Aintree and Sandown

Photo : Mike Egerton/PA

Another successful week on the blog last week following on from KRUZHLININ the week before. NATIVE RIVER was very impressive and looks a really potential superstar based on last week’s success. Looking forward to seeing how he develops during the year. On to this week, another cracking card at both Aintree and Sandown.

The Tingle Creek is the race of the day. SIRE DE GRUGY looked back to his best last time out and has won this twice and has a superb record here. UN DE SCEAUX is the favourite but I worry about his record first time out and think he now needs further. AR MAD is very interesting and has bags of scope. However, based on his last run, SIRE DE GRUGY gets the nod for me.

The Becher chase is a hell of a handicap and there are lots of trends that descimate the field. Paricularly around the age of a horse. ALVARADO has been backed all week and has a great record here, but I’m not sure this is long enough and the ground will suit. SILVERGROVE has lots of potential and shout be thereabouts after a decent run at Cheltenham last time. Alan King is starting to motor recently and ZIGA BOY, despite his age, ticks alot of boxes. He destroyed his rivals at Doncaster last year and if you can forgove the last two runs last year he has to have a chance. He’s warmed up well for this and he should be primed for a big run and I think this track will suit.

CORRIN WOOD has always been a smart horse and lost his way considerably with Donald McCain. He ran back to his best last time when eventually caught at Cheltenham by ANTEROS. This race is a huge drop in class and he is very well handicapped. The 7-2 price isnt going to last long and that could ge real value. He should breeze this.

FINGAL BAY is a very classy staying hurdler and his reappearance run was much better. This is a drop in class and despite his big weight he could and should be better than these. He is back on his last winning mark of OR148 when he won the Pertempts and that is surely his target this year. The claim from the jockey will certainly help his cause. Big run expected.

Selections :

£10 win CORRIN WOOD 245 Chepstow

£2.50 e/w FINGAL BAY 120 Sandown

£5 win SIRE DE GRUGY 3.00 Sandown

Haydock and Ascot

Photo : sportinglife.com

 

Well last week was a good one on the blog and I kept up my record in the hurdle race at Warwick, putting up the winner for the third consecutive year, with FLINTHAM (7-1). Hope you were on aswell as BIG JIM (5-1). It was almost a top day but DEFINITLY RED (9-2) could only manage second behind BLACK HERCULES. Hopefully I'm coming into a bit of form and there's a few I fancy today too. The top two races of the day really are crackers leading us to trials weekend next Saturday.

 

LIL ROCKERFELLER 1425 ASCOT (nap)

What a race this is!! Numerous horses have cracking chances. MONSIEUR GIBRALTAR ran better last time and has far less weight than that run. Today. THEINVAL was very smart last year and returns to hurdles after an average chase debut, and I can't forget ROYAL GUARDSMAN'S last run. I've opted for my guy thoygh based on his class and his very smart form. He reversed places with DEVILMENT when he last won carrying 11st 11lbs. He ran in a much better race at Cheltenham and one was just too good, however he did beat the current World Hurdle champion, COLE HARDEN. Last year he beat Ladbroke Hurdle winner STERNRUBIN twice, giving him 5lbs and 8lbs respectively. He loves a battle, has a big heart and has the class to win this. MONSIEUR GIBRALTAR is his biggest danger.

 

 

OTAGO TRAIL 1330 HAYDOCK (nb)

He has gone up a massive 13lbs in the ratings to a mark of OR154 after his smooth, classy success at Chepstow. The ground was awful that day and it will be very heavy today and that will play to his strengths! I cant believe his price based on BRISTOL DE MAI's entry, he hasnt encountered ground like this yet and I think my guy is a very smart prospect.

 

FINGAL BAY 1515 HAYDOCK (treble)

This guy has jumped really well in his last two runs. Finding SMAD PLACE too good and WAKANDA the same in quite quickly run races. He has the stamina for this and will love the ground and thr stiff finish. You have to jump well here and he does. VIRAK has been very good too but he has gone up another 5lbs in weight here and he's giving my guy 17lbs in weight. That will take its toll up the Haydock hill.

 

CORRIN WOOD 1300 HAYDOCK

This is an old favourite and was previously a smart horse and he could generate a tidy profit for the blog today. He was a good hurdler and was turning into a smart chaser until having a lay off. He was then thrown in off his old form in top races and it was too much. He is now back in a class 3 hurdle, at a track where he has won at and has smart form. He will get the trip and 20-1 is huge!!

 

My Dad's selections are :

 

PLACINGS

FATHER 2-5 SON

PROFIT/LOSS

Father – £79.34

Son +£17.96

 

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Ascot – Ladbroke Day

 

Photo by Mark Cranham (racing post.com/photos)

Time to return to the blog and can I take this opportunity to wish all of you a very merry Christmas and a prosperous 2016. Work has finished nowfor two weeks so I'm looking forward to a chill and a lovely time. Some decent racing again today and I'm banking on a couple of horses I've already out up on here to get their noses infront today!

 

FINGAL BAY 1500 ASCOT (nap)

I napped him last time when he ran a cracker in the Hennessy. He jumped so well that day and it was only the class of SMAD PLACE and I think the trip, at the pace they went, that caught him out. Dropping back in trip today will help and if he jumps as well as he did last time he has to be up there. I expect him to win today.

 

SAPHIR DE RHEU 1425 ASCOT (nb)

He's the up and coming next big star and the Hennessy, with the weight he carried, was just a step too far. I'm interested in how he runs back over hurdles today, Big Bucks style. He has beaten REVE DE SIVOLA already over hurdles, he's 4lbs worse off today but I reckon he's nowa better horse and it's not soft enough for Reve!

 

STERNRUBIN 1535 ASCOT (treble)

This fella has shown some real improvement and looks to be going places! He won nicely last time and he jumps and travels well. He has been raised 6lbs for that win but this is not a race that is too much for him. You need to travel well and more importantly have a turn of pace to get away from the pack on the run in. He has that and could run a big race!

 

BIG CASINO 1350 ASCOT

I've put this guy up a few times and he jumps so well and I think the distance has caught him out twice now! He's been dropped in trip again today and the track will suit his style and I'm hoping he can keep galloping to the line this time.

 

My Dad's selections are :

 

VOIX D'EAU 1315 ASCOT

MARCHILHAC 1350 ASCOT

PENDRA 1500 ASCOT

GALIZZI 1535 ASCOT

 

PLACINGS

FATHER 1-3 SON

PROFIT/LOSS

Father – £44,39

Son -£15.54

 

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Hennessy Gold Cup

Photo by Mark Cranham (racing post.com/photos)

 

One winner on the blog last week and it is the last time we'll see ROCK ON RUBY on a racecourse. Sad news to hear about him being retired but if it prolongs his life then it's worth it. What a fabulous horse he is and how much he has given to the cause. It was great to see him back to his best for one last time! Had retirement fella! On to Newbury today and the key early Gold Cup pointer race! I'm looking forward to watching what should be a awesome race!

 

Here are my selections for today :

 

FINGAL BAY 1500 NEWBURY (nap)

He broke a blood vessel in this last year and returns on a mark that is 9lbs lower than last year. He has always been a very smart horse, especially over hurdles. He has lowered the colours of SIMONSIG, DYNASTE and SOUTHFIELD THEATRE. He ran a creditable race behind SMAD PLACE at Kempton last time and is now 8lbs better off with that rival today. Over this extended distance that is alot and he has always enjoyed staying races. I'm sure they will have sorted his jumping out and he is now a 9 year old amd this may be his year as the top chasing horse. You need class to win this race and he has bags of it! SAPHIR DU RHEU is a lovely horse and his trainer thinks lots of him, but to win this with 11st 12lbs and as a six year old? Too much I reckon! BOBS WORTH showed a bit of form last time but I think the old flame for this type of race doesnt burn brightly enough. NED STARK is another that catches my eye.

 

MA FILLUELE 1350 NEWBURY (nb)

This one's price is shortening all the time! She didn't really run a race last time at Wetherby and she may now be better over the bigger obstacles. However, I'm intrigued that they persevere over hurdles and this slightly longer trip will help too. She's a classy mare and her mark has been dropped by a crazy 10lbs because of her Wetherby run. That's a full 23lbs lower than her chase mark where she has been second to the likes of HOLYWELL, BALDER SUCCESS and UXIZANDRE. Interestingly this is a return to a previous winning hurdles mark of OR134 when she beat SWINCOMBE FLAME over this trip at Warwick.

 

BIG CASINO 1315 NEWBURY (treble)

I really fancied this guy when he ran first time out at Cheltenham. He ran well for along way that day and just didn't stay the trip at that pace. He's been dropped 2lbs by the handicapper and also drops in class 2, as well as a three furlong shorter trip. That's a lot of boxes ticked for me, he also has an apprentice taking 5lbs off to give him a great racing weight. If they go positively with him again they not peg him back.

 

KATACHENKO 1355 DONCASTER

Defeated MON SUCCESSEUR at Wetherby on his seasonal debut in a class 3 chase just short of two miles. He steps back up in trip today but he has won at this distance before and he's only been raised one pound by the handicapper for his last win. MON SUCCESSEUR was only just pipped yesterday to boost the form a little and this horse is worth watching!

 

My Dad's selections are :

 

 

PLACINGS

FATHER 1-2 SON

PROFIT/LOSS

Father – £29.39

Son -£8.21

I also like these elsewhere – STAGE ONE 1250 DONCASTER, HARVEY HOPE 1430 DONCASTER and CALIVIGNY 1300 NEWCASTLE

 

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The Hennessy Gold Cup



Photo courtesy of Sporting Life

The twitter gamble last week didn’t fair to badly with @DazGilbert1’s selection Silviniaco Conti (100-30) and @Fernando_RFC2’s selection FLETCHER’S FLYER (11-10) winning. The guys have put up some more tips for today. See below and remember to give them a follow!

I was gobsmacked by how poorly UNCLE JIMMY ran last week, there had to be something amiss he was being pushed along from over a circuit out, interestingly he still stayed on at the end. TAQUIN DE SEUIL I feel needs to go back over hurdles after that showing, doesn’t look like a chaser to me, although he’ll probably go and win a big race now I’ve said that! AL FEROF (5-2) won for the Bandit on the blog and he was very impressive, I’m hoping the same connections do it for me today in the big one! My dad won last week on the profit front and takes a 2-1 lead. On to today and another cracking day with one of my favourite races of the season – The Hennessy. I was on good old Denman a few years ago when he defied top weight in one of the best performances I have ever seen, lets hope we get another cracking race today, and we should!

The Twitter Gamble Lucky 15 is :

@DazGilbert1 VOLT FACE 1315 TOWCESTER

@LiamKenniford FINGAL BAY 1500 NEWBURY

@Fernando_RFC2 HAMMERSLY LAKE 1350 NEWBURY

@Tonythe Tyke UT MAJEUR AULMES 1535 NEWBURY

On to The Bandit’s selections for today!

UNIONISTE 1500 NEWBURY (NAP) – The Bandit’s tradition is always to have a nap that has a bit of value. This guy has to have that at 16-1 as I write this. Not many horse in the past few years have won this a double figure odds but I reckon my selection has a real chance. Last year his defeat of WISHFUL THINKING at Aintree was smart and he is a pound lower in the ratings today, that could prove to be a very reasonable mark judged on the second’s performances since then. This fella goes well at this time of the year and he will love the ground. Generally he’s a tidy jumper and you need to be to stay this and win. He has had a wind operation which can really sort a horse out and while he will come on for the run the Nicholls string are firing at the minute. This horse for me is way better than his current mark suggests and I’m hoping he shows that today. FINGAL BAY could be his main opponent today, he stays all day and is a class horse. The way his yard are firing too has to make me put a few shekels on him too. Should be a bloody cracker!

DEFINITLY RED 1305 NEWCASTLE (NB) – this fella will go off favourite and at a short price but I have to put him in as I was so impressed how he went away from a decent bumper field last time at Cheltenham. He went straight on to my radar and this should be a stepping stone to greater things for him. One to watch for the season, I think he has the potential to be very good.

LIE FORRIT 1425 NEWCASTLE (TREBLE) – getting a bit long in the tooth but has always been a classy type. His defeat of NEPTUNE EQUESTER at Kelso in March is decent and his hurdle mark is far superior to his chase mark. He beat good old PIGEON ISLAND last time out to open his account of the sticks and has been raised 4lbs for that, not too harsh in my opinion. The ground shouldn’t be a problem and I’m hoping he shows improvement again today, this mark could be quite handy for him!

ALBERT BRIDGE 1350 NEWBURY – What an interesting runner this guy is! He has ran well on soft and heavy ground on the flat and has ran off a mark in the high 80’s in that sphere. Ran well and won last time in a maiden hurdle on soft ground at Plumpton. He is chucked in here today and could be anything and I like taking a punt on these types!

My Dad’s selections are :

EXITAS 1350 NEWBURY

THE DRUIDS NEPHEW 1500 NEWBURY

VICTORS SERENADE 1440 NEWCASTLE

ANQUETTA 1535 NEWBURY

Current Standings

Father 2-1 Son

Profit

Father -£12.26

Son £8.63

Sunday blog

I thought I would do a little Sunday blog in homeage to my favourite horse, Tidal Bay. Today sees him returning to the venue of one of his greatest performances. He's teaming up with Ruby again and going up against the horse he pipped in the Lexus. It should be a cracking race and the ground will count in his favour. I have got 3-1 for him this morning, I think he'll go off favourite. This is his penultimate run, his swansong will be at Aintree where I've got a little ante-post bet on him. Whatever happens today I'll enjoy watching him run as I always do and keep my fingers crossed for a wet Aintree.

 

TIDAL BAY 1550 LEOPARDSTOWN (nap) – back to Grade 1 level but he has shown he can hack it. Ruby back up which for me is key as he rides this track so well. The weather will have helped him too. I just think this will be set up for him over the final fence and run in and he is the best horse for me.

 

FINGAL BAY 1455 EXETER (nb) – (WON – 9-2) he is a class horse and despite his 14 months off he will win. He has a good record first time out and I just hope the injury hasn't taken any of his ability away.

 

BLACKLOUGH 1515 LEOPARDSTOWN (treble) – (2nd – 5-1) has a chance on his decent run in the Boylesport, up just a pound in the ratings for that run and he could run a big race today.

 

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