Daily Racing Thread Saturday 25th. September 2021

Newmarket
15,00 Castle Star 9/1 e/w bet365, others 15/2

Our sport gets a bit of a kick in the teeth from its broadcasters tomorrow as a meeting containing The Middle Park, The Cheveley Park, The Royal Lodge and The Cambridgeshire is discarded to the backwaters of ITV4. And to make matters worse ITV1, at the same time, are showing a much repeated episode of 'Midsomer Murders'!

Now I enjoy a good 'Midsomer Murder' as much as anyone (I especially relish the fact that in every episode the last 15 minutes bears absolutely no relation, whatsoever, to the previous 105 mins) but it seems very harsh on Newmarket, and indeed the whole of horse racing, that so many historic and top races are kept off, to quote Ed Chamberlain, 'the main channel' in favour of something that will be repeated again in, probably, a matter of weeks.

Sir Barney Chuckles said:

Our sport gets a bit of a kick in the teeth from its broadcasters tomorrow as a meeting containing The Middle Park, The Cheveley Park, The Royal Lodge and The Cambridgeshire is discarded to the backwaters of ITV4. And to make matters worse ITV1, at the same time, are showing a much repeated episode of 'Midsomer Murders'!

Now I enjoy a good 'Midsomer Murder' as much as anyone (I especially relish the fact that in every episode the last 15 minutes bears absolutely no relation, whatsoever, to the previous 105 mins) but it seems very harsh on Newmarket, and indeed the whole of horse racing, that so many historic and top races are kept off, to quote Ed Chamberlain, 'the main channel' in favour of something that will be repeated again in, probably, a matter of weeks.

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Have you only got three channels on your TV?

I must say, I miss Peter O’Sullivan, does he still do the commentary on your box?

Morning, crew. Hope everyone A-OK.

I thought PERFECT POWER displayed perfect power in storming home in the Prix Morny and a repeat of that form will, I think, make him very, very hard to beat in the Middle Park (3.00 Newmarket) this afternoon.

Meanwhile, in the 'lucky last' at The Curragh (5.20) TIME TO BURN makes her handicap bow for young Joseph. And a mark of 66 looks highly exploitable to my eye.

Good luck all.

Archers Road said:

Have you only got three channels on your TV?

I must say, I miss Peter O’Sullivan, does he still do the commentary on your box?

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The point was ITV have prioritised a oft repeated episode of 'Midsomer Murders' over a fine days racing.

ITV have a 'lead presenter' who bigs his team up and purrs the words 'main channel' every time the racing gets on ITV1 With that in mind then how deflated must he and the rest of ITV Sport feel to be marginalised in such a way. Will the purr be replaced by a dejected sigh?!?

I think you are putting a positive spin on things or maybe trying to say there is no problem as everyone has all the ITV channels anyway. But the difference re being on ITV1 and ITV4 is huge for the sport. Especially on such a prestigious day, as today, with those 4 fine races.

Channel numbers are all mainly irrelevant these days. The vast majority of people have ITV1-4. The only reason ITV1 is the main channel is because it has the news on it. I personally dont see ITV1 as any better to 2, 3 or 4. Probably because they are all sh1te lol. What is baffling though is the Premier League having the UTD game on at that same time as City v Chelsea today.

Anyone know which websites show the headgear declared for each horse in each race?

dylanthomas said:

Anyone know which websites show the headgear declared for each horse in each race?

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Irishracing does it.

Non-runners starting to tot up again at Newmarket. Already at 9 and that ground will only get firmer.

Newmarket
15,40 Long Tradition 14/1 e/w bet365 five places, others 12/1 eight (Sky) and seven places

Sir Barney Chuckles said:

Our sport gets a bit of a kick in the teeth from its broadcasters tomorrow as a meeting containing The Middle Park, The Cheveley Park, The Royal Lodge and The Cambridgeshire is discarded to the backwaters of ITV4. And to make matters worse ITV1, at the same time, are showing a much repeated episode of 'Midsomer Murders'!

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Agreed. Those episodes of Midsomer Murders are repeated ad infinitum on ITV3. Why not put a top quality card on the ‘main channel’? They had a bunch of Ayr sprint handicaps on it last week. Which channel will the Arc be on? Surely there must be a Bond film due a repeat next Sunday.

dylanthomas said:

Anyone know which websites show the headgear declared for each horse in each race?

Click to expand...

On the SportingLife.com racecards, they put letters after the horses’ names: b = blinkers, h = hood, p = cheekpieces, t = tongue tie, v = visor; a ‘1’ indicates the first time that such headgear is being used (e.g. ‘p1’ first time cheekpieces).

The three big juvenile events at HQ may not be as straightforward as the form and betting suggest.

In the Royal Lodge (1:50), the once raced Coroebus could be anything but the yard’s runners disappointed yesterday and several of them were strongly fancied. The Balding barn hardly had a great day on Friday either and whilst Masekela’s Superlative Stakes second to Native Trial has been boosted by the winner, his Listed race win last time (Seattle King behind) does not read like anything special. Given that both of those principals have shown a liking for being in the van, Acomb winner ROYAL PATRONAGE will not get the uncontested lead he had at York or previously at Epsom so a wide margin victory may not be on the cards, but a short head will be enough to get paid out.

The Cheveley Park (2:25) contains a lot of form lines from Ascot, York and Longchamp. Ger Lyons’ Sacred Bridge was an easy winner of a Group 3 at The Curragh last time to extend her unbeaten run to four and she could well be up to this step up in grade. I was with George Boughey’s Corazon last time in the Flying Childers when she was run out of it by two finishers in the last fifty yards over five furlongs. She previously beat both Illustrating and Guilded in a Longchamp Group 3 over the minimum trip but that form does not look good enough over the extra furlong here and I was at Beverley the other day when Guilded lost her maiden tag in a moderate novices’ race. The other key form tie up here is the Lowther Stakes. Winner Zain Claudette received 3lb that day from runner-up Sandrine, confirming Ascot form with third Desert Dreamer. Sandrine may be up to reversing the York running on better terms but I am leaving this alone as the Juddmonte filly may be the real deal.

The Middle Park (3:00) actually ties in with the Flying Childers so how Corazon runs in the Cheveley Park might be relevant. Caturra won and Armor was second on Town Moor over the five and that winner had previously been last behind Asymmetric in the Richmond Stakes. It is strange to see Aidan O’Brien with unfancied runners in a big race and Hms Endeavour needs to find some improvement to feature here. The main form line to the other Irish raiders is the Phoenix Stakes with runner up Dr Zempf, third Go Bears Go and fourth Castle Star lining up today. Thrice raced Dr Zempf has never run anywhere but The Curragh but that form looks like Group 1 in name only, the winner Ebro River previously fourth in the Richmond. The key piece of form here is the Prix Morny. Richmond winner Asymmetric was third, Molecomb winner Armor was fourth but the winner was PERFECT POWER, reversing Goodwood running with Asymmetric under Christophe Soumillon, who retains the ride. Richard Fahey’s star two year old will take some beating if repeating that Deauville running.

Tote Cambridgeshire

Luke 22:53 ...but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.

120 on Bf. It's a sign from above (or below)

No one seems to fancy HMS Endeavour much in the Middle Park either, but at 16/1 I'll take a punt. Should love this ground.

Sir Barney Chuckles said:

Our sport gets a bit of a kick in the teeth from its broadcasters tomorrow as a meeting containing The Middle Park, The Cheveley Park, The Royal Lodge and The Cambridgeshire is discarded to the backwaters of ITV4. And to make matters worse ITV1, at the same time, are showing a much repeated episode of 'Midsomer Murders'!

Now I enjoy a good 'Midsomer Murder' as much as anyone (I especially relish the fact that in every episode the last 15 minutes bears absolutely no relation, whatsoever, to the previous 105 mins) but it seems very harsh on Newmarket, and indeed the whole of horse racing, that so many historic and top races are kept off, to quote Ed Chamberlain, 'the main channel' in favour of something that will be repeated again in, probably, a matter of weeks.

Click to expand...

i was annoyed with ITV when they took over the racing, but I have got to say I have been impressed with ho much they are covering the sport to be honest.
Yes there could be more meetings on ITV1 but they have introduced Sunday racing, added some days/courses that Channel 4 didnt use to show and they are even showing the Breeders Cup this season.

Given that a few years ago there was a distinct possibility there would be no terrestrial TV coverage, I am pleased just how much coverage has been continued to be shown.

Archers Road said:

Have you only got three channels on your TV?

I must say, I miss Peter O’Sullivan, does he still do the commentary on your box?

Click to expand...

Yes, Archers, regardless of the 'likes' from some top members on the racing section, I found this comment overly-finicky. I don't care a rat's rear which button I press for ITV racing, what the hell is the difference between pressing ITV-1 and ITV-4? None, as far as I'm concerned. One has to think of other folk who are not in the least bit interested in horseracing, which should be fun, and not the be-all-and-end-all of life. Good grief, I can tolerate a lot, but the all-to-frequent accolades for the horserace trainer-cum- G&T salesman, N.Henderson, often get my goat, although usually I just ignore them. This time, 'no' and fcuk-it if I'm out-of-line.

Have an enjoyable and successful day, chaps, good luck!