Sunday's Meetings Cork N/H 7 Races 11:50-3:05p.m. Punchestown N/H 8 Races 12:00-3:50p.m. Fontwell N/H 7 Races 12:25-3:43p.m. Cheltenham N/H 6 Races 1:10-4:00p.m. Racecards At The Races Sporting Life Racing Post Good Luck
Two Saturdays racing, that will certainly break the bank. Great work Attivo, but today will be Sunday
Cheltenham 14,55 Cormier 14/1 e/w seven places with Sky, six places with PP, Betfair and WH Took 33/1 e/w (four places) a few weeks ago.
The big field in the handicap hurdle at Cheltenham (14:55) makes it very tricky indeed.So, I will go for Alan King's Tritonic in the hope that he'll run a good 'un. Adrian Heskin takes the ride for the Alan King yard. 8/1 with PP and BetFred about the best price available at time of writing. Maybe e/w would be a good idea? Have a good day everyone, enjoy the Sunday Cheltenham!
The Greatwood Hurdle is certainly an interesting stats race. Looking at the last 20 runnings, only 3 horses older than 6 YO have won this prestigious handicap, including The Shunter last year. There are only 4 runners aged 7+ in this year's renewal and of those, only Dan Skelton's West Cork appears unexposed. His 2nd in the Dovecote (Kid Commando and Buzz in behind) makes his opening mark of 134 potentially lenient, albeit he has a 631 day absence to overcome. On the trainers front, the Pipes (father and son), Hobbs, Nicholls and King have all done well in the race down the years. There has also been a regular smattering if Irish winners and Noel Meade's runner Jesse Evans is just about fav this morning after a fine 4th in the Galway Hurdle and a couple of good efforts on the flat. He is sure to be thereabouts with the 5lb claimer on board. Two other trends have led me to my selection though - firstly, weight doesn't necessarily stop good horses in this race. Rooster Booster (11-12), Rigmarole (11-12), Detroit City (11-12) Khyber King (11-9), Menorah (11-12), Brampour (11-11) and Garde La Victoire (11-9) having all carried welter burdens to success. Secondly, 3 of the last 10 runnings have been won by 4YOs - Old Guard, Dell' Arca and Brampour. Those of you paying attention will therefore know I am going for Adagio at around the 16/1 mark - a cracking e/w bet
In the concluding bumper at Cheltenham, Paul Nicholls runner is a very warm order this morning but it is worth noting that Jack Barber is operating at a ridiculous strike rate this autumn and his Malinas Mare Flying Sara has already won two bumpers.
Punchestown getting more and more non-runners. Now only 4 runners in the Florida Pearl and a paltry 3 in the Morgiana. Still, currently 20 go for the Pertemps Qualifier
Best of luck with him - a real pin sticker, given that anything above 130 will probably be wanting to place at best. I thought Mars Harper might go well.
West Cork was indeed chucked in - superb training performance from Dan Skelton to get him ready for this. A terrific effort from Adagio in second, very happy with that e/w.
Couldn't quite get into it but finished 5th for place thievery! Great ride on the winner and fine effort by Adagio.
It's not all bad news today. After the disappointment of Happygolucky's injury (50/1 e/w) Elliot has confirmed that the Grand National is the target this season for Mount Ida. My 40/1 e/w from May this year is still alive for now. Those two bets and Galvin 25/1 e/w are what I've made so far.
If Mount Ida does win the GN then her dam would be set for superstardom as she has already produced the winner of the Ladbrokes Trophy (ex Hennessy) in Sizing Tennessee. Interestingly, WP Mullins also has an unraced 4YO filly, by Walk in the Park, who is a half-sister to them both and am eagerly awaiting her racecourse bow (has been getting entries for a few weeks but so far none of these has transformed into actual declarations). The old girls name, incidentally, in Walk on the Moone,
I followed with interest her debut this season a few days ago, I didn't think she was going to win but she did. I was a bit worried because in the Attheraces Stable Tourt in October there was no reference to her (surprising for a winner in the Festival). Fortunately in the RacingPost Elliot confirms the target. He's been on a shot in the dark since May so far it's alive. She's perhaps a little young to be trying but I'll settle for her being on the start list in April. Another disappointment after Happygolucky would have been too much. Maybe Galvin will eventually run in the Gold Cup but I think he'll go to the Grand National in the end.
