Theatre Diva registered some solid performances at Ludlow last season winning twice and finishing runner up twice.
She got off to a good start this term when winning at Exeter 6 days ago and could go in again in the 3.30 at Market Rasen where she is a previous course winner.
Sam Thomas rides Theatre Diva which is a plus as he has been in great form this season.
At Musselburgh tomorrow the Howard Johnson trained pair Laborec and Prince Car catch the eye in the opener at 1.30. Slight preference is for Laborec who is the mount of Richard Johnson.
In the 2.30 at the Scottish track Tamimi’s History, twice a winner on the flat in Ireland is an interesting runner for Nicky Richards. The other one I like at Musselburgh is The Duke’s Speech in the 3.00.
The Tother One was a winner for Paul Nicholls today and his half brother Thisthatandtother can add to the champion Trainers tally in the 3.40 at Fontwell.
Ruby Walsh has usually partnered Thisthatandtother over the years but he is riding in Ireland tomorrow. I like the look of his chances in the 1.35 at Punchestown on Sophocles, who was runner up in the Cheltenham Festival bumper and won over hurdles at Punchestown in December.
Bye for now
It was a miserable day for the horses on our list to follow today but we did get one winner, with the giant Time Bandit obliging at Chepstow at a nice price. He has had serious injury problems and has very few miles on the clock for an 8 year old.
There is some good quality racing tomorrow – or at least there will be as long as the weather doesn’t intervene.
I will tackle the meetings in alphabetical order so we are starting at Doncaster. Paul Nicholls introduces an intriguing newcomer in the opener at 12.50 in Rippling Ring. He was 4th in the South African Derby and is sure to have been well prepared for his UK debut.
In the 1.25 Tidal Bay should make it 4 wins out of 4. Denis O’Regan is suspended so Ruby Walsh has the ride.
Otage de Brion put up a good performance when 3rd to Song of Songs at Kempton on Boxing Day but he may not be able to give 10 lbs to Celestial Halo in thye 1.55. The Paul Nicholls runner was 7th in the St Leger and has already opened his account over hurdles.
Tot o Whisky represents our list to follow in the 2.25. His 5 career wins have come at Hexham (3) and Catterick (2) and he may not be quite good enough here.
There are a couple of "list" runners in the 3.00. Lennon likes to make the running and is best on a sharp track and a sound surface. Pablo du Charmil won at Exeter on his first run this season but has been beaten since. He acts on any ground and has an each way chance.
The 2.05 at Sandown looks to be a match between Straw Bear and Afsoun. With Nicky Henderson’s runners in fine form I would narrowly side with Afsoun. If there is to be an upset it is just possible to consider Bywell Beau, particularly if the ground rides heavy. His 4 career wins have all come at Kelso though and he has plenty to find on the form book.
In the 2.35 The Tother One comes into the race on a 4 timer. He is upped in class and has risen in the weights but he should still go well.
In the 3.10 Hobbs Hill, unbeaten this season, looks likely to start favourite. He has beaten both Silverburn and Lead On this season but the latter pair may have improved since then and look better value. The Market Man would certainly come into the reckoning in fully fit. He hasn’t run for 784 days but on his last outing only went down by a head to Mighty Man.
In the 3.40 Caribou will be suited by track and going and has an each way chance.
At Wetherby Character Building looks on a favourable mark in the 2.50 while the conditions should suit Harry Wood in the 3.25.
Only time for a short update tonight so here are the runners for tomorrow from our lusts to follow.
Main list
Catterick 1.40 – Shouldhavehadthat Smart Street
Catterick 3.20 – Starting Point & Cool Operator
Chepstow 3.30 – Isn’t That Lucky
Chepstow 4.05 – Time Bandit
Dark horses list
Catterick 3.55 – Aureate
Chepstow 1.20 – Wind Instrument
Chepstow 3.30 – Quartano
Runners from our list to follow in action tomorrow:
Towcester 3.30 – In Accord
Wincanton 1.40 – Cracking Cliche
Wi9ncanton 2.10 – Boyastara
Wincanton 3.10 – Predateur & Gentle John
Runners from our dark horses list
Wincanton 1.40 – Miss Ceka
Wincanton 2.40 – Chapoturgeon
Today’s meeting at Taunton always looked likely to be a profitable one for Paul Nicholls and David Pipe and to it proved. Big Fella Thanks won the novice hurdle and should make a decent chasing prospect next season form Paul Nicholls. Commander Vic scored a welcome success for our list to follow at 4/1 in the conditional jockey’s handicap hurdle.
Turning to tomorrow’s action I am hoping that Bertie May can make a winning start to his hurdles career in the 1.20 at Exeter.. He has shown a good deal of promise in bumpers and has the scope to improve.
Theatre Diva was a bit of a standing dish at Ludlow last seaon when trained by Henry Daly, recording form figures of 2121 ay the track. She has since moved to Venetia William’s yard. Theatre Diva makes her chase debut in the 3.20 at Exeter and a continuation of her hurdling form would make her hard to beat.
Ballabriggs has finished runner up on his last two outings. He runs over a longer trip in the 2.30 at Leicester and this may enable him to get his head in front.
Khasab took a heavy fall when well in contention at Chepstow on his last run. He has to shoulder top weight in the 3.30 at Leicester but the last 3 winners of the race have all carried over 11 stone so I would not rule him out if the fall has not dented his confidence.
Kealshore Boy represents our list to follow in the 2.10 at Newcastle. This represents a drop in class for him and he should be on the premises.
Be lucky!
Runners from our main list to follow tomorrow:
Taunton 2.10 – Master Overseer
Taunton 3.40 – Commander Vic & Low Delta
Runners from the dark horses list:
Taunton 2.40 – Robin de Sherwood
Taunton 3.10 – Big Fella Thanks
Our revels now are ended. These our actors,
As I foretold you, were all spirits and
Are melted into air, into thin air:
And, like the baseless fabric of this vision,
The cloud-capp'd towers, the gorgeous palaces,
The solemn temples, the great globe itself,
Ye all which it inherit, shall dissolve
And, like this insubstantial pageant faded,
Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff
As dreams are made on, and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep.
— William Shakespeare
Monday’s jumps racing comes from Ludlow.
Not much to comment on really but I will be interested to see if the step up in distance brings out more improvement in Alan King’s Ouzbeck in the 3.30.. He has been running over 2 miles but his pedigree suggests that he may well stay further.
Cheltenham Trials day featured two admirable efforts over hurdles with both Franchoek and Inglis Drever winner their races with some aplomb. Both look worthy favourites come March, particularly Inglis Drever who is so well suited to that Cheltenham hill.
I will concentrate on the Kelso meeting tomorrow, a course described as the friendliest in Britain.
Nicky Richards normally does well with his runners at the Borders venue and his Double Default is my idea of the winner in the 2.05. Although he did well enough over hurdles last season it always looked as though chasing would be his game. Unfortunately he did not get beyond the first fence on his chase debut when the stirrup leather snapped but he can make amends here, mainly at the expense of Shrewd Investor.
Alan Swinbank’s Scale Bank should come on for his run at Musselburgh earlier this month and is likely to be on the premises in the bumper at 4.15 but I will stick with Double Default as my nap for Sunday.
ahorse 