Daily Racing Thread Thursday 23rd. Nov. 2017

Thursday's Meetings

Market Rasen
N/H 7 Races 12:10-3:20p.m.
Wincanton
N/H 6 Races 12:20-3:10p.m.
Thurles
N/H 7 Races 12:30-3:50p.m.
Newcastle
A/W 8 Races 1:50-5:40p.m.
Chelmsford(E)
A/W 8 Races 5:55-9:00p.m.

Racecards
At The Races
Racing Post Bloodstock
Sporting Life

Good Luck

 

Shine In Dubai 3.15 Thurles 12/1 top priced. Slightly below the radar but a great chance if can improve a bit on last run.

 

4.05 Newcastle. Form lines don't seem to be getting me anywhere but there is enough in the form book to suggest that Bowson Fred should be too good for these. After being involved in a bit of scrimmaging he pulled out to challenge on the outside and would have won but for the late surge of Kimberella who subsequently ran well to finish only 4l behind Marsha in a G3 and ran OK in a G1 beaten 11l by Harry Angel. He also has some other decent form. This is way ahead of anything the others have produced. He is a disappointing 5/1 for a horse that hasn't won in his last 18 races but, with my blindfold on, I can't see him out of the frame and hopefully will get into the winners' enclosure. Bowson Fred ew at 5/1 (freely available)

 

In short ‘yes’.

Said last week that there is just no pattern or flow to the NH season anymore and certainly not like on the Flat. It’s simply all about the Cheltenham Festival (and to a lesser extent Aintree and Punchestown) – this is not healthy for the sport, I’m afraid. And don't get me started about how much the former has turned into a complete parody of itself to boot!

 

I much prefer the Championship status of Cheltenham to anything the Flat has to offer. Show me a single flat festival where it is truly a clash of the best horses. Ascot maybe but it's definitely not got the same romanticism that Cheltenham does in my eyes. I'd say having a clearly defined championship week for horses of graded and handicap ability is exactly what the sport needs. I know for a fact i would not be a racing fan if the NH scene went down the same route as the flat. Champions Day in October, Breeders Cup, Dubai World Cup, Glorious Goodwood - all, to me, are crap to watch. Ascot's enjoyable. The Derby and the 1000/2000 are also fun.

 

Oddy, you have stolen my thunder in a way as I was going to say that the rain that has come down round here these past 24hours can only make the going at Haydock this weekend at best very soft. I only live about 20miles from the course and if they've had the amount we have had then bog snorkelling will be more apt. To which I know see you comment on Sixing John and totally agree with your comment on 'all roads'.
I'm going to Haydock this wend so would have looked forward to seeing SJohn, but hey ho, I'll still enjopy the day out there...

 

Yes, very fair point, but what about the other 51 weeks of the NH term??? Do people want 1 'fantastic' week and 51 'ordinary' ones?!?

With the introduction of all the ‘new’ races at the Cheltenham Festival, as well, I’d also question whether ‘a clash of the best horses’ takes place in all instances anymore. How many take the ‘easier option’ rather than a clash at true Championship class – like going for the ‘Mares Hurdle’ rather than the Champion or Stayers, the ‘Ryainair’ rather than the CGC or the ‘Mares Novice Hurdle’ rather than the ‘Supreme’ or ‘Neptune’, etc, etc...

 

I have to agree it' a shame that Sizing John has been withdrawn and has put a bit of a dampner on the contest. i am also surprised there are only 6 runners.

I think some sort of further incentive needs to be offered to owners to running there horses more frequently. I am not sure how you can reasonably implement this as its not all about prize money as we see here with a £1 million pot up for grabs and only 6 runners....but whilst I absolutely love cheltenham it is clear that national hunt racing does suffer a bit..less racing in the week might help? I mean who really gives two hoots about some of these tin pot meetings? Maybe also to qualify for the cheltenham gold cup you have to have raced a minimum amount of times?

 

British art, master singer, tranquil star, paddy Plex lucky 15 newcastle

 

100% agree.

National Hunt racing has become geared towards the best horses running against each other once in England and once to a lesser extent in Ireland and the rest of it is just a game of finding a race where their horse will be a short priced favourite. Awful stuff to be a punter. Having given up ante post punting (Not by choice) it has really dawned on me how pointless the majority of the season is.

 

Someone has been reading the forum. Now best price 7/2, 3/1 with some

 

You know that's not true Barney. We have 18 Grade One races in England, Scotland and Wales that are not Cheltenham Festival races. 12 at the Festival. They're not all fantastic but they are top level racing. They're spread throughout the season reasonably equitably. There's 32 Irish grade ones as well.

You make a fair point about dilution of competition via additional distances. I think that's fair. Surely, we have to make the same comment - and i'd argue strongly it is more endemic - in the flat game with flat group ones through UK,Ireland and France at 5f, 6f, 7f, 8f, 10f,12f,14f, 16f, 20f.

 

Japanese racing as a product is so much better than ours. There will be over 100,000 in attendance at the Japan Cup on Saturday and probably about 200m bet on the race. The entrance fee is about £1.50 I think and there is 80 restaurants to choose from.

This years Derby and Oaks winners, plus two previous Derby winners, and the best older horses in the country who have been running against each other in the top races at trips from 1m2 to 2m, are in the field.

The top horses all wear different colours, no elite trainer/breeder monopoly like here. The prize money is great and non triers are a non issue because you get hammered. Its just a completely different class and the horses are getting better all the time as well.

I could have bet something in the bog ground 3(now 2) horse G1 race at Haydock on saturday but my ton went to Japan instead, I have backed one at Ascot though.

 

I don't think it's a scheduling issue. Mor a cultural one where by trainers have a fear of running their horses against the best on more than one or two occasions during the season. All too often we see the entries for big races look spectacular but come the day more than half the marquee names have been scratched. I don't know how to change it if I'm honest, maybe we're stuck with what we've got. Hopefully the new card at Leopardstown in February will change it but I'd be highly sceptical.