Month: November 2007

Reflecting on the last couple of day’s racing Twist Magic won very much as a 2/11 shot should.  Apart from getting in close 2 out he jumped quickly and accurately and looks set for a successful campaign.

 

I was interested in the novice chase at Carlisle on Monday as 4 runners from my list to follow took part.  Cedrus Libani won for the in form Howard Johnson yard and with the field quite strung out the form looks solid.  Modicum and Benetwood filled the minor placings and should go on to win races.

 

Evelith Echo won twice in bumpers last season for Alan King and makes his hurdles debut tomorrow in the 12.50 at Bangor-on-Dee. He seems to handle any ground and I would be hopeful of a good run.

 

Money Order represents our list to follow in the 1.20. He makes his chase debut after being unbeaten in 3 starts in a bumper and over hurdles.  All his wins have come on soft ground so the question here may be the going.  He looks like a horse with plenty of stamina.

 

Bible Lord goes for the hat trick in the handicap chase at 2.20.  He steps up in trip which should suit him.  The main danger may come from the giant Bannow Strand who has been something of an under achiever since coming from Ireland with a reputation to match his huge frame.  He has plenty of talent though if he can get it right on the day.

 

The 3.50 is interesting in that David Pipe brings back Noble Sham and Time Bandit who return to the track after 782 and 876 days respectively.  Either would be very interesting if there is market support.

 

Continue reading “Diary: November 14 2007” →

I am pushed for time tonight so this will be a short update.

 

There are two runners from our list to follow in action tomorrow. Abstinence goes in the Sedgefield bumper at 3.50. He looked good when winning at Wetherby last season but made a right mess of things on his reappearance at Hexham.  He was an odds on favourite but bolted before the start and then raced too keenly.  One to watch I suppose.

 

Twist Magic is a horse that has always been well regarded by connections. He is being aimed at the Champion Chase in March but should be able to make a winning start in the Kempton 2.55.

 

Continue reading “Diary: November 13 2007” →

Well, now that the drama of the flat finale has died down we can concentrate on what should be an exciting jumps campaign.  We have Cheltenham to look forward to at the weekend with the Paddy Power Chase on Saturday but in the meantime Carlisle stage a fair card for a Monday.

 

The beginner’s chase at 12.50 features several promising types.  Benetwood has AP McCoy on board and he will wear the distinctive colours of J P McManus.  Benetwood has been remarkably consistent in his career so far and is yet to finish out of the first 2.  He will appreciate the good ground and looks a major player.  Another making his chase debut is Cedrus Libani, trained by Howard Johnson.   He was staying on in the Supreme Novices at Cheltenham and had earlier won at Hexham and Newcastle.  Modicum has already had one run over fences when jumping well to finish second at Hexham.  He is another that will like the ground.  Shouldhavehadthat moved from Nicky Henderson’s yard in the summer and is now with Ferdy Murphy.  He has always looked a chaser in the making and his first run when unplaced at Kelso can probably be disregarded as Ferdy Murphy’s horses tend to come on for the run.  A good race this and a hard one to call.  With the ground in his favour I am going to side with Benetwood.

 

Professor Higgins was an expensive purchase by Graham and Andrea Wylie after finishing second in a Limerick bumper.  He had earlier won his only point to point and may well make a winning hurdles debut in the 1.20, a race that Howard Johnson won last season.

 

In the 1.55 According to John makes his reappearance. He was 3^rd to Denman at Cheltenham last season and looks capable of landing a good prize this term.  Idle Talk has failed to complete in any of his last 4 starts but this represents a drop in class for him and the small field may aid his jumping.  Caribou is a horse I like but his best form has been on soft ground.  According to John should win this on the way to better things.

 

That is about all for tonight

 

Continue reading “Diary: November 12 2007” →

What a quite remarkable finish to the flat season and what a credit to the sport were the two jockeys vying for the championship.  Sportsmanship still survives in the 21st century after all.

 

As well as enjoying the sheer theatre of the occasion at Doncaster on TV I also had the satisfaction of a fair amount of success on the tipping front. Over the jumps Theatre Girl, Abrogante, Hell’s Baby, King’s Quay and Ornais were all winning tips while on the flat the luckless Borderlescott was only beaten a short head.

 

King’s Quay is a really game little dual purpose horse and battled on well to get the better of the former Cambridgeshire winner Chivalry at Wincanton.

 

Theatre Girl was given 5 runs in bumpers last season and her form was very consistent.  I was quite hopeful that she would make a winning debut over timber and she didn’t disappoint.

 

Abrogante was described by one pundit this morning as “chicken-hearted.”  It didn’t stop him from winning the Badger Ales Chase, although he won so easily that his resolution was not really put to the test.  Timmy Murphy gave him a super ride, cajoling him quietly into the race from the back.

 

Ornais was another given a patient ride, this time by Ruby Walsh.  Ornais looked ungainly at times with his rather odd head carriage but he got the job done and obviously has ability.

 

There is not much that catches my eye tomorrow.  Mohtarres may be worth a second look in the 3.15 at Limerick, especially if there is support for him in the market, while I quite like Powerstation in the 1.25 at Navan.

 

Bye for now.

 

Continue reading “Diary: November 11 2007” →

Nicky Richard's course winner Role On looks a likely improver and could be worth a look in the 2.40 at Kelso.

Continue reading “Late thoughts Saturday” →

The flat season draws to a close tomorrow so it seems reasonable to start tonight’s preview at Doncaster where messrs Sanders and Spencer will be going head to head again.

 

The apprentice handicap that starts the day at 12.00 has a 22 runner field so winner finding won’t be easy.  There are a couple of runners from our list to follow, Madedon and Geojimali.  The 4 year old Macedon is quite lightly raced with only 10 runs to date. Although he has not finished in the first three in his 5 starts this season he has only dropped 2 lbs in the handicap. This is probably his trip though and in Tolley Dean he has a capable young rider.  If the rain stays away it will help his cause.

 

Geojimali’s younger brother, Blazing Heights, was a winner at Musselburgh this afternoon.  The brothers are quite similar in that they need to be held up and come late off a strong pace.  This means things have to drop right for them as they try and weave their way through a crowd.  As a result they get losing runs and come down the ratings as Geojimali has.  He has ability, he is running off a fair mark, he has won in a field of 26 in the past and his trainer is in form (he also trains the brother).  He has ticks in many of the right boxes and has claims.

 

Jamie Spencer will be hoping for a win on Gull Wing in the 2.05.  She has run some decent races this season and won once, at York over 10 furlongs.  That was in heavy ground though and at a time when the stable were in better nick.  I think I will pass her by on this occasion.

 

Our list to follow will be well represented in the sprint handicap at 2.35.  This is a real Sanders/Spencer duel.  Their rides, Borderelscott and Zidane were second and first in the Stewards Cup with only a short head between them. Spencer has won 4 times from 10 rides on Zidane who seems to go on any ground and likes to be held up.  Borderlescott has been very unlucky this season and deserves a prize like this. Sanders has ridden him twice and finished second both times.  Knot in Wood was a close up 3^rd in the Stewards Cup and is one of only 2 course and distance winners in the line up.  Advanced won the Ayr Gold Cup earlier in the season when ridden by a certain J Spencer! He has been inconsistent but is capable of winning this at his best. Cape looked a horse to follow at the start of the season but has failed to live up to those expectations.  She ran a better race when 4^th last time but needs to step up on previous efforts to land a blow here.

 

The one they all have to beat in this is Greek Renaissance who has won his last two starts for Godolphin but I will stay loyal to my list horses.  I am going to take a chance with Borderlescott, with Advanced and Zidane the next best in that order.

 

23 go to post for the big handicap at 3.10. Rampallion is a 4 year old but has only raced 5 times so has presumably had training problems.  He has shown his best form on soft ground and the ground seems likely to be riding on the fast side.  New Guinea and Heaven Knows both come into the race on the back of a win.  New Guinea has been in good form and won at Leicester last time but whether he can produce the goods here off top weight remains to be seen. I would say he has an each way chance at around 14/1.  Heaven Knows is a horse I have always liked and he finally came good last time at Newbury in soft ground. I would fancy him with ease in the ground and would still not write him off as he may have more improvement in him.  Shame about the ground though.

 

Moving on to the jumps I will start up at Kelso.  Valentine’s Lady is an interesting runner in the 12.35.  The Reveleys do well with this type of horse. She ran well in bumpers last season and I think she will be a nice one to follow this season. She might need this of course.

 

Down at Sandown I will be watching Wild Tonto in the 12.50.Trained by Helen Lewis in Wales Wild Tonto won on his last outing last season when stepped up in trip.  Judging from his performance that day I would have thought he would be better going left handed so I will give him a miss this time.  Incidentally, Jay Silverheels, who played Tonto, the Lone Ranger’s sidekick, used to be a racehorse trainer.  As the man said, not many people know that.

 

Atomic Winner makes her hurdles debut for Alan King in the 1.55.  She won twice at Marseilles on the flat and looks an interesting recruit to the winter game.

 

It might be worth taking a look at Presenting Express in the 2.25.  I see that none of the experts tip him which should help his price.  He has had problems with burst blood vessels but is quite decent on his day and should have trip and ground in his favour.  The stable are currently in very good form.

 

In the 3.00 Man Overboard represents our list to follow.  He is a half brother to Europa and has probably got more to offer than he has shown thus far.

 

Presenting Copper will probably start favourite in the 12.40 at Wincanton but I am hoping that either Massasoit or Theatre Girl, from my list to follow, can land the spoils.  Massasoit was bought out of Malcolm Jefferson’s yard by Paul Nicholls after winning both his bumpers in the north.  He is bred for the job buy may of course need the run.  Theatre Girl ran very consistently in 5 bumpers last term, including a 2^nd to Turbo Linn who went on to win a Group 2 on the flat.  The benefit of a recent run may prove decisive for Presenting Copper but I am going to side with Theatre Girl.

 

Phenix Jack is a new recruit for the Paul Nicholls yard.  He has form over fences in France and may well make a winning start over here in the 1.10.

 

Mossville was a faller over fences last time out and reverts to hurdles for the 1.45.  He is a course and distance winner and does not look badly handicapped.

 

Ornais won first time out last season but then suffered an accident.  He looks a nice chasing prospect though and I would expect a good run from him in the 2.20.

 

King’s Quay is a tough and genuine handicap hurdler and should give us a run for our money in the 2.50.

 

The Badger Ales Trophy at 3.25 looks quite an open race.  Alderburn has ground, track and distance in his favour and being ridden by AP McCoy is no bad thing.  He has never won first time out before though so may possibly need the run. Ardaghey won at Cheltenham 3 weeks ago but that was after a long break and he does go well fresh. High Chimes has only had 4 starts, winning the last of them in March at Chepstow in heavy ground.  He is probably going to be better on good ground though and is a horse with some potential I feel.  I am going to select Abrogante though as he is a progressive sort and looks well handicapped on his hurdles form.

 

Finally, in the 4.00 Hell’s Baby makes his bumper debut for Paul Nicholls.  He has some quite illustrious relatives.  He is apparently going well at home and should go close.

 

There is jumps action at Hereford, Market Rasen, Limerick and Naas on Sunday and I will be back tomorrow night with my thoughts on those meetings.

 

 

Continue reading “Diary: November 10 2007” →

There is much to write about from the last few days now that I have my PC working again!

 

I will start with last Saturday where the highlight in Ireland was the James Nicholson Chase at Down Royal.  There was a strong British challenge from Taranis and The Listener, while the home team was represented by Justified and the former Hennessey winner Strong Flow.

 

In the event The Listener was an early faller and Ruby Walsh decided to try and make all on Taranis, a tactic he would not have employed by choice.  Paul Nicholls runner got the job done however beating Justified in workmanlike fashion.

 

Apart from Taranis, Knockavilla provided a second winner for our list to follow.  Trained by Howard Johnson he followed up wins in a point to point and a bumper with a successful debut over hurdles at Wetherby.  It was not all plain sailing for our list horses though. The last race on the card looked a penalty kick for David Pipe’s mare Gaspara but although she started at 1/2 she was turned over by Annie’s Answer, who did well for this column last season.

 

I tipped Aces Four for the Charlie Hall Chase but with the benefit of hindsight he was always likely to need the run.  He travelled and jumped well but went out like a light when things got serious.  He should be seen to better effect next time.

 

There were a couple of winners from our list on Sunday.  First Marleybow, a bumper winner, won on his hurdles debut for Howard Johnson, in similar fashion to Knockavilla the day before.  Berwick Law made headway from the back to finish 4^th and looks one to take out of the race for the future.  Only 3 lined up for the intermediate chase that followed but the winner was hard to pick for much of the race until eventually L’Antartique imposed his authority on proceedings.

 

Former jockey Brendan Powell trains at Lambourn these days and he sent out Shoreacres to win the bumper at Plumpton under Mick Fitzgerald.  It was a weak race but the winner clearly has some ability and I will monitor his progress with interest.

 

The big race on Tuesday was the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter, a race best remembered in recent years for the day Best Mate sadly died during the race.  The dry weather probably led to a below par field for this year’s renewal but despite that the winner looks one to follow.  Pablo De Charmil has notched up a hat trick for David Pipe last season and won this quite impressively.  He looks as though he may have stamina limitation but you would not bet against David Pipe finding further winning opportunities for him.

 

On Wednesday Breedsbreeze, owned by “Lucky” Jim Lewis kept things ticking over for our list to follow in the first at Chepstow but another lister The Package was beaten into 2^nd after racing too freely.  On the flat at Nottingham Medicine Path got off the mark for the season.  He had been a smart juvenile having finished 3^rd to Authorized with Eagle Mountain 4^th but had disappointed in 3 runs this season. Although he race freely at Notting Neil Callan managed to keep him covered up at the back and when he produced him out wide he eventually quickened to win going away.  Not classic form exactly but a big improvement on his efforts earlier in the season.  We also had a winner from the flat list today with John Quinn’s Monashee Brave in the seller at Musselburgh.

 

One horse that went into my notebook from the last few days was Amour Multiple who returned from a long absence and ran well for a long way in the valuable handicap hurdle at Ascot on Saturday.  The ground would not have been ideal for him either and he looks one to keep on the right side.

 

Tomorrow at Hexham recent course and distance winner Tot O’ Whiskey looks the one to be on in the 1.50.

 

We have had a couple of late winners from our flat list to follow as the season draws to a close.  Blazing Heights might just add to the tally in the 2.30 at Musselburgh, a race he won last season.

 

See you tomorrow for a preview of the weekend’s racing.

 

Continue reading “Diary: November 9 2007” →

The drying ground and consequent defection of many of the better horses robbed today’s card at Uttoxeter of much of its interest.  Alan King’s Ouzbeck won well though and looks capable of holding his own in better company.

 

I tipped against Mister McGoldrick today and you do that at your peril.  He had won there 7 times from 8 starts and duly made it 8 from 9.  We grow older but not necessarily wiser I suppose.

 

At this stage of the season it always seems to me that the flat season has outstayed his welcome somewhat.  The jockey’s championship is providing most of the excitement and threatens to go to the wire though.

 

Evan Williams has an interest in the big race at Wetherby tomorrow but he is also represented at Ascot where he runs Demi Beau in the handicap chase at 1.10.  He might be a bit too high in the weights over fences but I would be interested if his trainer tries him over hurdles later in the season as he has a much more lenient mark over the smaller obstacles.

 

The handicap hurdle at 1.40 looks competitive.  Ouninpohja won 5 times on the flat a few years ago but has become a really quirky individual since.  He has the talent to win a race like this but it remains to be seen if he also has the resolution.  I was impressed with the grey Special Envoy last season.  Previously he had won on the flat in France but he excelled over hurdles winning twice, running respectively at Cheltenham and falling when in front at Aintree. He could only finish 6^th last week in the race won by Don’t Push It.  It is possible that the handicapper has him in his grasp but I am not so sure.  Amour Multiple won twice last season on soft ground and his chance will depend on whether he handles quicker ground.  He is likely to go novice chasing I understand. Chivalry is one of those comparatively rare types that have won on the flat, over hurdles and fences.  He won the Cambridgeshire when he was trained by Sir Mark Prescott on the flat and was bought by Graham Wylie.  He is with Venetia Williams these days.  He has won on good to firm back in his flat days.  I quite fancy another ex Prescott flat horse, Liberate. He was 2^nd to Katchit in the Triumph Hurdle last season and on his most recent run was 2^nd to Alph, who also runs here, at Kempton.  This stiffer track should suit him but he may need a bit more cut in the ground.  This is an open race but I quite like both Liberate and Special Envoy.

 

Knockavilla impressed when winning his bumper at Carlisle and looks set to make a winning start to his hurdling career in the 1.20 at Wetherby.

 

Eight line up for the Charlie Hall Chase which is the centrepiece on the Wetherby card at 3.30. Kingscliffe has been a grand servant for the Alner stable. His second behind Neptune Collonges at Punchestown at the end of last season showed he is no back number and he could well run a big race.  Madison Du Berlais is best with give in the ground and although he won 3 times last season (and did this column a few favours in the process) I am going to pass him by here.  Bewley’s Berry is a horse I have always liked and was bang there in the Grand National when he fell. He broke a bone in his nose that day but as long as that experience hasn’t affected his confidence I am hoping he will enjoy a good season.  He is a course and distance winner and looks over priced at 20/1.  On the face of it the two main contenders are State of Play and Aces Four. State of Play won the Hennessey last season and has AP McCoy on board.  He is clearly a serious contender but I am going to burden Aces Four with my tip.  He looks the one horse in the field that will actually like the ground and providing he has no mental ill effects from a crashing fall on his last run in Ireland he should be up there.

 

Gaspara should prevail in the 4.05 but he will not be much of a price.

 

Over in Ireland the big race is the “James Nicholson” Chase at 2.30 where the two most likely winners are the UK trained Taranis and The Listener. I have the greatest respect for the latter who has a good record on his travels across the Irish Sea but Taranis may be better on the ground and Paul Nicholls seems upbeat about his chances.

 

On the flat Illustrious Blue represents our list to follow in the 8.20 at Kempton.  He is a bit of a Goodwood specialist and is also trying 12 furlongs for the first time and there are others in the race with more obvious claims.

 

We have 2 runners in the 3.50 at Newmarket.  Caldra has not shown a lot on recent runs and the ground may not be suitable.  Smart Enough was a winner at Bath last time out and has each way claims.

Osteopathic Remedy represents our list to follow in the 2.30 at Ayr.  He ran a shocker last week so is perhaps best watched.

 

There is jumps racing at Carlisle on Sunday and the novice hurdle at 12.50 features two runners from our list to follow.  Berwick Law looks a bright prospect on the basis of two wins in bumpers at Ayr, although both were on heavy ground.  Marleybow represents the Howard Johnson yard and the trainer rates him highly.  He comes from a winning jumping family and he won his bumper on good ground.  The main danger to these two looks likely to be Harry Wood, a dual bumper winner himself who has already had a run over hurdles when he was a promisiong 2^nd at Uttoxeter.

 

Although there are only 4 runners in the 1.20 it could still be tricky to pick a winner. L’Antartique was very consistent last season with his best performance coning at the Cheltenham Festival where he landed the Jewson beating another from our list to follow, Bob Hall.  Ungaro is an obvious danger but I am hoping that L’Antartique pays his way for us this season.

 

There are plenty of old favourites in the 2.25.  Irish Raptor is the likely favourite and comes from an in form yard.  King Killone is another for the short list.  He suffered an injury last season but is a nice old fashioned chasing type who should land a arce or two during the season.  The ground may be a concern for him tomorrow though. Numero un de Solzen has never been out of the first 3 yet and stays well.  His wins have come on soft ground though.

 

Good luck and see you Sunday evening

 

Continue reading “Diary: November 3 & 4 2007” →