Category: Horse racing

 

Tim Easterby looks to have found a winning opportunity for Tiptoeaway in the Newcastle 4.20.

 

Today went well for us with winners at 16/1 and 6/1.

There are 4 jumps meetings in the UK tomorrow although in this pre Cheltenham period the quality does dip a little.

The Doncaster card gets under way with a handicap hurdle at 2.10. I had a bit of a fancy for Solway Sam in this at a big price. He won a couple of times in the summer and will like the drying ground. This race has tended to go to a fancied horse in the past with the highest priced winner in the last 7 renewals being 8/1. With this trend in mind my selection is Mac Aeda, a good looking, lightly raced individual who comes here on the back of a win, acts on the ground and gets the trip. I will be narked if Solway Sam wins though!

Scottish National winner Merigo looks a big price in the 3.15 while course and distance winner Drive Time will have conditions in his favour in the 3.50.

Chepstow form doesn’t always work out elsewhere but I am hoping that Sherwani Wolf, a recent winner at the Welsh track, can follow up at Newbury in the 1.55.

Paul Nicholls has a remarkable record in the 3.00 and is double handed with Ruby Walsh on Niche Market. The former Irish National winner may find this trip on the short side, a comment that applies to a number of his rivals. I am inclined to look for an outsider in this and Prince de Beauchene, Fine Parchment and Plein Pouvoir form my short list. Plein Pouvoir each way would be my tentative choice, although again I am relying on form from a win at Chepstow.

There are plenty in with chances in the 3.35. Made in Time is well thought of by trainer Rebecca Curtis and could be well treated off a mark of 1.22. Via Galilei is a course and distance winner and was only beaten a neck at Taunton last month. He has gone up the weights but could still be competitive. Sire Collonges may well have a bright future ahead of his over fences. He has been dropped 3 lbs after his run at Ascot and is one to consider. Zafranagar has dropped to a winnable mark and is a big price. At odds of around 8/1 Via Gallilei looks value.

Later on the Newbury card I fancy Rangitoto in the 4.10.

Somewhatinevitable is better than his form figures suggest and has each way claims in the Kempton 1.45.

The versatile Buck Mulligan was a comfortable winner at Wincanton in January and should go well in the 2.15 where Oasis Knight looks the danger.

Up at Kelso there are plenty of fancied horses and it looks a tricky race. Priceless Art has won 4 times in bumpers and may have found the ground too testing when a beaten favourite on his hurdles debut. He could be worth another chance in the 4.15 while Ballabriggs looks the likely winner of the 3.40 where Chief Dan George looks the danger.

With Cheltenham round the corner today’s picture, courtesy of Karen Davies, is former festival favourite Moscow Flyer.

 

At Doncaster tomorrow it might be worth giving Red Merlin one more chance on the basis that he has his favoured ground conditions. He runs in the 2.10.

Another that will be suited by the drying ground is Glencree in the 3.20. Things haven’t gone to plan for High Benefit since she won at Warwick last November but she is well thought of by her trainer and can bounce back to form in the 3.55.

I am going for a couple of outsiders each way at Newbury. Magic Prospect 2.20 and Meet the Critics in the 4.05.

 

Selection for Tuesday

Ffos Las 3.20 Thumbs Up

 

Tomorrow’s racing is low grade stuff as is often the case in the weeks leading up to the Cheltenham Festival.

At Plumpton Evella goes for the hat trick in the 2.50. Alex Merriam should be able to give her another positive ride from the front as this trip is probably a little on the sharp side for her.

In the 3.50 Restezen D’Armor represents a stable in very good form.

Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Katy Sodeau.

 

Just the one selection for Sunday.

Fontwell 3.45 Tarkari

 

The highlight tomorrow at Kempton is the ultra competitive Racing Post Chase which has been won over the years by the likes of Crisp, Pendil and Desert Orchid.

In the last 10 years only 2 favourites have won but the highest priced winner was 11/1 so the trends suggest that this is not a race for outsiders. Eight year olds have won 6 times in the last decade. Fistral Beach and Mostly Bob are a couple of well fancied 8 year olds this time round. Fistral Beach unseated in the race last season when favourite. He comes into the race in good form having won at Wincanton last month where he jumped and travelled well and he seemed to have benefitted from a breathing operation. Although Mostly Bob is not bred to stay, he is by Indian Ridge, he clearly does as he won over 3 miles at Doncaster last month carrying 11 stone 12. Although he won a bumper in Ireland in heavy ground his other 3 career wins have always come on good ground.

Quinz has won twice over fences this season and was 3^rd at Cheltenham last time out behind the highly regarded Time for Rupert. He has won at Kempton over hurdles and he stays well. Of those at bigger prices Door Boy looks potentially well handicapped and has always appealed as a horse with a big win in him somewhere. These 4 would form my short list with Quinz the selection if pushed to narrow things down. His atriner has a good record in the race.

Captain Chris should end his run of seconds in the 2.25 (named after the great Pendil) while Sire de Grugy looks the value in the 3.35.

Higgy’s Boy has shaped as though he needs further than 2 miles in his races this season. Upped in trip for the 4.10 he could well come in at a decent price. He would not want the ground too soft. The other one I like in this is Rollwiththepunches. He looks well handicapped and has the leading conditional rider on board taking off 3 lbs.

The main event at Newcastle is the marathon Eider Chase at 3.15. Comply or Die won this in 2008 on his way to Aintree glory. On this occasion though I favour the younger brigade in the shape of the mud loving Minella Boys and the Welsh Nation runner up Giles Cross.

There is also racing at Chepstow where Rangitoto looks good for the 1.50 and on the all weather at Lingfield where I like the look of Brave Prospector in the 3.10.

Picture courtesy of the artist Jane Dunn.

 

Aikman was the one that got away today. Described in a recent interview as a horse best suited by going right handed on a galloping track he duly won at 16/1 at Huntingdon which is a right handed galloping track. Simples!

There are not many betting propositions tomorrow. Kid Cassidy (2.50) and Pepe Simo (3.25) look possible at Sandown but the odds are too short.

At Warwick Stoney’s Treasure looks the one to be on in the 4.25.

 

Selections for Wednesday

Doncaster 2.00 Master Fiddle

Ludlow 2.10 Brunston

 

Qozak has an obvious chance in the 2.00 at Taunton, a track where he has won all 4 of his previous starts. He will be very short though and the value may lie with Shoreacres. The mount of Tony McCoy Shoreacres has not run for over a year but goes well fresh.

Dark Lover should win the 2.30 for champion trainer Paul Nicholls. In the 2.10 at Wetherby I am hopeful of a good run from Humbie in the 2.10.