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Month: October 2013

Friday’s racing

I have a rare Friday off and I’m looking forward to some really good jumps racing.

No time for a detailed analysis so here are my selections.

Down Royal

1.05 2m 6f Maiden Hurdle

This should be between horses with familiar variations on names. Express du Berlais was an easy Points winner and Sizing Coal was another Point winner, bought as a 3-y-o for €340,000. I’ll hope that the money was well spent.

1.35 2m 6f Handicap Hurdle

A hard race so I will focus on the top of the handicap. I find it hard to believe that I’m going for a Wolverhampton run but I’m with Street Runner, perhaps more significantly a prior Downpatrick winner, so proven on an undulating and weird course!

2.05 2m Grade 3 Hurdle

This is my first confident choice. Que Pasa has form at this level and should be an easy winner against her own sex.

2.35 2m Grade 2 Hurdle

I was a fan of Jezki all last season and there is no reason why he will not win this. Caid du Berlais will come second. A confident Exacta/forecast.

3.10 2m 4f Beginners’ Chase

Gold Bullet will win this at what I hope is a good price. I haven’t checked the prices in this forecast to keep it real! Ruby Walsh on board is significant.

3.45 Handicap Chase

Good luck! Follow the market!

Uttoxeter (selected)

12.50 2m 4f Hurdle

I’ll just watch this one! Loads of reasons not to like all the main players!

1.20 2m Maiden Hurdle

I’d love the delightfully named “Buxom” (33/1 – about my chances) to win but I’m very interested in David Pipe’s Centasia (another one the owners will be pissed off with if he doesn’t win given what he cost).

1.50 2m Handicap Hurdle

I agree with Timeform: Wintered Well

2.20 2m Beginners’ Chase

This is one of my highlights of the day. I’m taking the view that Raya Star will be the best chaser but who knows?

2.55 3m Mares’ Handicap Hurdle

Vinnieslittle Lamb Terrible name. Nothing more to say.

3.30 2m 4f Handicap Chase

Marie des Anges will win.

Wetherby

The card is excellent and I could have gone into depth for the runners but I’m just going to choose some winners (that’s the prerogative of someone who doesn’t get paid for their views!). They are no less lacking in conviction!

12.40 2m 4f Novices’ Hurdle

If Oscar Rock doesn’t win this then, at 12.45, this will be a bad day!

1.10 2m 4f Novices’ Hurdle

I’m going to be bold and select Vivaldi Collonges, anther with an associative name but not in Nicholls’ yard to make up the numbers.I’m going to have a bit of a go on this one. If it doesn’t work, don’t blame me!!

1.40 2m Handicap Hurdle

If you have to go with Tidal Way but I’d swerve this one.

2.10 2m 4f Handicap Chase

Mon Parrain on the basis that he’s a very good horse and had a bit of a tough run last year.

2.45 Listed 2m 110 y Hurdle

Getting bored now if I tell the truth but it’s a great race. I think that now is the day to lump on Royal Irish Hussar .

3.20 3m 1f Handicap Chase

No view but if you have to choose one then it should be Palos Conti.

A really good day’s racing to look forward to

I have said before that when (what was) the Whitbread and the Punchestown days have gone, apart from good days at Auteuil, it’s time to put up with flat racing until the decent jumps races start in October. Every year I start looking in September and go deep into October until it really gets going. I’ve seen a few decent candidates at Chepstow and Wincanton but now, at last, we have a really decent day’s racing tomorrow.

I’ll look at Ascot (flat) first. I’m very pleased that RUK share the coverage so I don’t have to put up with adverts just before the off from Dick Fosbury and meerkats! Don’t get me wrong. I generally like the ATR presenters and both Matt Chapman and Sean Boyce are excellent (some of the others are a bit iffy). I suspect that RUK will be allowed coverage of the races but not on site presence so we’ll have to see. I’m assuming that Channel 4 will have Clare Balding at the helm (needed for decent interviews) so channel hopping is the order of the day.

So, rather skimming through it, these are my selections from Ascot’s stellar card.

1.45 Long Distance Cup 2m The Queen’s Estimate (15/8) seems too short to me but, on softish ground and laid out for this, she cannot realistically be opposed.

2.20 Sprint Stakes 6f I’m strongly in favour of Slade Power (6/1), a consistent top performer at the highest level who now has his chance.

2.55 Filles and Mares Stakes 1m 4f Enormous money for these contenders. I take Dalkala (18/5) to beat Hot Snap (11/2) for the forecast/exacta.

3.30 QEII Stakes 1m A £1m plus race deserves top candidates and they are here. Dawn Approach (12/5) should win but, looking for value and with more than a little form analysis I’m with Olympic Glory (9/2) plus a forecast with Soft Falling Rain (11/2).

Champion Stakes 1m 2f £1.3m deserves a stunning horse. I’d all but abandoned Cirrus des Aigles (5/4), a previous winner, until last time out, when previous class was confirmed. A confident choice.

Recommendation Dalkala win, Olympic Glory win, Cirrus des Aigles win.

Cheltenham

Now on to Cheltenham’s card, where I feel much more at home, notwithstanding the risk of early outings. I take the view that trainers who think that their horses are serious candidates for later in the season don’t give them outings at Cheltenham unless they are likely to win. I may be proved comprehensively wrong but I’m going to take the horses directly on their merit and assume all are ready.

2.00 3m Novices’ Hurdle When it’s early in the season it’s sometimes important to take a view. I have with three times winner Kilbree Kid (7/1). This is my first big bet of the day. Contrary to my introduction some of these are here for the day out. Excellent value.

2.35 2m 4f Handicap Chase This is a mix of summer and winter chasers. There are some former top performers in this one but I’m with Tony Star (12/1) with recent form and fitness. I know that this contradicts my introduction to Cheltenham but I think that this one is, on a level, good enough.

3.10 2m 110y Hurdle Sametegal (2/1). This one will breeze in. A confident selection at what should be an odds on price.

3.45 3m 110y Handicap Chase If you are doing the placepot this is the worrier. This is a challenge and one to take a firm view about. Balthazar King won a cross country at Craon last month and that’s a real challenge but surely that’s with an eye to what’s to come. I’m with Sire Collonges to dominate this at am appealing 12/1. Tour des Champs and Mister Grez (possibly ahead of the handicapper) are respected.

4.25 2m 5f Handicap Hurdle Church Field is a stand out in this race at 10/1. Forget the last race and this one is all in. Bet of the day at the odds.

5.00 2m Novices’ Chase It’s unusual to get such a good race so late in the card. I was very impressed with the recent win of the highly regarded Balder Success (6/4) and this is a gift at the price. Get on now!

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