Month: November 2009

It was not a good day for champion trainer Paul Nicholls who had several well fancied runners beaten. The valuable steeplechase at Bangor went to Martin Todhunter’s That’s Rhythm who looks on the upgrade and can take a hand in some of the better staying chases in the north this season. Other horses to note from this race were Skipper’s Brig who ran very well in third and is one to follow in really deep ground during the winter and Nicto de Beauchene in 4^th. The latter’s jumping has improved greatly over the last 12 months or so.

Australia Day was made favourite at Kempton last month but slipped on landing at the first. He is worth another chance in the 2.40 at Taunton tomorrow. In the 12.55 at Clonmel my selection is Fionnegas. A dual bumper winner he then went on to open his account over hurdles at Ballinrobe. He has done nothing wrong thus far in his career and looks one to follow.

Today’s picture is by courtesy of the artist Karen Davies.

Paul Nicholls is already sending out a steady stream of winners and he has a number of well fancied horses in action tomorrow. Massasoit was a winner over hurdles at Aintree last October before disappointing in a couple of subsequent efforts. He has since had a breathing operation and is not one to dismiss lightly in the 1.10 at Bangor tomorrow. I am going to oppose him though with Comhla Ri Coig who won twice over hurdles last season before finishing runner up in a Grade 1 event at Aintree.

Paul Nicholls can supply the winner in the 1.40 with Free World. This 5 year old showed plenty of ability last season but tended to weaken t the end of his races. He should have strengthened up over the summer and hopefully will be able to get his head in front more often.

Skipper’s Brig has recorded 6 wins in his career all on heavy ground. If the conditions at Bangor are really testing he will take some beating in the 2.10. Another to look out for in this race is That’s Rhythm who was going well in the Scottish National last season when he fell.

High Jack won a couple of times over fences last season before injuring himself at Ascot. He does not look on a bad mark and will have come on for his recent outing at Uttoxeter. With his trainer in good form he is the selection in the Warwick 1.20.

The ex French Recif de Thaix won a bumper at Sandown last season. Paul Nicholls sends him straight over fences in the Warwick 2.20. Clearly a horse well thought of by connections he looks one to follow.

Today’s picture is by kind permission of the artist Margaret Barrett.

Two selection and two winners from last night’s preview!

There are 3 jumps meeting tomorrow and I will start down at Exeter where Paul Nicholls has a fancied runner in the novice chase at 2.40. Inchidaly Rock won 3 point to points in Ireland before joining the Ditcheat trainer and last season won twice over hurdles. He looks a very interesting recruit to steeplechasing and is the selection. Another horse to note in this race is Giles Cross who has winning form over hurdles and looks the type to make a chaser.

Copper Bleu who was 4^th in the Supreme Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham last season makes his chase debut in the 3.10. He is another former Irish points winner and I fancy him to win on his chase bow. The main danger may come from Captain Americo who won twice over hurdles last season and is another that should make up into a decent chaser although the trip tomorrow may just be on the sharp side for him.

Andy Turnell trains Captain Americo and he also runs Best Oscar who is my idea of the likely winner of the novice hurdle at 4.10. An impressive winner of an Irish point to point he should jump a fence in time but he can win over hurdles this season.

At Lingfield Chilli Rose has the best form on show in the bumper at 4.00. 6^th in the mare’s bumper at Aintree this mare is very well regarded by her trainer and should win. Nothing really appeals to me on the Sedgefield card.

Good luck

 

Money Trix has been a difficult horse to keep sound but has plenty of ability. He returns in the 1.55 at Carlisle. He is not well in at the weights but he had gone well fresh in the past, will like the ground and may have some improvement in him.

Over at Limerick I am interested in the Edward O’Grady trained Pesoto. The form of his second to Joncol last December reads well and the stable are in form.

Today’s picture is by kind permission of the artist Katy Sodeau (see links).

 

Selections for Sunday;

Market Rasen 1.20 Mille Chief

Market Rasen 2.55 Bench Warrent

Hereford 3.05 Ballyoliver

Hereford 3.55 The Jigsaw Man

Navan 3.30 Catch Me

Limerick 3.10 Askthemaster

Navan 3.00 Osana (danger Roberta Goldback)

Limerick 3.45 Weapon’s Amnesty

Navan 12.55 Noble Prince

Picture courtesy of the artist Ruth S Harris

It’s an early start at Doncaster tomorrow with the first race at 11.55 where most of the races on the last day of the flat season look difficult puzzles to solve. The nursery at 1.35 has gone to the favourite on 4 of the last 7 runnings which is something to keep in mind. In an open race I have selected one runner at either end of the handicap. Walvis Bay comes into the race in form having won a maiden at York last month. Felsham is my second selection. He is a half brother to the stable’s sprinter Oldjoesaid who after winning at Kempton on his second start ran creditably when runner up at Windsor in a nursery. Both trip and ground will probably suit him.

In the 2.05 Hidden Brief won her last race, is well drawn and comes from a stable in form. Mooakada is the other runner from my list to follow in this race. A case can be made for Prescription in the 2.40 where, at a bigger price Lovely Thought will at least handle the conditions.

The last big race of the season is the 23 runner November Handicap at 3.15. The consistent King’s Destiny seems to handle any ground and represents an age group that have done well in the race in recent times. The enigmatic Charm School has the ability if things drop right for him. He has winning form on soft ground and is unexposed at the trip. I certainly wouldn’t rule him out. Magicalmysterytour is a course and distance winner and will handle the ground. He tends to pull hard in his races but should be able to get cover in this big field. At 25/1 he looks over priced. Hevelius is lightly raced and should be suited by the likely strong pace. Finally, the fragile Broomielaw is a big threat to them all and is another that looks generously priced on his best form. The 5 horses mentioned would represent my short list. I like King’s Destiny but there is a danger that he will go off at a short price while Charm School has a poor strike rate for a horse in single figure odds. I will take a chance with Broomielaw and Magicalmystreytour each way, although stakes should be kept to a minimum.

McMurrough has finished 2^nd on both his starts this season but there are grounds for hoping that he can go one better in the Kelso 12.15. His hurdling has let him down but now he is upped in trip he may have more time to organize his jumping.

Sue Smith had a winner today and that bodes well for the chances of her runner Nirvana Swing in the Kelso 1.25. He is not on a bad mark at the moment and at around 9/1 does not look bad value.

It would be great to see the veteran Mister McGoldrick give Sue Smith another winner in the 2.25. He has been a fantastic servant for the stable and comes here with a favourite’s chance. Palomar could offer the biggest danger to the old timer.

In the 1.05 at Sandown Crack Away Jack, 4^th in the Champion Hurdle will be expected to make a winning start to his career over fences. Calusa Crystal was a decent enough hurdler and is built to jump a fence. He shouldn’t be good enough to beat the favourite on their respective hurdles ratings but this is hardly a race to bet on.

Rebel Rebellion impressed some good judges when winning his point to point in Ireland. He could be of interest in the bumper at 3.50.

At Wincanton recent winner Pepe Simo sets the standard and is the likely winner. Diamond Brook was very disappointing at Bangor on his reappearance but had show promise when 2^nd at Ludlow last season and if judged on that run would be the danger to the favourite.

Pepite de Soleil and Argento Luna (representing the sun and the moon) make most appeal in the 1.45 along with Dansimar. If pushed for a single selection it would have to be Argento Luna.

I am going for a couple of outsiders in the 2.15. I quite fancy Tasheba and Katies Tutor to run much better than their odds suggest.

Although there are only 4 runners in the 2.50 they all have a live chance. Kangaroo Court has taken well to fences and is the selection but I would not be surprised to see Bakbenscher run well.

In the Badger Ales Chase at 3.25 Exmoor Ranger looks on a fair mark if his jumping holds together. It might pay to side with the Paul Nicholls runner Valentine Vic in the bumper at 4.00.

Notre Pere should appreciate the soft ground in the 2.30 at Down Royal while Paul Nicholls can land the 3.00 with the quirky Herecomesthetruth.

At Santa Anita I will be hoping for good performances from the European challengers and in particular Delegator, Zacinto, Conduit, Twice Over and Rip Van Winkle.

Today’s pictures are by kind permission of the artist Jo Stockdale.

 

Sue Smith’s Garleton won a couple of rimes last season.  He has had a wind operation in the summer and there may be more to come from him over fences off his current mark.  He runs in the 1.20 at Hexham.

There were a couple of Plinys – the Elder and his nephew the Younger. They were awfully clever chappies in Ancient Rome. I don’t know how Pliny the horse trained by Venetia Williams got his name as he is by Accordion out of American Chic. There seems little evidence that either Pliny played the Accordion or associated with American ladies. Judging from his efforts on the racecourse thus far, including a win in a bumper at Towcester on Boxing Day, our Pliny looks likely to prove a stayer. Whether 2.5 miles around Fontwell in the 1.10 tomorrow is a sufficient stamina test for him remains to be seen. He should win races though.

Up at Hexham Etoile D’Or could be a bit of a dark horse in the 1.50. Her only success to date came on the flat in a seller at Yarmouth but it is just possible that she is a bit better than her form figures indicate. Now with trainer Tim Vaughan and ridden tomorrow by Richard Johnson we might just see a different animal!

At Wolverhampton Marco Botti introduces an interesting newcomer in Rainbow Six in the 7.50. Potentially the best horse on show at Wolverhampton however is La De Two who runs in the 8.20. He ran just once last season finishing 2^nd to Kite Wood with Monitor Closely in third. As those two horses have gone on to finish 2^nd and 3^rd in the St Leger La De Two should be up to winning a race at a venue like Wolverhampton. He hasn’t run for 420 days but he has moved to Godolphin who are more than capable of getting a horse fit after a long absence.

Tomorrow night sees the first day of the Breeders Cup at Santa Anita. Now I am not familiar with the form of the American horses so I can’t really offer any tips (a blessing in disguise I suppose!) I will be rooting for the British and Irish contingent however and in particular Father Time, Midday and Rainbow View.

Lastly, Luska Lad is my only selection in Ireland. He runs in the 2.05 at Down Royal where Ruby Walsh has the ride.

Good luck.

 

A few quick thoughts on tomorrow’s racing before the footy comes on.

The Sue Smith trained Coe seems to run well at Haydock having won there over hurdle and fences. He returns to the Lancashire track tomorrow for the 1.55. I am hopeful that he will win a couple of decent prizes this season and Haydock does seem to be his favourite course.

Ferdy Murphy saddles Big Burrows in the 2.30. A winner over hurdle at Kelso last season he is a big chasing sort and is with a trainer who does well with his runners over fences.

Towcester next where Miss Overdrive and Alegralil look the two to concentrate on in the 1.00. This pair are both very well thought of by their respective handlers and it should be an interesting contest. My slight preference would be for Alegralil.

Qualypso D’Allier was largely disappointing last season but there is reason to hope that this former points winner is capable of better. With his stable in good form I will take a chance with him in the 1.30.

My only selection in Ireland is Venalmar in the 3.00 at Thurles.

Today’s picture is of Snoopy Loopy who was retired this week.  He won 10 races during his career including the Betfair Chase at Haydock last season. My thanks to Sarah Clegg for use of the photo.

A few winners and a few disappointments from last night’s preview.

Starting at Chepstow tomorrow Pearlysteps is one to look out for in the 1.00. He ran twice in bumpers finishing second to a Paul Nicholls runner on the first occasion. On his hurdles debut in March he was 4^th but had Ravello Bay behind in 5^th and showed some promise. He should be winning races this season.

Alan King’s Manyriverstocross was rated 97 on the flat and on his latest start was second to Nanton in a Doncaster handicap. He has reportedly schooled well over hurdles and can make a winning start to his career over timber in the Chepstow 2.05.

Tara Royal was an impressive points winner in Ireland. Now with Donald McCain he should handle the soft ground and is my selection for the bumper at 4.20.

My suggestion at Kempton is the lightly raced Ordoney in the 5.50. Moon Lightning handles soft ground well and has always been well regarded by connections. At around 8/1 he is a sporting each way selection at Nottingham in the 2.50.

There is a jumps card at Warwick where the most interesting race is the novice chase at 2.30. Straw Bear and Summersby look the main contenders. Straw bear has the experience but has not looked a natural over fences and I will take a chance with Somersby who comes from a yard specialising in chasers.

My only selection at Fairyhouse is Taking Stock in the 12.55.

Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Lisa Miller.