Month: November 2012

 

I got is wrong with the Paul Nicholls runner today but I will stay with Nicholls again tomorrow with Atlantic Roller in the Exeter 1.50.

The big race at Exeter is the Haldon Gold Cup at 2.50. Cue Card looks the likely winner and I am going to burden him with my selection. He has won before in small fields and his 2 defeats last season were both to horses that went on to win at the Cheltenham festival. The Nicholls runner jumps well and is a threat as is Menorah.

In the 3.20 Hinterland gets a lot of weight from his main rival and will take some beating.

 

Kempton

1.00 The stable have high hopes for Golden Hoof who was a good second in a Stratford bumper.

1.30 Abruzzi has been runner up in a couple of bumpers and tries hurdles for the first time here. The trip should suit. Hindon Road won over hurdles in May and is another to consider as is the lightly raced Barney Cool. At 10/1 I would take a chance on Barney Cool each way.

2.40 Black Thunder has won 3 of his 5 starts and represents the in form Nicholls yard.

Plumpton

12.50 Bumper winner Pendra looks a good prospect for a stable that are going well.

 

Carlisle

1.30 Kings Grace

2.40 Bold Sir Brian.

3.10 Beamazed

Huntingdon

1.15 Hildisvini

 

A couple more names to look out for this afternoon.

In the Ascot 2.35 I still think that Ile de Re is the likely winner but if the price is too short for you Ted Spread and War Singer are viable options.

 

The jumps season gathers momentum tomorrow with big races at Ascot, Down Royal and Wetherby.

Starting at Ascot the feature race is the United House Gold Cup at 3.10. Alfie Spinner looks the sort to pick up a race of this sort during the season. He stays well and is a sound jumper. My only concern would be the ground as he has only won on soft or heavy. This is a tricky race to weigh up as many of these will have bigger targets later in the season. I wills stick with a small interest in Alfie Spinner.

12.50 Brick Red looks on a decent mark and should be all the better for a recent run at Cheltenham.

1.25 Hadrian’s Approach could be a future star. A points winner he won on his hurdling debut. Handy Andy is likely to leave recent form behind now he tackles fences and he looks too big a price. Swincome Flame brings good form over hurdles to the race and with her mare’s allowance I feel she should go well.

2.00 Trip and ground are likely to favour My Tent Or Yours.

2.35 This looks quite a hot little race. Ile de Re, Raya Star, Ted Spread It’s a Gimme and War Singer all look interesting. Given Ile de Re’s wins in the Chester Cup and Northumberland Plate since he last went hurdling it is hard to get away from him even though he is likely to be a short price.

4.15 Fontwell winner Puffin Billy sets the standard here, while Henryville is well thought of by connections.

Ayr

1.0 Shanen goes well fresh and looks the one to beat here.

3.50 Course and distance winner Un Guet Apens looks good here.

Down Royal selections

1.15 Robbie McMahon

2.25 Quito de la Roque

3.00 Paul Nicholls likes to target this meeting and sends Cristal Bonus over for this one.

Picture courtesy of the artist Margaret Barrett.

 

Bless the Wings 2.00 Wetherby

The main race at Down Royal is the Grade 2 hurdles at 2.05. Monksland won a Grade 2 at Navan last season and was 3^rd at Cheltenham behind Simonsig. He won a Down Royal bumper last season first time out so he presumably goes well fresh. He looks the sort to go chasing eventually but the stable are clearly hoping to win with him over timber first. Ideally he would probably prefer a longer trip and more give in the ground which deters me from going over board at odds of 6/4.

At Uttoxeter the 12.50 is of interest. Explained and Alpancho are contenders based on their bumper form but I just prefer Up to Something who is a tough sort with a taking attitude.

Eleven Fifty Nine and Call me a Star were first and second in the Aintree bumper at the Grand National meeting. Over this 2 mile trip Call me a Star may have too much pace for her rival in the 1.20.

At Wetherby Beeves and Mr Watson look the ones to concentrate on in the 1.00. My slight preference would be for Mr Watson.

Sametegal looks an interesting French recruit for Paul Nicholls in the 2.35.

Picture courtesy of the artist Katy Sodeau.