It is always difficult to keep tabs on all the racing when the flat and jumps seasons overlap. Now that there is a lull in the proceedings I will take a brief look back at the results of the past week.
Starting with Tuesday Border Tale made the long journey to Huntingdon from his Cartmel stable pay winning the handicap hurdle at the generous price of 4/1. He is a tough sort and never looked like getting beaten. This was a good bit of placing by his trainer James Moffatt.
On Wednesday dual bumper winner Diamond Harry made a winning start over hurdles at Uttoxeter and looks a horse with a bright future.
Harlech Castle had slipped down the weights and it wasn’t a major surprise when he won the sprint handicap at Nottingham. He comes from a family that I have followed over the years being out of the mare Ffestiniog. Her first 6 offspring have all been winners and the seventh, Border Patrol, has already shown promise as a two year old. He is with Roger Charlton and is one to look forward to next season.
The first meeting of the jumps season opened at Cheltenham on Friday and there was an interesting novice chase featuring a couple of bright prospects in Razor Royale and Ring the Boss. Both were travelling well until the notorious second last claimed Razor Royale leaving Ring the Boss a relatively comfortable winner. On the flat at Newmarket Bankable finished 2nd for the fifth time in succession, beaten by a 50/1 shot. Plum Pudding won for the 6th time in his career at Newmarket, in fact he has never won anywhere else. Amazingly he has started at 7/1 or bigger on 4 of the 6th races.
Saturday was quite a successful day on the tipping front with Stimulation, Dolessthanme, Kalahari King, New Approach, Door Boy and According to Dick all winning. Diablo was a 9/1 winner for my list to follow so not a bad day all round. The 2.5 mile chase at Cheltenham was dominated by a couple of good ground horses, Ouzbeck and Yes Sir but the horse to take out of the race might be Bible Lord who was third despite looking as though he would need the race.
Door Boy was an impressive winner on his UK debut at Kelso as he easily landed the two miles six maiden hurdle. He looks a very nice prospect especially when he goes over fences eventually.
Kalahari King made a pleasing start to his chasing career at the Borders track. Graham Lee always appeared to have matters under control as he took charge on the long run-in.
The main attraction at Kempton this afternoon was the reappearance of Champion Hurdler Katchit but although starting at odds on he was unable to repel Snap Tie in a battle after the last flight. Katchit will no doubt come on for the run and Kempton may not be his track but take nothing away from the winner who has always been very well regarded by his trainer. Earlier in the day I’msingingtheblues put is an impressive round of jumping to land the novice chase for Paul Nicholls beating Greenbridge. Meanwhile there were wins for my list to follow with Master Medic at Fontwell and Dan Chillingworth at Southwell.
There are a couple of runners from my list to follow in action at Pontefract tomorrow. Michael Dods has had a good season with the likes of Osteopathic Remedy who has won 4 times, but Charles Parnell has not added to his trainers win tally, despite being featured numerous times in these pages! He is now on a 14 race losing sequence and has finished 5th on his last 4 starts. You get the impression that he needs some help from the handicapper as he is only a pound lower in the ratings than when he started his losing run. Anyway he runs in the Pontefract 3.10 tomorrow. Mr Crystal has been consistent but has done all his winning on fast ground and may not have conditions to suit in the 4.10.
Marvo ran his best race for some time when chasing home The Fifth Member at Goodwood last week. He is well handicapped these days and could be worth an interest in the Windsor 4.30.
Today’s pictures are courtesy of the artist Sally Martin (see links)
Bye for now.
ahorse 