The Haldon Gold Cup would be hard enough to decipher even if you knew it was the horse's main aim - but it really is a pipe opener and you'd need to look at what goes well fresh and which stables have their horses well forward. Although a very chancey sort, I think Hinterland could be the answer at the weights. 10 stone 4, first time tongue tie - 9/2 seems ok
14:15 Exeter - Cue Card (Won't desert my dear old Cue Card. Distance no problem for this star front runner IMHO. If he's reasonably fit and well he can take this, regardless of lumbering top weight).
Morning, team. How are we??? Good, good. Lovely card down in God’s own county today but the big question is who will be in front once the kicks in the belly and the slaps on the rump have been administered. I’ll opt for: Cue Card (2.15 Exeter) – hasn’t run since St Stephen’s Day so you do have to take his fitness on trust. However, the old boy did win first time up in the 4 seasons preceding his 3rd in this heat in 2013 so I don’t think he’s a horse who has to have the old cobwebs blown away before showing his best. At his peak Cue Card is an exceptional animal and if returning to that sort of level really should be too strong even under today’s welter impost. As for his rivals today I strongly believe that several are handicapped to the hilt with their perches being based on the races they have won, or ran very well in, rather than the class of horse they have actually raced against. 7/2 looks most appealing. If In Doubt (2.45 Exeter) – put up a couple of standout performance over hurdles last season when 2nd in the Lanzarote and a half length runner-up to Fingal Bay when in receipt of just 7 lbs. Hurdling ain’t chasing though but I'm firmly of the opinion that this one will be even better over the big ‘uns. Furthermore he won first time up last season and dear old Pip Hobbs is exceptional at preparing one after an absence. A very decent novice chase but 11/4 looks decent odds re this one. Good luck, crew.
November 4th, warm and sunny in Munich, 22°C. in fact. Extraordinary weather for this time of year. Excuse me, but what's St. Stephen's Day and what did the good man do to earn a "Day"?
i'm already off to a good start today by backing the Moore horse in the Melbourne Cup! (needed that after the Breeders Cup races were just impossible this year) I do like the Haldon Gold Cup - one of the best midweek jumps races around after Cheltenham. I have been following HINTERLAND for a while now and the grade 1 race he won at Sandown last season was a top quality renewal. He has always won comfortably first time out and I reckon that he will be hard to beat today. It is hard to back against the Hobbs runners at the moment so a little bet on HELLO GEORGE in the 1.45 and IF IN DOUBT in the 2.45 as well. might be worth a saver on the other Hobbs horse in this too - RETURN SPRING
Easy choice for me today.AP's three rides @ Exeter & Ruby's only ride @ Fairyhouse. E/W lucky 15 E/W acca. Happy betting all.
St.Stephen's day is the equivalent of your boxing day. In Ireland the day after Santy is St.Stephen's day. I'd be wary of Hinterland today, most of Nicholls look in need of a run. I too am in the Cue Card camp, can see him making pretty much every yard of it and no better way to get fit than have a stroll around Exeter today.
I've been turning the Exeter romp inside out trying to find the winner. I've compared them on their best (Timeform) ratings: ever achieved achieved on the going achieved over the distance achieved last time out On best ratings ever Cue Card is a clear winner but that rating was achieved over 20f However on first time out ratings I get Cue Card on 179+ and Somersby on 180. That happened to be in the same race last season. So if we are looking for 180 to win this race we have every horse bar one that has achieved a rating of 179-81 (adjusted for today's weights) at some stage. Only Oscar Hill hasn't and he has achieved 175+. So it seems as though it is down to who has been best prepared to win this race and that is one piece of information I don't have. Conclusion - No bet
100/30 available on Cue Card - that is a very backable price, but he is a horse I never get right (loses when I back him, wins when I don't) so sod him
It's Tuesday so beef stew and dumplings. Splendid stuff. 9/10. Swanny, old boy, you know perfectly well what date in the calendar ‘St Stephen’s Day’ is because you moan about me saying it every time I type the words! Secret Gesture to stay in training next term as a 5YO, people, as connections want to win a ‘Group 1’ with her. Be interesting to see how many of these races she and her full brother, Sir Isaac, win in 2015. Will it be a large number???
Barry Geraghty talking down the performance of Sign Of A Victory on the Sporting Life website. Always plays with a very straight bat does Mr. Geraghty so you'd have to think he's putting punters straight, rather than attempting any "mind games". I would be interested in Sir Barney's view of Sign Of A Victory's performance at the weekend.
This. I think Mala Beach would be a good thing in 99% of beginners chases held, Elliot really rates him but I think The Tank is a creature he won't tame. I expect the 10s on the JLT to be long gone after this race. Nass I think the argument of they'll get the trip in weak contest usually holds water and I'd subscribe to it in certain circumstances but the one race it definitely won't work is the Gold Cup! The only outcome I can envisage in that is dear old Cue Card going up and down on the one spot after the last and it won't matter what's around him! He's tailor made for the Ryanair. Seems he's popular in the market today but I'm taking on him on with Balder Succes, a horse I absolutely never get right so get to the payout window Cue Carders
Oddy, for me, rather like my local assizes at times, the jury is still out re Sign Of A Victory. I think to come in with a strong view either way re him and the Champion Hurdle, at this stage, is somewhat silly as he’s one of those animals at the crossroads in that he could be very, very good or just what he is at the moment. Sign Of A Victory’s next run will tell us a lot, lot more, methinks. He won at the weekend off 139 and I’m guessing that tomorrow his rating will go up to perhaps 150 or just a tad higher which is about a stone and a half off winning an average Champion Hurdle (although it could be argued that the race in 2015 just could, could be somewhat substandard). It is worth remembering though that Sign Of A Victory gave 9 lbs and a very comprehensive hammering to another Mr Henderson inmate in Dawalan who himself is no mug and probably not badly treated, himself, off 130 (take the winner out and he would have won comfortably). Don’t forget he was rated highly enough to start favourite in last terms ‘Freddie Winter’ at the Festival. Highlight of the weekend on the racing front for me was another jovial interview between the lovely Ems Spencer and Mr Henderson prior to the race. An incredible amount of coquettish giggling and hair flicking was contained within. The old girl certainly seeks Mr Henderson out for an interview whenever there paths cross and being the true gentleman he always obliges. BAFTA award winning, methinks.
Another below par run from Maarek at Maissons Lafitte, I wonder is it time to call a day for him?.. he owes nobody nothing at this stage.
Cue Card wasn't particularly good in that for me. Makes the Haydock race a really interesting one, who will be in top form for that race? The formbook had it right with the winner.
Cue Card could not have been spot on surely. Well done GODS OWN backers. My next bet will be on November 16th. Cant get anything right at the moment so will sit things out until then.
Didn't pinch it at all - smashed them, even allowing for giving a fence or two a good clout!! Wonder where they go with this one now with him still having novice status? The others will no doubt improve and I'm fully expecting this one too. Really impressed with that and a nice drift to 8/1.
