Saturday's Meetings Newmarket Flat 8 Races 1:20-5:15p.m. Leopardstown Flat 8 Races 1:30-5:25p.m. Wetherby N/H 7 Races 1:35-5:05p.m. Ascot N/H 7 Races 1:55-5:20p.m. Ayr N/H 7 Races 2:05-5:30p.m. Chelmsford(E) A/W 8 Races 5:40-9:10p.m. Racecards At The Races Racing Post Sporting Life Good Luck
I must confess that I always find this stage of the term one of the most dangerous from a punting perspective. On the level you have so many animals who have had enough for the campaign and are ‘over the top’ whilst in the NH sphere you have so many beasts out merely for a run, an ‘hors d’oeuvre’ if you like, before the main serving. Be careful out there, troops. And my advice would be to keep stakes modest. At Ascot Mr Henderson, the forum’s favourite trainer, runs one who catch the eye namely MINSTREL ROYAL (4.10). This one is a half-brother to the legendary, Barbers Shop, and I’m sure that if you’d have told Mr Henderson when the animal first walked into Seven Barrows that one day he’d be running in a handicap hurdle off 115 then the great man would have needed a large GnT to recover from the shock. However, that very scenario presents itself, over the county line, tomorrow. Although he’s yet to oblige over timber Maestro Royal has been placed 3 times, over hurdles, and given these runs and his lineage I think he’s the potential to be much, much better than a 115 rated performer and off such a low figure should go close of the morrow in his first try at handicap company. You can also rest assured that Mr Henderson’s ‘magic hands’ would have eeked out further improvement since his last run back in May. Good luck all.
Jennies Jewel 18s Ew in 4.15 at Ltown.Super tough hcapp but she's as tough as old boots and can run a big race against the boys and will hopefully be in the top four places.
3.00 Ascot - CHI'TEBELLO-11/4 Big bet on him tomorrow can mop up some decent handicaps, said won a really strong Scottish champion hurdle had a good run in the Swinton without really getting the run of a race, will be hard to beat if on same form
John Constable 11/1 Ascot 3.00 - has a nice swing with Ch'tibello and at almost 3 times the price will do for me. Hasn't much to make up on the current fave and D Russell can galvanise him for a good tilt. First Drift 5/1 Ascot 4.45 - made a perfect start in P2P's before enhancing his rep in the NH flat sphere. Hurdles bow today and will definitely give the fave Bagad Bihoue something to think about. The fave could be very good but so far has smashed up small fields with no form, he's liable to pull like a train too and won't get away with it today. The Charlie Hall should go to Cue Card who is a cut above, but plenty of solid opposition in case he misfires. I'll be in Gowran early in the day, golfing not racing and should be back just in time to catch the good stuff. Have a good day lads and lasses
Pearl's Legend 2.25 Ascot 13/2 Second in this last year on good ground. He is only five pounds higher after having a season last year. Pass the time 2.10 Wetherby 5/1 Should be better back over hurdles. Was fourth in the mares hurdle at hq. Ballyoptic/Cue Card double pays about 4/1
Sternrubin 3.00 Ascot 8/1 Won first time out last year (beating Chitibello and John Constable all be it getting weight off them). Was thrid in the county hurdle off this mark on good ground. If he gets an easy lead he could take some pegging back.
Is Ballyoptic as good a thing as people are making him out to be? Just nipped into 15/8 from best price 2's over the past 20 minutes.
I really like First Drift, hope he fulfils the early promise. Would be great for Ben Case to have a real star in the yard.
You have to start somewhere and I think it's a measure of how good the yard think he is that he starts out here!
Exactly. They'll know a lot more tomorrow but a close up clean round would be encouraging non the less. This Nicholls horse has match fitness on side and hasn't done much wrong so far really. Plus another few potential decent ones among there too. Exciting day racing.
I cannot recall the last time there was quick ground on the last day of the season at HQ. As it is the last day of their 350th year, I thought I would go – just £14 for eight races (if I forget about the £30 of petrol money!). From a betting point of view, most of the card seems to be rather obvious favourites that will not all oblige. I might see one of Frankel’s daughters lose her maiden tag – Ambrosia in the 1:50 – but it looks like there are a couple more fancied debutants, with Casamento filly Curlew River a short-priced favourite to go one better than on debut. The favourite has to give lumps of weight away in the nine furlong nursery at 2:20 but won very easily last time, so they must think Count Calabash is up to it. Clearly Really Special must be thought capable of living up to her name in the 2:55, with Jim Crowley an interesting booking for Saeed bin Suroor, although her debut victory was not on turf. If the other Godolphin filly, Kazimiera, had not run so poorly last time and shown a tendency to hang on both her starts, she would be the one here. If she looks the part on paddock inspection, I may lumber her with the overweight of my cash. Baydar is on a five-timer in the James Seymour Stakes (4:05) and the sole three year old could find enough improvement for regular partner Josephine Gordon, but at 5/2 I will only be watching. I note that Basem is now tried in a visor after a number of disappointing efforts, really letting the family down. It is hard to look beyond Latharnach in the Ben Marshall Stakes (4:40). Even with a penalty last year’s St James’s Palace Stakes runner-up ought to be too good for his rivals here having won his only race of the season so far whilst Estidhkaar has not won in over two years.
Bleeding hell, everyone is having a punt at that bottle of wine so I will try to keep mine simple... I'm backing these because I think they will win BALLYOPTIC 2/1 MISS CRICK 9/4 DIEGO DU CHARMIL 7/1 TEA FOR TWO 9/2 Haven't decided on the Charlie Hall yet. I reckon BLAKLION could give CC something to think about. Good luck all!!
If Ballyoptic were trained by W. Mullins he´d be 6/4 for the World Hurdle. As it is, you can still get 16s with Betfred for the World Hurdle but I reckon that will be long gone come 3 o'clock this afternoon. He will hose up today.
Barney makes a very valid point- very early days just now in the NH season. Cue Card conceding a lot of weight on reappearance seems a bit risky at that sort of price. Problem is I can't confidently say anyone could turn him over from that field. Stepping stone race for a couple of these I think.
