Friday's Meetings Catterick N/H 7 Races 1:00-4:15p.m. Chepstow N/H 7 Races 1:20-4:35p.m. Lingfield A/W 6 Races 1:40-4:24p.m. Meydan(UAE) Dirt&Turf 6 Races 2:35-5:30p.m. Dundalk(E) A/W 8 Races 3:55-7:30p.m. Newcastle(E) A/W 7 Races 4:10-7:15p.m Racecards At The Races Sporting Life Racing Post Good Luck
Chepstow 15,30 Siver In Disguise 20/1 e/w six places with sky, others five places Stamina to prove but course winner, ran well LTO and gets his ground
The bumper at Chepstow looks a pretty decent contest with 2 previous winners facing some interesting (and relatively expensive) newcomers. Of the previous winners, I thought Blue Hop looked pretty professional at Ffos Las and certainly quickened well from the furlong marker to win decisively. His rider's claim negates the penalty and I think he can play a part in the finish here (although yard form is a concern). The Skeltons introduce Etalon but I think he is best watched after wind surgery, whilst Paul Nicholls debutant Makin'yourmindup finished 3rd in a point (the winner, Supreme Gift, has since finished second in 2 bumpers, including the one where Jubilee Express finished 5th). The most expensive purchase in the race (by some way, at 300K) is the Twister's Walk In The Park gelding Master Chewy. The form of his point 3rd has not yet been tested so he is probably 2nd fav today on price tag alone. Current market leader is the Ruckers' Sonnemoser who finished behind a couple of subsequent winners when 4th on debut at Chepstow. Sporting Ace was best of the rest behind Grey Dawning at Wetherby whilst the other Sporting, Mike, went for 65K after winning a point in Ireland. All in all a competitive affair and my tentative nod goes to Blue Hop to defy the penalty.
Lieutenant Henderson has pulled all his runners out at Chepstow, I see. Non-runners at the meet currently 9. The overnight / early morn rain has obviously got into the ground.
16:35 Chepstow - Sporting Ace (A really tough Bumper to end the day at Chepstow. Selection has had two runs under Rules after coming over from Ireland where he finished 2nd in a decent P2P. On both runs under Rules the Shantou gelding has run well, particularly his first run at Newbury where he finished 5th, beaten only 1-1/4 lengths in total by the eventual winner, well ahead of the 6th horse home. One possible negative is the rain-softened ground today, have noticed that damsire Old Vic's progeny really like good ground, but you can't have everything! Jack Quinlan takes the ride for the Neil King yard. 5/1 best price at time of writing, freely available).
Went to Chepstow today, very pleasant. Always nice to cheer a Trevor Hemmings winner and the bumper should work out well. I’d wager money on the second and third being better horses than the winner in their careers but he stuck on well and won the race.
Views on Current Mood in the opener? Just watched the replay and couldn’t have done it any easier. Jumped and travelled well. I have a modest AP voucher on her in the Mares Novice Hurdle. Obviously up against it as Mullins wins that race.
Glad you enjoyed your day at Chepstow, Nass, am very envious! Agree with your opinion on the Bumper, but have to say the winner just hated the ground IMHO. Won it by sheer guts and never-say-die efforts of his rider. At no time at all did I think Sporting Ace would win, in fact my missus also watched a replay and commented during the clip rerun "are you sure it won?" Winner I am confident will do much better on good ground, and is typical of many NH racehorses related to damsire Old Vic. That's just an opinion of course, and many on here will argue that point.
I thought she looked light before the race and took her on. I think that field was pretty weak today though and the front running ride was perfect for her. She’s a nice horse but I doubt she’d be troubling the places at the festival.
Haven’t watched it back so can’t comment on the winner. The third either ran green or is a dodgepot and the second really impressed me with his effort. The Nicholls horse is also interesting for the future given how shocking his horses are running in general.
Cheers for that, appreciate it. I’ll be happy if I get a run for my money to be honest. Edit: Quoted wrong post
Swanny, see attached for all horses with Old Vic as damsire in NH racing. Official going being the going given at the course and the actual being based on times of races on the day against standard times.
Thank you, Nass, for this info, super! On the actual going stats., seems to be 'much-of-a-muchness', i.e. no really clear ground preferences, although the first four readings suggest good form on 'fastish' ground? Don't know how I got it into my 'wooly' head that OV's relatives like good ground. Always did take notice if a related horse was entered in a 2m Hurdle or a Bumper, must have fluked a few winners! Thanks again.
