Wednesday's Meetings Chester Flat 7 Races 1:50-5:05p.m. Kelso N/H 7 Races 2:00-5:15p.m. Newton Abbot N/H 7 Races 2:10-5:25p.m. Fontwell(E) N/H 7 Races 5:10-8:15p.m. Gowran(E) Flat 7 Races 5:35-8:35p.m. Wolverhampton(E) A/W 7 Races 5:55-8:55p.m. Racecards At The Races Racing Post Sporting Life Good Luck
I think I'll forget the betting and concentrate on photo opportunities. Buick and SDS will be in my firing line and if Francesca is there, well, I may lose all self control .....
There tomorrow myself. Fiendishly difficult card. Only Mr Berrys mount in the first is the only one I am tempted to play.
Cheshire Oaks - Shailene 14/1 Very impressed by her first run, really nice physically and showed good tactical speed and a turn of foot which should suit this track. Obrien doesnt send his A team for this race and the fav hasnt threatened to win in two runs although youd expect a big step up here on decent ground in a higher class race. The last 10 winners have all had a run this season which doesnt bode well for Kinaesthesia or Shaharezada. Shailene wasnt particularly fancied in the betting first time and Baldings usually come on plenty so id expect her to improve and I think shell take a bit of beating in this company to be honest.
Gotta be honest she is a bit up herself and her incessant posh voice on itv racing is really irritating. On the totty front I would rather have Lucy Verasamy and Hayley Turner. I wouldn't mind a photo with them two.I can be sandwiched nicely in between them as well...
As you can see, they've mucked about with the cards.... Wednesday is usually Chester Cup day, but not this year, that has been moved to Friday. So today it's City Day, with the Cheshire Oaks and the Vase on the same day; we usually have the Vase on the Thursday, this year we get the Listed Dee Stakes and the Ormonde Stakes to watch; it's still Ladies Day, they haven't changed that. Some kind of celebration, apparently. ( 100 Years of the Chester Vase ) I had hoped to get to both Wednesday and Thursday, but that ambition was quickly quashed and I settled for Thursday only. So today it's watch with interest; I may be able to wangle a WFH this afternoon, if I behave, and have ITV4 on "in the background". As usual for Chester, it's easier to go chasing rainbows, but there are 2 I've got my eye on. 3.00 Looks A Million 4.35 Mr Top Hat Will we see another Enable this year? Well, the stable has Award Winning in the race, so let's see. I may throw in a Ballydoyle bet in the Vase, as Mr O'Brien has done quite well, really, in recent times at this meeting, wouldn't you say? Good Luck all for today.
Not very often you see a Group 1 flat winner running in a novice hurdle at Kelso, but today Tim Easterby sends 2014 Prix du Cadran winner High Jinx to Kelso for his debut over timber. He won't have an easy time of it though with previous winner Calix Delafayette tipped to go well under a penalty and Cathal's Star from the in-form Jefferson yard. Should be an interesting heat.
I've doubled Witness with Achill Road Boy. At Chester, I was dithering over a couple of selections and, like a housewife, have allowed the owners' colours to determine my pick. Kinaesthesia and Billy Dylan
Personally, I can’t understand why they are running the consolation Chester Cup after the actual Chester Cup on Friday! You don’t run the Ayr Silver Cup after the Ayr Gold Cup or the Spring Mile after the Lincoln. I thought this decision somewhat strange. You hardly build the tension and excitement levels by running the main event, of the 2, first! Mr Ponsonby hasn’t messed around re jockey bookings in the Chester Cup incidentally, people. He’s gone right out and secured the best in the business - old boy Ryan. The Alan King double still on, by the way, in these 2 races, with both Who Dares Win (the motto of the Ponsonby family) and Coeur De Lion both declared for their respective heat – although to be frank neither have been dealt the best hand by the dear old ‘Draw Gods’.
Against Walter White at Kelso, going for Grays Town, coltherd yard hitting a bit of form, this one has shown ability, open race in my view, been backed like it's stablemate achill road boy...... Down at Devon, Lamb or Cod is well in, good ground will aid, stable at last in good form
