Saturday's Meetings Kelso N/H 8 Races 12:54-5:04p.m. Newbury Flat 7 Races 12:55-4:30p.m. Cheltenham N/H 7 Races 1:15-4:45p.m. Doncaster Flat 8 Races 1:35-5:28p.m. Galway N/H 7 Races 1:57-5:22p.m. Chelmsford(E) A/W 8 Races 5:00-8:30p.m. Racecards At The Races Sporting Life Racing Post Good Luck
JACKSON LAMB 12/1 Cheltenham 4:45 The lead character in my favourite book series! Yard brought Encanto Bruno over to win this last year and I dont think that this looks the hottest renewal.
I like Weveallbeencaught 3/1 in the Novice Chase in Cheltenham at 4.10. Thought he might have achieved a bit more over hurdles but chasing looks his game so let's see how this goes for him today. I think it may be worth taking on Flooring Porter as he doesn't look to me like he will be as good a chaser as he was hurdler. Most likely be proven wrong on that one over time.
Betty’s Tiara and Willsburg appeal to me. The former a five year old could be more forward than the rest of the field. With a penalty but receiving weight all round I’ll take a punt. Yard had a good winner yesterday.
Cheltenham 13,15 The Dasher Conway 14/1 e/w bet365 four places 14,25 Twig 15/2 e/w four places 15,00 Jet Magic 22/1 e/w sky six places, five others 15,35 Butch 7/2 16,45 The Kemble Brewery 9/2
Quite amusing that SportingLife.com illustrate their news item “Green light for Doncaster” with a photo that is not Town Moor. Also notable that on that same site the “Exclusive Timeform Highlights” article gives three tips at Cheltenham and the only mention of Doncaster is in reference to Haddex des Obeaux (a good Yorkshire/British name for a slow old plodder) having run in a handicap over fences there. To save you looking, they tip Blueking d’Oroux (1:50, The Ratings Choice), Antrim Coast (3:35, The Big Improver) and the aforementioned Haddex des Obeaux (1:15, The Handicap Hotshot). At 6/5, 11/8 and 5/2 I am guessing they are all favourites. Newbury was abandoned yesterday waterlogged yet clearly Storm Babet missed Cheltenham... I am sure I never heard any of the weather people refer to it as an “extratropical cyclone”. Where is Michael Fish when you need him?
I'm going to have a crack at the Pertemps qualifier at Cheltenham today so here goes. As ever with these contests, finding the winner is complicated by the fact that they may not all be trying to win, just to qualify for the final. This has been somewhat tempered by the recent change to the qualifying rules, now only the first 4 (rather than the first 6) qualify. The Cheltenham qualifier, so early in the season, hasn't got a good record of throwing up the winner but that could have been very different last season. Charley Byrnes' son of Westerner, Shoot First, got the better of Botox Has and was put away for the final, only to be scratched due to injury a few days before the race. Given the success of Irish raiders to the UK at all levels it makes sense to start with the Irish team and they just about have the favourite with Noel Meade's Bugs Moran. He was brought along slowly last season before exploding to life in the spring, winning a valuable handicap at Fairyhouse before three consecutive second places at Punchestown, Galway and Listowel. He secured around €75000 over those 4 races but his British mark today represents a rise of 18lbs against that Fairyhouse winning mark and I think today might be about trying to qualify for the final. Willie Mullins sends over We'llhavewan who won off 116 at Listowel when last seen and he doesn't appear very well treated today off 129. The Irish quartet is completed by two Gordon Elliott runners, Ringdufferin and Gortmillish. Ringdufferin has been transformed by cheekpieces to win his last 2 races and 127 might not be beyond him but the market prefers handicap debutant Gortmillish with the 5lb claimer on his back. The home team is headed by Paul Nicholls' Hugos New Horse who has won 5 of his last 6 starts and steps up to 3 miles for the first time today. His only defeat in that spell came in his only handicap run, off 130 at Sandown where he finished 3rd. He looks sure to be in the mix. Lieutenant Henderson also saddles a very interesting runner in Hyland who won very cosily indeed on seasonal debut and a 6lb rise for that looks fair. David Pipe saddles two including Cesarewitch 4th Bashful Boy but the one I really like is Ian Williams PARTY BUSINESS. He was in the process of running a massive race in Stage Star's Challow before falling 2 out and delivered on that promise with a Grade 3 handicap hurdle victory at Aintree in the spring of 2022. He was hit with a rise of 9lbs for that (132 to 141) and ran some decent races thereafter without looking like winning. He has had wind surgery over the summer and goes off 134 today (just 2lbs above his Aintree winning mark). He's been nibbled at e/w this morning and I think he can go very close.
Afternoon all, some arrows for today. 1.35 Don PALMAR BAY 11/4 Nap. Beckett/Ryan combo who have a good strike rate, goes on the ground. Think this wins with the danger being EDGE OF BLUE. 2.10 Don ANCIENT WISDOM 5/4, goes on the ground and Buick to get compensation for missing out in the opener. 2.39 Kel BOLLINGERANDKRUG 15/8. Likes it here registering all 4 wins here. 2.25 Chelt KINONDO KWETO 8/1 ew. Stable amongst the winners and can see him going close. 3.35 Chelt LISNAMULT LAD 7/2. On a 3 timer and step up to 3m can see more improvement. Good luck
No excuses re. the going at Cheltenham today, perfect ground for NH racing. Good luck to all having a punt.
Morning all... Three from Cheltenham today... 1:15 - Notlongtilmay, 6/1 2:25 - Twig, 15/2 3:00 - Gortmillish, 10/1 All in ew singles and a ew trixie... Good luck to all who are playing today...
Afraid my 'bag' has sprung a leak, so thought I'd best watch today. Enjoyed the racing so far, and pleased for Henry de Bromhead's successes on his birthday. Real nice guy.
