Friday's Meetings Down Royal N/H 7 Races 12:17-3:47p.m. Hexham N/H 6 Races 12:25-3:20p.m. Exeter N/H 7 Races 12:35-4:00p.m. Chelmsford A/W 8 Races 12:45-4:08p.m. Newcastle(E) A/W 9 Races 3:08-7:20p.m. Dundalk(E) A/W 8 Races 5:00-8:30p.m. Racecards At The Races Sporting Life Racing Post Good Luck
A nice double for me at Exeter on Haldon Gold Cup day: 2.55 Grey Dawning - very game grey who can do even better over fences 3.30 Editeur du Gite - the only one of these to have dined at the top table and his class can help him give the weight away
Newcastle 16.45 I've had quite a long look at this race and I'm finding it difficult to oppose Mondammej at 6/1 even though it's almost 2 years since he last won a race. He has run some good races in decent times and looks weighted to beat the well fancied Bedford Flyer, 10/3 and Alligator Alley, 9/2 who broke the course record here recently
You picked a tough sprint there, Ron. Digressing a bit, have to smile at the oft-used expression these racing journalist use, quote; "has to be taken seriously....." Well, gentlemen, although just a total amateur with absolutely no connections to horseracing, I take my selections very seriously, and you know what? It doesn't make a scrap of difference!
In the Grade-2 Haldon Gold Cup Handicap Chase (15:30) at Exeter, over an extended 2m1f on good-to-soft (soft-in-places) ground, the one who will be carrying a very light-weight, Elixir De Nutz, may well give a good account. The French-bred gelding by Al Namix ran some good races last season, and his run at Chepstow 27-days ago was obviously a pipe-opener, so that can be taken as an encouraging sign. Tongue-strap and cheek-pieces are applied. Stable has given ride to the promising conditional, Freddie Gingell (7). His allowance brings selection's impost down to the above-mentioned NH light-weight of 10-stone. Gingell on board for the Joe Tizzard yard. 11/2 (Wm.Hill/Coral) best price at time of writing. Any drift and E/W would be a good option. (Prices from Oddschecker)
About 3 years ago maybe 4 , Jimmy Moffatt told me that the best woman riding NH in this country by a mile wasn't Bryony Frost or any others, but Charlotte Jones still somehow claiming 3... 3 rides again today and 3 winners. She presents a horse to hurdle or fence beautifully and is an incredible pace judge. Thankfully over these years ive had some nice little touches backing her in multiples, including today.
Gordon Elliott has won 5 of the first 6 races at Down Royal and has the 1/6 fav in the last. Willie Mullins with just 2 runners over 2 days at Down Royal - I guess he doesn't like going there . I guess it is a fair old drive by Irish standards.
It wouldn't be too bad a journey for him Oddy, about 2 and a half hours and it would be nearly all Motorway once he got out to it from his yard. Plenty of tolls as he heads North, maybe he doesn't like parting with the 10 or 15 euro for it! But even thinking of it off the top of my head, it wouldn't be a track he ever sends a big amount up too. Could be he just doesn't like tje track for his better horses.
Nice shout Swanny. Just catching up on some of today's action now, well done. Also Tigerscave for being rewarded by his loyalty.
Well he did beat those. I just failed to take into account the 3 that finished in front of him Not the best of runs "Taken down early, hampered start, in rear, going easily but not clear run 2f out, in the clear 1f out, hampered final 110yds, ran on towards finish" Beaten a nk for 3rd
... along with "has to be taken into calculations", "Not taken lightly", "has to be respected", "hard to fully discount" and that's just at one meeting
