Racing on Thursday from Taunton, Ludlow and Thurles over the jumps and Lingfield and Wolves on the flat. Two I like very much at Taunton: 3.20 Dunraven Storm - very impressive in his early novice hurdles last season before running into Cue Card at Cheltenham in a Grade 2. He subsequently disappointed at Haydock (4th of 4 behind Toubab) before pulling up in the Supreme Novices, since when he has not been seen. As he clearly likes better ground it is fair to assume he has had some problems or we would have seen him by now (he was entered at Newbury on New Year's Eve but scratched) but I think he can go well fresh here and may turn out to be the class horse in the race. 4.20 Un Ami - half brother to the very useful Son Amix and by Grands Crus and Al Ferof's sire Dom Alco, he is certainly bred in the purple. Maybe Dan can text James to see what he thinks?
3.20- Ranjaan-back from an early Doncaster fall when readily landing a juvenile hurdle over 2m at Kempton last month and, open to bags of further improvement, He is a well regarded sort will be well fancied to follow up on his handicap debut plus Nicholls is very confident of him winning tomorrow!
2.50 Express Leader - I thought this one was a potentially well handicapped sort when it was beaten by Drumbaloo, and I wasn't surprised by his poor run on poor ground at Exeter over a trip I thought would be unsufficient. I think he will relish this trip and I think he could still be really well handicapped. I am surprised at the 6/1 available.
3.50- Fistral Beach- first-fence error appeared to knock the stuffing out of him at Newbury last time and he couldn't have been much more impressiveat Wetherby previously. Again carrying top weight but cant beleive I got the 6/1 massive value
3.10 Ludlow- Kid Cassidy- could be pretty smart over fences and a clear round should suffice in the Clive Pavilion Beginners' Chase at Ludlow. He is r ated 144 over timber, he fell with the race at his mercy on his chasing debut.
I like Kid Cassidy. Haven't looked at the race but put up a thread about him on 606. So would like to see him win. Better have a look now to see what he's up against.
Yep Kid C should win. I'm also thinking that in the 2.40 Ludlow the 2/1 about Carrickmines might be worth snapping up.
here's one for the mix. rainbow haze in the last at taunton. decent form, good family, trainer is no fool from very limited numbers. hopefully be overlooked and a decent price with a few likely types in.
Yep I was writing exactly the same thing RV. We all come out with some belters from time to time but that one pretty much wins the prize for biggest load of bollocks of the NH season. Lol
2.50 Taunton: PATSY FINNEGAN 16/1 e.w Struggled in soft ground on reappearance but that was no surprise as this horse performs better on nicer ground, as the betting (33/1) suggested that day. Some good form off similar marks to this and this is not the strongestr looking class 3 event, and I think Alan King might have picked a good opportunity here. The 3.20 is an interesting race and if Ranjaan is serious for the Triumph he should go close. However, he has not impressed me at all and at this moment I would not have him in the Triumph mix, with at least one smart Nicholls horse still to come, and Hinterland already having shown his hand. My gut feeling is that the Hobbs horse DUNRAVEN STORM 8/1 looks like making a bold bid, especially with the race likely to be left for him to dictate, and his record fresh is excellent, so he repesents value.
I fancy the Tony Martin horse in the 15.35 at Thurles ASKEMORE, been there and there about and now 5 lbs better off than th 5 length defeat to GIANT FERRIS last time out!! 7/2
Malcolm, we all make silly comments, weren't you thinking Rainbow View was going to be the next Ouija Board? However, Eddie does make me laugh, best mare in Ireland? Give over.
Oh and on another note, I got one of those 'Go Racing' gifts for Christmas, its for a Northern Racing track, which one should I choose to visit and why?