12.45 Wetherby Aland Islands It's all about this horse tomorrow. Will sit off the lead, jump beautifully and make his decisive move 2 out to win with something in hand. You can take that to the bank. BADA BING. I am your Champion and I have spoken.
Becher - West End Rocker Sefton - Little Josh Novice Chase at Sandown - Hinterland Rationale is on the blog, but basically I really like the top two and got a free bet on the third
Nice shout Bob, probably wouldn't have looked at Wetherby tomorrow if you hadn't posted that. I'll be on. Also, have you seen the opener at Wetherby? Christ almighty, I wait ages for Kris Krin progeny to run (it's a thing I have this season - I think he will be a top NH sire so am folowing his progeny over the sticks) and here are 2 in the one race, both from Lucinda Russell's yard. Kris Cross has been off the track for a while but obviously Pat Buchannan has chosen him ahead of The Friary, who will stay all day but might already need 3 miles. Some other very interesting types in this and certainly an above-average race - definitely worth watching.
Just seen Buthelezi is running for John Ferguson in the opener at Aintree - was a good horse on the flat for Gosden. The McCain horse will make life difficult for him though and would be my idea of the winner. Ferguson also sends a Manduro gelding, Plain Sailing, to the Wetherby bumper he ought to walk that on pedigree alone but it isn't always so straightforward
Evening guys. Leighton Aspell has a couple of really nice rides at Sandown tomorrow but is dashing off early to ride FLING ME in the Chepstow bumper. my understanding is that connections will be mightily dissapointed if its not a fruitful journey!!! My favourite mare KGL runs tomorrow but with the yard still in the doldrums and carrying topweight on bottomless ground even I couldnt fancy her!
1.25 Sandown. Arkose. After staying on strongly to win his past two races, he is back to his previous best mark of 129. However he is in top form and he may rack up the hat-trick. 1.55 Sandown. Captain Conan. He looked a class act last time and his jumping prowess looked far better than Hinterland's. 1.30 Chepstow. Carole's Destiny. Ran a great race behind Dancetillmidnight and Glorious Twelfth- and can go one better here. 3.15 Chepstow. Triptico Ran a good second on his reappearance behind Kruzhlinin- and the latter enhanced the form with his close second at Newbury. 12.45 Wetherby. Viva Colonia. The highest rated hurdler here makes his chasing debut and likes this course. Aland Islands won OK last time but he shouldn't be able to concede 8lbs to my selection. By no means a two horse race, though.
12.25 Chep- Rendl Beach Has made a good start over hurdles and can score again if his stamina lasts out 2.10 Aint- Big Fella Thanks Big Fella Thanks was disappointing on his return but was notably well backed and has an admirable completion rate over these fences. With this trip promising to suit him much better than that of the National he's fancied to gain a belated Aintree success 3.20 Aint-Tranquil Sea A Grade 1 winning chaser, ground conditions are ideal for him and this trip should be fine. As well as lumping on the Beast of a horse that is Sprinter Sacre
SANCTUAIRE 9/4 Cannot fail to be impressed by this horse over fences. He will bring a pace to the race that Sprinter Sacre actually wants. It is fascinating because he will bring out the best in the Champion and I think at this stage of the season, you would have to take preference for the Nicholls runner. I think Sanctuaire would struggle more at Cheltenham and I think Sprinter has a bigger engine and has more left in the tank over a stiff 2ms at Cheltenham, but tomorrow I think will be very, very close. Much closer than suggested IMO. If Sanctuaire does steal it from the front, get yourselves on Sprinter for the Champion Chase- he will win that in a canter IMO.
quality racing tomorrow, and certs galore which is unusual for a saturday The Westener Boy 8/1 looks decent value Looking for a much better performance from Bonisland, Russell has chosen Rule The World, on the form I think he had to but I dont think Bonisland showed what he can do last time and ill give him another chance.
Toppy, you're hedging your judgement there! Sanctuaire will only beat Sprinter Sacre if he's good enough- Sandown or anywhere else. What if he were to "destroy" S. Sacre? Would you still feel the same about Cheltenham? At the end of the day, they are both only second season chasers and have much more to prove before either of them can aspire to really high rank.
Totally agree but its just based on their styles Tam- I think Sprinter Sacre will prove the more versatile and the one who will stay 2 and a half miles one day, hence the 'bigger engine' comment. However, with this being his first major test, Sanctuaire, if we were to be foot perfect and electric round here again, he will make Sprinter pull out all the stops.
1.25 also sees the return of Sam Winner after a horrible fall last season when beginning a chasing career. He starts back in a handicap hurdle.
There were stamina concerns about SS last year and for me the Arkle did nothing to conclusively disprove them because the rest of the field were blown away and stamina never came into it. Sanctuaire may test him more so the stamina angle may come into it. Having said that I don't think Sanctuaire has a prayer of winning and is a terrible price at 9/4.
I like the look of Tempest River in the 12.55 at Sandown tomorrow - looks to have the ground right Sprinter Sacre I just can't see getting beaten- anyway should be a great contest with Sanctuaire. Getting excited now though as I am off to Sandown tomorrow for what should be a great day
15:20 AINTREE Would love to see Nacarat win but at 40/1 the Grand National hero of 2009 can't be ignored carrying just 10 stone Cerium 40/1 ew
a super day's racing tomorrow with 5 jump meetings as it stands. not sure these are bold-worthy but i have some ew picks.. but honestly, they could do nothing. i almost give up with taking the ground into account. 2:10 AIN becher chase as posted above, i also have west end rocker 11/2 but along with any currency 14/1. 12:50 NAV reafadda 34/5 1:50 NAV i couldn't get away from novarov 14/1 but since there's 20 runners also coole avenue 8/1 2:25 NAV jenari 7/1 2:05 CHEP the rainbow hunter 5/2 win chance my boy paddy 8/1 also picked out 12:55 SAN southway star 14/1 in the mares' hurdle 2:30 SAN dolatulo 11/1 - ifandbutwhynot too short for ew 12:10 WETH the friary 41/5 2:55 WETH gorey lane 9/2 you never know, that's some of them anyway. the ground, or the cold, or the something is making it a bit unpredictable on and off at the moment for me. i agree with ron it would be lovely to see nacarat win. also with the tingle creek, oddschecker have kumbeshwar to come 2nd and sanctuaire 3rd i hope they find out what was wrong with fingal bay today. he has run and won right handed before but that run was quite alarming. good luck everyone for tomorrow. looks a very good saturday's racing
2.50 Ling - NORWEGIAN REWARD 1.20 Navan - RULE THE WORLD 3.45 Cheps - O' FAOLAINS BOY 3.40 Sand - LIVELY BARON 1.45 Weth - LEASE LEND 1.05 Aint - QUITO DE LA ROQUE Someone's going to get a good old fashioned pre-xmas kicking on Betfair tomorrow Have a good weekend folks & the best of luck
Morning men!! Personally speaking, I wouldn't touch Sanctuaire with a ****ty stick. His whole reputation is based on one victory at Sandown which was a) a muddling race as the others allowed him a soft lead and b) run on atrocious ground which meant that, having given Sanctuaire a soft lead, the others weren't able to close him down. Watch the race again, all the other jockeys were pushing and shoving their mounts to various degrees over the railway fences, none of them was travelling well, they were already beaten before they even saw the pond fence. I definitely think Somersby was over the top that day (having run in the King George, Victor Chandler and Ryanair) and Dan Breen was pulled up in his next race 2 weeks later. It's the Black Aeroplane for me at 1/2, MONSTER!!
