Work has been crazy and barely had any time to even look at results, never mind try and pick anything and get a bet on. Raging now that I look back over the last week, some serious shouts guys, well done! 3:40 - I'm really hoping Isotope runs well here, bet on last night when I got an e-mail from my tracker @ 35/1... I did like the look of Falak too and wouldn't begrudge Colin Bowe a Punchestown winner with Mt Leinster Gold... 4:15 - I had wanted to back Junior Rattler but a non-runner now so I'll leave this but Calthor and the favourite Heather Rocco are interesting... 4:50 - This is where I go a bit mad... Blue Sari at least 8 lengths behind Heaven Help Us when falling at Cheltenham. In HHU's previous race at Leopardstown Lady Breffni was 4 lengths behind. Lady Breffni went on to win her next race, 2 of these were behind that day, Fighter Allen, and Panda Boy having only his second start over hurdles. Fighter Allen is a 9/1 shot here after finishing 20 lengths behind Lady Breffni and Panda Boy is also a 9/1 having only been beaten 4 and a half lengths. You could argue the trip didn't suit Fighter Allen but even coming back to 2m4f should be fine for Panda Boy too on only his 3rd start, his first being a good maiden win here over 2m4f... Long story short I don't like Blue Sari, Decimation probably has the best chance but I'm going for Panda Boy and Martin Brassil's other horse too. He can usually get them ready for first time out and this fella hasn't been seen in 600+ days, fingers crossed... 5:20 - Couldn't really decide on this but I did think Streets of Doyen was overpriced with 3 places on offer... Would love to see Gentlemansgame win. 5:55 - Going to say Clan Des Obeaux wins here. He seems to not like Cheltenham at all and it showed they made the right decision not to run him there when, with new cheekpieces applied, he seemed back to his best and made a joke of the race. Cheekpieces stay on and I can see him going out and making all. I don't mind if Fakir wins either but please don't let either of the top Mullins' pair win it... 6:30 - Sir Gerhard. Already beaten Kilcruit, Patrick switches to him to win again today. Outside of these 2 it's a really interesting race, I can see the battle for 3rd and maybe better being as interesting as the front two in the market... 7:00 - Don't people usually look for a graded horse hidden in handicaps? Well how about a graded horse that's not hidden at all? Black Op.. Can't understand the difference in price between Tiger Voice (13/2) and Midnight Maestro (25/1). If Midnight Maestro can complete the course he could be in with a shout, but I suppose that's built into his price, but I can't understand Tiger's Voice vying for favourite... I thought Snugsborough Hall ran on well in the Topham from so far back. I feel crazy for saying that I was surprised he finished so close even though he was 17+L behind LLL Snow Falcon is interesting, 6L ahead of Annamix in their last race, and is now 5lbs better off today... At a huge price I was thinking about Or Jaune De Somoza. I saw him tipped up in a few places for races at Cheltenham, nothing special at all that day but his mark keeps slipping down and surely he'll capitalise on that at some stage? TL;DR - Black Op wins, Midnight Maestro should place, Snugsborough might get a place, Snow Falcon and Or Jaune De Somoza at large odds... 7:35 - Going to stick with the two things I'm an absolute sucker for that keep letting me down... Martin Brassil and Flat bread bumper horses Choice Of Words and Dreamz... This has been your warning. Get off these horses while you still can
As long as you steer clear of the favs at Ascot 9/4 in the w/o Kilcruit and Sir Gerhard market 1. Sir Gerhard, 2. Kilcruit and 3. Lake Winnipesaukee is only 8/1 too
And the 12yo wins the sprint at 25/1. Only 6 years younger than the jockey. She has only ridden him 3 times and won all 3
I DID steer clear of the Ascot favs ... and boy, am I glad! Happy to help TBH if it's not on regular telly, I rarely bet, and today is the exception that proves the rule with 2 at untelevised Punchy. Will watch on bookie telly under sufference as my eyesight these days needs a bigger screen than they supply!
All my virtual bets are posted well in advance on the VBS smokey; no after timing Still in good shape
I wonder what price Galopin des Champs for next year's Stayers Hurdle? Hosed up there and still plenty more to come one would think. Might well go chasing though
As a thank you and so you can have an interest in this race, I promise to pay Ron any returns on this bet.
Supremacy was dire today. There could be a chance he hasn't trained on. His sire Mehmas never raced at 3YO. I have been thinking that stablemate Diligent Harry might make the better sprinter this season. Funnily enough, today's winner Rohaan is the only horse to have finished ahead of Diligent Harry, when he beat him a short head at Lingfield last month, with the Cox horse only just failing to get up. Diligent Harry ran from a mark of 90 when beaten by Rohaan but is now rated 105. I suppose that could have been a pointer to Rohaan today, however he ran an odd race next time, when only 5th in a Handicap off 95 and seeming to have been left a lot to do, closing late to be nearest at the finish. Winning a Group 3 today will have put a firm kick into Rohaan's handicap mark. The Gelding has had 9 races since 1st December, when he was rated 55 and it is some improvement to have landed a Group 3 in just under five months. Nice to see a horse thriving on racing and making progress.
