Category: Racing diary

Another couple of winners from last night’s preview so we are on something not too far removed from a winning run!

Tomorrow’s meetings are at Newbury and Bangor and I will start in Berkshire and work my way north. There is a big field for the handicap hurdle at 1.25 and it may pay to side with the Paul Nicholls runner Qozak who is in the same ownership as Denman. He won 4 times in bumpers when trained in France and is rated an exciting prospect.

Bakbenscher, Lindeman Picture this and Jokers Legacy represent my list to follow in the 3.05. They are all in with a shout but I have narrowed it down to a “two against the field” with Picture This and Lindeman.

At Bangor in the 1.45 Son of Flicka and My Moment look the two to concentrate on.

That is about it for tonight.

Today’s picture is by the artist Lisa Miller. See links for more examples of Lisa’s work.

Two selections and two winners today so a much needed good day after a bit of a lean spell.

There are 4 runners from my list to follow in action tomorrow as well as a couple of others that interest me.

In the Catterick 12.30 General Potter is the list horse. He has not really justified his inclusion thus far and his odds of around 20/1 reflect his chance.

Vivona Hill won a bumper at Wetherby last season and probably would have followed up at Sedgefield had it not been for some interference and the fact that the winner had a good 7 lbs claimer on board. I think Vivona Hill looks my best chance of a winner. He runs in the bumper at 3.30.

Circus of Dreams showed sufficient promise when 3^rd on his hurdles bow at Leicester to put him in with a shout in the 12.20 at Folkestone. He should be in the shake up.

The booking of AP McCoy on Hello Moscow in the 3.20 at Folkestone caught my eye. This former points winner was runner up in a bumper at Kilbeggan and is well regarded by his trainer.

Of the rest Yossi is a noteworthy debutant in the Circus of Dreams race. He was a bit of a monkey on the flat but sometimes a few flights of hurdles can bring out the best in a quirky horse and he does not lack ability.

Finally I like Peppertree Lane in the Catterick 1.30. This 5 year old won 9 times on the flat including a couple of heritage handicaps and a Group 3 at The Curragh. He was 5^th in a competitive race at Newbury on his hurdles debut and should benefit from the experience.

Today’s picture is by kind permission of the artist Jane Dunn.  See links for further examples of this artists work.

Bye for now.

The jumps racing tomorrow comes from Ayr and Plumpton. It is fairly low key stuff but I have picked out a couple of races to look at, one from each meeting.

Three of the 8 runners in the 1.55 at Ayr carry penalties after winning their last race. Grand Theatre won on his hurdles debut at Kelso after a couple of runs in bumpers. Calin Royal was an expensive purchase a few years ago but has had injury problems. His win came at Hexham and the runner up there has won since. Signalman won at Kelso and is by far the most battle hardened of the trio as he has had 23 races in all, many of them on the flat in Italy. Of the others The Hollinwell, quite well regarded at home has been rather disappointing and I prefer Moscow Catch who was runner up in a bumper at Sandown and the winner has since won over hurdles.

Calin Royal, Moscow Catch and Signalman all have claims. I would be inclined to take a chance with Moscow Catch.

Aux Le Bahnn is a horse I have always rated. A former bumper winner he won a conditional jockeys handicap hurdle at Sandown last month. He stays well and will act on the ground and he is clearly the one they all have to beat in the Plumpton 2005. Best of the rest could be Hello Moscow, a former points winner who was 2^nd in a bumper at Kilbeggan in May.

Today’s picture is of Paris Pike by the artist Jenny Lupton. Paris Pike won the Scottish Grand National in 2000.

Today’s racing lost much of its interest with the abandonment of Cheltenham and Lingfield. There was one winner from my list to follow though thanks to Merigo at Doncaster. Clearly suited by conditions he jumped and stayed well and there should be more to come from him over fences.

Looking at tomorrow’s racing Dooney’s Gate looks a fair each way prospect in the 2.30 at Cork. Ruby Walsh rides this half brother to The Listener and with the stable in good form I am optimistic of a big run.

After showing good form in bumpers I thought Romance Dance was a bit disappointing on her hurdles debut at Exeter. She travels a long way tomorrow to contest the Musselburgh 12.55 and I am hoping for a better run.

Dolessthanme was beaten at Haydock last time out be a couple of ex flat horses. The opposition in the 2.25 tomorrow does not look as strong and he can get back to winning ways.

The meeting at Navan is subject to an inspection but if it goes ahead the potentially high class Pandorama should be able to extend his winning sequence to 6 in the 12.50.

Today’s picture is courtesy of Julie Whitwham.

 

In the opener at Cheltenham tomorrow (12.15) Balzaccio looks the value each way bet. He probably didn’t beat a lot when winning at Haydock last time but he looks the sort to improve with experience.

Punchestowns was very impressive when beating subsequent winner Ballydub and preferred to Serabad and Junior in the 1.20.

In the 1.55 Buck the Legend is one I like especially if the ground is testing. My other fancy is the Coral Cup winner Naiad de Misselot who has been runner up on both his chase starts so far.

Imperial Commander sets the standard in the 2.30 on the strength of his Paddy Power triumph. Form that has been franked by runner up Barber Shop who has won well since. Three Mirrors seems unlikely to get his ground with the forecasted rain. Silverburn is potentially a well handicapped horse and can give Imperial Commander most to worry about.

The 3.05 is a fascinating contest that should tell us plenty about these Champion Hurdle contenders. Binocular looks too short a price at around 7/4 and the other Henderson runner Chomba Womba makes more appeal at the odds. Crack Away Jack will be a serious threat if his hurdling stands up to the test while Katchit will be hard to keep out of the frame given his excellent record at Cheltenham.

I fancy Diamond Harry to extend his unbeaten record in the 3.35 although the Paul Nicholls runner Massasoit is no mug either.

Moving on to Doncaster and the 12.30 I am hoping that Greenbridge can get his head in front after a couple of slightly disappointing efforts. Otage de Brion and lease Lend are the other runners from my list to follow in this race.

I thought about Uffa Fox as a bit of an outsider in the 1.05 but he probably needs decent ground and that could be a problem.

Daldini is slipping down the weights and has an each way chance in the 1.40.

In the 2.45 Leading Attraction, Noir et Vert and Merigo are the 3 that interest me. Leading Attraction ran well last time out at Wincanton where he jumped much better and he gets the selection.

My best bet at Lingfield is Lodge Lane in the 2.40, while in the 12.55 Picture this looks interesting. At Fairyhouse I fancy Taravada to get the better of Robin du Bois.

It was good to see Monet’s Garden in the Peterborough Chase, especially as I had tipped him! He put in some super leaps and of course had the ground he likes. Snoopy Loopy ran a gallant race in defeat and our old friend Mister McGoldrick ran another cracker in third.

The main attraction over the next couple of days is the Cheltenham meeting and I will start my preview of Friday’s action there.

In the opener at 12.10 Ballyfitz is likely to be a warm order following a couple of course wins. He beat Big Fella Thanks last time out and that horse hardly franked the form today. I would be inclined to look at a couple of others. Rightway Star comes from a stable in form and won last time out at Haydock. I wouldn’t rule him out here but for my selection I am going for Tot O’Whiskey who has been running and jumping consistently and has the stamina for the stiff Cheltenham finish.

There are two runners from my list to follow in the 12.45, Diablo and Openditch. The latter travels well in his races and looks the type to make a chaser in time. Diablo has disappointed on his last couple of starts and I will pass him over. With the Pipe team showing signs of improved form Openditch is the selection.

Character Building was 3^rd to Denman in the Hennessey last season and has since won over hurdles. I would give him a sound chance in the 1.55 tomorrow. Another that could run well is the lightly raced Trigger the Light as long as he is none the worse for his heavy fall in the Badger Ales chase at Wincanton.

In the 2.30 Very Cool represents our list to follow. He was running well in the Southern National at Fontwell when badly hampered. He is well handicapped and is not without a chance.

Ruby Walsh begins his comeback tomorrow in the 3.40 aboard Mahonia. A winner at Exeter in November Mahonia should follow up here.

Crop Walker and Honest John are the two runners from my list to follow in the 1.10 at Doncaster and both have good chances. Honest John was a smart bumper performer and put up a fair effort when 3^rd on his hurdles debut at Aintree. He should be all the better for that run. Crop Walker, trained by Kate Walton is a grand type who also shaped well in bumpers. He went on to finish runner up on his hurdles bow, not beaten far and with the rest of the field well beaten.

The 1.45 looks to be between I’msingingtheblues and Calgary Bay. The former has chasing experience and should come out on top with ground conditions also in his favour.

In the 12.00 my selection is Laterly who was 2nd on his hurdles debut at Fakenham.  He was a winner 3 times on the flat including twice at 12 furlongs.

Today’s picture is by kind permission of the artist Jo Stockdale.  See links for more examples of this artists work.

Bye for now.

 

There are 3 jumps meetings scheduled for tomorrow with the highlight being the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon at 1.40.

There were only 2 runners last season so it is good to see a much better turn out this time. There is quality as well as quantity with Betfair Chase winner Snoopy Loopy, former Arkle winner My Way de Solzen and Monet’s Garden a former winner of the Melling Chase in the line up.

There are a few of these with questions to answer. My Way de Solzen had a wretched time of it last season; Monet’s Garden hasn’t won for over a year while Snoopy Loopy has had some hard races lately. I don’t have a particularly strong view about this race but if pushed for a selection I would opt for Monet’s Garden. He is in the autumn of his career now but two and a half miles is his trip and he tends to run well at this time of year.

There are two runners from our list to follow in the 12.40. Cornerback won a bumper at Wetherby and a maiden hurdle at Newcastle last season. She is well bred being from the same family as Grand National winner Monty’s Pass. She may be best on reasonable ground. Overbranch is a tough sort and deserves to get her head in front after 3 seconds in a row. She is my each way selection.

There are also two list runners in the 1.10. Argento Luna may have her quirks but the form of her second to Over Sixty has worked out well. She is a course and distance winner and her jockey Dominic Elsworth is in great form. KIngscape looks on a fair mark and the track should suit. Argento Luna is the selection though.

At Taunton Paul Nicholls looks to have found a winning opportunity for Big Fella Thanks in the 1.20 while It’s Tough can get back on the winning trail in the 3.50 where the main danger could come from Bertie May who caught the eye when 5^th behind Ballydub at Newbury the other day. The other runner from our list to follow in action at Taunton is Midnight haze in the 1.50.

My main fancy at Ludlow is Carrickmines in the 1.30. He had a wind operation in the summer and can leave his previous from behind this season.

Today’s picture is by kind permission of the artist Katy Sodeau.  See links for more examples of this artists work.

 

 

Of the 6 horses mentioned in last night’s preview there were two winners a second and a third. The winners were Go Native (7/2) and Joncol (11/4).

There are only 4 runners from our list to follow in action tomorrow. I won’t go into detail as both meetings are in some doubt and both courses have planned inspections. At Hexham we have Open De L’Isle in the 2.40.

At Leicester the qualifiers are Quickbeam in the 12.50, and Kitski and Sprosser in the 2.20.

 

The main interest tomorrow is the meeting at Punchestown.

Shirley Casper was 4^th in the Cheltenham Festival bumper of 2007 but has been quite lightly raced since. She just had one run over hurdles last season when 2^nd to Oscar Rebel at Fairyhouse and she also ran once on the flat, again finishing runner up, this time at the Curragh. She should be all the better for a recent outing at Navan and she is my selection in the 12.35.

Jaffonien and Go Native are the two I like in the 1.05. Jaffonien won a bumper at Leopardstown in February and was 6^th of 7 on his hurdles debut at Navan (Shirley Casper was 5^th). The smooth travelling Go Native has plenty of talent but question marks about his determination where raised when he was 2^nd at Galway in the summer having looked a sure fire winner.

I fancy War of Attrition to continue his successful comeback in the 2.05 where he will be partnered by the in form Davy Russell while in the 3.05 I will put up Horner Woods and Joncol as a couple of each way selections.

Today’s picture is by courtesy of the artist Nick Fegan.

Good luck!

Tomorrow’s jumps racing comes from Musselburgh.

In the first race at 12.20 Caravel is on something of a retrieval mission after being pulled up on his hurdles debut at Aintree. A multiple winner of the flat for Sir Mark Prescott he was an expensive addition to the team under Graham Wylie’s ownership and better will be expected tomorrow.

Geojimali is something of an unlikely runner in the1.20 as all his wins on the flat, including the Ayr Silver Cup, came at 5 or 6 furlongs. Still given decent ground and a sharp track he could pick up a small hurdles race. Watch your bets in this race as we have Bajan Parkes and Bajan Pride.

Pakineo des Pictons represents our list to follow in the 1.580. There may have been something amiss with him when he was a disappointing 4^th at Kelso and he should be capable of better than he showed then.

In the bumper at 3.20 Saveiro might be worth considering. He unshipped his rider just after the start on his debut but Alan Swinbank does well in bumpers and this one is worth another chance. He is in the same ownership as Alfie Flits.

Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Katy Sodeau.  See links for further examples of this artists work.