2.40 Huntingdon Ballypatrick 10/1 I'm quite keen on the chances of Mick Channon's unexposed 7 year old who I think is on a very manageable mark of 118 and who I think will relish the step up to 3m for the first time. Formerly with Henrietta Knight, Ballypatrick seemed to progress with each run over hurdles which culminated with a narrow defeat on his final hurdles start and for his trainer before he joined Mick Channon after Knight's retirement. On the back of a 7 month absence on his debut for his new trainer, Ballypatrick blundered and unseated early on at Ascot early on but I think he made a really nice introduction over fences a couple of weeks later over 2m4f when finishing a promising 6L beaten 3rd behind Nicky Henderson's talented easy winner Broadbackbob. Under Will Kennedy, Ballypatrick was prominent for much of the race but he started to get badly outpaced from about 4 out but under tender enough handling he stayed on very nicely from quite a way back to finish 3rd. The form of that race looks decent with the runner up only finding a couple of progressive sorts too good in a handicap off a mark of 125 subsequently and it certainly was a pleasing first completion over fences. Ballypatrick was assigned a handicap mark of 122 when upped in trip to an extended 2m6f for his handicap debut at Newbury in December where he finished a 27L beaten 8th but that is probably one of the strongest Novice handicap chases run this season. Under Conor O'Farrell, Ballypatrick made a couple of early mistakes that certainly wouldn't have helped but the form of that race has worked out really well with 5 next time out winners. Dropped 2lb for that run, Ballypatrick's last run came in a handicap over 2m4f at Ludlow in December when he once again shaped as if he needed further when finishing a staying on 9L beaten 4th. Once again Ballypatrick was outpaced and stayed on nicely late on in a race that looks some pretty decent form. The first and 3rd home that day met on their next start and filled the first two spots home and again it was a decent effort over a trip that is shorter than ideal. As a result of that run, Ballypatrick has been dropped a further 2lbs to a mark of 118 and given that he should relish the step up in trip I think the handicapper has been a little lenient on him. With only 8 starts under rules to date and only 3 completed run over fences, Ballypatrick is still very unexposed and I think he's got more than enough ability to score off his current mark. The excellent Aidan Coleman takes the ride tomorrow and I think he is a very eye catching jockey booking on his first start for Channon and I'm hopeful that is the sign of a good run. This represents Channon's only runner at Huntingdon today which is about a 5 hour round trip for connections and conditions shouldn't be any issue for this 7 year old. Off a mark I think is very workable and given that he should relish the step up to 3m for the first time, I'm hopeful for a very big run from Ballypatrick which can hopefully give his in form trainer another winner tomorrow.
3.35 Doncaster Vincitore 16/1 Going to keep this short and sweet but I think Charlie Longsdon's 7 year old looks a very interesting contender with Noel Fehily on board for the first time and first time blinkers replacing his normal cheekpieces back on the same mark of 120 where he was narrowly defied 4 starts back in October. After showing some very good form winning a couple of Novice Chases at the end of 2011, Vincitore was beaten a neck off a mark of 124 at Ludlow in January 2012 under young apprentice Claire Hart before his form tailed off for the rest of the season. Vincitore started off the season with an excellent neck beaten 2nd on the back of a 6 month absence and he followed that up with a fine 9L beaten 3rd behind the progressive Ballybough Gorta 3 weeks later off a mark of 125. Vincitore's 2nd last start came in the Cheltenham Cross Country Chase where he was understandably outclassed back in November whilst his last start in December was a little disappointing at Sandown off a mark of 123. However, he has been dropped back to the mark where he was narrowly denied back in October and 4lb below the mark he was unlucky not to win 13 months ago and at 7 years of age I definitely think he's still open to some improvement. I think it looks very significant that Noel Fehily is booked for the first time (Claire Hart had rode him every time this season) for the same race where first time blinkers are applied (won in first time cheekpieces) and with those two additions coupled with a mark of 120 that he is clearly capable of running a big race off I certainly think he can outrun his odds and hopefully land this competitive looking contest for Charlie Longsdon's in form team.
15:15 Huntingdon - Calculated Risk 7/2 John Quinn's record with Juvenile hurdlers this year is nothing short of exceptional for a relatively small yard. Today Calculated Risk lines up before hopefully taking his chance in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham, where it looks as if the Quinn yard will be triple handed in an attempt to land the spoils. It actually looks as if Calculated Risk is third in the pecking order of the juvenile hurdlers behind the impressive grade 2 winning Kashmir Peak and Hidden Justice. The manor of Calculated Risk’s 6 Length victory on his first appearance over hurdles suggests there will be more to come and John Quinn’s charge can lead home some equally impressive rivals in this contest.
Heis, Isn't it yourself who gets snippets from the Reveley's? I've notice that James is over in Clonmel today, even though there's three NH on in the UK. He's riding for P. Griffin on three horses that on first look wouldn't be stand out's. Am I reading too much into this or is he there because he has previous experience of these horses?
Taken 8/1 about Magnanimity this morning. Ran well for a long way in the Hennessey. A few jumping errors put paid to his chance that day, if he can sharpen that aspect up I think he will relish the 2m4f today in testing conditions. Good luck all
Morning, troops. Hope everyone well. The question of the day has to be will Mr Henderson say yes to Cocktails At Dawn tomorrow. Before we know the answer to that ponderable though here are a couple for the old regular readers at Huntingdon which in now ON, I say, ON: Brinestine (3.15) – this was a most progressive sort on the level across the water and he ended his 3YO campaign with 2 wins (including an 8 length romp at The Curragh) and a rating of 87. Bought shortly afterwards by current connections for £120k he looks potentially a very exciting juvenile hurdler. Sure to have been well schooled by Mr Nicholls the Triumph Hurdle entry looks a most interesting runner today. This is a very hot race but I think Brinestine looks more than up to the task, people. August Hill (4.45) – this Presenting mare made a hugely impressive debut back in December being beaten just 2 lengths by a real Pipe plot horse who had been well backed throughout the morning. 14 lengths clear of the third that day August Hill looks well up to winning this bumper before going onto better things. Good luck all.
4:10 Clonmel - Raggletagglegypsy 11/1 5:00 Meydan - Bay Willow 8/1 8:05 Wolverhampton - Blue Noodles 6/1
Are we all on BABY SHINE today? If not, why not. That and my favourite handicapper HOME RUN to land my Cheltenham punting money for me today!
He has on this occasion, unfortunately. Cocktails At Dawn not declared tomorrow at Kempton Park. I suggest that the regular readers hide their disappointment stoically.
The meeting at the homeland (Donny) takes my fancy today, and the bookies my money. I have punted on the following: 13:20 - CATAWOLLOW seems a decent price at 40/1 best price in a race like this. Has been dropped down to a very low mark and it wouldn't take too much to win a race of this caliber. As conditional jockeys go I am happy enough with Killian Moore on board. Richard Guest only has entries in the one race at Doncaster with Catawallow looking the best of the two stablemates. 13:55 - Looks very much a two horse race, I am going to side with the more experienced and proven AFRICAN GOLD 6/4. Close Touch could really be anything, Hendo has picked his races with this one and i'm not sure he has really come up against anything noteworthy. AG is a proven battler and has it for me. Shame he has to carry that twisty lump on his back but he has won carrying him before so i'm going to back him to do it again 14:30 - Struggling with this race but i'm going to stick with WHAT A WARRIOR 6/1 to get back to winning ways. He has been tried 3 times now at cheltenham at 3 different distances and each time he has found the Cheltenham trip too testing. Back over a suitable 2m3f and at a less testing track I think he may be able to reproduce some of the form that saw him destroy the field at Bangor. Another with Twiston Davies on board I think I might secretly have a thing for the little TD, I will do after today if these two come in! More to come, I'd better actually do some work now...
Yes, and no. Watch my old friend beat Home Run in that, without my money on his back. Tornado In Milan is better than he has shown, but same can be said for me!!!
I'm in the mr Mole camp as well.126 looks lenient to me. No bet though. I know there;s good racing today but i can't summon the effort to take a proper look. Blindly backed Stick's tip last night at 9's so i live or die by his hand today.
Stick, have you seen that Home Run has just been declared for Saturday’s ‘Betfair Hurdle’. Creeps into the race as number 23 of the 23 runners. Will be running, if they bring him out again, from 9 pounds out of the handicap though.
Hello lads. Some cracking action today. The 4.40 at Clonmel is a fascinating contest if,like me,you enjoy Hunter events. Not often Noel Meade or Arthur Moore have their names adjacent Hunter 'Chasers and both have runners here. The favourite for this contest,Final Gift,has a really unusual profile...two runs in Irish Points before joining the Nicholls yard and running a nice 4th in a hot novice hurdle....Since then he has returned to Ireland,won a PTP,and now lines up in a maiden Hunter Chase...obviously has had his problems. Interesting to see how the market developes for this one. Off for an indepth perusal. GL all.
