Month: October 2008

Mykingdomforahorse (pictured below courtesy of British 2YO Racing) was a winning tip on the flat today while Shalone and The Tother One were winners for the jumps list to follow.

Celestial Dream makes his racecourse debut in the Bath 3.00 tomorrow. She is bred for the job as both sire and dam were winners of the Nunthorpe. The second dam won 5 times as a juvenile so this filly is well worth a second look on pedigree. Although well thought of by her trainer I understand that she has had one or two slight injuries however, which probably accounts for the tardy start to her career.

Fearless Warrior is one of the horses on my list to follow that is showing a profit to a level stake having won twice from 8 tries. He was last of 8 on his latest start at Beverley and may just be a little too high in the weights now. He has tended to race too keenly and I see that Richard Hughes has the ride tomorrow so the horse will not lack help from the saddle.  He runs in the 5.00 at Bath. Eddie Ahern had ridden Fearless Warrior previously. He rides Navajo Joe in the 2.10 at Great Leighs tomorrow, a 3 year old that won at Lingfield in June with Richard Hughes on board. Navajo Joe is another to have raced much too keenly for his own good and was tailed off last at Pontefract 16 days ago. He has something to prove now.

I had high hopes for Oldjoesaid this season in the sprint division. He won at Newbury first time out but since then things have just not gone his way. He has often been badly drawn (10 of 10 at Chester on one occasion). He was 4^th in the Portland under top weight despite being slowly away and was then beaten a nose and a short head at Beverley. He runs in the 3.40 at Great Leighs and is due a change of fortune.

The last runner on the flat list to follow is Barney McGrew in the 8.20 at Kempton. Named after a fireman in the children’s TV series Trumpton, he won a Newcastle handicap on good to firm in May and on his last start ran well in second at Haydock. He has an each way chance at around 10/1.

Backing horses at odds on when making their novice chase debuts is probably the rode to penury so I wouldn’t suggest that you pile on Wichita Lineman in the Southwell 2.20. The horse has rather lost his way since winning the Brit Insurance Novice’s Hurdle in 2007 but he has always looked a chasing type and it will be very interesting to see how he gets on.

Despite being troublesome at the start Argento Luna was an impressive winner at Huntingdon last week and looked one to follow. He runs under a penalty in the Southwell 4.20 where one of her main rivals could be the Alan King runner Over Sixty. Related to Dublin Flyer Over Sixty has solid bumper form. She is a half sister to Diamont Noir, a winner of 4 hurdles races in the 2003/4 season.

That is about it for tonight.

Mr Crystal gave my list to follow an 8/1 winner at Pontefract today, making light of my doubts about his ability to handle the ground. It was sad to see former Pontefract Cup winner Monolith tailed off at the back in this race and it would be no surprise to see him retired.

Exeter is the highest racecourse in the country and it certainly offers the top action tomorrow with the leading national hunt trainers again in opposition.

It was Nicholls versus King in the Kempton novice chase yesterday with the Ditcheat handler coming out on top thanks to I’msingingtheblues. Tomorrrow in the novice hurdle at 2.40 Alan King saddles Shalone and Paul Nicholls opposes with The Nightingale. The flat bred Shalone has had 3 runs in bumpers and his only defeat was a narrow one to the highly rated Diamond Harry who has himself already won over hurdles. The Nightingale won a Wincanton bumper before running second an another bumper at Newbury. There is little point in giving a tip in races like this but if pushed I would go for Shalone, although of course you oppose a Nicholls runner at your peril at present.

High Class hurdler Straw Bear makes his chase debut in the 3.10, a race named after the late great Best Mate (pictured below). He is likely to start at odds on and might be worth opposing with the Paul Nicholls grey, Pasco. On hurdles form he has plenty to find on Straw Bear but although he is flat bred he has the size and scope to make a chaser and the stable could hardly be in better nick.

The Tother One was a progressive hurdler for Paul Nicholls last season and as a half brother to Thisthatandtother he is very likely make his mark over fences. He runs in the 3.40 where Philip Hobbs might supply the main danger in the shape of Khasab.

Silver Inngot is a horse I have followed over the years. He makes his first appearance of the season in the 4.40 and could be interesting as he goes well fresh.

There are a couple of runners from my list to follow in the 4.30 at Lingfield. Hereford Boy won this race last season. He has not won for 8 starts now but wears first time blinkers here and if they do the trick he would have a chance as he is reasonably handicapped. Silvanus has started favourite on 4 of his career starts but has only won once. He probably shows more at home than he does on the racecourse and there is always the possibility that he may come good as he is lightly raced but he doesn’t look one to rely on.

Given the name of my web site perhaps I should adopt Mick Channon’s Mykingdomforahorse as the site’s mascot. He runs in the 3.20 at Yarmouth tomorrow and on the basis of a good second at Nottingham last time out is in with a sound chance.

The picture of Best Mate is by courtesy of the artist Lisa Miller.  For more examples of this artists work see links.

 

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 2^nd for the fifth time in succession, beaten by a 50/1 shot. Plum Pudding won for the 6^th 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 6^th 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 5^th 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.

Following hard on the heels of the 2 day Cheltenham meeting we have some quality national hunt racing at Kempton tomorrow.

Paul Nicholls and Alan King clash in the novice chase at 2.50, saddling Greenbridge and I’msingingtheblues respectively. Greenbridge won novice hurdles at Doncaster and Kempton last season and is thought to be high up the pecking order among the novice chasers in Alan King’s stable. I’msingingtheblues was a winner at Wincanton on his hurdling debut and he went on to win a Grade 2 at Cheltenham. He prefers good ground. Of the others Otage De Brion is another that likes good ground. Trained by the up and coming Charlie Longsden he had some solid form over hurdles last season. These would be the three that most interest me and if pushed for a selection I would just favour Greenbridge although it might come down to a case of fitness first time out.

The Paul Nicholls trained Woolcombe Folly is likely to be an odds on favourite in the 3.25. If he lacks for fitness at all on his first run of the season the race fit Huntingdon winner Oceana Gold could be the one to take advantage with track and ground both in his favour and the stable in top form.

All eyes will be on Champion Hurdle winner Katchit as he makes his seasonal reappearance in the 4.35. He should win if anything like at his best although the track might not exactly play to his strengths. Of the opposition Katies Tutor and Snap Tie arer worth a mention. Katies Tutor won decent handicap hurdles at Cheltenham and Market Rasen last season while Snap Tie has always been held in high regard by his trainer Philip Hobbs. Connections see Snap Tie as a possible Champion Hurdle horse but he will need to run Katchit close if he is to confirm that promise. This looks an intriguing contest. Katchit (pictured below) is the percentage call.

Brinkmanship has taken well to fences and with Tony McCoy booked to ride is an obvious fancy in the 5.35.

Shoreacres was 4^th in the Cheltenham Champion bumper in March and it would be disappointing if he couldn’t win over hurdles. He looks a promising recruit and makes his debut over timber in the 3.00 at Fontwell with the busy Mr McCoy in the saddle.

Master Medic should be all the better for his run at Huntingdon last week and is my selection in the Fontwell 3.35.

There are two runners from my list to follow in action on the flat at Southwell. Just Two Numbers (3.15) and Dan Chillingworth (4.25) with the latter looking to have the better chance.

Diminuto is something of a course specialist at Southwell with 3 wins over course and distance. She was a good second on turf at Leicester last time out and should go well in the 3.50.

My thanks to Kate Tann for the photo of Katchit.

Bye for now.

 

The Saturday morning update is something of an experiment.

I am still going with Stimulation in the Newmarket 2.05.  At a big price Balthazaar’s Gift could be each way value.

I will also stick with Soul City in the 2.35 as I am not convinced that Rip Van Winkle is value.

In the Cesarewitch Mamlook, Arc Bleu, Liberate and possibly Gee Dee Nen look the percentage calls based on recent form and the draw which has historically been important in this race.

Lordsbridge looks the most likely outsider in the Cheltenham 2.20 while Private B may have been laid out for the 3.25.  He is a quirky sort but might be best when caught fresh. I was tempted to go for Malcolm Jefferson’s Calatagan in this at a big price.  He might just want softer ground than he is likely to get at Cheltenham today though.  Patman Du Charmil has a good chance and I wouldn’t want to put you off if you fancy him.

I didn’t have time to look at the Catterick card last night.  The 3.35 is televised on Channel 4 and if you want an interest in the race Tim Easterby’s Captain Dunne is well drawn and looks the obvious choice. If returning to his form earlier in the season Total Impact would have a chance at a bigger price.

Good luck.

It’s Champions Day at Newmarket tomorrow with the highlights being the Champion Stakes, The Dewhurst and the big handicap, the Cesarewitch. With the first Cheltenham meeting of the new jumps season as well there is plenty to get stuck into in tonight’s preview.

Starting with the Champion Stakes at 3.10 New Approach will be seeking to add to his Group 1 successes this season in the Epsom Derby and Irish Champion Stakes. He is the class act in the race but don’t forget that favourites have a poor record in this. Traffic Guard put up a career best effort when second to New Approach in the Irish Champion Stakes and on the strength of that run he cannot be ignored. Russian Cross came good in the summer winning at Saint-Cloud in impressive style before defeating the useful River Proud in a Group 2 at Deauville. He may have been a little unlucky when second in a Group 2 at Longchamp most recently and he cannot be ignored in a race where 3 year olds have a good record. Pipedreamer won the Cambridgeshire last season and has made a successful transition into Group company this year. He has posted some extremely creditable efforts in Group ones and notched an overdue Group 2 win at York in July. Twice Over beat Raven’s Pass at Newmarket at the start of the season and after that ran well in good company until winning at Maisons-Lafitte in July. He disappointed on his most recent start at Deauville but is certainly one for the short list. My idea of the first three would be New Approach, Russian Cross and Pipedreamer.

The Cesarewitch (3.50) will take some sorting out given the field of 34. I quite like following national hunt trainers in this race and Mamlook, Liberate, Souffleur and Gee Dee Nen all make some appeal. Gee Dee Nen has handicap wins over 2 miles at Haydock and Ascot to his credit this season, getting up to beat Bogside Theatre, who he meets again tomorrow, at Ascot. Mamlook and Liberate were 2^nd and 3^rd in the Ascot Stakes over 2.5 miles in June and both are well drawn. Souffleur, a winner 4 times over hurdles last jumps season was second at Musselburgh in March over 1 mile 6 furlongs but subsequent efforts have been disappointing. A return to his best form would put him in with a chance tomorrow. Of the rest I need to mention the Irish challengers Arc Bleu trained by the very shrewd Tony Martin with Johnny Murtagh riding. Arc Bleu won the Northumberland Plate in June with a number of tomorrow’s rivals behind him. Bogside Theatre was 3^rd and Gee Dee Nen 5^th.

My top 4 would be Gee Dee Nen, Mamlook, Liberate and Arc Bleu.

Earlier on the Newmarket card Royal Confidence, Stimulation and Utmost Respect are the trio from our list to follow in the 2.05. The filly Royal Confidence scored a belated first win of the season at Doncaster in a listed race last month. She seems to act on any going and 7 furlongs looks her ideal trip. Stimulation won the Free Handicap over course and distance in April and has performed pretty consistently since. He went on his travels for his last start finishing 3^rd in a Group 2 in Turkey. Utmost Respect who is yet to win over 7 furlongs needs soft ground. Stimulation ran recent Longchamp winner Paco Boy close at Goodwood and 7 furlongs is ideal for him. He gets my selection.

The 2.35 has been won by some top Irish raiders in recent years including New Approach, Teofilo and Rock of Gibraltar. This time around Rip Van Winkle is the main Irish hope and probably sets the standard. Finjaan won the Molecomb stakes at Goodwood but drifted alarmingly before the Middle Park Stakes and finished last. Ouqba has been busy. He was 4^th in the Champagne Stakes when not quite seeing out the trip in soft ground and he has since won at Salisbury. Rip Van Winkle looks like starting at rather cramped odds so I think I will go with the Richard Hannon trained Soul City, winner of a valuable sales race over in Ireland on his last start..

Dar Re Me has been a model of consistency and is yet to finish out of the first 3 in her 9 race career. Provided she retains her form after some hard arces thsis eason she would be my idea of the winner of the 5.00.

Speed Gifted and Sagara represent my list to follow in the 5.35. Despite finishing 3^rd in the Arc last season Sagara still only has one win to her credit and I see that Frankie Dettori has opted to ride the other Godolphin runner. The trip should suit Speed Gifted and he would be my each way choice.

In Austarlia Mad Rush runs in the Caulfield Cup. A winner of the Old Newton Cup at Haydock Mad Rush is yet to finish out of the first 3 but faces a stiff task against both a strong local contingent and an unfavourable draw.

The jumps season really gets going at Cheltenham tomorrow with the big stables starting to run some of their better horses.

Donald McCain has started the jumps campaign well and he saddles It’s a Discovery in the 2.20. This tough, consistent mare won bumpers at Carlisle and Hexham last season and went on to score at Towcester in a novice hurdle. She chipped a bone after that but has apparently had a successful operation since. Lordsbridge won handicaps at Huntingdon and Exeter last season but has gone up a fair bit in the weights as a result. Pacha D’Oudairies represents champion trainer Paul Nicholls in this. This bay gelding was a winner at Taunton in February and subsequently ran well in better company at Aintree and Ayr. It’s a Discovery and Lordsbridge have each way chances.

The 2.50 could be between Tatenen and Oh Crick. Tatenen finished runner up in a Grade 1 hurdle at Chepstow last Christmas and went on to finish 4^th in a strong novice hurdle at Cheltenham. He is very highly rated at home and looks an exciting prospect over fences. Oh Crick was a progressive sort for Alan King last season winning 4 times over hurdles. He has experience of fences as he won a beginners chase in May at Hereford. With doubts over the participation of Tatenen Oh Crick gets my selection.

Alan King’s Ouzbeck had been progressing nicely over fences winning 3 times in the summer before unseating his rider on his last start. He has never won with an “s” in the going description. Private Be had a fairly torrid time of it last season but he had looked a decent chaser when accounting for Bob Hall at Aintree in April 2007. A return to that sort of form would put him in with a shout. Bible Lord is an interesting runner. I think he underachieved to some extent last season but he has ability and should land a decent prize or two before the season is out. He has trip and ground to his liking tomorrow but may just need the race. Whatever happens tomorrow though he is one to keep tabs on. Another to consider is Daldini who ran consistently last season and comes here with the benefit of a recent outing.

In the 4.00 Diablo represents my list to follow. He won at Perth recently and I was going to give him as my selection until I noticed that the stable jockey Paddy Brennan is on the other Twiston-Davies runner Strong Rebel so I will shift my allegiance to him.

In the conditional jockey’s handicap hurdle at 4.35 my two against the field would be King’s Revenge and Supreme Duke. King’s Revenge was unfortunate last season as he went up the weights without winning. He was placed a number of times in decent handicap hurdles though. One would imagine that he will go novice chasing sooner rather than later. The lightly raced Supreme Duke won a novice hurdle at Sandown in March beating a nice Paul Nicholls horse and looks to be on the upgrade.

Big Fella Thanks is in the same ownership as Denman and is very highly rated by his connections. He will be expected to make a winning start to the season in the 5.10.

I don’t have any strong views on the bumper at 5.45 but According to Dick won his only Irish point to point and could be OK. Valdas Queen, an impressive winner of a Newbury bumper last season and Romance Dance, the mount of Timmy Murphy are the other two I would suggest.

There is a good card up at Kelso tomorrow. The 2.40 features some promising types including Dolessthanme, Pakineo Des Pictons and Son of Flicka. Dolessthanme won both his bumpers last season and the form of his second win worked out well as the runner up went on to win at Aintree. Decent ground is likely to suit him best. Pakineo Des Pictons won a bumper at Hexham on his only start so far and his trainer reports that he has since done well physically. Son of Flicka is another with solid bumper form having won once and finished runner up on his other two starts. If pushed to choose one it would be Dolessthanme.

In the 3.15 I fancy Kalahari King. He was 4^th in the Supreme Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham and went on to win at Punchestown. He certainly appeals as the type to do well over fences and makes his chasing debut tomorrow.

Orang Outan, a course and distance winners goes in the 3.45. He runs well, fresh and has an each way chance although I wouldn’t put a monkey on him!

In the 4.15 Door Boy and Merrydown make most appeal. Door Boy is a winning Irish point-to-pointer who also finished 2^nd in a Punchestown bumper. Howard Johnson paid a lot of money to secure this one for Andrea and Graham Wylie and he looks an interesting prospect for novice hurdles this season. Merrydown ran twice in bumpers last season, winning at Musselburgh before finishing 3^rd at Market Rasen. He looks a stayer so this 22 furlong trip over hurdles should suit him.

Today’s pictures are courtesy of the artist Lisa Miller (see links)

I will try to update the site with some late thoughts on Saturday’s racing tomorrow morning at around 11.00.

There is quality racing under both codes tomorrow, with major meetings at Cheltenham and Newmarket.

I will start with the jumpers and the 2.55 at Cheltenham which looks to be between the first two in the betting, Ring the Boss and Razor Royale. The latter was a winner over hurdles last season and is expected to take a high rank in the novice chase division this term. Ring the Boss (pictured below) won handicap hurdles at Newbury and Sandown last season.

He already has experience over fences having run impressively when beaten a neck in the Kingmaker novice chase at Warwick before finishing 8^th behind Tidal Bay in the Arkle. Jamie Snowden runs Lester Leaps In who was a consistent hurdler when trained by Nicky Henderson but I am inclined to stick with the two favourites with preference for the more experienced Ring the Boss.

Nicky Richards sends his recent Perth winner Noble Alan to Cheltenham for the 3.30. Given good ground Noble Alan should give us a run for our money. A couple of outsiders that appeal on an each way basis are Sangfroid and Winsley Hill.

I am expecting Ferdy Murphy’s Noir et Vert to make an impact in the better staying handicap chases this season. He should be suited by the ground in the 4.05 tomorrow and does not look badly treated at the weights. If he is fit enough to do himself justice on his first run of the season he should go well. The other one I like is the giant Nirvana Swing who was a winner three times over fences last season.

The maiden hurdle at 5.50 has attracted a decent field including Alfie Flits and Unfurled who were both winners of listed races on the flat, in fact Unfurled was 7^th in the Derby a few years ago. Both horses were 2^nd on their hurdling debuts and warrant plenty of respect. Big Eared Fran and Cockney Trucker are the other pair that interest me. Both won bumpers at Sandown last season and are expected to make their mark over timber. Of the quartet Cockney Trucker and Big Eared Fran would be my two against the field.

Turning to the flat the well bred Catigo is one to watch in the 1.00 where Swiss Diva could run well at a big price. Alhaque has done little wrong on his two visits to Newmarket but both times has found one too good. He deserves to get his head in front in the 1.30. In the 2.00 there are some nicely bred newcomers. Dreamcoat is a half brother to the high class Pipedreamer while Highland Glen and Trojan Reef are others to note.

There are a couple of runners from our list to follow in the 3.10. Lang Shining has not really done enough to suggest he is good enough in this company and my selection is Bankable who has now finished runner up in his last 4 races and deserves to win one of these. He was given too much to do when just unable to peg back Eagle Mountain here a fortnight ago and this 9 furlong trip may be ideal for him.

Spacious has turned in some decent efforts in Group 1 company but her only win this season came when she made heavy weather of landing the odds when dropped in class at Doncaster. She is tried over a longer trip in the 3.45. She should have the class to win but the price looks unrealistically short.

I fancied Mastership in the big 7 furlong handicap at Ascot at the end of September but he ran an absolute stinker finishing last. On the basis that that display was too bad to be true I am going to stick with him in the 7.50 at Kempton tomorrow. Rock Peak is the other runner from my list to follow at Kempton. He goes in the 9.20, while Mr Crystal represents the list in the Redcar 4.30.

My thanks to Tracy Roberts (Turfpix)  for the picture of Ring the Boss.  The paiting are by courtesy of the artist Jane Dunn.

Good luck

Jamie Snowden is a new name in the training ranks having recently set up a dual purpose yard in Wiltshire. He was assistant to Nicky Henderson and as an amateur jockey rode with some distinction. Tomorrow at Ludlow he sends out Bid Art in the 3 year old maiden hurdle at 3.30. This son of Hawk Wing ran 9 times on the flat for Andrew Balding without shedding his maiden tag but was placed 3^rd a couple of times and has reportedly schooled well over hurdles.

There is a good card over at Punchestown where I fancy Oscar Rebel in the 3.45 and Trafford Lad in the 4.15.

There is racing on the flat at Nottingham where there are a couple of interesting newcomers in the 1.40. Ebiayn is a half brother to several winners and is the subject of good reports. He may be best with some cut in the ground. Another to watch out for is Wee Giant, a half sister to 5 winners and trained by Kevin Ryan.

Halfway House runs in the second division of the same maiden at 2.10. This colt is a half brother to the very useful Spice Route and should be all the better for his debut run at Newmarket a couple of weeks ago.

There are a couple of runners from my list to follow in action at Great Leighs. Fantasy Fighter runs in the 5.50 while General Tufto goes in the 6.20.

Bye for now.

 

 

I was heading for a blank day yesterday when Dvinski came to my rescue in the last race at Kempton, a track that has certainly been lucky for me of late. Dvinski is becoming quite a specialist there.

There is a mixture of all weather and national hunt racing tomorrow. I will start at Lingfield and the 6 runner conditions stakes at 4.00. I have been following the fortunes of the Jamie Osborne trained Blown It this season. He has been highly tried on a couple of his starts and is clearly well thought of by his connections. His only win came at Wolverhampton but he was out classed on his 2 ventures into Group company. I wouldn’t rule him out in this but the one to beat looks to be Calligrapher who beat Film Set at Pontefract with the front pair 7 lengths clear of the remainder. Film Set has since won at Newbury so the form looks OK.

Astrodome won twice at Hamilton in August but failed to make it 3 in a row when 5^th of 7 at Wolverhampton. He runs in the 4.30 where the step up to 2 miles should suit him as he is a half brother to the useful stayer Alambic out of a middle distance winning half sister to Last Second. Incidentally, one of the oldest flat horses in training, Flame Creek, lines up in this race. He was once thought of as a very promising hurdler and won the Haydock Champion Hurdle Trial back in 2003. He is a 12 year old now and has 12 wins to his credit, on the flat, over both hurdles and fences and even once in a bumper.

Smarterthanuthink was a winner for my list to follow back in June at Hamilton but has been unable to score again in 3 subsequent runs and has not always looked a straightforward ride. He goes in the 5.00 at Lingfield tomorrow but there is no obvious reason to support him.

The jumping tomorrow comes from Uttoxeter and Wetherby. One of the more interesting runners is Diamond Harry in the Uttoxeter 3.05. This 5 year old has won the last two runnings of the Spring Sales bumper at Newbury, something of an unusual double, and now makes his hurdles debut. He must have a very good chance of making a winning start. The main danger is probably Keki Buku trained by Philip Hobbs.

My best bet at Wetherby is Marleybow trained by Howard Johnson who has his team in good form. A good looker, Marleybow has always given the impression that fences will be his game and he makes his debut over the larger obstacles in the 4.50 at Wetherby.

That is all for today. Diamond Harry and Marleybow will hopefully go close.

Today’s pictures are courtesy of Katy Sodeau (see links)

 

 

Emma Lavelle has her horses in good form at the moment. She runs Regal Quote in the 3.30 at Huntingdon tomorrow. The horse, owned by the trainer’s father didn’t show much in 3 runs last season but apparently more is expected from this second season novice this term. Jack Doyle has the ride.

I rather missed out on Border Tale when he won at Kelso at 12/1 recently. He will be travelling a long way to Huntingdon tomorrow where he runs under a 7 lbs penalty in the 4.00. He rarely ventures this far South which may be a pointer to his chances. He will want top of the ground to show his best form.

Emirates Roadshow, an expensive Godolphin colt, was runner up at Newmarket in his second run 11 days ago and may well break his duck in the 1.40 at Leicester. In the same race Prohibition may be capable of better than he showed at Newmarket on his debut.

There are two winners from my list to follow in action tomorrow. Piverina (Leicester 4.10) and Charles Parnell (3.20 Newcastle).

Picture courtesy of the artist Katy Sodeau.