Category: Racing diary

 

The following horses from my list to follow are entered tomorrow.

Fontwell 1.20 Moscow Catch

Fontwell 4.20  Valdas Queen

Warwick 2.40 Oh Crick & Ring the Boss

 

The following runners from my list to follow are entered tomorrow.

King Brex – 1.40 Huntingdon

Van Galen – Huntingdon 2.10

Lester Leaps in – Huntingdon 2.40

Max Bygraves – Huntingdon 4.10

 

The following runners from my list to follow are entered tomorrow.

Leicester 1.10 – The Old Pretender

Leicester 2.40 Mewstone

 

It was good to see Woodlands Genpower win at Towcester today, recording his first success for fully 4 years. He has had various health and injury problems but was a decent horse a few years back. Jack Doyle was the winning jockey. He is enjoying a good season.

The only jumps action tomorrow comes from Hereford as the meeting at Lingfield has been abandoned.

There is a competitive handicap hurdle there at 2.50 with a few chasers reverting to the smaller obstacles. Nudge and Nurdle was one that caught my eye but he comes from a stable that is in the middle of a rather barren run. For my selection I will try Nadover who has a chase rating much higher than his hurdles mark.

The 3.50 looks to be between Annie’s Answer and Cornerback. The pair are difficult to split but if pushed I would go with Cornerback. She is very well bred and should have benefitted from her run over fences at Huntingdon last month.

Charlie Mann saddles an interesting runner in the 4.20 in Dorothy’s Friend. Off the track for 880 days this 9 year old was a decent staying handicapper on the flat winning 3 times at Ascot over 2 miles. He was best on a sound surface in his flat days. Kingston Lane had winning form in bumpers but has been disappointing over hurdles. He has a first time tongue strap which may make a difference.

Today’s picture of Hereford racecourse is courtesy of Ruth S Harris.

I had an excellent day today with 6 winners from my list to follow plus a few seconds and other winning tips.

There are a few runners from my list running tomorrow. At Market Rasen Special Envoy runs in the novice chase at 2.30. On hurdles form he would have a very good chance but he didn’t jump well on his chase debut and his stable are not in form.

Overbranch was a bit disappointing last time out at6 Huntingdon and I wouldn’t be too confident about her chances in the 3.00.

At Towcester recent Folkestone winner Circus of Dreams is my selection in the 3.10 where the stiff track should suit while in the 3.40 Pancake and Sir Peter look the two to concentrate on. Pancake has been running quite well in better company but might find this stretches his stamina. I will take a chance on Sir Peter who appeals as a likely chaser and should be better for a run at Hereford last month.

Carrickmines is my each way selection in the 4.10.

My best bet at Fairyhouse is Horner Woods in the 2.35.

My thanks to Kate Tann for allowing me to use her photo of Towcester racecourse.

 

I am going to start tonight’s preview at Ascot where the card kicks off with a handicap hurdle at 1.05. Serabad is worthy of consideration despite the fact that he has gone up 9 lbs since his win at Aintree in November. He gets on well with tomorrow’s pilot Paddy Brennan and he is one for the short list. Lough Derg is only 2 lbs higher than when winning this race last season. He comes into the race in good form having won at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day in gutsy fashion and he is another worth a close look. Of the rest I like Working Title who should appreciate both the ground and the trip and Lead On. Lough Derg gets the selection with Lead On perhaps worth a few coins each way.

The 1.40 looks to be between Free World and Calgary Bay. I have been a fan of Calgary Bay ever since IO saw him on his debut in a Ludlow bumper. I was going to tip him but Paul Nicholls is so bullish about the chances of Free World that I am going to give him the selection.

Master Minded (pictured below) is

is

impossible to oppose in the 2.15 but will be long odds on. In the 3.25 I am going for a bit of an outsider in the mare Miss Mitch. A decent hurdler she has taken some time to get the hang of fences but posted her best effort to date behind Gwanako over course and distance before Christmas.

Henrietta Knight has struggled a bit since the heady days of Best Mate, Edredon Bleu and Impek but has a couple of promising sorts in her yard now. I have already mentioned Calgary Bay, and another interesting prospect is Somersby. He won a novice hurdle at Kempton in taking fashion in November and although chasing will be his ultimate aim he should continue to run well over hurdles. He goes in the 3.55 tomorrow and at 10/1 looks to have an each way chance.

At Haydock Snap Tie would be my first choice in the Champion Hurdle Trial at 1.20. The ground may not be to his liking though and he probably wouldn’t run in testing conditions. With Charlie Longsden’s horses finding some form Songe could be interesting. He was 4^th in the Triumph last season and ran well in a big handicap at Ascot on his latest start.

In the Peter Marsh handicap at 1.55 I am going for one at either end of the weights. Top weight Cloudy Lane has won 4 times at Haydock and is creeping down the ratings. Kandjar D’Allier runs off a featherweight and is a dual course and distance winner. Both jump and stay well and should give us a run for our money.

Mahonia was a little disappointing on his last run but that was Ruby Walsh’s first ride back after having a splenectomy which might have been a factor; Mahonia was fancied for the Tolworth which fell victim to the weather and he has been re-routed to the 2.25. He should go well. Son of Flicka is the other runner from my list to follow in this race but he has quite a bit to find with some of his rivals on official ratings.

In the 3.00 4 of the 8 runners are from my list to follow but may have to give best to Massini’s Maguire who looks a big threat. Looking at the runners from my list Tartak was 3^rd to Calgary Bay at Cheltenham and it will be interesting to see if that horse franks the form earlier in the afternoon. Naiad de Misselot has been a big disappointment over fences so far but If he were to find the same level of form that he showed over hurdles last season he would be a contender. I am going to take a chance on a couple of recent winners each way in this. Wind Instrument and Auroras Encore. Massini’s Maguire will be difficult to beat though.

Sue Smith saddles 3 in the 3.35 and I have a feeling that Coe could be the best of them. At 8/1 he gets my each way selection. Another that could go well at a fair price is Iwillrememberyou.

I am going to stick with the same trainer in the 4.10. Cloudy Times, a dual bumper winner showed plenty of promise on his hurdles bow when runner up over course and distance and he is the selection.

I am going to try a couple of outsiders in the 2.05 at Wincanton. James Fanshhawe doesn’t run that many over the jumps but when he does they are worth noting. He has booked a useful claimer on his 6 year old Kingscape tomorrow. The well bred Sangfroid comes from a stable that is running into some better form and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him leave the form of some of his recent runs behind.

In the 3.10 Lordsbridge and Vodka Brook represent my list to follow. The former has been expensive to follow this season and I am going to give him a chance by not tipping him! Vodka Brook perhaps has a bit of a squeak but I don’t have enough confidence to tip him.

Nicto de Beauchene was a winner over course and distance last time out. This was an improved display and I am going to stick with this full brother to a Welsh National winner in the 3.45.

At Naas I fancy Shirley Casper in the 1.00 with Limestone Cowboy the danger while in the 1.30 Cousin Vinny looks to have a winning opportunity.

Today’s pictures are by courtesy of Kate Tann.

I hope you find some winners.

 

Not a bad day on the tipping front today with a couple of winners at Ludlow. Cornas put in a god round of jumping on his chase debut and although he started at 7/1 14s were available in the morning. There are 4 runners from my list to follow in action tomorrow.

Starting at Catterick, Argento Luna runs in the 1.40. She has her quirks and was reluctant to start on her first run of the season but she is yet to be out of the first 2 over hurdles and gets the selection.

In the 2.45 I have Honest John and Gee Dee Nen. Honest John should appreciate this trip and is very much in with a shout but I slightly prefer Gee Dee Nen a winner of 6 races on the flat, 4 of them over two miles.

At Chepstow the 1.30 looks a winning opportunity for King Fontaine. Elsewhere on the card Dontpaytheferryman looks the one to beat in the 2.00.

Today’s picture is by kind permission of the artist Alison Wilson.

Bye for now

 

 

Racing tomorrow over the jumps comes from Ludlow and Taunton.

Starting at the Shropshire course I see that Nick Williams gives Cornas his chase debut in the 1.40. The horse has looked capable of landing a decent handicap hurdle prize so it is interesting that connections are taking the chase route.

Dancingwithbubbles is my selection in the 3.40. She was second to Carole’s Legacy over course and distance last month and that form looks solid.

Big Eared Fran was travelling well at Cheltenham with falling 3 out on his last start. He should go well in the 2.50 at Taunton.

 

 

Planet of Sound is a horse that impressed me last season over hurdles. His course and distance win over fences at Christmas gives him an excellent chance in the Newbury 1.20 tomorrow. There are others with chances. Much was expected from Greenbridge this season but so far his performances have fallen short of expectations. There may be more to come however. James Fanshawe does not waste his ammunition with his jumpers and Song of Songs warrants respect, particularly given the eye catching jockey booking of AP McCoy. Cheating Chance has done well for this web site already this season with a couple of wins and he is not out of it. Planet of Sound is the selection.

In the 1.55 Cockney Trucker, Mad Max and Shoreacres all have claims. The giant Mad Max is an embryo chaser but may well be a cut above the average and it is not difficult to see him winning this. 11/8 looks a bit short and although the likely winner he does not look great value.

Jaunty Flight was a most progressive mare over hurdles last season and looks the type to make a chaser. She would be my selection in the 3.35.

Turning to the Newcastle card Nine de Sivola has by far the best form in the race but has been very expensive to follow as he always seems to find one too good for him. He seemed to struggle at Sandown last time out and was pulled up so I think I will opt for a watching brief tomorrow.

In the 1.30 On Raglan Road will be a warm order from the Howard Johnson yard. He looks a worthy favourite with the best alternative being Grizebeck who was given rather a negative ride on his last start and may be capable of better.

The lightly raced The Whisperer is a horse with plenty of ability and he could be the answer in the 2.05.

For the 2.40 I am going to take a chance with a couple of outsiders in Quaddick Lane and Solid Silver

Jorveybrook represents my list to follow in the 3.40 but the trip looks a bit on the short side for him.

Today’s picture is by courtesy of the artist Lisa Miller.

Good luck.

 

Cruising River went on my list to follow as I hoped that first season trainer Jamie Snowden might get a tune out of him.

That has not happened so far, in fact the stable are yet to hit any sort of form.  The horse is well handicapped though and has won at this time of year before.  He runs in the Folkestone 3.20 tomorrow.