Hi all,
Two nice winners on Monday with Master Tommytucker & Flashing Glance made up for the previous two days poor showings.
I have had a cold for the last couple of days, so I haven’t had a chance to look at today’s racing. Hopefully back tomorrow.
Cheers
John
Hi all,
A disappointing couple of days. Can we bounce back on Monday I hope so?
Kempton
1:30 – Master Tommytucker – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The 8-year-old won twice over hurdles at Exeter, two seasons back, he was quickly sent over fences last season. Pitched into a Listed novices chase at Chepstow for his first go over fences showed how well regarded he was. Jumping with zest from the off, he was travelling powerfully and just about to challenge the leader when making a mistake and falling three out. Not seen out after that mishap, due to knock in training. He’s been given time to get over that heavy fall and can make a high-class novice chaser this season. He looks an exciting recruit to the chasing game.
3:40 – Flashing Glance – 11/2 – Gen – Drops into class 3 company for this time since winning at Ludlow back in February off 1lb lower. Disappointed at Ascot last time but prior to that had finished 4th of 13 in a Listed Class 1 handicap hurdle at Market Rasen. The 6-year-old can be a tricky ride but we know he goes well on good ground and on a right handed, sharp track.
Cheers
John
Hi all,
With Exeter cancelled due to waterlogging we are just left with Uttoxeter now.
Uttoxeter
1:10 – Midnight Moss – 11/4 @ William Hill – Shaped with promise on his first start for new trainer Oliver Greenall when 4th of 15 at Wetherby 22-days ago. Looks worth another try at this trip and remains capable of winning a small handicap off his present mark.
1:40 – Molly Ollys Wishes – 11/4 @ William Hill – The mare showed she handled the mud when 2nd of 13 over C&D 23-days ago. Should be able to win a novice hurdle and her trainer Dan Skelton has a 52%-win strike rate with his runners, sent off 12/1 & under, in novice hurdles at the track – 12 winners from 23 runners 52% +8.87 A/E 1.3 17 placed 74%.
3:10 – Fact Flow – 7/1 – Gen – The selection doesn’t win very often but both his career wins have come here, including this race 12 months ago off today’s mark. No show over hurdles on his return to action last month but with Ben Jones taking off 5lb here a bigger performance can be expected from the 10-year-old.
Cheers
John
Hi all,
Igor at a BOG 5/1 provided the service with another winning and more importantly profitable day. Saturday’s selections race at Ascot & Gowran Park.
Ascot
12:55 – Spider’s Bite – 6/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – A winning hurdler on soft ground the 7-year-old shaped well on first start over fences when runner-up in this race 12 months ago. Was travelling well when unseating his rider at Ludlow back in December. Bred to win over fences and if ready to roll after 339-day break looks on a competitive mark.
3:50 – Kid Commando – 5/2 @ Bet365 – I doubt there has been a more impressive bumper winner this season than the selection, who made all to win at Fontwell 15-days ago. The 5-year-old must give away a 4lb penalty but looks more than capable of doing so and it will take a good one to beat him.
Gowran Park
3:15 – Tongie – 9/2 @ Bet365 & William Hill – The selections sole chase win came on heavy ground over C&D back in February. On a losing run of 11 but shaped with more encouragement when 5th of 9 at Clonmel 23-days ago. Races off the same mark as for his last win and all three of his career wins have come on heavy or soft. A decent enough jumper in this grade and looks set to go well.
Cheers
John
Hi all,
Friday’s selections are from Ascot & Catterick.
Ascot
1:30 – Igor – 9/2 @ William Hill – Nicky Hendersonseems to have a strong hand in this maiden hurdle with recent Cheltenham third Fred and Igor. The latter might be the second string looking at the betting forecast, but he shaped well when runner-up in this race 12 months ago. Not so good back here a month later but did much better when runner-up at Newton Abbot in May. Didn’t seem to enjoy the sharp track there and should be better suited to a return to a galloping track. Probably won’t want the ground to ease much more but looks capable of winning one of these races before going chasing.
2:05 – Cascova – 5/1 @ William Hill & Betway – A decent bumper horse with Martyn Meade a winner on his racecourse debut last November at Huntingdon and not disgraced on two further starts. Makes his hurdle debut here for new trainer Nicky Henderson and it will be surprising if he can’t win races over hurdles.
Catterick
3:30 – One Forty Seven – 4/1 @Bet365 & Paddy Power – The selection bounced back to his best with a win a Stratford 34-days ago. Up 5lb for that win makes life tougher but a return to a slightly sounder surface will suit the 7-year-old. Solid enough for wise and has good chance of following up here with a clean round of jumping.
Cheers
John
Hi all,
Another profitable day as Paddy’s Pawn was returned at a generous 6/1 for his Fakenham win on Tuesday.
I have two selections running this evening at Kempton and two at Dundalk this afternoon
Kempton
4:10 – Burniston Rocks – 13/2 @ Bet365 – The selection has just had the four starts and arguably put in his best effort when 4th of 9 on his nursery debut at Yarmouth 37-days ago. The juvenile makes his all-weather debut here and the first-time blinkers have been applied. Looks on a competitive mark of 65 if taking to the surface and the headgear can eke out a bit more improvement.
7:40 – Dangerous Ends – 9/2 @ Paddy Power – A three-time course winner, the selection shaped like his turn was near when 3rd of 13 over C&D 19-days ago. The 5-year-old didn’t get the best of runs two out last time and with a clearer run would have finished closer to the winner. The handicapper has dropped him a 1lb since and he’s now dropped to below his last winning mark. Has a good chance from stall 3 as long a they go a decent enough gallop!
Dundalk
2:25 – Caronda – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The filly doesn’t have the most exciting of profiles 0 wins from 14 runs but her best performances have come around here. Runner up here 14-days ago, the selection was staying on well from off the pace over 1m 2 ½ f. She should be suited by the return to 1m 4f. Nudged up 2lb but looks capable of breaking her maiden tag.
2:55 – Attack At Dawn – 9/2 @ Bet365 – Like the selection in division one of this handicap, Attack at Dawn comes in to the race looking to break her maiden tag. The 4-year-old has only had the three starts on the all-weather and was returning from a 60-day absence when an encouraging 4th of 13 here 14-days ago. Doing her best work at the finish she should be suited by the return to further today.
It’s an early start for me as I’m in London tomorrow, so there won’t be any selections until Friday.
Cheers
John
Morning all,
Steal The Scene ended a long losing run at a BOG 9/2, to give us a small profit on the day.
Fakenham
3:10 – Paddy’s Pawn – 7/2 – Gen – Made it two from five over fences when winning at Huntingdon when last seen in action 222-days ago. The 8-year-old’s optimum conditions are 2m on a sharp track both of which he gets here. The 8-year-old looks set to go well if ready to go to first time up. Trainer Nick Gifford is 3 -8 +51 with his runners in the past 14-days and 2-7 29% with his runners at Fakenham in the past 5-years.
Kempton
3:50 – Past Master – 9/2 – Gen –The selection won at Goodwood on his first start over 1m6f two starts back before finishing a close 4th of 8 in a better race at Yarmouth 61-days ago. The 6-year-old drops a couple of notches in grade here and shapes like he should stay 2m. Return to the all-weather shouldn’t pose a problem as he finished on his only start here back in October 2018.
Chelmsford
7:45 – Eden Gardens – 9/2 @ Bet365 – Lightly raced, just the five career starts. A winner on his handicap debut at Kempton 12 months ago. The 3-year-old returned to action for the first time since that success when 5th of 13 back at the same venue 22-days ago. The step up to 1m 2f should suit the selection who looks to have a good chance off top weight from stall 6.
Cheers
John
Hi all,
Plumpton
1:30 – Legend Of France – 9/2 @ William Hill & Paddy Power – The selection won over C&D on her seasonal reappearance last December. Returns for a 276-day break today, off 6lb higher than her last win. Last year’s win came on soft ground so no issues with underfoot conditions.
Wolverhampton
1:20 – Lafontaine – 11/2 @ William Hill & Paddy Power – Battled on well to win at Kempton 13-days ago. Up 4lb for that win and must prove as effective on the tapeta but if she handles it won’t be far away again. Thomas Greatrex takes off 3lb which means most of her rise in the ratings has been negated.
2:20 – Steal The Scene – 10/3 – Gen – The 7-year-old’s last win came four years ago. However, he’s shaped like a win isn’t far away on two of his last three starts around here. On both occasions he hasn’t found a clear run when trying to make his effort most notably 19-days ago.
Cheers
John
Hi all,
All today’s selections run at Fontwell.
Fontwell
12:55 – Éclair De Guye – 5/2 @ Paddy Power – Ran well for a long way on his chase debut over 3m at Southwell 24-days ago. Drop back in trip should be in the 5-year-old’s favour today and he looks to have started his chasing career off a workable mark.
2:05 – Colonel Custard – 5/2 @ William Hill – The selection won two of his six starts over hurdles last season, both on rain softened ground. Sent off the 11/4 favourite for the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las on his seasonal reappearance. Looked like he was coming to win his race two out but faded two out and eventually finished 3rd of 10. Drops into calmer waters here and is the one to beat.
2:40 – Captain Cattistock – 11/4 @ Paddy Power – Should be all the better for his seasonal reappearance at Wincanton 21-days ago. Looked in need of the run that day and probably found the going lively enough. Lightly raced over fences just the five starts, including two wins one here in April. The 6-year-old is better with some juice in the ground and is expected to be suited by the step up to 3m 3 ½ f. Trainer Paul Nicholls has a good record at the track and he thinks the selection could be a Welsh Grand National contender. He would need to a win this if he’s to take his place in a race of that quality.
Cheers
John
Hi all,
A welcome winner with Rockview Roman doing the business at Dundalk last evening and both Friday other selections finishing 2nd and 4th in their respective races.
Today’s selections race at Cheltenham, Wetherby & Wolverhampton
Cheltenham
12:05 – Thyme Hill – 6/4 – Gen – Trainer Philip Hobbs described the 5-year-old as one of his best novice hurdlers after his win in the Grade 2 Persian War Novices’ Hurdle at Chepstow on his seasonal reappearance. Must give a 5lb penalty away to his seven rivals here and faces much softer ground than at Chepstow but he ran well enough on soft when 3rd here in the Champion Bumper at last season’s Festival. Trainer won this race in 2011 with Fingal Bay. Looks the one to beat.
Wetherby
3:20 – Aristo Du Plessis – 4/1 – Gen – Ran well for a long way on his seasonal reappearance when 4th of 12 over C&D 15-days ago. The 9-year-old should be all the better for that run and he goes well over C&D – 3 wins from 6 runs +9.50. He’s yet to win heavy – 0 wins from 3 runs – but is very effective on soft – 3 wins from 5 runs +8.88. Last win came her in December off 9lb higher so is on a competitive mark.
Wolverhampton
4:15 – Gottardo – 3/1 @ Coral & William Hill – The 4-year-old has been knocking on the door on his last four starts at Newcastle last time and here two starts back. Seemed to appreciate the step to a mile at Newcastle and has good chance of notching his first win since March.
7:45 – Dark Side Dream – 15/2 @ William Hill – A previous C&D winner. The 7-year-old was suited by the strong pace when 2nd of 9 here 23-days ago. Nudged up 2lb higher for that performance but he’s won off higher marks in the past. Capable of gong close if he gets another good pace to chase.
Cheers
John