Category: Racing diary

The steady trickle of winners continued today thanks to Quaddick Lake (9/1) and Rockiteer. There are 3 UK jumps meetings tomorrow to go at with interesting runners at each of the venues.

Hello Moscow gave Tony McCoy his 2,999^th winner at Plumpton and the pair are reunited in the Towcester 3.55 where they have an each way chance at around 7/1.

I have been following Pterodactyl all season without success. I will stick with him in the 4.30 as he is sure to win if I desert him.

The well bred Cornerback won at Kelso earlier in the month and if in the same form in the Carlisle 2.25 will take all the beating.

Auroras Encore looks the form pick in the 3.00. I have a sneaking feeling that we haven’t yet seen the best of the fragile Breakwater House who could be worth a small saver in this race.

Open de L’Isle has been running quite well without winning. He is stepped up in trip in the 4.10 which should suit him. Marleybow has been given a chance by the handicapper and has the talent to pose a threat if he doesn’t waste his energy by pulling too hard in the early stages.

At Hereford I am quite interested in Prairie Spirit in the 2.35. He was a winner 5 times on the flat in France.

Paul Nicholls has his share of beaten favourites, with the 1/10 Conflictofinterest a case in point the other day. Rippling Ring, who makes his chase debut in the 3.45 was himself beaten when 8/15 at Aintree at the start of the season. It will be interesting to see how he fares on his chase debut in modest company but he is clearly not a betting proposition.

In the 5.35 Persian Gates has an each way squeak.

At Southwell The Tatling goes for his 15^th career win at the ripe old age of 12 in the 3.30. He goes well at the track and looks the one to beat.

My thanks to Kate Tann for the photo of Towcester racecourse.

The picture of the Tatling is by kind permission of the artist Lisa Miller (see links)

Small fields are the order of the day at Taunton tomorrow where the ground is likely to be on the fast side.

In the 3.00 I am inclined to oppose the Paul Nicholls trained favourite with either Rockiteer or Schindler’s Son. Rockiteer comes into the race on the back of a win at Huntingdon a few weeks ago. The runner up in that race was 3^rd behind First Avenue at Plumpton yesterday so the form looks solid enough. Schindler’s Son has not run since he was pulled up at Market Rasen in July. A winner at Uttoxeter last May he finished 8^th behind Blue Bajan in the very competitive Swinton Hurdle at Haydock. He has twice been pulled up when running on soft ground which makes me think the prevailing conditions at present should suit him.

Peter Pole hacked up at Southwell today and if running again in the 3.30 he will be hard to beat.

Both Winsley Hill’s wins have come on good to firm ground. She rarely runs a bad race and with the very capable Felix de Giles booked to ride she should go well in the 4.00.

David Pipe had a couple of winners yesterday which bodes well for his runners tomorrow. Both Quaddick Lake (4.30) and The Pious Prince (5.00) are worth careful consideration.

Today’s picture is by kind permission of the artist Trudy Redfern.

 

Peter Pole absolutely hacked up at Exeter on his UK debut and it seems unlikely that a 7 lbs penalty will stop him from going in again at Southwell tomorrow in the 2.15. Another horse to keep tabs on in this race is Paradise Regained who has impressed with his jumping and should have a race in him, if not tomorrow then at some stage before the end of the season.

 

Of the horses featured in last night’s preview Glencree ran with credit in second while Joker’s Legacy was a winner at long odds on.  Neither of the Irish selections ran.

Not much of interest tomorrow.  First Avenue should be up to winning over hurdles.  He goes in the Plumpton 2.30.

Today’s featured painting is by the artist Katy Sodeau (see links for more information about this artist.

Huntingdon 2.40 – Glencree was an Irish point to point winner and an expensive purchase by Andrea and Graham Wylie. He put a rules debut flop behind him when winning a maiden hurdle at Musselburgh at the end of November. He handles a sound surface and has scope for improvement.

Wincanton 4.00 – Joker’s Legacy is another that should enjoy the drying ground we have at the moment. A dual bumper winner last season, he was a winner last time out at Southwell after filling the runners up spot on his two previous runs.

My selections at Cork are Arc Bleu (3.35) and Nicanor (4.05).

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

 

The jumps season always reaches something of a hiatus around now, in between the big meetings at Cheltenham and Aintree.

There are interesting cards at Haydock and Newbury though as well as meetings at Bangor and Stratford.

I will start up at Haydock where there is a fascinating “fixed brush” handicap hurdle at 3.45. The Philip Hobbs trained Prince Taime is likely to be popular for this. He looks a bit of an edgy character but he has some decent form, not least his last run when 3^rd in the Imperial Cup at Sandown a fortnight ago. He has gone up 3 lbs for that run but has a top conditional in the plate taking off 5 lbs. He tackles 20 furlongs for the first time but has given the impression he will get the trip. He has the ground in his favour and as he is likely to go chasing next season the stiffer hurdles shouldn’t present a problem. He has plenty of positives and it is really a matter of whether a price of around 15/8 represents value.

Three worth considering at bigger prices are Mister McGoldrick, Otage de Brion and Rightway Star. Mister McGoldrick has had some impossible tasks over fences recently and may well appreciate this return to the smaller obstacles. He hasn’t won for a while though and it is possible that age may be catching up with the old warrior. Otage de Brion has been a bit disappointing over fences and reverts to the smaller obstacles. He will like the ground and Noel Fehily has been booked to ride. Rightway Star won a novice chase at Haydock in November and could be a live outsider. Prince Taime has to be the selection with an each way saver on Otage de Brion.

Daldini has done this column some favours this season. He runs in the Haydock 3.15 tomorrow and is certainly in fine form. He will need a career best if he is going to win as he has gone up in the weights and the ground may not be soft enough for him. Not without a chance but it is possible that the handicapper has caught up with him.

The runners in the 4.55 look closely matched. I tipped Or D’Oudairies when he won at Bangor last time and I will stick with him.

At Newbury there is a competitive chase handicap at 2.20. Cava Bien is unexposed and comes here in form having won at Taunton. He needs to improve again to take a hand here but may have more scope than some of his rivals. Alderburn could be over priced on ground that suits him.

I had Jaunty Flight in mind for the 2.50 but she needs plenty of cut in the ground which she seems unlikely to get.

I have a short list of 4 in the 3.30. Ravello Bay, Argento Luna, Carole’s legacy and Dancingwithbubbles all make plenty of appeal. Argento Luna is very consistent and will handle the drying ground. She looks as good as anything with the main danger perhaps coming from Ravello Bay.

It has often paid to side with Nicky Henderson’s runners this season and I will go with his Riverside Theatre in the 4.05. I thought he won well at Kempton in January.

Raysrock won for my list to follow in rather bizarre fashion on his latest start when he was the only finisher. I am not going to get too carried away with his chance in the 4.40 but now he has won a race he may be able to build on that success.

At Bangor Nirvana Swing has shown a few promising signs in his recent runs and may be about to hit form. He has possibilities in the 3.55 as has the lightly raced Money Order.

Other runners from my list to follow are; Calusa Caldera (Bangor 3.20), Great Approach (Bangor 4.30) and Bid Art (Stratford 4.00).

In the 2.35 at Lingfield Elnawin could be the answer.  The trip of 7 furlongs looks about right for his and he has shown he can handle the surface with a win at Kempton.

The Gowran Park card looks pretty tricky. Two that I thought about were Uimhiraceathair (2.30) and Smoking Aces (3.35).

Today’s pictures are courtesy of the artist Jane Dunn (see links).

 

Tomorrow at Kelso I like the look of Razor Royale and SA Suffit in the 2.50. I will give slight preference to the former who comes from an in form yard.

I have followed Daldini this season and he has repaid me with a couple of recent wins. A hike in the weights and the change in the going might spoil his chances tomorrow though.

Fistral Beach has been expensive to follow but still looks the most likely winner of the 2.40 at Newbury while there may be more to come from the course and distance winner Very Cool in the 4.00.

My only selection at Gowran Park is Arc Bleu in the 3.10.

Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Jenny Lupton.

 

The 2.50 at Ayr tomorrow looks to be between Ernst Blofeld and Steady Tiger. There is not much to choose between them but I will side with Ernst Blofled to prevail.

In the 3.25 I am inclined to give Netherley a chance against the favourite.

 

I don’t have a lot of time tonight so it is a quick look only at tomorrow’s cards.

Victor Dartnall had a winner on Saturday with Russian Trigger and I see that he saddles Sir Winston in the Chepstow 3.15. This one looks over priced at 12/1 in the RP.

At Warwick Lindeman looks to have been found a winning opportunity in the 2.20 but she is unlikely to be a betting proposition.

The 2.50 looks quite competitive but I will just take West End Rocker to get the better of Shining Gale. Gold Award has the look of as progressive sort and he gets the selection in the 3.25.

Finally in the 4.00 Ballygalley Bob has come down a few pounds in the ratings which might give him a chance at a working man’s price.

Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Katy Sodeau (see links)

 

Conflictofinterest is highly rated at the Paul Nicholls yard.  He had a wind operation after a poor first run of the season and put up a much better effort when 3rd behind trenchant at Kempton last month. Back over the same course and distance he is my selection for the 2.00 at Kempton tomorrow.

Quaddick Lake has shown very little in his 4 runs so far this season but with the David Pipe stable now in much better shape he could well put in an improved effort in the 2.40 at Exeter.

The 2008 Ballymore Properties winner Fiveforthree makes a belated return to action in the 3.35 at Wexford and is difficult to oppose.  Ruby Walsh takes the ride.  The one to chase him home may be Splurge who dead heated for 3rd at Leopardstown last month.

Today’s picture, of racing at Wexford, is by kind permission of the artist Lisa Miller.

Bye for now.