Month: February 2008

A couple of races caught my eye this afternoon. Firstly old Bo McGinty registered his 7th career win when he got home by a short head at Southwell.  He has been featured many times in these pages and must be a real fun horse for connections as he races frequently and is usually there or thereabouts.

Another horse that I have followed off and on is Shardakhan who won over fences at Huntingdon ridden by Philip Hide. Blinkers seem to have brought about an improvement in him and he could be called the winner today some way from home.  He won at 12/1 today and he does seem to be one of those horses that always seems to win at big prices as his other two career wins both came at 14/1.

Talking of big price winners Florida Dream once came in at 20/1 for me.  He should go well tomorrow in the 3.55 at Bangor.

One of the attractions of this time of year is looking at for some of the old favourites in the hunter chases.  Thisthatandtother won the other day at Fontwell and another Paul Nicholls chaser Armaturk runs tomorrow in the 4.25. Probably not a betting proposition though as his price is sure to be short.

In the 2.05 at Kempton Oscar Park makes his chase debut. He has the size and scope to do well over fences and if he runs up to his best hurdles form he would be in with a good chance.

The Polomoche looks to extend his unbeaten run in the 2.35 and he looks the one to beat.  He first caught my eye last May when winning a bumper from Calgary Bay in a close finish at Ludlow.  The main danger in this race could come from Quizzene who won 3 times on the flat for Mark Johnston.  He has already made a promising start to hsi hurdles career by finishing runner up at Folkestone.

Miss Mitch is something of a favourite of mine.  She won well at Wincanton last time out but then unseated on her last run. She should go well in the 3.10 although she has a Paul Nicholls runner to beat.

I tipped Chopneyev successfully last time he ran.  He turns out again in the 3.40 but the ground may not suit him this time as all his wins have come on soft or heavy.

That is all for this evening.  I hope you will "tune in" again tomorrow night wen I shall be previewing the weekend’s action.

Today the sporting world rightly mourned those who lost their lives in the 1958 Munich air disaster.

The newspapers of the day also reported the death of the jockey Joe Childs, who also died in February 1958 at the age vof 73.  Childs won 15 classics  and was known as one of the finest exponents of waiting tactics.  He retired in 1935.

Turning to tomorrow’s racing there are meetings at Huntingdon and Taunton.  David Pipe saddles Noble Sham in the 1.40 at Huntingdon. He has fallen on his last two starts which were both at this tack.  They were over fences though and he reverts to hurdles here and should go close.

The Pipe team may also be on the mark at Taunton where dual bumper winner Seven is my Number looks to have a good chance in the 2.20.

The only runner from our list to follow on Wednesday is Pebrock in the 1.30 at Ludlow.  He was 3rd at Uttoxeter at the end of November but the form of the race has not worked out too well as the first and second have both been beaten since.

Theatre Diva registered some solid performances at Ludlow last season winning twice and finishing runner up twice.

She got off to a good start this term when winning at Exeter 6 days ago and could go in again in the 3.30 at Market Rasen where she is a previous course winner.

Sam Thomas rides Theatre Diva which is a plus as he has been in great form this season.

At Musselburgh tomorrow the Howard Johnson trained pair Laborec and Prince Car catch the eye in the opener at 1.30.  Slight preference is for Laborec who is the mount of Richard Johnson.

In the 2.30 at the Scottish track Tamimi’s History, twice a winner on the flat in Ireland is an interesting runner for Nicky Richards.  The other one I like at Musselburgh is The Duke’s Speech in the 3.00.

The Tother One was a winner for Paul Nicholls today and his half brother Thisthatandtother can add to the champion Trainers tally in the 3.40 at Fontwell.

Ruby Walsh has usually partnered Thisthatandtother over the years but he is riding in Ireland tomorrow.  I like the look of his chances in the 1.35 at Punchestown on Sophocles, who was runner up in the Cheltenham Festival bumper and won over hurdles at Punchestown in December.

Bye for now

It was a miserable day for the horses on our list to follow today but we did get one winner, with the giant Time Bandit obliging at Chepstow at a nice price.  He has had serious injury problems and has very few miles on the clock for an 8 year old.

There is some good quality racing tomorrow – or at least there will be as long as the weather doesn’t intervene.

I will tackle the meetings in alphabetical order so we are starting at Doncaster.  Paul Nicholls introduces an intriguing newcomer in the opener at 12.50 in Rippling Ring.  He was 4th in the South African Derby and is sure to have been well prepared for his UK debut.

In the 1.25 Tidal Bay should make it 4 wins out of 4.  Denis O’Regan is suspended so Ruby Walsh has the ride.

Otage de Brion put up a good performance when 3rd to Song of Songs at Kempton on Boxing Day but he may not be able to give 10 lbs to Celestial Halo in thye 1.55.  The Paul Nicholls runner was 7th in the St Leger and has already opened his account over hurdles.

Tot o Whisky represents our list to follow in the 2.25.  His 5 career wins have come at Hexham (3) and Catterick (2) and he may not be quite good enough here.

There are a couple of "list" runners in the 3.00.  Lennon likes to make the running and is best on a sharp track and a sound surface.  Pablo du Charmil won at Exeter on his first run this season but has been beaten since.  He acts on any ground and has an each way chance.

 

The 2.05 at Sandown looks to be a match between Straw Bear and Afsoun.  With Nicky Henderson’s runners in fine form I would narrowly side with Afsoun.  If there is to be an upset it is just possible to consider Bywell Beau, particularly if the ground rides heavy.  His 4 career wins have all come at Kelso though and he has plenty to find on the form book.

In the 2.35 The Tother One comes into the race on a 4 timer.  He is upped in class and has risen in the weights but he should still go well.

In the 3.10 Hobbs Hill, unbeaten this season, looks likely to start favourite.  He has beaten both Silverburn and Lead On this season but the latter pair may have improved since then and look better value.  The Market Man would certainly come into the reckoning in fully fit. He hasn’t run for 784 days but on his last outing only went down by a head to Mighty Man.

In the 3.40 Caribou will be suited by track and going and has an each way chance.

At Wetherby Character Building looks on a favourable mark in the 2.50 while the conditions should suit Harry Wood in the 3.25.