Only time for a short update tonight so here are the runners for tomorrow from our lusts to follow.
Main list
Catterick 1.40 – Shouldhavehadthat Smart Street
Catterick 3.20 – Starting Point & Cool Operator
Chepstow 3.30 – Isn’t That Lucky
Chepstow 4.05 – Time Bandit
Dark horses list
Catterick 3.55 – Aureate
Chepstow 1.20 – Wind Instrument
Chepstow 3.30 – Quartano
Runners from our list to follow in action tomorrow:
Towcester 3.30 – In Accord
Wincanton 1.40 – Cracking Cliche
Wi9ncanton 2.10 – Boyastara
Wincanton 3.10 – Predateur & Gentle John
Runners from our dark horses list
Wincanton 1.40 – Miss Ceka
Wincanton 2.40 – Chapoturgeon
Today’s meeting at Taunton always looked likely to be a profitable one for Paul Nicholls and David Pipe and to it proved. Big Fella Thanks won the novice hurdle and should make a decent chasing prospect next season form Paul Nicholls. Commander Vic scored a welcome success for our list to follow at 4/1 in the conditional jockey’s handicap hurdle.
Turning to tomorrow’s action I am hoping that Bertie May can make a winning start to his hurdles career in the 1.20 at Exeter.. He has shown a good deal of promise in bumpers and has the scope to improve.
Theatre Diva was a bit of a standing dish at Ludlow last seaon when trained by Henry Daly, recording form figures of 2121 ay the track. She has since moved to Venetia William’s yard. Theatre Diva makes her chase debut in the 3.20 at Exeter and a continuation of her hurdling form would make her hard to beat.
Ballabriggs has finished runner up on his last two outings. He runs over a longer trip in the 2.30 at Leicester and this may enable him to get his head in front.
Khasab took a heavy fall when well in contention at Chepstow on his last run. He has to shoulder top weight in the 3.30 at Leicester but the last 3 winners of the race have all carried over 11 stone so I would not rule him out if the fall has not dented his confidence.
Kealshore Boy represents our list to follow in the 2.10 at Newcastle. This represents a drop in class for him and he should be on the premises.
Be lucky!
Runners from our main list to follow tomorrow:
Taunton 2.10 – Master Overseer
Taunton 3.40 – Commander Vic & Low Delta
Runners from the dark horses list:
Taunton 2.40 – Robin de Sherwood
Taunton 3.10 – Big Fella Thanks
Our revels now are ended. These our actors,
As I foretold you, were all spirits and
Are melted into air, into thin air:
And, like the baseless fabric of this vision,
The cloud-capp'd towers, the gorgeous palaces,
The solemn temples, the great globe itself,
Ye all which it inherit, shall dissolve
And, like this insubstantial pageant faded,
Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff
As dreams are made on, and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep.
— William Shakespeare
Monday’s jumps racing comes from Ludlow.
Not much to comment on really but I will be interested to see if the step up in distance brings out more improvement in Alan King’s Ouzbeck in the 3.30.. He has been running over 2 miles but his pedigree suggests that he may well stay further.
Cheltenham Trials day featured two admirable efforts over hurdles with both Franchoek and Inglis Drever winner their races with some aplomb. Both look worthy favourites come March, particularly Inglis Drever who is so well suited to that Cheltenham hill.
I will concentrate on the Kelso meeting tomorrow, a course described as the friendliest in Britain.
Nicky Richards normally does well with his runners at the Borders venue and his Double Default is my idea of the winner in the 2.05. Although he did well enough over hurdles last season it always looked as though chasing would be his game. Unfortunately he did not get beyond the first fence on his chase debut when the stirrup leather snapped but he can make amends here, mainly at the expense of Shrewd Investor.
Alan Swinbank’s Scale Bank should come on for his run at Musselburgh earlier this month and is likely to be on the premises in the bumper at 4.15 but I will stick with Double Default as my nap for Sunday.
There are two excellent meetings over the jumps tomorrow and I will start at Cheltenham who stage their Festival Trials day.
In the 1.00 there will be plenty of support for Aigle D’Or who was an impressive winner at Lingfield on his UK debut. He has form on the flat on various types of going and he looks the one to beat here. There are viable alternatives though. Alan King’s Evelith Echo has been running well and his 4th behind the useful Song of Songs at Kempton was a decent effort. He tackles a longer trip here and that should be in his favour. The Howard Johnson trained Marleybow puts his 100% record on the line and is certainly another for the short list. Junior won twice on the flat last season over 2 miles and this trip over hurdles is likely to suit him. He looks sure to win races over hurdles. The front running mare Helen’s Vision was a beaten favourite last time but if you ignore that run her earlier form was very solid.
This is by no means a walk over for the likely favourite.
In the 1.35 I am hoping for an improved run from Mister Potter who drops back in trip.
Moving on to the 2.10 the two runners from our list to follow, New Little Bric and Private Be have chances. New Little Bric has been one of the few disappointments from the Paul Nicholls yard this term. I see that he is fitted with first time blinkers here which may have the desired effect. Private Be is returning to Cheltenham for the third time this season. On his first visit he was going well when he was brought down but he then ran disappointingly in the Paddy Power. He had had a break since then. The main danger may come from Maljimar who was 4th last time out over an inadequate trip. Preacher Boy could be worth a small each interest although he is probably better over further.
Simon ran a blinder here when runner up in December and he is my selection for the 2.40.
Franchoek, Tatenen and Serabad occupied the first three places at Chepstow last month finishing in that order. They meet again in the 3.15 and should again be involved in the finish. Franchoek looks a tough battler and may just prevail again.
The Cleeve Hurdle at 3.50 looks to be between Blazing Bailey and Inglis Drever. Blazing Bailey got the better of the argument in this race last season and may just have the edge again.
There is also a top class card at Doncaster. In the opener there at 12.20 Khyber Kim will take some beating. He impressed many good judges when beating some useful sorts on his hurdles debut at Newbury. He was a classy performer on the flat and could be something special. Keith Reveley’s Tazbar could give him most to do.
Theatre Girl didn’t go down without a fight against Khyber Kim at Newbury and before that she had some decent form in bumpers. She would be my each way selection in the 1.55 where both Nicky Henderson’s runners warrant respect.
All Star is my selection in the 2.30 with Echo Point an each way alternative. In the 3.00 I would be inclined to take a chance with a couple of outsiders, Dusky Warbler and Henry’s Pride.
One Gulp has done nothing wrong this season and should go close in the 3.30 while there is a good word for Ange ou Demon in the 4.05.
Horses running from our main list to follow
Newbury 2.05 – Big Bucks
Newbury 2.40 – Mossville
Newbury 3.15 – Cool Cliché
Newbury 3.50 – Ballyfoy & The Sawyer
Horses running from our “dark horses” list
Doncaster 12.50 – Blue Bajan & Shipmaster
Doncaster 3.05 – Aureate
Newbury 1.30 – Schiehallion
Russellform Ramblings
Classic Fiddle and Air Force One were winners today for our list to follow, albeit at cramped odds.
Classic Fiddle was winning for Nicky Henderson after a long absence from the track and I wonder if stable companion Schiehallion can do the same. He showed distinct promise in his two bumper runs last season which were both at Newbury. He won the first and then finished 4th under a penalty. The first two in that race have both won this season.
Blue Bajan created a favourable impression when winning at Leicester last time and looks the won they all have to beat on the opener at Doncaster. In the same race Shipmaster should come on for his debut run over hurdles and the same could be said of Aureate in the 3.05 at the Yorkshire course.
Both Big Bucks and Cool Cliché look to have sound chances at Newbury. Of the rest Oxley is an interesting runner in the Doncaster 4.10. He is a half brother to the multiple winner Jakari and he has the same sire as My Way de Solzen so he has a promising pedigree. He has been off the course for 650 days since finishing 8th of 20 in a bumper at Haydock. He caught my eye that day and if he can be kept fit now could be one to look out for in the future.
Nap of the day
Doncaster 12.50 – Blue Bajan
Today’s trivia
Kelso racecourse has a charity tea room. A different charity is selected to provide teas form each race day raising funds for worthy causes.
What’s in a name?
Foinavon, probably the biggest ever outsider to win the Grand National (1967) was named after a Scottish mountain.
Horses running from our main list to follow
Newbury 2.05 – Big Bucks
Newbury 2.40 – Mossville
Newbury 3.15 – Cool Cliché
Newbury 3.50 – Ballyfoy & The Sawyer
Horses running from our “dark horses” list
Doncaster 12.50 – Blue Bajan & Shipmaster
Doncaster 3.05 – Aureate
Newbury 1.30 – Schiehallion
Russellform Ramblings
Classic Fiddle and Air Force One were winners today for our list to follow, albeit at cramped odds.
Classic Fiddle was winning for Nicky Henderson after a long absence from the track and I wonder if stable companion Schiehallion can do the same. He showed distinct promise in his two bumper runs last season which were both at Newbury. He won the first and then finished 4th under a penalty. The first two in that race have both won this season.
Blue Bajan created a favourable impression when winning at Leicester last time and looks the won they all have to beat on the opener at Doncaster. In the same race Shipmaster should come on for his debut run over hurdles and the same could be said of Aureate in the 3.05 at the Yorkshire course.
Both Big Bucks and Cool Cliché look to have sound chances at Newbury. Of the rest Oxley is an interesting runner in the Doncaster 4.10. He is a half brother to the multiple winner Jakari and he has the same sire as My Way de Solzen so he has a promising pedigree. He has been off the course for 650 days since finishing 8th of 20 in a bumper at Haydock. He caught my eye that day and if he can be kept fit now could be one to look out for in the future.
Nap of the day
Doncaster 12.50 – Blue Bajan
Today’s trivia
Kelso racecourse has a charity tea room. A different charity is selected to provide teas form each race day raising funds for worthy causes.
What’s in a name?
Foinavon, probably the biggest ever outsider to win the Grand National (1967) was named after a Scottish mountain.
ahorse 