Two for me in the Troytown tomorrow (2.25 Navan). Tharawaat 25/1 & The Hard Hat 14/1 Write ups to come later but I cannot quite believe the price of Tharawaat!
Hopefully Navan passes the inspection because there are some serious animals declared. I think its going to be a good day for Davy Russell and Gigginstown, a line will be done on all his mounts but the ones I rate highest are 12.55 Bonisland 5/2 1.25 Don Cossack 2.55 Sword Of Destiny Bonisland looks a serious novice and ive taken the 14s for the Albert Bartlett, he would be my bet of the day at 5/2 although its a strong race, Seefood, Rule The World and Miley Shah are no mugs, neither are Shrapnel and Wingtips and even the mare Thynetocatcher could run better than 25/1 suggests but I was so impressed by Bonisland last time and I think he could be different class here. Don Cossack was one of the most impressive bumper horses in Ireland last season but he should be a backable price with Ally Cascade and Sizing Gold, hes going to be a serious chaser in time but ive taken the 14s for the Neptune. Sword Of Destiny should take a bit of beating, the Buckers Bridge form looks strong and he has the experience advantage over Alderwood, Darwins Fox is a nice horse in his own right but he might be outclassed here. In the bumper, Fickle Fortune is worth a small punt at 5/1, she got turned over in a farce of a race last time and should be seen to better effect here.
2.25 Navan Tharawaat 25/1 & The Hard Hat 14/1 Gordon Elliot's 7 year old Tharawaat is most definitely a horse to catch when fresh as I think he is a completely different animal on his first run back from a break and I really think he's going to run an absolutely massive race off his current mark of 139. A former Grade 3 winning hurdler Tharawaat has developed into a very nice chaser also and he has some very nice form to his name, most notably a lovely 6th in the Centenery Novices Listed race at Cheltenham off a mark of 137. He started off his campaign last season on the back of 170 day absence when bolting up in pretty facile fashion at Galway over 2m6f in what looked a very competitive 19 runner affair in October last year when scoring by 7L under top weight of 11-10. In bottomless ground (so bad was the ground that 13 of the runners were pulled up) Tharawaat sat prominent throughout the contest and under although under the welter burden off top weight he took up the running at 2 out and pretty much sauntered up the hill in what was a very impressive performance. As such, he was stepped into a Grade 2 Chase at Clonmel over 2m4f when performing with a lot of credit over a trip probably a little too short when finishing a 14L beaten 3rd behind the very talented pairing of Tranquil Sea and Psycho. Tharawaat's next two chase starts were disappointing off marks of 141 and 140 (including this race last year) and reverting back to hurdles didn't help on his 2nd last start. Tharawaat's final start game in the Grand National off a mark of 141 and he was most certainly not disgraced finishing a 22L beaten 8th. He's been absent since then and there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Tharawaat is a much better horse when arriving at the racecourse fresh. He's back down to a mark of 139 and given that he romped home off a mark of 133 I definitely feel that he is capable of running a very big race off his current mark. Put in as the top weight here, I was absolutely delighted to see the fantastic 7lb claimer Jane Mangan booked as I think her claim getting him down to a racing weight of 11-2 could be crucial. I am a massive fan of young Miss Mangan and I think she is going all the way to the top (check out her win on Beef to the Heels at Down Royal if you need convincing). She has only had 3 starts over fences which is a bit of a negative but hopefully she will be ok. Gordon Elliott is clearly a fan of hers as well with the pair holding a 2-2 record when teaming up and he has also booked her for a Grade 2 hurdle earlier on the card. At only 7 years of age, Tharawaat certainly is open to improvement and coming here on the back of a 225 day absence is a big positive as he loves racing fresh. With 25s available in the bookies and 37s available on the exchange I can't quite believe Tharawaat's price is so huge and I think he'll come in for a fair bit of support tomorrow. This C+D winner represents the bang in form Gordon Elliot stable and although he also trains the current favourite Romanesco and although Tharawaat needs to defy a lot of trends I'm confident of a big showing from this gelding and if The Hard Hat can't win lets hope he can. The other horse that I fancy to run a very big race is Colm Murphy's 8 year old The Hard Hat. He's one of my favourite horses in training and is the only horse I've won on 3 times at double figure prices and he is a horse that I know very, very well. The Hard Hat had a good season last year running very well on 3 of his starts with his only poor effort coming on his reappearance (was in the race that Tharawaat ran) but he has always needed a run to blow away the cobwebs after a break. The Hard Hat's 2nd run back last year was a much improved performance as he won in fine style over 2m6f at Punchestown on soft ground in November last year off a mark of 114. After getting slightly outpaced when the race started hotting up, The Hard Hat stayed on resolutely and he was flying at the finish to get up by 1L and he was going away at the finish. The form of that race is pretty strong and it was a very likeable effort. His next start came at Fairyhouse over 3m1f on New Years day when he ran a very good 3rd off a mark of 120 on soft/heavy ground. He was beaten that day by a facile winner in the shape of In Great Form who I think looks a very progressive sort worth following and who ran an excellent 3rd in the Punchestown Grand National Trial off a 12lb highear mark in a race that has very strong form. Moreover, the 4th Paddy Pub has won since off a 3lb higher mark to solidify the form further. The Hard Hat's final start of last season came in February when running a fantastic 5th in the Grade A Leopardstown Handicap off his current mark of 121 beaten 12L at the end of January. In a race that hot, I think he definitely would have found the 2m5f a little on the sharp side and that race has worked out very nicely on paper. The winner Seabass won on his next start before running a fantastic 3rd in the Grand National off an 18lb higher mark. Furthermore, the 2nd Out Now finished an excellent 2nd in the Irish Grand National off a 3lb higher mark and it was a very nice performance. The Hard Hat was off the track for 275 days before making a lovely reappearance in the same race he made his seasonal debut in 2011 when shaping extremely well when finishing a 7L beaten 4th at Galway last month. Held up at the rear of the field, The Hard Hat travelled very kindly throughout the race and after jumping the final flight he was ride in behind the leaders only a few lengths off the front. Turning into the home straight, Denis Hogan asked for The Hard Hat to pick up but he got very tired in the heavy ground after his long absence as he plugged on up the home straight at the one pace. For a horse who will have most definitely needed that run, I was very happy with his effort and he is going to strip a hell of a lot fitter for that race and he should be spot on for this. Still only an 8 year old, The Hard Hat is definitely still open to some improvement but trust me when I say he is more than capable of winning off his current mark. The excellent Robbie Power, who has built up a great rapport with this gelding, gets back on board today and I'm delighted the partnership is resumed as he gets a great tune out of him and gave him 3 rides of the highest calibre when partnering him to victory on all his chasing wins. In addition to a mark that I think is within his scope of ability, he has a lovely racing weight of 10-5 which could prove very significant in such testing ground (also 9 of the last 10 winners of the Troytown have carried 10-9 or less). A previous winner at the course, I can guarantee you that Colm Murphy has him absolutely spot on for this and the ground or trip won't be a problem for him at all. Although I will win a few hundred quid less (and I'm sure anyone who backs the pair will hope Tharawaat wins!), I will be willing The Hard Hat to win this over Tharawaat tomorrow as really deserves to win a contest of this magnitude and I will be over the moon if he can land this sizeable prize. I've also done a Reverseforecast on the pair and would love if they were the first two home.
Great write up ROTO and a very Good Race. I alsolike The Hard Hat and Robbie Power is fast becoming one of my favs in The Emerald Isle, However ive been persuaded by the write up from Irish Racing "A typically competitive renewal of an historic staying handicap and, with Notre Pere the only winner over the last 13 years to carry over 10st9lb, perhaps it’s best to look towards the bottom end of the weight scale. GLENQUEST beat all bar Jack The Bus in this race two years ago but has been sidelined until returning over hurdles in recent months. He will appreciate the step back up to this trip, and presumably connections have been targeting this prize again" Paul Townend booked up top anf i think a Place is a cert got 16s with PP but into 14s now, i note ROTO that Tharawaat is now in to 16s and The Hat is 11s so who is reading your write ups ????????? Another one i like in the race is Donnas Plam, good horse but more sentimental bet for me as Chris Dawson breed this one from Great Palm and i like to see him doing well. For those Northern Lads on here check out his web site and get involved in Ptp he and his family are very friendly and will give you great days out and a great introduction in to ownership of a race horse http://www.nunstaintonstud.co.uk/racingclub.html stay frosty
Just in from Closutton via the Text Machine " Dano Ive put Ruby on Rupert Lamb today has his first run for us in the 2m 1f beginners chase. He was ready to run last season but had a few little problems (The Lamb not the real Rupert.did ye know thats his real name) He jumps well and has winning form on heavy ground in England. We are hopeful of a very nice run here, its fecking poor ground but the Lamb is proven in this mud so get on big fella. Love to Oddy and the gang"
Tharawaat has a seven pound claiming girl on....no thanks, but you often usurp me ROTO so good luck. I have had BALLYBURKE on my list for some time now and think he could be primed for this. Classic couple of hurdle runs to "put him right" he will be spot on today on a track he likes and conditions that suit. At 12-1 that's my little bit of a fancy. Crash is another off my to follow list and at big odds I may just have to have a small saver.
Interesting to see that Charlie Longsdon sends his dual bumper winner VENCEREMOS to Navan today. This horse has won its last two bumpers at 33-1 & 20-1 the last time beating a horse I know connections really like called Mischievous Milly. There are some decent sorts in the race today and if nothing else it will give us a great comparison of UK to Ireland bumper form. Charlie wouldnt be sending her there if he didnt think she had a squeak!
Jane Mangan is a beast Stick and I wanted her to be booked for Tharawaat over anyone else. Her 7lb could prove vital today. She's probably got the potential to be the best female jockey about. Gordon Elliott booking her for a Grade 2 hurdle where she couldn't claim any of her 7lb says it all. Take a look at this and tell me your not impressed http://www.attheraces.com/VideoConsole/?va=DRO_2012_11_03_03_1345
yeah that was pretty good, Thomas Edison must have traded low in running there lol Irish amateur ladies ride like fecking blokes...and most look like em too.....not you Katie darlin
http://images.google.com/imgres?q=j...w=172&start=0&ndsp=27&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:0,i:96 if you see what i mean
