Month: November 2009

There are meetings at Hereford, where there is a morning inspection and Southwell tomorrow.

In the 1.40 at Hereford Call Me Mulligan runs form trainer Rebecca Curtis in the 1.40. He has run well in a couple of bumpers and looks an interesting prospect. He may not want really testing ground however.

At Southwell a couple of runners in the 1.50 caught my eye. My Shamwari, trained by former jockey Ben De Haan was runner up in a bumper on his only start so far. He is a chasing type really but should be competitive over hurdles. Mick Easterby gives a hurdles debut to the 5 year old gelding Hurlingham, 4 times a winner on the flat twice on the all weather and twice on turf. He appeals as the type that could win a race or two over timber.

Today’s picture is by courtesy of the artist Jane Dunn.

There is not a lot to comment on looking at tomorrow’s meetings at Fakenham and Folkestone.

Peace Corps who runs in the Fakenham 12.50 has form on the flat. He ran 5 times and although he didn’t win a race he did finish 2^nd at Sandown on his last start in a handicap at Sandown.

The Polomoche has always looked a chasing type and makes his debut over fences in the 2.50 for in form trainer Nicky Henderson. This horse goes well fresh and will be expected to win.

At Folkestone the most interesting race is the 1.00. Den of Iniquity, The Jazz Musician and Numide are all worth considering. The Jazz Musician has been well regarded by connections and had good form over hurdles in the 2007/8 season. He fell on his chase debut at Kempton however and has not shown his best from for a while. Numide won the Greatwood Hurdle last season but didn’t jump too fluently when a disappointing 4^th at Huntingdon on his chase bow. He does have Tony McCoy in the saddle this time though and is respected. Den of Iniquity is a lightly raced type and showed some promising signs on his chasing debut at Plumpton recently. Any one of these 3 could come good here but I will go for Den of Iniquity who will at least handle the ground.

Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Susan Shaw.

 

The main interest at Carlisle tomorrow will be the hurdles debut of Washington Irvine who was 5^th in the Epsom Derby last year. He runs in the 12.55.

The better racing is over in Ireland however at Fairyhouse where the highly rated Dunguib will be odds on to land the 1.00. Some Present and Sweeps Hill are the main opposition but the favourite should prevail.

In the 1.30 my short list consists of Pandorama, Pesoto, Roberto Goldback and China Rock. This looks a very competitive affair but if pushed for a selection I would go for Pesoto who was an easy winner at Limerick on his last start. In the Hattan Grace Hurdle at 2.05 I fancy Catch Me to land the prize for the second year running.

Arvika Ligeonniare is preferred to Prince of Milan in the 3.40.

There is plenty of racing on tomorrow as long as the weather doesn’t intervene. Now that I am on the crematorium side of 60 perhaps my tipping skills will improve!

Starting with Newbury the card gets under way with the “Greyhounds make great pets novices’ hurdle” at 12.25. Sereth is one to look out for in this. He was a decent horse on the flat in Germany where he won at listed level and he was more recently 3^rd to Darley Sun in the Cesarewitch. He made a pleasing start to his hurdles career when winning at Huntingdon and looks an interesting prospect. The other one I will put forward is Finian’s Rainbow. He was unlucky tot to win a point to point at Inch when falling at the last with the race at his mercy and he started his career under rules by winning a bumper at Kempton. In the long term he should make a chaser but it would be no surprise to see him make his mark over hurdles this season.

World Hurdle winner Big Bucks (pictured below) makes his seasonal debut in the 1.35. His ultimate target will be to defend his crown at Cheltenham come March but he should still prove too good for the opposition tomorrow even though he is unlikely to be 100% fit at this early stage of the season.

The 2.05 is an open race. Isn’t That Lucky has done all his winning in the spring months which might be a bit of a negative. He was pulled up on his last start which was at Aintree which I suppose has to be another negative. Still, he is quite well treated on his best form and I will take a chance with him here.

In the Hennessy Gold Cup at 2.40 Denman is giving plenty of weight away to all his rivals. He won the race 2 years ago off a rating of 161 and needs to defy a mark of 174 if he is to repeat that success. If we could be sure that he is the Denman of 2 years ago I would fancy him but he has had his problems since then and I just think that 7/2 is a bit on the short side for him. There are plenty of interesting runners such as Grand National winners “Mon Mome (English) and Niche Market (Irish) as well as Cappa Bleu who won the Foxhunters at Cheltenham last season. The latter looked to have a big future ahead of his but was a big disappointment at Aintree last month and will need to do much better than that if he is to figure tomorrow. The Aintree race was over an inadequate trip though and upped in distance tomorrow we should see a very different animal. The other runner trained by Evan Williams, State of Play is worth considering. He won the race in 2006 and has performed with credit since in various big races although only actually winning once. He stays and he jumps and he is in with a chance.  Mon Mome (pictured below) won the Grand National at 100/1 but will find a few too good for him in this field I would think.

Gone to Lunch was 2^nd in the Scottish National last season and should strip fitter for his recent run at Ascot . He may not want really testing conditions. Barber’s Shop will have his supporters, he was 7^th in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, as will Ballyfitz from the Twiston-Davies yard. My Will could go well at a big price. His career record is a model of consistency and he has performed with great credit in big races. He was 5^th in this race last season and occupied the same finishing position in the Gold Cup before coming 3^rd in the Grand National.

All but one of the last 10 renewals have been won by 6 or 7 year olds (the other winner was 8). There are only 5 runners aged 6 or 7 and they would represent my short list. Barber’s Shop, Kornati Kid, Killyglen, Cappa Bleu and What a Friend. It is worth noting that Killyglen and Kornati Kid act well on soft ground while What a Friend is probably best on good ground. For my selection I will go for Barber’s Shop who has a touch of class. I fear Cappa Bleu who could be anything and would not want to deter you from risking a few shillings on the other 3 on my short list (but don’t forget to consider the ground).

My two against the field in the 3.15 are recent Aintree winner Nampour and Micheal Flips who was 3^rd at Ascot on his last start.

The feature race at Newcastle if the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at 1.50 where Binocular and Solwhit clash. With only 7 runners this could turn into a tactical cat and mouse affair and is a race I will watch rather than bet on.

Run to Space is no world beater but he is quite consistent and I am hopeful that he will run well in the Newcastle 12.10 while Irish raider Weapon’s Amnesty is my selection in the 1.15.

Nicky Henderson runs a promising newcomer in the 2.25. Quantatitiveasing is a full brother to Grade 1 winner Asian Maze and won a bumper at Punchestown in good style last season. AP McCoy has the ride.

In the 3.25 Coe, Jass and Chief Dan George are all worth considering.

Great Endeavour won over hurdles last season and makes his chase bow at the same track tomorrow in the 2.00 He has had a recent good run over hurdles when 3^rd to Lie Forrit and trainer David Pipe will have him well schooled over fences. He should win.

Jungleand is a horse to look out for this season. He runs tomorrow in the Towcester 2.35 but he has been off the track for a long time so I will keep a watching brief for the moment.

At Fairyhouse I would suggest a small interest in The Midnight Club and Jessie’s Dream in the 3.00.

My thanks to Kate Tann for use of her excellent photos.

Good luck.

Another good day for the web site with 5 winners from yesterday’s selections. Riverside Theatre (4/5), Michel Le Bon (6/4), Exmoor Ranger (4/1), Oscar Whisky (8/15) and Sir Winston (7/2).

Newbury is again the main meeting tomorrow and gets under way with a novice hurdle at 1.00. Mille Chief and Royal Mix look the pair to concentrate on in this race. Royal Mix is trained by Paul Nicholls and has winning form in France where he was rated 90 on the flat. He won over 1 mile 7 furlongs at Deauville on good ground so stamina should not be a problem over hurdles. Mille Chief is another with winning form in France. He was unlucky on his UK debut for Alan King when brought down at Market Rasen. As long as that mishap has not damaged him mentally or physically I would expect him to run well and narrowly prefer him to the Nicholls runner.

Channel 4 presenter Alistair Down nominated Lie Forrit as his horse to follow this season. He does have his quirks (the horses that is, not Mr Down) and unseated his rider when in with a winning chance at Aintree but has since shown plenty of resolution when winning at Cheltenham. He has gone up another 6 lbs for his Cheltenham success but looks a progressive sort and there may well be more to come. This is a very competitive handicap with all sorts of dangers (Halla San and Ainama spring to mind). Lie Forrit has shown his best form on soft going and if underfoot conditions are to his liking he should run well. He is the selection.

In the 2.40 it will be a big surprise if Punchestowns fails to oblige on his chase debut. Should the hot favourite fail then Red Admiral would be the one most likely to benefit.

There are some promising types in the line up for the 3.45. The quartet that appeal most are Bellvano, Black Jack Blues, Tocca Ferro and Henry King. All come into the race with solid bumper form and represent in form yards. If I had to select just one I suppose it would have to be Bellvano although I would suggest a saver of Tocca Ferro..

At Musselburgh I am hopeful of a big run from Meath All Star in the 1.45 while Luska Lad looks the one to be on in the 1.35 at Thurles.

My thanks to Kate Tann for the photo of Newbury racecourse.

The first horse that I considered on tomorrow’s Newbury card was Miss Overdrive in the in the 12.25. She was a shade disappointing on her hurdling debit at Towcester and didn’t jump fluently. It may well be that stamina is her forte and she steps in trip tomorrow which may also help her jumping. The negative could be the going however as she won her bumper on good ground and her full sister Over Sixty is best suited by a sound surface. With the going likely to be soft I will reluctantly pass over Miss Overdrive in favour of Queen Poline whose bumper wins came with plenty of give in the ground.

The 12.55 is quite a difficult race to weight up with 4 horses that have claims. The Paul Nicholls runner Lady An Co is particularly tricky to assess. She has winning form over hurdles in France where she has also been placed in good races over fences. She has her first race for her new yard tomorrow. Captain Americo looks the sort to be progressive over fences and was runner up at Exeter on his second run over the larger obstacles. Tomorrow’s trip should be well within his compass. Calusa Crystal won 4 times over hurdle last season and had little chance when beaten by Crack Away Jack on her chasing debut. She has a tenacious attitude and should win races over fences as the season progresses. She appears to be best on good ground however and may not have conditions to suit her at Newbury. Riverside Theatre won 3 times last season and also performed well in top company at Aintree and Punchestown. She is the pick of these on hurdles form and as long as the ground is not too testing she may just shade it.

The 2.05 features two recent winners in Bench Warrant and Pettifour as well as a highly rated Paul Nicholls runner in Michel Le Bon. The latter won twice over hurdles last season and is expected to be one of his stables better novice chases. Despite the absence of a recent run, Michel Le Bon, who is getting weight from his two main rivals, can make his chase debut a winning one.

I give Exmoor Ranger an each way chance in the 3.40.

Spirit River won over hurdles at Auteuil in March and the horse he beat went on to be placed in listed races. He looks an interesting runner in the 3.15. In the bumper at 3.45 my selection is Oscar Whisky who was an impressive winner at Newbury in March.

Sir Winston was expected to do well last season by many shrewd judges but was pretty disappointing. As a result he runs off a mark of 84 tomorrow in the Taunton 3.25 which may underrate his level of ability.

Northern Gem had some decent form on the flat and can make a winning debut over hurdles for David Pipe in the 12.15 at Uttoxeter. Ernst Blofeld should relish the testing conditions at Uttoxeter and is my suggestion in the 1.55.

Today’s picture is of Denman and is included by kind permission of the artist Sarah Clegg.  Denman is set to carry top weight in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury on Saturday.

There is nothing that really catches my eye at the UK meetings tomorrow. There are a few of interest at Naas but I won’t spend too much time on them as there is an inspection tomorrow morning and will all the rain about the meeting must be in some doubt.

Luska Lad is the obvious choice in the opener at 12.25. Four wins in bumpers, two of these on heavy ground plus a winning start to his hurdling career in the soft at Galway put him in with a favourite’s chance here. Although only third on his last start this race looks a lot easier.

The 12.55 is quite a hot race and there are several with chances. Looking for value I have gone for Sorceror who is 8/1 in the RP. He won his point to point at Ballydurn and is also a winner over hurdles on soft ground. He was third on his chase debut behind River Liane at Naas in testing conditions which was a promising effort.

In the 1.55 my tentative selection is Askthemaster. A lightly raced type he jumped well when winning at Limerick in May. He unseated on his latest outing but on the best of his form has an each way chance here.

Today’s picture is by kind permission of Sally Martin.

 

I was rather pleased with last night’s preview which pointed the way to several winners.

I can’t get over enthusiastic about tomorrow’s racing although I will give Taking Stock one more chance in the 2.05 at Gowran Park.

The best meeting tomorrow is at Kempton with supporting cards at Ffos Las and Ludlow.

Nicky Henderson introduces an interesting “new signing” in the novice hurdle at Kempton at 12.20 in the shape of the five year old Candy Creek. This mare won twice in 3 starts in bumpers last season with the latest success coming at Aintree in a very competitive contest. The only defeat was when 4^th to the Cheltenham festival winner Dunguib at Navan. Tony McCoy rides Candy Creek and the same trainer/jockey combination has a good chance in the 12.50 with the recent Ascot winner You’re the Top who is on a 4 timer.

McCoy and Henderson team up again in the 1.25 where they have another live chance with My Petra although here they face stiff opposition from the Donald McCain runner Whiteoak. Another that could run well in this is Dansimar. Whiteoak would be my selection.

Charlie Mann saddles Cast Cada in the 2.00 which is a beginner’s Chase. A former point to point winner Cast Cada won twice over hurdles last season and made a pleasing start to his career over fences when 2^nd at Uttoxeter recently.

At Ludlow the 12.30 features some promising horses. Abbevilian had some decent bumper form before finishing 4^th to Dave’s Dream on his hurdles debut last Christmas. He should be capable of winning races on that evidence. Royal Collonges is another to look out for. He is a half brother to the high class chaser Neptune Collonges.

Today’s picture, of Kauto Star and Imperial Commander, is by courtesy of Kate Tann.