Category: Racing diary

 

Musselburgh

2.05 Kie is a course and distance winner and has a good chance here if his last run is ignored.

2.35 Plenty in with chances in this, notably Arctic Court, Moonlight Drive and Devotion to Duty. Arctic Court stays this trip well and his front running style may be suited to this track.

3.10 De Boitron has slipped down the weights and will like the ground.

3.45 Divers is well handicapped on his chase form and is a course winner.

4.20 Bold Sir Brian has made a promising start to his career over fences and can complete the hat trick. Bogside could run well at a big price.

4.50 A Bridge Too Far ruined his chances at Ascot last time with a bad blunder but can be fancied on the basis of his previous run when 2^nd at Doncaster.

Naas

1.15 A 25 runner field to sort out so a bit of a nightmare from a tipping angle. Bat Masterton, blinkered first time is my each way choice.

1.50 Bog Warrior impressed when winning the Drinmore at Fairyhouse and a repeat of that form would see him home here.

4.00 Gates of Rome and Shinrock Paddy would be my 2 against the field.

 

Thurles

1.30 Raptor was disappointing at Naas last time but had looked promising before that especially when winning at Punchestown in November. Worth another chance given the excellent form of the stable.

 

Selections for Monday;

Ayr

2.00 Sydney Paget

2.35 Lie Forrit

3.40 Neptune Equester

 

Punchestown

1.20 Allure of Illusion, 3^rd in the Aintree bumper last April was perhaps slightly unlucky when second on his hurdles debut. He should go one better here.

2.20 Raz De Maree is a staying chaser in the making but looks on a fair mark over hurdles and should go well. Pineau de Re is another to consider in what looks a trappy contest.

2.55 There is not much to choose between the top two in this. I would just give the edge to Big Zeb.

3.25 Smoking Aces has won over further than this and is a player while Start me Up a winner over 3 miles at Navan before Christmas is another to think about.

4.25 Mister Hotelier looks the form pick.

 

Leicester

2.00 Theatre Guide had some decent bumper for last season and although only 6^th on his hurdles debut at Aintree the first 4 home in that race have all won since.

3.00 Moscow Chancer was 3^rd over course and distance last time and has an each way chance.

Ludlow

2.10 Escort’men has been disappointing this seaon but may be worth one more chance. He’s Our Lad makes a habit of finishing 2^nd but looks the main danger.

4.10 Talkonthestreet, winner of a maiden Irish point to point was runner up in 2 bumpers and made a good impression when 3^rd on his hurdles debut. The well bred Saint Roque is another Irish points winner. He was a promising 4^th on his hurdles debut at Hereford. This pair look the ones to concentrate on with my slight preference being for Talkonthestreet.

Newcastle

1.20 Useful flat handicapper Bourne made a good impression when winning on his hurdles bow but then ran poorly at Musselburgh but is worth another chance.

 

Folkestone

2.50 Fourth Estate

3.50 Amoury de Lusignan

Taunton

2.10 Dildar

3.10 Pantxoa

 

Selections for Monday

Ayr 3.25 Lady Bluesky

Plumpton 3.15 Storm Survivor

 

The main interest tomorrow will be at Leopardstown where the reigning Champion Hurdler makes a belated seasonal reappearance in the 2.30. He should win with Unaccompanied likely to follow him home.

It might be worth taking on the Willie Mullins favourite in the 1.25 with Flemenstar who impressed when winning at Naas the other week.

At Ffos Las the likely favourite in the 2.20 comes from a stable out of form so Alexander Road could be a viable option as she will relish the conditions.

 

Cheltenham

12.55 Hollow Tree has done nothing wrong over hurdles and has winning from on varying types of ground. He stays well having won over 1.75 miles on the flat and at the current odds looks a value bet.

1.30 The in form pair of Charminster and Mister Hyde are my two against the field.

2.05 Paul Nicholls has 3 runners in this race and Ruby Walsh has chosen to ride Aerial which is a tip in itself. Aerial was 4^th in the Paddy Power at Cheltenham and has since won at Ascot in a race where the runner up has since franked the form. Aerial will do for me.

2.35 Diamond Harry is a rather fragile sort but there is no doubt that he goes well fresh and he is certainly one for the short list. Time for Rupert has a very good record at Cheltenham and comes here on the back of a confidence boosting win. Captain Chris is rather a short price given doubts about his stamina and I prefer the other two. Time for Rupert is the selection with Diamond Harry next best.

3.10 Knight Pass won a decent handicap at Kempton on Boxing Day and this lightly taced hurdler may be up to this step up in class.

4.15 The lightly raced Hinterland looks interesting on his first run in a handicap and at a bigger price I also like the look of Dare Me who has top class bumper form and ended last season with a couple of wins over hurdles at Exeter.

Doncaster

1.50 Only 3 runners but a case could be made for each of them. Kid Cassidy has bags of talent and I am inclined to take a chance with him.

2.20 Things have not gone according to plan over fences for Jetnova but he could be interesting here back over hurdles.

2.50 Fruity O’Rooney hasn’t gone up in the weights too much after his win at Kempton over Christmas and is of interest as are Wayward Prince who put in an encouraging effort last time out and the Paul Nicholls representative Aiteen Thirtythree. With his trainer in good form at present Wayward Prince just gets the nod.

3.25 Former point to point winner Rocky Creek could be the answer here. Second on his hurdles bow at Exeter this step up in trip should suit.

Uttoxeter

2.10 Molly Round is a big price and has winning form on heavy ground.

Leopardstown selections;

1.10 Darroun; 2.15 Hidden Cyclone; 2.45 Staying Article; 3.20 Stephanie Kate; 3.50 Far Away So Close.

Turf Trivia

Birmingham racecourse closed in 1965. Lester Piggott rode a double on the last day of racing but the very last race was won by Welshman ridden by the late Greville Starkey.

Picture courtesy of the artist Lisa Miller.

 

Fontwell Park

3.30 Mirific has claims running for the first time in a handicap.

Huntingdon

2.10 Turbo du Ranch was second at Plumpton last month and gave the impression that this longer trip could bring out further improvement.

3.10 Benny be Good has run well without winning on his last 3 starts. Oscargo is highly rated but unseated when hot favourite at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day. Rose of the Moon is one to consider at a bigger price. There is not a lot to choose between this trio and there is the temptation to go for the bigger price of Rose of the Moon who sports first time blinkers. I like Benny be Good though who has a taking attitude and he gets the selection.

3.40 It is hard to fancy Somewhatinevitable based purely on form but his trainer thinks a lot of him and he may well be better than his form figures suggest.

Turf Trivia

St Athan’s Lad won 14 races during his career in the 1990s. The first 13 of these came at Fontwell but just to vary things a bit he then won at Newton Abbot!

Picture courtesy of the artist Katy Sodeau.