Friday's Meetings Curragh Flat 8 Races 1:20-5:20p.m. Market Rasen N/H 7 Races 1:30-4:55p.m. Lingfield Turf 7 Races 1:40-5:05p.m. Chester Flat 7 Races 1:50-5:15p.m. Nottingham(E) Flat 7 Races 5:10-8:25p.m. Ascot(E) Flat 6 Races 5:25-8:10p.m. Kilbeggan(E) N/H 7 Races 5:35-8:45p.m. Ripon(E) Flat 6 Races 5:50-8:35p.m. Racecards At The Races Racing Post Sporting Life Good Luck
My regular readers will know that I have been droning on (and on and on and on and on…) about Alan King having the double up re the pair of ‘Chester Cup races’ since before Cheltenham. However, as I said on Wednesday’s ‘Daily Thread’ the barn have been absolutely mullered by the ‘draw Gods’ with Mr Ponsonby’s Who Dares Wins (the motto of the Ponsonby family incidentally) berthed in 15 and Couer De Lion housed in box 12. Some will think it dappy talking about the draw in 18.5 furlong contests but the fact is that the ‘Chester Cup’ is one of the most draw dependent heats in the entire term – only twice in the last 9 runnings has the winner been drawn higher than stall 5 with last year the first 2 being drawn 2 and 3. The yard must be fuming right now I guess to be given such a bad hand after so much plotting. Look I’m not saying a horse can’t win from a high draw in a big field handicap over that distance at Chester but, crew, it will make it all the more difficult for both Who Dares Wins (3.35) and Coeur De Lion (5.35) that there is no, I say no, doubt. Incidentally the latter will head to the sales shortly after the race (condition of the syndicate when it was set up) so you can guarantee he will be Trying with a capital ‘T’ – last hurrah and all that. I’ve followed this plot with interest for over a couple of months and had they both been drawn in the first half dozen would have been recommending the vault to have been opened. As it is I think it more appropriate to deploy ‘Fred Flintstone’s neighbour’ with a modest each-way recommendation. One that I am very, very and I do mean very, very, interested in though is an unraced 2YO who makes his bow at Lingfield Park (2.50). I expect those bookie chappies to price it up as a battle between those with racecourse experience but, people, do not miss MERGE. The fact that he has also already been gelded may put many off but the son of Dandy Man is a nice prospect with his ultimate aim the ‘Windsor Castle’ at next month’s Royal meeting (hats off and all that). Merge was bought for €13,000 as a foal and then sold 10 months later, as a yearling, for £110,000 (that by the way, troops, is the way to make a profit!) having grown into an impressive looking animal. Meanwhile, the granddam was a dual Listed winner for old boy Barrington Hills (rated 109) and puts Class with a capital ‘C’ into the pedigree. Fitness does have to be taken on trust and it is, certainly, a ‘prep’ for a bigger target but Merge should certainly be on the old premises at Lingers Park of the morrow. Hopefully at a nice price as well. Good luck all.
Incidentally, if Derek ‘Thommo’ Thompson was a forum member then we would be in the midst of a 10 hour debate, right now, as to whether Polish who debuts for one of the Roger’s tomorrow evening (6.35 Ascot) was pronounced Po-lish or Pol-ish.
Not a tip endorsed by me but I do have it on good authority that GRANDEE was purchased with this race in mind. Stamina unproven but undoubtedly a decent animal. Had a good luck at the race and the one I personally am drawn to is FUN MAC.
Justice to prevail as Stargazer wins the Chester Cup. Still staggered by the stewards decision lto and I'd backed the one that got promoted by the stewards
so was magic circle , agree that fun mac is proven in the race and better drawn , minefield of a race , and the b version in the last is the same ..
Time To Study. 3.35. This would be my idea of horse that should give you a good run for your money. Lost nothing in defeat to the Harrington horse in the Sagaro lto, and stayed on well enough to think he'll see the trip out well enough. Stall 7 isn't too bad, and Franny knows his way around these bends 8/1 nothing special, but worth a few quid eway me thinks. I wouldn't be surprised to see Suegioo run a big one in the consolation race. Won the big one 4 years ago. Not won a race since, but ran some fine races in defeat. Come a long way down the weights and probably been aimed at this for the good Dr. Good luck.
Been up in the big smoke this week and very busy so haven't been following the Chester racing at all. This horse interests me. I remember his run in the Appletiser stakes at Ascot and i made a note of his run. I dont normally put horses in a note book which is why it sticks in my mind. I was impressed by how well horse was travelling but given a poor ride by Moore. I don't know why horse did not run at all last season but if he retains the ability must have a big chance in this . Won't get to see the race today so won't bother with a bet but good luck with it.
3.35 Chester- Stargazer - 8/1 First of all have just changed my mind. second of all 8 out of the last 10 winners have all been drawn in stall 5 or lower. And my lad is in a great draw. First time over this trip but has a load of pace on his inside most notably Stargazer who has the plum draw but he will be taken on for the lead and won’t get things his own way which will set up for Horses just off the pace and I truly expect this lad to buried behind the leaders and then when the cutaway comes in to play he will be left with a nice run through the middle and power on with some of that pace and show that class he had when running for Sir Michael. He was offf the track for the whole 2017 (don’t know why) but showed he had the talent still when first past the post lto which showed me that day he’s still not afraid of a battle. He’s still unexposed you can say after only 8 runs but has experience in big field handicaps and the step up in trip could be key to even more improvement, this surely has the been plan for a while and reading the trainers comments he seems pretty bullish about his chance
Crazy that the draw can be relevant over 2m 2f. Some other stats. Only four winning favourites since 1975. Winning most age is 6. (maybe My Reward has a chance)
I tell you what, troops, the more I keep dwelling on the stalls allotted to Coeur De Lion and Mr Ponsonby’s Who Dares Wins (the motto of the Ponsonby family incidentally), in the 2 ‘Chester Cup races’ the more and more I find myself paraphrasing old girl Lady Bracknell – to get drawn badly once may be regarded as a misfortune; to get drawn badly twice looks like carelessness. As expected those bookie chappies have priced up the 2.50 at Lingers in favour of those with racecourse experience – they seemingly make it a match between Glory Fighter and Tin Hat. Wouldn’t put anyone off Merge though – 12/1 appeals.
Unbelievably cheap buy for a horse rated 100 (and a Listed winner) at the time of purchase - 22,000 gns. Looks money well spent as he recouped almost £5k of that on his one and only run for new connections last month. I wonder why others didn’t create a bidding war.
Very true Barney. They thought they would have to offer a lot more. There are bargains out there in raced horses, more so than in buying stores or yearlings I would say.
I know it is mad isn’t it!! Don’t say that I foolishly changed my mind from him to my pick. Only thing they put me off was he won’t get an easy lead and there are a few who will go to the front and also doubt he will get trip coz of it.
Barney, I've been silent too long, and I can't allow to continue to propagate fake news. If you persist in glorifying the unspeakable Ponsonby family, I shall petition the moderators to have your avatar-label amended to Unreliable Member. First, Who Dares Wins is not, and never has been, the motto of the Ponsonbys. It is, of course, the motto of the SAS, on whose behalf it was almost certainly coined by David Stirling, a very unpleasant man of whom I have nothing more to say. It's just one more variant on 'fortune favours the brave' a proverb which goes back to at least 4thC BC Greece The motto of the Ponsonbys was, and presumably still is, "Pro rege, lege, grege" (For king, the law and the people). This is a considerable joke, because the only interest the Ponsonbys ever had in the law was bending it to their own advantage, and their devotion to the people was restricted to separating them from their money by exploiting tenant farmers and slum-landlording. The original Ponsonby immigrant seems to have been a Norman barber who came over with the Conqueror, and styled, pomaded and wheedled his way into a position of influence. Later notorious members of the clan include Lady Caroline Lamb (nee Ponsonby) who was a) barking mad b) insatiably randy and c) the title-heroine of one of the clunkiest films every made (1973). Others of disrepute include Sarah Ponsonby, who scored double-bubble for lesbianism and incest with Lady Eleanor Butler; google up "Ladies of Llangollen" if this sort of thing excites you. All in all, this clan is worthy of neither respect nor admiration, and you should exercise caution in your (no doubt well-intentioned) eulogies.
