Saturday's Meetings Bangor-on-Dee N/H 6 Races 11:00-1:47p.m. Fairyhouse N/H 8 Races 11:36-3:30p.m. Newcastle N/H 7 Races 11:42-3:15p.m. Doncaster N/H 7 Races 11:48-3:32p.m. Newbury N/H 7 Races 11:55-3:35p.m. Wolverhampton(E) A/W 9 Races 4:30-8:30p.m. Racecards At The Races Sporting Life Racing Post Good Luck
Newbury 14,55 O'Moore Park 25/1 e/w PP and sky six places, five places others, 22/1 bet365 six places
Boyle Sports offering 25/1 6 places Pic Roc at Newbury 14.55. Stiff race but odds look attractive with only 10.4 to carry
Hello, crew. Hope everyone well. As you'd expect with a race that has the history of the Coral Gold Cup (or the race that used to be known as the Hennessy or, even, Royal Berkshire's 'bobby dazzler' if you'd prefer) there are a plethora (bally 'eck that's good word) of stats / trends associated with the heat. The one's that I've got listed are - 9YOs are 0/49 in the Coral Gold Cup since 2010. Paul Nicholls is 1/25 in the race since 2010. Horses carrying 11 stone 7 lbs + are 0/45 in the Coral Gold Cup since 2010. Since 1982 horses 10YO+ are 1/98 in the race. Horses with an official rating below 145 are 2/123, in the Coral Gold Cup, since 2005. The favourite has won just 1 out of the last 7 runnings of the race. Nigel Twiston-Davies is 0/11, in the Coral Gold Cup, since 2014. Horses who won last time out have won just 1 out of the last 6 runnings of the race. Irish trained horses are 1/62, in the Coral Gold Cup, since 1990. The big question now must be which of the above stats / trends will be enhanced after the '25 renewal of the big race and which ones will fall by the old wayside???
Bloody hell, it's now showing up in the short list at 12s. Generally 25s last night with BS the only one offering 6 places at those odds. Slips up on the 'won lto" and OR stats
In the Coral Gold Cup I am drawn to two horses, but both of them are on career high marks. Firstly, the admirably consistent Resplendant Grey, who I think has been somewhat unfairly raised 6lbs for winning the Colin Parker but will be running on when many others have cried enough. Secondly, Myretown for the lovely Lucinda Russell. I just love the way she and Scu go about their business and it was a cracking piece of training to get this one winning the Ultima on just his 5th start over fences. That was off 127 and he is 15lbs higher today but you'd have to think this has been the target since the Ultima and he must have a massive chance. In the Fighting Fifth I will be rooting for The New Lion. Had him down as the 26 Champion Hurdler since he won at this year's festival.
Constitution Hill jumped the first well and then the second was his undoing again. I just wonder if there is an issue with his eyesight (just thinking)
I tend to agree with what Ruby just said - he changed his mind half way through the jump. This might sound harsh but I would try him with a different jockey, just to see if it improves the situation.
Golden Ace doubtless will be labelled lucky again but she can wing a hurdle. A watching brief only but punters piling into CH based on his last 3 runs is beyond me.
Fair play Dan Skelton, that was stunning from the mare. I was just wondering whether the Mackeson / Henessey double had ever been done but Celestial Gold 21 years ago according to Ed Chamberlain
They have checked this thoroughly as part of Constitution Hill's 'complete MOT' (Hendo's words not mine). Lieutenant Henderson has stated frequently during the Summer / Autumn that Constitution Hill has 'been to Specsavers' (again his words not mine). His vision was deemed 100%.
They have used a different jockey. In his start before the '25 Fighting Fifth the other Bowen boy (a.k.a James) rode Constitution Hill (at Punchestown). The 8YO went off at 8/13 and was beaten 27 lengths
Loads of opinions are being put forward re Constitution Hill but to me he has simply gone at the game (hurdling). In all probability his confidence has been totally eroded and you are, in my opinion, asking for horrendous trouble by keep asking him to remain over hurdles. The reality is that there is nothing unusual about this, erosion of confidence, as it happens to a countless number of animals every term. Moving forward I'd deffo run him on the Flat next time - sticking with hurdling will most, most likely see a repetition of what has happened in his last 4 races (we are not talking about an isolated instance here, people, or even something that has happened just a couple of times) and it could even be called cruel to preserve with him over timber. Run him in a 12-16 furlong maiden and see what happens... Constitution Hill and the Flat has occupied all the headlines but in a similar vein the Tizzards' Alexi is interesting. It would appear that they are going to continue with him over hurdles until they get to the point that they believe Alexi is not Champion Hurdle class. Whenever this proves to be the case he will then be switched to the level - the 5YO has a mark of just 74 which does look most, most appealing. In fact Tizzard junior, in an interview, even mentioned Alexi and old girl, Mel Bourne, in the same breath!!!
He went on my list of horses to follow this term over the summer. The flat mark is most interesting but Champion Hurdle would, I believe, be a step too far.
