Author: Martin

Just the one winner today, Bakbenscher at 5/2 although we also had a couple of seconds, at 5s and 3s.

Tomorrow sees the start of the Tingle Creek meeting at Sandown. The 2.00 looks a tricky puzzle to solve despite there being only 5 runners. Like Minded has the form and is trained by Paul Nicholls. A points winner on fast ground he then won an all weather bumper before finishing 4^th in the Aintree festival bumper, He got off the mark over hurdles last month on good ground. Now all of this hints at the possibility that he may not appreciate testing ground so he has a question mark against him. Manyriverstocross, rated 97 on the flat made a winning start to his hurdles career at Chepstow in good style but was then a beaten favourite at Ascot – more question marks! Vino Griego was even more disappointing in that Ascot race having previously shown decent form in bumpers. Frascati Park was runner up in the Persian War Novices Hurdle at Chepstow which looked a good effort at the time although the winner has since been beaten. A fascinating contest this and I am going to try Vino Griego at a big price. His bumper from was on soft and heavy ground and there are doubts about whether some of the others will handle the conditions.

Exeter selections; 12.30 Sona Sasta: 1.00 James De Vassy (danger Royal Charm): 1.35 Bensalem: 2.45 Time to Think: 3.20 Qualypso D’Allier.

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

Last night’s preview was again reasonably successful as the steady trickle of winners continues.

At Leicester tomorrow I will put up Pearlysteps each way as my first selection. This one has always looked the type to improve with experience and looks to be worth a small each way interest at around 7/1.

Donald McCain has his horses in good from and his newcomer from the flat Al Qeddaaf looks worth considering in the Market Rasen 12.55. A winner on the soft at Yarmouth over a mile he was also placed on the flat over 10 furlongs.

My selections at the other meetings are Right Suff (2.15) and Bakbenscher (2.45) at Wincanton and Sorceror (12.50) and Askthemaster (1.50) at Naas.

We seem to be on quite a respectable run at present with Shamwari Lodge the latest winner coming in at 2/1 having opened at 100/30. Call Me Mulligan ran a promising race in 4^th while I am afraid Hurlingham performed rather less well.

By far the best quality racing tomorrow is set to come from Fairyhouse so I am hoping that the weather will not intervene. One of the stars on show is Dunguib who runs in the 12.45. The Cheltenham Festival Bumper winner has actually finished first in all his races to date but does not have an unblemished record as he was disqualified after winning the Punchestown Champion bumper after failing a drugs test. He has already won twice over hurdles and looks the real deal. He is impossible to oppose although there are other decent horses in the race, notably Sweeps Hill and Some Present. The former “won” the race at Punchestown after the disqualification of Dunguib. He had earlier won a Leopardstown bumper and has already won a couple of times over hurdles. On his latest start he beat Some Present at Punchestown but that was a falsely run race and not a particularly reliable looking form guide. Some Present was impressive on his latest start when just unable to peg back Loosen My Load in a quality Grade 2 race at Cheltenham. A hot contest this but Dunguib will be expected to win.

There are some very nice prospects in the 1.20. Roberto Goldback is one for the short list. On his last start he was only beaten three parts of a length by the useful Osana at Navan. Pesoto comes into the race on the back of a win at Limerick on heavy ground and is another to consider. Pandorama will relish the testing ground. He is a grade 1 winner over hurdles and got his chasing career off to a winning start beating Clan Tara by a head at Punchestown despite not seeming to enjoy the configuration of the track. My narrow preference is for Pesoto.

In the 1.50 Shakersilz will enjoy the conditions and could go well at a price but Catch Me looks the most likely winner. A winner on his chase debut at Cork he then fell at the last when leading at Navan. A clear round should see him gain compensation here.

The two I like in the 3.25 are Prince of Milan and Arvika Ligeonniere. At the odds I will go for Prince of Milan each way.

We go from Ireland to Scotland now for a look at the card up at Ayr. The 12.20 features 3 promising types who all have something to prove after being beaten on their latest starts. Premier Sagas showed plenty of promise in bumpers but could only finish 5^th on his hurdles debut at Newcastle. Irish points winner Tara Royal was sent off 3/1 favourite on his hurdles debut at Chepstow but could only finish 9^th. Turbo Island on both his bumpers but was then 8^th on his hurdles debut, another beaten favourite. Turbo Island won both his bumpers at Ayr and that course form just sways me into tipping him ahead of Premier Sagas.

Skipper’s Brig has won 6 times in his career. Those wins were all in heavy ground. In fact he has never lost in heavy ground and has never won in anything else. Useful stat? Possibly – he runs in the 1.25.

The 1.55 does not look the strongest of races. Mister Marker who is related to Grand National winner Silver Birch could be the answer. Delightfully should appreciate the trip and could be worth an each way interest.

The unbeaten Alegralil has looked impressive when winning 2 bumpers and a novice hurdles and can maintain that unbeaten record in the 2.15 at Catterick. My other selection at the Yorkshire track is Mirage Dore in the 2.45 for new trainer Rose Dobbin.

They are also racing at Plumpton where the 1.00 looks quite a tricky little race. Aux Le Bahnn is a horse I have always liked. He won 3 times over hurdles last season but fences were always going to be his thing. The Sliotar was 4^th in the Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival last season. He looks an out and out stayer and this trip could just be on the short side for him. Chariot Charger was a pleasing 2^nd over course and distance a couple of weeks ago and I will burden him with my selection.

Today’s pictures are courtesy of the artist Margaret Barrett.

Good luck!

There are meetings at Hereford, where there is a morning inspection and Southwell tomorrow.

In the 1.40 at Hereford Call Me Mulligan runs form trainer Rebecca Curtis in the 1.40. He has run well in a couple of bumpers and looks an interesting prospect. He may not want really testing ground however.

At Southwell a couple of runners in the 1.50 caught my eye. My Shamwari, trained by former jockey Ben De Haan was runner up in a bumper on his only start so far. He is a chasing type really but should be competitive over hurdles. Mick Easterby gives a hurdles debut to the 5 year old gelding Hurlingham, 4 times a winner on the flat twice on the all weather and twice on turf. He appeals as the type that could win a race or two over timber.

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

There is not a lot to comment on looking at tomorrow’s meetings at Fakenham and Folkestone.

Peace Corps who runs in the Fakenham 12.50 has form on the flat. He ran 5 times and although he didn’t win a race he did finish 2^nd at Sandown on his last start in a handicap at Sandown.

The Polomoche has always looked a chasing type and makes his debut over fences in the 2.50 for in form trainer Nicky Henderson. This horse goes well fresh and will be expected to win.

At Folkestone the most interesting race is the 1.00. Den of Iniquity, The Jazz Musician and Numide are all worth considering. The Jazz Musician has been well regarded by connections and had good form over hurdles in the 2007/8 season. He fell on his chase debut at Kempton however and has not shown his best from for a while. Numide won the Greatwood Hurdle last season but didn’t jump too fluently when a disappointing 4^th at Huntingdon on his chase bow. He does have Tony McCoy in the saddle this time though and is respected. Den of Iniquity is a lightly raced type and showed some promising signs on his chasing debut at Plumpton recently. Any one of these 3 could come good here but I will go for Den of Iniquity who will at least handle the ground.

Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Susan Shaw.

 

The main interest at Carlisle tomorrow will be the hurdles debut of Washington Irvine who was 5^th in the Epsom Derby last year. He runs in the 12.55.

The better racing is over in Ireland however at Fairyhouse where the highly rated Dunguib will be odds on to land the 1.00. Some Present and Sweeps Hill are the main opposition but the favourite should prevail.

In the 1.30 my short list consists of Pandorama, Pesoto, Roberto Goldback and China Rock. This looks a very competitive affair but if pushed for a selection I would go for Pesoto who was an easy winner at Limerick on his last start. In the Hattan Grace Hurdle at 2.05 I fancy Catch Me to land the prize for the second year running.

Arvika Ligeonniare is preferred to Prince of Milan in the 3.40.

There is plenty of racing on tomorrow as long as the weather doesn’t intervene. Now that I am on the crematorium side of 60 perhaps my tipping skills will improve!

Starting with Newbury the card gets under way with the “Greyhounds make great pets novices’ hurdle” at 12.25. Sereth is one to look out for in this. He was a decent horse on the flat in Germany where he won at listed level and he was more recently 3^rd to Darley Sun in the Cesarewitch. He made a pleasing start to his hurdles career when winning at Huntingdon and looks an interesting prospect. The other one I will put forward is Finian’s Rainbow. He was unlucky tot to win a point to point at Inch when falling at the last with the race at his mercy and he started his career under rules by winning a bumper at Kempton. In the long term he should make a chaser but it would be no surprise to see him make his mark over hurdles this season.

World Hurdle winner Big Bucks (pictured below) makes his seasonal debut in the 1.35. His ultimate target will be to defend his crown at Cheltenham come March but he should still prove too good for the opposition tomorrow even though he is unlikely to be 100% fit at this early stage of the season.

The 2.05 is an open race. Isn’t That Lucky has done all his winning in the spring months which might be a bit of a negative. He was pulled up on his last start which was at Aintree which I suppose has to be another negative. Still, he is quite well treated on his best form and I will take a chance with him here.

In the Hennessy Gold Cup at 2.40 Denman is giving plenty of weight away to all his rivals. He won the race 2 years ago off a rating of 161 and needs to defy a mark of 174 if he is to repeat that success. If we could be sure that he is the Denman of 2 years ago I would fancy him but he has had his problems since then and I just think that 7/2 is a bit on the short side for him. There are plenty of interesting runners such as Grand National winners “Mon Mome (English) and Niche Market (Irish) as well as Cappa Bleu who won the Foxhunters at Cheltenham last season. The latter looked to have a big future ahead of his but was a big disappointment at Aintree last month and will need to do much better than that if he is to figure tomorrow. The Aintree race was over an inadequate trip though and upped in distance tomorrow we should see a very different animal. The other runner trained by Evan Williams, State of Play is worth considering. He won the race in 2006 and has performed with credit since in various big races although only actually winning once. He stays and he jumps and he is in with a chance.  Mon Mome (pictured below) won the Grand National at 100/1 but will find a few too good for him in this field I would think.

Gone to Lunch was 2^nd in the Scottish National last season and should strip fitter for his recent run at Ascot . He may not want really testing conditions. Barber’s Shop will have his supporters, he was 7^th in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, as will Ballyfitz from the Twiston-Davies yard. My Will could go well at a big price. His career record is a model of consistency and he has performed with great credit in big races. He was 5^th in this race last season and occupied the same finishing position in the Gold Cup before coming 3^rd in the Grand National.

All but one of the last 10 renewals have been won by 6 or 7 year olds (the other winner was 8). There are only 5 runners aged 6 or 7 and they would represent my short list. Barber’s Shop, Kornati Kid, Killyglen, Cappa Bleu and What a Friend. It is worth noting that Killyglen and Kornati Kid act well on soft ground while What a Friend is probably best on good ground. For my selection I will go for Barber’s Shop who has a touch of class. I fear Cappa Bleu who could be anything and would not want to deter you from risking a few shillings on the other 3 on my short list (but don’t forget to consider the ground).

My two against the field in the 3.15 are recent Aintree winner Nampour and Micheal Flips who was 3^rd at Ascot on his last start.

The feature race at Newcastle if the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at 1.50 where Binocular and Solwhit clash. With only 7 runners this could turn into a tactical cat and mouse affair and is a race I will watch rather than bet on.

Run to Space is no world beater but he is quite consistent and I am hopeful that he will run well in the Newcastle 12.10 while Irish raider Weapon’s Amnesty is my selection in the 1.15.

Nicky Henderson runs a promising newcomer in the 2.25. Quantatitiveasing is a full brother to Grade 1 winner Asian Maze and won a bumper at Punchestown in good style last season. AP McCoy has the ride.

In the 3.25 Coe, Jass and Chief Dan George are all worth considering.

Great Endeavour won over hurdles last season and makes his chase bow at the same track tomorrow in the 2.00 He has had a recent good run over hurdles when 3^rd to Lie Forrit and trainer David Pipe will have him well schooled over fences. He should win.

Jungleand is a horse to look out for this season. He runs tomorrow in the Towcester 2.35 but he has been off the track for a long time so I will keep a watching brief for the moment.

At Fairyhouse I would suggest a small interest in The Midnight Club and Jessie’s Dream in the 3.00.

My thanks to Kate Tann for use of her excellent photos.

Good luck.

Another good day for the web site with 5 winners from yesterday’s selections. Riverside Theatre (4/5), Michel Le Bon (6/4), Exmoor Ranger (4/1), Oscar Whisky (8/15) and Sir Winston (7/2).

Newbury is again the main meeting tomorrow and gets under way with a novice hurdle at 1.00. Mille Chief and Royal Mix look the pair to concentrate on in this race. Royal Mix is trained by Paul Nicholls and has winning form in France where he was rated 90 on the flat. He won over 1 mile 7 furlongs at Deauville on good ground so stamina should not be a problem over hurdles. Mille Chief is another with winning form in France. He was unlucky on his UK debut for Alan King when brought down at Market Rasen. As long as that mishap has not damaged him mentally or physically I would expect him to run well and narrowly prefer him to the Nicholls runner.

Channel 4 presenter Alistair Down nominated Lie Forrit as his horse to follow this season. He does have his quirks (the horses that is, not Mr Down) and unseated his rider when in with a winning chance at Aintree but has since shown plenty of resolution when winning at Cheltenham. He has gone up another 6 lbs for his Cheltenham success but looks a progressive sort and there may well be more to come. This is a very competitive handicap with all sorts of dangers (Halla San and Ainama spring to mind). Lie Forrit has shown his best form on soft going and if underfoot conditions are to his liking he should run well. He is the selection.

In the 2.40 it will be a big surprise if Punchestowns fails to oblige on his chase debut. Should the hot favourite fail then Red Admiral would be the one most likely to benefit.

There are some promising types in the line up for the 3.45. The quartet that appeal most are Bellvano, Black Jack Blues, Tocca Ferro and Henry King. All come into the race with solid bumper form and represent in form yards. If I had to select just one I suppose it would have to be Bellvano although I would suggest a saver of Tocca Ferro..

At Musselburgh I am hopeful of a big run from Meath All Star in the 1.45 while Luska Lad looks the one to be on in the 1.35 at Thurles.

My thanks to Kate Tann for the photo of Newbury racecourse.

The first horse that I considered on tomorrow’s Newbury card was Miss Overdrive in the in the 12.25. She was a shade disappointing on her hurdling debit at Towcester and didn’t jump fluently. It may well be that stamina is her forte and she steps in trip tomorrow which may also help her jumping. The negative could be the going however as she won her bumper on good ground and her full sister Over Sixty is best suited by a sound surface. With the going likely to be soft I will reluctantly pass over Miss Overdrive in favour of Queen Poline whose bumper wins came with plenty of give in the ground.

The 12.55 is quite a difficult race to weight up with 4 horses that have claims. The Paul Nicholls runner Lady An Co is particularly tricky to assess. She has winning form over hurdles in France where she has also been placed in good races over fences. She has her first race for her new yard tomorrow. Captain Americo looks the sort to be progressive over fences and was runner up at Exeter on his second run over the larger obstacles. Tomorrow’s trip should be well within his compass. Calusa Crystal won 4 times over hurdle last season and had little chance when beaten by Crack Away Jack on her chasing debut. She has a tenacious attitude and should win races over fences as the season progresses. She appears to be best on good ground however and may not have conditions to suit her at Newbury. Riverside Theatre won 3 times last season and also performed well in top company at Aintree and Punchestown. She is the pick of these on hurdles form and as long as the ground is not too testing she may just shade it.

The 2.05 features two recent winners in Bench Warrant and Pettifour as well as a highly rated Paul Nicholls runner in Michel Le Bon. The latter won twice over hurdles last season and is expected to be one of his stables better novice chases. Despite the absence of a recent run, Michel Le Bon, who is getting weight from his two main rivals, can make his chase debut a winning one.

I give Exmoor Ranger an each way chance in the 3.40.

Spirit River won over hurdles at Auteuil in March and the horse he beat went on to be placed in listed races. He looks an interesting runner in the 3.15. In the bumper at 3.45 my selection is Oscar Whisky who was an impressive winner at Newbury in March.

Sir Winston was expected to do well last season by many shrewd judges but was pretty disappointing. As a result he runs off a mark of 84 tomorrow in the Taunton 3.25 which may underrate his level of ability.

Northern Gem had some decent form on the flat and can make a winning debut over hurdles for David Pipe in the 12.15 at Uttoxeter. Ernst Blofeld should relish the testing conditions at Uttoxeter and is my suggestion in the 1.55.

Today’s picture is of Denman and is included by kind permission of the artist Sarah Clegg.  Denman is set to carry top weight in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury on Saturday.

There is nothing that really catches my eye at the UK meetings tomorrow. There are a few of interest at Naas but I won’t spend too much time on them as there is an inspection tomorrow morning and will all the rain about the meeting must be in some doubt.

Luska Lad is the obvious choice in the opener at 12.25. Four wins in bumpers, two of these on heavy ground plus a winning start to his hurdling career in the soft at Galway put him in with a favourite’s chance here. Although only third on his last start this race looks a lot easier.

The 12.55 is quite a hot race and there are several with chances. Looking for value I have gone for Sorceror who is 8/1 in the RP. He won his point to point at Ballydurn and is also a winner over hurdles on soft ground. He was third on his chase debut behind River Liane at Naas in testing conditions which was a promising effort.

In the 1.55 my tentative selection is Askthemaster. A lightly raced type he jumped well when winning at Limerick in May. He unseated on his latest outing but on the best of his form has an each way chance here.

Today’s picture is by kind permission of Sally Martin.