Friday's Meetings Wexford N/H 7 Races 12:20-3:45p.m. Doncaster N/H 7 Races 12:30-3:53p.m. Cheltenham N/H 6 Races 1:10-4:05p.m. Newcastle A/W 9 Races 1:20-5:52p.m. Wolverhampton(E) A/W 9 Races 4:30-8:30p.m. Dundalk(E) A/W 8 Races 4:40-8:15p.m. Racecards At The Races Sporting Life Racing Post Good Luck
The opening day of the Cheltenham November meeting and, looking at the cards over the 3 days, I am generally disappointed. The graded races on Friday both look weak affairs and I think the Saturday card has a big hole in it with the International Hurdle now moved to trials day in January. The meeting is saved by the second half of Sunday's card with a fantastic renewal of the Shloer Chase, a typically competitive Greatwood Hurdle and the Listed Bumper (although no runner here for Fergal????)
Big race on Friday is the Group-2 Bahrain International Trophy over 1m2f. Some very good horses competing (plus many well-known UK and Irish jockeys riding throughout the entire card) and I like the past form of Birr Castle, a Godolphin-owned Cloth Of Stars colt. His form in France in some pretty decent races is very consistent, and seems to act on just about any going. It is the only ride of the day for crack French jockey, Mickael Barzalona, so it's certainly a sporting bet at longshot-odds. Only weird thing is that ATR have got Birr Castle down as, and I quote, a "3-y-o mare"! So, I double-checked on Birr Castle, and it most definitely is a 3-y-o colt. Pretty careless/sloppy stuff from ATR, I would say?
Cheltenham 13,10 Gentle And Kind 8/1 e/w five places, 15/2 PP and sky six places 13,45 Small bet Coastguard Station 20/1 e/w three places, 18/1 WH four places
There could be something else in there but I can’t see past pinnacle peak in the opener. Gone up six lb but won’t stop it winning.
Pinnacle Peak also with a 10lb claimer though I think Paricolor at the bottom of the weights could be very dangerous with the 8lb claimer - what's the stat on those @NassauBoard ? Paricolor finished 2nd in this race 2 years ago off 118 with a 6lb claimer, so effectively 112. Today 115 with an 8lb claimer so effectively 107. Had a wind op and a spin on the flat to sharpen him up.
I also like Walk In Clover in the 1.45. She was ridiculously well handicapped to win the Grade 2 Mares Novices Limited Handicap Final in April and followed up under a penalty a week later. This season she has run 3 times with merit - firstly when making a Nicholls 1/4 shot work for victory in a match at Newton Abbot, secondly when up against some serious horses at Chepstow in a race won by Al Dancer and finally in a fairly hot novice chase over C&D last month (won by My Mate Mozzie) when unluckily slipping after the last when still in contention. Obviously Calico is the yard's main hope today but Walk In Clover could run into a place at nice odds. E/W double with the above-mentioned Paricolor.
Well, a Godolphin horse, Dubai Future, duly won it, but they had four runners in the race. I presume it was Birr Castle who led for a long way, and then did not quite see it out and finished around 5th or 6th I guess? I could not understand the commentator when he was pronouncing Birr Castle's name, very confusing. Michael Barzalona gave of his best for the colt, but Dubai Future was just too good and a worthy winner.
Exactly, Ron, horse wasn't even a female, and they compounded the error by calling it a 3yo mare, As you said, "no such thing" .
Slightly after timing on the first race, but here are my Cheltenham picks 1:10 - Gentle & Kind, not placed 1:45 - Do Your Job 2:20 - JPR1 2:55 - Latenightpass 3:30 - Captain Teague 4:05 - Artistic Endeavour Good luck to all if you are having a play today...
Very unlucky JPR One - he would have hosed up there. Lovely bay and jumped superbly throughout until that unlucky last-fence unseat. Could be a contender for the Arkle if he gets over that and progresses.
I was very impressed by Minella Missile at Chepstow and he has shown it was no fluke there. Lovely performance and an intelligent ride from the jockey to take this inside route - a bit of a "reverse Paddy Brennan"
Well done but really not sure how you could have backed that today. He won and egg and spoon race at Chepstow in a time that was six seconds slower than the other division. Taking on the Persian War easy winner! we'll take the form boost though
Honestly, I only bet on the race because it was at Cheltenham and I wanted a horse that could be placed at high odds. I was hesitating between him and Sequestered and decided to go for him. Regarding Captain Teague, for me, it is impossible to bet at such low odds, no matter how good the horse is. It doesn't compensate the risk. I could remember Annie Power, but we have seen him today with JPR One. Yesterday ran one of my favourite horses, It's For Me, which I bet on for last year's bumper. I didn't understand how he was second favourite but even so his odds were too low (11/8) to bet on him, although in the afternoon he came out as favourite. In the end, not to abandon him, I played a double with Galia Des Liteaux and that turned into something more than 3/1, very little but enough to have some fun.
