
It’s been about four weeks since I last did a Saturday blog, all the way back to the Stewards Cup! A nice summer holiday in Dorchester and France was the reason for this gap. After lots of vin rouge, croissants and sun, I’m refreshed and ready to go! The National Hunt season is looming upon us now and already I’m getting excited for that. We still have Champions Day, the St Leger, Cambridgeshire to name a few to still tackle though.
A new addition to the blog this time around will be to profile class horses of years gone by. I’m open to suggestions from anyone, so if you’ve got a favourite horse you want me to include on here just give me a shout on twitter and I’ll put it up for you. Today I start with a horse that was my first cliff horse as a teenager getting into racing. He gave me a few good runs for my money and made me start to love the National Hunt game.

Challenger Du Luc – Bay Gelding
Owned by David Johnson Trained by Martin Pipe
40 runs – 7wins, 9 2nds, 3 3rds.
Total Prize money won – £191, 440
Big Race wins
Cathcart Challenge Cup March 1996 – Cheltenham
Murphy’s Gold Cup – Nov 1996 – Cheltenham
He didn’t win anything too major but it was always his battles with Señor El Betrutti that captivated me, he was a brave horse and I had backed him in the National when Earth Summit won, unfortunately he fell that day. A top little horse who got me going in this sport of kings!
On to the blog and today’s selections!
BEAU NASH 1455 CHESTER (NAP) – (3rd – 9-1 = £5.62) excuses last time for the poor run came due to the ground. He is a proven perfumer on ground that is soft. If you look back in the form book over the past few months there are some decent sippers of good runs. One particular run to take note of is his thirds to Wee Jean at Goodwood, it was an eye-catching run and considering how well the winner then went on to run at Royal Ascot in the Sandringham and then just being pipped at Sandown, my selection has to have a great chance today! I think he is better than his current mark and I’m hopeful of a very big run today.
KINGSGATE NATIVE 1425 BEVERLEY (NB) – (unplaced = -£5.00) definitely a heart selection, I love this old guy! He normally these days wins one or two races a season and he’s been unlucky a few times this season. On his A game he would trounce this lot. I think the track will really suit him and Tony Hamilton is a great jockey booking. He’s been dropped 2 lbs in the ratings for the first time in over 15 months, interestingly to a mark he won off! Big chance today!
COCK OF THRE NORTH 14.40 SANDOWN (treble) – (unplaced = -£5.00) the ground is key for me today in this. While AKTABANTAY and FUTURE EMPIRE are clearly smart horses, I’m not so sure about the ground for them. My selection has some smart form in the bag too, I watched his trounce the Brocklesby field on Lincoln day and then he ran second to the very smart TIGGY WIGGY on soft ground, not form to be dismissed. He could run a big race today at a very appealing price.
FIRST POST 1730 SANDOWN – (unplaced = -£5.00) 3 wins here and he is now back to a winning mark and he’s been dropped a further albs from his last winning mark. The ground will also help and he has been running really consistently of late on soft ground with a 2nd and two thirds. Today is his day!
I also reckon GABRIAL 1530 CHESTER could make fools of them today and WHERE THE BOYS ARE 1540 BEVERLEY has a good chance a following up.
My Dad’s selections are :
BALLESTEROS 1410 CHESTER (3rd – 6-1 = £3.75)
APOSTLE 1455 CHESTER (unplaced = -£5.00)
WHIPLASH WILLIE 1530 CHESTER (2nd – 11-4 = £1.71)
FORGOTTEN HERO 1550 SANDOWN (unplaced = -£5.00)
Standings
FATHER 11-14 SON
Profits
Father £32.57
Son £190.89
The Bandit's Racing Tips 