1.30 Meydan Energia Carioca 16/1 Can't see anything I really like tomorrow but this caught my eye and I'm going to play a small e/w, as the jockey booking is very strange. Fabricio Borges is a trainer who I know next to nothing about (if anyone has any info feel free to share) and appears to operate in Sweden but does have 2 Group 1 wins to his name so he must not be all that bad. Tomorrow, Colm O'Donoghue rides Energia Carioca and this is the thing that really caught my eye as David Marnane has another more fancied in the runner in the race in the shape of Angels Pursuit but O'Donoghue appears to have chosen this horse instead. C O'D has ridden Angels Pursuit once before (albeit it when with Hannon) and is regularly used by Marnane including with his two runners at Meydan today and has ridden 17 times for the owners in England and Ireland, which makes it looks even stranger to me. As this is the last race of the Meydan Masters International Jockey Championship, with every race finishing position accumulating points, it appears to me that O'Donoghue has chosen this horse over Angels Pursuit as he believes it has a better chance of winning. To the horse itself, and I haven't a clue where to get much information for him, Energia Carioca was a wide winning 3 year old in Brazil before coming over to Meydan to win on the Tapeta surface in late 2010 in a Conditions race beating a horse rated 109 (although he's shown no real subsequent form). He raced twice subsequently in better races at the track and disappointed and after a 6 month break he was last seen on the track in Sweden where he was a disappointing favourite. He looks quite unexposed and his mark of 95 may be quite workable. This is a major shot in the dark to be honest but the booking of O'Donoghue was so eye catching that I think he warrants a small play.
good morning folks. I am off work today so fancied getting stuck into the bookies to give back some of my fairly handy football pickings from this weeks games. (could not believe that N'castle were 4/1 to beat an out of form Man U). Todays fayre however looks pretty poor so I shall look for some pointers from you wonderful people who appear to be brillient at spotting things from form that are never apparant to me. I often look at the results and go back through the racing post and try to spot what I may have missed that would have guided me to a particular horse but generally I see no reason for a change in fortune. I have even gone back through days of results and the only possible indication of a sequence is to check out horses drawn in gate one at Lingfield. I suppose now that I've posted that not one will come in today!
Morning, people. Hope everyone well. Am waving the old ‘no bet’ banner today as nothing particular inspires. Good to hear old boy Charlie Longsdon on the wireless earlier this morn though with the legend of the airwaves ‘Big’ Alan Brazil. Mr Henderson’s former assistant said he expected Pipali to run well in the ‘lucky last’ at Bangor-On-Dee.
Only one I fancy today, Venetia's Clowance House 1.30 Bangor. Rated 90 on the level this one was a only a couple of pounds inferior to the favourite, Absinthe. Donald McCain's charge will be making his debut and although his flat form confirms a liking for soft ground, the furthest he travelled on the level was 10f, Clowance House had a season hurdling last year so has a great deal more experience than his rival today as well as confirmed stamina, he wasn't beaten far by Non Dom at Leicester on heavy (off levels) last season and David Pipe put that one up against Rock on Ruby in the Intermediate Hurdle at Newbury, though predictably outclassed. Not a great race but I think the two market principles should be closer to joint favs and the fact one is 11/10 and the other 2/1 makes Venetia's horse value for me. Good luck all
3.25 Sherjawy EW I like the look of Sherjawy in this race, it seems to me that we are going to get a generous pace and this horse does best when played off a fast pace. Recent form hasn't been good, but it has shown enough to suggest that a good run might not be far away.
Old Richard Hughes has been banned for a month by the Indian stewards – excessive use of the elbow! Ban starts 22 Jan. Meanwhile, Bobs Worth well supported for the RSA this morn I see. Bet365 standout at 13/2. William Hill taking no chances and have cut him a point to 5’s.
I think everything in the RSA will shorten as talk of Grand Crus going down the Gold Cup route gathers pace - I saw GC drifted out to 3s a few days ago, he was 7/4 or thereabouts a few weeks ago
Morning gents, hope we are all fit and well for the start of the weekend... SBC - Have you seen any footage of the Hughes incident...? Seems a harsh penalty for an elbow...!!! I hope he knocked the other jockey clear off winning the race for such a thing...?! As im not an expert on the AW it looks like a day at Bangor... And i hope to a lovely time, the day i went to Bangor...(one for the older ones on this thread...!!!) Back in a bit for some fingers crossed selections...
Morning chaps 13/2 for Bobs Worth you say SBC that is a terrible price imo based on the fact his jumping wasn't good enough last time out. Anyone else thinking if he jumps like that at Cheltenham he will end up stuck out the back and not be able to get in to contention ??
Agree RV. Both at Newbury and at Kempton his jumping was poor. He looks to lack scope and can see him getting too far out the back in the RSA, for all he will undoubtedly be motoring up the hill. I see no real reason why Silviniaco Conti shouldn't finish in front of him again, provided he takes his chance.
Red - nope haven't seen the race. Makes you wonder how bad it must have been though for Hughes to get a month for it. He's claiming it was merely self defence! I find the RSA Chase a fascinating race at the moment. Given the Pipe's history I don't think that there is a chance of Grands Cru lining up in the race and as he takes out so much of the book then as that is my belief I think real value lies elsewhere. Join Together was really impressive last time at Cheltenham and I like him but don't give up on the 2nd that day either - Mr Henderson's Mossley. Have always loved this horse and just look at the way Gerraghty looked after him once his chance had gone. I still think he's out of the top drawer. RV, yep Bobs Worth jumping wasn't great but his Cheltenham record is (3/3) and if he can run as well when his jumping is not up to scratch imagine the result when Mr Henderson irons out the discrepancies. I think one of these 3 will win the race.
Morning all - thrown a sicky today so just woken up Grizzly that 1.30 race at Bangor is quite interesting. Besides the 2 principals in the betting you have pointed out, there also looks to be something of a Henderson plot horse (ran off 53 at Wolverhampton a few weeks ago but not beaten far on his only hurdle start to date) and the "second string" in Don McCain, Record Breaker, looks interesting e/w at 14/1 (assuming 8 go to post). This one had 60 career starts on the flat for Mark Johnston, winning 9 and achieving a highest rating of 102. I find it interesting that they are going hurdling with this one so late in life and, even though he has no form to shout about on soft ground and Jason Maguire has chosen to ride Absinthe (one assumes), I think a small e/w dabble for interest could liven up a dull Friday afternoon. Otherwise I like 2 shorties in Lucky Mix (12.55) and Diocles (15.10) and in the bumper Liqueur Rose catches my eye. Best of luck everyone
The thing with Join Together is that Nicholls had him down as one for the 4 miler. That must mean that he rates Silviniaco Conti (and Sonofvic) superior. Join Together has proven course form but I'm not convinced that it's that strong. Mossley, and Bobs Worth, look overrated to me, and Champion Court made a bad mistake at a crucial time and didn't stay. I may be wrong though! On that subject why is Keighley not aiming him at the Jewson? It seems mad to me but he's said RSA if Grands Crus isn't there and a handicap if he is. Am I missing something?!
Morning Odddy really looking forward to watching Gamilati in 5 mins at Meydan - looked very good in 3 starts last season before finishing last in the Lowther. Surely capable of better. Wouldn't touch her at 4/11 though against Alsindi who was a Group 3 winner on her 2nd start for Cliver Brittain
