Table booked at our 'Indian' this weekend. Life's funny sometimes, was only going to put this on the Virtual Betting Account thread, until I heeded Ron's warning that it was for Flat only!. So, had a fair little e/w bet, as I thought it had a reasonable chance with this drop in class, although I admit to rarely getting things right in this respect. Very weird.
Interesting that three of the runners here ran in the same race last time. The favourite King Pellinor, Zarafshan and Trossachs were 7th, 8th and 9th that day in a race where the runner up Grandmaster Flash was very poor next time out. Only a neck and the same separated the trio last time but O'Brien's King Pellinor is very short at 11/8 for tonight's race. You have to wonder with some people because the Timeform preview states that John Oxx's stable is enjoying a good spell at the moment. I looked back as far as 8th March and he has not had a winner between then and now. That's almost (at least) seven weeks without a winner. Good spell? The Racing Post stats show that only 25% of Oxx's runners have run to form in the past fortnight. I can't fathom where Timeform get the notion of "Good Spell" from and it's pathetic really, even if it is a free preview. I couldn't back the favourite at the odds, with so little between the three who met each other last time. I would rule out the Bolger horse purely because the trainer has struggled for some time now. With the favourite rated 78 on RPR and this race being quite a distance for so early in the season it looks a race for slowcoaches really. I would be tempted to go with Sir Dragonet, O'Brien's Camelot debutante. He would not need to be great shakes to win first time out. Entered in the Dante as the favourite is, I would highly doubt either colt is good/fast enough to keep that engagement. My quid went on Sir Dragonet at 6/1.
So it appears I was wrong to forgive Nestor Parks last run, it seems there might be something amiss with the horse. Decent run in second for Max Forte
Thank you, gingerninja, but I certainly don't deserve to be in such exalted company, i.e. Stick seems to do it every day of the week. Mine are strictly 'Blue Moon' stuff. However, we are, along with Bustino, QPR fans, so I guess the three of us must have some resilience to adversity should it happen along!
7:20 Kings Ryde 7:30 Evangeline Samos/ Temple of Wonder The first one to make all and win and then the others to place Doubles pay 7.87 and 23.62
What is the point of tonigjts card at kempton- some shocking field sizes altho the 6.20 had a great finish
Thank goodness for best odds. They could not give Sir Dragonet away as he drifted out to 14/1. He travelled best most of the way and easily came away to win by three lengths. He pissed up really. The Racing Post only gave him 81 for that, which I think is bollocks given that tonight's odds-on favourite was awarded 78 for being 7th on his debut. The Fav never had a prayer of collecting and was a ridiculous price. I thought Sir Dragonet looked well short of peak condition tonight but he has a decent look to him from a scope point of view. Clearly not a Dante horse but I'd love to see him go to Joseph O'Brien for a hurdle career. Tomorrow and Saturday's bets paid for anyway.
