A good day of racing tomorrow- Selection are as follows- 15.15- Ascot- The Sawyer -11/1 E/W A bit of a shot in the dark with him, but loves this course nd seems to run his best races here. Yes he is winless for 2 years but he runs well fresh nd has run in some higher grade races and this is a big step down in class. Has been given a good chance by the handicapper tomorro and intrestingly wears a tongue tie for the first time. 15.50-Ascot- Bourne 5/1 He ran well in a number of similarly competitive handicaps last season and was in the process of running a big race when returning in Grade 3 company at Chepstow last month prior to stumbling badly at the third-last. Nonetheless, that first start since April will have blown any cobwebs away and he is fancied to play a leading role here. 12.45 Haydock- Ingleby Spirit- 5/1 A fahey runner over the hurdles very intresting. Has taken well to hurdles, whilt being a 3 time winner on the flat up to 1 1/4 miles. Well beaten in the county hurdle at the festival but this is far more less competitive 13.20-Haydock- Domtaline-2/1 Shall be following Walsh/Nicholls rides tomorro. He ended his last campaign with back-to-back wins on his first two chase starts, and he found Carlito Brigante just a short-head too good at Cheltenham last month and this looks a good opportunity to gethis 1st win of the season. 13.55 Haydock- Pouganch-15/8 15.05 Haydock- Gevrey Chambertin -2/1 (NAP) He can enhance his growing reputation further by making it two out of two over hurdles. There was a lot to like about the way he knuckled down to land an Aintree maiden last month and that first outing since February is expected to have brought him on considerably
Been looking for Bourne to run again after his seasonal reappearance. Will be looking to get a bet on him somewhere over the next 18 hours.
Not a big fan of Gevrey Chambertain for some reason. Can't put my finger on it but my guts telling me he isn't going to be as good as everyone thinks.
Hello lads. Chatting to my cousin Arkaitz earlier and Athletic Bilbao will be without Gurpegi,Aduriz,Iraola,Muniain,Aurtenetxe and Amorebieta for Sundays game v Depor. Toquero,usual third choice CF,has apparently been training in Lezama this morning at right back,according to him who visited the session. Squad very thin on the ground at present and the visitors are evens to get a draw or a win...excellent value imo given the ad hoc Athletic defence which even at full strength is the second worst in the division. Deportivo have drawn half their games away this year and despite being at the arse end of the table can be potent in front of goal...only 4 sides have scored more. The 4/1 for an away win is also worth a saver. GL.
I'm off to London on the 5.30 flight tmz for some chrimbo shopping.....any 606er's around for a pint on Saturday if I can get away? I'm booked in The Marylebone Hotel.
12.55 Ascot Shuh Shuh Gah 35/1 Betfair No price up at present in the bookies but trading at 35/1 on Betfair and I think this 5 year old looks a decent hurdling prospect who showed some pretty nice bumper form for Malcolm Jefferson and who now goes over obstacles for the first time for David Bridgwater. After running a nice 3rd on debut in March of this year, Shuh Shuh Gah ran in what has turned out to be a very hot bumper when finishing 3rd behind Nicky Richards very talented debutants Eduard and Duke of Navan when pulling 8L clear of the rest and conceding 7lb to both rivals. Those pair have since bolted up in a pair of Novice Hurdles with the latter getting beaten 3.5L in a Grade 2 Novice hurdle afterwards as well and in hindsight it was a really nice piece of form. Shuh Shuh Gah got off the mark on his 3rd time of asking when landing a bumper at Market Rasen on soft ground by 6L in decent fashion under top weight from a well backed (and pretty green) rival who has yet to be seen since. The 3rd (15L back) has won a Novice Hurdle since so its not awful form. On his last start for back in May under a penalty Shuh Shuh Gah came 2nd conceding 10lb to the winner when a beaten favourite back in May on his final start for Malcolm Jefferson. Although the winner has disappointed since, the 3rd Moscow Presents ran a nice debut over hurdles when finishing runner up to potentially very nice type of Nick Williams and again it isn't bad form. Since then this 5 year old who has joined the excellent David Bridgwater yard (same owners) to go hurdling and he looks a decent prospect. The step up in trip today looks sure to suit and Bridgwater is absolutely flying at present with 5 winners from his last 17 runners. Choc Thornton takes the ride and looks a very eye catching booking as he is 2-2 for the yard this year (2-3 overall) and I think this signifies that he has been going rather nicely at home for new connections. Although those at the head of the market looks well deserve to be their and look nice prospects, Shuh Shuh Gah looks very big at 35s on the exchanges and looks worth a small bet.
2.40 Ascot All For Free 14/1 First of all, I would definitely recommend taking any double figure price about All For Free in the betting w/o Royales Charter market as he could easily smash this field as his latest win has been given a massive boost in form with the 2nd Shooting Jacket winning impressively at the Paddy Power meeting at Cheltenham last weekend in a better race off a 6lb higher mark and given that Royales Charter is only 8lb higher and on the upgrade he could prove very well handicapped still. He falls into the category of too short to back (especially given his tendency to jump left handed) but could easily win so I'd advise anyone backing to take W/O fav at a double figure price if possible. With regards to All For Free, this 6 year old is another having his stable debut for the David Bridgwater yard and I thought he looked very progressive for Martin Keighley towards last season. I'm keeping this relatively short as I'm wrecked. A decent hurdler and after 3 runs in Beginners/Novices Chases, he made a successful handicap debut over fences when bolting in off a mark of 110 Ascot last December to score by 11L when looking outpaced over 2m1f before forging well clear in the home straight. 5 days later and under a 7lb penalty he scored again in good fashion at Ludlow over 2m when he was sent to the front at 4 out (given he seemed outpaced previously) and he seemed to win with a great deal more in hand then the 2.5L winning margin suggests as his ears were pricked going over all the jumps as he scored comfortably. That race looks decent enough form. Upped another 7lb to a mark of his current mark of 124, All For Free ran a very eye catching 2nd over 2m at Sandown when (easily) beaten 7L by a very, very decent looking prospect in the shape of Hold Fast. Seemingly outpaced and dropping back from quite a long way back, he stayed on resolutely over the minimum trip to never be closer than at the finish. That form looks very strong with the short head beaten 3rd Tanks For That running a belter on his next start when finishing 2nd in the Johnny Henderson at the Cheltenham Festival and the form of those further back looks decent too. On his 2nd last start for Martin Keighley back in January (2 weeks after other effort) he was sent off the 13/2 2nd favourite of the BetVictor Handicap Chase over an extended 2m5f and for one reason or another he barely went a yard that day off mark of 126 as he finished a well and early on beaten 7th. His last start for Keighley came in February of this year when he lost his action and was dismounted so you've clearly got to ignore that effort. He's now joined the excellent David Bridgwater who I feel can definitely improve what seemed a very progressive chaser earlier this year. He's off a mark of 124 which makes him seem well handicapped on his 2nd in a better race than this and although his record fresh is unproven Bridgwater is more than capable of readying one after an absence. Based on his 2 wins and staying on 2nd, 2m3f should definitely be more up his alley and the excellent Richard Johnson looks a very eye catching booking on what is his first start for the yard. With his trainer's chasers going particularly well at present (4-12 in the past 2 months) and at only 6 years old, I think All For Free still looks on a very good mark and at a course that he clearly goes well at I see him running a massive race if fully wound up. If not, I'd definitely recommend keeping an eye on him for the season as he will not be far off winning.
Morning, troops. Hope everyone in fine form. I’m sure that everyone will agree that there is no finer sight in racing than Mr Henderson striding victoriously into the old winners enclosure and I think such a scenario might exist this afternoon following the ‘lucky last’ across the county line in Royal Berkshire. Petit Robin (3.50 Ascot) – a very, very good chaser at his best Petit Robin is a Grade 2 winner, was placed in such ‘top table’ races as the Champion Chase, Tingle Creek and Victor Chandler Chase and last ran over the big ‘uns off a perch of 163. His hurdles mark is far lower though and he races today off a very, and I do mean very, attractively looking 141. It also must be noted that he is no ‘back number’ over hurdles with his last run, in the ultra competitive Grade 3 Swinton Hurdle in May, seeing him beaten just over 4 lengths under a welter burden. Looking at Petit Robin’s opponents today they appear, in the main, to be either too high in the handicap and/or badly out of form. If operating at his best in the rain softened ground (and he has got decent form in such conditions) I really do think he should oblige here. Good luck all.
Haydock 12.45. Hollo Ladies 13.20.Charingworth Both should like the going - here's hoping for a Ferdy double.
Haydock 1.20 looks a cracking race, only 5 runners and three on here have already picked 3 different horses. I'm on Domtaline with Wooly
Three for me at Haydock today 1.20 Domataline - Doubts about Kumbeshwar getting around and Paul Nicholls charge put up a good performance conceding weight to Carlito Brigante when a short head second, should have enough today. 1.55 Gullinbursti - Decent effort first up and should handle the ground. Ran some nice races over hurdles last year and I think will be better for the switch to fences. 2.30 Lienosus -Taking on the supposed good thing here. Think Evan Williams' horse ran a great race behind a well backed Paul Nicholls horse in a grade 2 contest. If improving for the run he would have a great chance here.
Stick has put the THECORNISHCOCKNEY 12/1 (14s last night) up in the 5.10 at Wolvers. Having looked at it, I have to agree it looks in with a very good shout on reversing form with todays 10/11 favourite. Having a look at that last race, TheCC was beaten 2 1/2L by Mutual Regard. TheCC was giving MR 4lbs on official weights but the amateur claiming 7 on TheCC meant he was receiving 3lbs. TheCC was very slow out and very slow to get into stride, hung out a distant last pretty much until they turned into the straight, almost ran an extra 1/2 furlong going round most of the field. TheCC was going like a train late on, certainly had a fair bit in hand at the line. Weight swings mean TheCC is receiving 2lbs today, so a lb worse off but with a top jockey in Robert Winston on board this time.
Last three races at Ascot: 14-40 Marshal Zhukov 15-15 Nez Rouge 15-50 Bourne Haydock 13-55 Gullinbursti 15-05 Gevrey Chambertin - nailed on NAP
I think the 1.20 is a 'canter' for KUMBESHWAR if he stands up. Cant see the Nicholls horse asking any serious questions of him. Lots of differing opinions on this one today.
Morning gents... And for a change a glorious one it is, albeit a cold one... Im busy today but ive had just enough time to go through a couple of the cards today... And unless im just being lazy today, or just in a rush, i think most of the favs will go in at Ascot today - That wont upset SBC in anyway shape or form...!!! Then its onto the 'Any horse could win' day, today at Haydock, that has caused the most head scratching for me... Anyway... Haydock... 12.45 - Conquisto, 11/4 1.20 - Domtaline, 7/4 1.55 - Super Duty, 3/1 2.30 - Clondan Kaempfer, 8/11 3.05 - Wilton Milan, 15/8 3.40 - Vinstar, 6/4 Ascot... 12.55 - Minella Fortress, 11/10 1.20 - Minella Class, 6/4 1.55 - Close Fortune, 8/13 2.45 - Marshall Zhukov, 7/2 3.15 - Carrickboy, 11/2 3.50 - Petite Robin, 9/4 No bets as i just think its a hard day to be super confident about any of the runners today... Good luck to all if you are playing...
12:55 Ascot - Many Clouds (Decent effort LTO so worth a small play. Will RF with Mcllhatton, who is well-regarded by UK's foremost NH trainer Paul Nicholls, and might do better over today's longer trip?).
