Category: Racing diary

 

My selections are in bold type. Other horses mentioned can be considered the main dangers.

Newbury

12.30 Former bumper winner Kentford Grey Lady has posted a couple of decent efforts over hurdles this season and should be on the premises here.

1.35 Rock of Deauville has been expensive to follow and having tipped him the last twice I am going to opt for a watching brief this time.

2.10 This is not a betting race but it is fascinating nonetheless. Grands Crus was impressive when winning on his chase debut and will be odds on to win again here. It will be interesting to see how the highly rated Sonofvic gets on.

2.45 Buffalo Bob is a course and distance winner, has had the benefit of a recent run and his stable are beginning to find some form after a slow start to the season.

Taunton

2.20 Marleno reverts to hurdles after a couple of runs over fences. He is a consistent sort.

Thurles

2.40 A point to point and bumper winner Leave Him Alone comes into the race on the back of a win in a modest contest at Galway last month. Needs to improve to take this.

Uttoxeter

12.20 A bumper winner at Bangor Tarn Hows was second here over hurdles in June.

12.50 Jetnova and Golden Chieftain both fell on their chase debuts making this a tricky race to weight up. Cross Kennon was a long way last of 5 finishers on his chase bow so the three of them need to improve! I would be inclined to go with Golden Chieftain who was going OK until he fell.

1.25 Camas Bridge, Dixie Bull and Rose of the Moon form my short list for this race. Rose of the Moon, a bumper winner at this track would be my selection with a small each way saver on Camas Bridge.

2.35 Multiple winner Lovey Dovey could be on a winnable mark.

3.05 Ibn Hiyyan is another that may be well handicapped.

3.40 Dannancey’s Hill won a weak Irish point to point but may well be good enough tom score here.

Nap of the day

Lovey Dovey

Dark horse

Tarn Hows

From the archives

Continuing our look back at the history of the Hennessy Gold Cup the 1979 renewal featured Zongalero, a fancied runner from the Nicky Henderson stable. He has finished second in the Mackeson, the Massey Ferguson Handicap and the grand National. Master Smudge has beaten a top class field in the Sun Alliance at Cheltenham while Fighting Fit has won the Scottish National at Ayr. On the day Zongalero has to settle for second once again as victory went to Fighting Fit ridden by Richard Linley.

Zongalero was again in the line up the following year when Bright Highway looked to be the first horse to win the Mackeson/Hennessy double. Peter Scott had won the 1979 Welsh National and had only fallen once in 21 starts while the progressive Silent Valley had finished 2^nd in the Scottish National and recently made all to win at Wetherby. In a thrilling finish Bright Highway got the better of Silent Valley with Peter Scott some way back in 3^rd.

The 1981 renewal went to the populat Diamond Edge, wtice a winner in the Whitbread at Sandown. He gave his trainer Fulke Walwyn a remarkable 7^th win the race.

There was a strong line up for the 1981 race with Dual Champion Hurdle winner Night Nurse, who had been second in the 1981 Gold Cup together with future Grand National winner Corbiere for Jenny Pitman. It was trainer Michael Dickinson who took the honours though with Bregawn and Captain John first and second respectively.

Turf trivia

Cochise, who runs in the Thurles 1.35 has some pretty unimpressive form figures having managed just two wins form 33 starts. If you isolate just his runs at Thurles though a different story emerges. His form figures then read 212P1F. He is appropriately named after an apache chief as his dam was Indian Legend.

 

Cork

1.55 Pineau de Re won a decent race at Thurles on his last start. He ran well in good company last season and should go well here. Memories of Milan has failed to get round on his last two starts but he won at Clonmel over this trip last season and was a good second at Punchestown in May.

Wetherby

1.30The unbeaten Hazy Tom sets the standard here. All his wins so far have been on good ground. Victor Lynch looks the danger. His efforts in two bumpers bodes well for his career over hurdles and eventually over fences.

2.35 Volcan Surprise was runner up at Sandown on his UK debut earlier this month.

3.05 Seigneur Des Bois acts on the ground has the benefit of a recent run and is the sort his trainers excels with.

Nap of the day – Pineau de Re

Dark horse – Seigneur Des Bois

From the archives

Tonight I will continue to look back at the history of the Hennesssy Gold Cup

The 1973 renewal was high on quality. Charlie Potheen started favourite. He had won the race in 1972 had won the Great Yorkshire Chase, the Whitbread off top weight and finished 3^rd behind The Dikler and Pendil in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. A pair of former winners, Spanish Steps and Bighorn returned and Red Rum also lined up, having won the Grand National the year before collaring Crisp close home. At 12/1, Red Candle was a live outsider. A former winner of the Mackeson his recent form had been poor but the quick ground on the day was likely to suit him. Red Rum ran a fantastic race and led with 100 yards to run and looked to have the race won only to be overtaken near the line by Red Candle who was getting a stone from him.

In 1977 Bachelor’s Hall became the first horse to complete the big early season double of the Mackeson Gold Cup at Cheltenham and the Hennessy at Newbury. Aldaniti, ridden by Bob Champion, was 3^rd and of course the pair went on to achieve great things a few years later at Aintree.

Turf trivia

Battle of |Hastings who won a couple of races as a 2 year old in 2008 before being sold to race in the States got his name as he was number 1066 in the sales catalogue.

Tonight’s picture is courtesy of the artist Karen Davis.

 

All 7 of my selections today won which is something of a record!  My selections are highlighted in bold. Other horses mentioned are worth considering.

Lingfield

12.50 Heather Royal won over course and distance last month and has a good chance of defying a penalty.

1.20 Kid Cassidy, a winner at the Punchestown festival in May should be too good for his rivals. Darna looks next best.

Sedgefield

1.30 Trustan Times is a former point to point winner who showed fair form in a couple of runs over hurdles at Wetherby. He has the size and scope to make a chaser.

From the Archives

Continuing the Hennessy Gold Cup theme the first ever winner Mandarin returned in 1961 and was successful again. Mandarin was one of the all time greats of Steeplechasing. As well as his 2 Hennessy wins he also won the King George twice and in 1962 won both the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris. Part of his diet was to drink a bottle of Mackeson stout every day.

In the years that followed the race was won by some of the biggest names in thye history of the sport. Mill House won in 1963 and his nemesis Arkle won both the 1964 and 1965 renewals before suffering a shock defeat the following year when beaten by the 25/1 shot Stalbridge Colonist. Stalbridge Colonist was no mug though and went on to be placed twice in Cheltenham Gold Cups and was runner up to Rondetto in the 1967 Hennessy.

In 1969 Larbawn was one of the fancied runners having won the Whitbread at Sandown the previous season. Spanish Steps had been the outstanding novice of the previous season while another to attract support was Playlord who had won both the Great Yorkshire Chase and the Scottish Grand National. Lord Jim had finished runner up to Spanish Steps at the Cheltenham Festival in March while the mare Winsome Win had won her last 4 races and carried only 10 stone.

Playlord was brought down when travelling well. Larbawn led over the 4^th from home but at the next fence was joined by Spanish Steps and from then on the result was never on doubt with Spanish Steps drawing away to win in a new record time. Larbawn was 2^nd and Lord Jim 3^rd. Spanish Steps was a standing dish at the Aintree Grand National and was placed in the 1973, 1974 and 1975 races. His dam Tiberetta has also been placed 3 times in the race.

The 1971 Hennessy line up included the dual Gold Cup winner L’Escargot and Grey Sombrero who had won the Midlands National. Grey Sombrero fell as did the favourite Spanish Steps and the race was won by the well handicapped Bighorn at 7/1. L’Escargot went on to win the Grand National in 1975. Grey Sombrero won the 1972 Whitbread but was fatally injured jumping The Chair in the 1973 Grand National at Aintree – the year when Red Rum beat Crisp in arguably the most famous finish in the race’s history.

Nap of the day

Trustan Times

 

My selections are highlighted in bold. Other horses mentioned should be considered as the main dangers.

Ffos Las

12.50 Rebecca Curtis has 3 runners in this. Salomo had some good form in France and was 3^rd on his latest start over hurdles. He was 3^rd behind stable companion Peckhamecho here last time. He runs over a longer trip tomorrow. Top of the Range won a bumper here in April and the runner up that day has won twice since.

1.20 Winning point to pointer Rev it Up showed a taking attitude to beat a Paul Nicholls runner at Chepstow on his hurdles debut with the 3^rd well beaten off. Maiden point to pointer Romeo Desbois was runner up here in a bumper last season.

1.55 Fishoutofwater won twice over hurdles in May but was very disappointing in two subsequent efforts over fences.

3.00 Palace Jester reverts to hurdles after disappointing over fences.

Kempton

12.30 Darlan won a Haydock bumper without coming off the bridle and looks a nice prospect for hurdles. Sleeping City has been a beaten favourite on both his starts in bumpers. He is almost certainly better than he has shown so far.

1.00

Nicky Henderson takes on Paul Nicholls here with Chablais v Escort’men. The former was a beaten favourite on his chase debut at Fontwell and Chablais, a winning pointer who was very impressive when winning over hurdles at Kempton in January is preferred.

1.30 Whoops a Daisy a winner 3 times last season made an encouraging return when 2mnd over an inadequate trip at Wetherby last month.

2.05 This should be a penalty kick for Mossley. He just needs a clear round.

2.35 Fontano comes from an in from stable and may be suited by this trip.

Ludlow

1.10 Muldoon’s Picnic was 5^th in a Grade 1 hurdle at Aintree at the end of last season but fell early on his chase debut at Huntingdon.

Nap of the day

Darlan

Dark Horse

Whoops a Daisy

From the archives

The big race this Saturday is the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury. It was first run in 1957, but at Cheltenham rather than Newbury. 19 runners went to post with the top weight the reigning Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Linwell ridden by Peter Scudamore. The favourite was The Callant twice a winner over 4 miles at Cheltenham and who had recently beaten the Gold Cup runner up Kerstin over 3 miles at Ayr.

The youngest horse in the race was the 6 year old Mandarin who had only been beaten a neck in the Whitbread the season before. Other fancied runners were Whitbread Gold Cup winner Much Obliged trained by Neville Crump and Bremontier the Scottish National winner.

In the race Mandarin was always handy and led approaching the last fence where he was challenged by Linwell. In a rousing finishing Mandarin prevailed by 3 lengths with Linwell 2^nd. Bremontier edged out The Callant for 3rd.

Today’s picture is by kind permission of the artist Sue Malkin.

My main fancies are highlighted in bold – other horses mentioned are well worth considering and should be treated as dangers to the main selection.

Punchestown

1.40 Last Instalment comes here on the back of a win at Galway. He could well emerge as a top class novice chaser this season.

2.10 Only 4 runners but 3 are in with a chance. Thousand Stars failed to win last season but ran with plenty of credit. He was 4^th in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham and runner up to Oscar Whisky at Aintree. In June he won the French Champion Hurdle. Oscars Well won a couple of Grade 1 hurdles last season and was 4^th to First Lieutenant at Cheltenham. He finished 3^rd at Down Royal on his reappearance over an inadequate trip. Pittoni is a Grade 1 winner over hurdles and has won twice on the flat in recent months. This is a close call but I would just give Thousand Stars the edge.

2.40 Dedigout has been second in a couple of bumpers and looks a horse to follow.

3.10 Lucky Spring did us a favour last time at a decent price. He is a tough consistent sort that is suited by some ease in the ground.

3.40 Clear Hills won a point to point at Rathcannon and is well thought of by connections.

Cork

1.55 Pineau de Re and Memories of Milan make most appeal.

Exeter 1.00

Flying Award improved rapidly last season and may still be on a winnable mark.

1.30 Minella Stars looks an exciting recruit to chasing. This point to point winner is an out and out stayer.

2.00 Molly Round ran up a hat trick of wins over hurdles last season but unseated on her chase debut. Back over fences here she should pay to follow this season.

2.30 Baseball Ted won 3 out of 5 last season and is a course and distance winner.

3.00 Knight Pass won twice in bumpers last season before disappointing at Cheltenham. He is very highly thought of by his trainer.

3.30 Water Garden is running in a handicap for the first time and is the sort of horse his trainer does well with.

Towcester

1.15 Jolibob showed signs of form on his nost recent run when 2^nd at Southwell.

Nap of the day

Last Instalment

Dark Horse

Water Garden

 

I will stick with my selections from last night’s preview.  I see that Pricewise agrees with me with Medermit and also with Dynaste in the fixed brush hurdle at Haydock.  The latter is a really wide open race and a case could be made for any number of runners.  Highland Valley, Global Power and Sa Suffitt in particular would be dangers to my selections but I will stay with Dynaste and Rival D’Estruval. 

I will add an additional selection, Neptune Equester in the 1.55 at Haydock. He stays well and should give us a run fro our money as long as the ground isn’t too quick for him.

I am off to watch the mighty Macclesfield Town take on Accrington Stanley – hopefully the Silkmen will get the 3 points and some of my horses will come in as well!

 

My main fancies are highlighted in bold – other horses mentioned are well worth considering and should be treated as dangers to the main selection.

Ascot

2.10 Master Minded is 3 from 3 at Ascot and is obviously the one they all have to beat here. He does have the odd off day though and with Alan King’s horses beginning to find their form I am going to put up Medermit as the selection. Medermit will like the ground, comes here on the back of a win at Exeter (albeit perhaps a little fortunate) and has a 50% strike rate over fences.

2.45 I think this could be between Oscar Whisky and Overturn with For Non Stop the most likely outsider. Oscar Whisky is giving Overturn 8 lbs which could be a difficult task against a rival that was good enough to win a Chester Cup on the flat. I am just going to favour the Henderson runner though as he is lightly raced over hurdles, handles the ground and the stable are going well. Oscar Whisky is the selection, Overturn the next best and For Non Stop the best outsider.

3.20 Gilbarry looked a potential star when winning at Ayr in April but his jumping has let him down badly in his two runs this term. He likes good ground though and it is too early to write him off just yet. Ferdy Murphy does well with his handicap chasers and he runs De Boitron who will relish the conditions and should be fitter for his recent run at Kelso. He put up some decent efforts last season notably when 4^th in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham in March.

Kauto Star, 3 times winner of the Betfair Chase – picture courtesy of the artist Lisa Miller.

Haydock

12.15 Grandouet was going well when a faller at Wincanton earlier in the month. First Fandango was a winning selection for us at Leicester recently but has a bit to find with Grandouet. Rigidity was a winner on the flat for Henry Cecil and ran over hurdles in Ireland when trained by Edward O’Grady. He bolted up at Gowran Park in February but disappointed in subsequent runs and has had problems with ulcers.

12.50 Wyse Hill Teabags an Ayr bumper winner was most progressive over hurdles last season winning twice and going close in a listed race at Aintree. The ground will suit him. Arthurian Legend is up 9 lbs for an impressive win in a decent race at Chepstow last month. He is a nervy sort that doesn’t always settle but he certainly looks on an upward curve.

1.20 Diocles was an impressive winner at Southwell in a race that has worked out well. Granville Island won at Bangor lasts season and is held in high regard by his trainer. Regardless of the outcome of this race this pair should pay to follow over the coming months.

1.55 Gurtacrue is a former Irish point to point winner that had some decent efforts over hurdles last season culminating in a win at Fontwell. He was 5^th on his chase debut at Chepstow and should come on for that run.

2.30 This race will take some unravelling. Benny be Good is an admirable type that switches between hurdles and fences. A tidy jumper with a change of gears he will handle the ground and will be suited by the trip. It is possible that the handicapper has got hold of him but over these obstacles his jumping should stand him in good stead. Dynaste was a winner at Taunton last season and put up an excellent effort when 2^nd to a handicap good thing at Cheltenham. He is another that could be high enough in the weights and he may be better with some give in the ground but the Pipe team are in great form. Robinson Collonges lost his way over fences last season but came back with a bang when 3^rd to Arthurian Legend in a hot handicap hurdle at Chepstow. SA Suffitt has been a consistent sort but has had injury problems. Runner up over fences at Kelso on his return this season he is probably best suited by testing ground. Global Power, a Plumpton bumper winner showed progressive form over hurdles last season and ran 2^nd to Arthurian Legend at Chepstow last month. He may be better on soft ground and has not always been fluent over his hurdles. Reindeer Dippin is homebred and has won 5 times for his connections. He ran well at Aintree in a listed race when runner up to Russian War, a race that has produced several winners since. That was on good ground but all his winning form is on soft or heavy. Highland Valley has some excellent form over hurdles and his atriner is in red hot form but is another that would ideally want some cut in the ground, while Rival D’Estruval has won his last two starts over hurdles, both on good ground.

3.05 This is a tricky race to weigh up as it is full of ifs and buts and maybes. Long Run is my selection. For all that Long Run might not be fully wound up at this stage of the season I can’t really see why Kauto Star, at the age of 11, should overturn the form of their last two meetings. Diamond Harry has two big plus points. He has won first time out every season so far and he is 2 from 2 at Haydock. The ground may not be ideal for him though. Weird Al and Time for Rupert fought out the finish of the Charlie Hall with the former coming out on top. This trio are young enough to improve and no doubt they will win races this season but they have plenty of ground to make up on Long Run on any sort of form ratings. Long Run at anything like his best should win here and even money would look a fair bet.

Huntingdon

1.10 Dancing Emily won a Taunton bumper in stylish fashion last season and is rated highly by her trainer.

3.30 Iris’s Flyer has some very solid course form.

Punchestown

1.05 Raptor a winner here over hurdles in January was beaten quite a long way on his chase debut at Wexford. Medical Card ran a cracker on his chase debut at Down Royal and can only improve for that run.

2.35 Midnight Game a runner up twice at listed level at Toulouse he is by the same sire as Hurricane Fly and is horse with considerable potential.

From the archives

On this day in 1995 Young Hustler won the Becher Chase at Aintree for trainer Nigen Twiston-Davies.

Turf trivia

Russian Hero won the 1949 Grand National at odds of 66/1. He ran 27 times after that but never won again. He ran three more times in the Grand Nation falling at the first fence twice.

Nap of the day

Midnight Game

Dark Horse

De Boitron

 

Ascot

1.00

Dual point to point winner Simonsig went on to win the Champion point to point bumper at Fairyhouse in April and is regarded as a very bright prospect. He seems to be at home on any ground.

1.35 No Secrets won on heavy ground at Folkestone last season and was second under a penalty to a useful horse trained by Paul Nicholls. Although last of the finishers in the Albert Bartlett he didn’t run that badly and he is the type to make a chaser. A relentless galloper he appreciates some cut in the ground so may not have his ideal conditions. A winning hurdler in France Solix was 5^th in the Coral Cup he should be a useful recruit to the novice chasing ranks.

2.10 Cinders and Ashes has some very useful bumper form. He won twice from 5 starts and finished 5^th in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham. Tindaro, a dual winner on the flat in France shaped with promise when 3^rd over hurdles at Wetherby last month.

3.20 Cois Farraig won a Grade 2 novice chase at Newbury last season. On his return this term he unseated at the first fence at Carlisle. He doesn’t look harshly treated off a mark of 128. Ballycarney was a progressive chaser last season winning 3 times. He should be all the better for a recent run at Wincanton and will go on ground.

3.55 Featherbed Lane is probably not one of the starts of his stable but he did win over hurdles last season at Leicester and should be up to winning over fences in due course. His win at Leicester came on heavy ground. Pantxoa finished strongly in second at Sandown earlier in the month and a repeat of that performance would put him in with a good chance in this.

Haydock

12.50 Desert Cry has fair form on the flat in France he won at Sedgefield over hurdles last season. He tends to be keen and doesn’t always get home in his races.

1.55 Ackertac won twice over hurdles last season but was pulled up on his chase debut when the saddle slipped. Ran well enough last time when 2^nd of 3 at Ascot. Tornado Bob won a Cork bumper and went on to score twice over hurdles before being narrowly beaten at Ascot. He has always been regarded as a chaser in the making.

2.30 There are only 5 runners in this but none can be safely ruled out. We have 3 runners from the flat making their hurdles debut, a recent winner form the all conquering Paul Nicholls yard and one from the Henderson stable with a win under his belt already this month. Our Joe Mac rated 101 on the flat won a competitive York handicap and if he stays and jumps could go well over timber. On the flat he was at his bet with cut in the ground. War Poet won twice over 12 furlongs at Thirsk while Butler was a winner at Ripon over 10 furlongs. Plenty Pocket won at Kempton last month but I prefer Molotof who was a very impressive winner at Wincanton last time.

3.05 Super Duty won well, at Carlisle on his hurdles debut after taking a bumper at Bangor last season.

3.40 Runner up at Fontwell last month Eligible can go one better here.

Nap of the day

Molotof

Dark horse

Cois Farraig

From the archives

There are a couple of important hurdle races over the weekend. The Ascot Hurdle and the Morgiana at Punchestown. Hardy Eustace (Pictured below) won both these events during his career.

Picture courtesy of the artist Sarah Aspinall

He was a surprise winner at Punchestown in 2008 coming in at 14/1 in a 4 runner race with Sizing Europe 2^nd. This was actually the last win of his career. He won the Ascot race in 2007 and 2008. He won 14 times in all in an illustrious career taking the Champion Hurdle twice.

Turf trivia

Wyndburgh holds a unique record. He is the only horse to have finished 2^nd in the Grand National 3 times without also winning the race. He ran in the National 6 times in all and was runner up in 1957, 1958 and 1962.

 

I am going to change my selection for one of the races this afternoon. Moonlight Drive seems to carry some confidence in the 1.50 at Market Rasen.

 

My main fancies are highlighted in bold – other horses mentioned are well worth considering and should be treated as dangers to the main selection.

Hereford

2.30 Get it On has had 3 runs over fences with form figures that read 212. He was a consistent hurdler and seems to act on any ground. Invictus, a former point to point winner, won over hurdles at Ascot at the end of last season. I think he could go well over fences this season.

4.00 After a promising run when 2^nd at Market Rasen Awesome Bella rather disappointed when only 5^th at Aintree. On the form shown on her first run she would have a good chance in this.

Market Rasen

12.45 Sertao ran twice in bumpers at Market Rasen finishing 2^nd in February and winning the following month. By the same sire as Grand National winner Mon Mome he is well regarded by his trainer and looks a nice prospect.

1.50 Storming Gale won on his hurdles bow at Ffos Las beating a horse that promptly ran up a hat trick. Despite failing to build on that success Storming Gale, a former winning pointer, can pick up the winning thread now that he tackles fences.

Wincanton

2.10 There are some interesting types in this novice hurdle. Kumasi Clan put in a very promising effort when third on his hurdles debut at Kempton last month. He should come on a bundle for that run. Rolling Aces is well regarded by Paul Nicholls. He has good form in point to points having won at Lismore. Nicholls won the race with Denman a few years back.

Thurles

1.45 King Vuvuzela was an impressive bumper winner at Punchestown at the festival last season. He pulled too hard when 5^th on his hurdles debut at Cork but looks a decent prospect.

Nap of the day

Invictus