Saturday's Meetings Newbury Flat 8 Races 1:15-5:10p.m. Ayr N/H 8 Races 1:25-5:30p.m. Bangor-on-Dee N/H 6 Races 1:50-4:45p.m. Thirsk Flat 8 Races 2:10-6:15p.m. Navan Flat 7 Races 2:20-5:45p.m. Nottingham Flat 7 Races 4:50-7:55p.m Wolverhampton A/W 7 Races 6:10-9:10p.m. Racecards At The Races Racing Post Sporting Life Good Luck
A great day's racing, with 3 fine races at Newbury (I can't remember such a competitive Greenham) and a Scottish National thrown in. If Arab Spring doesn't win I...... I..... I won't be very happy.
Technically not a horse tip but didn't want anyone to miss this incredible 12-1 shot that is going to hose up this weekend. Selby/Robertson/Murphy/Watford/Bournemouth/Ajax/Vitesse/Bristol City/Swindon/MK Dons. Pays 12-1. The snooker worlds starts tomorrow and these 3 big guns are just not going to lose in a best of 19 frames match. The five English league teams are all in form, chasing promotion and all at home to no hopers, relegated teams or mid table nobodies. Ajax and Vitesse are both in form, at home and playing teams near or at the bottom. Looks so easy........hopefully!!
Cor blimey I wonder if I should seek urgent medical help. I’ve just found myself chuckling at one of Nick ‘Cleggover’ Clegg’s quips! I’m seriously worried re my sanity... Anyway, would agree that tomorrow’s ‘Greenham’ is an absolute corker. In fact I’d go so far as to say its better than quite a lot of 2,000 Guineas I’ve witnessed. If this is a ‘prep’ heat then I can’t wait to see the actual event they are prepping for! No bet for me in the race, of the morrow, but can’t wait to see it together with the old trusted notebook. A few of the county set will be off to Ayr to watch the ‘Scottish National’ and expect a plunge on Sego Success who should go very, very close. I won’t be going though as I haven’t the knees for a skirt...sorry, I mean kilt! But honestly, who are those Scottish chaps trying to kid?!? In the same event at a huge price don’t discount Vintage Star. The one that I’m most excited about tomorrow though is Mr Charlton’s WHEAT SHEAF in the ‘lucky last’ across the county line at Newbury (5.10). His one outing last term saw this one just touched off in a mile maiden at Newmarket with the front pair 5 lengths clear of the other 14 runners. He has wintered very well and should be set for a most productive campaign. Is also very nicely bred as his dam was a dual Listed winner who was also Group placed. His 2 half-brothers to run to date have also both been decent with one obliging at Listed level and the other being a dual winner (including a handicap off 100). Furthermore, his barn know what is required in the race tomorrow having won the event in ’09. Good luck to him and you, troops.
Couple of oldies tomorrow - Cinders & Ashes and Cape Tribulation no real rational behind the picks - hoping there is a big prize left in both
One for me in the shape of 3.25 Newbury Mister Music 33/1. Will get a write up done later but can't see the price lasting.
Just witnessed what I can only called an intoxicated rough egg in the local paddy power shop who had a bet on the cartoon horsies shout 'will ye whip the ****in thing'!
FANAAN 10/1 in the Greenham. I cannot believe Ivawood is 13/8 in a 1 mile race. Got sprinter written all over him and the first sign of stamina being required last year in softer conditions saw him chinned. Not entirely sure my selection will definitely be the one to nail it but there are some good sorts in there and Ivawood looks a lay.
Mahsoob 7/2 Newbury 1:15 - makes his handicap debut and the form of his maiden win has worked out rather well so far. Razor Wind has came out and won a success of races and also the 4th John Reel has racked up some wins and close up seconds. If he's Wintered well I'd expect he will be tough to beat. Hanagan rides for John Gosden and he could make light off his opening mark.
I agree with Busty re Arab Spring, although I won't be getting out the razor blades should he fail! Siding with Catching On in the Scottish National, but just like the English version it's one to watch rather than lose your shirt on
Correction: 7f race isn't it! Still think it will cause problems. What chances of Tiggy Wiggy staying 7f tomorrow also?
3.25 Newbury Mister Music 33/1 Newbury's Spring Cup in the past 4 years has been won by horses who had run in either the Lincoln or Spring Mile at Doncaster on the opening weekend of the flat season (majority of placed horses had run in those races as well) and with only 6 of tomorrow's field taking that route I'm hoping it's a big pointer to this contest and I'm hopeful for a big run from the potentially very well handicapped Mister Music who caught my eye with a promising stable debut for Robert Eddery in the Spring Mile 3 weeks ago. A talented enough horse for Richard Hannon in his first 3 seasons which saw him rated 100 on a few occasions, Mister Music was pretty disappointing on his 3 runs for Brian Meehan last year but I thought he shaped with a lot of promise on his seasonal reappearance and stable debut 3 weeks ago. Having settled mid division under Martin Harley, Mister Music travelled sweetly to be bang there in the firing line at the 2f pole but he didn't pick up as it looked like he would as he eventually faded to be beaten far enough in 8th but dropped a further 2lb to a mark of 87 which sees him carry a career low mark in a handicap and just 8 stone if he needed that run then he could be a big player in this. Trainer Robert Eddery is in excellent form at the moment with 2 winners from his last 3 runners and Jimmy Quinn is about as good a jockey there is who can do such a low weight. With the quick ground sure to suit him down to the ground and with a pretty good draw in stall 13, if Mister Music improves for his recent stable debut and builds on the promise he showed that day then I think this clearly well handicapped animal could be a big player in this very competitive contest and hopefully he can land the spoils at a huge price.
Can't bring my self to look at the flat cards till the jumps are over! The Scottish Champion Hurdle looks a complete corker - so many horses with so much to prove an all on best form look capable of winning it but my NAP is SIGN OF A VICTORY first time on Good ground which to this horse is a must (I am going to wait to the morning to see the ground - Anything other than good I won't be punting) but on a good ground the way he traveled through the race at Ascot he looked like a serious prospect however that has not materialised - But on this mark an on the ground there is a definate handicap win in him
My other bets 1.25 Ayr - PUFFIN BILLY - 4/1 NB Hard to believe he isn't favourite really! Gave weight and beat Thomas Crapper lto at Ascot and won at Leic the time before hasn't hit the same high as he did on hurdles but looks on a very winnable mark on his handicap chase debut! Giving the same jockey and trainer amother saturday winner 3.45 - SAM WINNER- 20/1 ew Backed him for the gold cup unfortunately but is never really a gold cup horse! Is a horse however that will just gallop and gallop and doesn't know when he is beaten. Will stay the trip and will like the ground has some of the best form this year especially when running over in Ireland earlier this year! And am going on the fact of last weeks winner running terribly in the GC and winning next time but in all serious this looks his level is not carrying a massively huge burden has a bit of class, was pulled out of last week for this and has a lot more going for him and should be there there abouts!
Will post write ups tomorrow but in the 2 big races i like Pearl Castle for the Quinns again in the champion hurdle and sweet on Broadway Buffalo for the Scottish national.
I like Tiggy Wiggy and Dick Whittington for the Fred Darling and Greenham respectively. Dick Whittington saw his form boosted in the Craven Stakes and I feel he will have come on from last year. Romsdal should go well in the John Porter, Pether's Moon could bring in the forecast. Trademark is a nicely bred colt for Sir Michael Stoute in the 4.00. At Ayr I like the look of The Last Samuri in the first race and Gallant Oscar in the Scottish Grand National.
I don't really understand what all the fuss is regarding Ivawood being a non stayer in the Greenham or the Guineas. The dams best trip is 1m1 so he'll get the 7 furlongs tomorrow no problem. He's looked like abit of a beast every time he's run on decent ground, and only went down a head on soft going. He has a fast ground knee action so I'd be more than prepared to forgive him that narrow defeat. His main threat will be from his stablemate Estidkhaar, who had a similar problem on the bad ground LTO. Though he'll reverse form with Balardo tomorrow on better ground. I still though believe Ivawood is on another level to his stablemate and should prove the better. I know he's only 13/8 but il be happy to get involved on this class horse. Wether he'll be good enough for the Guineas I'm undecided but for tomorrow I expect he'll win impressively. Tiggy Wiggy is a different kettle of fish all together on pedigree. She is obviously a very classy filly, though her stamina for the mile at Newmarket is a big big question mark. My head though is telling me she will not get the trip in the Guineas. However the 7 furlongs she runs in tomorrow should be just about in her comfort range, and looking at how dire the competition is, she should be winning tomorrow. Even if her stamina is a question mark her class should see her home over only the 1 extra furlong. So I'm happy to get involved at Even money. I don't expect much kudos for picking the 2 big favourites out like I have, but I'm fairly confident they are both good things. I have a wedding to go to tomorrow, so don't have the time to go searching for selections in the handicaps. So I'm just sticking to the horses and form im familiar with for now. Even if the selections are fairly obvious, a winners a winner
Harry the viking for the national. Ran a good race last time out at kelso and the extra distance should bring an improvement.
The pin has fallen on: Ayr 2pm Solar Impulse 5/1 Ayr 3.45 Sego Success 14/1 ew Newbury 2.50 Dick Wittington 10/1 ew Newbury 3.25 Ayaar 12/1 ew
