ahorse

What a quite remarkable finish to the flat season and what a credit to the sport were the two jockeys vying for the championship.  Sportsmanship still survives in the 21st century after all.

 

As well as enjoying the sheer theatre of the occasion at Doncaster on TV I also had the satisfaction of a fair amount of success on the tipping front. Over the jumps Theatre Girl, Abrogante, Hell’s Baby, King’s Quay and Ornais were all winning tips while on the flat the luckless Borderlescott was only beaten a short head.

 

King’s Quay is a really game little dual purpose horse and battled on well to get the better of the former Cambridgeshire winner Chivalry at Wincanton.

 

Theatre Girl was given 5 runs in bumpers last season and her form was very consistent.  I was quite hopeful that she would make a winning debut over timber and she didn’t disappoint.

 

Abrogante was described by one pundit this morning as “chicken-hearted.”  It didn’t stop him from winning the Badger Ales Chase, although he won so easily that his resolution was not really put to the test.  Timmy Murphy gave him a super ride, cajoling him quietly into the race from the back.

 

Ornais was another given a patient ride, this time by Ruby Walsh.  Ornais looked ungainly at times with his rather odd head carriage but he got the job done and obviously has ability.

 

There is not much that catches my eye tomorrow.  Mohtarres may be worth a second look in the 3.15 at Limerick, especially if there is support for him in the market, while I quite like Powerstation in the 1.25 at Navan.

 

Bye for now.

 

Continue reading “Diary: November 11 2007” →

Nicky Richard's course winner Role On looks a likely improver and could be worth a look in the 2.40 at Kelso.

Continue reading “Late thoughts Saturday” →

The flat season draws to a close tomorrow so it seems reasonable to start tonight’s preview at Doncaster where messrs Sanders and Spencer will be going head to head again.

 

The apprentice handicap that starts the day at 12.00 has a 22 runner field so winner finding won’t be easy.  There are a couple of runners from our list to follow, Madedon and Geojimali.  The 4 year old Macedon is quite lightly raced with only 10 runs to date. Although he has not finished in the first three in his 5 starts this season he has only dropped 2 lbs in the handicap. This is probably his trip though and in Tolley Dean he has a capable young rider.  If the rain stays away it will help his cause.

 

Geojimali’s younger brother, Blazing Heights, was a winner at Musselburgh this afternoon.  The brothers are quite similar in that they need to be held up and come late off a strong pace.  This means things have to drop right for them as they try and weave their way through a crowd.  As a result they get losing runs and come down the ratings as Geojimali has.  He has ability, he is running off a fair mark, he has won in a field of 26 in the past and his trainer is in form (he also trains the brother).  He has ticks in many of the right boxes and has claims.

 

Jamie Spencer will be hoping for a win on Gull Wing in the 2.05.  She has run some decent races this season and won once, at York over 10 furlongs.  That was in heavy ground though and at a time when the stable were in better nick.  I think I will pass her by on this occasion.

 

Our list to follow will be well represented in the sprint handicap at 2.35.  This is a real Sanders/Spencer duel.  Their rides, Borderelscott and Zidane were second and first in the Stewards Cup with only a short head between them. Spencer has won 4 times from 10 rides on Zidane who seems to go on any ground and likes to be held up.  Borderlescott has been very unlucky this season and deserves a prize like this. Sanders has ridden him twice and finished second both times.  Knot in Wood was a close up 3^rd in the Stewards Cup and is one of only 2 course and distance winners in the line up.  Advanced won the Ayr Gold Cup earlier in the season when ridden by a certain J Spencer! He has been inconsistent but is capable of winning this at his best. Cape looked a horse to follow at the start of the season but has failed to live up to those expectations.  She ran a better race when 4^th last time but needs to step up on previous efforts to land a blow here.

 

The one they all have to beat in this is Greek Renaissance who has won his last two starts for Godolphin but I will stay loyal to my list horses.  I am going to take a chance with Borderlescott, with Advanced and Zidane the next best in that order.

 

23 go to post for the big handicap at 3.10. Rampallion is a 4 year old but has only raced 5 times so has presumably had training problems.  He has shown his best form on soft ground and the ground seems likely to be riding on the fast side.  New Guinea and Heaven Knows both come into the race on the back of a win.  New Guinea has been in good form and won at Leicester last time but whether he can produce the goods here off top weight remains to be seen. I would say he has an each way chance at around 14/1.  Heaven Knows is a horse I have always liked and he finally came good last time at Newbury in soft ground. I would fancy him with ease in the ground and would still not write him off as he may have more improvement in him.  Shame about the ground though.

 

Moving on to the jumps I will start up at Kelso.  Valentine’s Lady is an interesting runner in the 12.35.  The Reveleys do well with this type of horse. She ran well in bumpers last season and I think she will be a nice one to follow this season. She might need this of course.

 

Down at Sandown I will be watching Wild Tonto in the 12.50.Trained by Helen Lewis in Wales Wild Tonto won on his last outing last season when stepped up in trip.  Judging from his performance that day I would have thought he would be better going left handed so I will give him a miss this time.  Incidentally, Jay Silverheels, who played Tonto, the Lone Ranger’s sidekick, used to be a racehorse trainer.  As the man said, not many people know that.

 

Atomic Winner makes her hurdles debut for Alan King in the 1.55.  She won twice at Marseilles on the flat and looks an interesting recruit to the winter game.

 

It might be worth taking a look at Presenting Express in the 2.25.  I see that none of the experts tip him which should help his price.  He has had problems with burst blood vessels but is quite decent on his day and should have trip and ground in his favour.  The stable are currently in very good form.

 

In the 3.00 Man Overboard represents our list to follow.  He is a half brother to Europa and has probably got more to offer than he has shown thus far.

 

Presenting Copper will probably start favourite in the 12.40 at Wincanton but I am hoping that either Massasoit or Theatre Girl, from my list to follow, can land the spoils.  Massasoit was bought out of Malcolm Jefferson’s yard by Paul Nicholls after winning both his bumpers in the north.  He is bred for the job buy may of course need the run.  Theatre Girl ran very consistently in 5 bumpers last term, including a 2^nd to Turbo Linn who went on to win a Group 2 on the flat.  The benefit of a recent run may prove decisive for Presenting Copper but I am going to side with Theatre Girl.

 

Phenix Jack is a new recruit for the Paul Nicholls yard.  He has form over fences in France and may well make a winning start over here in the 1.10.

 

Mossville was a faller over fences last time out and reverts to hurdles for the 1.45.  He is a course and distance winner and does not look badly handicapped.

 

Ornais won first time out last season but then suffered an accident.  He looks a nice chasing prospect though and I would expect a good run from him in the 2.20.

 

King’s Quay is a tough and genuine handicap hurdler and should give us a run for our money in the 2.50.

 

The Badger Ales Trophy at 3.25 looks quite an open race.  Alderburn has ground, track and distance in his favour and being ridden by AP McCoy is no bad thing.  He has never won first time out before though so may possibly need the run. Ardaghey won at Cheltenham 3 weeks ago but that was after a long break and he does go well fresh. High Chimes has only had 4 starts, winning the last of them in March at Chepstow in heavy ground.  He is probably going to be better on good ground though and is a horse with some potential I feel.  I am going to select Abrogante though as he is a progressive sort and looks well handicapped on his hurdles form.

 

Finally, in the 4.00 Hell’s Baby makes his bumper debut for Paul Nicholls.  He has some quite illustrious relatives.  He is apparently going well at home and should go close.

 

There is jumps action at Hereford, Market Rasen, Limerick and Naas on Sunday and I will be back tomorrow night with my thoughts on those meetings.

 

 

Continue reading “Diary: November 10 2007” →

There is much to write about from the last few days now that I have my PC working again!

 

I will start with last Saturday where the highlight in Ireland was the James Nicholson Chase at Down Royal.  There was a strong British challenge from Taranis and The Listener, while the home team was represented by Justified and the former Hennessey winner Strong Flow.

 

In the event The Listener was an early faller and Ruby Walsh decided to try and make all on Taranis, a tactic he would not have employed by choice.  Paul Nicholls runner got the job done however beating Justified in workmanlike fashion.

 

Apart from Taranis, Knockavilla provided a second winner for our list to follow.  Trained by Howard Johnson he followed up wins in a point to point and a bumper with a successful debut over hurdles at Wetherby.  It was not all plain sailing for our list horses though. The last race on the card looked a penalty kick for David Pipe’s mare Gaspara but although she started at 1/2 she was turned over by Annie’s Answer, who did well for this column last season.

 

I tipped Aces Four for the Charlie Hall Chase but with the benefit of hindsight he was always likely to need the run.  He travelled and jumped well but went out like a light when things got serious.  He should be seen to better effect next time.

 

There were a couple of winners from our list on Sunday.  First Marleybow, a bumper winner, won on his hurdles debut for Howard Johnson, in similar fashion to Knockavilla the day before.  Berwick Law made headway from the back to finish 4^th and looks one to take out of the race for the future.  Only 3 lined up for the intermediate chase that followed but the winner was hard to pick for much of the race until eventually L’Antartique imposed his authority on proceedings.

 

Former jockey Brendan Powell trains at Lambourn these days and he sent out Shoreacres to win the bumper at Plumpton under Mick Fitzgerald.  It was a weak race but the winner clearly has some ability and I will monitor his progress with interest.

 

The big race on Tuesday was the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter, a race best remembered in recent years for the day Best Mate sadly died during the race.  The dry weather probably led to a below par field for this year’s renewal but despite that the winner looks one to follow.  Pablo De Charmil has notched up a hat trick for David Pipe last season and won this quite impressively.  He looks as though he may have stamina limitation but you would not bet against David Pipe finding further winning opportunities for him.

 

On Wednesday Breedsbreeze, owned by “Lucky” Jim Lewis kept things ticking over for our list to follow in the first at Chepstow but another lister The Package was beaten into 2^nd after racing too freely.  On the flat at Nottingham Medicine Path got off the mark for the season.  He had been a smart juvenile having finished 3^rd to Authorized with Eagle Mountain 4^th but had disappointed in 3 runs this season. Although he race freely at Notting Neil Callan managed to keep him covered up at the back and when he produced him out wide he eventually quickened to win going away.  Not classic form exactly but a big improvement on his efforts earlier in the season.  We also had a winner from the flat list today with John Quinn’s Monashee Brave in the seller at Musselburgh.

 

One horse that went into my notebook from the last few days was Amour Multiple who returned from a long absence and ran well for a long way in the valuable handicap hurdle at Ascot on Saturday.  The ground would not have been ideal for him either and he looks one to keep on the right side.

 

Tomorrow at Hexham recent course and distance winner Tot O’ Whiskey looks the one to be on in the 1.50.

 

We have had a couple of late winners from our flat list to follow as the season draws to a close.  Blazing Heights might just add to the tally in the 2.30 at Musselburgh, a race he won last season.

 

See you tomorrow for a preview of the weekend’s racing.

 

Continue reading “Diary: November 9 2007” →

The drying ground and consequent defection of many of the better horses robbed today’s card at Uttoxeter of much of its interest.  Alan King’s Ouzbeck won well though and looks capable of holding his own in better company.

 

I tipped against Mister McGoldrick today and you do that at your peril.  He had won there 7 times from 8 starts and duly made it 8 from 9.  We grow older but not necessarily wiser I suppose.

 

At this stage of the season it always seems to me that the flat season has outstayed his welcome somewhat.  The jockey’s championship is providing most of the excitement and threatens to go to the wire though.

 

Evan Williams has an interest in the big race at Wetherby tomorrow but he is also represented at Ascot where he runs Demi Beau in the handicap chase at 1.10.  He might be a bit too high in the weights over fences but I would be interested if his trainer tries him over hurdles later in the season as he has a much more lenient mark over the smaller obstacles.

 

The handicap hurdle at 1.40 looks competitive.  Ouninpohja won 5 times on the flat a few years ago but has become a really quirky individual since.  He has the talent to win a race like this but it remains to be seen if he also has the resolution.  I was impressed with the grey Special Envoy last season.  Previously he had won on the flat in France but he excelled over hurdles winning twice, running respectively at Cheltenham and falling when in front at Aintree. He could only finish 6^th last week in the race won by Don’t Push It.  It is possible that the handicapper has him in his grasp but I am not so sure.  Amour Multiple won twice last season on soft ground and his chance will depend on whether he handles quicker ground.  He is likely to go novice chasing I understand. Chivalry is one of those comparatively rare types that have won on the flat, over hurdles and fences.  He won the Cambridgeshire when he was trained by Sir Mark Prescott on the flat and was bought by Graham Wylie.  He is with Venetia Williams these days.  He has won on good to firm back in his flat days.  I quite fancy another ex Prescott flat horse, Liberate. He was 2^nd to Katchit in the Triumph Hurdle last season and on his most recent run was 2^nd to Alph, who also runs here, at Kempton.  This stiffer track should suit him but he may need a bit more cut in the ground.  This is an open race but I quite like both Liberate and Special Envoy.

 

Knockavilla impressed when winning his bumper at Carlisle and looks set to make a winning start to his hurdling career in the 1.20 at Wetherby.

 

Eight line up for the Charlie Hall Chase which is the centrepiece on the Wetherby card at 3.30. Kingscliffe has been a grand servant for the Alner stable. His second behind Neptune Collonges at Punchestown at the end of last season showed he is no back number and he could well run a big race.  Madison Du Berlais is best with give in the ground and although he won 3 times last season (and did this column a few favours in the process) I am going to pass him by here.  Bewley’s Berry is a horse I have always liked and was bang there in the Grand National when he fell. He broke a bone in his nose that day but as long as that experience hasn’t affected his confidence I am hoping he will enjoy a good season.  He is a course and distance winner and looks over priced at 20/1.  On the face of it the two main contenders are State of Play and Aces Four. State of Play won the Hennessey last season and has AP McCoy on board.  He is clearly a serious contender but I am going to burden Aces Four with my tip.  He looks the one horse in the field that will actually like the ground and providing he has no mental ill effects from a crashing fall on his last run in Ireland he should be up there.

 

Gaspara should prevail in the 4.05 but he will not be much of a price.

 

Over in Ireland the big race is the “James Nicholson” Chase at 2.30 where the two most likely winners are the UK trained Taranis and The Listener. I have the greatest respect for the latter who has a good record on his travels across the Irish Sea but Taranis may be better on the ground and Paul Nicholls seems upbeat about his chances.

 

On the flat Illustrious Blue represents our list to follow in the 8.20 at Kempton.  He is a bit of a Goodwood specialist and is also trying 12 furlongs for the first time and there are others in the race with more obvious claims.

 

We have 2 runners in the 3.50 at Newmarket.  Caldra has not shown a lot on recent runs and the ground may not be suitable.  Smart Enough was a winner at Bath last time out and has each way claims.

Osteopathic Remedy represents our list to follow in the 2.30 at Ayr.  He ran a shocker last week so is perhaps best watched.

 

There is jumps racing at Carlisle on Sunday and the novice hurdle at 12.50 features two runners from our list to follow.  Berwick Law looks a bright prospect on the basis of two wins in bumpers at Ayr, although both were on heavy ground.  Marleybow represents the Howard Johnson yard and the trainer rates him highly.  He comes from a winning jumping family and he won his bumper on good ground.  The main danger to these two looks likely to be Harry Wood, a dual bumper winner himself who has already had a run over hurdles when he was a promisiong 2^nd at Uttoxeter.

 

Although there are only 4 runners in the 1.20 it could still be tricky to pick a winner. L’Antartique was very consistent last season with his best performance coning at the Cheltenham Festival where he landed the Jewson beating another from our list to follow, Bob Hall.  Ungaro is an obvious danger but I am hoping that L’Antartique pays his way for us this season.

 

There are plenty of old favourites in the 2.25.  Irish Raptor is the likely favourite and comes from an in form yard.  King Killone is another for the short list.  He suffered an injury last season but is a nice old fashioned chasing type who should land a arce or two during the season.  The ground may be a concern for him tomorrow though. Numero un de Solzen has never been out of the first 3 yet and stays well.  His wins have come on soft ground though.

 

Good luck and see you Sunday evening

 

Continue reading “Diary: November 3 & 4 2007” →

Uttoxeter stages an interesting card tomorrow and I will start there.

 

In the 1.10 Serabad looks the likely winner.  A listed race winner on the flat in France he has the benefit of a recent run.

 

Super Nick has his first run for Venetia Williams in the 1.30.  He won a couple of bumpers last season and also showed promise over hurdles.

 

There are two runners from our list to follow in the 2.40.  Alan King’s ex French Ouzbeck was 3^rd on his UK hurdling debut and went into a fair few notebooks as a result.  He does look a bright prospect.  The main danger could come from The Package, trained by David Pipe.  He won a bumper at Towcester on his only start thus far and it could be significant that the ground that day was good to firm.  If the ground dries out at Uttoxeter The Package may be able to overturn the Alan King runner.

 

In the 3.15 there are 3 from our list to follow.  Nevada Royale may well start favourite. This one has a good record in point to points winning 3 out of 3.  One of these wins came on good ground.  Teamgeist is a big, old fashioned chasing sort who has shown promise on his 2 starts, one in a bumper and one over hurdles.  He does look the type to do well in this sphere.  The Real Deal won twice over hurdles last season but fell on his chasing debut last month.

 

In the 4.20 Ballaroyale represents our list.  He was 3^rd in a bumper at Warwick last season when well backed.  After this he is likely to be going novice chasing.

 

In the 3.25 at Warwick the admirable Mister McGoldrick and Howard Johnsons ex flat winner, the grey Coat of Honour have sound claims.  I will take a chance of the ultra consistent Three Mirrors trained by Ferdy Murphy.

 

The 2.45 at Down Royal is an interesting contest bringing together some promising hurdlers.  Bob’s Pride could be the one to be on.  He won a Derby Trial on the flat and looked good when winning two handicaps over hurdles last April.  Both those wins came on good ground and he could eb hard to beat here.

 

Kevin Ryan sends his Ayr Gold Cup winner Advanced over to Maison Laffitte for a Group 3 contest (2.20) and he may well have found another winning opportunity.

 

The only runner from our list to follow on the flat is Cadwell who is having his first run for Tim Pitt in the 8.25 at Wolverhampton. He was 2^nd on his first start this season but has run pretty dismally on his 3 subsequent starts.

 

See you tomorrow

 

Continue reading “Diary; November 2 2007” →

seem to be doing OK on the tipping front just lately and Otantique provided me with a winner at Huntingdon today.  In an exciting handicap chase he got the better of the front running Own Line despite ploughing through the final fence.  Own Line has a surprisingly poor strike rate for a horse with obvious ability.  I remember having him on my list to follow back a few years ago when he won a race over hurdles at 6/1.  I remember it well as I failed to back him!

 

There are 2 runners from our flat list to follow tomorrow.  Dance of Light runs in the 3.10 at Lingfield.  She was 7^th in the Oaks but has not really progressed  since then.  This is her AW debut and I see that none of the newspaper tipsters go for her.

 

Mofarif runs in the 3.40.  He won a maiden in Dubai but has not shown a lot in a couple

 

There are no runners from our main jumps list but I do fancy Hilly Gale in the 1.30 at Newcastle.

 

Emma Lavelle’s horses are in good form and she could be on the mark in the 1.20 at Stratford with the tough mare Blaeberry.  She likes fast ground so should have condition in her favour.

 

That is about all tonight.

 

 

Continue reading “Diary: November 1 2007” →

This is the list of horses trained in Ireland that I will be following this season.  The winners are highlighted in green.

All the Cousins
Amstecos
Another Ambition
Aran Concerto
Aran leigh
Arrive Sir Clive
Beneficial Guest
Big Zeb
Black Harry
Bob’s Pride
Cellar Door
Clopf
Cooldine
De Valira
Drumconvis
Drummer First
Duty
Five Two
Freneys Well
Glencove Marina
Hide the Evidence
Iktitaf
Impudent                        
Johnnie Dillinger
Kazal
Kendor Dine
Kimberlite King
Kirbybroguelantern
Liskennet
Meadows Thyne
Mick the Man
Mother's Mistake
Nickname
Ninetieth Minute
Northern Alliance
Notre Pere
Offshore Account
Powerstation
Rock Diplomat
Salute Him
Save the Bacon
Scavenger
Schindlers Hunt
Scotsirish
Shirley Casper
Sizing Africa
Sizing Europe
Slim Pickings
Slash and Burn
Sophocles
Sublimity
Tailors Hall
Theatrical Moment
Top the harts
Townabrack
Wins Now
Zalongo

Continue reading “Irish jumpers to follow” →

There is only one runner from the list to follow tomorrow.  Spume runs in the lady rider’s handicap at Nottingham (4.20).  The 3 year old is a difficult one to weight up. He looked one to follow based on last season efforts when trained by Sir Michael Stoute.  He ran 3 times winning the last of these over a mile at Salisbury.

 

In 4 runs for Stoute this season he didn’t really show a great deal and moved to Danny Murphy and he duly won on his first try for the new stable, a 1 mile handicap at Thirsk off a rating of 75.  Since then he has run 6 times and only beaten 14 of his 71 rivals.  He is blinkered for the first time tomorrow and has dropped to a rating of 65.  He obviously has the ability to win a race like this but something seems to have been affecting his performances recently, or perhaps he has just lost his appetite for the game.

 

There is nothing from our list to follow over the jumps at Huntingdon. Looking at the card for something to take an interest in though I was atken by Otantique, trained by Emma Lavelle.  He won at Exeter 3 weeks ago and should have ground conditions in his favour in the 3.10.

 

At Punchestown in the 1.45 Noel Meade’s Mick the Man looks the one to beat.  He was not out of the first 3 in his 6 runs in bumpers.  The other interesting runner is Scavenger, trained by Mouse Morris.  This former points and bumper winner was let down by his jumping at Gowran Park last time but may well be better than that.

 

That’s all for tonight.

 

Continue reading “Diary: October 31 2007” →