The only horse mentioned last night, New Guinea, won at Leicester today at 10/11.
There is only 1 runner from our flat list to follow tomorrow and that is Yossi in the 4.10 at Yarmouth which is the Aylsham Slurry Services handicap. If you have been following Yossi all season you may well be in the slurry yourself as he has only won once in 9 starts, and that was at 1/4. He has bits of form and clearly has some ability but you couldn’t really back him with any real belief.
See you tomorrow
Well the Breeder’s Cup was a bit of a disaster all round for the European horses, and what with that and the atrocious ground it was a bit of a disappointment I felt.
Much more interesting for me was the national hunt action at Aintree today where we were treated to some excellent performances. Monet’s Garden was my tip for the Old Roan Chase and he didn’t let me down. To be fair he did have most of the important factors in his favour but nonetheless, he is a thoroughly genuine and likable sort as his jockey stated after the race. Kauto Star must have pleased Paul Nicholls. Getting so close to Monet’s Garden giving away a stone was a notable achievement. I wouldn’t read too much into the run of Exotic Dancer. Cheltenham is his track and anyway he has never won first time out since arriving in the UK.
I wondered if Degas Art might be able to surprise Katchit but in the event Alan King’s tough little horse was in no mood to be beaten. As they jumped the last together I thought that the flat speed of Degas Art, a listed race winner on the level, would prevail, but Katchit was the more determined of the pair. Katchit reminds me of Mysilv, another little battler of a horse who also won the Triumph Hurdle, back in 1994 I think, without looking it up.
Tidal Bay got his season off to a good start when easily winning the novice chase. He was helped by the fact that his main rival Alberta’s Run made some jumping errors.
There is just one runner from our flat list to follow tomorrow. New Guinea looks to have a sound chance in the 2.50 at Leicester.
Bye for now
Saturday did not go too badly on the tipping front.
“Don’t Push It had a good campaign over fences last season and should be mixing it with the best this time around. He is back over hurdles here, and as long as he settles will be hard to beat.” WON 2/1
“Michael Muck is probably not one of Paul Nicholls stable stars but he won a couple of races last season and he stays well.” WON 11/8
“The rapidly improving Ibn Khaldun looks the one to be on in the 3.40.” WON 11/4
“Heaven Knows ran with promise on his last start when 4th at Ascot and a repeat of that form would see him go close.” WON 100/30
“I don’t have much of a view on the Breeder’s Cup, my only real fancy being Lahudoud in the Filly & Mare Turf.”WON 10/1
Let’s hope for a few more tomorrow!
Aintree stages the best card on Sunday with the highlight being the return of last season’s Gold Cup hero Kauto Star in the Old Roan Chase at 2.40.
Kauto Star is one of 3 runners from our list to follow, the others being last season’s Gold Cup runner up Exotic Dancer and Monet’s Garden, winner of 2 Grade 1 races last season. There is no denying Kauto Star’s achievement last season, winning all 6 of his races, each at a different track.
Although Kauto Star got the better of Exotic Dancer when they met last season, tomorrow’s event is a handicap and the Paul Nicholls runner must give weight away all round. I don’t suppose any of them will be fully would up for this race as they will all have bigger targets later in the season. They have all won at Aintree before, as has the other one to consider, the front running Ashley Brook, so course form is not really a pointer.
Monet’s Garden has an unblemished record first time out and the trip suits him well so he just gets my selection.
The card kicks off with a national hunt novice’s hurdle where the two that stand out are Crocodiles Rock and Laborec. The former won a couple of bumpers last season and was 6th in the Championship bumper at Cheltenham. He shaped as though 20 furlongs would be ideal for him and he looks a smart prospect. Laborec represents the Howard Johnson yard. He won his only start in bumpers at Hexham in taking fashion. He is said to be a nervous individual.
The form of Tidal Bay is hard to knock as he has never been out of the first 2 in his career so far. He gets weight from rivals who all have inferior form over hurdles for his chase debut at 1.40. Backing novice chasers at odds on is probably a tried and tested route to penury but all being well he ought to win. The main thereat may come from Alberta’s Run a winner of 7 of his 9 races, including his chase debut at Towcester this month.
Triumph Hurdle winner Katchit returns to action in the 2.10. He is a likable little horse and has won 7 of his last 8 races. He should win this but may have something to fear from Degas Art. He was a winner in listed class on the flat and although he has won over hurdles his jumping has not always been fluent. Perhaps for this reason he has been best in small fields so with only 4 runners tomorrow his hurdling technique may not be so severely tested as it would be with lots of runners around him.
Trainer Ferdy Murphy thinks a lot of Naiad Du Misselot who showed plenty of promise last season, including a win at Wetherby on Boxing Day. He is stepped up in trip for the 3.15 tomorrow which on pedigree looks within his compass.
Ferdy Murphy also trains Marshall Hall who is my fancy for the 3.50. He won 3 times on the bounce last season; jumps and travels well in his races and may still be improving. My main doubt would be the going as his best form has been shown with plenty of cut.
In the closing bumper at 4.25 I fancy Cool Operator, a winner of his only start in point to points at Curraghmore last Easter Saturday in a good time. Said to prefer good ground he is an interesting prospect. He is by the same sire as the likes of Afsoun and Korello Bay. Of the others Henry Daly’s Major Suspect is worth a second look as is Room at the Top who was trained by Andre Fabre in France but never ran over there. He is with Lucinda Russell now.
This is a really international weekend of racing and I am trying to cover as much of it as possible. One of the horses from our flat list to follow, Short Skirt, runs in the Group 1 fillies amd mares race at Capannelle (Rome) tomorrow. She won well last week at Newmarket when returning after a long absence and providing she doesn’t “bounce” could add to her tally. She is related to the Irish St Leger winner Arctic Owl by the way.
At Wincanton, Martha’s Kinsman should be suited by both track and trip and has an each way chance in the 3.30.
That will do for tonight.
There is plenty of racing over the weekend, with just about something for everyone. With so many meetings to cover I am going to concentrate on Saturday tonight. I will be back with a preview of Sunday’s action tomorrow evening.
Aintree stages the best jumps card of the season so far so where better to start this evenings offering.
Border Tale won at Kelso last week and trainer James Moffatt has him out again in the 2.10. You couldn’t rule him out as he has ground conditions to suit and is a course and distance winner.
Mossville represents our list to follow in the 2.45. She is relatively unexposed and could be on a fair mark.
Kirbybroguelantern comes over from Ireland to contest the Grade 2 hurdle at Chepstow (1.25) He is a winner of 3 bumpers but lacks hurdling experience. He is an interesting runner though.
We have 2 horses from our list to follow in the 1.55. Don’t Push It and Lead On. The latter is a very nice type who has won 2 of his 4 starts, most recently at Cheltenham last April. He may well go chasing alter in the season, he certainly has the physique for it. Don’t Push It had a good campaign over fences last season and should be mixing it with the best this time around. He is back over hurdles here, and as long as he settles will be hard to beat.
Michael Muck is probably not one of Paul Nicholls stable stars but he won a couple of races last season and he stays well. One of his wins came at Chepstow and he returns there for the 2.25. The grey Rimski for the in form Twiston-Davies yard looks the danger.
The 2.30 at Doncaster has an intriguing look. King Orchisios won at Catterick last week and the 3rd (How’s She Cuttin’), 4th (Bo McGinty) and 5th (Strike Up the Band) all reoppose. I thought that both How’s She Cuttin’ and Bo McGinty ran well last week as they had unfavourable draws. King Orchisios may well go in again, and Princess Ellis is a threat but I will burden How’s She Cuttin’ with my selection. Bo McGinty will not be far away.
The rapidly improving Ibn Khaldun looks the one to be on in the 3.40.
In the 5.15 Osteopathic Remedy , who tends to race keenly, and hasn't quite been seeing out the mile recently, has plenty going for him from a handy pitch if William Carson can just get him to save a bit for the finish. The other runner from our list to follow in this race is Flores Sea who has lost form since winning early in the season.
Down at Newbury Ivy Creek represents our list to follow in the Group 3 race at 2.50. He won a couple of listed races earlier in the season but has not quite built on that success. His last run though, when 3rd over 10 furlongs at Ayr was encouraging. He is back up to 12 furlongs here but would need to run right up to his best form to win.
Princess Valerina has been one of the least successful horses on our flat list, failing to win from 8 starts. She runs in the 3.25. She is 25/1 in the RP and that just about sums up her chance.
Missit ran an excellent race in the Rockfel Stakes last week and if none the worse for that looks the one to beat in the 4.00.
Seabow, Plum Pudding and Heaven Knows represent our list in the 4.30. Heaven Knows ran with promise on his last start when 4th at Ascot and a repeat of that form would see him go close. Seabow likes cut in the ground and has an each way chance. Plum Pudding has shown little since winning at Newmarket in May. He has come down the weights as a result though and claimer Jamie Moriaty takes 3 lbs off.
My best bet at Naas is Sizing Africa in the 3.15.
I don’t have much of a view on the Breeder’s Cup, my only real fancy being Lahudoud in the Filly & Mare Turf. For the record the following are runners from our list to follow.
6.55 Passage of Time; 9.50 Dylan Thomas.
Good luck
Of the 3 horses mentioned in last night’s preview 2 won. Transcend looks set to make a mark as a sprinter after winning at Brighton (11/4) While Brinkmanship obliged at Ludlow under an assured ride from Richard Johnson. It would be no surprise to see Brinkmanship over fences before the season is out.
There is just the one runner from our list to follow on Friday. Staked a Claim’s form has a symmetrical look with 4 runs where he finished 4th in each race. He tackles a handicap for the first time in the 5.25 at Ayr and does not look on a bad mark. He looks to have an each way chance at around 7/1.
There is one runner from out list to follow running tomorrow and a couple from our dark horses list.
Brighton 3.35 Transcend
Dark Horses
Carlisle 3.45 Day of Claies
Ludlow 5.35 Brinkmanship
I did say that Dig Deep was hard tp predict and proved myself right by failing miserably to predict his win at 15/2 this afternoon. I suppose one of the key points was that he was running off 79 today, while his 2 wins earlier in the season were off 83. He has been kept busy all season and has now won 3 of his 13 starts. He has started favourite or joint favourite 5 times and has won on 3 of those occasions.
The other winner from our list to follow was the difficult top spell Furmigadelagiusta at Wolverhampton.
At Exeter tomorrow Brendan Powell’s Sir Bathwick might be good enough in the 3.40. He looks the sort to take to chasing and should benefit from his recent run when disqualified for taking the wrong course at Sedgefield.
There are a couple of runners from our list to follow on the flat on Wednesday.
Comma – 3.30 Bath
Composing – 4.00 Bath
Tinagoodnight gave us a welcome winner over the jumps today. She travelled nicely on her hurdles debut and may well progress from there, especially if she can brush up on her jumping.
Otage de Brion was a non runner while Lennon failed to justify favouritism at Kempton.
There are 3 runners from our flat list to follow in action tomorrow. Dig Deep goes in the 3.10 at Pontefract. He is getting hard to predict and I can’t really drum up much enthusiasm for his chances. Unlike Dig Deep who has won twice this season, Swinbrook is yet to get off the mark. He is dropped in grade in the 2.30 at Wolverhampton though and must be in with a fair chance.
Furmigadelagiusta carries top weight in the 4.30. He folded rather tamely at Ayr when last of 9 but that run may have been too bad to be true.
Bye for now.
The Dark Horses
This is a list of horses that didn’t make my main list to follow but I will still be monitoring their progress over the season. I know some of them are not all that “dark” but I was stuck for something to head the page!
Aaron's Run (C Llewellyn)
Alfie Flits (G A SWinbank)
All for Luck (N Richards)
Always Waining (P Bowen)
Amhairghin (H Harker)
Amour Multiple (S Lycett)
Another Promise (F Murphy)
Aperitif (G Harker)
A Toi a Moi (C Longsden)
Alfie Flits (G A SWinbank)
Atomic Winner ( A King)
Aureate (B Ellison)
Back in Business (Evan Williams)
Ballabriggs (D McCain)
Ballamusic (A King)
Ballyvoge (N Richards)
Bergo (P Nicholls)
Big Fella Thanks (P Nicholls)
Blue Bajan (A Turnell)
Border Tale (J Moffatt)
Boulevardofdreams (D Pipe)
Brinkmanship (T Vaughan)
Brook no Argument (J J Quinn)
Cabby Doo (J Moffatt)
Carrick Star (F Murphy)
Celestial Halo (P Nicholls)
Chapoturgeon (P Nicholls)
Chief Dan George (J Moffatt)
City Affair (T Vaughan)
Classic Cut (J Ewart)
Classic Gold (Ben de Haan)
Cornas (Evan Williams)
Corran Ard (Evan Williams)
Court Ruler (Evan Williams)
Custom Design (G Harker)
Daltaban (Emma Lavelle)
Dave's Dream (N Henderson)
Day of Claies (H Hogarth)
Ergo (J Moffatt)
Evelith Echo (A King)
Ferrando (G A Swinbank)
First Feerie (N Chance)
Freneys Well (E Bolger)
Glenary (H Daly)
Great Quest (J Moffatt)
Halcon Generlardais (A King)
Harry Wood (D McCain)
Herecomesthetruth (P Nicholls)
High Chimes (Evan Willams)
Hilly Gale (H Hogarth)
Hitaaf (D Pipe)
In Accord (H Daly)
Indicible (A King)
Kavaloti (G Moore)
Khyber Kim (N Henderson)
Kimi (N Chance)
King Killone (H Hogarth)
Kings Euro (T Vaughan)
King’s Quay (J J Quinn)
Lablthou (Mrs E Lavelle)
La Troussardiere (J Ewart)
Major Suspect (H Daly)
Marcus (Emma Lavelle)
Marodima (P Nicholls)
Marshall Hall (F Murphy)
Master Eddy (S Lycett)
Master Minded (P Nicholls)
McKelvey (P Bowen)
Midnight Chase (P Keane)
Miss Ceka R Alner)
Mister Trigger (P Nicholls)
Mutual Friend (D Pipe)
Night Fly (C Llewellyn)
Ninetieth Minute (T Taafe)
None de Sivola (F Murphy)
Noland (P Nicholls)
Nom de Guerre (B De Haan)
Northern Quest (H Hogarth)
Northern Stars (H Hogarth)
Numero un de Solzen (J Ewart)
Oncle Bul (R Alner)
Onyorgard (R Alner)
Open de L’Isle (J Ewart)
Opus Café (Emma Lavelle)
Ordre de Bataille (H Daly)
Pevensey (J J Quinn)
Pistol Desbois (R Alner)
Planet of Sound (P Hobbs)
Prince Car (J H Johnson)
Prince Taime (P Hobbs)
Princess Flame (B Powell)
Professor Higgins (Howard Johnson)
Proud to Present (B Powell)
P’tit Vouster (J Ewart)
Quartano (C Llewellyn)
Quizzene (A King)
Quws Law (Mrs L Russell)
Quintessentially (C Llewellyn)
Rathmulen (Henrietta Knight)
Ricardo’s Chance (S Lycett)
Ring the Boss (P Hobbs)
Rinnwood Lass (P Keane)
Robin de Sherwood (P Nicholls)
Rockwithcavemen (D Pipe)
Role On (N Richards)
Room at the Top (Lucinda Russell)
Scaramouche (B De Haan)
Scarvagh Diamond (N Richards)
Serabad (R Alner)
Shipmaster (A King)
Shoracres (B Powell)
Signs of Love (N Chance)
Sir Bathwick (B Powell)
Sir Bumble (P Keane)
Slew Charm (N Chance)
Snap Tie (P Hobbs)
Spirit of Man (D Pipe)
Stern (Emma Lavelle)
Stumped (H Daly)
Tamimi’s History (N Richards)
Tatenen (P Nicholls)
Theatre Diva (Venetia Williams)
The Duke’s Speech (F Murphy)
The Empty Tin (P Nicholls)
The Old Pretender (C Llewellyn)
The Parting Glass (C Longsden)
The Polomoche (N Henderson)
Timpo (H Daly)
Top Brass (C Longsden)
Topless (P Keane)
Uffa Fox (B De Haan)
Washango (S Lycett)
Watch my Back (N Richards)
Whiteoak (D MCCain)
Wind Instrument (C Llewellyn)
Wipe your Eye (B Powell)
Zaffarella (P Keane)
On the face of it the horses on our list to follow had a pretty miserable day of it with only Imperial Commander winning and that at odds on. In reality though most of them ran well and some were unlucky. At Newmarket Eagle Mountain was a game runner up in the Champion Stakes and had the rest of the field well beaten and Al Qasi was also second after not getting a clear run. Up at Catterick How’s She Cuttin (3rd) and Bo McGinty (4th) ran absolute stormers racing together on the “wrong” side of the track. Over the jumps Smart Street, Bob Hall and Khasab were all promising 3rds while Private Be was brought down while in contention.
There is racing a several venues tomorrow. The ex French Otage de Brion looked a bright prospect when winning at Plumpton in May and looks the likely winner of the 3.00 at Hereford.
Another horse that has come over from France is Tinagoodnight. She won at Clairfontine in July and is the sort that trainer Nicky Henderson normally does well with. She runs in the 2.20 at Kempton.
In the 3.25 at Kempton Ben De Haan puts Classic Gold out again just 2 days after his defeat at Cheltenham, while in the same race Paul Nicholls run former decent flat handicapper Another Bottle.
The 4.00 looks quite competitive but may go to the front running Lennon whose style should be suited by this track.
At Wolverhampton Sir Mark Prescott seems to have found a winning opportunity for Tonnante in the 2.40.
The only runner from our flat list to follow in Ireland is Attercliffe in the listed race at 4.30. He is 14/1 in the RP and that about represents his chance.
ahorse 