Saturday's Meetings Sandown N/H 7 Races 12:40-4:05p.m. Wetherby N/H 7 Races 12:50-4:10p.m. Musselburgh N/H 7 Races 12:57-4:19p.m. Leopardstown N/H 7 Races 1:05-4:35p.m. Lingfield A/W 7 Races 1:11-4:35p.m. Kempton(E) A/W 7 Races 4:55-8:00p.m Racecards At The Races Sporting Life Racing Post Good Luck
A great day of racing and well done again to ITV for a bumper ELEVEN race programme including 3 Grade 1s
The are a number of horses entered in the 3 mile handicap hurdle at Leopardstown who have qualified for the Pertemps final at the Cheltenham festival - here the list with their current official rating, odds for this Saturday's race (SkyBet) and best odds for the Pertemps Final: Horse (OR) Odds Saturday --- Odds Pertemps Final The Jam Man (141) 16/1 --- 20/1 Dallas Des Pictons (139) 33/1 --- 25/1 Panda Boy (136) 5/1 --- 20/1 Dunboyne (128) 11/2 --- 10/1 De Name Escapes Me (127) 28/1 --- 50/1 A Great View (125) 11/1 --- 25/1 Whatsnotoknow (125) 20/1 --- 25/1 Futurum Regem (124) 11/1 --- 25/1 Pour Pavore (122) 28/1 --- 40/1 Given the prize money for this race is pretty much the same as the Pertemps Final (depending on exactly which conversion rate you use for pounds to euros) one would think they will all be trying - especially those who might need to go up a few pounds to be certain of getting in the Pertemps Final - I think this applies to Dunboyne downwards in the list above. There are a couple I am interested in for the final entered here. Firstly, Dallas Des Pictons, who won this race in 2019 off a rating of 130 before carrying plenty of money (including mine) when finishing 2nd in that year's Martin Pipe at the festival off 140. After a pretty disappointing chase career he was sent back over hurdles at the end of 2020 off a mark of 142 and he again went for the Martin Pipe at last year's festival, finishing 5th off 142 and then pulling up at Punchestown. He opened this season by finishing 2nd in the Punchestown Qualifier and then 6th at Navan (behind The Jam Man and A Great View). I don't think Dallas Des Pictons can win this race but if they can get him dropped a couple of pounds and go to the Pertemps Final off 137 or thereabouts then he must have a great chance, given he has run really well at 2 festivals off 140 and 142. I expect this to be a nice canter round as a prep for Cheltenham, finishing down the field and not knocked about. Secondly, Futurum Regum, who won 3 hurdle races on the bounce before finishing an eye-catching 3rd in the Leopardstown Qualifier over Christmas off a mark of 122. He was put up to 124 for that effort but I would be very surprised if that would get him into the Pertemps Final so I think they will be going all out to try and win this and get his mark upped. He is still only 6 years old and is clearly progressing through the ranks so I think he has excellent prospects in both this race and the Pertemps Final (if he can get in).
I think The Jam Man will go well in the race Oddy, haven't checked the prices since midweek, but he was a general 16 - 20/1 shot which represents a decent each way bet for me. Minefield of a race though and there's a lot you couldn't write off with much confidence. Beside that race, it is a whopper of a days racing at Leopardstown, some great horses on show. The bumper looks exceptional on paper, keep an eye on The Big Doyen who likely won't win but is one to follow over the next few seasons upped in trip. Riviere D'etel to make all in the Arkle prep and I'm once more going to be with Asterion Forlonge who has won at the track before contrary to his need for right handed track belief. I think he is a very quirky horse who overthinks every decision he makes. Be interesting to see if Vauban can run Fil Dor close too. Should be a corker. Have a good one all.
and I’m very interested in Sandor Clegane. I loved his debut, especially how beautifully he moves. It would also be nice to see a really good bumper horse outside the big 2 yards
I see Ryan Moore has about 5 rides at Lingfield today and all bar 1 is the favourite. I don’t like the jockey and no doubt he will find a way of losing in all of them but one I do like is ROHAAN in the 4.00 which is drifting. Currently 10/3.
A very telling comment from Gordon Elliott on the Racing Post website, talking about the 13.29 race at Musselburgh: "I’m a big supporter of just putting a horse in a race I think they can win," he said. "It baffles me to think there is a £20,000 hurdle with just three runners and two of them are Irish. For me, it’s a big worry when you see all these big UK owners in Ireland. Why are there only three runners? It’s probably not something worth getting into, but it’s a big, big worry for me that there can only be that amount of runners in a race like this." Very true and you have to feel for Musselburgh - they have put on 2 days of excellent racing, timed perfectly as a Cheltenham prep, and have been rewarded with a disappointingly low number of entries in some of the feature races. Anyway, on to the big races at Leopardstown: 13.05: There seems to be plenty of depth in the race (despite Ginto's absence) and Hollow Games looks a worthy favourite. 13.35: Fil D'Or is a hugely likeable type and has done everything asked of him in a very professional manner. Vauban is the clear danger based on his close 2nd behind Pied Piper - although I do think Pied Piper's Cheltenham victory was more style than substance (2nd and 3rd both rated 125) and I expect Fil D'Or to take this and harden as Triumph favourite. I'll have an eye on Mullins filly Vadaly too. 14.10: The Irish Arkle may be the poorer for Ferny Hollow's absence but is still a good renewal and the eye is clearly drawn to Riviere D'Etel in receipt of weight. But I was also mightily impressed by Saint Sam on his chase debut and I think he could be the real class act in the field. Nice price too around 6/1. 15.15: A very strong renewal and Frodon must have a massive chance, particularly if given a soft lead (I can't imagine they'll want to try and go with him again on Minella Indo after what happened at Kempton). As a sporting e/w bet though I'll put up Cilaos Emery at 66/1. If others fail to fire or are using this as a prep for races later in the season, and the race falls apart like the King George did, he could sneak a place as I am sure he will be ridden to get the trip on his first attempt at 3 miles.
Leopardstown 14,45 Good Time Jonny 10/1 e/w PP and sky seven places, others six places Sandown Small bet 14,55 Ask Dillon 33/1 e/w PP and betfair six places, bet 365 33/1 five places, sky 25/1 seven places
Great scrap between 2 good novice hurdlers in the opener at Wetherby there. Rafferty's Return hurdled very fluently but was nabbed close to home by Out Jet. Super race to watch
Commentator's nightmare as Minella Cocooner beats Minella Crooner Mullins starts the DRF with an 11/1 winner
15:25 Lingfield - Al Zaraqaan (Probable favourite in this very competitive Winter Derby Trial Stakes (Listed). Hollie Doyle on board for the Archie Watson yard. 15/8 best price at time of writing, freely-available). So, will watch and enjoy the excellent jumping programme, especially Leopardstown. Some great racing there!. Good luck with your wagers everyone! Have a good day!
Very smooth success for Vauban there - travelled beautifully and will surely go forward again from that. Pretty much joint favs for the Triumph now Vauban and Pied Piper around the 5/2 mark
Well he's throwing plenty of arrows but hats off to Willie Mullins for winning the first 3 races at the DRF - all Grade 1s.
Very good from L'Homme Presse. Shame for him he has Bob Olinger and Galopin Des Champs waiting for him. I wonder whether they might think about dropping him back in trip for the Arkle, especially if it comes up testing? Edit: Scrap that, he's not entered in the Arkle
Jeeeeeez where the hell did that come from? Handicapper Conflated (lowest rated in the field) romps home. I give up
A bit from left field that one. Improved heaps and they seemingly knew. Giggy's 1st string hat on, Davy picked him and i was informed he was a massive price on Bet365 this morning, so to go off 18/1 and win meant they knew he was doing something above average at home. To be fair, most of his opposition have been around a while now, so perhaps its a changing of the guard.
