3.55 Taunton Buxom 4/1 I don't usually put up too many at this price but I think Jamie Snowden's 5 year old could be absolutely thrown in on her handicap debut off a mark of 108 and I'll be very, very surprised if she doesn't prove to be better than her mark. Formerly with Oliver Sherwood, Buxom showed some very useful form in bumpers as she won both her first two career starts in good fashion (the latter under a penalty in game battling fashion with the front two pulling 20L clear). In the 2nd bumper, the runner up Whichever has shown some nice form over hurdles including when finishing a 11L beaten 4th behind the talented Baby Shine (2nd and 3rd rated 124 and 116 respectively) and she followed that up with an very good 2nd behind the excellent Tante Sissi. Buxom had two more runs for Oliver Sherwood - both in Listed Bumpers - where she ran with great credit on the first occasion running out a very nice 5th. After this, she joined Jamie Snowden where she has had two starts over hurdles - the first being a very eventful affair indeed!On the back of a 6 month absence, Buxom was sent off an odds on shot for her hurdling debut in what looks a pretty moderate affair in what turned out to be a very eventful affair. Turning in for home, Buxom looked as if she was going to go away and score in fine fashion by a distance but then she saw the entrance to the paddock which resulted in her jumping markedly left handed at her final two flights as she threw away the race to go down by 1L. She probably forfeited about 15L with her antics that day and what looked as if it was going to be an impressive winning debut over hurdles turned out to be a bit of a shambolic performance from her. This mare has had one start since her hurdling debut when finishing 3rd in what I think will turn out to be a very hot novice hurdle in time. That day she hurdling debutants Call Me A Star and Eleven Fifty Nine who had both won a Listed Bumper and look rather exciting prospects over hurdles. Under the guidance of tomorrow's jockey Tom O'Brien, Buxom took up the running after 5 out but as soon as the aforementioned rivals pulled up alongside her O'Brien did not try to with the and allowed her to come home in her own time as she finished 22L behind the leading pair and clear of the remainder of the field. Buxom showed no quirks that day which leads me to believe her attempted dash for the paddock was a once off. She's now qualified for a handicap mark and based on her bumper form and what would have been a very nice introduction over hurdles I think she has been assigned a very lenient handicap mark of 108 and I will be very surprised if she isn't good enough to defy this mark. In addittion, Jamie Snowden has stated that "We think an awful lot of this mare, as she has been working extremely well at home, and I do think she has a very bright future" which certainly is encouraging and backs up her form and my opinion of her. I wish I had got some of the 6s available as I would have had a very large e/w on her as I can't see her out of the first 3. In this Class 4 Mares Handicap Hurdle, I think if Buxom jumps round clearly then she will take an awful lot of beating and it wouldn't surprise me if she absolutely annihilated this field on her handicap debut.
3.25 Taunton For The Staff 15/8 I will be truly amazed if this gets beaten tomorrow. A scorer in 2 points in the spring, For The Staff ran a lovely race LTO when finishing 2nd behind a resurgent Tom George horse in the shape of Desperate Dex on the back of an 8 month absence. Trainer Jackie Du Plessis said he'd come on a lot for the run and he jumped immaculately and travelled beautifully before tiring late on. Insanely, the handicapper has dropped him 6lb for that effort and he now gets into a 0-100 Chase. You will very, very rarely see me say this but I've gone in big time on this and I think he'll start odds on tomorrow. If he wins in a canter by 20L I will not be surprised in the slightest. If he doesn't win and you've gone in big I'm sorry but I will be there wallowing in the same pain as you.
a few from my notes for tomorrow, looking as i do for good ew odds in with a chance although these are cherry picked and successes might be elsewhere: 12:25 NBY i was interested in Ironic 31/5. a recent french import now trained by tom george and ridden by paddy brennan. has always run on soft/hvy in france and 2nd officially rated horse in the race at 129 behind meganisi at 130. odds long enough for an ew bet. 1:30 NBY ivor's king 4/1 (as long as no non-runners) who has been beaten by kayfrou 10/1 on soft over a shorter distance, won on heavy ground but hasn't gone 21f yet. kayfrou has gone further but on good. 2:05 NBY houblon des obeaux 15/8 has odds too short so my next was harry topper 6/1 and highland lodge 9/2 but i struggled to split them. probably harry topper for more distance experience. 1:35 THU heavy forpadydeplasterer 9/4 runs in this, 2nd to sizing europe back in october (pp gold cup) but was PU at chelts over 21f. has never completed 24f successfully so alas despite a soft spot i haven't picked him. bertie's dream 10/3 should really get this distance and has chased on soft/heavy mostly coming 1st or 2nd except once. can be forgiven for PU over 28f last time out. snooze at the bottom is interesting, has run over much shorter distances but beat mini vic by 18L over 21f on sft/hvy and now goes up in distance, trainer has 100RTF but the horse isn't not very fast or experienced, 10/1 and shortening. 2:45 THU heavy saoirse dun, the fave at 37/10 hasn't gone the distance so after picking the rest apart, ponmeword 10/1 seems quite used to the ground and distance. robbie power is the jockey. g'luck all for tomorrow, 4 jump race meetings, we're spoilt
it is indeed. beat countrywide flame on the flat and it'll be good to see how he takes to hurdles. masses of racing experience.
Taunton 1.05 Cool George Pleased to see this one entered tomorrow as it carried a few of my ew sheckles in the champion bumper. Ran a nice race before being pulled up 3F out having lost it's action.I must admit I feared the worst so am delighted to see him back. Absolutely hosed up in his debut bumper on soft ground so no worries about the going. A number of high profile stables being represented should ensure a decent price too. Shall also combo this one up with a couple at Newbury: Howards Legacy 12.55 and Sizing Santiago 2.40. The former won we'll last time out and represents the in form Coleman/Williams team. The latter only found the 'well handicapped' Swing Bill too good lto at Cheltenham. Good luck all having a go tomorrow.
Otto the King 1.30 new why because im stressed out over father in laws heart attack and pressed the wrong buton on my paddy account **** **** **** does it get better doubt it stay frosty
Morning all 2.05 New - HARRY TOPPER @ 6/1 2.15 Tau - TITAN DE SARTI @ 5/1 7.05 Kem - ARTIC LYNX & DAMIKA(Dutch) @ 6/1 & 9/1 Good luck all!
Morning all. Sorry to hear that Danbo, hope you are managing to stay a little bit frosty mate Finally some decent action after the wash-outs earlier in the week. Alan King speaks very highly of his runner in the Newbury bumper, Gone Too Far, on his website: "Gone Too Far will carry JP McManus’s famous green and gold silks in the John Banks NH Flat Race (3.45pm). Our Bumper horses have been more backward than usual this year, but this horse is one of the better ones and is doing very well." Had a small wager on this one. Not too sure why Ruby is ****ing about at Thurles instead of riding some nice Nicholls horses at Newbury - it would be typical of him to fall off a novice chaser and break his leg again . Over at sunny Uttoxeter the bookies are taking no chances with Barney Curley's Me Fein in the 1.55 - his 7lb penalty for sauntering home heavily eased by 7L at Fakenham last time just brings him into the bottom of the handicap of 10-00 dead and Dougie Costello takes the ride. He is priced up as 5/2 fav early doors. Back to Newbury for the race of the day, IMHO, the Worcester Novices Chase at 2.05. After winning his chase debut well I really thought Houblon Des Obeaux was up against it last time when giving weight away all round in the Grade 2 Rising Stars Novices Chase but he dismissed the likes of Poungach (subsequent easy Haydock scorer) and Court In Motion in really pleasing style, showing a dogged resolution to get on top. The step up in trip should suit as he won well over 3 miles as a hurdler and I think this fella could turn into a leading RSA contender. At the moment he is 25/1 for that heat but that price could well shorten if he takes this impressively today. Best of luck everyone
Nicholls stated that ATP isn't a natural hurdler by any means, and he is just aiming to get him experienced over hurdles and then go from there. No bets for me today, too trappy for even me. Danbo, stay strong and stay frosty!
1.05 Taunton Cool George 7/1 Completely forgot about this horse until I stumbled across it now and I think 7/1 looks huge on his hurdling debut and if this was for one of the big named trainers I think he'd be an even money shot. Jackie Du Plessis's 4 year old made a long lasting impression in my eyes when absolutely sauntering to victory on the bridle by 9L on debut when sent off a 33/1 shot in a bumper at Exeter on New Years Day in testing conditions. The form of that race has worked out very nicely with the 2nd Umadacher franking that form massively by winning his next bumper before running two almighty races in Listed Bumpers at Sandown and Aintree to finish 2nd and 3rd respectively and has since gone on to win a maiden hurdle. Considering he absolutely blew that rival away then Jackie Du Plessis must have some horse on her hands. Cool George has had one start since then in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham where he reportedly lost his action and pulled up and naturally you have to forgive that effort. I was so impressed with his debut effort that I backed him for the Champion Bumper and he looks a really exciting hurdling prospect. He's been off the track since March but he was certainly wound up for his debut so the absence doesn't concern me. Although its impossible to know how he's schooled, his bumper form is head and shoulders above anything else in this race and he looks by far the best horse on paper of those that have raced. He looked a serious, serious horse on debut and if he's anywhere near as good over hurdles he could make this average enough looking novice hurdle a procession.
Spot on re Cool George - his price is being held up by the Nicholls, Curtis and Pipe horses. I think he went in many peoples notebooks when winning on debut (I know he went in mine because I was on the 2nd horse ) and 7/1 just seems a massive price today given how well he won. Even taking the 3rd, Unex Degas, as a form line, it would put Cool George at least 130 with massive improvement likely. There is the issue of his PU at the festival, and whether he is fully recovered from that, plus how has he schooled? But even then, 7/1 still looks a very tasty price.
Few for me today. First of all, I am joining the Cool George bandwagon. Harry Topper 2.05 Newbury. Should relish the soft ground and see out the trip really well. Beat some useful types on fencing bow and should be more to come. Deserting Houblon Des Obeaux after backing him both starts this year, could end up regretting that decision but is just a little too short against a field like this especially when giving the selection 3lbs. Milarrow 12.55 Newbury. Beat the Hobbs hotpot Bold Henry last time out and that is useful form. In off a low weight here and that could make all the difference on this ground. Our Bomber Harris 2.40. Tipped up when running a decent race behind Hidden Keel, then ran out a ready winner at Hereford after being a little more assured at his fences. Harry Fry has made a good start to his training career, recent spin over hurdles should have him there or there abouts for this. The ground shouldn't be a concern either. Good luck all
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