Monday's Meetings Southwell N/H 7 Races 1:15-4:45p.m. Leopardstown N/H 7 Races 1:40-5:10p.m. Wetherby N/H 6 Races 2:05-5:00p.m. Wolverhampton(E) A/W 8 Races 4:55-8:30p.m. Racecards At The Races Sporting Life Racing Post Good Luck
HOLLY TREE 5:10 Leopardstown 18/1 Not sure if it will good enough to beat the big stables but this horse made one of the most eye catching bumper debuts that I have ever seen at Thurber eleven days ago. Held up way out the back but finished full of running. Hopefully will be given a much more positive ride today.
Wetherby 15,15 Geryville 7/2 bet365 Southwell 16,10 Shiyrvann 20/1 e/w bet365 five places, 18/1 others
Bloody hell, Stick, (not that it means a darn thing coming from me), but I am convinced. It reminds me of good old Galaxy in his heyday. So, load-up the wheelbarrow and make a 'ton' of shekels today! The very best of luck with this selection!
In the Hunters' Chase at Southwell, (14:25), Arthur's Sixpence has a fair chance of a podium finish at least. The gelding is one of the younger runners at 9-y-o, as there are certainly some brave old codgers in this event. Haven't a clue on the rider and trainer, but the jockey is a Mr. P. Bryan (3), who takes the ride for a Ms. Nicholls (the name sounds good, anyway!) 9/1 (Bet365/PP) best price at time of writing. E/W best option. (Prices from Oddschecker)
No show, but it is worth taking a look at the extraordinary recovery of jockey, Bryan, at the 11th (or maybe 12th) fence, after a bad error by his mount. Incredible how he landed back in the saddle, and continued as though nothing had happened!
Caryto Des Brosses won. Tipped in 2020 for Foxhunters Chase but NR. Three years without running (2019-2022) because of stomach ulcers. Came back last year in April and another year without running. Shame, I think he could have dominated the division for a few years.
I remember Galaxy tipping up a 14/1 winner around the time I joined Not 606 back in 2012 quoting the above and then Stick following it up with a 16/1 winner the following day.
Finding information about horses running in PTP is very difficult. His absence in 2020 was due to that, if I remember correctly. Then another two years without racing, so I guess they couldn't fix the problem, or maybe he had other injuries. When he came back last year I was delighted, in fact I think I put him here, he ran well despite being out for so long and came second. Today he came back after another year off and won. He is already eleven years old, and it is a pity what happened.
I haven't up till now said anything after that Bumper yesterday. Is that a case for the Irish stewards or is it 'just' the oddest piece of riding a lot of us have ever seen? Stick was desperately unlucky as he really had spotted a 'winner-in-waiting'. Had the horse been ridden by a half-decent amateur jockey (and there are loads of good amateur riders in Ireland), and showed that extraordinary 'turn-of-foot' at the appropriate time, 'Holly' must have gone awful close to winning. Oh well, it's history now, but still darn maddening.
