Month: January 2012

 

Selections for Sunday

Fairyhouse

1.50 Noble Prince

2.25 Shot from the Hip

4.00 Champagne Fever

Market Rasen

2.30 Global Power and Hildisvini (each way)

3.35 Seigneur des Bois

Towcester

1.30 Volcan Surprise

3.45 Chartreux

 

Ascot

1.00 Bunclody is having only his second run over fences having won a 3 runner affair at Haydock last month. Both his wins have come on heavy ground but he may well be even more effective on better ground. Lightly raced and difficult for the handicapper to asses he is an interesting runner.

2.05 Kentford Grey Lady goes for the hat trick after wins at Kempton and Exeter.

2.35 A Bridge Too Far is yet to finish out of the first two in 7 runs and his last effort when only beaten a neck at Doncaster last month after a lay off was encouraging. Royal Charm reverts to hurdles after losing his confidence over fences.

3.10 Finian’s Rainbow just got up to beat Wishfull Thinking at Kempton over Christmas. As that was his first run since April he should stand a good chance of confirming the form. Al Ferof represents the winning trainer of this race for the last 3 season’s Paul Nicholls and is very much respected. Finian’s Rainbow should just have the edge though.

3.45 Sa Suffitt has been running well without winning and has an each way chance at around 12/1.

4.20 Black Noddy, Grove Pride and The Pretender all have claims. Grove Pride is a consistent sort and his tariner4 has been in better from lately. He has a strong each way chance.

Haydock

12.40 Cinders and Ashes sets the standard here.

1.10 Milo Milan was a winner at Bangor in November but disappointed last time at Hereford. He is worth another chance here at a big price.

1.45 Desert Cry might be worth a go here in a small field race that could become a tactical affair.

2.20 Reindeer Dippin has form on heavy ground and has run well on his last two starts.

2.55 Real Milan looked a useful prospect when making a successful hurdles debut at Uttoxeter and can go in again.

3.30 Mount Oscar hasn’t been seen since finishing runner up in the Racing Post Chase nearly a year ago. Oscar Gogo has proven form on heavy ground but his stamina has to be taken on trust. The two I like best though are Take the Breeze and According to Pete. Take the Breeze has won 4 times on heavy ground which is a big plus. He has won off a mark of 148 but gets in here off 142 and has a talented 7 lb claimer on board. According to Pete won at Wetherby on Boxing Day despite being 8 lbs out of the handicap. He is a course winner and handles soft ground.

4.05 Glenwood Knight ran well over hurdles at Newcastle last month which hopefulky will act as a confidence booster for his return to fences. He has won on heavy ground.

Wincanton

1.35 Bathwick Brave could be interesting on his handicap bow.

3.55 Sarika has shown a winning attitude in winning twice at Exeter. Although he is out of the handicap he looks progressive as is just preferred to Gurtacrue.

4.25 Josh’s Dreamway has some good bumper form, should like the ground and has an each way chance at around 12/1.

Naas

Willie Mullins saddles the favourite in the first 3 races and all look likely winners. The 2.15 is an intriguing contest. Dylan Ross has prove4d something of a weak finisher and wears first time blinkers. It might be worth taking him on with Distant Memories, a useful flat horse that made a winning hurdles bow at Limerick.

Turf trivia

The most valuable jumping race ever held at Birmingham racecourse was the Tote Investors Chase on 4 November 1958 worth £2,414 12s 6d to the winner.

Picture courtesy of Sarah Clegg.

Catterick

1.35 Quel Elite has been running consistently without winning and this stiffer test of stamina could suit. Realmont has some useful chase form in France and could be the main threat.

2.10 Freddie Brown has the size and scope to make a chaser.

3.50 Doyly Carte is a half sister to the classy Dandino.

Chepstow

1.45 Basford Bob’s jumping has let him down on occasions but at least he has got round on his last two starts. He has won on heavy ground and is a sporting bet here.

2.20 Jump City is 2 lbs “well in” at the weights and is a contender. Charm School gets in off a feather weight but was not always the most reliable when he ran on the flat. A tricky race to weight up!

 

Taunton

1.20 Dualla Lord could well take this. He is back over hurdle after falling on his last start over fences. He is bound to be a short price coming from the Paul Nicholls yard though. There may be excuses for some of Theatrical Star’s defeats and he could figure at a bigger price.

3.20 Third Intention and Bally Legend are my two against the field.

3.50 Get It On has been in the first two in all his last 4 completed starts.

Thurles

1.35 Follow the Plan won this last season by a neck from Roberto Goldback. He has since won the Guinness Gold Cup at Punchestown and is useful on a going day. Apt Approach is a real mudlark and comes here on a hat trick. Roberto Goldback has hinted at a return to form on his last two starts and is narrowly preferred to the other pair.

From the archives

The 1.35 at Thurles gets its name from the first ever winner of the race Kinloch Brae. He was then made favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup but was a faller. In recent years Native Upmanship completed a hat trick of wins in the race all at odds on favourite. He also won the 2002 Melling Chase at Aintree.

Selections for Wednesday

Newbury

1.30 Cedre Bleu

2.05 Desert Joe

3.10 Molly Round

From the archives

Cloudy Lane makes his first appearance in a hunter chase in the Newbury 4.15. He is a former winner of the Kim Muir (Cheltenham), the Grimthorpe chase (Doncaster) and the Peter Marsh chase (Haydock). He ran in the Grand National 3 times with his best finishing position 6^th behind Comply or Die in 2008.

 

Ayr

1.40 Blenheim Brook. A winner over 3 miles at Newcastle should be good enough to follow up despite the drop back in trip being a possible negative.

Fakenham

2.20 Cucumber Run is the selection.

 

Plumpton

2.10 Goring Two

4.10 Double Handful

 

Kelso

12.50 The Weatherman

2.20 Freddie Brown

 

Kempton

12.30 Hurdles debutant Sadler’s Risk was rated 100 on the flat and is potentially a promising recruit to the winter game.

1.05 Menorah will be odds on here and should prevail. Kumbeshwar has shown promise over fences and could be seen as value but this is not a race that makes much appeal from a betting angle.

1.40 The lightly raced Captain Sunshine has shown plenty of promise in his two runs to date and should relish the extra distance here.

2.50 Act of Kalanisi, Featherbed Lane and Swincombe Flame make most appeal. At current odds Swincombe Flame looks the value at around 7/1.

3.20 Quotica de Payans disappointed at Newbury last time but is worth another chance.

Warwick

1.25 Four of these could be given a chance. Alfie Spinner would almost certainly prefer more testing ground but looks a good bet to get round and be involved at the finished. Golden Chieftain (jumping) and Frascati Park (trip) have questions to answer and Connak might be worth an each way saver at a bigger price.

2.30 Saffron de Cotte comes from a stable that is beginning to run into some form.

3.05 Ambion Wood is beginning to confirm the trainer’s high opinion of him and should go well but slight preference is for Highland Lodge from a stable with a good record in the race.

3.40 Strongbows Legend was well backed on his last start when a slightly unlucky faller. Sona Sasta was runner up to the subsequent Welsh National winner at Chepstow and is another to consider.

Wetherby selections; 12.40 Tarn Hows; 1.15 Mac Aeda (sdanger Bunclody); 3.30 Mallusk: 4.00 Doyly Carte.

Punchestown selection; 3.00 Allure of Illusion.

Turf trivia

Doyly Carte who runs in the 4.00 at Wetherby is a half sister to the Group 2 winner Dandino.

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

 

Huntingdon

1.50 Ericht was disappointing on his last start but is the form pick here on his previous form.

2.20 It is often worth taking on the odds on favourite in novice chases and I will go with Kauto Relko to cause an upset here.

Musselburgh

1.10 A tricky little race this. Degas Art has kept some good company over the years on the flat and over hurdles but his record over fences is none too good, Vosges has form figures of 1122 at the track and can’t be ignored. Bogside unseated 2 out on his chase debut at Sedgefield. A decent hurdler he could be a threat. Charminster has won a point to point, a bumper and a novice hurdle. Runner up on his chase bow he must stand a good chance of adding to his winning tally here.

Turf trivia

The British record for the longest priced winner is held by Equinoctial who won at Kelso in 1990 at the bumper odds of 250-1.