Saturday's Meetings Newbury Flat 8 Races 1:15-5:05p.m. Doncaster Flat 8 Races 1:35-5:35p.m. Cheltenham N/H 7 Races 1:50-5:15p.m. Punchestown N/H Races 1:55-5:20p.m. Kelso N/H 7 Races 2:00-5:25p.m. Chelmsford(E) A/W 8 Races 5:30-9:10p.m. Racecards At The Races Racing Post Sporting Life Good Luck
Hello, pilgrims. Decent racing tomorrow and if my regular readers will allow it I’ll nominate one running across the county line in Royal Berkshire. PERFECTLY SPIRITED (5.05 Newbury) – what a lovely name for a filly by the way. This one actually runs from 3 lbs out of the handicap, here, but I’m sure her handler, old boy Gosden, has no qualms about this as the initial perching of 78 that she was given did look on the lenient side of lenient. The old girl obviously has had her problems as she didn’t make her debut until September of her 3YO term, which was last month. On that occasion I doubt that she was favoured by the heavy ground as she trailed in a well beaten 4th. Perfectly Spirited was much more ‘street wise’ next time though, when stepped down to tomorrow’s distance of 7 furlongs, as she easily, and I do mean easily, obliged in an above average looking Wolverhampton maiden. With that experience behind her you can only expect Perfectly Spirited to improve and she really is in no better hands as old boy Gosden excels when it comes to both training and placing an improving filly. Joint bottom impost tomorrow she receives a lot of weight from other fillies and mares who in the main have either been on the go all season or who are starting to look somewhat exposed. Expect her more ‘fresh’ profile to be too good of the morrow. Good luck all.
3.00 Cheltenham Gibralfaro 7/2 with Paddy Power. I think this a monster price for a horse who will strip fitter her than on seasonal bow and getting weight from all bar the outsider.
Two picks for me so far; 1.50 Cheltenham- ALTERNATIF 12/1ew Running of his last winning mark, will get the trip and pipes horses run very well first time which is a good stat for this race 'The six winners this decade had a total of one prior run in the autumn between them' has bit of class to him (compared to the field anyway) and is overpriced compared to the tissue prices I have 2.20 Newbury- FRONTIERSMAN- 13/2 This his 5th start and Won a handicap lto very easily and looks a potential group horse in the making receiving weight from a few of the field and interesting too Doyle is on him
Heading to Espana sad to say Celtic -2,-3,-4 are my bets of the weekend. Please god let my tipping be my usual pash
Enjoy Spain gazbhoy, my bet of the weekend is -2 for the Celts, might stick it in a double with united against Chelsea.
Hoping to see a nice performance from Shantou Village today. Won't be easy against Brother Tedd though. Decent looking bumper for which I will nominate two horses. Firstly, Kalinisi Circle from Ben Pauling's yard, a full brother to the yard's excellent Barter's Hill, who will likely want further with time but should relish the hill. Second on debut to First Drift who has since won again under a penalty in emphatic style, I like his form much better than the Nicholls hotpot's and at around 11/1 he looks value. I will also give an e/w shout to Laura Morgan's Thomas Todd who finished 2nd in a Kelso bumper and might have won had Adam Wege not dropped his whip. The third placed horse that day, Malcolm Jefferson's Temple Man, has subsequently split 2 very smart types in Ravenhill Road and Test Pilot (albeit at wide margins). 50/1 available on this one. I await the Bumper King's thoughts
It looks like Ballydoyle have got away with pulling a fast one in the Racing Post Trophy. O’Blarney left six in at the five day stage including ante-post favourite Capri to scare off likely opposition. The Lads got their money on Yucatan at fancy prices and then at the final declarations Capri was withdrawn leaving Yucatan, second to his stablemate in a Group 2 at The Curragh, as favourite. Neither of the other Coolmore contenders look likely winners but it is easy to crab the two runners with Group 1 form: Rivet finished three-and-a-half lengths fifth in the Dewhurst (with the Ballydoyle pacemaker ahead of him) whilst Salouen was four-and-a-half lengths second in what did not look a hot Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère. David Elsworth’s Sir Dancealot won a six furlong Listed race so this represents a big step up. It is hard to imagine that Yucatan is very high up The Lads’ pecking order but when your trainer is trying to break a Group 1 wins record, any will do. As a Classic prospect, I like Capri more. Most of the rest of the Doncaster card looks like a bookies’ benefit even though the ground is quicker than it normally is at this fixture. I note that Richard Fahey is quite sweet on the chances of Andok in the 5:00 but that may be reflected in the odds. At Newbury, I will give KINGS FETE another chance in the 2:20 in a race that is more competitive numerically than it probably is in terms of form and ability. I find it difficult to fancy either of the three year olds, or last year’s winner Koora (absent for two months), so I think he can give three pounds to handicap winner Memorial Day and old rivals Western Hymn and Duretto. By my reckoning, the form pick in the Radley Stakes is William Haggas’ Glitter Girl, who has put in great efforts the last twicee at Group level and deserves to collect a decent prize like this Listed race. The main concerns are the unexposed types like Cristal Fizz and Castleacre.
Morning all, a good day in the end at HQ . Today's selections a bit predictable but here goes 1.50 theatrical star 2.25 west approach 3.00 gibralfaro 3.30 fox Norton 4.05 the Tourard man Good luck Cheers.
I'm looking at the Racing Post Trophy and I'm taking an each-way angle into this on RAHEEN HOUSE 25/1. I liked Yucatans performance last time and I did fancy he might turn tables on the winner next time out. Clearly the market confidence should always be feared when Tabor and Magnier are involved but the subsequent defection of CAPRI tells you that the market move was more that they knew he was coming out rather than the fact that Yucatan is now suddenly loads better. He has the best paper form though and is rightful favourite, but I think 7/4 would be a fairer reflection here. The Haggas horse RIVET beat Godolphins Thunder Snow a head last time and i don't like that form for a 5/1 second fav. He was not so good at Newmarket las time and though a flatter track will help, he seems an unlikely winner. The two AOB second/third strings don't look up to this but a place wouldn't be a surprise. SALOUEN has done well but looks a Group 3 type of performer. BAY OF POETS doesn't look to stay a mile and then you have two that will see it out strongly- BRUTAL and CONTRAPPOSTO, who have shown steady improvement and should not be overlooked. However, steady improvement is the name of the game for Brian Meehan and that's why I really like the look of RAHEEN HOUSE. He's bred like a RP Trophy/Derby runner, will see it out strongly, is unexposed and will not be tilting at windmills in an open year. The favourites potential aside, I think he is racing Brutal and Contrapposto for the places (at the least) and at 25/1 with that pedigree and gradual improvement, he looked the value.
Boondooma and Henryville for me today in the handicaps. Really hope the former is back to rude health. Could be a good day for the good doctor. Views on the blog in usual ramble!
Uncannily like Old Guard in the race last year, cracking ride on a horse with a change of gears. He looks like a flashy horse and ran like one! Impressive
First proper bet of the NG season today 3.30 Cheltenham Boondooma 15/2 each way I think we're on a workable mark and the master plotter will have him spot on for today. Not many better at aiming a horse at a race. He's up there with the Skeltons for that and I'd expect a hell of a run from the good Doctors charge.
15:50 Doncaster - Salouen e/w (Will do for my usual Saturday punt. Been pretty busy in his first season, but as long as he's not over the top hopefully will run well. LTO, in the Group 1 Grand Criterium at Chantilly earlier this month, he struggled with the early pace and finished well beaten by the eventual winner, National Defence. However, the race was run on similar ground as it probably will be at Doncaster today, over the same distance, with the race won in the good time of 1m 35.53s (fast by 0.47s). 16/1 was available in three places on the ATR board last time I looked a few minutes ago, so I'll make it e/w). Good luck today everyone!
