Sunday's Meetings Leopardstown N/H 8 Races 12:55-4:35p.m. Musselburgh N/H 7 Races 1:15-4:20p.m. Taunton N/H 7 Races 1:35-4:45p.m. Racecards At The Races Racing Post Sporting Life Good Luck
Ew Lucky 15/Acca: 12:55 Leopardstown - Jeremys Flame 6/1 (5 places) 1:45 Musselburgh - Group Stage 7/2 2:30 Leopardstown - Silver Sheen 8/1 (6 places) 2:40 Taunton - Lots Of Luck 6/1 Win double on: 3:30 Leopardstown - Delta Work 5/2 4:35 Leopardstown - Castra Vetera 3/1
Three I like the chances of today so will be having a little interest on.. Taunton 3.10 - White Chocolate 13/2 Taunton 3.40 - Plantagenet 10/1 E/w double and singles Leapordstown 4.00 - Portmore Lough 14/1 e/w Good luck if playing today
I'm a bit sick of all this whinging by the Irish trainers about the ground at Leopardstown. Yielding (the UK equivalent of good to soft) is safe jumping ground and I can't help thinking those connections whose horses prefer it bottomless are just being childish. Presenting Percy potentially withdrawn today yet he won the Pertemps Final on ground officially described as "Good, good to soft in places". There has been plenty of heavy ground racing this winter and why shouldn't the horses who prefer a less testing surface have conditions to suit? Poor old Lorcann Wyer getting unnecessary stick.
Elliot saying he will have to see whether to run Delta Work on the ground - the same horse who won on good at Down Royal on chase debut and followed up in the Drinmore on good ground and the Grade 1 novice chase over Christmas on good ground. Oh and then won the Grade 1 novice chase at Punchestown on yielding. Stuff and nonsense.
It was reported that it was riding faster than the official going report. That is the issue, the going reports aren’t to be taken as fact. I don’t blame them for pulling horses if they’ve got any concern.
I get the safety aspect Nass but they have been watering selected areas all week and watered Friday evening. But the wind just dried things up very quickly yesterday and you can't blame Wyer for that. He watered after racing yesterday so clearly every effort is being made. Imagine they had been watering for weeks and then the rain had turned heavier that it has been and waterlogged the track? Doesn't Simon Claisse always aim for good-soft on day 1 at Cheltenham? I don't hear them moaning about that.
Two fascinating Grade 1s today - firstly can anything lay a glove on Aspire Tower in the juvenile? I think not. Monster. Secondly, can Faugheen upset Gigginstown again? Too close to call for me but I wish the old boy luck
you hear people moaning about the watered/overwatered ground at Cheltenham every time we have a dry start to March!! It’s the nature of the beast. As I’ve read so far it seems that most of the comments have been supportive of the course and their surface prep work, but trainers have wanted heavier ground for their horses and aren’t running them on faster going if they don’t want to take the risk. I think it’s just unfortunate for all, but that’s weather and improved drainage for you!
Yep and fwiw I much prefer NH racing on livelier ground. Can't stand watching heavy ground "slow motion" plodding.
One of the few owners I know reckons Presenting progeny improve a stone for better ground. Somebody should mention that to PP's trainer if they can find him. And I've backed Delta Work this afternoon because all his best form is on a sound surface .
A good bit of rain overnight here and a few heavy showers so far this morning with the prospect of more to come so fingers crossed it just comes right and there are no defectors.
My hungover attempt at ltown card Enai Bai/ Drury Aspire Tower to win by 6lts 5/2 Easywork Column of Fire/ Traceyenniscorty Battleoverdoyen Delta Work Fitzhenry/ Any Second Now Bigbad to win by 6 lts 3/1
Superbowl LIV The Kansas City Chiefs have only contested one previous Superbowl, 50 years ago when their legendary coach Hank Stram guided them to victory over the favoured Vikings 23-7 including one of the most famous play calls ever heard, Stram being the first coach to wear a microphone in a Superbowl so TV audiences could hear him. The San Francisco 49ers have been to the Superbowl six times, suffering their first defeat last time when losing to the Ravens 34-31 seven years ago. Their five wins belong to star quarterbacks Joe Montana (4) and Steve Young (1). Straight after the Conference Championships, the Las Vegas oddsmakers installed the Chiefs as a one point favourite. I think this is totally because of one player: 2018 NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP) Patrick Mahomes, the Kansas City quarterback. We have seen all season how Mahomes can shred opposition defences in quick time. Amazingly, the 2019 MVP was awarded unanimously to Lamar Jackson, whose Ravens were knocked out of the play offs by the Titans who the Chiefs then beat to get to Miami. Personally, I think that the San Francisco 49ers should be the favourites. The oldest adage in the sport is “Defence Wins Championships” and the 49ers clearly win in that category. This 49ers team bears no resemblance to those historic Superbowl winners. In the 1980s, Joe Montana led Bill Walsh’s “West Coast Offense” and the current team has nothing like that. Jimmy Garoppolo’s job is to not throw the game away but hand the ball off to the team’s running backs. His passing statistics look okay but he has given the ball away 18 times this season and hardly threw any passes in the play offs. He fits Kyle Shanahan’s system and I do not see the coach going to Miami looking to throw the ball. For Kansas City to win, their defence needs to stop the San Francisco running game and force Garoppolo to beat them. Also their offensive line needs to stop the 49ers’ pass rush, led by Dee Ford and Nick Bosa, to give Mahomes the time to find the likes of Tyreek Hill down field. If the Chiefs can jump out to an early lead (something they have failed to do in the play offs) then the 49ers would have to change plans and Garoppolo would have to prove that his passing statistics are not just attributable to opponents playing to stop the run leaving space behind. Mahomes has looked the real deal all season and I would love him to put on a big game display and get the Superbowl MVP and the Vince Lombardi trophy. What I think is more likely to happen is that the 49ers’ top ranked defence will dominate. I can see a defensive player picking up the MVP so I am backing San Francisco to win – but only to small stakes.