Saturday's Meetings Fairyhouse N/H 8 Races 11:35-3:40p.m. Doncaster N/H 7 Races 11:42-3:12p.m. Newcastle N/H 7 Races 11:53-3:20p.m. Newbury N/H 7 Races 12:07-3:35p.m. Bangor-on-Dee Abandoned Racecards At The Races Sporting Life Racing Post Good Luck
12:45 Fairyhouse - American Mike Class-1 Listed Handicap Chase over 2m1f on yielding ground. Ran poorly LTO but form last season wasn't bad at all. Drop back in trip today could be a good thing. Wears tongue-strap as in previous runs. CP Millar (5) rides for the Gordon Elliott yard. 9/2 (Bet365) best price early-doors, on the ATR site.
For the first time since Nicky Henderson sent 2010 Champion Hurdler Binocular to 3 successive renewals of the Fighting Fifth and saw him beaten 3 times - firstly by the Irish (Go Native) and then twice by Donald McCain (Peddlers Cross and Overturn - those were the days eh Donald?) - today's renewal looks like a proper Grade 1 contest. The intervening years have seen either sub-standard fields or a Henderson hotpot coasting to victory (MTOY, Buveur D'Air, Constitution Hill) but today we have Sir Gino v Mystical Power in what is a true Grade 1 clash. Separated by only 2lbs on official ratings, the impeccably bred Mystical Power (by Galileo out of Annie Power) and the swaggering, beautiful beast Sir Gino look set to serve up an absolute treat. On a track that is all about speed rather than stamina, the race will likely be won by the superior turn of foot up the Newcastle straight (remember speedball Harchibald dancing past Inglis Drever hard held in 2007?) and Mystical Power might - just might - have the gears to outpace Sir Gino. I can't wait
Some good pots on offer today and I wonder if the 2nd fav in the NH trainers title will stir from his slumber. WP Mullins currently ranks in the 120s in the standings. He fires 2 arrows today, in the Fighting Fifth and the Hennessy (it will always be the Hennessy for me). A couple of wins would ease him into the top 20 and send shockwaves through the Skelton yard who have been busy accumulating small prizes since the start of the season. Skelton does have a live chance in the Hennessy with Galia de Liteau too so all to play for.
Newcastle 13,35 Jerrash 7/2 WH, bet365, PP and sky Fairyhouse 15,05 Warm In Gorey 12/1 e/w bet365 six places, 11/1 sky six places, 11/1 five places others
I've backed Jeriko Du Reponet in the Gerry Feilden - he looks chucked in off 135 and it looks a smart move to go back over hurdles with him.
15:00 Newbury - Senior Chief e/w Coral Gold Cup Handicap Chase, a Class-1 Premier event over 3m2f on good-to-soft ground. Probably still more to come from this talented chaser. a Gentlewave gelding (Damsire: Saddlers' Hall). Should be in the thick of things in this valuable Chase. Wears cheek-pieces, as in previous runs. Darragh O'Keeffe rides for the Henry de Bromhead stable. 6/1 best price early-doors, in many places on the ATR site.
Looking at the Hennessy field (me too @Chaninbar) there aren't many runners whose handicap mark jumps off the page at you. One who has a bit of perspective is Colonel Harry who had a nice pipe-opener in the Colin Parker Memorial at Carlisle. As I am a massive fan of the Flashman books it would be rude not to have a little snifter on him.
Talk about building up a race only for it to fall flat on its face. Mystical Power a complete no-show. Sir Gino cantered to victory but I can't see him winning a Champion Hurdle. Spends way too much time in the air for a start.
What sort of ride was that on Jeriko Du Reponet? Tailed off last at the end of the back straight and he's finished 5th.
Strong vibes for this Ma Jacks Hill for a while now (including from our own Ste Doran) - he beat Sortudo 2L in his 2nd point (UR in his first) and Sortudo hacked up for Willie Mullins in a Tramore bumper the other day. Between 14/1-16/1 for the Champion Bumper already and probably only has the Mullins runner You Proof to beat in today's concluding bumper at Fairyhouse.
Wow what a dramatic finish as Gordon Elliott does win the race but not with Ma Jacks Hill (finished 3rd) - William Butler sprouts wings in the last furlong to sweep past Ma Jacks Hill and Trasna Na Pairce, overcoming significant greenness.
Bad day at the office! Never mind that's how it goes with this game. (A big well-done to those who found a winner or two today!)
