Month: February 2012

 

After a reasonably successful run of results I will try for a few at longer odds today.

Ffos Las

2.30 Flying Award (ew)

3.00 Milo Milan and Victor’s Serenade (split stake)

Market Rasen

3.15 Trustan Times

3.50 According to Lawrence

Navan

4.00 Nearest the Pin

 

Ascot

1.15 This is a tricky race to weigh up as there are question marks over the 3 best fancied runners. Keys is the likely favourite and has strong claims as long as her stays. Super Duty has to recover from a heavy fall on his last outing while Saint Roque may well be open to plenty of improvement. Keys is the most likely winner although the current price doesn’t look value.

1.50 Silviniaco Conti and Bob’s Worth renew their rivalry after finishing 2^nd and 3^rd at Kempton on Boxing Day. They should again finish close together with the former, a course winner over hurdles again fancied to confirm the form. Invictus is no forlorn hope and had there been 8 runners would have been a tempting each way alternative but as it is Silviniaco Conti gets the nod.

2.25 My two against the field are Cappa Bleu, 3^rd in the Welsh National and Penny Max who is in form coming here on a hat trick.

3.00 Kauto Stone and Medermit have solid claims but Riverside Theatre was a 100% record first time out and is a course and distance winner. He will be hard to beat.

3.35 Swincombe Flame has won 5 of his 6 starts and is improving. At a bigger price Bourne looks interesting in a handicap for the first time.

4.10 Hazy Tom was not disgraced when 3^rd here last month and there may well be more to come from him. I will take a chance though with Captain Sunshine who was a faller at the final flight last time when the probable winner.

4.45 Royal Guardsman was an impressive winner at Fontwell last season and it is interesting that the talented claimer Brendan Powell has been booked to ride.

Gowran Park

2.05 Rubi Light was a good second in the Lexus Chase at Christmas and should be good enough here.

Haydock

2.10 I am going for a split stake here on Real Milan and Ambion Wood.

2.45 Featherbed Lane has been improving rapidly but he tackles 3 miles for the first time and his stable are out of form so 11/8 does not look generous. I will take a chance on Benny be Good who will definitely stay and has been running well all season.

3.20 We have quite a strong field for this with a former Grand National winner in Mon Mome, the first two home in the Welsh National in Le Beau Bai and Giles Cross plus the classy grey Neptune Collonges. The trio I like are Always Right, 3^rd in the Scottish National, Rey Nacarado a recent winner at Newbury and the David Pipe runner Sono Sasta who has dropped a few pounds in the handicap. I am again going to choose two, Rey Nacarado and Always Right.

3.55 Sa Suffit looks potentially well handicapped.

4.30 Cannington Brook takes a drop in trip but is narrowly preferred to Mister Hyde.

Wincanton

12.55 The Pretender is probably capable of better than he has shown so far.

2.00 At 8/1 course and distance winner Water Garden looks a good each way call.

3.45 Binocular (pictured above) is not the most consistent but at his best he would be hard to beat.

4.50 Theatre Guide is the selection here. He does tend to race keenly but has looked a good prospect and has been given a break.

Turf Trivia

The 1.50 at Ascot is named after Reynoldstown who won the Grand National in 1935 and 1936 thereby becoming the first back to back winner since The Colonel 66 years earlier.

Today’s picture is by courtesy of the artist Sarah Clegg.

 

Newbury

There is a quality card at Newbury tomorrow where it is hard to oppose the hot favourites in the first two races although prices will be short. It will be disappointing if Arkle favourite Sprinter Sacre can’t maintain his 100% record over fences in the opening Game Spirit Chase.

1.15 This is a much more competitive affair. Zarkander is the likely favourite despite this being his first run of the season. He won a strong looking Triumph Hurdle last season and followed up with a win at Aintree. The unbeaten Darlan has a bit to find on form but could be improving while Raya Star has solid handicap form having won the Ladbroke at Ascot. Third Intention was 7^th in the Triumph but is getting 9 lbs from Zarkander and has the benefit of a recent run. Desert Cry won at Haydock in November and has been running with credit since. Although not a very original idea the form of Zarkander does look solid and he is the selection.

1.50 Montbazon has course form and won last time out.

2.25 I don’t have a strong opinion about this race but Grand National favourite Junior is interesting over hurdles while Global Power has slipped down the weights a bit and although his recent form in nothing to write home about he has a chance if back to his best.

2.55 The improving Our Mick, trained by Donald McCain was a Grade 2 winner over distance on heavy ground last time, he’s expected to prefer today’s better ground, and could maintain his upward curve while Cedre Bleu and Mossley both have chances as does Walkon but For Non Stop deserves to win a race like this after 3 consecutive seconds and gets a narrow vote.

Sandown

1.40 Daynar Bay

2.10 Loch Ba

2.40 Ozeta

4.25 Tante Sissi & Off the Ground

Fakenham

2.35 Balding Banker

3.40 Desert Joe

4.15 Barber’s Shop

Today’s pictures are courtesy of the artist Lisa Miller

 

Clonmel

3.05 Back in Focus

Leicester

2.30 Moscow Chancer

3.35 He’s Our Lad

 

Kelso

Doyly Carte, a half sister ot the flat Group 2 winner Dandino won well at Catterick on her debut and can follow up here.

Southwell

1.20 The Disengager runs infrequently and probably has injury problems but on the basis of his last run, at Perth last September he has every chance in this.

1.50 Sybarite has obvious claims on his best form but he is likely to start at a short price so I will take a punt on Kauto Relko

3.50 Talkonthestreet ran well on his hurdles bow at Taunton and merits the selection.

 

Ayr

2.55 Bishop’s Heir

3.25 Best Lover

Folkestone

2.30 Keep Kicking

 

Sunday selections;

Exeter

2.00 Captain Sunshine

2.30 Master of the Game with Keep Kicking the each way alternative

3.00 Not much to choose between Montbazon and Molotof. My slight preference is for the latter.

3.35 Teaforthree

4.10 Walkon

Leopardstown

2.40 Last Instalment

3.45 Quel Esprit

 

Musselburgh

2.05 Kie is a course and distance winner and has a good chance here if his last run is ignored.

2.35 Plenty in with chances in this, notably Arctic Court, Moonlight Drive and Devotion to Duty. Arctic Court stays this trip well and his front running style may be suited to this track.

3.10 De Boitron has slipped down the weights and will like the ground.

3.45 Divers is well handicapped on his chase form and is a course winner.

4.20 Bold Sir Brian has made a promising start to his career over fences and can complete the hat trick. Bogside could run well at a big price.

4.50 A Bridge Too Far ruined his chances at Ascot last time with a bad blunder but can be fancied on the basis of his previous run when 2^nd at Doncaster.

Naas

1.15 A 25 runner field to sort out so a bit of a nightmare from a tipping angle. Bat Masterton, blinkered first time is my each way choice.

1.50 Bog Warrior impressed when winning the Drinmore at Fairyhouse and a repeat of that form would see him home here.

4.00 Gates of Rome and Shinrock Paddy would be my 2 against the field.

 

Thurles

1.30 Raptor was disappointing at Naas last time but had looked promising before that especially when winning at Punchestown in November. Worth another chance given the excellent form of the stable.

 

Selections for Monday;

Ayr

2.00 Sydney Paget

2.35 Lie Forrit

3.40 Neptune Equester