Wednesday's Meetings Beverley Flat 7 Races 2:15-5:20p.m. Salisbury Flat 6 Races 2:30-5:00p.m. Gowran(E) Flat 7 Races 5:10-8:20p.m. Kempton(E) A/W 8 Races 5:25-9:00p.m. Ffos Las(E) Flat 6 Races 5:30-8;10p.m. Racecards At The Races Sporting Life Racing Post Good Luck
Hello again, team. Hope everyone well. We are in the lull between the Goodwood and York Festivals right now then so, not surprisingly, my eye this week is not taken by one running but one set to be sold via Tattersalls Online. Am somewhat shocked to see that Gigginstown are set to sell Frontal Assault (bidding set to end around noon of the morrow). Now he's the sort of animal who's sales price is very, very, very tricky to predict, methinks. It could be low (is now a 9YO, hasn't won for almost 2 years and in his last pair of races the old boy has finished 10th and 14th) or Frontal Assault could end up going for a decent sum (has quality form in the book - an Irish Grand National 4th as recently as April, bidders may well deem it highly lucrative to, potentially, exploit a falling handicap mark and there has to be some sort of belief that he could, I say could, still have a huge race win in him). Will be fascinating to see who buys the 9YO son of Presenting and for what amount. Incidentally, right now, Frontal Assault is a 100/1 shot for the 2025 Grand National (although he'd obviously have to get that falling handicap mark up again in order to get into that race). Before then a tilt at the Welsh National, perhaps?!? Who knows, but Front Assault would certainly, going forward, have Options with a capital 'O'...
Balding runs a Jeff Smith filly at Kempton tonight in the 1755. She's by Blue Point out of a Danehill Dancer mare from his Lochsong family. Currently 16-1, she looks to have a tough race on her hands against a Haggas hotpot and Beckett newcomer but may provide some EW interest. PJ Mc Donald often does a good job for the stable.
Excellent, thought-provoking post The highest mark Frontal Assault was ever allotted was 145 in the 2022 Kim Muir (interestingly he finished 8th in the 2021 Martin Pipe Hurdle off 136). After 3 previous chase starts in Ireland, the British handicapper gave him this, quite frankly, ridiculous mark and many punters obviously smelled an Elliott plot as he went off 6/1 c2f for the Kim Muir: "Midfield, lost place 18th, pushed along 4 out, made no impression, pulled up before 2 out tchd 11/2". In 18 subsequent chases he has won just once, a 2m 6f chase at Galway worth just under €10K. His mark has now dropped to 130 and I think that could be interesting, given a change of scenery/routine and the right race and conditions. His 4th in this year's Irish National came from an enterprising ride on heavy ground and you could see him enjoying himself from the front on a heavy ground Welsh National. If the Ruckers buy him and send him to Evan Williams then take note - their last Welsh National winner Secret Reprieve took the race off a mark of 130.
Morning, team. Just a bit of housekeeping re Frontal Assault. He sold yesterday to Dan Astbury for 30,000 gns. This sum to me seems ridiculously cheap and in my opinion looks a great buy. Must confess I didn't know who Dan Astbury was but Mr Google informs me he is the 'Owner Relations Manager and Bloodstock Agent' for Greenall / Guerriero Racing so I take it Frontal Assault will go into training with this duo in Cheshire. Frontal Assault is very, very much one to look out for, methinks...
