Tuesday's Meetings Southwell...... All-Weather....... 8 Races....... 12:10-3:40p.m. Sedgefield.... National Hunt.... 7 Races...... 12:20-3:20p.m. Lingfield......... National Hunt.... 7 Races...... 12:30-3:30p.m. At The Races Cards Racing Post Cards Sporting Life Cards Good Luck
Just looking at the Henessey for Saturday- pretty sure the winner is one of four: Smad Place, Fingal Bay, Many Clouds and Djakadam. If Smad Place wins does he become a legitimate Gold Cup contender? Off 11st 6lb you would think so? Fingal Bay is nicely handicapped on hurdles form. To win that Cheltenham handicap off a top weight mark of 148(i think?) was terrific.
There is absolutely huge confidence in the county behind this Smad Place. He went to Newbury just over a week ago for a racecourse gallop and the vibes are good...they are very good. Because the old boy runs so well fresh Alan King has said since last terms Festival the plan with the horse in season 2014/15 is simple – 2 races, the Hennessy and then the CGC itself. In what, at this stage, looks a woefully weak batch of staying chasers I think he’s already a CGC contender. At any rate he certainly needs to go very, very close on Saturday, off 155 if he is to be a CGC contender. Smad Place has sound form at the Festival. His formline at the last 3 reads -332. Incidentally when running after a 3 month+ break his form is -113U (the U was a fall at the last when clear).
3.30 Lingfield. PRINCE OF POETS. 3-1. Tricky maiden but the stable money is clearly down and the jockey booking is interesting. Win bet.
1.20 Sedgefield. GIBBSTOWN 8-1 and 2.00 Lingfield. BROWNS BROOK 6-1. Both had a run to shake off the cobwebs and could both run big races. Going to have small win bets on each.
Beef stew and dumplings. 9/10. Has anyone seen the line up for Saturday ‘Fighting Fifth’?!? £100,000 in the old loot pot and only 8 left in and just one horse rated above 150. In fact it even boasts an animal perched on just 87. I’ll say that again, 87. On official marks Purple Bay is 11 lbs superior to everything else but I’m thinking this looks pretty perfect for Mr Henderson’s Sign of A Victory. Next step up the ladder and all that. Big question is if Sign Of A Victory goes ‘ooooooooooooop North’ will the Geraghty lad go with him???
15:20 Sedgefield - Cuddys Well e/w (As I have 'lastplaceitis' at the moment, it would seem I love to lose me dough on the bumpers. Nevermind, young Daragh Bourke owes me nothing, so a bit e/w 12/1 B.O.G on the lad's mount). Well done to anyone who got a winner today!
Bad luck that, TC, but I see that PP and WmHill are both paying out on the winner, and voiding 'losing' bets, which is pretty fair IMO. Shout Fusion, well done!
5/2 looks a monster price for Sign Of A Victory - am sorely tempted by that. Sorely tempted. I strongly suggest Barry Geraghty will be riding at Newbury though - Mr Henderson has plenty entered up over the 3 days whereas Sign Of A Victory is his sole entry at Newcastle.
With the ground likely to be riding very easy I'll be siding with an out and out stayer, likely improving grand national type who'll hopefully plug on past them all. Nicholl's Unioniste @ 28/1 with Bet365
