Category: Racing diary

 

Friday 16 March

1:30  JCB Triumph Hurdle Grade 1 2m1f 

I was very impressed with Grumeti on his last run. I am also quite keen on Darroun who is a strong strayer and should like the ground. Pearl Swan has scope to improve and Urbain de Sivola is another to consider. However for my selection I will go for Sadler’s Risk who stays well and the form of his second at Kempton was franked today when the 4^th home was a festival winner.

2:05  Vincent O´Brien County Handicap Hurdle Grade 3 2m1f  

Moon Dice and Citizenship represent a strong Irish challenge. Ted Spread disappointed at Sandown in Saturday but it is too soon to write him off. Snap Tie has been off the course to a very long time but he could just be very well handicapped. Raya Star and Magnifique Etoile are others to consider.

The Irish have done well in this race in recent years and Moon Dice and Citizenship look the pair to be on.

2:40  Albert Bartlett Novices´ Hurdle (Registered As The Spa Novices´ Hurdle Race) Grade 1 3m  

Boston Bob will be hard to beat here. The ground will suit Sea of Thunder while I also like Brindisi Breeze.

3:20  Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase Grade 1 3m2f110y 

Given the prices it is worth trying to come up with something to beat the front two. Kauto Star has had a training fall, there are doubts about the well being of some of the horses in the yard and I don’t think he would have beaten Long Run at Kempton over a couple of furlongs further. Long Run will be hard to beat but with the stable in red hot form his price will be short. Burton Port is consistent and has never fallen and if he has come out of his last race OK should go well. For my selections though I will go each way on Quel Esprit and Weird Al.

4:00  Christie´s Foxhunter Chase Challenge Cup 3m2f110y  

Selections are Salsify and Chapoturgeon.

4:40  Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys´ Handicap Hurdle 2m4f110y 

Selections Bourne and Molotof.

5:15  Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase Challenge Cup (Handicap) Grade 3 2m110y 

Kid Cassidy, Astracad, Toubab, Lucky William and De Boitron form my short list. I will narrow this down to three, Toubab, Lucky William and Astracad.

Picture of Kauto Star courtesy of the artist Lisa Miller.

Good luck

 

Thursday 15 March

1:30  Jewson Novices´ Chase (Registered As The Golden Miller Novices´ Chase) Grade 2 2m4f  

Cristal Bonus and Sir Des Champs are the two I like in this. For Non Stop should also go well.

2:05  Pertemps Final (Handicap Hurdle) (Listed Race) 3m  

Our Father is the selection with Sonofvic the next best.

2:40  Ryanair Chase (Registered As The Festival Trophy Steeple Chase) Grade 1 2m5f  

Noble Prince is the selection with Great Endeavour and Kalahari King he pick of those at bigger prices.

3:20  Ladbrokes World Hurdle Grade 1 3m  

Big Bucks has to lose sometime and with th stable in such red hot form it could be Oscar Whisky’s day.

4:00  Byrne Group Plate (Handicap Chase) Grade 3 2m5f  

Divers and Salut Flo are my 2 against the field. Crack Away Jack is another to consider.

4:40  Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Amateur Riders) 3m1f110y

Adams Island, Sunnyhillboy and Midnight Appeal are my short list.

Today’s picture, courtesy of the artist Lisa Miller, is of former World Hurdle winner Inglis Drever.

After a miserable day I on the tipping front things can only get better.

Wednesday 14 March 2012

1:30  Diamond Jubilee National Hunt Chase (Amateur Riders´ Novices´ Chase) 4m 

Alfie Spinner. Allee Garde, Universal Soldier, Soll, Alfie Spinner and Teaforthree all make some appeal. Teaforthree is consistent and was quite a classy hurdler. He will be ridden by one of the best jockeys in the race; he jumps well and at 13/2 looks a reasonable price. Allee Garde looks the pick of the Willie Mullins runners. Although he has form on soft ground it is thought that he will be better suited by good going. Universal Soldier is lightly raced and should be suited by the track. He is partnered by a talented jockey. He might prefer the ground a little softer. Alfie Spinner has plenty of stamina and is the ride of Sam Whaley-Cohen. He has winning form on soft and heavy ground.

Teaforthree and Allee Garde are my main fancies.

2:05  Neptune Investment Management Novices´ Hurdle (Registered As Baring Bingham Novices´ Hurdle) Grade 1 2m5f  

Simonsig has looked an exciting prospect and with the drying ground likely to be in his favour he appeals as the most likely winner despite a slight doubt about his ability to get up th Cheltenham hill. Monksland would seem to prefer cut in the ground and of the rest I quite like Make your mark while Battonnier who has some good course form will go well.

2:40  RSA Chase (Grade 1) 3m110y  

It is hard to get away from Grands Crus in this. I like First Lieutenant who should go well and I expect Bob’s Worth to improve on recent from at a track he clearly loves. Grand Crus should win though.

3:20  Queen Mother Champion Chase Grade 1 2m  

This race is at the mercy of the Irish and I think Sizing Europe will finish ahead of Big Zeb. Wishfull Thinking could just be value each way.

4:00  Coral Cup (Handicap Hurdle) Grade 3 2m5f  

Act of Kalanisi represents a stable that has won this race before, he looks reasonably treated and is ridden by a top conditional.

Get me out of here has a touch of class, has a good festival record and comes here on form. Carlos Brigante won this last season and should be fit after a spin on the flat while Spirit River has an each way chance.

Featherbed Lane, Dare Me and Veiled are others worth considering.

4:40  Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Grade 3 2m110y

I particularly like VENDOR trained by Alan King with Ulck du Lin next best.

5:15  Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race) Grade 1 2m110y 

Over the years this has been dominated by the Irish and the late money just before the race starts is always a good guide. 

Royal Guardsman, Sir Johnson, The New One, Moscow Mannon and Ifandbutwhynot all have chances. Royal Guardsman looks as good as any with The New One next best.

Today’s picture, of former Champion Chase winner Moscow Flyer, is courtesy of the artist Karen Davis.

 

I will mainly stick with my selections from last night’s preview. Anyway, here are a few last minute thoughts.

1.30 Montbazon and Steps to Freedom are my two against the field. I flagged Vulcanite up as a long shot last night and of the Irish runners Dylan Ross looks a big price for a consistent horse and could run into a place.

2.05 Sprinter Sacre could win in a canter but I still think Al Ferof is the value.

2.40 The Package and Quantitiveasing are my selections. I like their Cheltenham form. Baile Anrai at 12/1 has an each way chance.

3.20 Hurricane Fly to follow up last season’s win in the Champion Hurdle.

5.15 Bless the Wings is the selection. There are plenty of dangers as flagged up in last night’s preview notably Triolo D’Arlene but Vino Griego is one that looks over priced and could be the each way pick.

Good luck

 

Tuesday 13 March 2012

1:30  William Hill Supreme Novices´ Hurdle Grade 1 2m110y

The Irish are very bullish about Steps to Freedom’s chances in the opener. He is suited by good ground and the yard is coming into some form. Add in the fact that he is a course and distance winner and he clearly has a big chance.

Midnight Game is another Irish challenger of some promise as shown by his win at Naas in January. He is another suited by good ground. Montbazon is held in high regard by his trainer Alan King and the horse has an excellent record on the prevailing ground. On his only previous visit to Cheltenham he finished 3^rd in a bumper. Vulcanite handles any ground and comes from a stable in good form.

Cinders and Ashes has done little wrong over hurdles winning 3 on the bounce despite running in unsuitable soft and heavy ground. Prospect Wells represents the Paul Nicholls team who have a good record in the race. A former classy flat horse, his neck second to Steps of Freedom last November at Cheltenham puts him in with a chance. Galileo’s Choice is another classy ex flat horse that has more potential than most in this field and will handle the ground.

Galileo’s Choice may just walk it but of the Irish contingent I just prefer Steps to Freedom as I am a big fan of course form at Cheltenham. Cinders and Ashes may prefer a flat track and given the strong vibes behind Montbazon he may turn out to be the best of the home team. That pair would be my 2 against the field. If you are looking for an outsider then Vulcanite looks over priced at 20/1

2:05  Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase Grade 1 2m  

This looks to be between Al Ferof and Sprinter Sacre. Al Ferof looks solid and has course and distance form so at the odds I will go for him as there are slight stamina and perhaps also jumping doubts about Sprinter Sacre.

2:40  JLT Specialty Handicap Chase Grade 3 3m110y 

The Package looks as though he has been laid out for this. His Cheltenham record is excellent and he is potentially well handicapped. Hold on Julio is lightly raced and is a progressive sort but his jumping has been a bit sketchy. Quantitiveasing has a good record at Cheltenham and has plenty of experience in big field handicaps. If he gets the trip, he failed to stay in the Irish Grand National, then he will be hard to keep out of the frame.

3:20  Stan James Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy Grade 1 2m110y 

This looks to be between Hurricane Fly, Binocular and Zarkander. Zarkander won the Triumph at last year’s Festival and looks to be improving judged on his recent Newbury win. Binocular comes here in good form and although he is unpredictable he would be bang there if at his best. I am going to go for Hurricane Fly though. He is very highly regarded in Ireland and we may not have seen the best of him yet. Outside of the front 3 Brampour could go well at a big price.

4:00  Glenfarclas Handicap Chase (Cross Country Chase) 3m7f  

The Irish have a great record in the Cross Country and have most of the fancied runners at the head of the market. Uncle Junior and Sizing Australia both make some appeal.

4:40  OLBG Mares´ Hurdle (Registered As The David Nicholson Mares´ Hurdle) Grade 2 2m4f  

Quevega is something of a standing dish in this race and is hard to oppose. Swincome Flame could run well at a bigger price.

5:15  Pulteney Land Investments Novices´ Handicap Chase (Listed Race) 2m4f110y 

This looks an open race.

Triolo D’Arlene looks potentially well in and should like the track. Vino Griego was 4^th in this race last year and has largely been running well this season without winning. White Star Line has only run 3 times over fences and both trip and ground look ideal for him. Going Wrong could go close on the evidence of his two wins at Sedgefield while top weight Hunt Ball is another for the short list. Bless the wings is the selection though. He could just have a little in hand of the handicapper. Triolo D’Arlene, White Star Line and Going Wrong are the others I like.

Today’s pictures feature Hurricane Fly (top) courtesy of the artist Lisa Miller and Binocular courtesy of the artist Sarah Clegg.

 

Yesterday went well with winners at 20/1 and 14/1. The highlight today is the clash between Bog Warrior and Flemenstar at Naas. This is a race best watched though and for my tip I am going for General Ting in the Market Rasen 4.25. He is quite well handicapped and may be suited by this step up in trip.

 

Sandown

2.05 This race features a number of horses that I have been following this season, Grove Pride, Ambion Wood, Dualla Lord and Off the Ground. Off the Ground looks to have the best chance of the quartet after a recent course and distance win. At a bigger price I would give a chance to Ambion Wood if he can put an indifferent run last time behind him.

3.15 Ted Spread is not a very original selection but he does seem to tick the right boxes. Paintball has an each way chance at a much bigger price.

4.25 Sanctuaire should justify favouritism.

Ayr

4.00 Mallusk has finished second on his last two starts over this trip.

Chepstow

3.05 Minella Stars is a bit of a temperamental sort but ran well at Wincanton last time and can go one better here.

4.50 Buffalo Bob faces an easier task than when beaten here on his last run.

 

Ayr

5.05 Bishop’s Heir

Leicester

3.05 Sybarite

Sandown

2.20 The Pretender

2.55 Amaury de Lusignan

4.05 Hildisvini

Wincanton

2.35 The Disengager

 

Catterick 3.50 Bubbly Breeze

 

Exeter

2.30 Florafern

3.00 Josh’s Dreamway

3.30 Flying Award

Newcastle

3.20 Night in Milan

4.50 Trustan Times