Saturday's Meetings Market Rasen N/H 8 Races 1:05-5:05p.m. Ascot Flat 6 Races 1:25-4:25p.m. Cork Flat 8 Races 1:40-5:40p.m. Catterick Flat 7 Races 1:45-5:15p.m. Ffos Las N/H 7 Races 1:50-5:20p.m. Stratford N/H 7 Races 2:05-5:30p.m. Wolverhampton(E) A/W 8 Races 5:45-9:15p.m. Racecards At The Races Racing Post Sporting Life Good Luck
Hello, all. Quality racing tomorrow. I’ll nominate a couple to the dear old regular readers. One at the showpiece meeting (although you’ll have to wait until the ‘lucky last’) and one over the sticks having his first run for his new burn. L’AIGLE ROYAL (2.45 Market Rasen) – I must say that this one stands out somewhat as he has his first run here for ‘awwwwww bless, little’ Danny Skelton (please note though that the horses ownership has not altered). Was a very useful juvenile hurdler a couple of seasons back as he was a winner and also placed at Graded level. Started last term in similar fashion, with a close 2nd at Wetherby (form which looks extremely solid now as the winner, that day, has subsequently won another 4 races), but in 3 subsequent efforts L’Aigle Royal’s form rather fell apart as he disappointed each time. I’m sure that it is hoped that a change of scenery will work the oracle with the horse and certainly if he can recapture that Wetherby form or most of his juvenile form, then I would imagine he would be very hard to beat off 128 here. You do have to take L’Aigle Royal’s fitness on trust but the barn certainly know how to ready one first time. MORANDO (4.25 Ascot) – my regular readers were Ebullient with a capital ‘E’ when this old boy won with ease on ‘Ayr Gold Cup’ day. He did it really well on that occasion quickening in the style of a really good horse to oblige by 2.25 lengths. I said before that Ayr race that I thought Morando was a ‘Group horse in a handicap’ and I haven’t changed that opinion in the slightest since then. He has been raised 8 lbs for that success but I feel that this is more than workable for an animal who won with plenty in hand, last time, and has shown great improvement throughout his 3YO campaign. I think he can win the huge purse offered here in the ‘Immoral Handicap’ before, next term, going on to be highly competitive at Pattern level. Good luck, pilgrims.
I really liked TOMMY SILVER last season and can see him progressing into a very decent hurdler this season starting off by taking the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las tomorrow!
One Forty Seven 1.05 Market Rasen Won his point at Dawstown for Colin Bowe, beating a horse called Go Another One who has gone on to win two from two bumpers easily at Market Rasen and Killarney. The form of that Killarney bumper has worked out really well with the second (Electric Concorde) winning a maiden hurdle and finishing third in a listed hurdle.
Caulfield Cup 06:30 EXOSPHERIC & SIR ISAAC NEWTON. Fancy the former to really do well down under in their style of racing. Both drawn nicely and both bring some Group1 Euro form tonthe table. Both have high cruising speed and a turn of foot and I see them going well in the morning.
Thanks for reminding me, TopClass, since I should be up and about will try and watch it. Looking at the field I guess I fancy six or seven of them . However, will have just a small bet on Sacred Master e/w for interest. Always a very good race to watch.
Great win by another fine Australian mare (or filly, we might say, but it's their horse). Jameka, a worthy favourite; beautiful looking racehorse. Scottish ran a very good race too, but no match for the winner. Really enjoyed the Caulfield Cup, in glorious HD from Racing Australia! (Think mine still running! ).
Nice card at Ffos Las today and it would be great to see Beast of Burden put in a nice round and complete over fences for the first time. All eyes will be on Copper Kay on her hurdles debut so wishing her a clear round too. In the Welsh Champion hurdle I think top weight Garde La Victoire has an outstanding chance - tough as old boots and won a Greatwood Hurdle off 144.
Lucky 31 for me kiddywinks... 1:25 A - LITIGANT 14/1 1:50 FL - DAVID JOHN 6/1 2:00 A - MECCAS ANGEL 8/1 3:15 S - MONT ROYALE 4/1 4:10 FL - GARDE LA VICTOIRE 11/2 Good luck all!!
Boreham Bill & Test Pilot (maybe we should keep score this season) I have a sneaky fancy for the Irish horse at Ffos Las, big price!
Where? But I know where Market Rasen is! When are you going to plunge again, Oddy? You can still have a bit of fun with small bets, but it is a bit confusing when the bloody things win, i.e. what could have been? Ah, sweet memories of the days when I won a bundle twice on e.g. dear old Monksfield, and once on Connaught Ranger, forget about the losers, please!.....
I fancy sheikhayzeroad for the stayers race 16s and even song for the fillies race. Think 2/3 Fauves will be turned over today at ascot
Probably very soon Swanny - I self-excluded from my account for 6 months after Aintree (to stop myself throwing money away on crap racing over the summer) so I should just about be able to get back in there now. I need to work out a decent betting strategy this winter though ..................
Swanny: Ascot 2:00 SHALAA ---------- This year’s Classic generation can hardly be described as Classic but I do fancy that they will collect many of the prizes on Champions’ Day because the older generation are not great either. Good luck to those following Litigant in the Long Distance Cup but the betting is probably a fair reflection of the chances of Order Of St George, provided that this is not too soon after his exertions at Chantilly. Of the other short-priced favourites, the obvious one is Seventh Heaven in the Fillies And Mares as she easily accounted for the subsequent Arc winner last time out and ought to be able to beat Journey and Speedy Boarding, whilst Zhukova needs unlikely rain. This year’s 2000 Guineas has only produced two Group 1 winners and both of them contest the QEII. Galileo Gold was subsequently beaten on soft ground by Awtaad but reversed that form at Ascot before losing to The Gurkha at Goodwood and Ribchester at Deauville. It is hard to really fancy most of the elders and Minding could well profit from what should be a strongly-run race thanks to the Godolphin pacemaker Barchan. Given the recent form of the Jean-Claude Rouget string, I would not be wanting to get involved with Almanzor at short odds in the Champion Stakes and Found has had less than two weeks since winning a mediocre Arc. Last year’s victor Fascinating Rock has clearly been targeted at this and has to be respected (although he did miss the Arc). I cannot say that I fancy last year’s third Jack Hobbs after most of the season off. I would love to see Midterm run a big race as I have convinced myself that he is going to be a fantastic four year old. The only bet that I can find is SHALAA, comfortable winner of his comeback race, who ought to account for Twilight Son, Quiet Reflection and five-furlong specialist Mecca’s Angel if he still retains his two year old ability. Bad news for Librisa Breeze fans that Tom Segal tipped him on The Morning Line.
Very wise, Oddy. A strategy is the way to go, for sure. However, much more difficult for punters nowadays than in my younger days. Then, my strategy was so simple, on the flat that is, just really study Phil Bull and Timeform (and Raceform) hard (every evening usually), and pay attention to the old Sporting Life experts (and they were 'experts' believe me, there are one or two jokers around today?). They really did help a guy to think for his or herself. Ask Ron. My feeling nowadays is that the company is just drowning in the number of horses in training, and it is difficult for even computer technology to keep a handle on everything. After all the input is from humans? They're still pretty damn good though. As for NH racing, I tried to use my own loaf, mostly by paying attention to the top trainers of the day (not much different now) such as Fred Rimell, Fulke Walwyn, Fred Winter, etc., and of course the top guys over in Ireland. One can't do much more than that? I have never regretted my interest in horseracing, can be expensive and hurt a bit at times, but such a lot of real fun.
