Month: November 2012

 

Selections for Sunday

Cheltenham

1.10 Captain Conan

1.45 Well Sharp

2.50 Cash and Go (Ted Spread, possible outsider)

3.25 Fox Run and Awaywiththegrays are the two I like.

4.00 Fascino Rustico

Punchestown

1.05 Oscar’s Well

3.50 Rough Justice

 

Cheltenham

12.45 McVicar is 2 out of 2 over hurdles but faces a stiffer task here. I prefer Far West whose win at Chepstow has been franked by the runner up.

1.20 Our Father ticks most of the boxes here. The stable have been a bit quiet but had a good winner today in Dynaste.

1.55 Teaforthree is a tough sort and has winning form at Cheltenham. He does not have a great record first time up though and I get the feeling that his target is the Welsh National. King Fontaine is interesting as he has dropped to what looks a winnable mark. Galaxy Rock and Bradley were 2^nd and 4^th here last month over a shorter trip. Galaxy Rock won this race last season while Bradley is also a course winner. Both will benefit from this step up in trip and look sure to go well.

2.35 Grand Crus is the class act in the race and look to have the right profile. The rapidly improving Hunt Ball looks the danger.

3.05 Lovcen should be up to winning a race like this and is one for the short list although he might need more cut in the ground.

3.40 Brick Red tries a shorter trip here after looking like a non stayer last time out. At around 11/1 he has an each way chance.

Punchestown selections

11.55 Mount Benbulben

1.35 Simenon

3.15 Glen’s Melody

3.50 Clondaw Court

Uttoxeter

3.45 Up and Go

Wetherby

12.10 Stormy Weather

2.25 Mac Aeda

3.25 Fleet Dawn

Picture courtesy of the artist Lisa Miller

 

Cheltenham

1.15 This looks to be between Fingal Bay and Dynaste, both exciting chasing prospects. Although he is conceding weight to his rival the fact that Fingal Bay has already run over fences may just give him the edge.

1.50 Astracad has a fair bit going for him. He is a course winner, a distance winner, he goes well fresh and he is on a fair mark.

2.25 Recent winners Dodging Bullets and Tominator command plenty of respect here but at the odds I will select hurdles newcomer River Maigue. He boasts some smart bumper form including a success at Ayr in April.

Newcastle

12.20 Eduard, narrowly beaten over course and distance on his last start can make amends here.

3.45 Liberty Court won on his only start between the flags and should go well.

Picture is courtesy of the artist Lisa Miller

 

Clonmel

12.55 Lord of Lords won a Navan bumper in good style and looks a nice prospect.

2.55 Tarla is a progressive mare and should go well in this.

Ludlow

1.0 Tidal Way sets the standard with his jumping experience but it might b e worth taking a chance with the ex French bumper horse Vasco D’Ycy. I would also have a small saver on the outsider Waving who has changed stables and is with a handler who does well with this type of horse.

3.00 Spirit of Shankly has impressed me and looks to have further improvement.

4.00 Irish point winner Lord Navits could be the answer here.

Taunton

1.40 Josh’s Dreamway has ground conditions in her favour and may be able to defy top weight.

 

Bangor

2.30 Moidore was a beaten favourite at Aintree but looks likely to start favourite once again here. He might well be good enough now he races on better ground but at 4/6 I don’t feel he is value. Take Two, a winner twice on the flat and related to several jumpers is a viable alternative at 7/1.

Exeter

2.10 Captain Sunshine ran well on his seasonal reappearance at Cheltenham. He should be spot on here and his trainer is running into form.

2.40 Most of these are in with a chance but I liked the look of Keppols Hill on his rules debut and he gets the selection. Grove Pride looks the type to make a chaser and is my next best.

 

Lingfield

2.00 Lookout Mountain

 

Carlisle

2.25 Although Beamazed is rated well below some of his rivals he may well be improving. He is a course and distance winner and relishes soft ground. The stable are not exactly flying though.

Southwell

3.50 Ballyalton looked impressive when winning bumpers at Warwick and Doncaster and is an interesting prospect for hurdles.

 

Ffos Las

1.40 Mr Watson

Navan

2.50 Flemenstar

 

Kelso

12.25 Lucinda Russell nominated Green Flag as her horse to follow in an interview and the horse got the season off to a good start by winning at Hexham. A former points and bumper winner he si a chaser in the making but should be suited by the trip here and gets the selection.

Naas

1.05 Jezki can repeat his recent course and distance win.

Sandown

12.45 Wings of Icarus is a bit of a quirky sort but if things go his way he looks a decent price here over a trip that should suit him.

Wincanton

12.35 Mr Mole will be difficult to beat in the opener.

2.15 Court in Motion returns after a lengthy absence. He has the scope to do very well over fences. Poungach is the other one I like in this. He is another big scopey type.

2.50 Balder Success and Zarkander look the pair to concentrate on. At the prices I would just go for Balder Success.

3.25 Zarrafakt likes Wincanton and goes well fresh.

Picture courtesy of the artist Alison Wilson

 

Towcester

12.50 There are some interesting prospects in this. Highland Lodge is a former Irish points winner who also scored twice over hurdles last season. He is respected but Same Difference; another points winner may be better value on a track that should suit him.