Thursday's Meetings Southwell A/W 8 Races 1:00-4:30p.m. Wincanton N/H 8 Races 1:10-4:40p.m. Kelso N/H 6 Races 1:50-4:20p.m. Chelmsford(E) A/W 7 Races 4:55-8:00p.m Racecards At The Races Sporting Life Racing Post Good Luck
I first mentioned the 5YO Mahler mare, FISHCAKE, what a lovely name for a mare by the way, back in May of last year and therefore am very, very excited that tomorrow she makes her racecourse bow (4.40 Wincanton). Bred in the old purple Fishcake is a half-sister to Monkish and she's also trained in the old purple as well being handled by Lieutenant Henderson, God bless him and save him. Not a comparatively expensive purchase at all (€25,000), incidentally, despite the fact that Monkfish had already won a Grade 1 at the point of sale. Given this pedigree and the fact that the old girl is housed at Seven Barrows, though, there has to be the fear that Fishcake could be offered at a false or quite frankly silly price. Time will tell re that though when the markets open later on... It should be noted that Fishcake's dam was only 6th on her bumper bow. Monkfish was 2nd and her other 2 half-siblings, to race, finished 3rd and 4th in their first National Hunt Flat Race. 0/4 then so Fishcake would certainly be breaking family tradition if she obliges tomorrow! Re her opponents these look headed by Dollar Bae who won her sole point by a whopping 33 lengths, Perculator who's siblings are bumper winners and Treyarnon Bay, a Mastercraftsman filly with a half decent flat pedigree. These 3 alone indicate that the Wincanton race has the look of being well above average. In time Fishcake will be a valuable addition to any paddock but before then let's hope she can win plenty of races - starting, I say starting, of the morrow.
9/4 is the opening show for Fishcake with Bet365. She might be a half-sister to Monkfish but the other 2 siblings have been very moderate animals indeed. I quite like the look of another one housed in Lambourn for this bumper - Joseph Tuite's Mastercraftsman filly Treyarnon Bay. The yard has a decent strike rate in bumpers and, with her weight and sex allowance coupled with a speedy flat pedigree on this fastish ground I think she can run a big race. 10/1 is her opening price.
Very interesting early skirmishes in the old betting market re this heat. Fishcake on the drift now 100/30. The 2 'blue' across the board on Oddschecker are Annie Wicks (into as low as 15/8 fave) and Treyarnon Bay - now best priced 11/2. I also mentioned the latter above and would rate her as the main danger to Fishcake. Something very, very 'unknown' about this filly.
How unusual to see a Wincanton bumper without Paul Nicholls having a runner. My two penneths here are that old Pip Hobbs has a good record in bumpers at the course and that Annie Wicks sets a decent if not spectacular level.
Each Way plays on a couple of outsiders in the 3.30 Southwell Between The Sheets @ 12-1 [Skybet]..4 places & Dalglish @ 16-1 [Bet 365]
All the best with Dalglish mate. I’m on again. I’m sure the amount of money I’ve spent on him they will let me bring it home next week
In case anyone is interested the TBA Flat Stallion Parade is taking place at Tattersalls this morning at 11am before the sale starts. 12 first and second season stallions are being paraded, 6 of them from the same stud (and sorry to say not the most inspiring bunch!) but there are some interesting horses to see inc A'Ali (who was originally slated to stand at a small stud but impressed breeders so much when he was available for viewing back in December that Newsells Stud, home of Nathaniel, stepped in and bought a controlling share in him and moved him to their own facilities). Parading: A’ALI £7,500 Newsells Park Stud, Hertfordshire New for 2022 BANGKOK £3,000 Chapel Stud, Worcestershire New for 2022 DIPLOMAT £1,500 March Hare Stud, Dorset LEGENDS OF WAR £4,000 March Hare Stud, Dorset LOPE Y FERNANDEZ £5,000 The National Stud, Suffolk New for 2022 MR SCARAMANGA £1,000 March Hare Stud, Dorset New for 2022 ROSEMAN £5,500 March Hare Stud, Dorset New for 2022 SERGEI PROKOFIEV £6,000 Whitsbury Manor Stud, Hampshire SOUTHERN HILLS £2,000 March Hare Stud, Dorset TIP TWO WIN £2,500 March Hare Stud, Dorset UBETTABELIEVEIT £5,000 Mickley Stud, Shropshire New for 2022 WITHOUT PAROLE £8,000 Newsells Park Stud, Hertfordshire Parade should be live online here: db.tattersalls.com:8080/4DCGI/Sale/Live?site=NMT
16:40 Wincanton - Dollar Bae (As much as I really love a 'Fishcake** (I'm sorry, Sir Barney, but IMHO that is a truly lousy name for a mare?), I have to go for the runner whose damsire is also Old Vic, namely, Dollar Bae, a very expensive purchase as a 4-y-o (compared with what she cost as a 3-y-o? Regardless as to the final outcome, good luck to Fishcake, and all connected with her, and those having a wager on her too! ). **When we used to visit a big fish farm not far from where we live, always made sure they had their delicious fishcakes on the menu in their little restaurant. God, are they ever good!
80/1 wins, I think if Dalglish started 5 minutes before he still wouldn’t win. I’ll still back him again though. Only fools etc etc
See Evan Williams took a few horses all the way up to Kelso today, and I think so far they all have won! I wonder if Voodoo Doll can win the last too (16:20)? Daughter, Isabel Williams,, on board for the stable.
Tricky as they’re not a hugely inspiring bunch - A’Ali is indeed a gorgeous creature so I’d probably take a chance on him. I’d consider Without Parole if you could ignore his later career!
What an SP, Oddy, at 7/2. Hindsight, I know, but what a price for a horse who won his only other race by over 30-lengths! Not to mention again the huge purchase price the new owners paid for him as a 4-y-o, against what he cost as a 3-y-o. Not absolutely sure how this Bumper will eventually turn-out form-wise, but there surely are a few in this race to keep a close check on? on the fishcakes, especially with a bit of red pepper chili sauce! Think I'll get my dear missus cracking on doing a few. She's a darn good cook, got to give it to her. Not afraid to try new recipes too. I enjoy being the family's 'tester-in-chief', nice job! (My daughter does not take after her mum, and my son-in-law is a useless gourmet. All they bloody well think of are noodles. Npodles, this, and noodles that, so utterly boring!)
Couldn't agree more with this statement. It may well prove profitable to follow those finishing 2nd - 8th next time. The winner would, in my book, be outside of this category as she would have to carry a penalty next time (unless, of course, stepped up in grade). There were a couple of huge market moves re this race - Treyarnon Bay (10/1 to 9/4 and ran a solid debut to finish 2nd) and Annie Wicks (15/8 to 11/1. She trailed home 9th). Re Fishcake, which I still maintain is a lovely name for a mare, she ran OKish to be beaten just over 8 lengths. Not spectacular, obviously, but something to build on for next time. More experienced and all that...
