Sunday's Meetings Nass Flat 8 Races 1:50-5:35p.m. Bath Flat 8 Races 2:00-5:45p.m. Cork N/H 7 Races 2:05-5:20p.m. Kempton Park N/H 7 Races 2:15-5:30p.m. Racecards At The Races Racing Post Sporting Life Good Luck
Mightbeallforluck @10/1 e/w 3.40 Cork with 1/4 odds for a place is worth a few bob tomorrow. I'm convinced he can be competitive off 113 and will be happy back on a right handed track over a suitable trip on decent ground. Mark Walsh takes over for the first time. Expect this to be backed.
Looking at the Bath card today (no surprise that it is reported Good to Firm since they have no watering!) there appear to be two excellent opportunities in the last two races for the fairer sex. In the 5:15, the mare AYLA’S EMPEROR has won three of her last four races – the last two under today’s apprentice Daniel Muscutt – and now races off a career-high mark. Her latest win was over course and distance and the runner-up Glennten re-opposes with an apprentice on board so that he can theoretically reverse that running; however, in the belief that one should always follow a filly in form, John Flint’s six year old gets the nod for last year’s winning trainer. I note the money appears to be going on Mick Shannon’s Highlife Dancer. The 5:45 is a fillies’ handicap, so the selection has to be a filly and last-time-out course and distance winner SCOTS FERN from the Andrew Balding stable looks to be going the right way and the extra three pounds should not stop her progressing to complete her course brace.
I wonder will this horse be campaigned as an actual Grade 1 horse this season or will it be like last year, England's premier Champion Hurdle contender avoiding the G1 races until Cheltenham? I was thinking the ideal race for him would be a 2m4 race as we know he'll never be good enough to win a Champion. Has Nigel ever heard of the Hattons Grace?! That'd be the race he really should be aimed at this season if they want to add to his 2 Grade One victories. It'll never happen though, Nigel doesn't travel his horses, it'll be listed races or Grade 3/2s until he gets hammered by Faugheen in March again
I'm a great believer that if you want to reach the top in the chasing ranks you can't spend more than 2 seasons over the smaller obstacles Nass and this lad has had 3. Going away from my hypothesis, people say he lacks scope for fences. I was there Champion Hurdle day, and I recall he didn't look very imposing. The way he jumps too, he wouldn't instill me with much confidence either
He is more athletic than scopey, but I think he'd make a lovely chaser. I'd also suggest that bigger obstacles will make him concentrate more and could actually improve his jumping. The biggest problem with him is that he had issues last year and we do not know whether they are still with him. I'd not be shocked to see him beaten today, or be put into a proper battle.
He was never impressive last year Nass at any point. Scrapped home against some borderline farm animals like Zamdy Man and the ilk. Don't see why they don't attempt the 3mile route with him now, or at least step up in distance where he might be effective at the top level.
Bath is the highest racecourse in Britain by altitude measurements and perhaps that explains why they struggle with watering. It is strange though that they manage to irrigate and muck spread in the jockeys changing facilities.
I think Stephanie Frances @ 8/1 is a cracking ew bet, basically 1/2 for her to come second with a free win bet
Saw a brief interview with Sam yesterday Nass, reckoned TNO had back problems and they gave him lots of physio and now have a new type of saddle which spreads the weight differently. For me TNO is another Oscar Whiskey - not quite good enough to live with the best speedsters over 2 miles. I would aim him at the Fighting Fifth (G1) or Ascot Hurdle (G2) as his main pre-Christmas target but I do like the Hatton's Grace angle Beefy - maybe Twister doesn't fancy taking on Annie Power though? Mind you, if Faugheen comes over to Kempton at Christmas, who will Mullins have in the Ryanair Hurdle at Leopardstown? Will he be thinking Arctic Fire? If yes I would be tempted to take him on with TNO. There will be no HF or Jezki in the race this year so it could look quite open if Faugheen is in Kempton.
Arctic fire will wipe the floor with TNO also in my opinion, TNO will not win a G1 over 2 miles this season. Arctic Fire will win the fighting fifth and Faugheen the Christmas Hurdle and TNO won't travel
Or if not him Nichols Canyon who won 4 G1 races last year. TNO has NEVER won a 2m G1, and for a very good reason, he's not got the class to.
TNO,to be brutally honest,has no future in the CH division..never looked a contender at any stage imo. Perhaps if they manage to shoehorn a 2m4f "Championship" G1 into the already saturated Festival calendar,he may prosper there. I think he'd be a welcome addition to the 'chasing ranks but with the new alignment of that division it isn't going to be as easy to mop up lesser events than before.
The New One all out to beat a scrubber FFS My neighbours Labrador has more chance in the Champion lol
That treble of Oceane, Maputo and TNO paying about 13/8 ....................... shame I didn't bother.
