Friday's Meetings Wetherby N/H 7 Races 12:35-3:40p.m. Kempton A/W 7 Races 2:00-5-00p.m. Dundalk(E) A/W 8 Races 4:55-8:30p.m. Wolverhampton(E) A/W 6 Races 5:45-8:15p.m. Ludlow Abandoned Racecards At The Races Racing Post Sporting Life Good Luck
Happy New Year, pilgrims. Let me start by apologising to the regular readers for tipping a non-runner for St Stephen’s Day, in my Christmas message, broadcast on the forum on 21 December. Said mare though has got an entry at Cheppers on Sunday – SHAAMA GRISE. Big question of the day though is what did we make of ITV’s ‘comeback’ racing prog??? If asked to sum it up in 5 words I’d respond, ‘Dire with a capital D’. I didn’t see all the show but here are my observations: (i) Ed Chamberlain at times resembled a cat caught in the headlights. Plus his habit of saying something and then modestly guffawing I find highly annoying, (ii) Luke Harvey and Matt Chapman were both introduced as ‘wacky’ characters. To me though the former is nothing but dull and the latter highly annoying. Meanwhile, Chapman looked totally ill at ease when acquiring a few ‘friends’ whilst strolling the betting jungle. No attempt at a witty response in that instance just blind panic! (iii) AP MCcoy (who I’d never heard of until he appeared on CH4 about a year ago) looked as if he wanted to be anywhere but on our screens. Adds nothing. (iv) In one of the surrealist moments, of all time, on TV we then had Cheltenham Gold Cup and Champion Chase winning pilot Mick Fitzgerald interviewing the horrendous Victoria Pendlebury (whom I think has ridden at the track a grand total of once) about what it was like to ride at the course! At first viewing I honestly thought this was a skit. But it wasn’t. (v) And then from nowhere up pops the Plunkett mare! As usual her gibberish was pointless. So to sum up I thought this was even worse than the last days of CH4. Was pleased that the likes of Graham Cunningham, Tom Lee and Gina whatever her name is had gone but the 2 it missed the most were undoubtedly Jim McGrath and Ems Spencer. Good luck to those wagering today.
By the way well done to connections of My Tent or Yours for earning another £5.5k over the festive period and getting a ratings reduction of 1 lb into the bargain. So far this term that’s £38k won and a 9 lbs plummet in the ratings! Anyone would think he’ll be dropping into handicap company soon! Nudge, nudge, wink, wink, say no more…
OSKI 3.10 Wetherby 20/1 each way The 3.10 is by far the weaker of the two Wetherby bumpers and the presence of a well touted debutante from the Mulholland yard means that there are some fancy prices available. The Mulholland horse could be special but I never like to take Irish p2p form on trust when it comes to bumpers. OSKI on the other hand has form in the book. On debut he beat Sandymount who is a winner since. On softer ground he failed to follow up under a penalty but I think he bumped into a couple that day. The winner has obliged in good style since over timber and the runner up has won his bumper. All this suggests that at 20/1 this fella is worth a small ew play.
Shame Ludlow is off stick, there were 2 divisions of the bumper there too so you could have given us a nice Lucky 15
Few wagers today:Why not! Kempton 3.00-Saleh 9/4.Be disappointed if this lad doesn't win,Kirby rides 5.00-Pretty Bubbles win 3/1 Dundalk 5.30-Tennessee Waltz 6s-Expected to run a decent race but yard form a concern so going Ew 6.30-Split the Atom win 3s 7.00-Zanjabeel win 4s 8.00-Walkabout win 3s Singles and treble
Say what you want about Gigginstown, at least they are prepared to run thier top horses against each other. Here the card for the Grade 1 Novice Hurdle at Naas on Sunday:
2:00 is awful race but I like Multi Quest who is a crazy price at 16/1. Awful last time but that was at Southwell sands and ran a cracker the time before in context of this race. Wide draw might not help today but if he goes forward he might get the good position
I say Barney, what's the saying about backing a 16/1 winner on the sand pays the same as a 16/1 winner in the old Gold Cup?
