Friday evening saw a Preview Night held at the Comrades Club, Richmond. The evening went very well and all the people who attended thoroughly enjoyed the banter, buffet and expertise from the panel superbly held together by the very humourous Bill Warbly. So the panel consisted of the following and for ease of writing later I have put an abbreviation for their comments: Bill Warby (BW) - Local course commentator and radio racing personality. Ferdy Murphy (FM) - Renowned Northern trainer Andy Gibson (AG) - Professional punter and racing correspondant Brian Hughes (BH) - Professional jockey Phil Kinsella (PK) - Professional jockey The evening was started by BW thanking all for attending and the people who organised the event. He went on to thank the jockeys for coming and giving their educated thoughts and also FM for giving up his valuable time especially so close to the festival! He explained that the panel would only be discussing 3 races per day due to time constraints and also warned a yellow card system would be used should anyone go on for too long, PK would have been red carded more than once had the threat been stood to Supreme: BH had ridden in a race with Montbazon and was suitably impressed and felt he was excellent value and would take the beating. PK thought although this was not as strong a renewal as usual Darlan (if his fall had not dampened his enthusiasm) would be very strong and he liked it a lot. FM was keen on Montbazon as he had ran in the right races. AG had no strong thoughts but felt it was not a betting race. Arkle: FM reminded everyone Al Ferof was his NAP for the Supreme last year and that he would take all the beating in this again. He did not believe Sprinter Sacre would win as Cheltenham did not suit him as well as the flat tracks he had won on! AG stated this was a race to make serious money! Have as much as you could afford split on Al Ferof with Paddy Power and Peddlers Cross also with a Little on Cue Card too. He did not believe Sprinter Sacre would place let alone win as BJG would take it easy once he realised the race had gone. PK was also strong on Al Ferof and felt he was one of the bets of the meeting. BH was extremely confident that Sprinter Sacre would not win and that Al Ferof was the one to beat. He also believed that Peddlers Cross would not even run here! Champion Hurdle: BH gave his NAP of the meeting as OVERTURN EW and FC with Hurricane Fly whom he believed would win very easily. He also stated that Jason Maguire was extremely confident that he would without doubt place at the least! PK again agreed HF would win and Overturn was the forgotten horse. He was then ribbed by BH for merely copying his comments! Very good humour from a jockey LOL FM merely said Hurricane Fly could not lose. AG gave his EW NAP of the meeting here, Overturn but in the market Without Hurricane Fly which offered the opportunity to make money (16s with BetF) if he finished 2nd but also if he finshes 4th. Also gave Thousand Stars as the NRNB option as he was a finisher. Neptune: BH was very confident that Boston Bob would easily win this or the Albert Bartlett. PK agreed and had heard this was one of many Irish bankers. FM Simonsig will struggle and had been sent for the wrong race and Batonnier was a very good horse and would at least place so EW bet. AG was very strong on Battonier and could not have Simonsig in the frame! Thought he would have won the Supreme easily though. RSA: FM did not like the race and had no thoughts on the runners. AG felt Invictus would go close but First Lieutenant was his NAP! PK thought Bobs Worth was a certainty if Grand Crus did not run at which time Ferdy piped up with that;s a very good horse and would win this race but he was sure they would go Gold Cup. BH had heard that First Lieutenant was expected to win well. QM Champ Chase: BH/PK/FM all agreed very strogly that Sizing Europe would win easily. AG believed Big Zeb was the value EW bet at 11/2 and a SFC with SE to beat BZ was the way ahead. Ferdy believed Sizing would win very very easily. Jewson: BH liked Champion Court very much and stated the yard were extremely confident. PK had no opinion but had been told Sir des Champs was doubtful here! AG again saw value in this race, Solix and Champion Court EW with CC being the larger stake bet. FM had heard Champion Court had been working very well recently. Ryanair: BH thought Albertas Run was very strong and would take the beating. PK again had no options. AG liked Noble Prince but said it was a very good race to watch but the value had all gone. FM had been told AP would ride Noble Prince which he believed Alberts Run would not line up. He gave an upbeat report on Kalahari King and said there were worse EW bets but he currently had no jockey yet! BH offered his services but was met with not even a smile from Ferdy! World Hurdle: All agreed Bucks would win but AG stated Thousand Stars was the EW bet once NRNB was offered. Triumph: BH was strong on Baby Mix but the race was not too strong. PK had been told Pearl Swan was going here and was strongly fancied. AG was hoping Pearl Swan did not go for the Supreme as he had a large EW bet running for this and was very confident of a strong run. FM had no comment. Albert Bartlett: FM said the Breeze horse from up North would go well. AG disagreed and said he would without doubt struggle and that Rocky Creek and Sea of Thunder were his 2 against the field with Sea of Thunder his bigger winner. PK Boston Bob was cruise home easily if he went for this if not Mount Benbulben would win. BH had finished behind Brindisi Breeze and was very strong on him. Gold Cup: BH could not have Long Run beaten and he was his NAP. Midnight Chase offered an EW bet though. PK did not think Long Run looked the same horse this year and a shock was on the cards, Midnight Chase would be his EW selection. FM thought Long Run would take all the beating. AG could not back Long Run with anyone's money and liked Burtons Port in both markets, normal and without LR and Kauto. That concluded the panel but the evening finished with Ferdy giving a run down on his hopes: Riguez Dancer would go very well in the JLT on Day One. Going Wrong would have a good EW chance in the last on Day One and explained Lucy Alexander was an excellent jockey well worth her claim. De Boitron was well fancied for Day 4 (the Grand Annual i think). His NAP of the meeting was again DIVERS who even without AP riding would have been very well fancied! He also told me after that it was AP who had called him asking for the ride!! Later I asked about The Hollinwell and he said IF the horse jumped round and wanted to win it would do so easily!! Kim Muir is the race and Ferdy loves this race and smiled when I asked about the horse. That concludes the report, the event went well, beer was cheap, buffet was very nice and the jockeys added something extra. Brian Hughes in particular was extremely knowledgeable and new his ****! I will conclude by saying a huge thank you to Danboro for getting me the jockeys (he told me after that they actually really enjoyed it and would deffo be back again) and it was good to see you again mate
Brilliant stuff GDC. Sounds like a good laugh. Well done to Danbo for getting the jocks there. Couple of questions for the forum assuming FM didnt say? What race will De Boitron and Divers be going for?
Cheers lads, twas a great night, I could actually understand Ferdy this year if you are not on Divers i would have a lil bet as he was very confident, he also liked the Hollinwell at 25s
Divers goes in the Byrne Plate - Ferdy booked McCoy late last week and all the 14s disappeared, best price 9s now !!!
Don: was good to see Bren as always and Kev who is a very nice lad. Divers is going in the Byrne Group Festival Plate on Thur De Boitron goes in the last race, Grand Annual mate
Champion Hurdle: BH gave his NAP of the meeting as OVERTURN EW and FC with Hurricane Fly whom he believed would win very easily. He also stated that Jason Maguire was extremely confident that he would without doubt place at the least! He also said he was at Bangor the week before and watched Overturn work out after racing and he was very impressed Was a great night The boys said they would be back next year Not sure if Gaz mentioned it but the night raised over £350 for Racing welfare Not bad for a bunch of fat lads
