Category: Racing diary

 

The Henderson and Nicholls teams go head to head in a number of races tomorrow. In the Ascot 1.50 they are represented by Master of the Hall and The Minack respectively. On form there is nothing to choose between these two exciting prospects. At the odds I marginally prefer Master of the Hall with Barry Geraghty in the saddle.

The 3.00 could turn into another Henderson v Nicholls match with the protagonists this time Riverside Theatre and Pride of Dulcote. If Riverside Theatre can reproduce the form of his second to Long Run in the King George he should have the edge.

My two against the field in the 3.35 are Like Minded and Frascati Park. The highly rated Sprinter Sacre will be hard to beat in the 4.05 but he will start at very cramped odds and it might just be worth taking him on with the well bred and unexposed Polisky.

Alan King’s West End Rocker is on a hat trick and sets the standard in the 3.20 at Haydock where a small each way saver on Le Beau Bai could pay dividends. He is well handicapped on his best form.

I expect Court in Motion (2.10) and Bensalem (2.45) to go well while at bigger odds Merrydown is one I like in the 3.55.

It is always worth noting the rides that AP McCoy has for Paul Nicholls and the unexposed Carlicue is of interest in the Wincanton 2.35. There are only 5 runners in the 3.45 but it is a fascinating contest nonetheless. Overturn was an excellent second to Binocular in the Christmas Hurdle and Wincanton should suit his style of running. He would not want too much rain though. Ronaldo Des Mottes was runner up in the Totesport Trophy last season and returns here after a 302 day absence. I wouldn’t rule this one out but I think Mille Chief, so impressive when winning at Sandown last time is the one to be on.

Picture courtesy of Sarah Clegg

 

I have been going through a decent spell lately and that continued today with a 33/1 winner in Merango Bay. Tomorrow’s racing looks difficult with a mixture of short priced favourites and nigh on impossible handicaps but we will see if we can dig out a winner or two.

Newbury stages the rescheduled Totesport Trophy where there are any number with chances. Salden Licht won at Exeter on New Year’s Day and the third that day, Hunterview has won well since, franking the form. Salden Licht has gone up 10 lbs in the rating since that win though. He is a course and distance winner and has to be on the short list. Bothy was runner up to Menorah in the Greatwood, albeit getting tons of weight. There is the suspicion that he has been aimed at this for a while. The ground (soft) should suit. Get me out of here, winner of the race last season is one that could leave his moderate form this season behind while Notus de la Tour would come into the picture on testing ground.

The 3 I like most are Rebel Dancer, Soldatino and Recession Proof. Rebel Dancer was runner up in the Gerry Fielden Hurdle over course and distance in November where he was beaten by the useful Tocca Ferro. The 5^th horse that day has won since. Rebel Dancer seems to handle any ground and is on the upgrade. Soldatino comes from the all conquering Nicky Henderson stable and has very strong form having won the Triumph Hurdle last season. Recession Proof is lightly raced and has won 2 of his 3 starts over hurdles. He also has plenty of race experience from his days on the flat.

The remainder of the Newbury card makes little appeal from a betting angle. What a Friend and French Opera should win their races as should Aiteen Thirtythree although Glenwood Knight and Tarablaze are no mugs.

At Sandown Megastar looks the likely winner of the 3.55 but the odds will be skinny.

 

The main interest in tomorrow’s racing will be the appearance of Cheltenham hopeful Peddler’s Cross at Kelso. He will be long odds on though and from a betting perspective the following may be more attractive.

Ffos Las 2.00 Maringo Bay

Kelos 1.40 Priceless Art

Kelso 3.15 Thumbs Up

 

Locked Inthepocket won for us over the weekend and should follow up under a penalty tomorrow in the Musselburgh 4.20.

 

We had 3 winners from 6 selections today including Royal Chatelier at 11/2 so not a bad strike rate.

My main hopes tomorrow are both at Catterick, Mac Aeda in the 2.20 and De Boitron in the 4.20.

 

I was looking forward to racing at Newbury this afternoon but it turned into a dark day for racing as two horses were killed in a bizarre incident before the first race. To make matters worse two horses lost their lives in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown – a race that was televised on C4. I was particularly sad to see Money Trix suffer a fatal accident.

Tomorrow there is racing from Exeter and Hereford. Spirit Son and Cedre Bleu look set to dominate the 2.40. Both are ex French horses and their future lies in a career over fences. Both are worth keeping an eye on but on this occasion Spirit Son, winner of a listed hurdle in France looks the likely winner.

Definity missed last season through injury but has progressed well since returning to the track. After finishing 4^th to the useful Wymott he won at Fontwell at the end of January. He runs in the 3.10 where his main rival looks to be The Sliotar.

At Hereford the forecast heavy rain will suit Royal Chatelier in the 2.00. Fleur de Vassy was going well at Towcester last time before running out of steam in the closing stages. She runs over a shorter trip in the 2.30 tomorrow and will be ridden by a conditional jockey who can take some weight off her back.

Morgan’s Bay has looked the part in a couple of bumper races and makes his hurdles bow in the 3.00. Triple bumper winner Mizzurka should go close in the 3.30.

My thanks to Ruth S Harris for today’s photo taken at Hereford racecourse.

 

The main meeting tomorrow is at Newbury where the main betting race is the Totesport Trophy at 3.35. As you would expect with this sort of race there are plenty with chances and I will run through a few names to note.

Salden Licht is joint top weight. He was an easy winner at Exeter on New Year’s Day. Although he has gone up 10 lbs for that success the form looks solid as the third horse, Hunterview, has since won a valuable handicap at Musselburgh. He is a course winner and has winning form on both soft and good going. Recession Proof has won two of his three starts over hurdles and on his most recent outing won a jumpers flat race at Southwell. Tarkari ran a blinder last week to finish 3^rd in the Welsh Champion Hurdle and if none the worse for his exertions there he is one for the shortlist.

Get me out of here won this race last season off a mark of 135. He is now rated 150 and has not shown much sparkle this season, possibly due to niggling injuries. At his best he would be in with a chance. Bothy was runner up in the Greatwood Hurdle in November and has gone up 9 lbs for that. A tenacious battler he could run well although there is a suspicion that he is best suited by soft ground.

Notus de la Tour was well backed at Ascot the other week but could only finish 4^th. He is obviously well thought of by connections and could just be well treated off his current mark. Triumph Hurdle winner Soldatino will be all the better for his run at Ascot last month and runs over what is probably his optimum trip. At the odds my two against the field would be Soldatino and Recession Proof.

The Newbury card opens with the 1.20 where Oasis Knight, rated 104 on the flat, makes his hurdles bow. He is an interesting newcomer but is up against Al Ferof and Kid Cassidy here that both have solid hurdles form. My slight preference is for Al Ferof but the race is not really much of a betting proposition.

Riverside Theatre was second to Long Run in the King George and that form looks good enough to win the 2.25. He has run well on his previous visits to Newbury winning 2 of his 4 races there. What a Friend looks the main danger. The 4.05 is quite a tricky 3 horse race. Aiteen Thirtythree is just preferred to Tarablaze.

At Warwick Finian’s Rainbow should win the 2.40 but his odds will be short while Cannington Brook and Alfie Sherrin look the pair to concentrate on in the 3.45.

At Leopardstown Quel Esprit looks the value in the 1.45 while the consistent Money Trix should run well on his favoured testing ground in the 3.15.

Ayr selections; 1.50 Arctic Court; 2.50 Locked Inthepocket; 3.20 Quicuyo.

Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Margaret Barrett.

Good luck.

 

Selections for Friday

Huntingdon 2.35 Sweet Irony

Musselburgh 4.40 Aikman

 

There isn’t much to go at tomorrow but 3 of the races at Huntingdon have possibilities.

If the forecast heavy rain changes the going sufficiently then Sandynow would come into the reckoning in the 2.40. A Media Luz was placed in Group company on the flat in France and should be up to winning the 3.10 albeit at cramped odds.

Grenstone Trail only won a 5 runner affair at Ffos Las but seems well thought of by her trainer and has an each way chance in the bumper at 4.40.

 

Selections for Monday

Ayr 2.45 Humbie

Lingfield 2.05 Vino Griego

Lingfield 3.10 Topless