Category: Racing diary

 

Monday selection – Rate of Knots in the 3.05 at Stratford.

Just the one selection for Sunday.  Rare Bob in the 4.00 at Naas.

Although there are 4 jumps meetings tomorrow the cards have something of a pre Cheltenham look about them.

At Doncaster the recent Towcester winner Pearlysteps should run well in the 2.55. Sadly with only 7 runners the each way option is unattractive. Ballybriggan is the other one I would consider in this although the form of the stable would be a slight concern. Coe and Cloudy Lane are old friends in the 3.25. Coe looks a fair each way bet at 14/1. The trip should suit him. Old Mister McGoldrick should put up a bold show in the 5.10.

Up at Kelso I am quite keen on the chances of Turbo Island in the 2.30 and SA Suffit in the 3.35.

At Newbury Henry King comes from a stable in quite good form and if he runs to his best should go close in the 2.05. In the 2.35 Gone to Lunch has come down the weights a bit but recent form has not been encouraging, while in the 4.20 it will be interesting to see how Aiteen thirtythree performs. Highly regarded at the Paul Nicholls yard he is yet to live up to his reputation. Could come good tomorrow though.

Picture courtesy of Sarah Clegg.

 

After a bit of a barren spell I was glad to get back to winning ways at Taunton today with 2 winners from 2 selections.  Vodka Brook is not over big for jumping fences but he has a fair level of ability and I feel he would still have won today even if his main rival in the race had not crashed out at the last.

King’s Legacy was having his first run since winning a bumper at Kempton over a year ago and is going the right way.  He collared the long time leader Sir Kezbaah on the run in.  The runner up was given a good ride by Edward Glassonbury. It was a good day for the Glassonbury family as Edward’s older brother Andrew won on Carrickmines at Ludlow.

Hopefully we can keep the winners flowing.  At Doncaster tomorrow I fancy Alelgralil in the 3.10 and Alan Swinbank’s runner Royal Swain in the bumper at 5.25.

Miss Sarenne has disappointed over fences but should appreciate a return to the smaller obstacles in the Newbury 4.30.

Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Sarah Clegg.

 

Selections for Thursday, both at Taunton.

2.20 Vodka Brook; 4.50 King’s Legacy

 

 

Madam Mado is my best bet tomorrow. She runs in the 2.20 at Bangor rather than 5 other engagements this week.

Lord Larsson was going well when falling at Newcastle and if his jumping holds up he could go close in the 2.50.

Another that has had jumping problems is Qualypso D’Allier. He is well handicapped though if he can put in a clear round in the 4.50.

Lastly, The Real Deal has an each way chance in the 4.20. He was 4^th in a better race at Newbury on his last run and is well handicapped.

Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Katy Sodeau.

 

Just the one selection tomorrow – Bench Warrant in the 3.50 at Leicester.

 

Selections for Sunday:

Leopardstown

2.15 Kandari; 2.45 Jaffonnien; 4.20 Tranquil Sea.

Fontwell 2.30 Vamizi ; 3.00 Herecomesthetruth ; 3.35 Qozak

Towcester 3.10 Qualypso D’Allier

 

Sadly Newcastle’s Eider meeting has already fallen by the wayside but hopefully Kempton will go ahead. The big betting race at Kempton is the Racing Post Chase at 3.05. Last season’s winner Nacarat lines up again and with Tony McCoy on board will no doubt have his supporters. He is 11 lbs higher in the weights than last year but comes here on the back of a 4^th to Kauto Star in the King George. He did have a very hard race that day and that might be a factor against him. Madison Du Berlais was second in the King George and is a course and distance winner. In a race that has favoured those at the higher end of the weights Nacarat and Madison Du Berlais both look worth serious consideration. Philip Hobbs has a good record in the race and he saddles Private Be who has been runner up in 4 of his last 5 starts. He actually beat Nacarat back in December 2008 off level weights and now gets a load of weight from that rival. He seems to act on any ground and is interesting. Atouchbetweenacara is the other one that I quite like. He has returned to Venetia Williams’ yard after a spell with Tim Vaughan. He beat Private Be by 24 lengths at Cheltenham at the end of last season and although worse off at the weights that performance puts him in with a chance. As always this is a tough looking handicap but with the first time blinkers on I will take Madison Du Berlais to give David Pipe another big race win.

Punjabi is yet to win since his success in the Champion Hurdle. He has his Festival prep run in the 1.00 where he will be long odds on.

The 1.30 is more of a betting proposition. Numide looks quite attractively weighted while the consistent Clova Island is another I like the look of.

The 2.00 is quite an open race. Vino Griego won in heavy ground at Wincanton and given the right conditions he would be dangerous. Frascati Park on the other hand would prefer a better surface. If the ground is soft or worse I will go with Vino Griego otherwise Frascati Park is the selection.

The Nightingale will be hot favourite in the 2.30 but after only 1 chase start behind him the price looks to skinny and I would be looking to take him on with either Red Admiral or Viking Rebel. The latter is slowly coming back to form after a long absence and he gets the nod.

Mille Chief should be too good for the opposition in the 3.40.

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

Court in Motion was an unlucky loser at Exeter and can gain compensation in the 2.10 at Warwick.  Sandynow is a course winner and should appreciate the conditions and could be worth a small each way saver in the same race.