Month: December 2008

It was good to see Monet’s Garden in the Peterborough Chase, especially as I had tipped him! He put in some super leaps and of course had the ground he likes. Snoopy Loopy ran a gallant race in defeat and our old friend Mister McGoldrick ran another cracker in third.

The main attraction over the next couple of days is the Cheltenham meeting and I will start my preview of Friday’s action there.

In the opener at 12.10 Ballyfitz is likely to be a warm order following a couple of course wins. He beat Big Fella Thanks last time out and that horse hardly franked the form today. I would be inclined to look at a couple of others. Rightway Star comes from a stable in form and won last time out at Haydock. I wouldn’t rule him out here but for my selection I am going for Tot O’Whiskey who has been running and jumping consistently and has the stamina for the stiff Cheltenham finish.

There are two runners from my list to follow in the 12.45, Diablo and Openditch. The latter travels well in his races and looks the type to make a chaser in time. Diablo has disappointed on his last couple of starts and I will pass him over. With the Pipe team showing signs of improved form Openditch is the selection.

Character Building was 3^rd to Denman in the Hennessey last season and has since won over hurdles. I would give him a sound chance in the 1.55 tomorrow. Another that could run well is the lightly raced Trigger the Light as long as he is none the worse for his heavy fall in the Badger Ales chase at Wincanton.

In the 2.30 Very Cool represents our list to follow. He was running well in the Southern National at Fontwell when badly hampered. He is well handicapped and is not without a chance.

Ruby Walsh begins his comeback tomorrow in the 3.40 aboard Mahonia. A winner at Exeter in November Mahonia should follow up here.

Crop Walker and Honest John are the two runners from my list to follow in the 1.10 at Doncaster and both have good chances. Honest John was a smart bumper performer and put up a fair effort when 3^rd on his hurdles debut at Aintree. He should be all the better for that run. Crop Walker, trained by Kate Walton is a grand type who also shaped well in bumpers. He went on to finish runner up on his hurdles bow, not beaten far and with the rest of the field well beaten.

The 1.45 looks to be between I’msingingtheblues and Calgary Bay. The former has chasing experience and should come out on top with ground conditions also in his favour.

In the 12.00 my selection is Laterly who was 2nd on his hurdles debut at Fakenham.  He was a winner 3 times on the flat including twice at 12 furlongs.

Today’s picture is by kind permission of the artist Jo Stockdale.  See links for more examples of this artists work.

Bye for now.

 

There are 3 jumps meetings scheduled for tomorrow with the highlight being the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon at 1.40.

There were only 2 runners last season so it is good to see a much better turn out this time. There is quality as well as quantity with Betfair Chase winner Snoopy Loopy, former Arkle winner My Way de Solzen and Monet’s Garden a former winner of the Melling Chase in the line up.

There are a few of these with questions to answer. My Way de Solzen had a wretched time of it last season; Monet’s Garden hasn’t won for over a year while Snoopy Loopy has had some hard races lately. I don’t have a particularly strong view about this race but if pushed for a selection I would opt for Monet’s Garden. He is in the autumn of his career now but two and a half miles is his trip and he tends to run well at this time of year.

There are two runners from our list to follow in the 12.40. Cornerback won a bumper at Wetherby and a maiden hurdle at Newcastle last season. She is well bred being from the same family as Grand National winner Monty’s Pass. She may be best on reasonable ground. Overbranch is a tough sort and deserves to get her head in front after 3 seconds in a row. She is my each way selection.

There are also two list runners in the 1.10. Argento Luna may have her quirks but the form of her second to Over Sixty has worked out well. She is a course and distance winner and her jockey Dominic Elsworth is in great form. KIngscape looks on a fair mark and the track should suit. Argento Luna is the selection though.

At Taunton Paul Nicholls looks to have found a winning opportunity for Big Fella Thanks in the 1.20 while It’s Tough can get back on the winning trail in the 3.50 where the main danger could come from Bertie May who caught the eye when 5^th behind Ballydub at Newbury the other day. The other runner from our list to follow in action at Taunton is Midnight haze in the 1.50.

My main fancy at Ludlow is Carrickmines in the 1.30. He had a wind operation in the summer and can leave his previous from behind this season.

Today’s picture is by kind permission of the artist Katy Sodeau.  See links for more examples of this artists work.

 

 

Of the 6 horses mentioned in last night’s preview there were two winners a second and a third. The winners were Go Native (7/2) and Joncol (11/4).

There are only 4 runners from our list to follow in action tomorrow. I won’t go into detail as both meetings are in some doubt and both courses have planned inspections. At Hexham we have Open De L’Isle in the 2.40.

At Leicester the qualifiers are Quickbeam in the 12.50, and Kitski and Sprosser in the 2.20.

 

The main interest tomorrow is the meeting at Punchestown.

Shirley Casper was 4^th in the Cheltenham Festival bumper of 2007 but has been quite lightly raced since. She just had one run over hurdles last season when 2^nd to Oscar Rebel at Fairyhouse and she also ran once on the flat, again finishing runner up, this time at the Curragh. She should be all the better for a recent outing at Navan and she is my selection in the 12.35.

Jaffonien and Go Native are the two I like in the 1.05. Jaffonien won a bumper at Leopardstown in February and was 6^th of 7 on his hurdles debut at Navan (Shirley Casper was 5^th). The smooth travelling Go Native has plenty of talent but question marks about his determination where raised when he was 2^nd at Galway in the summer having looked a sure fire winner.

I fancy War of Attrition to continue his successful comeback in the 2.05 where he will be partnered by the in form Davy Russell while in the 3.05 I will put up Horner Woods and Joncol as a couple of each way selections.

Today’s picture is by courtesy of the artist Nick Fegan.

Good luck!

Tomorrow’s jumps racing comes from Musselburgh.

In the first race at 12.20 Caravel is on something of a retrieval mission after being pulled up on his hurdles debut at Aintree. A multiple winner of the flat for Sir Mark Prescott he was an expensive addition to the team under Graham Wylie’s ownership and better will be expected tomorrow.

Geojimali is something of an unlikely runner in the1.20 as all his wins on the flat, including the Ayr Silver Cup, came at 5 or 6 furlongs. Still given decent ground and a sharp track he could pick up a small hurdles race. Watch your bets in this race as we have Bajan Parkes and Bajan Pride.

Pakineo des Pictons represents our list to follow in the 1.580. There may have been something amiss with him when he was a disappointing 4^th at Kelso and he should be capable of better than he showed then.

In the bumper at 3.20 Saveiro might be worth considering. He unshipped his rider just after the start on his debut but Alan Swinbank does well in bumpers and this one is worth another chance. He is in the same ownership as Alfie Flits.

Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Katy Sodeau.  See links for further examples of this artists work.

 

There are just 3 runners from my list to follow in action on Sunday. Merigo acts on heavy ground and has a good chance in the KelsoBorder’s National at 1.50. Wild Cane Ridge may be the danger here.

At Warwick I have Calgary Bay and Otage de Brion in the 1.10. Calgary Bay with AP McCoy in the saddle is the selection.

Punchestown selections;

12.35 Shirley Casper

1.05 Jaffonien (danger Go Native)

3.05 Horner Woods and Jonco; (both ew)

The Tingle Creek tomorrow (Sandown 2.35) has an illustrious list of previous winners, including Kauto Star and Moscow Flyer (pictured below) in recent seasons.

This renewal looks a match between Master Minded and Tidal Bay. On the evidence of his Champion Chase performance it is hard to see Master Minded being beaten. If his subsequent defeat can be put down solely to the longer trip at Aintree then I don’t think Tidal Bay is going to be able to match him. Tidal Bay has never been out of the first 2 in his 15 career starts and as he stays further than this 2 miles will be suited by a strong gallop. My likely 1, 2, 3 would be Master Minded, Tidal Bay & Takeroc in that order. An intriguing race, but not really a betting proposition.

There are 3 runners from my list to follow in the 1.00 at Chepstow. 1.00 Wichita Lineman, Pancake and Iwillrememberyou. Wichita Lineman was beaten by a very promising sort in Lodge Lane at Exeter and can get back on the winning trail here.

Lordsbridge has been a staying on 4^th in both his races this season, both at Cheltenham. He always seems to arrive a bit too late to take a hand in the finish but if he could be given a little less to do he would be of interest in the Sandown 1.35. Wind Instrument has top weight after winning his last two starts at the end of last season. He is likely to be going over fences before long but connections are giving him another go over hurdles here. He may just be a little too high in the weights now but has an each way chance.

Free World will start favourite for the 2.00 after an impressive win over course and distance last month. He looks a worthy favourite with the progressive Cheating Chance the main danger.

King’s Revenge is a very consistent sort but as a result gets very little help from the handicapper. At around 8/1 though he is not a bad each way bet in the 3.05. The course and distance winner Five Dream looks over priced at 16/1 and is another with an each way shout.

Nine de Sivola is yet to get his head in front over fences despite finishing 2^nd in a number of top handicaps. He will appreciate the trip tomorrow in the 3.35 and this could be his day. Rambling Minster runs in this rather than an alternative engagement at Kelso on Sunday and looks a big danger.

In the rescheduled Fighting Fifth (Wetherby 1.50) I can see Punjabi getting the better of Blue Bajan and Sublimity, especially given the form of the stable. Harchibald (pictured below) won the race last season but does not defend his title tomorrow.

Andytown was an impressive winner of a conditional jockey’s handicap hurdle at Cheltenham and can follow up with Barry Geraghty on board in the Wetherby 1.15.

My only selection at Navan is Zaarito who was one of last season top bumper performers. He runs in the 12.15.

The painting of Moscow Flyer is by Karen Davies, and Harchibald by Lisa Miller.  My thanks to both artists for allowing me to use their work.

It was nice to see Sam Thomas have a couple of winners today. That will no doubt do his confidence some good. One of his winning rides was for Venetia Williams on the ex German Lightning Strike in a beginner’s chase. Quite a decent hurdler it will be interesting to see how far he can go over fences.

Tomorrow the jumps action comes from Exeter and Sandown and there are a few talking points that we can have a look at. Can you look at a talking point? Oh well, you know what I mean.

In the Exeter 1.00 Franchoek looks likely to start favourite. I was beginning to wonder if he might be a little tricky to place as he looks just below the very top class but will always be saddled with plenty of weight in handicaps. Sure enough he is set to give lumps of weight away tomorrow which might take some doing in the likely heavy ground. He has plenty of stamina and the class to beat his rivals tomorrow but he won twice on good to firm on the flat so heavy going could be a problem. He is a tough, genuine horse and I hope he wins but I would not take a short price about him.

In the 1.35 No Panic represents my list to follow. I was quite impressed with his effort when 3^rd behind Hell’s Bay at Chepstow but I have the feeling that he prefers a sound surface so the going tomorrow could be a problem.

One that will like the ground is Ballygalley Bob in the 2.10. He hasn’t shown much in his two runs so far this season but the stable are in form now and this extreme test of stamina might be what he needs.

Sir Winston finished last on his seasonal reappearance but I am hoping for better things from him tomorrow in the 3.20. He is the sort of horse that could improve with time and I would give him an each way chance.

There are three runners from my list to follow in the 2.00 at Sandown. Junior has been really disappointing this season. He looked a horse to follow on the back of his close up 3^rd in the Coral Cup last season but he remains a novice after 3 runs since. On official ratings he ought to win this but he has been expensive to follow which does tend to make you a little wary. It is possible that he doesn’t like soft ground so that is something to keep in mind. On Raglan Road cost £320,000 at the Doncaster spring sales after winning his sole point to point and then scoring in a bumper in Ireland. After winning on his UK debut at Hexham he was runners up to a smart Paul Nicholls horse, and the 3^rd in that race has since bolted up. Grizebeck cost 75,000 gns at the sales and quickly rewarded his connections by winning at Bangor. A case could be made for all three but my preference is for the Howard Johnson runner, On Raglan Road.

In the 3.10 I would give Mokum an each way chance as long as the ground is not too testing.

The 3.40 is quite a difficult race to weigh up. There are 3 that I like, Buffalo Bob, Quaddick Lake and Pterodactyl. Buffalo Bob showed improved form when 2^nd at Folkestone last time out and that run puts him in with a good chance here. Quaddick Lake has to be honest given his supporters very little encouragement this season. I have a feeling that he is capable of better things though and with the stable showing signs of running into some form I wouldn’t rule him out. Pterodactyl, a winner on the flat in France, was runner up at Leicester last month and should come on for that run. The Venetia Williams/Sam Thomas trainer/jockey combination were successful today and Pterodactyl is my tip in this race.

Today’s pictures are by kind permission of the artist Maura Clarke.

 

After a week’s delay we are back in business. I was tipping so many winners in my daily racing diary that my PC blew a gasket. If you believe that ….

I will start today with a quick look back at the racing since I “went off air.”

November 26

I was quite keen on the chances of Kilmackillage at Wetherby, mainly as he had won first time out in the previous two seasons. He duly obliged despite making a rare old mess of the second last. At Kempton Somersby was a winner for trainer Henrietta Knight whose horses may be emerging from a rather lean spell, while at Chepstow Bensalem and Alfie Sherrin were further winners from my list to follow.

November 27

The grey Pasco may not be one of Paul Nicholls’ leading lights but he managed a win at a time when some of his more illustrious stable mates were hitting the deck. Pasco got into a nice rhythm at Newbury and apart from one notable blunder his jumping was very sound. Once again Straw Bear was a disappointment and he does not seem keen on chasing. Earlier on the card Carole’s Legacy got the better of Over Sixty in the mare’s novice hurdle, with the pair of them well clear of the remainder. Other winners from my list to follow were Gypsy George at Uttoxeter and The Nightingale at Taunton.

November 28

Buck the Legend only got off the mark at the 13^th time of asking when winning at Exeter on November 21 but he followed up in good style under a penalty at Newbury in the novice handicap chase.

Ballydub took advantage of his favourable handicap mark when galloping his rivals into submission in the extended 3mile Pertemps Handicap qualifier, paying a considerable compliment to Punchestowns, who successfully gave him 15lb when beating him at Cheltenham last time out. Copper Bleu gave Richard Johnson and Philip Hobbs a double when beating Riverside Theatre.

Glencree cost £230,000 at the April Cheltenham sales and started to repay that fee when winning at Musselburgh. This success was part of a four timer for trainer Howard Johnson. Ferdy Murphy is starting to find some form after what has been largely a slow start for many of his horses and Beggar’s Cap, despite being a market drifter won at Musselburgh under a well judged Graham Lee ride.

November 29

The early results from Towcester included a double for David Pipe. It did make me wonder if a small wager on the stable’s runner in the Hennessey might be worth the risk but sadly I didn’t have the courage of my convictions. In the event Madision Du Berlais was a worthy winner, perhaps signalling a change of fortunes for the Pond House team. Air Force One, in second place, lost nothing in defeat in ground that would not have been ideal. Great Endeavour was one of those Towcester winners thereby completing a hat trick.

Cockney Trucker gave Philip Hobbs another success at Newbury in a strong looking novice hurdle, while another trainer in form, Nicky Henbderson provided the winner of the Grade 2 Long distance hurdle with Duc de Regniere. In a bit of a muddling race Duc de Regniere showed an impressive turn of foot under AP McCoy and plans top send him novice chasing will presumably now be put on hold. Perhaps the one to take out of the race may be Pettifour who will be better suited by a stronger gallop. Sadly Inglis Drever (pictured below) was pulled up after sustaining an injury. You have to wonder if we will see him on a racecourse again. If he has run his last race his retirement home is assured anyway.

Other winners that impressed me on Saturday were Nicky Henderson’s chaser Classic Fiddle and the tenacious mare Helen’s Vision.

Solwhit, trained by Charles Byrnes is a horse I have been keeping an eye on and I was pleased to see him win the handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse. I would have given him a nice positive write up – had my PC been working!

November 30

The best action on Sunday came from Ireland with Trafford Lad completing a hat-trick when staying on determinedly to land the Grade 1 Drinmore Novice Chase. Earlier Hurricane Fly showed a nice turn of foot to beat Donnas Palm and stable-mate Cousin Vinny in the Grade 1 Royal Bond Novice Hurdle.

If tomorrow’s meetings go ahead there are just 3 runners entered from my list to follow.

I quite like the chances of Circus of Dreams in the 1.00. He is probably best suited by genuine good ground so watch the weather! He has run poorly in testing conditions before.

Later on the Market Rasen card Sue Smith runs Daldini in the 2.30. He is yet to find his form this season but has come down a bit in the weights.

At Leicester High Jack is going for a four timer in the 2.10. He is 7 lbs higher than when winning at Towcester by half a length last month so life will obviously be more difficult for him. He is a half brother to Bible Lord.

The picture of Inglis Drever is courtesy of the artist Lisa Miller.  The photograph is by kind permission of Ann Duffield Racing.