Saturday's Meetings Naas Flat 8 Races 1:00-5:00p.m. Lingfield Flat 7 Races 1:05-5:35p.m. Nottingham Flat 7 Races 1:15-4:40p.m. Cork N/H 8 Races 1:20-5:20p.m. Haydock Mixed 8 Races 1:25,-5:35p.m. Ascot Flat 7 Races 1:55-5:25p.m. Hexham N/H 7 Races 2:10-5:40p.m. Warwick(E) N/H 7 Races 5:12-8:20p.m. Thirsk(E) Flat 7 Races 5:30-8:35p.m. Racecards At The Races Racing Post Sporting Life Place a bet in the Virtual Betting shop here Good Luck
Cracking mixed card at Haydock (there really should be more of this sort of thing) highlighted by the Swinton Hurdle. Always a difficult puzzle to solve and this year is no exception with any number of unexposed animals lurking. The market seems to be focusing on one particular form line at the moment - that of the Conditionals handicap hurdle on the Friday on the Aintree Grand National meeting. Rowland Ward beat Camprond that day with the rest well beaten, suggesting these 2 were very well handicapped. They have gone up 10lbs and 9lbs respectively but ahead of both of them in the market is Copperless who was absolutely hacking when coming down at the 2nd last. He has also been raised 3lbs and had a 7lb claimer on board that day so he is perhaps not quite the good thing at the weights that the market suggests. In fact when taking all of the jockey allowances into account I think Rowland Ward comes out best at the weights and I'll take him to follow up with trip, track and going very similar to his Aintree victory. Scarlet Dragon is dropped another 3lbs and my cliff horse Didtheyleaveuoutto runs but will be well left alone by me so watch him hack up
That would make a neat pub-quiz question, Oddy: where did Rowland Ward stuff sixteen horses in less than five minutes ?
Jeez yes - heavy rain pretty much everywhere - soft ground? We had snow in Berlin today but are due 24 degrees on Sunday and 27 on Monday
I would guess so, it’ll be interesting to see how much Ascot and Lingfield get, but Haydock, Nottingham and Hexham all likely to be soft ground. Could be so many non runners tomorrow
Interesting translation when I was checking out the French 2000 Guineas entries today. The race is called EMIRATES POULE D'ESSAI DES POULAINS in French but when asking the France Galop site to translate into English the name becomes EMIRATES CHICKEN TEST HEN. Not sure whether the hens have been chicken tested but I do know that St Mark's Basilica doesn't appeal after seeing his old rivals flop in the Newmarket 2000 Guineas. The way Aidan's 3YO colts have been running in general makes last year's top rated colt look a poor proposition at 5/2 Fav on what will be a seasonal debut. I liked Andre Fabre's Midtown as a prospect last year but he has been absent since and Lisa Jane Graffard did not mention the horse in a recent article about Godolphin's 3YO prospects this season. I'll wait to see nearer the day. Today I am forced to follow Dreamloper after her last effort when she seemed poorly ridden. She didn't settle well that day but still seemed full of running before the jockey managed to get her trapped in. The jockey was quizzed after the race and stated that the horse was too free in the early stages but I felt the pilot made an arse of it that day. Dreamloper was favourite for the Victoria Cup when betting opened but is running in the furlong longer opener instead. She has won over course and distance and looked to be better than her 91 mark last time. Lights On for Stoute and Conservatoire for Haggas are obvious dangers but their odds reflect that and at 3/1 Dreamloper was a better price than I had anticipated she might be as a deemed unlucky loser last time. 1.55 Ascot Dreamloper 3/1 In the Victoria Cup itself I thought Sunset Breeze might have more to come this season. The gelding has risen in the weights but is unexposed at the 7F trip. He only tried it twice in his career and was narrowly beaten both times. Only defeated by a neck over course and distance I wondered if he might have benefited from being less prominent early that day and he appealed to me as a horse ready to perhaps specialise at 7F now. He was my pick in a wide open affair for a stable just getting started for the season now. Jumaira Bay was next on my list for this one. 3.40 Ascot Sunset Breeze 9/1 Good luck to all today.
2:00 - Royal Air Force - Ground has gone heavy and more rain is forecast. Sire is 14 from 90 on heavy ground on the flat, with 31 from 90 placing. This makes him the best sire of those in the race and on form he has a good chance as well. Any price around 3/1 looks value to me. 3:45 - Current Option - Sire is 14 from 66 on ground, has good chance on official marks and likely to find the ground the best.
Any News is interesting in the Swinton hurdle. He was pulled up in the race Belfast Banter won at Aintree lto and had unseated prior to that run also. But if you go back to his runs before that, his form reads comparitivley well for this race. Taking it in good faith he is over whatever ailment caused him to be PU at Aintree. His two wins early in the jumps season were visually impressive, with winners having come out of both, he is versatile regarding the ground and I feel he has that touch of class that many of the opposition he faces today do not. He is available at 20/1 generally and with many bookies paying 5 places, I have had a cautiously optimistic each way bet in a race where apparent dangers (well handicapped horses) lurk everywhere. Struggling to be too enthused by any of the offerings on this side of the pond recently, majority of races fielding a large capacity of out of form sorts who can take it in turns to add a win to their multiple duck eggs. I'll let the dust settle on the flat for another while I think. Have a good day folks
Rain. Lots of rain. Haydock will be very wet I'd say. Of interest today is Escobar in the 3.40 at Ascot, who does quite well at the course. Also like the look of Boardman in the 4.20 at Haydock. Good luck all.
Ascot 15,40 Zip 20/1 e/w Betfair,PP and Boyles six places, Sky 18/1 seven places 16,15 Calling the Wind 12/1 e/w Nottingham 14,55 Chocoya 7/2 Warwick 18.20 The Ravens Return 9/1 e/w 19,20 Garry Clermont 6/1 Haydock 15,10 Nordic Combined 14/1 e/w bet365 three places, others 12/1 four and five places Good luck all.
Morning Two each way plays for Ascot 2.30-Roberto Escobarr @ 7-1...4 places 3.40-Jumaira Bay @ 10-1...7 places
Any Derby winners out today - I think not. Be interesting to see how Mac Swiney does tomorrow. Surely he wins tomorow and goes to favouritism. Today’s trial with out High Definition looks a very poor renewal