Saturday's Meetings Taunton N/H 8 Races 12:30-4:30p.m. Ascot N/H 7 Races 12:40-4:10p.m. Navan N/H 7 Races 12:50-4:17p.m. Haydock N/H 7 Races 12:55-4:20p.m. Newcastle(E) A/W 7 Races 4:05-7:10p.m. Racecards At The Races Racing Post Sporting Life Good Luck
Hopefully all three UK jumps meetings go ahead. I am really looking forward to seeing my boys favourite horse run at Haydock in Silver Hallmark, I have this horse as a proper staying chaser of the future and the conditions tomorrow might just see him at an advantage over the odds on favourite. He jumped very well on chase debut and he stayed on well, and whilst the form through Fiddlerontheroof would suggest he isn't good enough, I think he is open to lots of improvement and this will suit much more. At Ascot I am looking forward to most races on the card, the juvenile hurdle to start could be very informative, we also get to see Magic Light versus Roksana and Politilogue/Defi/WP in the Clarence House. The handicaps on the card also look very interesting, with Flintham looking like one very interesting runner in the 2.25. He has been off a long time, but surely they have him cherry ripe for his return. The handicapper has been very lenient and he could lead them a merry dance for a long way. At Taunton Alaphillipe has to give weight away, not sure he can do so to Tile Tapper, but if he does he will be ranking quite highly in the UK novices that haven't run in graded races. Yala Enki versus If The Cap Fits is a good match up in the 2.10, I much prefer the former who is experienced and can force issues with the jumping of the others here. Brewinupastorm is a fascinating runner in the 2.45, he is capable of defying this mark and needs to be given a more positive ride at some point in his career!! Agent Valdez is interesting later in that card, she is better than the Cheltenham run, where she was up against better horses and got outpaced by better horses.
I do not particularly care about what wins the race, but I do hope Waiting Patiently is ridden a bit more aggressively tomorrow, like he was when he was winning races over 16 and 19 furlongs in the past. He has got the speed to lay up closer to the leaders and has enough speed to go through with it at the end, as he has shown numerous times now when finishing with running, but not getting there. Go a sensible gallop up near the middle to front and I'm certain he would increase his winning %, especially over this trip.
Dashel Drasher goes for another win at ascot which seems to suit so well , didn’t seem any fluke about his last win , if he is in same form 7/1 will seem a steal 3 00. With hobbs hitting some form at newbury the other day , defi de s must be in with a shout , yes his runs earlier were dreadful but surely they were an aberration , if so 4/1 is a tempting price for such a talent . Over at haydock , fingers crossed it goes ahead , i like Minella Drama of mccain’s , not a great price but his copybook remains clean . The peter marsh is a mix of potential and old hardened chasers , ive no strong view on it so leaving alone , i do like Black Pirate in the next race though , will like the ground and has his best days ahead of him .
Politilogue looks a worthy fav on form and based on his latest run, I would say unbeatable tomorrow. However there are a couple of buts he has disappointed before and found to have bled Harry isn't riding this time At best price 6/4 (5/4 in places) I think that is too short to take the risk I think the drop in trip will suit Defi Du Seuil and at 4/1 looks the better value should Politilogue not reproduce his latest effort (only 1lb to find on TF ratings) - and he loves the mud
Surely the have to? I think the pace will be strong from the get go and Hughes must have him handy, not dropped out the back. You’re not going to make up 10 lengths on Politologue in the last 3 furlongs.
All about Royale Pagaille in the Peter Marsh today. I love the way they are campaigning this hugely talented novice in open handicaps, rather than 3-runner graded races and I sincerely hope that boldness is rewarded. He was seriously impressive at Kempton and if he can defy a quite staggering rise in the weights today then he is surely destined for the top.
Heavy ground, top weight at Haydock? Think he is ridiculously priced, and I wonder what the benefit is to the horse to run in this race.
Maybe he does, but giving a stone of weight to the field is going to be a very stern test of the horse. Throw in that the handicapper has had his say and the price of 6/4 and I’d suggest you have to be very brave to back him today. I think it’s a very sporting entry by Venetia and I kind of hope that it works for them, but the market is all wrong given how bad the ground will be.
I believe good horses need stern tests to become great horses. Imagine Paul Nicholls had said “well Denman isn’t going to win a second Hennessy off 174 so we’ll keep him fresh for Cheltenham”.
The Clarence House chase is a fascinating contest today. Not much between the 3 leading protagonists and assuming all 8 stand their ground there could be an each way play in there. Highly possibly that one of the leading 3 won't turn up. I think Fanion d'estruval is a fascinating entry. I backed him last time out when he was cruising with 3 flights to go and then unfortunately fell. First Flow will love the ground and can't stop winning.. There is a nagging doubt in my mind that Politologue might not run to his best today.. usually runs well when fresh but he last ran just over 40 days ago and is that enough of a gap for him? Defi du seuil won this last year and I can see him winning this but you are taking a leap of faith that Hobbs has him back to his best. So that leaves Waiting Patiently..who has the ground that suits and with there likely to be some pace on, the race could be run to suit. He likes Ascot too and trainer reports that he is in fine fettle so I will be backing him today.. If he wins we'll all wonder why in the past the trainer has wrapped him up in too much cotton wool..
My arrows for today. Ascot 1.50 Lightly Squeeze Haydock 2.40 Smooth Stepper Ascot 3.00 Windsor Avenue Double the green and gold 7/1 Haydock 3.15 Beveur D’Air Ascot 3.35 Defi Du Seuil Have a good day gents. All the best with yours
There was a good article on WP the other day on Sporting Life - they have had rotten luck with injuries with him - literally one after another - but hopefully he can start making up for lost time.
Definitely missing something mate. Long way to go though. It’s going to be very interesting and a tight end to the season, I can see all teams dropping points and teams beating each other. City’s to loose imo, but if any team can get 6, 7, 8 wins on the bounce they will take some stopping.
