Catterick 16.00 Pretty open race but Our Boy Jack is on his preferred ground and best distance, and reasonably in at the weights. Tony Hamilton gets his second ride on the gelding having ridden him well on the soft. Beaten only 5½L by Stirring Ballad in a class 2 event last year when that horse was enjoying the 3rd of 4 consecutive wins. Gatepost, 7l behind that day was following up a 2l 3rd and a 3¼L 5th to Fulbright. That was much stronger opposition than he gets today and 6/1 looks a decent price.
So many selection choices have been lazily thought through. Maku shouldn't start so Corbisiero is the right player. After that I'm scratching my head. Hibbard hasn't had a good ten minutes let alone game on this tour so how he starts is beyond me. It's because he's supposedly a good scrummager. When he's played in the first test the scrum collapsed as he joined the front row. He's unreliable at the line out and has proven himself to be a bottler under pressure just a week ago where the line out thrower fluffed his lines in dramatic fashion with a minute to play. I like the good doctor, Jamie Roberts, but he's been injured and had no game time. If he's done his hamstring he's not going to have recovered so why is he playing? I don't think for one second an unfit Roberts is a better player than a fit Manu. We've missed the crash ball centres as Davies has been completely ineffective in the tests so I fully support one of them coming in but Gatland has, for me, selected the wrong 2 players. Tommy Bowe was in a similar position last week with injury and produced nought. Phillips was so disappointing in the first test that he was dropped completely. Now he's starting again. Eh?
The inevitable truth is that NH rugby is nowhere near as strong as that of the Southern variety - i hope we would all agree to that ? .. and yes Bob some of the selections have mystified me also ... but at the end of the day Its Gatlands reputation thats on the line and he has proven himself to be the best coach currently operating in 6 nations rugby .. as you also so rightly say the stats show the Welsh as being real 'chokers' when they play the Aussies - someday it has to change - hopefully Saturday is the day ... come on you Lions !!!!! ... ps lets hope Halfpenny is on blob for what will probably be a game of attrition .. Rant over from me .. now back to the selections and to try and fit some work in somewhere along the way
Kempton 20.15 Another tricky affair but Castilo Del Diablo looks the ew bet at 5/1. Beaten 9l in a £97k 12f race at Ascot, having been hampered over 2 out and finishing alongside Hajras who won a £44k race next time out. Returns to the scene of his last win, carrying 8lb less. After a decent run over too far last time out Jim Crowley keeps the ride and should go close. Unexposed Seal Of Approval and Ascot 3rd Ustura are feared most.
Right, that's my lot on the horse racing front for today. Sorry to interrupt what looks an intriguing rugby debate. Not a rugby fan myself so I'll leave you lads to it.
No need to apologise Bob. Remember, this is a forum for horse racing folk to enjoy talking about anything. You carry on. As long as you are enjoying yourselves it's all good.
Perth 1540 - DJ Milan e/w ... seems the owner has had the good word from the usually reticent Mr. McCain ... but then he hasnt had a winner over the jumps for ages ... so good luck top all !! - currently 10/1 ... maybe a small e/w double with Sticks longshot ?? Over to you ..
Just for are posters who reside over in Germany, i see that they have taken a lovely little English word into their German Dictionary... Even that wunderba of a woman Chancellor Merkel uses it im been told... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23142660 Im sure that Oddy n Swanny will be using '****storm' a lot when trying to get their thoughts across to their German brothers...
I was just about to post this one up Ron but you've beaten me to it... Hope its great minds and all that, though im not thinking with much clarity at the moment on my selections...
You have to hand it to Anglea merkl. She's managed to perfect the Anne widdecombe look but without the natural charm and glamour.
It actually sounds like a German word, maybe with a slight variation they could have originated it - Shihtzstrom (hope that isn't one).
