Category: Racing diary

 

We didn’t have much luck today with Frankie Figg brought down after being hampered by a loose horse and Lush Life being given no chance by the starter.

The big race tomorrow is the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown where the English raiders Money Trix and Pride of Dulcote ate well fancied. Money Trix is yet to win at the track but has been second twice. He acts on soft ground and has finished first or second in 12 of his 14 career starts. Pride of Dulcote is an improving horse and held in high regard by connections. He has won both his starts over fences, the first an egg and spoon race and the second his defeat of Punchestowns in the fog at Newbury. He needs to step up on that form to take a hand in this but he may well be open to substantial improvement. He does lack experience though and at the odds Money Trix looks the better value.

In the UK Hunterview is my main hope. He runs in the 3.35 at Musselburgh. Premier Grand Cru could be an interesting outsider in the same race. He is trained by James Ewart who also saddles Vosges who could repay each way support in the 2.30.

Picture courtesy of the artist Sue Malkin.

 

Oscar Whisky and Binocular should have no trouble in winning their races today at Ffos Las and Sandown respectively but neither will be at a backable price so we need to look for value elsewhere.

At Ffos Las Sprinter Sacre should win the opener at 1.30 but he will also be at cramped odd. The handicap chase at 3.10 looks more competitive though. It is tempting to go for Dom D’Orgeval off a feather weight but the pair I prefer are Maktu and Adams Island. The former ran well for a long way in the Welsh National and runs here off the same handicap mark. Adams Island finished 3 rd to Wymott at Exeter and that form received a boost today. He then beat Mostly Bob at Doncaster and that horse has also gone on to win since. Adams Island is a thorough stayer and his jumping is improving.

Iron Chancellor was only beaten a nose at Ffos Las at Christman and returns over a longer trip which should suit him for the 4.15. Valley Lad only had to be pushed out to win a Ffos Las bumper in November and can defy a penalty back at the Welsh track in the 4.50.

At Sandown Professeur Emery , Magic Prospect and Terra Bleu all make some appeal. If pushed for a single selection it would be Professeur Emery.

A case could be made for most of the runners in the 2.25. Captain Chris has finished runner up on all his 3 starts this season. He has plenty of ability though and should find both track and going to his liking here. Reve de Sivola has an engine and an excellent attitude but is sometimes let down by his jumping. The form of his win at Cheltenham has since been given a boost and he is a serious contender. Medermit was the best of these over hurdles and has won 2 of his 3 starts over fences with the other run a refusal. The bold jumping Mr Gardner and dual chase winner Rock Noir are others to consider in a fascinating renewal. None of these could be ruled out but at RP odds of 12/1 Reve de Sivola looks the value.

In the 3.00 8/1 about Lush Life looks interesting. He has only been raised 5 lbs for his win at Cheltenham and I feel that puts him in with an each way chance. The going will suit Noble Alan in the 4.05 while Regal Approach has dropped down to his last winning mark in the 4.40.

Wild Rhubarb put in an eye catching effort when 4^th on her hurdling debut. She is out of Diamont Noir a multiple winner herself and could run well at a big price in the Wetherby 1.40. Frankie Figg did us a favour when winning the Grand Sefton over the National fences and should again give us a run for our money in the 2.10.

Wayward Prince is hard to oppose in the 3.15 but both On His Own and Captain Americo are quite capable of profiting should the favourite fail to fire.

Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Jane Dunn.

Just a couple of additional thoughts about today’s racing. Our Father might give my original selection a run for its money in the Chepstow while at Bangor Whoops a Daisy should continue Nicky Henderson’s good run of form in the 1.55.

 

Mister Stickler gave us a 4/1 winner today beating an odds on favourite.

Cambridgeshire winner Credit Swop looks the one to be on in the Bangor 1.25 tomorrow. Already a winner over hurdles he seems to handle any ground.

The 3.30 is a tricky 3 horse race. Rackham Lerouge. A half brother to Punchestowns he won over fences at the second time of asking when defying short odds at Towcester. The step up in trip may well bring out further improvement in him and he has won at the track over hurdles. Wymott is unbeaten in two runs over fences and the form of those races has worked out really well. A course and distance winner he is a good jumper and gets my vote here.

At Catterick the imposing looking Mac Aeda can come good in the 2.45. Humbie is an interesting runner in the 3.50. From the family of Denman he runs here over what looks like an inadequate trip. He may be one to look out for in handicaps later in the season.

At Chepstow I am going for a couple of outsiders. Gorgehous Lliege (ew 1.30) and Gus Macrae (2.35)

Picture courtesy of the artist Karen Davies

 

At Towcester tomorrow Ayemdee could be a value bet in the 3.10 at around 10/1. He has been dropping down the weights, is a course winner that acts on the prevailing going and showed some signs of a return to form on his most recent run.

Again looking for value Mister Stickler could eb the one to benefit should the odds on favourite slip up in the Wincanton 2.50.

Former Welsh National winner Halcon Generlardais is my selection in the hunter chase at 4.20.

 

Selections for Monday

Ayr 1.45 Ballabriggs

Ludlow 1.55 Buck Mulligan

3.40 Gus Macrae

4.10 Zafranagar

 

Mostly Bob gave us a 3/1 winner (he opened at 7/2) today but otherwise I am afraid my selections were mostly well beaten. I was interested to see Whispering Death win at Doncaster. Named after the West Indian fast bowler Michael Holding he was winning for the first time over hurdles and no doubt benefitted from the fast ground as his 5 wins on the flat were primarily gained on quick going.

There are meetings at Cheltenham, Doncaster and Uttoxeter tomorrow but all 3 are due morning inspections as temperatures are set to drop sharply up and down the country.

In the 2.00 at Cheltenham The Sawyer is an interesting runner as 6 of his 8 career wins have come in January (the other two were in March) so he clearly comes to hand at this time of year. He is also a course and distance winner so the temptation to go for him at odds of 20/1 is certainly persuasive. A more conservative bet might be Wishfull Thinking who jumped well when second here earlier in the season and has more potential for improvement than many of his rivals.

Grand Crus has won both his races in impressive style this season, he is a course winner and has only once been out of the first two when ridden by Tom Scudamore. He looks one for any shortlist in the Clkeeve Hurdle at 3.35. Spirit River reverts to hurdles after twice falling over fences. He has plenty of ability as shown when winning twice at Cheltenham last season including the Coral Cup. Another to consider is Bensalem who is having his first run since finishing runner up in a Grade 1 hurdle at Punchestown last April. Restless Harry is another with a squeak but for my selection I will side with Grand Crus.

Bob’s Worth has won his last 3 starts and should go well in the 3.05 where the consistent Ohio Gold looks over priced at 40/1. Vino Griego is a horse I had high hopes for at the start of the season but he has failed to live up to expectations over fences. He last run though was his best so far and he could go well at a generous price in the 1.30.

There is a huge field for the 12.40 at Doncaster. I quite like a couple at the top of the weights. The ex French Premier Grand Cru is a winner at Deauville on the flat and at Pau over hurdles while Ballybriggan has “won” twice over hurdles although on the first occasion he was disqualified after testing positive for a banned substance. Alegralil should be too good for the opposition in the 1.15.

William’s Wishes is on a hat trick and will appreciate the ground in the 1.45 while Pepo Simo and Noble Alan are my two against the field in the 2.15.

Buck Mulligan is an improving sort that handles any ground and looks value in the 2.45.

The Sky Bet Chase at 3.20 looks pretty open. In the last 9 years only 2 winners have started at more than 9/1 and no winner has carried more than 11 stone 2. If you use those stats to narrow down the field only Wogan and Fistral Beach remain! Others to consider at bigger price are Chief Dan George although he will need to defy a mark higher that his previous highest winning rating and Door Boy who comes from the same stable as Whispering Death.

Evella pootled over the Market Rasen fences the other week to record a nice win at 14/1. That came after a dismal row of Ps in her form figures and now that she has won it may be worth sticking with her in the 1.35 at Uttoxeter. Royal Chatelier is closely related to Impek and although no superstar he might be able to win off his current low mark in the 4.20.

Today’s pictures are courtesy of the artist Lisa Miller.

Have a good weekend.

 

Rangitoto, the selection from last night’s preview was second beaten half a length at 4/1 in a maiden hurdle at Ffos Las. This former point to point winner should not be too long in getting off the mark over hurdles. Another ex points winner Storming Gale won the other division of the maiden hurdle and like Rangitoto is certainly one to watch.

Nicky Henderson continues in great form and his pair of Brunston (1.55) and Cavite Beta (4.15) are expected to go well at Doncaster tomorrow where Mostly Bob finished well over course and distance earlier this month and should go close in the 2.30.

Just the one selection for Thursday, Rangitoto in the Ffos Las 1.50. A winner of his sole start in a point to point he could be a future star.

 

Huntingdon 1.15 Spanish Treasure

1.45 Somewhatinevitable

2.45 Arctic Court