Saturday's Meetings Newmarket Flat 8 Races 11:50-3:50p.m. Ascot N/H 8 Races 12:15-4:17p.m. Wetherby N/H 7 Races 12:25-3:55p.m. Ayr N/H 7 Races 12:32-4:02p.m. Down Royal N/H 7 Races 12:40-4:10p.m. Wolverhampton(E) A/W 9 Races 4:30-8:30p.m. Racecards At The Races Racing Post Sporting Life Good Luck
Tomorrows racing looks awesome. The race I am looking forward to for betting purposes is the 2:45 - where Wholestone is the selection. This race has the reigning Stayers Hurdle winner, but he's not even favourite with most bookmakers!! I like Lisnagar Oscar, but I don't think he is a good Stayers Hurdle winner, and I think he will always be vulnerable to a horse with a change of gear or a bit more class. Tomorrow I think he meets a couple of those in Next Destination and Wholestone, and the former is a horse who you have to respect but he has come here off a huge layoff and who knows how much ability he retains. The latter was seen to good effect over fences last season, before missing the spring racing, and I have always thought he was a better hurdler than chaser. He is rated 151, but on his best form he is a 160+ horse, and that cannot be said for many in the race. I had him, Roksana and Lisnagar Oscar as the three co-favourites, so I was very surprised to see 15/2 available earlier, and even the 13/2 now is very appealing.
For all that Wholestone has the figures, and is a horse that goes well fresh, I can't shake the feeling that he may not retain his hurdle form. I'm sure he will be switched back to fences after Saturday. In a race with a few potentials, I'm plumping for Decor Irelandais, who I feel is still ahead of the handicapper, despite a 7lb hike. You probably think this as a good omen Nass Others are: Asc 120 Dr Sanderson 155 Ibleo 305 Sebastopol 340 Townshend ew 20-1 5 places Hills Weth 135 Guy 210 Verdana Blue 245 Décor Irlandais 320 Vindication Good luck all
I liked the look of Decor's chances as well Reebs but in the end I went with the favourite in that race. Has a favourable weight pull, was really consistent last season and think she will be primed for this. My two bets for tomorrow are: Wetherby 2.45pm Roksana 2/1 win Wetherby 3.20pm La Bague au Roi 20/1 each way. Amazing to think she was favourite for this race last year and while I m not sure she will be good enough to win this, I can see her running a big race. Good luck all
A potentially cracking Grade 1 at Down Royal tomorrow afternoon. Delta Work will no doubt be a warm order, and rightly so, but, while it could be another Gordon Elliot benefit day, it is one of Gordon's supposed outsiders I fancy in The Storyteller @ 7/1. He appeared fairly exposed as a chaser until recently, where he has upped his game to another level. He has race fitness over some of the market leaders and I think if he is to upset the "big stars" then this is his day. Presenting Percy makes his first appearance under Elliot's tutelage, O'Regan on board turned me right off him but it will be interesting to see what change he can bring about his performances. In other news, Apple's Jade is to be sold at the Goffs December sales, Gigginstown offloading some of their assets as part of their winding down phase ,with them having no interest in the breeding aspect of racing. There will be a lot interest around this one no doubt and answers on a postcard as to what she will fetch. She will be lot 515 on the 10th of December if anyone is thinking of getting me an early Christmas present Have a nice day folks.
See I think he’s a much better hurdler and expect they will aim at the Stayers Hurdle which looks the only festival race he’d have a chance in. As such I’m expecting him to stay hurdling this year
Following Frodon’s magnificent display under top weight at Cheltenham last weekend, I’ll be backing Black Corton to achieve something similar in Ascot’s Staying Chase at 3.40 today. Nichols has learned a trick from Martin Pipe; how to take advantage when fielding the top weight in a handicap, and chuck something else in lower down. Consequently, if he doesn’t win it with the top weight, there’s every chance he’ll go close with Adrian Du Pont, who has come down to a winnable mark, and whose pilot claims 5lb. Currently 11/2 and 12/1 respectively. I’ll probably back the top one win only and the other e/w.
Ascot 15,05 Dear Sire 14/1 e/w 15,40 Valtor 7/1 e/w Wetherby 15,55 Shakee's City 18/1 e/w (WH five places, others 16/1 also five places)
This looks a decent renewal of the Charlie Hall with depth and intrigue a plenty, here my take on the runners: 1. Ballyoptic - game winner of this last year on soft ground and he carries a 6lb penalty for that. Goes well fresh but I just wonder whether he might like it even softer? I think he can place but might just find one too good. 2. Cyrname - definitely NOT a 176 animal going left-handed round Wetherby, his lofty rating is based purely on form at his beloved Ascot. I think this is a sighter for the 1965 Chase next month at Ascot and I can't have him winning today. 3. Definitly Red - has been a great servant to connections down the years but perhaps not quite the force of old. He would want a deluge to turn the going heavy prior to the off (only 4th on soft last year) and I don't see that happening. 4. Vinndication - ran a very creditable 4th in the Ultima off top weight when last seen and has a great record when fresh. A solid favourite on the form book but I think he would need to run a career best to take this. 5. Sam Spinner - for me the dark horse of the race. He has a huge engine and is a grade 1 winner over hurdles BUT he has treated his fences with disdain in 3 victories so far. His bare chase form leaves him with plenty to find but if his jumping has improved he has the potential to be in the mix today. 6. Aye Right - unseated behind Sam Spinner at Doncaster before a remote 5th in the RSA and then not quick enough to win over 2m 1f at Kelso. Looks like they are searching for the right trip but likely to be outclassed here. 7. Keeper Hill - looks up against it on all known form. 8. Mister Whitaker - typical winner of the no longer existent novices handicap chase at the festival, he has done very little since (Divers anyone?). Third in the plate when last seen but I can't see him troubling the principals here. 9. Saint Xavier - 100/1. EOS. 10. La Bague Au Roi - on her novice form she could be dangerous with the mares allowance but she has become something of a disappointment and would need the wind surgery to have worked wonders. Summary: Cyrname and Vinndication are battling it out for favouritism at the moment but I am taking a chance that Sam Spinner can put his best foot forward and take this. A stand out 8/1 with Billy Hills.
Scoop 6/Ew Lucky 63/Acca attempt: 2:25 Down Royal - Chris's Dream 3/1 (Delta Work WILL win the Gold Cup come March but i'm happy to let it run without my money first time up) 2:45 Wetherby - Wholestone 11/2 (sorry Nass but i kept on coming back to this one) 3:05 Ascot - Malaya 7/1 (changed my mind from Kid Commander so lets hope that doesn't come back to bite me in the arse) 3:20 Wetherby - Aye Right 14/1 (can't be having the top two at those prices so was looking for an ew option, am likely playing for the place here but you never know) 3:40 Ascot - Mister Malarkey 12/1 (4 places) (probably the most difficult race of the day for me to pick one. A horse i've won with before, a horse i've lost with before. Its an all or nothing horse so i took a chance. Valtor and Black Corton were the other two on the shortlist) 3:55 Wetherby - Shang Tang 13/2 (5 places) (a toss up between this one and Arrivederci) If i didn't do the scoop 6 with a mate every week, i'd have probably not had a bet in any of these races. Good luck those playing today.
Some great races today, but hard to pick the winners. I’ll give it a go though. 1.20 Ascot Dorking Boy 3.05 Ascot Sebastopol 3.20 Weatherby Sam Spinner 3.40 Ascot Valtor EW Lucky 15. Good luck all with yours. Have a great weekend
I am really surprised that Cyrname is as big as 10/3 against a good field, but one that doesn't have a superstar in it. Cyrname and going left handed is an interesting discussion point, and not sure it is one we know the answer to yet, has he just become a much better horse in recent seasons or is it all to do with which way around he goes? I am also still unsure about the trip, but in this field he should be able to sit comfortably in his ground and hopefully we will get an answer about the trip question too! I can't have Sam Spinner, I just think in this company he is going to have to jump much better than he has over fences. He won three small field chases last season and his jumping in all three caused issues. He also jumped right on occasions and whilst he does have good course form, I think that is to do with the level of opposition rather than him loving the chase track here. I think he will have to make this a test, and I don't think his jumping will stand up to the test. Vinndication is one who could improve from handicaps to graded stakes races, and his handicap form is rock solid. I don't think he should be favourite here but he does have a solid chance. I think he is vastly underpriced. The two with proven form are Ballyoptic and Definitly Red, the former won a handicap off 157 last season (Vinndication was beaten off 156 at the festival) and has the good course form. Then Definitly Red has the course form and was rated in the 160s last year, both of them have the form and experience to make best use of their assets to run well here. I am amazed that they are 15/2 and 11/1 respectively, if either runs to their best form of last season I think they will finish second at worst. Then it is all whether Cyrname is up to his mark, whether he likes the distance and whether he likes going the other way round. Given those questions I am against him, but wearily so. Ballyoptic 15/2 EW Definitly Red 11/1 EW
Nass what do you make of Might Bite off 152 in the Sodexho Gold Cup? I think the handicapper has given him a right old chance.
My EW yankee from last night for some interest; Wholestone 2:45 13/2 Drumconnor Lad 2:52 4/1 Black Corton 3:45 6/1 Off The Planet 4:17 8/1 Most have shortened so happy about that. The one in the bumper has halved in price but I am not surprised as the form of his bumper debut is turning out to be exceptional. Not been mentioned on here but the Henderson jolly in the bumper is a half brother to Hurricane Fly and they paid a small fortune for him as a store. Hendersons recent bumper record at Ascot is pretty uninspiring though.
Wasn't there a close relation to Hurricane Fly ran in a bumper a few weeks ago and bombed out? I think it was in Paul Barber's colours but can't remember the name. Italian Spirit should go well today but no bet so I wish you the best of luck with Off The Planet - at least they didn't pay an astronomical price for him
