Category: Racing diary

Gungadu and Madison du Berlais were winners for our list to follow today.

  

Of the other list horses Kinburn put up a good performance in the Warwick Classic.  His jumping wasn’t exactly fluent but it was still an improvement on some earlier efforts. Ladalko was a worthy winner of the race.  When his jumping holds together he has plenty of ability.  I wonder how he would take to the Grand National fences?

 Racing Demon made a mess of the first hurdle and ballooned the 2^nd but was creeping into the race when he crashed out in the handicap hurdle.  Verasi was a game winner for Gary Moore who trains near Brighton racecourse.

  

Royal Shakespeare got off the mark over hurdles in ground he wouldn’t have liked much while Secret Ploy won over hurdles for the first time.  He has only been out of the first 3 once in his career and that was at the Cheltenham Festival.

  

Romany Prince won the handicap hurdle at Kempton, albeit being helped by a bad blunder at the last by the then leader.  I remember following Romany Prince on the flat when he was trained by D Elsworth.  I quite fancied him for the Chester Cup in 2003 but he was drawn 16 of 16 and was never able to get into the race.  His dam is by Old Vic who is the dam of top chaser Our Vic.

  

List qualifiers tomorrow are as follows.  All at Leopardstown.

  

12.50 Ballytrim

 

1.50 Oulart

 

2.20 Ross River

 

Continue reading “Diary: January 14 2007” →

French Saulaie dotted up for our list to follow at Huntindon today.  Although he was 4/6, as the commentator said at the time “if all odds on favourites won like that the world would be a better place.”  Saulaie is French for willow plantation, I bet you didn’t know that! Cathedral Rock put in a pleasing effort in 3^rd in the same race.

  

Richard Johnson rode French Saulaie and completed a double later in the afternoon on board Chopneyev for Richard Phillips.  Chopneyev is a horse that I used to follow over hurdles.  He has had his injury problems but has now run 4 times in quick succession and is really making hay in the soft ground.  Can you make hay in the rain? Oh well you know what I mean. Chopneyev is certainly tough and showed far too much resolution for his rivals.

  With all the rain that has been falling some of tomorrow’s meetings hinge on inspections.  I will carry on with the usual preview in the hope that something goes ahead.

 

 

Sha Bihan won over 2 miles 6 last week at Fontwell and is raised 8 lbs in the weights as a result. The extra 2 furlongs of the 2.45 at Kempton should help him and he does handle soft ground. Alan King’s horses are in excellent form and I am hopeful of a big run from this one.

  

Henrietta Knight’s Racing Demon, 3^rd to Kauto Star in the King George is switched to hurdles for the 3.15.  He is well treated in comparison to his chase mark and ground, trip and track should all suit.

  

Gungadu found one too good for him at Warwick last time and looks to get back to winning ways in the 2.00 at Warwick.  He is related to The Tsarevich who was 2^nd in a Grand National.  He has never won in anything softer than good to soft.

  

Bleak House represents our list to follow in the 2.30.  He is a bumper winner and was 3^rd behind Kicks for Free at Haydock last time having won over hurdles at Aintree.  He is yet to race on soft ground but is likely to appreciate the trip.

  

Madison Du Berlais was 4^th at Chepstow in his last run.  He has gone down a couple of pounds in the weights, acts on soft and is probably running over his best trip in the 3.00.

  

Jumping errors are proving costly for Kinburn this season but if he can put in a good round of fencing he would have a chance ion the 3.30.  Ladalko is another win plenty of ability but can be an erratic jumper.  Either of these could win if on a good day.  Tana River is a thorough stayer who revels in the mud and has never fallen in his career.  He is on a hat trick and has to be respected here.  Tana River is an 11 year old, as is Robert Alner’s runner in this, Sir Rembrandt.  He was 2^nd in this race last season and showed he is no back number when runner up in the Rowland Meyrick on Boxing Day.  D’Argent defied a long lay off to win in the soft at Cheltenham last month and if in that sort of form again would be in the firing line here.

  

Another veteran, Jungle Jinks is a bit of a standing dish at Wetherby, having won there 5 times. On his last 4 visits to the Yorkshire track his form figures read 3133, he loves the mud and is entitled to be in the shake up in the 2.20.

  

The advance going at Punchestown is heavy which should suit recent Limerick winner You Sir in the 12.55.

  

Back tomorrow evening – see you then.

 

Continue reading “Diary: January 13 2007” →

As things turned out Classic Fiddle was the only runner from our list to follow today and he won at Hereford at 8/11.

 

 

It seems likely that the current monsoons will wash away some more meetings over the next few days but hopefully Huntingdon will go ahead.

 

 

Qualifiers from our list to follow tomorrow are as follows.

 

 

Huntingdon 1.50 French Saulaie and Cathedral Rock

 

 

Kelso 3.10 Troll

 

Continue reading “Diary: January 12 2007” →

With 3 runners from our list to follow involved the novice chase at Wincanton was always going to be an interesting one for me.

  

Aztec Warrior and Miaster Quasimodo matched strides all the way  until Mister Quasimodo got in close 3 from home and down he went, leaving Azetc Warrior to come home easily.  It was possibly hard luck on Mister Quasimodo, who until his error had been jumping well and was possibly going slightly the better of the front two.  Take nothing away from Aztec Warrior though who travelled well and jumped economically. Opera de Coeur made mistakes and does not look a natural over fences.

  

In the last race on the Wincanton card Closed Shop was a hot favourite but could only finish 5^th.

  

Leslingtaylor, trained by John Quinn goes for a hat trick over hurdles in the 12.50 at Catterick tomorrow.  He won at Market Rasen last time beating some decent types in the process.  He has won on heavy ground on the flat and although he is giving weight all round he has a useful claimer taking 7 lbs off.

  

Troll was a winner for our list to follow at Sedgefield on Boxing Day.  He has gone up 5 lbs for that success but with Catterick being quite a similar tarck and suiting front runners he could well follow up in the 2.50.

  

Classic Fiddle comes from a good national hunt family and won both her bumper races.  She makes her hurdles debut tomorrow in the 1.00 at Hereford for in form trainer Nicky Henderson.  Should go well.

  

Ring Back represents our list to follow in the 2.30.  She won a bumper at Warwick last March in heavy ground.  This is her 3^rd run over hurdles and she has shown enough to be given an each way chance.

  

Be lucky

 

Continue reading “Diary: January 11 2007” →

There are a couple of races involving horses from our list to follow at Wincanton tomorrow so I will concentrate on them.

  

We have 3 runners in the 2.40.  Aztec Warrior didn’t jump well but still came 4^th in a hot race at Cheltenham lst time.  He has claims here but lack of stable form just puts me off a bit.  Mister Quasimodo got off the mark over fences at Exeter last time out and I fancy him to run well.  Opera de Coeur stepped up on previous efforts when 2^nd to Trouble at Bay at Hereford.  The one they probably all have to beat is Raffaello from Paul Nicholl’s yard who was the subject of good reports prior to his last run when he was a faller.  This is a tricky one but I will give very slight preference to Opera de Coeur.

  

Former Irish points winner Closed Shop is my selection in the 4.10.  He was 2^nd at Wincanton in October and that was an encouraging hurdles debut.  He has won a bumper before that.

  

That will do for this evening.  See you tomorrow.

 

Continue reading “Diary: January 10 2007” →

I couldn’t have been more pleased with Trompette today; she could not have won more easily in the handicap hurdle at Ludlow.  This was her 3^rd win since arriving in the UK from France.

 

 

There is only one jumps meeting tomorrow and no runners from our list to follow.

 

Continue reading “Diary: January 9 2007” →

Not a bad day on the tipping front on Saturday with Silverburn taking the Tolworth at 5/1.  Horses from our list to follow occupied the front 3 places. Roman Ark is a real mud lover and he won his 2^nd chase of the season at Haydock under a big weight.  Scarvagh Diamond was our 3^rd list winner of the day racing well clear of her opponents in the novice hurdle at Haydock.

  

Huka Lodge gave me a winning tip in the handicap hurdle at Haydock.  You wouldn’t have fancied this one with 3 to jump, or even after the last really but he came flying home in the finish.  He clearly stays longer than the mother-in-law and likes the mud.  He is trained by Kate Walton, and another lady trainer had a hurdles winner on Saturday.  We were on United last time at 7/1 but I didn’t tip her this time as I felt the price might by a bit short.  She duly won in gutsy style at Sandown ridden by the underrated Leighton Aspell.

  

Needless to say there is a racing calendar on the wall of the Russellform office. January has a picture of Nicky Henderson’s mare Trompette winning at Plumpton.  Trompette runs tomorrow at Ludlow in the handicap hurdle at 2.00.  With all the rain we have had I have had Trompette in mind as a likely winner as she seems to revel in soft ground. Ludlow normally drains quickly though and rarely rides really soft so we will have to see.  Oumeyade represents our list to follow in this race.  Four times a winner in France and a half brother to the useful hurdler/chaser Ladalko, Oumeyade went on a few lists to follow I expect.  His form this season has been absolutely woeful however and I couldn’t tip him.  He may of course suddenly pop up at a big price as Grecian Groom did last week!  Trompette gets the each way selection, particularly as N Henderson has a good record at this track.

  

Like Oumeyade, Harringay, who runs in the 2.30, is trained by Henrietta Knight.  He won over hurdles at Ludlow last season and has done enough in his 2 runs over fences to give him a sound chance.  He was a faller last time in ground that was probably softer than ideal for him.

  

That’s all for tonight.  See you tomorrow.

 

Continue reading “Diary: January 8 2007” →

The horses from our list to follow acquitted themselves quite well this afternoon.  Sir Boreus Hawk, who is a really imposing individual, did very well to win the bumper under a penalty.  He looks a horse to follow in the longer term and it would be no surprise to see him running on the flat at some stage.  The runner up, Gun ‘n Butter showed promise too I thought.  Annie’s Choice was 4^th at Newcastle and will be interesting in mares only company while Cloudy Lane would probably have won had it not been for a bad blunder at the last.

  

I said last night that the massive Corrib Lad wouldn’t like the Musselburgh track.  He probably didn’t, as his trainer said after the race, but he was still too resolute for his 4 rivals in the Kilmany Cup.  He can win again on a galloping track.  Credit must go top Keith Mercer who gave the horse a positive ride that played to his strengths of jumping and galloping.

  

I will look at the weekend meeting in alphabetical order starting with Chepstow.

  Dom D’orgeval makes his chase debut in the 1.20 and also has his first run for David Pipe. He had some good form in handicap hurdles lasts season and looks the sort to make a chaser. You could argue that the trip might be on the short side but the very testing conditions are likely bring stamina into play.  

In the 1.55 Tom George’s Turtle Soup is of interest as he likes very soft ground.

  

I am quite keen on the chances of former Irish points winner Closed Shop in the 3.00.  He is also a bumper winner and made a sound hurdles debut when 2^nd at Wincanton.

  

Scarvagh Diamond, a former bumper winner, was 2^nd on her hurdles debut at Kelso and is entitled to go close in the 1.10 at Haydock.

  

From the same stable as Scarvagh Diamond, Harmony Brig won well on his chase debut at Ayr, but then was disappointing at Ascot. He is worth another chance in the 1.45.

  

Grey gelding Huka Lodge (picture below), trained by Kate Walton, is my each way tip in the 2.20.  He goes in the soft and is a course and distance winner.

 

 

  

Roman Ark likes soft ground and carried 11 stone 12 to victory last time out at Market Rasen.  He has gone up 7 lbs for that but he should still go well in the 3.25.  Main danger looks to be another Kate Walton runner, Jimmy Bond (pictured below) a lightly raced type who loves the mud and won last time out at Wetherby.   

 

 

 

 

 

  

The Tolworth Hurdle, a Grade 1, is the big race at Sandown at 2.40.  There are 3 horses from our list to follow.  Astarador has won his two starts over hurdles by wide margins but obviously steps up in class today.  He has done nothing wrong so far and he has very strong bumper form to his credit.  He was 7^th in the Aintree Championship bumper with Wichita Lineman 8^th and Alfie Flits, who has since won a listed race on the flat, in 4^th.  You can’t rule Astarador out.  Perce Rock is an unexposed type.  He handles heavy ground, was 4^th in the Cheltenham Festival bumper and has AP McCoy in the plate.

  

Silverburn represents Paul Nicholls who has won this race twice in the last 4 seasons with Noland and Thisthatandtother.  Silverburn is a full brother to Denman and won last time out at Newbury in soft ground.  De Soto was runner up to Missed That in the 2005 Cheltenham bumper and after a long lay off has come back to win twice over hurdles, most impressively last time at Kempton when he had Blythe Knight, the Lincoln winner in second.  I think De Soto is the big threat to our 3 list horses.  This is a competitive heat but I am going to give Silverburn my selection.

  

The 3.45 looks a handicap chase worth watching.  Mort de Rire represents our list to follow.  He is a good jumper and should be fit after an outing over an inadequate trip last month.  He has an each way chance.  Dangers abound.  Preacher Boy was 3^rd in the Hennessey and runs off the same mark, Nadover won well in the soft at Chepstow over Christmas, Harris Bay has already won twice this season for Henrietta Knight while Latimer Place is a winner of 2 of his last 3 starts.  If you are looking for a real outsider you could always try the grey Grattan Lodge.  He usually does his winning at Carlisle – not that he has done any winning anywhere for some while!  I thought he ran quite well for a long way behind Silver Knight at Wetherby last month though and he could have an each way squeak.

  

The big race at Plumpton on Sunday is the Sussex National at 3.25.  The very lightly raced Geveem has won on heavy, is a course winner and stays well.  He is my sporting suggestion.

  

I have not had time to preview the Irish meetings at Cork and Naas over the weekend.  Sorry about that.

  

Have a good weekend and see you Sunday.

 

Continue reading “Diary: January 6 & 7 2007” →

A day of mixed fortunes for Russellform with Grecian Groom coming in at 33/1 for our list to follow although he was just about untipable on recent form.

  Two other listers, Karello Bay and Urban Tiger were 3^rd in their respective events.  When I penned last night’s column I hadn’t noticed that Urban Tiger had changed stables.  Karello Bay was beaten by Benetwood who I had talked about in my preview.  The form of that race might be worth following as the 2^nd horse, Psychomodo, is well regarded by his trainer Brendan Powell.

 

 

I was pleased to see Sha Bihan win for the Elite Club, of which I am a member, at Fontwell.  Wayne Hutchinson was the rider.

  

St Pirran was a decent type in his younger days when with Paul Nicholls but hasn’t won since taking the Grand Annual at Cheltenham nearly 3 years ago.  He is 12 now and runs in a selling hurdle tomorrow, the 2.10 at Musselburgh.  A bit sad really as he was a very good chaser when at his best.

  

Len Lungo runs the giant Corrib Lad in the 3.10 at the Scottish track. You wouldn’t think that this sharp course would play to his strengths.

  

Our list horse in the bumper at 3.40 is Sir Boreus Hawk.  Alan Swinbank’s geldng is having his 4^th run in bumpers and is getting a solid grounding before going over hurdles.  He carries a penalty for an earlier win at Hexham and that might just make him vulnerable to something with a lighter weight.  The flat bred Gun’s‘n Butter is one danger.  He was second in his only start in a point to point in Northern Ireland.  Mr Guppy, named after a character in Bleak House is another one for the short list.

  

We have a list runner in the 1.00 at Newcastle.  Annie’s Answer is trained by permit holder Jane Makin.  Twice a winner in bumpers at Uttoxeter she is also a point to point winner.  She could go well here.

  

Course and Distance winner Cloudy Lane is our list horse in the 1.30 and I would expect a big run from him.

  

The 2.00 looks to be between Regal Heights and King Revo.  The market might be the best indicator. 

  

Have a good day

 

Continue reading “Diary: January 5 2005” →

One selection for today and one winner thanks to the veteran Kerry Lads. Lucinda Russell’s 12 year old pulled clear along with Sharp Jack and had a fair lead over the last but he was running on empty up the run in when the other 3 finishers almost caught him.  Another great old timer, Jungle Jinks had looked beaten 2 out but stayed on again when many would have thrown in the towel to get within a length of the exhausted winner.  Gutsy stuff from the two old timers who are proper racehorses.

  

Nicky Henderson’s mare Karello Bay had some nice bumper form last season culminating with a neck win over Wyldello at Sandown.  She must have a good chance of making a winning start to her hurdles career in the 12.40 at Fontwell.  The other one I like in this race is Benetwood , a bumper winner at this track who made a promising hurdles bow when 2^nd at Sandown.  Benetwood is related to the high class chaser Monsieur Le Cure who fell fatally in the 1996 Gold Cup.

  

I have an Elite Racing Club runner in the 1.40.  Sha Bihan is a bit of an unknown quantity really as he has been difficult to get fit but he was a winner over hurdles at Angers in France.  Fingers crossed for this one but at least trainer Alan King is in sparkling form.

  

The booking of Tony McCoy for Swift Sailor in the 3.10 caught my eye. He is a course winner which I always think counts for something around here.  Swift Sailor showed a liking for this type of tight track on the flat as he was 2^nd in the Chester Cup.

  

Urban Tiger represents our list to follow in the 1.00 at Lingfield but he has been disappointing so far this season and he looks the stable second string.

  

Another really disappointing “lister” is Grecian Groom who runs in the 1.30.  He seems unlikely to be suited by the prevailing ground conditions.

  

Bye for now

 

Continue reading “Diary: January 4 2007” →