Category: Racing diary

I won’t get too carried away with the preview tonight as we will be lucky if we get any racing.

  

Former Triumph Hurdle runner up Faasel makes his chase debut in the Catterick 1.40.   He ought to win but probably isn’t really a betting proposition.  Backing short priced favourites in beginner’s chases is as good a road to penury as any.  Bougoure is on my list to follow.  He fell last time but won twice at this track over hurdles and is a possible alternative to the favourite.

  

Thunder Rock won in the soft at Plumpton a couple of weeks ago.  He wasn’t a bad handicapper on the flat for Sir Michael Stoute.  He should go close in the 2.10.  Our list runner is The Duke’s Speech.  Rather like Bougoure he has been disappointing thus far this season over fences.  He reverts to hurdles here where he is a course winner.

  

Our third list runner at Catterick is Prince of Slane in the 2.40.  He was very disappointing when pulled up here in December but had previously shown a liking for the track.  A thorough stayer who should be suited by the trip.  Gets on well with Dougie Costello.

  

Len Lungo sends Rasharrow to Huntingdon for the 2.00.  He is getting weight from Royal Shakespeare and would have a good chance if he gets his jumping right.  He made a right mess of that department when 4^th last time at Kempton though.

  

I think that Secured might pop up at a nice price at some stage.  He runs in the 2.30.  Il Athou is fancied to go well on ground that should suit.  Looks on a fair mark.

  

On the AW at Lingfield old Million Percent has each way possibilities in the 2.50.

  

See you tomorrow.

 

Continue reading “Diary: January 24 2007” →

There are no runners from our list to follow entered tomorrow.

Continue reading “Diary: January 23 2007” →

Just when I had nearly finished building my ark the rain has turned to snow!

 

 

Three of the horses from our list to follow won over the weekend, Afsoun, My Way de Solzen and Nickname.  All seem likely to head for Cheltenham where they will probably find conditions a little different.

 

 

There is no racing over the jumps tomorrow.

 

Continue reading “Diary: January 22 2007” →

The only runners from our list to follow tomorrow both run in the Ladbrokes.com Normans Grove Chase which is the 2.00 at Fairyhouse.

  

In a select field of 4 runners Nickname and Justified are the runners from our list.  Nickname won well at Christmas over this trip at Leopardstown.  The testing conditions should suit and he is the selection.

  

I will look back at the weekend’s action on Sunday evening.

 

Continue reading “Diary: January 21 2007” →

With Ascot already washed out I am hoping that Haydock’s card survives tomorrow morning’s inspection.

  

We will get a better idea of just how good Afsoun is tomorrow in the Champion Hurdle trial at 1.25. His future is over fences I would imagine but it is quite possible that he is not far off top class over the smaller obstacles.  Irish raider Mounthenry is a serious threat as he acts on the ground and actually stays further, which in the conditions is no bad thing.  Mister McGoldrick does most of his winning at Wetherby but deserves to win a prize like this.  He has been a grand servant to Sue Smith’s team and could just cause an upset.

  

Arcalis hasn’t won since taking the Fighting Fifth in 2005.  That was on soft ground but most of his form has been on a sound surface. I will side with Afsoun.

  

The Peter Marsh Chase looks an open contest. Wild Cane Ridge will appreciate this slog in the mud and if his jumping stands up he could be in the shake up.  Turpin Green is difficult to assess.  He ran no sort of race on his last outing but clearly has plenty of ability.  Like Wild Cane Ridge though he also has plenty of weight!

  

Old Truckers Tavern is a course and distance winner and goes on the ground.  He also has a low weight.  The grey Strong Resolve is another course and distance winner and seems to go on any ground.  He has a low weight and must be considered.  Apart from Turpin Green there are two other horses from our list to follow, Model Son and Snakebite. Model Son has a win in heavy ground at Carlisle on his CV but his recent form has not been encouraging.  Snakebite is a promising chaser and has won on heavy ground.  He looks a progressive type.  Irish Raptor has been in good form but I am not quite sure if he is good enough in this company.

  

This is a tricky race to assess but for my selection I am going for Leading Man.  A winner last time out all his career wins have come with plenty of give in the ground.

   

In the 2.20 our list to follow is represented by Astarador.  After winning a couple of small races by wide margins he was a very creditable 3^rd at Sandown behind Silverburn last time and should go well here.  He may have to give best to Amaretto Rose of Nicky Henderson’s.  This one was an impressive winner at Ascot and clearly revels in the mud.

  

My Way de Solzen should take the 3.20.  The Cool Guy reappears here after a 384 day absence having suffered ligament problems.

  

There are a couple of interesting runners in the 3.30.  Rood Report comes from an in form yard and has been second in bumpers at Chepstow and Hereford.  He is making his hurdles debut.  Hopkins is a half brother to chaser Billyvoddan.  He was 2^nd at Chepstow last time.

  

Lenny the Blade represents the list to follow in the 1.15 at Wincanton.  He was 11^th of 18 on his debut at Exeter.  He is a son of Derby runner up Master Willie out of a winning hurdler. He needs to find a bit to take a hand here but he should find a race or two eventually.

  

Grecian Groom has been one of the stars of my list to follow having come in at 33/1 at Lingfield. That was in heavy ground although he also acts on a sound surface.  I am hoping he will follow up in the 1.45 although there is a runner from Paul Nicholls stable, Breedsbreeze, that could present a problem.

  

Prince Azzurro was 2^nd at Ludlow last time on ground that was quicker than ideal.  He lines up for Henry Daly in the 2.15. Supreme Catch and Alphabetical both won last time out.  Although they have gone up the handicap as a result both are quite lightly raced and may still be competitive off their revised marks in the 2.50.

  

Ben’s Turn was almost certainly unsuited by the slow pace when beaten at Kempton last time and may get back to winning ways for Alan King in the 3.20.

  

Buster Collins won a novice hurdle at Plumpton before falling over fences.  He reverts to hurdles here and could go well at a decent price.  Another with an each way chance is Joli Classical.

  

We have a couple of list horses down to run in the 3.50.  Model Son is also entered up at Haydock.  I am just a bit unsure about him at the minute and prefer to keep a watching brief.  The other list runner is All in the Stars.  He seems to have lost his way of late after running some cracking races last season.  I tipped him last time he ran and he was well beaten so I am going top sidestep him here.  Irish Raptor could go well if taking up this engagement.

  

Amour Multiple is trained by Shaun Lycdett and is very much his stable star.  His win at Hereford last time out was a career best effort and he clearly handles soft ground well.  He seeks to follow up in the 4.25 and coming from a little know stable may start at a false price.  The Hairy Lemon, trained by Alan King is on an upward curve, will handle the ground and is ridden by a useful claimer.  He is the other one I like in this race.

  

I don’t have time to preview the meeting at Naas I am afraid.

 

Continue reading “Diary; January 20 2007” →

Racing was completely blown away today which was a shame as I was looking forward to old Dancing Bay making his chase debut at Ludlow.

  

The only jumps meeting tomorrow is at Musselburgh.  There are no runners from our list to follow on Friday but I will have a brief look at the races and see if I can spot anything of interest.

  

12.40 Knockara Luck won bumpers at Cheltenham and Punchestown and has run well enough in two efforts over hurdles to warrant favouritism here I would imagine. Nothing else really appeals.

  

1.10 Pevensey was a smart horse on the flat and has already got off the mark for John Quinn over hurdles.  His win over Christmas at Catterick was quite impressive and he looks the one to beat here.  He is not over big though and has to carry top weight.

  

Diktatorial won a Group 3 on the flat as a juvenile and has been snapped up by Howard Johnson.  Modicum was 2^nd here last time.  He had some fair bumper form and could well run into a place at least.

  

Neutron was pulled up last time out but is probably better than that.  Painted Sky was beaten a long way on his UK debut at Wetherby but has some form on the flat in France.  Pevensey sets the standard.

  

3.55 Mr Guppy’s 5^th behind Sir Boreus Hawk here makes him the obvious choice.  Theatrical Moment comes from a stable that do well in this type of event.

  

Let’s hope the weather improves.

 

Continue reading “Diary: January 19 2007” →

The jumps racing tomorrow comes from Ludlow and Taunton.  Taunton though must first pass a morning inspection. Nicky Henderson sends a couple of runners to the Shropshire venue, Dancing Bay and his younger half sister, Spanish Lace.  Henderson has a good record at Ludlow so the two are worth a closer look. Spanish Lace makes her hurdles debut in the 1.10.  To be honest her flat form is nothing out of the ordinary with her only win from 5 starts coming in a 9 furlong maiden on the sand at Wolverhampton. However given the stable form she may repay an each way interest. 

 

Dancing Bay is a bit long in the tooth for a horse making his chase debut.  He is 10 now and ahs been a great servant to connections but has not won since June 2004.  He is not over big but on his hurdles form he would certainly be in with a shout.  All depends on how he jumps really. 

 

The only runner from our list to follow is Wyldello in the 2.20  at Taunton.  Alan King’s horses have been going well and this one looks to have a good chance after running a very promising 2^nd at Warwick in heavy ground after a 38 week absence. 

 

Alan Swinbank is never afraid to run his horses in different parts of the world.  I see he has Hartshead in the 6.35 at Nad Al Sheba tomorrow.  I remember Hartshead winning the Carlisle Bell a few years ago and getting mugged on the line at Newcastle by old Uhoomagoo.   Wyldello woul be my best suggestion I think.

Continue reading “Diary: January 18 2007” →

I hope that Newbury goes ahead tomorrow as there is an excellent novice chase on the card at 1.30.  It could turn into a battle between Tony McCoy on Don’t Push It and Ruby Walsh on Opera Mundi.  Both won last time out and they are difficult to separate.  If I had to make a choice I would go for Don’t Push It.  He has run Denman close and Aztec Warrior, who was 4^th when he won at Cheltenham, has won since.

  

My main fancy at Newcastle is The Whisperer in the 1.10.  A former point to point winner, he won at Kelso on his hurdles bow and the 2 horses that beat him last time at Cheltenham have both won since.  Rose Davidson, who I think is the owner’s daughter, has the ride.

  

Bannow Strand has been pulled up on his last 3 starts.  They were over fences though and he runs over hurdles in the 3.40 at Newbury.  He is off a mark 31 lbs lower than his chase rating.

  

Good luck

 

Continue reading “Diary: January 17 2007” →

I was sad to hear that 1984 Grand National winner Hello Dandy had died last week. There is an interesting article about him on the link below.

http://www.mischiefblue.co.uk/dandy.html

  

Not a lot to report from today’s racing.  Dom D’Orgeval won on his chase debut while our other list runner, Ring Back was 2^nd at Plumpton. 

  

The only jumps meeting tomorrow is at Folkestone.  There are no runners from our list to follow.

 

Continue reading “Diary: January 16 2007” →

 

One of my horse racing links has some “sports simulation” games that you might like to have a look at.  They include “Two Furlongs From Home” a horse racing (flat) game which includes being able to re-run "big" races from the past, including Epsom Derbys from 1953.  The link is below.

  

http://www.freewebs.com/johnbowness/

  

1953 is a little before my time as I first got hooked on horse racing around 1960.  Thinking back, it was not long after that there was a spate of racecourse closures.  Alexandra Park or “Ally Pally” went in 1970.  The London Cup run there that year was won by a young 5 pound claimer – a certain Pat Eddery.   Another familiar name to current racing fans, George Duffield, rode the winner of the very last race at the track.  Duffield of course only retired quite recently.

  

Hurst Park was another track to close around this time.  They used to stage races named after Henry VIII’s 6 wives.  The Jane Seymour Stakes, the Catherine Parr handicap etc.

  

The name Hurst derives from "Hyrst", an Old English word for a small wood that presumably once stood there. The land was once used for other sporting activities -archery, cricket, pugilism, golf and occasionally for illicit duelling. The first game of cricket known to have taken place here was on 13th July, 1731, and the earliest recorded instance of a player being given out leg-before-wicket occurred here in 1795. Several bouts for the Prize Fighting Championship of England were fought on Molesey Hurst in the early part of the last century.  I think there is a Tesco store where the old racecourse used to be now.

  

Pass Me By, took the £30,000 Sussex National at Plumpton for Suzy Smith recently.  Ms Smith  trains at the defunct Lewes racecourse.  The Lewes track was another to bite the dust in the 60s. The great Fred Archer once rode 6 out of 7 winners at Lewes.  He also had his last rides there in November 1886 shortly before falling ill and committing suicide during a bout of delirium.  He was only 29.

   

Anyway, back to the present day I thought that Verasi was a game winner of the Lanzerote Hurdle.  He is one of those horses that always seems to win at a big price.  His 3 successes in handicap hurdles have come at 16/1, 12/1 and 20/1.

  

Although we have had a steady stream of winners from the list to follow they have been at skinny prices in the main.  There is only one lister in action tomorrow at Fakenham and that is Dom D’Orgeval in the 2.20.  He ran up a hat trick of hurdles wins last season and made a fine reappearance when 3^rd to Inglis Drever in a Grade 2 at Newbury.  He makes his chase bow here and if reproducing anything like his hurdles form he should win.  The fences at Fakenham are not difficult but the tight track does not suit every horse.

  

We also have one “lister” at Plumpton.  Ring Back runs in the 2.30.  She won a bumper at Warwick last March and has shown enough in novice hurdles to suggest she can land a small race.

  

Returning to the 60s nostalgia for a moment, I have been listening to a Nancy Sinatra CD whilst penning these notes.  The line from “These boots are made for walkin’” that goes “You keep losing when you ought to not bet” is perhaps one we should all take note of!

  

Take care.

 

Continue reading “Diary: January 15 2007” →