Sunday's Meetings Punchestown N/H 8 Races 11:40-3:35p.m. Uttoxeter N/H 7 Races 11:55-3:20p.m. Cork N/H 7 Races 12:00-3:25p.m. Exeter N/H 7 Races 12:20:3:45p.m. Racecards At The Races Sporting Life Racing Post Good Luck
Uttoxeter 155 chatshowtv took 11/4 yesterday 9/4 now which still looks fair , chat stayed on well in soft conditions at warwick over 19f in what was a respectable time for conditions . Any repeat of that run will put them in a fine position . 140 the imposter took close on evens yesterday 8/11 now although in fantastic form i would not call it a banker, they should however win Hawke and Buckley must be loving it 7 wins from the last 8 runs going from an OR of 76 to an OR today of 117 is impressive . 245 sound and fury gets a drop back in class and the conditions to suit 5/2 320 poetria 9/2
Small bets Punchestown 14,30 Appreciate It 10/1 e/w WH, Lads and Coral two places 15,00 Freedom To Dream 40/1 e/w PP and Betfair four places Cork 14,50 Dundaniel 4/1bet365, PP and betfair
Morning, team. Hope everyone on the well side of well. What did we think of Shishkin yesterday then?!? Planted himself like a planty type thing, didn't he!!! In his interview after the race the forum's favourite trainer, Lieutenant Henderson, looked most troubled. However, I think most of his ire was directed at himself for not putting Shishkin in Newbury's Grade 2 Hurdle on Friday. Plan B and all that (although I guess he'd have though a 'back up' would only be needed in case of a first fence unseat or Ascot being 'orrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrf rather than a RTR from the horse). Can he get Shishkin back??? Sometimes its very hard after such antics have been displayed. Still the horse couldn't be in better 'magic hands' and I look forward to seeing where he goes next. Must say though that TV gold was produced following the above interview as old boy Fitzgerald announced, 'Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh well you know I have seen Nicky Henderson in that sort of mood before'. Was there a single person in the Isle who subsequently didn't holler at their magic tellybox, 'And given some of your bally rides I'm not in the slightest, I say slightest, bit surprised!!!' On the subject of jockeys and trainers what do we think of the Mr Nicholls / Harry Cobden show?!? Personally I don't buy into this pre-season agreement between the owners of Bravemansgame and Pic d'Orhy and even it did exist why then did it mean the 'stable jock' had to get off an odds-on shot in a Grade 1?!? And if Ascot yesterday was 'paramount' to the yard why was Mr Nicholls, himself, at Haydock!?! The reality is surely that Mr Nicholls is retaliating to the 'words' that the 2 apparently exchanged after Captain Teague's Cheltenham run (showing young Cobden who's boss, in old language). Its reported that it was the first time Harry Cobden had ever spoken back following a Mr Nicholls tirade re one of his rides. I see, in some instances, even 'a minor scuffle' is mentioned. This relationship could soon start to resemble an episode of 'Corrie'... Anyway I'll stop waffling and say good luck to everyone today.
Cobden already saying he wants to ride Burdett Road in the Triumph too as Nicholls “hasn’t got anything as good”. Not exactly diplomacy.
I tell you who won't be happy with those words (and am being totally serious when I say this) - the Devizes crew. They have got a 3YO with the yard who they have been massively 'bigging up' over the course of the past couple of months. Those sort of sentiments will hardly sell shares in the horse!!!
The Grade-1 John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase (14:30), over an extended 2m3f on soft ground, is a real teaser. Gold Cup winner, Galopin Des Champs, will be the hot favourite, no doubt, but it boils down to which horse will strip the fittest, and be suited by the distance and race condiitions? I will take a chance with Blue Lord who, last season proved he was a top-class chaser. A fascinating race which I am looking-forward to. Daryl Jacob on board for the mighty Willie Mullins stable. 12/1 (Bet365/BetWay) best price at time of writing. E/W best option.
The Pertemps Qualifier at Punchestown attracts only 12 runners but a couple of real heavyweights at the head of the weights with former Thyestes winner Longhouse Poet (surely just a pipe-opener with much bigger chasing targets down the line) and Cesarewitch winner The Shunter - who has to prove he really stays 3 miles. Emmet Mullins showed again at Haydock yesterday what a canny trainer he is and I can see a 3rd or 4th place finish being sought here and then protect his mark for the Final - if that is the plan. Knowing how he thinks he is probably already working backwards from next year's Melbourne Cup . My bold prediction is that something carrying less than 11 stone will win today It will be interesting to see how Townend rides Galopin Des Champs. You'd think he would try and make it a stamina test by going a good gallop and putting the others under pressure with his fine jumping BUT will he be 100% fit today? Its a tricky one as he corners a lot of the market and you have Blue Lord in there at what is potentially his optimum trip. Good call from Swanny and he might be the value bet in the race.
State Man's half-brother out of the concluding Bumper at Punchestown. Somewhat disappointing as was looking forward to seeing how he would get on.
Just watched the replay of the John Durkan and what a thrilling race it was. Kudos to Martin Brassil, JJ Slevin and of course Fastorslow for getting the better of 5 Willie Mullins runners. The challenge to pass Appreciate It was beautifully timed and Galopin Des Champs, despite finishing full of running, couldn't reel the winner in. Appreciate It, for me, was the only Mullins runner to do himself justice. Both Galopin Des Champs and Blue Lord didn't jump with any fluency and neither looked 100% wound up to me. In the Pertemps Qualifier I think connections of The Shunter will be pretty displeased with 5th place - he was given plenty to do by Donagh Meyler and a very poor jump at the last stopped his momentum - perhaps costing him the coveted 4th place.
The Passing Wife did that really nicely in the Punchestown bumper - the first 2 look very good but the way The Passing Wife came cruising there and quickened was really impressive. A bit green and maybe got lonely in front allowing Prends Garde A Toi back into it but he readily picked up again when he saw the opponent in the last 50 yards.
Maybe the mare, Popova, who finished 4th would be the one to take from the race with a view to the Final (if that's the way connections choose to go with one who has already achieved black type). The 6YO de Bromhead runner seemed to stay on rather nicely from the last. Overall though I'd say not the most classy or most revealing Qualifier ever run. I'm sure the Leopardstown race, over Christmas, will be much more interesting - nudge, nudge, wink, wink, say no more...
