Saturday's Meetings Lingfield.................. All-Weather....... 8 Races.....11:50-3:45p.m. Huntingdon............ National Hunt.... 7 Races.....12:00-3:25p.m. Haydock.................. National Hunt.... 7 Races.....12:10-3:35p.m. Ascot........................ National Hunt.... 7 Races.....12:25-3:50p.m. Gowran Park.......... National Hunt.... 7 Races.....12:30-3:55p.m. Wolverhampton(E) All-Weather....... 8 Races.......5:45-9:15p.m. At The Races Cards Racing Post Cards Sporting Life Cards Good Luck
What a day tomorrow is: Faugheen's seasonal debut The New One The Betfair Chase Arsenal v Man Utd Boxing from Liverpool
Won't be around tomorrow so posting my selection and putting my bets on tonight. With the ground deteriorating and some of the favourites having jumping questions to answer im going to try get them beat, although i do fancy a couple of them for March. 1.15 Haydock - Meadowcroft Boy 14/1 - Im sure some of the boys will remember him from that poor run against Zamdy Man after i talked him up. Still unexposed and ran very keen last time out in heavy ground, will need to settle much better now up in trip. I think he has a lot of potential and his mark could be very lenient. 1.50 Haydock - Melodic Rendezvous 5/1 - Classy horse who was badly outpaced in the Champion Hurdle and was being pushed along after only a few furlongs. Didnt stay the 3 miles last time out at Aintree. Will find conditions today a lot more suited given the heavy rain and won at course and distance against Zarkander in January. The New One is my champion hurdle horse however his jumping can be sketchy at times there is no denying and with the ground conditions worsening i think MR can take advantage of this. 3.00 Haydock - Taquin Du Seuil 5/1 - Ran a fine race last time out on ground that was far too quick and was finishing arguably best of all on his first attempt at 3 miles. Ground conditions will be in his favour tomorrow and aslong as he puts in a decent round of jumps he should go very close in this. I also dont buy into the theory he is too slow considering he gave MTOY 5 lbs and was only beaten just over a length at 2 miles. 2.05 Ascot - Rajdhani Express 7/2 - Came 3rd in the Ryanair, 3 lengths in front of Al Ferof off level weights. He receives 10lbs here today. Had a bit of a pipe opener in the Old Roan chase before unseating and you would imagine Henderson has him right for this. 2.40 - Ascot - Lac Fontana 11/2 - Probably my least confident bet of the day. Won the County Hurdle before picking up a grade 1 at Aintree, Still only 5 and improving and wont mind the ground conditions. Faugheen is clearly a good horse but his jumping has been questioned and we also dont know how fit Mullins has him for his seasonal debut.
I'm heading to Gowran Park tomorrow if anyone has any pearls of wisdom? 2.05 Ascot Fox Appeal 10/1 - good course and distance form.
Big day at Gowran for a few of my ante-post punts The hugely exciting TELL US MORE who I've backed for the Neptune makes his debut over hurdles. My RSA fancy DON POLI makes his fencing debut with a decent sort of Noel Meades in the race so mightn't be a walk in the park. BALLYCASEY runs as well and he'd be my confident Ryanair pick. Hard to forget the turn of foot he showed against the Don at Leoparstown. And obviously at Ascot your Champion Hurdler in waiting, FAUGHEEN wins on the snaff!!! No prices up for the Gowran maidens but I'd expect they'll be silly prices. I might just stick them into some fancy multiples or even simply stick them in a small 4-fold.
Cracking days racing tomorrow. My darts... 1:15 Hay - Morito Du Berlais 4/1 I deserted Dawalan after backing him for his last couple of starts. Reason being, I don't think a 5lb rise for MDB's win at Cheltenham will be enough to stop him. 1:50 Hay - Melodic Rendezvous 11/2 It's a big aks but this one will love the conditions and I'm hoping this one will be able to serve it up to TNO. Additionally if MR can beat TNO, we can finally put to bed all of this talk of TNO winning the Champion Hurdle - just playing fellas, don't bite 2:25 Hay - Katkeau 7/1 Really impressed with his win last week after a lengthy absence. Has to avoid the 'bounce' factor but has a great chance of following up if he does. 3:00 Hay - Harry Topper 11/1 (nb) Needs to step up on what he's achieved compared to the best of these and tends to give the odd fence a good clout. Having said that, he will relish the conditions and with some of the others lower in the betting having slight niggles, I think he's a fair bet. 3:15 Asc - Ulck Du Lin 4/1 (NAP) Never found his form last year but ticks all the right boxes with no going concerns, versatile regarding tactics and solid C&D form. Won here last time and an 8lb rise for that still leaves him 1lb lower than a C&D win on heavy 2 years ago. Anyway, those are the ones you can put a line through fellas, good luck!!
Damn you Drever - have you placed a keylogger onto my laptop? I'm going back to the drawing board now see if I haven't been a bit hasty with a couple! Good luck though
U thinking both of the ante post champion hurdle favourites to get beat will surely turn the betting on its head of it does happen but looks very unlikely tho
I know they are the best horses in each race but I think they can be gotten at especially with tough ground conditions. Though odds are skinny I have placed my 2 each way as I can't see them finishing out the top 2
Would love to see William Wishes run a big race and get in the places but I think Aurore D'Estreval looks a decent e/w bet at 10/1 has quite abit to find with Melodic Rendezvous but has a lot of potential!
I'm with you regarding William's Wishes - it looks as if they may be using this race as a prep, but you never know, maybe they ARE planning a timber campaign for him!
The 'Fixed Brush' Hay 2.25. I usually do well in this race. This year I've gone for> Katkeau (win plus larger place) Aubusson (win only) all @ bfsp
Can't see either The New One or Faugheen getting beat today but there's no value in the prices so the job is to try and find the runner up in each race. In the 1:50 I've gone EW on both Zamdy Man 16/1 & Williams Wishes 50/1 and in the 2:40 I've gone EW on Ballyglasheen 50/1. Personally I'd like to see both of horses destroy their fields to further build up the anticipation and excitement of the Champion Hurdle.
3.35 Haydock Renard. The handicapper has taken his time to relent on Renard since putting him up to 144 for winning a class 2 handicap chase over 19 furlongs on heavy going at Chepstow last December. He has put in some sound efforts in defeat since then, including a fine 3rd in the Grimthorpe Chase and 9th behind Holywell at the festival. On both occaisions he would have found the ground plenty lively enough and today's conditions will suit him much better. He is dropped to 137 today, just 2lbs above his last winning mark, Venetia's stable is in good form at the moment and he had a nice pipe-opener at Stratford 3 weeks ago to ensure he is cherry ripe for this. 7/1 with most firms, tenner e/w at B.O.G.
Moscow Mannon 2/1 and Wounded Warrior 7/2 value against the Mullins hotpots who look ridiculously short.
Fantastic racing for jumps followers today. Really looking forward to seeing the 2 Champion Hurdle favourites line up in their respective races. Also keen to see how Minella On Line fares in the novices chase at Ascot. The lovely Rebecca rates this one but whether he's up to giving weight away to some half decent sorts on very soft ground is a doubt for me so no bet. An ew lucky 63 on these though: Haydock 12.10 Keel Haul @ 14s, trip and ground ideal 1.15 Calculated Risk @ 14s, just always liked this one and another who'll go in the mud. 3.00 Taquin De Seuil @5s. On antepost for Gold Cup. Needs to win today and will. 3.35 Midnight Appeal @ 11/2. Another mud lover down to a winnable mark especially with jockey claim Ascot 2.05 Bury Parade @ 9s. Not the best horse on form but conditions to suit and the favourite making his seasonal reappearance. The trainer gave this a decent chance on the morning line and even made it his ew charity bet. 3.15 Brick Red @ 5s. Mud lover for Ventia on a Saturday. Enough said. Good luck all.
Can I just ask, because I don't really understand the ins and outs of racing but is there a reason why Faugheen and TNO aren't going up against each other today? Is it just down to owners/trainers choice that they want to go for these particular races?
My TV punts are as follows: Haydock 1-50 A sentimental ew on Williams Wishes at 66-1 2-25 Aubusson ew 3-00 Silviniaco Conte 3-35 Midnight Appeal Ascot 2-05 Bury Parade ew 2-40 Faugheen will surely slam this lot? 3-15 Oscar Hill ew In the 1-15 Haydock, I'm on Morito Du Berlais, following my win on him lto, but slightly concerned that with both trainer and jockey on the Morning Line, neither of them mentioned him! Incidentally Aurora's Destruval is now a NR Good luck all
