Thursday's Meetings Thurles N/H 7 Races 12:50-4:05p.m. Newbury N/H 7 Races 12:55-4:15p.m. Market Rasen N/H 6 Races 1:05-3:50p.m. Sedgefield N/H 6 Races 1:15-4:00p.m. Chelmsford(E) A/W 8 Races 4:25-7:55p.m. Southwell(E) A/W 8 Races 4:40-8:10p.m. Racecards At The Races Racing Post Sporting Life Good Luck
Anyone tempted to take the 50/1 re Champ and this terms CGC ahead of his chasing bow at Newbury tomorrow (2.05)??? I won’t be doing this (due to my devotion to Santini – back at Sandown on Sunday by the way) but if you think Champ will be a potential top notcher over the big ‘uns I’d suggest this might be an avenue you could investigate. As I’ve said many times over the Summer and Autumn this isn’t a young horse and I would have thought connections would want to be heading, if he’s really, really good, to the big races sooner rather than later. If they stick down the novice route all season then Champ would only get one chance at a CGC when 9 in 2021 (as horses of double digit age just don’t win modern day CGC’s). Of course if he proves not up to chasing (something that these days applies to many top class novice hurdlers) none of the above is relevant and I’m sure he will be diverted to the ‘Stayers Hurdle’.
Wide open it is? Yoda? Its a decent looking race with some potential stars but maybe not as strong as first look would have you believe. I am always happy to strike one out with a penalty that only won a six runner race, so there goes the jolly. Fry's and Nicholls' go for first time hood (could be harsh). The winner of a UK point goes as they are usually ****e. INAWHILECROCODILE 25/1 gets a tentative ew poke as it has a simply super bumper pedigree, worried about the trainer in these days though. Small ew saver on the brother in laws Jovial Spirit who also has a tidy pedigree. One to watch with the notebook in hand for sure.
Dashel Drasher hasn't done a lot wrong , going to be interesting how tokays contest develops. .......
1.15 Drums of War Possibly needed comeback run last time. Has won at Sedgefield on heavy and trainer usually does well there. First time visor could have a good effect. Promising conditional up.Nice each way chance for me.
I see Irish raider heaven help us is out again a Newbury. An easy winner at Cheltenham the other week the bookies don’t even fancy it. I might help myself to some of the 20/1 on offer. I notice kilbrook runs in the novice hurdle. It ran in the same bumper as gastara so could give a clue to its chances later if running well.
Becky sent me Black Kettle Late Date as the best chances of Micky Hammond at Sedgefield Stay Frosty xx
I'm intrigued by Son Of Camas in this. Thought good enough to be sent to the Land Rover bumper at Punchestown for his debut and went off favourite for that race. However he was heavily eased and finished tailed off before being found clinically abnormal afterwards. I can't help wondering what he was showing them at Seven Barrows that prompted aiming him so highly at Punchestown (maybe the owners just wanted a day out though ). On the drift all morning so looks like the yard aren't confident but will be interesting to see how he performs.
Nice from Champ - looks a thorough stayer, I wonder if they will be tempted to do a Coneygree / Thistlecrack with him and go for the big prizes as a novice?
Champ was left at 50/1 for the Gold Cup but halved in price to 4/1 for the RSA. Henderson stated that he had been a bit concerned about starting Champ at today's trip, because the horse can be a bit keen. The Kauto Star was mentioned as a possible target for Champ but when asked about another run before then the trainer stated:- “You would have to go in three weeks and then only give yourself three weeks – that means you would have two runs in six weeks." You can't argue with that statement! The Gold Cup looks highly unlikely as a target this season.
