. He was 3rd in a Group 3 at Leopardstown to Hearthstead Maison and was beaten a short head by Harland in a Group 2 at Maisons-Laffitte. Harland won 3 of his 4 starts including a listed race at Sandown beating the Godolphin runner Tam Lin.  Sir Michael Stoute’s Adagio won the Craven Stakes but disappointed subsequently and was sold to race in America.

 

Wet, wet, wet

 

We had an abnormally wet summer and it certainly favoured horses that like some cut in the ground.  Two that revelled in the conditions were Mutajarred and Bollin Felix.  Mutajarred had show promise on his only start as a juvenile and quickly ran up a hat trick of wins as a 3 year old winning his 3 races by a total of 17 lengths all on soft or heavy going. The handicapper eventually caught up with him but he still ran creditably when 4th at Ayr after going up 20 lbs in the weights and the same could be said of his last run of the season when 2nd at Ascot, stepped up from a mile to 10 furlongs. 

 

Bollin Felix ran 9 times winning 3 and was another that enjoyed plenty of cut in the ground.  His first win came at 10/1 so he was also a profitable horse for the list to follow. He also ran some decent races in defeat, notably when 3rd to Black Rock at Ayr over 13 furlongs.  Black Rock himself notched up 3 wins during the campaign.  Michael Jarvis's colt is a progressive three-year-old that could make a decent middle-distance stayer. He could be the sort to win a big handicap in time.  Another “Bollin” from Tim Easterby’s yard, Bollin Derek won on the last of his 3 outings at 9/4 so made a narrow profit to level stakes.  His win came in a 14 furlong handicap at York, where the horse revelled in the soft ground under David Allan to win by 5 lengths with the field well strung out behind him.

 

A Triumph Hurdle winner?

 

At the time of penning these notes Francoek has won a couple of races over hurdles for Alan King and is already being talked about as a Cheltenham Festival prospect.  On the flat last season he established himself as an improving young slayer winning 3 times all at 2 miles.

 

Coming of age

 

The best guide to unraced 2 year olds is undoubtedly Steve Taplin’s excellent annual.  The 2006 edition highlighted Luca Cumani’s Monte Alto as a horse to follow, describing him as “a very nice horse that is strong and good looking.”  He didn’t actually win as a juvenile but ran with promise on both his starts.  I put him on my list to follow for 2007 and he certainly proved a worthy choice winning 3 of his 9 starts. The most memorable of his wins was when he overcame the worst possible draw in a heritage handicap at Newbury.  Johnny Murtagh dropped him in at the back and produced him late with a perfectly judged challenge.  Monte Alto only finished out of the first 3 once and that was when 6th of 34 in the Cambridgeshire.

 

While on the subject of the Steve Taplin book another of his selections, Signor Peltro figured in the 2005 version and indeed would have more than paid for the modest cost of the book because he won first time out as a two year old at 22/1.  Now a 4 year old he earned his place on my list to follow by winning a Newmarket handicap at 10/1 sporting first time blinkers. 

 

Signor Peltro is trained by Henry Candy who is also responsible for another horse that justified his place on my list to follow.  While Signor Peltro won over 6 furlongs Colloquial is very much a stayer. A lightly raced 6 year old, he obliged in a 2 mile handicap at Haydock at odds of 9/1.

 

Passion Fruit is an admirable mare who is kept on the go by her trainer Chris Fairhurst.  She narrowly paid her way to level stakes by winning 1 of her 14 starts at 14/1!  She came from last to first to win a 7 furlong handicap at Redcar under apprentice Andrew Elliott.  She ran pretty consistently throughout the season with several placed efforts including a creditable 3rd of 6 in a listed race at Pontefract.  Seven furlongs is very much her trip.

 

Mick Channon’s Halicarnassus was a profitable selection with 3 wins, two of them at 9/1.  He picked up a couple of Group 2 races including the Rose of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock.  He seems to excel in small field as he only faced a total of 12 rivals in total in claiming his 3 prizes.

 

You can usually rely on trainer Mark Johnston to come up with some prolific winners, especially among his 3 year olds.  This year I had Record Breaker on my list to follow and he won 3 of his 7 starts.  Another Johnston runner, Swiss Act won one of his 3 starts at 5/1.

 

The big handicaps

 

The Royal Hunt Cup has not been a lucky race for me over the years but in 2007 one of my list to follow at last managed to win the race.  Royal Oath proved an unusually easy winner in such a competitive heat storming clear by 4 lengths at 9/1 wearing first time blinkers.  It was his only success of the campaign although he did finish 2nd to Cesare in a Group 2 at Ascot. Supaseus, who I had retained on my list to follow for a second season was 4th to Royal Oath at Ascot but paid his way for the season by winning the 9 furlong Suffolk Stakes Handicap at HQ by a neck from Pinpoint at 10/1.

 

The Northumberland Plate produced one of the season’s closest finishes.  The soft ground and strong gallop made it a gruelling test and when George Moore’s Macorville went clear 2 furlongs from home he looked to be home and hosed. However promising apprentice Luke Morris got a late run out of Juniper Girl to grab the spoils in the dying strides and win by a short head.  11 days earlier Juniper Girl had finished 2nd to Full House in the two and a half mile Ascot Stakes.

 

Another big race winner was the Irish trained Haatef.  He had been a strong fancy for the 2,000 Guineas but had disappointed at Newmarket.  He did manage to win a couple of races in Ireland but his last race of the season gave him his biggest win in the Group 2 Diadem Stakes where he won comfortably at 8/1.  Zidane was 4th.

 

A winning tip and a consistent Diva!

 

While I was never exactly in the running for the champion Tipster award I did have my moments.  One such was the 13th of July when I told anyone who was prepared to listen that Obstructive would win the 5 furlong handicap at Chester and the 4 year old duly obliged at 11/4.  He had earlier won at Windsor and just been touched off by a short head at Newmarket.  As a result of those performances he had gone up 5 lbs in the weights but with a promising young 5 lbs claimer booked to ride and his front running tactics likely to be suited by the sharp Roodeye track he looked a fair bet.

 

One of the most consistent performers of the season was John Hill’s Diamond Diva who ended the season with form figures of 301012222.  The wins came on handicaps at Wolverhampton and Folkestone. She ran with great credit when stepped up in class and those last three “2S” were all in listed company.  Effective at 6 furlongs her best trip is probably 7.

 

More profitable selections

 

Another horse from our list to follow, Ivy Creek, had run well at Chester when 3rd in  group 3 contest behind the tough Maraahel.  This run seemed to auger well and Geoff Wragg’s 4 year old duly won his next two races, listed events over 12 furlongs at  Goodwood and Pontefract at odds of 8/1 and 9/2.  He ran creditably enough in 4 more races in good company without winning again but he would have shown a profit if backed blindly.

 

All the Good was something of an afterthought when I was compiling my list to follow but he earned his place with a couple of wins. He came from first to last to win with something in hand in a 14 furlong handicap at Musselburgh and he finished his season with a win in a 12 furlong handicap at Ascot just getting up to pip Ladies Best close home. He proved quite a versatile horse with regards to trip as he was a close 2nd over an extended 10 furlongs on the new all weather track at Dundalk in between his two wins.

 

Brian Meehan’s dual purpose performer Junior only had three runs but proved a progressive sort winning two of them, both over 2 miles.  He made all in both races, firstly at Newbury and then on the all weather at Kempton, beating Whispering Death under an enterprising ride from Jimmy Fortune. With the wins coming at 5/2 and 3/1 he was a profitable runner for the list to follow.

 

Michael Bell’s filly Red Evie had been one of the success stories to come out of 2006 with 7 consecutive victories. The remarkable run began with a class 6 maiden at Yarmouth and ended with a Group 1 at Leopardstown.  Although not as prolific in 2007 she still managed to win the Lockinge and the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes.

 

I have had some success with John Dunlop horses down the years and in 2007 his Free Offer was one of the more profitable animals on my list.  From 7 starts he won twice at 16/1 and 7/2.  The 16/1 win came in tenacious fashion in a 10 furlong fillies handicap at Newbury.  She continued to progress and was only beaten a head at 12/1 on her last outing in a Newmarket handicap. 

 

Henry Cecil – a popular resurgence

 

Henry Cecil enjoyed resurgence in 2007 partly due to his Oaks winning filly Light Shift. I had another filly of his, Passage of Time on my list to follow.  Passage of Time began the season by landing the Musidora at York and started 9/4 favourite for the Epsom Classic.  In the event she could only finish 8th behind her stable companion. She had been suffering from a throat abscess and a 3 month layoff followed.  She returned to finish 3rd in a Group 1 at Leopardstown from where she headed to the States for The Breeder’s Cup filly and mare turf at Monmouth Park. She ran well in 3rd and was a rare success in what was a disastrous day for the European horses after torrential rain had turned the dirt course to soup and the turf track to soft.  Passage of Time was one of the few European challengers to have conditions that suited.

 

Another Henry Cecil winner for my list to follow was the 4 year old Multidimensional who had suffered a fractured pelvis after winning at Group 2 level in 2006.  He didn’t reappear until winning a conditions stakes at Newbury on September 22.   He then ran in the Champion Stakes at Newmarket where he finished 5th.  He didn’t get much luck in running and did well in the end to stay on into 5th.  Hopefully he will get the chance to fulfil his potential next season.

 

Some listed and Group winners

 

Blue Ksar ran some solid races and won twice, including a listed race at Pontefract.  He was also runner up to the 2006 Lincoln Winner Blythe Knight in the Group 3 Diomed Stakes at Epsom and 3rd behind the consistent filly Echelon and Cesare in the Group 2 Celebration Mile at Goodwood.  Others to enjoy listed success were Dunelight and Illustrious Blue, who both won at Goodwood, and Lion Sands who won the Noel Murless Stakes at Newmarket and Short Skirt.  The latter had been a classy 3 year old winning twice at Group 3 level but injury kept her off the track for most of the 2007 season. When she did come back, after an absence of almost exactly 12 months she did well to land a 10 furlong listed race at HQ. She may have “bounced” when down the field 9 days later in a Group 1 at Capannelle (Rome).

 

Arabian Gulf presumably had injury problems as he only ran twice.  After winning a Newmarket maiden at 7/1 who contested the Chester Vase where he only went down by a short head in a thrilling finish against Aiden O’Brien’s Soldier of Fortune who went on to win the Irish Derby.  Harland was another profitable horse to run in better class races.  He won 3 of his 4 starts including a listed race at Sandown where he edged out the errant Tam Lin and the Prix Eugene Adam, a Group 2 at Maisons’Laffitte where he pipped Regime by a short head.

 

Walter Swinburn’s Stotsfold was one of a number of horses who suffered from the wet summer.  He needs good to firm and when he had his favoured conditions he ran with great credit. He was runner up to Donald McCain’s 50/1 outsider Temple Place at Chester and ran 3rd to Subsequent Ebor winner Purple Moon Goodwood.  On his last run of the season he returned to the Sussex track to record a deserved success in a Group 3 at 7/1 with other runners from our list, Halicarnassus and Blue Ksar well beaten.

 

And 6 to finish with

 

I will end this season’s review with 6 horses who all played their part in the season for me.  Noisy Silence, Marozi, Mujahaz, Furmigadelagiusta,  Mount Hermon and Mirthful.

 

Noisy Silence was backed in from 33s to 12/1 to win a Windsor maiden by a short head.  He wasn’t able to repeat that form in two subsequent runs but a 12/1 winner warrants a mention!

 

Marozi interested me as his trainer Michael Jarvis picked him out as his number 1 horse to follow for the season.  He didn’t appear until mid July and only ran 4 times winning twice. His second success came in a 20 runner 3 year old handicap at Goodwood over 5 furlongs.  Although disappointing on his final run at Sandown he could be an interesting sprinter next term.  Mujahaz made a level stakes profit as he only ran twice, winning a Newbury handicap at 13/2.  He has since moved to Peter Bowe’s yard but has not done much over hurdles at the time of penning these notes.

 

I always have one unpronounceable horse on my list to follow.  Last season it was Compromiznotension (now bought to go jumping with Howard Johnson) and this season I went one better with Furmigadelagiusta. Trained by Luca Cumani he earned his place on the list with 2 wins, in 12 furlong handicaps at Newbury and Wolverhampton.

 

Mount Hermon didn’t exactly scale the heights (sorry, couldn’t resist that one) but he was another to make a level stakes profit. He actually won on the all weather the day before the turf season started.  He then ran three times, winning the middle one at 5/1 back on the all weather surface that he clearly likes at Lingfield.

 

Racing is definitely a game to make fools of us all so I suppose it is fitting to end this hotch potch of ramblings with a horse called Mirthful.  Trained by Barry Hills he won 2 of his 6 starts, a maiden at Bath and a handicap at Haydock.  The wins came at 3/1 and 13/2 with Richard Hughes on board both times.

  

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Continue reading “Review of the flat – 2007” →

Diary: April 8 2007

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Just a quick update tonight as I need to do some week on my Grand National preview.

  

There is one runner from our flat list to follow tomorrow.  The Ayr Silver Cup winner of last season, Geojimali, lines up in the 4.50 at Musselburgh.  He is yet to win over the minimum trip however and may be best watched on this occasion.

  

There are two runners from the jumps list running at Fairyhouse, Leading Run in the 3.15 and Schindlers Hunt in the 3.50.

  

See you tomorrow

 

Continue reading “Diary: April 8 2007” →