Certainly wasn't on THIS planet Bob! And what a strange ride .... going for the better ground is one thing, but adding a couple of furlongs in doing so seems extreme!
Proved right Sir Henry's stable getting off to a good start to the season, might have to start paying closer attention
4.30 Ripon Barkston Ash 16/1 Although Sandy Lane could prove incredibly hard to beat under a penalty after sauntering to success LTO, if he underperforms for whatever reason then I'm hopeful Barkston Ash can run a nice race. A winner over C+D on his only start at the track, Eric Alston's 5 year old signed off last season with an impressive 3.5L victory at Ayr under a hands and heels ride by Jason Hart (although the conditions were dreadful). Although the winning distance could have been a bit misleading due to the bottomless ground, he couldn't have won much easier and he beat what was put in front of him and a 5lb rise seems pretty fair. That hike in the weights has seen him go up to a career high mark of 80 but I still think he's got some improvement left in him at only 5 year old. He had a really good blow out on his seasonal reappearance at Doncaster last month where his usual cheekpieces were left off but the fact they are reapplied today makes me feel that connections are expecting a good run. Very well drawn in stall 9, Barkston Ash represents the bang in form Eric Alston whose last two runners have won and Jason Hart's 5lb claim is a useful bonus. Sandy Lane could prove much too good for these based on his last run but I think Barkston Ash is definitely overpriced at 16/1 and looks a very nice each way alternative.
2 from 4 with my Stan James "free-view" bets And while the rest of you pile into Midnight Chase next up, Reebok's Rouble is on Ashkazar, last years winner, and been backed down from an opening 16's to half that.
Had a few quid on Havana Gold purely on value grounds, got 15/2 which is to big a price if you ask me
Me too Shergs. I was originally of a mind that this was the stable's second string, but RV put me right
I'll lick my own arse and post a picture on here if that horse wins the Derby. And you can take that to the bank.
Most open race of the day coming up from Chelts. Connectivity for my shilling, but very wary of Aaim To Prosper and Sam Winner. Incidentally - if any of you tried to logon to William Hill yesterday morning when their sites was down - you may find a free bet has been credited to you. I did and I have
Tornado still won't be winning the Guineas. He may well place, but he won't get anywhere near Dawn Approach if you ask me
