Month: November 2012

 

Newbury

12.50 Old rivals Call me a Star and Eleven Fifty Nine meet here with little to choose on bumper or hurdles form. The ex French Ma Filleule is a winner 3 times in France over fences and won on her hurdles debut in the UK. The other two are serious contenders but I will side with Alan King’s Call me a Star.

3.10 Alfie Spinner does not have too many miles on the clock given his age. He stays well and is normally a safe jumper. He is a course winner over hurdles and he comes into the race in good form after finishing 3^rd in a competitive race at Ascot last month. He is probably best with cut in the ground. Irish raider Soll is lightly raced and has an ideal profile for this race.

Saint Are won a listed race at Aintree at the end of last season and should be suited by the track at Newbury. Fruity O’Rooney seems to go on any ground and is suited by a left handed track. His style of racing should stand him in good stead but I would just worry that he may be just a little too high in the handicap. Teaforthree won the 4 miler at the Cheltenham festival last season and has had the benefit of a run already this season which should put him spot on here. He stays and jumps and can be ridden prominently which can be an advantage in this race. Hold on Julio is not always the most convincing jumper but he deso have an impressive strike rate over fences and he ran well in third at Cheltenham in October. Bob’s Worth has only been out of the first two once ion his career and won the RSA Chase at Cheltenham last season.

Bobs Worth is my selection just ahead of Hold on Julio with Teaforthree worth a small each way saver.

Newcastle

1.10 This looks an interesting race. Rendl Beach was 3^rd at Cheltenham after winning 2 bumpers and a maiden hurdle. Bit of a Jig won on his rules debut at Carlisle. He is well bred and his future lies over fences but he could well be competitive here. The Lucinda Russell trained Green Flag is not a forlorn hope either. Rendl Beach is the selection.

1.45 Samenerve won at Towcester and the form of the race has worked out well. He can go in again.

2.20 I fancy Cinders and Ashes to justify favouritism here.

2.50 Lord Wishes is a dual bumper winner and can make a successful start to his career over hurdles.

Fairyhouse

12.10 Ned Buntline and Lord of Lords look the pair to concentrate on.

12.45 Simenon is a dual Royal Ascot winner on the flat and can win this if at his best.

1.55 Mount Benbulben is the selection.

Picture courtesy of the artist Katy Sodeau.

 

Musselburgh

1.45 Dual bumper winner Lord Wishes looks an exciting prospect for hurdles.

3.25 Present Lodger won his only point to point in Ireland and will make a chaser one day. He should go well here.

Newbury

2.05 Swincombe Flame disappointed at Ascot but may find the track at Newbury more to her liking. Dynaste was impressive when winning at Cheltenham and looks the likely favourite. Court in Motion is another to consider after a pleasing chase debut at Wincanton. The form of that race has worked out well.

2.40 Ballybough Pat has been in good form of late and this step up in trip should suit.

3.15 Bless the Wings came back to form with a win at Wetherby and is worth following.

3.45 Puffin Billy won both his bumpers and can score on his hurdles bow.

 

Newbury

12.25 If he takes to hurdling the double Cesarewitch winner Aim to Prosper is going to be hard to beat, especially as Paul Nicholls has won the race 4 times in the last 9 years. If things don’t work out for Aim to Prosper then Meganisi could be the one to benefit. Well regarded by connection he handles cut in the ground.

12.55 Kruzhlinin won on his chase debut at Carlisle and should be suited by the right handed track here.

2.05 Hadrian’s Approach won at Ascot despite not jumping very well. This longer trip may help him and he is the selection in a trappy looking contest.

2.40 Fine Parchment is a course winner and has come down the handicap a fair bit.

3.15 Vendor was very disappointing when pulled up on his seasonal reappearance but would have a good chance here on last season’s form.

3.45 Oscar Rock is a points winner and finished runner up in a Taunton bumper. The other one I like in this is O’Faolain’s Boy who represents Rebecca Curtis a trainer that does well in this type of race.

Taunton

2.15 Well Sharp

Uttoxeter

12.45 Scholastica

1.20 Big Society

Picture courtesy of the artist Sally Martin

 

A couple of selections at Kempton tomorrow;  Snake Eyes in the 1.00 and Kaffie in the 2.05.

 

Ascot

2.45 Raya Star is improving rapidly and could spring a surprise but I think Oscar Whisky will take some beating.

3.20 Champion Court was a very consistent performer last season and looks the sort to improve again.

Gowran Park

2.35 Hidden Cyclone is a promising sort and should win this.

3.10 Aupcharlie has always looked a chaser in the making and can get his campaign off to a winning start here.

Haydock

12.20 Balder Succes should come on for his 3^rd at Wincanton earlier this month and looks the pick of this small field.

12.55 If Ile de Re can translate his flat form to hurdles he would be very hard to beat but he was disappointing at Ascot last time.

2.00 Lie Forrit needs to put a disappointing run at Kelso behind him but is worth another chance.

3.05 With Kauto Star now retired Long Run can go one better than his second place in this race last season.

Picture courtesy of the artist Margaret Barrett

 

Ascot

2.40 Marshall Zhukov has been raised rather a lot for his win at Chepstow but there may be more to come.

3.50 Ifyouletmefinish and Chesil Beach Boy are the two I like here. I would give a slight edge to Chesil Beach Boy who may be the better handicapped of the two.

Ffos Las

1.05 Big Society put in a promising effort when runner up at Chepstow last month and can go one better here.

1.40 Prince Buster has yet to win a race but after a decent effort at Worcester this could be his opportunity.

Haydock

1.55 This is an open looking race, Gullinbursti looks the type to do well over fences and made a pleasing start when 3^rd at Exeter. He likes soft ground. Knock a Hand beat Gullinbursti over hurdles last season but was a shade disappointing on his return at Chepstow. A former points winner he acts with plenty of give.

Poungach was runner up in a Grade 2 at Wincanton last time out. Super Duty was second at Carlisle on his chase debut but he jumped well and should come on for the run. This is a tricky one to call but at the odds I will take Knock a Hand.

2.30 Clondaw Kaempfer was impressive when he won at Aintree and can follow up here.

3.05 Gevrey Chamberatin is another Aintree winner that can go in again.

Picture is courtesy of the artist Sue Malkin.

 

Market Rasen 2.40 Ulis de Vassy is my selection. He has won on heavy ground, he looks on a potentially lenient handicap mark and his stable are in good form.

 

Folkestone

12.40 Umadachar looks the one to be on.

2.40 Emma Lavelle usually does well in November and she saddles Red Mile in this race.  A good jumper he should benefit from a recent outing after a long lay off.

 

Plumpton

2.40 Emma Lavelle usually does well in November and she saddles Red Mile in this race.  A good jumper he should benefit from a recent outing after a long lay off.

 

Plumpton

1.20 Broadbackbob

1.50 Letsby Avenue