Wednesday's Meetings Fakenham N/H 7 Races 11:45-3:10p.m. Southwell N/H 7 Races 11:54-3:24p.m. Tramore N/H 7 Races 12:00-3:25p.m. Fairyhouse N/H 7 Races 12:10-3:35p.m. Cheltenham N/H 7 Races 12:20-3:50p.m. Exeter N/H 7 Races 12:25-3:55p.m. Musselburgh N/H 6 Races 12:35-3:30p.m. Catterick N/H 6 Races 12:45-3:39p.m. Newcastle A/W 8 Races 1:49-5:40p.m. Racecards At The Races Sporting Life Racing Post Happy New Year & Good Luck
Happy New Year to everyone, Although last year I said I wasn't going to bet on New Year's Day, I can't resist this one (took 16/1 yesterday): Cheltenham 14,05 Lounge Lizard 12/1 e/w bet365, Lads and Coral three places, 9/1 sky four places
A somewhat disappointing card at Cheltenham with only the bumper having double-figure runners and 3 odds-on shots in the first 3 races. Pilgrim's fancy Lounge Lizard is being smashed up and is now a general 7/1 shot - best of luck with him The Relkeel Hurdle looks a decent contest and Golden Ace has been well supported this morning. I pointed her out as an interesting Champion Hurdle outsider here a few weeks ago, given that she had beaten Brighterdaysahead in the Dawn Run back in March, but she disappointed on her seasonal reappearance at Ascot and needs to get back on track today. You can still get 100/1 about her for the Champion Hurdle with Bet365 and that could be an interesting "back to lay" opportunity if she wins well today. In the listed bumper sees a rare NH runner for Ralph Beckett and his Gnomon is favourite after a taking debut bumper success at Exeter. The form of that race looks OK but not sensational (the re-opposing Cedar Creek has run since and won and a couple of the others have run into places) and the same remark would apply to the other previous winners in the field (who run without a penalty as this is a listed race) - Gregorians Star, Marhaba Prince, Latopix and Merely A Detail. Of the unraced runners, the one that really stands out on breeding is Anthony Honeyball's Crest Of Stars who is by Harzand and is a half-brother to Ashdale Bob and Storm Arising. The trainer has 3 in the race and I have no idea what the jockey bookings signify (if anything).
If anyone wants to watch the racing from Ireland today, Racing TV are showing it free and live on YouTube:
15:15 Cheltenham - Gowel Road e/w Grade-2, Class-1, Hurdle over an extended 2m4f on soft ground. Hopefully this consistent Flemensfirth gelding can improve on his three seconds in a row lately. Sam Twiston-Davies rides for the Nigel Twiston-Davies yard. 7/1 (Wm.Hill/Ladbrokes/Coral) best price early-doors, on the ATR site.
Nice to see Champ Kiely back on the track after a long absence (614 days). WP Mullins back in the groove with 5 winners already today but I couldn't back Champ Kiely at a shade of odds-on and Cleatus Poolaw is a bit more of a value bet providing he can stay on his feet.
Hardlines Swanny, I thought Gowel Road was going to get back up there for a second. 4 runners up berths for GR this season, unlucky.
Enjoyed Cheltenham today, took my lad, so no idea what actually happened in the races. Really decent atmosphere at the side of the course I frequent, and really enjoyed watching the horses and eating crumble and custard.
I missed that post but I did post a speculative £1 ew on her for the CH at 100/1 the other day. Guess that's £2 down the drain
She doesn't seemed to have progressed from last season for whatever reason (although she is not the youngest so that might be part of it). That's 2 very disappointing runs now this season now and maybe she just got the run of the race in the Dawn Run. Brighterdaysahead is certainly the better horse.
Did you see who bred the runner-up (and thus achieved Black type) in that Listed Bumper??? Bred it together with his good pal Mrs Aston. That was actually the 4th offspring of the dam (Whoops A Daisy who Lieutenant Henderson trained) to achieve black type - with the best so far probably being Imperial Cup winner, Go Dante.
I saw he was a half brother to Go Dante, but I am as surprised as the Derby County goalkeeper was yesterday that the great man actually bred him.
I see that next week there's another Whoops A Daisy offspring entered. On Monday at Ludlow (Fresh as a Daisy, what a lovely name for a mare by the way) and the great man trains this one as well as being the breeder. The 6YO mare has had just the one run so far when 5th at Huntingdon last month - however, that debut run was at the lofty heights of Listed level.
