Apologies if a more interesting Daily Thread is about to appear. Go ahead and post it and I'll ditch this one. Today's racing comes from: YARMOUTH CATTERICK TAUNTON WOLVERHAMPTON Another uninspiring day's flat racing and the only stand out bet for me is The Tiger (15.20 Catterick). At 10/11 that doesn't look too bad to me. The jumps looks more interesting but I can't find anything I'd have much confidence in. Over to the experts...................
Morning all. Hope we are all well. My Birthday today! Past the age where they matter to me now! Anyhow one for me today: 4:00 Taunton - Royal Charter 3/1. Looks more than capable of winning this. Slight worry about jumping but fingers crossed for a clear round! Have a good day all.
Many happy returns Ollie With a view to the future Molotov is clearly very interesting on chase debut today (2.30). After twice finishing behind Zarkandar as a 4YO he won 3 novice hurdles on the bounce last season (including a listed event and a Grade 2) before disappointing at Cheltenham and Aintree. The early show of 8/11 hasn't got me reaching for the brown envelope though and it's a race to watch rather than get involved in. In the opener at Taunton I find Petara Bay a fascinating recruit to the NH sphere. Still rated 103 on the flat (although he had been as high as 109 after finishing 3rd in the Aston Park Stakes) he has been tried at the very highest level in that sphere (he ran in both the Racing Post Trophy and Derby won by Authorized, the Hardwicke Stakes won by Harbinger and the Prince Of Wales Stakes and King George won by Duke Of Marmalade). He's now 8 years old, which many would say is a bit long in the tooth to be starting a career in novice hurdling, but I would think they've schooled him over hurdles and been pleased by what he's shown them, so why not give it a go? He has some nice ground for his debut and the long home straight with just 2 hurdles will hopefully allow him to show his undoubted flat-race class. 8/1 early doors and a nice little e/w dabble. It's not often you see Ruby Walsh riding for Warren Greatrex and his booking for City Press in the 2.00 really catches the eye. Formerly with Nicky Henderson, he was a rather fortunate winner last time out was Scales fell at the 2nd last when travelling really well. However, the placed horses that day have done well since and the application of the tongue strap for the first time should bring about some improvement. He's raised 5lbs for his last victory which seems fair, whereas likely favourite Award Winner is up a whopping 20lbs from his saunter around Fontwell last week. The bumper has lost some of its appeal with the Nicholls horse looking like a non-runner so I'm taking a chance that Anthony Honeyball will produce some improvement from Vicator, who gets the tongue strap on today having disappointed on debut in May when with Lawney Hill. Best of luck everyone
Morning all again just the one today. 4 in a row would be some sort of record for myself 1.10 Yarmouth - CHARTER 9/4 - Seems to be more fancied than stablemate Deficit in the betting. That one was well backed last time out (went off 6/4 fav) Charter has been declared a few times over the last week or so but has been pulled out, if he takes his chance today I would expect him to get off the mark on his debut in what looks a very weak maiden.
Morning, troops. Nowt for me today but the interesting one for me this afternoon, as outlined by old boy Oddy, is Mr Henderson’s Molotof down at Taunton. Decent over hurdles he looks a potentially very nice recruit to fencing. However, as I’m a firmer believer in the maxim that you have to be mentally insane to back a horse at odds-on on its steeplechasing bow this time I’ll leave Molotof alone. The old boy also makes a very sound case for Petara Bay trained by Mrs Leech. Very good on the level in his pomp he’s an interesting recruit to the old NH game. However, another maxim that I adhere to is ‘you can’t teach an old dog new tricks’ so I won’t be punting on him either (almost 9 is very late for him to starting an NH career) but again will be very interesting to see how he fares. Talking of that Mrs Leach filly I’ve been impressed by her and there is a whisper that she could go close in the 2013 Grand National – has Mr Nicholls prematurely got rid of another winner of that heat?!? Meanwhile, she’s done very well to get a couple of wins recently out of the ex Mr Henderson trained Tasheba. Very few trainers achieve such a feat from an ex Mr Henderson horse (the Pipe’s certainly couldn’t with Tasheba). Although Mrs Leach is no Mr Henderson she certainly looks a trainer to follow, methinks. Finally, I’m not one to blow my own trumpet but hope that the regular readers got on Mr Henderson’s Karazhan yesterday. If you didn’t put him in your notebook as he’s going to be a very nice sort and deffo one to follow. The strange thing about the race though looking at the result is that the ‘Tote Place’ odds on the 2nd were 1/50 (£1.02)! Did our old friend Mr SA have a ‘Tote Place’ plunge yesterday, me wonders?!?
Can anyone explain to me how the 'Pick 4' works in America, in anticipation of Breeders Cup weekend? I mean in terms of the payout structure and cost structure.
Nice one Sir Barney ... was that a veiled pop at the 'Arkle' guy I remember from the 606 Boards .. anyway the Bangor race yesterday with Karazhan and Clondaw was intriguing , the better horse clearly won and has a way to go in the game as you suggested . I took your advice and ignored my colleagues - so all was well on the punting front . Keep the great tips and insights coming - many thanks !
Ekbalco, no wasn’t a pop at Arkle (although it was, of course, him I was referring to given his fondness for the ‘Tote Place’ bet) just found it strange why the horse was so short in the ‘Tote Place’ market. Someone or some group of people had obviously plunged on him big time in that market hence the very short odds – and they collected although at somewhat more reduced terms than they would have imagined. In other news, people, I see that John Francome has just been appointed the New President of the ‘Injured Jockeys Fund’. Excellent appointment for them.
No he did not SBC....just the one certainty was backed yesterday...Tominator ridden by AP who strolled home at 1/2 !
Sorry, Top Class...I have been racing in the USA several times over the years but never to the Breeders Cup though the suggestion would be you have to try and select 4 winners maybe similar to the Yankee bet (mind the pun) The meeting there is very trappy as usual and good luck if you play..the race I am looking forward to most is Excellebration against Moonlight Cloud, though one of the home trained horses may spoil the party so my usual Dutching win bet won't be put into action there ! What do other posters think about the joke that C4 have preferred to include Rishi Persad in their Morning Line team in preference to any of Big Mac,Alistair Down,Mike Cattermole or even Thommo ?? A total joke methinks ,whilst John Francome will be the most sorely missed of all !
Greetings to Ron,SBC,RV and others who "tolerated" me on the other side ! I have been involved in various family responsibilities and not had the time or inclination to be involved in any forums though I have been posting on various BBC blogs recently including having a few confrontations with Galaxy,who assumedly is a member here. I am happy to make comments on here and have sensible discussion. If anyone is desperate for an argument with me I suggest they watch Monty Pythons Argument Sketch as I won't be interested in that and I am assured that Ron runs a sensible tight ship here ! Now let's try and continue to beat the bookmakers...which,after all,is the name of the game !
I see the Nicholls horse does indeed run in the bumper at Taunton ............... wish they'd make their mind up. SA have you been watching the Owls this season? Big win at Ipswich on Saturday, hope it's a corner-turner
Molotof very short now as punters put their faith in Mr Henderson. Into 8/13 at Taunton. Great to see you back Arkle. I trust that in the past 18 months you have taken those old bookies to the cleaners on several occasions.
They want to get that Smad Place over fences ASAP. Apparently how he fares on his hurdling bow this term will decide whether they go down the 'World Hurdle' route or go novice chasing.
