Friday's Meetings Newmarket Flat 8 Races 12:45-4:50p.m. Wetherby N/H 8 Races 12:55-4:55p.m. Uttoxeter N/H 7 Races 1:03-4:30p.m. Down Royal N/H 7 Races 1:10-4:35p.m. Dundalk(E) A/W 8 Races 4:45-8:15p.m. Kempton(E) A/W 8 Races 5:00-8:30p.m. Racecards At The Races Sporting Life Racing Post Good Luck
A decent looking renewal of the Wensleydale Juvenile Hurdle with 6 of the 7 runners being previous winners. A real shame that Dan Skelton has scratched Too Friendly (not sure why at the moment). Porticello won his only start in France and the form has been well and truly franked, with numerous subsequent winners coming from the race. The 2nd that day, Magistrato, has subsequently won at Chepstow for Paul Nicholls whilst the 3rd, Imprenable, has won a listed hurdle and finished 1/2 length 2nd in a Grade 2, all at Auteuil, earning a BHA rating of 143 in the process. The 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th have all also subsequently won. As always, one has to take a view on the value of the French form but the fact that Magistrato has already won at Chepstow for Nicholls is a very positive sign and Porticello ought to take all the beating. With the defection of Too Friendly the race has lost appeal for betting with only 2 places and really is just one to watch and enjoy. Ocean Line looks the one for the forecast.
Wetherby 12,55 One Fer Mama 6/1 Down Royal 14,55 Vee Dancer 6/1 bet365, others 11/2 16,05 Weihnachts 8/1 e/w bet365 three places, Sky 13/2 four places
The Uttoxeter bumper has 2 divisions today so here we go: 3.58 (wonderful time for a race to start) Breeders' Cup On Sky Sports Racing Open NH Flat Race (Div 1) Ten entered here and we have one former winner who carries a penalty - FOB's Pull Again Green who won one of those P2P bumpers in Ireland when with Harley Dunne. The form of that doesn't look too great and with just 1 bumper winner in their last 10 attempts I can't help thinking they yard's bumper horses are maybe needing the run at the moment. Anyway, Pull Again Green not for me today (watch him hose up now I've written that). Spidersteve is only mentioned here because he is the only other older horse in the field (he has no chance) as the other 8 runners are all 4YOs who get a massive 1lb weight allowance from their elders . With very little form to go on I am plumping for the Greatrex (36% strike rate with bumper runners here in recent years) runner Abuffalosoldier at 6/1. I do like Gavin Sheehan as a bumper jockey, I think he gives the horse every chance. 4.30 Breeders' Cup On Sky Sports Racing Open NH Flat Race (Div 2) A similar sized field to division 1 with nine currently entered (Gabriels Getaway, who ran yesterday, a non-runner). A fairly warm order at the head of the market (general 5/4 chance) is Olly Murphy's Duke Of Rockingham - the only runner with previous bumper experience. That was nothing more than a fair 7th at Newbury a year ago and he is a very short price based on that. He has had a wind op and I suspect there is yard confidence behind him but he doesn't appeal at that price. There really isn't that much else to go on in the race so I will take Dr Newland's good record in bumpers as a reason to select The Texan, who has a couple of placed efforts in points to his name and has been nibbled at this morning (currently in to 5/1).
Take-on Oddy here in the first Bumper (which makes one less for him to be bothered with! 15:58 Uttoxeter - Dream In The Park (Conditional J. R. Wildman gets a massive 10lb. allowance and takes the ride for the Emma Lavelle yard. Not much of a price unless there's a drift.)
It is the jockey that actually puts me off. I often think that 10lb claimers are an act of desperation rather than a cleverly used tactic. I do like Emma's runner in the finale though, TEDWIN HILLS. I have gone with odddys selection in the previous race, as he mentions Sheehan is a massive plus in these races although the Honeyball horse may be too good the price is long since gone so the pick is ABUFFALOSOLDIER.
Very taking chase debut from Minella Drama there - not sure how long they will be able to keep him in handicaps though, he has scooted up there off 143.
He's a big lad isn't he? Will make a lovely chaser down the line but he has a serious engine and should relish a stiffer test. A bit ponderous at some of the hurdles but still learning obviously.
Very big, he looked like the father of the other horses. I had seen a couple of times his race in April this year in France and he didn't look so big to me, he has grown up. He jumped horribly but I imagine that will improve. Not very happy with my 25/1 e/w (now 16/1 all bookies), he was nowhere near as good as Quilixios the first time I saw him (in France and Punchestown). Then I also had a 25/1 e/w and I was very happy, today I'm not.
Well Duke Of Rockingham's wind op clearly worked. The most informative bumper of the day definitely in Down Royal though - The Mediator most impressive on debut
Tasty price for such a nice pedigree. I rather like the Honeyball horse who I think will be backed but they have had a few losers this week that were backed to win.
