Saturday's Meetings Uttoxeter N/H 8 Races 12:50-4:53p.m. Warwick N/H 7 Races 1:00-4:25p.m. Naas N/H 8 Races 1:05-5:00p.m. Newbury N/H 7 Races 1:15-4:45p.m. Lingfield A/W 6 Races 1:45-4:37p.m. Wolverhampton(E) A/W 7 Races 5:15-8:15p.m. Racecards At The Races Sporting Life Racing Post Good Luck
Junior Bee 10/1 (5 places) Naas 3.25. Should run another solid race. Given the nature of the race (field size and unexposed animals) I am very cautious at the same time. Junior Bee luckily falls into the unexposed category and showed much improved form lto. Let's hope for a good showing today.
Warwick 15,15 Cheddleton 15/2 e/w sky and bet365 four places Newbury 15,35 I Like to Move It 12/1 e/w WH five places, bet365 and Coral four places 16,10 Make My Day 5/1 bet365, others 9/2
I'm trying to be positive about today's racing - well you have to, don't you? The Denman Chase looks an intriguing contest. Given yard form and the general consistency of the horse, it will be interesting to see whether Clan Des Obeaux can run anywhere remotely close to 172. I wouldn't be taking 11/8 about his chances. The market seems to have latched on to Royal Pagaille after a smart weight carrying performance to win a 2nd Peter Marsh at Haydock off 163 and he is now within 6lbs of "Clan" in the assessor's view. 7/4 is awfully short about his chances though. Imperial Aura looks to break his "scrabble" run which now extends to 4 races since his stirring victory at Ascot - UPFP - and he could do with at least getting a number, rather than a letter, today. De Rasher Counter's connections will be hoping to see a clear round and an encouraging run after 18 months on the sidelines and it is therefore down to Eldorado Allen to carry my hopes. He has run some good races over the intermediate trip this season and is unexposed at this new trip. With bits of 13/2 available I think he is value to maybe do a "Conflated" and show enhanced form up in trip. The Kingmaker could actually live up to its name for once. A clear victory for any of the first 3 on the card could see them head to the Arkle as favourite after a rather muddling Irish Arkle last weekend failed to throw up an impressive winner. I do like the Skeltons (yes I do, I really do) and I am hoping Third Time Lucki can show that Sandown wasn't his true running and reverse form with Edwardstone (a horse I just can't warm to). My old friend Sceau Royal will, of course, be carrying my hopes in the Game Spirit. I am hopeful rather than confident - a lot will depend on how James Bowen gets on with him as I feel a lot of his success has been down to the injured Daryl Jacob. In the listed bumper at Newbury, Authorised Speed is a worth favourite but at the current prices I like Milton Harris' filly Rosy Redrum off a feather weight. Finally, in the 3.15 at Warwick, veteran Wishing and Hoping can hopefully grab a place at rewarding odds. Best of luck everyone
As I've said for a while, including on the Betfair Hurdle thread, it has to be BROOMFIELD BURG (3.35), for me, in the big 'un. Really, really like him, team. Looked very good on St Stephen's Day and 134 should be highly exploitable. Plus the barn know what it takes to win this heat having won it 5 times. Onto the most interesting runner, today, with a view to the old Cheltenham Festival (I say this is developing into something of a series, isn't it?!? The forum powers that be need to patent, copyright or even trademark this. It could lead to it appearing on the stage, on TV (Bradley Walsh could host) or even the bright lights of Hollywood) in my opinion is Journey with Me. This one is a Mahler 6YO with Henry De Bromhead. 3/3 (1 Point, 1 Bumper and 1 Hurdle) at this stage in his career. This afternoon marks his biggest test to date but from what he has shown thus far you would imagine him highly capable of taking the step up in grade in his old stride. Entered in both the Ballymore (5/1) and the Albert Bartlett (14's) next month. Good luck all.
While I'm on can I just make a point re Gary Moore. I quite like this trainer but one of the current inaccuracies of NH racing is the repeated reporting that he operates and buys at the 'bargain basement' end of the spectrum. Absolute rubbish. For instance his 2 stable debutants in the 4.10 @ Newbury today cost 75,000 gns and 52,000 gns.
Absolutely woeful day of racing and the punting options are so mediocre. Our race split after declarations and now has non runners galore. Instead of big competitive field we’ve got two mediocre sized fields
Do agree with this completely. Not just today, not just this month but the entire period from 2 January up to (and including) the Friday prior to the Imperial Cup card. I think my total bets for these 2 and a bit months will probably end up being in single figures.
Do agree with Nass and SBC, but I will do my best to post a dire selection, as usual. Can't really look at Irish racing as I seem to get myself drowned in runners! CU a bit later.
Does anyone know (or care to venture a guess) why the 13.05 at Naas is called a "novices hurdle" rather than a "juvenile" hurdle? It is limited to 4 year-olds so surely that makes it a juvenile hurdle?
15:43 Uttoxeter - Bleue Away (Tried in blinkers LTO 21-days ago without success. These discarded and tongue-tie tried for first time. This Getaway mare might. hopefully, do better today. Will stay with SP return and risk an E/W as such. Conditional Jack Andrews takes the ride for the Laura Horsfall yard.). Late edit: Was running a good race until about the 5th fence, and then it seemed the mare went wrong and his jockey wisely pulled her up. Do hope she is OK, would be very sad otherwise for the small Laura Horsfall stable.
