Not much time today as getting back into things at the office after having a day-off yesterday for my birthday. Me and the girlfriend went to Tunbridge Wells for the weekend and stayed at the Hotel Du Vin in the town. Must admit, I was a bit disappointed with HDV. Couldn’t fault the room, nor the quality of the food and drink – but the service was a bit lack-lustre. Service is what separates the big hotel chains from the “boutique” brands. Perhaps it was just this hotel, but they need to pull their socks up or risk becoming another anonymous hotel chain.
We did visit a cracking good pub in Groombridge tho’, and I’m thinking of starting another blog on the relative merits of pubs in the area.
Today’s Horseracing
There are a couple of meetings today, at Exeter and Sedgefield.
Unfortunately, I really am not excited about anything at either of those meetings, so not selections today.
Looking back at the weekend, I read on the RTE website that Noel Meade was unsure of the reason for the nosebleed to PANDORAMA on Saturday that caused him to be withdrawn before the start of that race. So, it will be a racecourse gallop and then straight into the Hennessey.
Probably like most reading this blog, I am formulating my entry for the Tote Ten To Follow competition. I hope to be able to get off to a flying start by having the Paddy Power Chase winner (race being run this Saturday) in my lists, but it will not be easy as it looks highly competitive. Unfortunately, JONCOL put up a poor display of jumping on Sunday. I’m hoping that his canny trainer Paul Nolan went into that race with his horse having done little at home and that when stepped-up in trip to 3-mile (or thereabouts) that there will be a transformation of form.
Also, yesterday, the Horse Alert List had a runner with PRINCE DE BEAUCHENE. Unfortunately, due to the race conditions, he had little chance of beating Big Fella Thanks (OR151) off level weights when he is only rated OR140. Even so, he ran very well up to the 2nd-last suggesting his OR is perhaps on the lenient side. The winner of the race HEY BIG SPENDER is a cracking horse and will be on the verge of Gold Cup standard next March. He’s won his last 3 races with 11st 10lbs or more on his back and so connections will probably be undaunted about having to give weight away in handicaps this season. He is one I’d be seriously considering as an inclusion on my 10-2-Follow list.
Thanks for reading this blog to all new visitors. Feel free to tell those who you think may find the blog of interest and value and, if you are a regular visitor, please add the blog to your list of favourites.
Thanks from Wayward Lad
Tuesday, 9 November 2010
Sunday, 7 November 2010
The Sunday Supplement
There was just the one selection yesterday – PANDORAMA – tho’ there were some good words about a few others that were running.
What was perhaps the biggest news was the successful reappearance of KAUTO STAR at Down Royal. He never put a foot wrong and comprehensively beat what looked to be good opposition in Sizing Europe and China Rock. However, that news was supplanted in the headlines by Ruby Walsh suffering a broken leg which must surely put him in some doubt over having the ride on Kauto Star at Kempton on Boxing Day. However, full marks to KAUTO STAR and he is not showing any signs of losing his powers just yet. Where now for Sizing Europe? Personally, I would drop him back in trip to the 2-mile division, but I expect connections will aim him at the Ryanair at the Festival. In the next race the Nicholls/Walsh partnership notched up a quick double with The Nightingale. My blog selection PANDORAMA was withdrawn at the post. At the time, PANDORAMA was the 6/4 fav and I really do think he would have given The Nightingale a lot more to do, as he won the race in a canter.
At Wincanton, the Elite Hurdle was ripped apart by NEARBY, who has now won his last 3 hurdles over 28-days and already has been raised 20lbs by the handicapper, but must now be OR150+. When he won at Aintree on 9th October I marked him as one to follow, but thought the 10lb he went up was too harsh. He won off his revised mark on 23rd October and went up another 10lb, and I thought that too was a bit harsh. Where he goes now is anyone’s guess, but his trainer Phil Hobbs certainly knows how to handle hurdlers and he is not afraid of using claiming jockeys either. Full marks to him. As for Australia Day, its back to the drawing board as he ran a shocker and his hurdling went to pieces.
In the Badger Ales Trophy, Paul Nicholls had certainly better prepared MEANUS DANDY for this, but he really had to fight for it to beat an old fav of mine BUENA VISTA. I was correct in swerving I’MONCLOUDNINE as he just missed-out on 3rd place by a head. The performance of the race tho’ was BUENA VISTA. I reckon he will again be aimed at a Festival handicap, and now we know he can jump a fence at pace he must be on the longterm shortlist as he loves it at Cheltenham and he always gets the going he loves there, which is “proper” good going.
Horses tho’, they love to take you to the cleaners. Who remembers me writing this on 13th October?
“won her opening couple of races last autumn and this trip is right up her street as is the going. She was highly tried last winter, and lost nothing in defeat but has now slipped back to her last winning mark of OR125”. That was about FIT TO DRIVE, and she clearly needed the run as she wasn’t race-fit. She ran an improved race on 23rd October, but yesterday when fully fit, and dropped to OR119 (how did I miss that!) she won @ 14/1 by 10-lengths and must surely be capable of a follow-up.
The only other horse mentioned on the blog yesterday was DOUBLE DIZZY and this race was perhaps over at least a mile too short for him these-days. Cheltenham over 3-mile-plus shold see a much improved display.
Despite there being 3 good meetings for a Sunday at Ffos Las, Hereford and Market Rasen, I am having a day-off from racing and – as it’s my birthday tomorrow – I’ll be having tomorrow off as well. However, I may have a sneaky wager on SIR WINSTON at Market Rasen as he never ran a bad race last season and won on his seasonal debut and this is Vic Dartnall’s only runner today (he’s sent just 5 to Market Rasen and had 2 winners) and tho’ I respect the chance of recent winner Bobby Bullock this week, I never think any horse is an odds-on chance when chasing, and 6/1 on SIR WINSTON looks fair.
Thanks for reading this blog to all new visitors. Feel free to tell those who you think may find the blog of interest and value and, if you are a regular visitor, please add the blog to your list of favourites.
Thanks from Wayward Lad
What was perhaps the biggest news was the successful reappearance of KAUTO STAR at Down Royal. He never put a foot wrong and comprehensively beat what looked to be good opposition in Sizing Europe and China Rock. However, that news was supplanted in the headlines by Ruby Walsh suffering a broken leg which must surely put him in some doubt over having the ride on Kauto Star at Kempton on Boxing Day. However, full marks to KAUTO STAR and he is not showing any signs of losing his powers just yet. Where now for Sizing Europe? Personally, I would drop him back in trip to the 2-mile division, but I expect connections will aim him at the Ryanair at the Festival. In the next race the Nicholls/Walsh partnership notched up a quick double with The Nightingale. My blog selection PANDORAMA was withdrawn at the post. At the time, PANDORAMA was the 6/4 fav and I really do think he would have given The Nightingale a lot more to do, as he won the race in a canter.
At Wincanton, the Elite Hurdle was ripped apart by NEARBY, who has now won his last 3 hurdles over 28-days and already has been raised 20lbs by the handicapper, but must now be OR150+. When he won at Aintree on 9th October I marked him as one to follow, but thought the 10lb he went up was too harsh. He won off his revised mark on 23rd October and went up another 10lb, and I thought that too was a bit harsh. Where he goes now is anyone’s guess, but his trainer Phil Hobbs certainly knows how to handle hurdlers and he is not afraid of using claiming jockeys either. Full marks to him. As for Australia Day, its back to the drawing board as he ran a shocker and his hurdling went to pieces.
In the Badger Ales Trophy, Paul Nicholls had certainly better prepared MEANUS DANDY for this, but he really had to fight for it to beat an old fav of mine BUENA VISTA. I was correct in swerving I’MONCLOUDNINE as he just missed-out on 3rd place by a head. The performance of the race tho’ was BUENA VISTA. I reckon he will again be aimed at a Festival handicap, and now we know he can jump a fence at pace he must be on the longterm shortlist as he loves it at Cheltenham and he always gets the going he loves there, which is “proper” good going.
Horses tho’, they love to take you to the cleaners. Who remembers me writing this on 13th October?
“won her opening couple of races last autumn and this trip is right up her street as is the going. She was highly tried last winter, and lost nothing in defeat but has now slipped back to her last winning mark of OR125”. That was about FIT TO DRIVE, and she clearly needed the run as she wasn’t race-fit. She ran an improved race on 23rd October, but yesterday when fully fit, and dropped to OR119 (how did I miss that!) she won @ 14/1 by 10-lengths and must surely be capable of a follow-up.
The only other horse mentioned on the blog yesterday was DOUBLE DIZZY and this race was perhaps over at least a mile too short for him these-days. Cheltenham over 3-mile-plus shold see a much improved display.
Despite there being 3 good meetings for a Sunday at Ffos Las, Hereford and Market Rasen, I am having a day-off from racing and – as it’s my birthday tomorrow – I’ll be having tomorrow off as well. However, I may have a sneaky wager on SIR WINSTON at Market Rasen as he never ran a bad race last season and won on his seasonal debut and this is Vic Dartnall’s only runner today (he’s sent just 5 to Market Rasen and had 2 winners) and tho’ I respect the chance of recent winner Bobby Bullock this week, I never think any horse is an odds-on chance when chasing, and 6/1 on SIR WINSTON looks fair.
Thanks for reading this blog to all new visitors. Feel free to tell those who you think may find the blog of interest and value and, if you are a regular visitor, please add the blog to your list of favourites.
Thanks from Wayward Lad
Saturday, 6 November 2010
PANDORAMA is Festival bound!
In today’s blog:-
Today’s horseracing
There were no selections on the blog yesterday.
The big news was that Paul Hanagan won a couple at Southwell, and that just about sealed-it for the jockeys championship. I expect that as I write this, Richard Hughes is already jetting over to the USA for the Breeders Cup series this weekend.
That means the blog is now only 3.90pts down for November.
Today’s horseracing
It’s a proper day’s jump racing this Saturday with 3 meetings at Wincanton, Sandown and Kelso. However, for many the main focus will be on Down Royal where Kauto Star makes his seasonal reappearance. My main focus at that meeting tho’ is on the next race and the return of unbeaten chaser PANDORAMA. He was last seen beating subsequent RSA chase winner Weapons Amnesty, and I reckon this horse could go right to the top of chasing’s tree. The Irish had 3 of the best novice chasers last season in Pandorama, the ill-fated Citizen Vic, and Weapons Amnesty; and the latter was probably the weakest of them and he was still better than anything we had this side of the Irish Sea. As such, I reckon PANDORAMA is a lot better than Paul Nicholls horse The Nightingale, and it may be Osana who gives the selection most to do. Odds of 11/4 PANDORAMA look very interesting.
At Wincanton, we have the Elite Hurdle and this will answer a lot of questions about the potential of Champion Hurdle challenger Australia Day. If he is the real deal, then he’ll win this. Also at Wincanton, there is the Badger Ales Trophy (h’cap) over 3m 1f & 110 yards. This is a great race for finding future winners as it is always a true test of a staying chaser. The Package was 3rd in this last year, but he never really went on improving and on OR147 (was on OR129 last year) he could be weighted out of it. Paul Nicholls Meanus Dandy looked in the handicapper’s grip LTO and off a 2lb lower mark in a race Nicholls always targets, he will be better prepared this time. But he will need to be to hold off I’MONCLOUDNINE. This one ran a career-best LTO and has yet to stop improving. A course winner, the trip and going are right for him, and he has the jump-jockey of the moment riding – Dougie Costello. Previous blog selection OUZBECK will relish the stamina test, but he may not be able to peg them back as he’s a back-marker early-on in his races. Forest Pennant is another interesting runner from Paul Nicholls, but I fear he’s another on too high a rating. Believe it or not, but when I wrote this on Friday evening I’MONCLOUDNINE was 12/1. This morning he’s 7/1 and the value has gone. As such, I’m not recommending a wager on this race, tho’ Forest Pennant at 18’s with Vic Chandler is tempting as an eachway punt as you know the horse will be fit.
There’s nothing tempting at Kelso, but there will be some interesting racing there.
At Sandown, in the class 3 chase over 20f at 2:20, I was going to recommend DOUBLE DIZZY who was 2nd in this race last season, as he will have come on for his recent run and has clearly been aimed at this. But, at just 3/1 (due to the withdrawal of Qianshan Leader) there is no value in his odds.
Selection:
Down Royal 3:00 PANDORAMA, 2pts win @ 11/4 (Ladbrokes & Will Hills)
And yet another plug for a blog that is in the winners this week: Sprinterstogo (“The Laird”) gave his 4th successive winner of the week in NOBLE STORM @ 8/15 following winners at odds of 100/30, 8/1 and 5/1.
If anyone has a blog they know of that is paying dividends, then give it a plug and spread the word (and the wealth).
Thanks for reading this blog to all new visitors. Feel free to tell those who you think may find the blog of interest and value and, if you are a regular visitor, please add the blog to your list of favourites.
Thanks from Wayward Lad
Today’s horseracing
There were no selections on the blog yesterday.
The big news was that Paul Hanagan won a couple at Southwell, and that just about sealed-it for the jockeys championship. I expect that as I write this, Richard Hughes is already jetting over to the USA for the Breeders Cup series this weekend.
That means the blog is now only 3.90pts down for November.
Today’s horseracing
It’s a proper day’s jump racing this Saturday with 3 meetings at Wincanton, Sandown and Kelso. However, for many the main focus will be on Down Royal where Kauto Star makes his seasonal reappearance. My main focus at that meeting tho’ is on the next race and the return of unbeaten chaser PANDORAMA. He was last seen beating subsequent RSA chase winner Weapons Amnesty, and I reckon this horse could go right to the top of chasing’s tree. The Irish had 3 of the best novice chasers last season in Pandorama, the ill-fated Citizen Vic, and Weapons Amnesty; and the latter was probably the weakest of them and he was still better than anything we had this side of the Irish Sea. As such, I reckon PANDORAMA is a lot better than Paul Nicholls horse The Nightingale, and it may be Osana who gives the selection most to do. Odds of 11/4 PANDORAMA look very interesting.
At Wincanton, we have the Elite Hurdle and this will answer a lot of questions about the potential of Champion Hurdle challenger Australia Day. If he is the real deal, then he’ll win this. Also at Wincanton, there is the Badger Ales Trophy (h’cap) over 3m 1f & 110 yards. This is a great race for finding future winners as it is always a true test of a staying chaser. The Package was 3rd in this last year, but he never really went on improving and on OR147 (was on OR129 last year) he could be weighted out of it. Paul Nicholls Meanus Dandy looked in the handicapper’s grip LTO and off a 2lb lower mark in a race Nicholls always targets, he will be better prepared this time. But he will need to be to hold off I’MONCLOUDNINE. This one ran a career-best LTO and has yet to stop improving. A course winner, the trip and going are right for him, and he has the jump-jockey of the moment riding – Dougie Costello. Previous blog selection OUZBECK will relish the stamina test, but he may not be able to peg them back as he’s a back-marker early-on in his races. Forest Pennant is another interesting runner from Paul Nicholls, but I fear he’s another on too high a rating. Believe it or not, but when I wrote this on Friday evening I’MONCLOUDNINE was 12/1. This morning he’s 7/1 and the value has gone. As such, I’m not recommending a wager on this race, tho’ Forest Pennant at 18’s with Vic Chandler is tempting as an eachway punt as you know the horse will be fit.
There’s nothing tempting at Kelso, but there will be some interesting racing there.
At Sandown, in the class 3 chase over 20f at 2:20, I was going to recommend DOUBLE DIZZY who was 2nd in this race last season, as he will have come on for his recent run and has clearly been aimed at this. But, at just 3/1 (due to the withdrawal of Qianshan Leader) there is no value in his odds.
Selection:
Down Royal 3:00 PANDORAMA, 2pts win @ 11/4 (Ladbrokes & Will Hills)
And yet another plug for a blog that is in the winners this week: Sprinterstogo (“The Laird”) gave his 4th successive winner of the week in NOBLE STORM @ 8/15 following winners at odds of 100/30, 8/1 and 5/1.
If anyone has a blog they know of that is paying dividends, then give it a plug and spread the word (and the wealth).
Thanks for reading this blog to all new visitors. Feel free to tell those who you think may find the blog of interest and value and, if you are a regular visitor, please add the blog to your list of favourites.
Thanks from Wayward Lad
Friday, 5 November 2010
In the winners yesterday, but "Nap" was 2nd
In today’s blog:-
Yesterday’s horseracing
Today’s horseracing
Yesterday’s horseracing
From the blog yesterday, I looked at 4 races and named 6 horses worth an interest (there were 3 in the same race at Towcester). Of those 6 named horses on the blog, I found 2 winners and a 2nd, with the other 3 running unplaced. As luck would have it, my blog “nap” selection was the horse that came 2nd GIFTED LEADER (advised @ 6/1). I did give the horse as an eachway selection, so not all was lost. I was also right about Laredo Sound in that race; not only was the trip half-a-mile too short, but the horse not fit enough to do himself justice – unplaced at 11/2.
The downside to yesterday was that I “missed” both the winners that I mentioned; BORN AGAIN @ 100/30 and AZTEC TREASURE @ 9/2. The latter improved Jonjo O’Neill’s stats at Towcester for chasers to 21 wins from 61 runners – remarkable.
That means the blog is now only 3.90pts down for November.
Today’s horseracing
There are jump meetings at Fontwell and Hexham today.
There is nothing on the card at Fontwell that takes my eye, and the heavy going at Hexham suggests that is a meeting to avoid.
So then, no fireworks today – except real one’s if the rain holds-off this evening.
There is some great jump racing this weekend, with KAUTO STAR running at Down Royal in Ireland on Saturday. At Wincanton, we have the Elite Hurdle, and also the Badger Ales Trophy for which Paul Nicholls MEANUS DANDY looks thrown-in on just 10st 2lb. There are also good meetings at Kelso and Sandown to get stuck into.
And another plug for a blog that is in the winners this week: Sprinterstogo (see adjacent link) gave ANNE OF KIEV @ 100/30, which followed other winners this week in SUTTON VENY @ 8/1 and PISCEAN @ 5/1 – and those were his last 3 selections! What’s he on today, I wonder?
If anyone has a blog they know of that is paying dividends, then give it a plug and spread the word (and the wealth).
Thanks for reading this blog to all new visitors. Feel free to tell those who you think may find the blog of interest and value and, if you are a regular visitor, please add the blog to your list of favourites.
Thanks from Wayward Lad
Yesterday’s horseracing
Today’s horseracing
Yesterday’s horseracing
From the blog yesterday, I looked at 4 races and named 6 horses worth an interest (there were 3 in the same race at Towcester). Of those 6 named horses on the blog, I found 2 winners and a 2nd, with the other 3 running unplaced. As luck would have it, my blog “nap” selection was the horse that came 2nd GIFTED LEADER (advised @ 6/1). I did give the horse as an eachway selection, so not all was lost. I was also right about Laredo Sound in that race; not only was the trip half-a-mile too short, but the horse not fit enough to do himself justice – unplaced at 11/2.
The downside to yesterday was that I “missed” both the winners that I mentioned; BORN AGAIN @ 100/30 and AZTEC TREASURE @ 9/2. The latter improved Jonjo O’Neill’s stats at Towcester for chasers to 21 wins from 61 runners – remarkable.
That means the blog is now only 3.90pts down for November.
Today’s horseracing
There are jump meetings at Fontwell and Hexham today.
There is nothing on the card at Fontwell that takes my eye, and the heavy going at Hexham suggests that is a meeting to avoid.
So then, no fireworks today – except real one’s if the rain holds-off this evening.
There is some great jump racing this weekend, with KAUTO STAR running at Down Royal in Ireland on Saturday. At Wincanton, we have the Elite Hurdle, and also the Badger Ales Trophy for which Paul Nicholls MEANUS DANDY looks thrown-in on just 10st 2lb. There are also good meetings at Kelso and Sandown to get stuck into.
And another plug for a blog that is in the winners this week: Sprinterstogo (see adjacent link) gave ANNE OF KIEV @ 100/30, which followed other winners this week in SUTTON VENY @ 8/1 and PISCEAN @ 5/1 – and those were his last 3 selections! What’s he on today, I wonder?
If anyone has a blog they know of that is paying dividends, then give it a plug and spread the word (and the wealth).
Thanks for reading this blog to all new visitors. Feel free to tell those who you think may find the blog of interest and value and, if you are a regular visitor, please add the blog to your list of favourites.
Thanks from Wayward Lad
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