Month: February 2010

 

We are into the hunter chase season now and while it is not exactly my strong suit it does see the return of some old jumping stars from a few years back. The Ffos Las 4.55 is a case in point. The likely favourite is Fundamentalist, a Cheltenham Festival winner way back in 2004 when he beat the late great Inglis Drever. Also in the race is Take the Stand who was runner up to Kicking King in the 2005 Gold Cup. Crystal D’Ainay, a former winner of the Cleeve Hurdle, and Lord of Illusion and Bannow Strand who both competed at a high level over fences are other golden oldies in the race. The experts seem to fancy Fundamentalist tomorrow.

In the 3.45 Alan King looks to have a good chance of gaining his first winner at the new Welsh track with Miss Overdrive. She has already been runner up twice this season and makes her handicap bow here wearing cheekpieces for the first time. Another to consider in this race is Tara Taylor who looks on a reasonable mark although the form of the stable would be a bit of a concern.

In the 4.20 Viking Rebel is worth noting. He clearly needed the run when a tiring 3^rd behind Mighty Man 3 weeks ago at Huntingdon. A former winning pointer he was also successful at both Ayr and Newcastle over hurdles a couple of years back when trained by Nicky Richards.

Finally at Ffos Las I would give War Footing an each way chance in the 3.10 He was travelling well at Towcester last time until falling at the 14^th fence.

The main interest at Kelso will be the appearance of hurdling start Zaynar in the 3.20 where he will be long odds on. My best bet at the Borders track though is Hollins, a course and distance winner, in the opener at 1.10.

I have two selections at Clonmel, Quiscover Fontaine in the 4.00 and The Midnight Club in the 4.35.

Today’s picture, of Gold Cup hero Kicking King, is courtesy of the artist Sarah Aspinall.

 

I won’t spend too much time on tomorrow’s racing as both jumps meetings are subject to inspections.

The Folkestone 3.20 doesn’t look the greatest of races and I would hope that Pliny would give us a run for our money.

Three winners from 6 selections today following on from a successful afternoon on Saturday.

Tomorrow Harry the Hawk should go well in the Catterick 2.50. Three times a winner on the flat the trip should suit him and he looks reasonably handicapped .

Shoreacres ran well in third behind Copper Bleu at Exeter and can get off the mark over fences in the Plumpton 4.30 while my other selection at the meeting is Giles Cross, a recent winner at Chepstow, in the 3.00.

Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Katy Sodeau.

 

Selections for Sunday;

Exeter 3.35 – Glenwood Knight.

4.10 – Silverburn

5.10 – Wishfull Thinking

Hereford 3.35 – Chilli Rose

Navan 3.50 – Ballyburke

4.55 – Osana

Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Ruth S Harris

We had a couple of winners yesterday, notably Nicto de Beauchene at 13/2.

Tomorrow’s Newbury card is a fascinating mixture of star individual champions and competitive handicaps and should draw a big crowd.

When Diamond Harry beat Bensalem over hurdles last season the pair were only separated by half a length. When they clashed over fences at Haydock recently Diamond Harry was the more fluent jumper, in fact Bensalem was a faller. They meet again in the Newbury 1.30 where Diamond Harry should come out on top again. Inchidaly Rock had won twice over fences before falling when upped in class at Cheltenham last time. He gives the impression that he may be better going right handed and when fresh so I am inclined to prefer Diamond Harry who gets the selection.

The 2.00 is an ultra competitive handicap hurdle where the likely favourite is the highly rated Alfie Sherrin trained by Paul Nicholls. Although beaten into third on his last run that race has worked out quite well, producing a number of subsequent winners. It is quite a surprise in itself that this horse is being kept over hurdles and although favourites have a poor recent record in the race “Alfie” could well be what it’s all about here! If you don’t fancy taking such a short price in a race like this the outsiders to consider might be The Real Deal and Triggerman. The former reverts to hurdles after a spell over fences and could be reasonably handicapped while Triggerman put up a good performance last time out at Kempton when 4th to Micheal Flips in bad ground.

Denman (pictured below) should win the AON Chase at 2.30 although hardly a betting proposition.

The Totesport Trophy at 3.05 will take some sorting out however. If you are looking for an outsider Frontier Dancer is one to take a look at from a stable starting to find some better form. He doesn’t look badly weighted. Get Me Out Of Here is unbeaten in four starts is a course and distance winner and has AP McCoy in the saddle. Nicky Henderson and David Pipe both have multiple entries. Barry Geraghty rides Spirit River who was really impressive when winning at Cheltenham in December and is a serious player. Of the Pipe runners Mamlook is not without a chance. He is very consistent and only has a 5 lbs penalty for his win in a valuable handicap at Ascot last month. I just prefer his stable companion Ronaldo Des Mottes however. He ran a shocker in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham but has since bounced back to form winning at Kempton over Christmas. Numide has been out of form this season after not really taking to fences and he may be a little too high in the weights. Numide’s stable companion Harry Tricker looks to have a better chance especially if the ground isn’t too testing. The talented Manyriverstocross is only a novice but has plenty of experience from the flat and gets in here with a nice racing weight.

I have whittled this down to a short list of 4; Spirit River, Ronaldo Des Mottes, Manyriverstocross and Harry Tricker. If pushed to, select one it would be Manyriverstocross at around 10/1.

The 3.40 sees the return of Champion Chaser Master Minded pictured below). He should carry too many guns for Voy Por Ustedes, who probably needs further these days, and Fix the Rib. He is returning after a setback however and I don’t think I would want to take a very short price.

My selections for the last two races on the Newbury card are Bellvano (4.15) and Dragon’s Roost (4.45).

At Warwick I just favour Sullumo over Forest Pennant in the 1.45 while Long Run could just be something special in the 2.15.

In the 2.50 Merigo is potentially well handicapped and looks each way value at 10/1. In the 3.20 I see that The Vicar is dropped in trip after not really getting home over further and has an each way prayer at 7/1. Kennel Hill is the selection in the 3.55.

There have an early morning inspection at Ayr. If the meeting goes ahead recent Market Rasen winner Mirage Dore looks to have a good chance in the novice chase at 2.10 while Olifan D’Oudairies with Graham Lee on board can follow up his win at the Scottish track back in December in the 3.50.

I don’t have a strong view about the 2.35 at Gowran Park although I did consider Luska Lad and Noble Prince.

All pictures today courtesy of the artist Lisa Miller.

 

With Ayr having been abandoned the jumps racing tomorrow comes from Kempton and Bangor.

The Kempton card gets under way with a conditional jockey’s handicap hurdle at 1.25. The weights are headed by Solent who is making his first appearance for nearly a year. He dead heated for first place in a listed race at Ascot on the flat and has plenty of ability. He also has the benefit of being ridden by one of the more experienced jockeys. Solent could go well at a big price but I am going to take a chance with another outsider in Heezazari. A former winning pointer he has only had 2 runs under rules finishing 2^nd in a bumper and then winning at Bangor over hurdles. The form of those races has worked out well but the horse is obviously fragile. He hasn’t run for 636 days so his fitness levels have to be taken on trust but that will be reflected in his price.

The 2.35 looks quite a hot little race with Quantitativeesing the likely odds on favourite for the Nicky Henderson yard with AP McCoy in the saddle. He is unbeaten and sets the standard. The Betchworth Kid is another to consider. He was rated 100+ on the flat and has already shown ability in his two races over timber. He is stepped up in trip here which should suit him. The favourite is likely to be very short here so I am looking elsewhere for some value. Emma Lavelle speaks very highly of Tocca Ferro a lightly raced type who has done little wrong so far and got off the mark over hurdles at Southwell last time. This one could be open to plenty of improvement and at around 9/2 looks the value.

In the 3.45 Duc de Regniere should have too many gears for Big Fella Thanks as long as his jumping stands up while in the 4.20 NIcto de Beauchene looks on a fair mark and has an each way chance.

In the 1.35 at Bangor Tara Royal looks the one to beat while Cuckoo Pen and Alderley Rover are the pick of those at bigger prices.

Today’s picture is courtesy of Kate Tann.

Selections for Thursday;

Huntingdon 1.40 – Sona Sasta

Taunton 3.00 – Vodka Brook

 

Another mundane looking day’s racing coming up on Wednesday. Hollins won well enough at Kelso and should give a good account in the Carlisle 1.35.

War Footing was going OK when he fell on his last outing. He has an each way chance in the 4.15.

At Ludlow Black Jack Blues sets the standard in the Ludlow 1.45. In the 2.20 both Zemsky and Casta Cada are worth considering while Nikos Extra may have been an unlucky loser at Southwell last time and could gain compensation in the 4.00.

 

Looking at tomorrow’s meetings there is not a lot to comment on.

Blue Nymph sets the standard in the Market Rasen 1.30 after an impressive winning debut over hurdles.

Sandynow and Ballybriggan make some appeal against the favourite in the 2.30 while up at Sedgefield the Rose Dobbin trained Middleton Dene has solid credentials in the 3.10.