Category: Horse racing

Tomorrow’s racing is very much at the mercy of the weather yet again with inspections taking place up and down the country.

Haydock stages the Blue Square Gold Cup at 3.35 which looks a competitive affair. The first six home in the Welsh National run at Christmas are all in the field and as these include a former winner of this race in Miko de Beauchene as well as last year’s runner up, Coe, this form line looks a good starting point. The Welsh National Winner, Dream Alliance has since gone up 9 lbs in the weights but he likes plenty of cut in the ground and cannot be ruled out. The runner up Silver by Nature has risen 7 lbs and is closely handicapped with Dream Alliance.

The only one of the sextet to run since Chepstow is Le Beau Bai who won over hurdles at Bangor and seems in fine form. He is 5 lbs higher in the weights. Miko de Beauchene is interesting as he has not gone up in the weights but has a 5 lbs claimer on board this time so is in effect a stone better off with Dream Alliance for an 8.75 length defeat. He is also only 1 lb higher than when winning the race 2 years ago, and 3 lbs lighter than when 3^rd last season, not including the jockey’s claim. Ballyfitz was 5^th at Chepstow and like the 6^th horse, Coe has gone down 1 lb. Coe has a good record at Haydock where his form figures over obstacles reads 135122.

We also have both the Aintree Grand National winner Mon Mome, and the Scottish National winner, Hello Bud in the race. Hello Bud is effectively on the same mark as when winning at Ayr if you take account of his jockey’s claim. Mon Mome was 4^th to Our Vic in the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock last month. The extra half mile of this race should suit Mon Mome better than Our Vic I would imagine, Of the rest Snoopy Loopy has been pulled up on 4 of his last 5 starts and seems to have lost his way but L’Aventure, a former winner of the Welsh National and winner of this season’s Borders National at Kelso stays all day and should have conditions to suit.

It is an open race but I have narrowed it down to 4. Coe as he has proven form on the track, Silver By Nature who seems on the upgrade, Le Beau Bai who will love the ground and Miko de Beauchene. Silver By Nature and Coe are my two against the field.

In the Haydock 2.30 the Emma Lavelle pair of Puase and Claise and Bouggler look interesting while Wymott looks value in the 3.00 although Adams Island is respected as well.

In the 1.40 Sereth is interesting over this trip as he was a solid stayer on the flat while in the same race Den of Iniquity returns to hurdles where he is relatively unexposed.

The 4.45 is a trappy contest despite the small field. Ernst Blofeld and Little Josh are my fancies for this although as they both fell last time out stakes would have to be kept to a minimum.

Down at Ascot Finian’s Rainbow looks the likely winner of the 1.40 although his price will be short enough. I am inclined to take on the favourite in the 2.15 where Knockara Beau looks a fair price at around 3/1. Pettifour would be a big danger in this race is he could improve his jumping.

Tasheba has run two excellent races this season and two poor ones. He is my tentative offering in the 2.45 after his second over course and distance recently although he has gone up in the weights as a result.

You could drum up a case for all 6 runners in the 3.15. Planet of Sound looks like starting favourite and he should reverse the form with Albertas Run from their Ascot encounter in November. Herecomesthetruth has never been beaten over fences when completing the course and could be hard to pass if he gets his own way in front. Oh Crick was staying on when a distant third to Twist Magic in the Victor Chandler Chase and is worth considering. Old Monet’s Garden is far from out of it either. With The Sawyer and Herecomesthetruth in the field there should be a decent pace. This is a very tough one to call but Herecomesthetruth is a bold jumper and should give us a run for our money. Oh Crick is also tempting at 8/1.

My selections for the remainder of the card are Menorah (3.45) and Little Josh (4.20).

At Uttoxeter Scriptwriter should give the in form Howard Johnson a winner in the 1.50.

Wincanton looks unlikely to get the go ahead which is a shame as the 2.00 there looks a fascinating little race with Madison De Berlais seeking to give weight to 4 rivals. Gone To Lunch has been out of form of late but would come into the reckoning at his best while Officier De Reserve is a very interesting runner here with Timmy Murphy riding. In the 3.50 Punjabi and Starluck are set to clash in yet another Champion Hurdle trial at 3.50. I am not sure that either of them will really want bottomless ground. Could Qozak pull off a surprise?

I thought about Vodka Brook for the 4.25 but he has unseated in his last two runs and he is on the small side so humping a big weight in heavy ground won’t aid his cause.

I have two selections at Fairyhouse, Alaivan (2.35) and Notre Pere (3.40).

Let’s hope the weather relents and we actually get some racing.

My thanks to Sarah Clegg for today’s photo.

 

Here are the next 10 of the horses that caught my eye during the 2009 turf season.

30 Kite Wood was trained by Michael Jarvis as a juvenile but purchased by Godolphin for his 3 year old career after winning the Group 3 Autumn Stakes at Ascot. He looked a very live Derby candidate going into the new season but could only finish 5^th in the Dante and was allowed to start a 28/1 outsider at Epson where he finished 9^th.

He was dropped in class for the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket, run as a Group 3 for the first time, and won at 2/1 in a course record; albeit at a rarely run distance of 13 furlongs. After that win at HQ he won again at Group 3 level taking Newbury’s Geoffrey Freer Stakes which marked him down as a St Leger contender. He started favourite for the oldest classic at Doncaster but was beaten into second place by his stable companion Mastery, nonetheless recording his best performance as a 3 year old.

29 Palavicini, a big Giant’s Causeway colt trained by John Dunlop won two of his 8 starts running well in defeat on several other occasions. He was beaten a head by Your Old Pal in a listed race at Newmarket on his second start of the season and went one better next time out back at Newmarket beating Father Time in a listed race over 10 furlongs. His second success of the season came in the Group 3 Strensall Stakes at York over 9 furlongs. He also ran well on his final outing when just over 2.5 lengths third in the Darley Stakes at Newmarket.

28 Rainbow View was hailed as a one of the outstanding 2 year old fillies of modern times after winning 4 times as a juvenile culminating in Meon Valley Stud Fillies Mile at Ascot. Further glory in the 1,000 Guineas and beyond looked a formality but things didn’t work out that way as the new season unfolded. She started odds on for the Guineas but was never going that well and finished 5^th. Her trainer John Gosden attributed her disappointing performance to the quick ground but doubts had started to creep in. Sent of at 3/1 for the Oaks she was not disgraced in 4^th after having to be snatched up 2 furlongs from home in a rough race. She ran well in the Coronation Stakes, finishing 3^rd despite again not getting a clear run and racing on ground that was probably not ideal. She was not beaten far when 4^th in the Falmouth Stakes and continued to run well without reward when chasing home Midday in Goodwood’s Nassau Stakes.

Although clearly not able to match the dizzy heights predicted for her at the start of the season I am sure no one would have begrudged her that elusive victory when she won a Group 1 at The Curragh over a mile on the easier ground that had been crying out for on earlier occasions. She ran creditably enough on her next start when runner up in a Group 1 at Woodbine in Canada and she ended her campaign finishing 5^th of 8 in the Breeder’s Cup Ladies Classic on dirt at Santa Anita.

27 Pipedreamer is not quite up to Group 1 class but can be relied upon to perform consistently in good company. He ran 4 times winning once; at Group 2 level over 10 furlongs at Longchamps in October. He put up a couple of very respectable efforts in defeat, namely when just caught on the line by Tartan Bearer in the Group 3 Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown and when 4^th to Twice Over in the Champion Stakes.

26 Daraahem gets into my roll of honour by winning one of the season’s most prestigious handicaps. In fact he had the perfect record for the season winning on his only start when 7/1 in the Chester Cup ridden by Richard Hills for his father, It was a shame that injury then curtailed his season.

25 Charm School was a leading fancy for the Lincoln Handicap but could only finish 8^th in a race won by his stable companion Expresso Star. Beaten on his next 3 starts his temperament was called into question by some but he stuck on well enough on only his second start on the all weather to land a decent handicap at Kempton in the September at 6/1. Not for the first time he made late progress without quite threatening the leaders when 5^th in a Newbury Heritage Handicap but then finished down the field in the Cambridgeshire. He had always threatened to land a big handicap and finally managed it on the very last day of the season, fittingly back at Doncaster in the November Handicap. He weaved through the field with a strong late run under Jimmy Fortune to win at 17/2.

24 Darley Sun was one of the most impressive winners of a big handicap when running on strongly to take the Cesarewitch by 5 lengths. A progressive sort who improved steadily throughout the season with form figures of 01412121 that speak for themselves. The first win came at Nottingham off a mark of 69 when he beat Penang Princess at odds of 16/1. A second to King of Wands at Salisbury was sandwiched between handicap victories at Haydock and Ascot. He finished the season with a flourish. He only went down by a neck in the Doncaster Cup when he was just reeled in by Askar Tau and as a result he was very well backed for the Ces which he won in some style.

23 Expresso Star won the first big handicap of the season, the Lincoln at Doncaster, showing a decent turn of foot to justify favouritism. Like many winners of the race before him he was then tried in Group company without success although he was only beaten less than a length in the Group 3 Huxley Stakes at Chester’s May meeting.

22 Palace Moon earns his place in the top 30 with a couple of wins. The first in a 20 runner handicap at Doncaster by 5 lengths and the second a 10 runner listed event at Newmarket. Best at 6 furlongs he is a half brother to Sakhee’s Secret.

21 Zacinto missed the start of the season through injury but made a successful return in a listed event at Goodwood in August. Upped in class he was then runner up in both the Celebration Mile at Goodwood behind Delegator and then behind Rip Van Winkle in the Queen Elizabeth ll at Ascot. He reportedly suffered a setback in October and ran as though something was amiss when a tailed off last in the Breeder’s Cup Mile at Santa Anita.

The photo of Kite Wood is courtesy of British 2 Year Old Racing.

Well, we had the biggest shock result of the 21^st century so far with 1/14 shot Zaynar turned over at Kelso. The winner, Quetwo, a massive individual that will be better still once he goes over fences, is a horse I have always liked and is certainly going to be one to follow next season. The defeat of Zaynar, and the news that Binocular (PICTURED BELOW)  will miss the rest of the season has led to more support for the Irish Champion Hurdle hopefuls Solwhit and Go Native. Not long to the Festival now!

We had some joy with last night’s tips with both the Clonmel selections coming in and Tara Taylor winning at Ffos Las at 11/2.

Looking for a bit of value at Sandown tomorrow Isn’t That Lucky could run well at a decent price in the 2.45. He acts on the going, the stable are in form, he is a course winner and he has just come down the weights a little bit. In the 3.55 it’s hard to oppose the unbeaten Oscar Whisky.

My only selection at Fakenham is Etoile D’Or in the 2.05.

My thanks to the artist Sarah Clegg for use of the picture of Binocular.

 

We are into the hunter chase season now and while it is not exactly my strong suit it does see the return of some old jumping stars from a few years back. The Ffos Las 4.55 is a case in point. The likely favourite is Fundamentalist, a Cheltenham Festival winner way back in 2004 when he beat the late great Inglis Drever. Also in the race is Take the Stand who was runner up to Kicking King in the 2005 Gold Cup. Crystal D’Ainay, a former winner of the Cleeve Hurdle, and Lord of Illusion and Bannow Strand who both competed at a high level over fences are other golden oldies in the race. The experts seem to fancy Fundamentalist tomorrow.

In the 3.45 Alan King looks to have a good chance of gaining his first winner at the new Welsh track with Miss Overdrive. She has already been runner up twice this season and makes her handicap bow here wearing cheekpieces for the first time. Another to consider in this race is Tara Taylor who looks on a reasonable mark although the form of the stable would be a bit of a concern.

In the 4.20 Viking Rebel is worth noting. He clearly needed the run when a tiring 3^rd behind Mighty Man 3 weeks ago at Huntingdon. A former winning pointer he was also successful at both Ayr and Newcastle over hurdles a couple of years back when trained by Nicky Richards.

Finally at Ffos Las I would give War Footing an each way chance in the 3.10 He was travelling well at Towcester last time until falling at the 14^th fence.

The main interest at Kelso will be the appearance of hurdling start Zaynar in the 3.20 where he will be long odds on. My best bet at the Borders track though is Hollins, a course and distance winner, in the opener at 1.10.

I have two selections at Clonmel, Quiscover Fontaine in the 4.00 and The Midnight Club in the 4.35.

Today’s picture, of Gold Cup hero Kicking King, is courtesy of the artist Sarah Aspinall.

 

I won’t spend too much time on tomorrow’s racing as both jumps meetings are subject to inspections.

The Folkestone 3.20 doesn’t look the greatest of races and I would hope that Pliny would give us a run for our money.

Three winners from 6 selections today following on from a successful afternoon on Saturday.

Tomorrow Harry the Hawk should go well in the Catterick 2.50. Three times a winner on the flat the trip should suit him and he looks reasonably handicapped .

Shoreacres ran well in third behind Copper Bleu at Exeter and can get off the mark over fences in the Plumpton 4.30 while my other selection at the meeting is Giles Cross, a recent winner at Chepstow, in the 3.00.

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

 

Selections for Sunday;

Exeter 3.35 – Glenwood Knight.

4.10 – Silverburn

5.10 – Wishfull Thinking

Hereford 3.35 – Chilli Rose

Navan 3.50 – Ballyburke

4.55 – Osana

Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Ruth S Harris

We had a couple of winners yesterday, notably Nicto de Beauchene at 13/2.

Tomorrow’s Newbury card is a fascinating mixture of star individual champions and competitive handicaps and should draw a big crowd.

When Diamond Harry beat Bensalem over hurdles last season the pair were only separated by half a length. When they clashed over fences at Haydock recently Diamond Harry was the more fluent jumper, in fact Bensalem was a faller. They meet again in the Newbury 1.30 where Diamond Harry should come out on top again. Inchidaly Rock had won twice over fences before falling when upped in class at Cheltenham last time. He gives the impression that he may be better going right handed and when fresh so I am inclined to prefer Diamond Harry who gets the selection.

The 2.00 is an ultra competitive handicap hurdle where the likely favourite is the highly rated Alfie Sherrin trained by Paul Nicholls. Although beaten into third on his last run that race has worked out quite well, producing a number of subsequent winners. It is quite a surprise in itself that this horse is being kept over hurdles and although favourites have a poor recent record in the race “Alfie” could well be what it’s all about here! If you don’t fancy taking such a short price in a race like this the outsiders to consider might be The Real Deal and Triggerman. The former reverts to hurdles after a spell over fences and could be reasonably handicapped while Triggerman put up a good performance last time out at Kempton when 4th to Micheal Flips in bad ground.

Denman (pictured below) should win the AON Chase at 2.30 although hardly a betting proposition.

The Totesport Trophy at 3.05 will take some sorting out however. If you are looking for an outsider Frontier Dancer is one to take a look at from a stable starting to find some better form. He doesn’t look badly weighted. Get Me Out Of Here is unbeaten in four starts is a course and distance winner and has AP McCoy in the saddle. Nicky Henderson and David Pipe both have multiple entries. Barry Geraghty rides Spirit River who was really impressive when winning at Cheltenham in December and is a serious player. Of the Pipe runners Mamlook is not without a chance. He is very consistent and only has a 5 lbs penalty for his win in a valuable handicap at Ascot last month. I just prefer his stable companion Ronaldo Des Mottes however. He ran a shocker in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham but has since bounced back to form winning at Kempton over Christmas. Numide has been out of form this season after not really taking to fences and he may be a little too high in the weights. Numide’s stable companion Harry Tricker looks to have a better chance especially if the ground isn’t too testing. The talented Manyriverstocross is only a novice but has plenty of experience from the flat and gets in here with a nice racing weight.

I have whittled this down to a short list of 4; Spirit River, Ronaldo Des Mottes, Manyriverstocross and Harry Tricker. If pushed to, select one it would be Manyriverstocross at around 10/1.

The 3.40 sees the return of Champion Chaser Master Minded pictured below). He should carry too many guns for Voy Por Ustedes, who probably needs further these days, and Fix the Rib. He is returning after a setback however and I don’t think I would want to take a very short price.

My selections for the last two races on the Newbury card are Bellvano (4.15) and Dragon’s Roost (4.45).

At Warwick I just favour Sullumo over Forest Pennant in the 1.45 while Long Run could just be something special in the 2.15.

In the 2.50 Merigo is potentially well handicapped and looks each way value at 10/1. In the 3.20 I see that The Vicar is dropped in trip after not really getting home over further and has an each way prayer at 7/1. Kennel Hill is the selection in the 3.55.

There have an early morning inspection at Ayr. If the meeting goes ahead recent Market Rasen winner Mirage Dore looks to have a good chance in the novice chase at 2.10 while Olifan D’Oudairies with Graham Lee on board can follow up his win at the Scottish track back in December in the 3.50.

I don’t have a strong view about the 2.35 at Gowran Park although I did consider Luska Lad and Noble Prince.

All pictures today courtesy of the artist Lisa Miller.

 

With Ayr having been abandoned the jumps racing tomorrow comes from Kempton and Bangor.

The Kempton card gets under way with a conditional jockey’s handicap hurdle at 1.25. The weights are headed by Solent who is making his first appearance for nearly a year. He dead heated for first place in a listed race at Ascot on the flat and has plenty of ability. He also has the benefit of being ridden by one of the more experienced jockeys. Solent could go well at a big price but I am going to take a chance with another outsider in Heezazari. A former winning pointer he has only had 2 runs under rules finishing 2^nd in a bumper and then winning at Bangor over hurdles. The form of those races has worked out well but the horse is obviously fragile. He hasn’t run for 636 days so his fitness levels have to be taken on trust but that will be reflected in his price.

The 2.35 looks quite a hot little race with Quantitativeesing the likely odds on favourite for the Nicky Henderson yard with AP McCoy in the saddle. He is unbeaten and sets the standard. The Betchworth Kid is another to consider. He was rated 100+ on the flat and has already shown ability in his two races over timber. He is stepped up in trip here which should suit him. The favourite is likely to be very short here so I am looking elsewhere for some value. Emma Lavelle speaks very highly of Tocca Ferro a lightly raced type who has done little wrong so far and got off the mark over hurdles at Southwell last time. This one could be open to plenty of improvement and at around 9/2 looks the value.

In the 3.45 Duc de Regniere should have too many gears for Big Fella Thanks as long as his jumping stands up while in the 4.20 NIcto de Beauchene looks on a fair mark and has an each way chance.

In the 1.35 at Bangor Tara Royal looks the one to beat while Cuckoo Pen and Alderley Rover are the pick of those at bigger prices.

Today’s picture is courtesy of Kate Tann.