Thursday 27 November 2014

WOLVERHAMPTON SATURDAY EVENING FIXTURE - 29th NOVEMBER

Looking ahead to the regular Saturday evening fixture at Wolverhampton. 

http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/meeting/wolverhampton/29-11-2014/fast-cards

We are only interested in viewing the handicap contests and this weekend we are blessed with 6 Handicaps and just the 2 maiden events on the card. 


The 8 race card gets underway with a 5f maiden at 17:45 and our first handicap race is off at 18:15 over an extended mile the concluding handicap has been divided into two divisions hence the change to the original timings;

18:15 - 1m 141yds Handicap - Tricky contest and taking a big chance on Luca Cumani's SLEEPER KING. Only having his 2nd outing for his new yard, might find the step up in trip helps and the AW more suited to this Holy Roman Emperor colt. [Non Runner]


18:45 - 7f 32yds Handicap - A very compressed handicap with only 5lb separating the 12 declared runners. 

Top weight KOHARA struggled under an apprentice last time out but now as Steve Drowne which should make a bit of difference over this trip, at 20/1 that looks worth a shout. [5th 33/1]

19:45 - 1m 4f 50yds Handicap - A winner of 10 races in Ireland over both Hurdles and on the flat the 10 year old ALADDINS CAVE is the selection at odds of 20/1 in this field of 8 runners. [4th 50/1]

20:15 - 1m 4f 50yds Handicap - Not much racing form on the new surface here still so a chance is taken on the only recent winner in the field which is THANE OF CAWDOR who took a race a Kempton a couple of races back. Gets the trip ok and is reasonably weighted so 12/1 outside on the forecast odds must be snapped up. [3rd 14/1]


20:45 - 1m 1f 103yds Handicap - Division one of the concluding handicap and a field of 13 declared, LORD OF THE STORM might not win often but is up to this sort of company and does regularly get placed, is lightly raced for a 6yo on the flat too (only 25 runs) [4th 25/1]


21:15 - 1m 1f 103yds Handicap - Division two also has 13 declared runners, going with two here against the field as I like to think that MY NEW ANGEL can run better here than in the apprentice race she contested on her last visit two months ago. [7th 33/1]


Taking a big leap of faith with PERCYS PRINCESS who has only had the 5 career runs but with recent advances in trip has seem some improvement. Was beaten 4 lengths last time over furlong shorter at 100/1 might (just might!!) be getting the hang of this now and worth a go at a big price. 

WTF -- 4th 5/2F? based on his runs to date that was an incredible price even though they lost. Never expected that. 

Have a great weekend everyone and results will be updated later during the evening. 


Wednesday 26 November 2014

KEMPTON PARK WEDNESDAY EVENING FIXTURE -- WED 26 NOVEMBER 2014

It's Wednesday again and still feels like only a week ago since the last one, Kempton Park is our regular midweek venue;

http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/meeting/kempton-park/26-11-2014/fast-cards

Sticking with the Handicaps tonight and we've three to look at again on an eight race card which will get under-way with one of a number of maiden events at 4.15, our first handicap event is at 4.45 racing over 1m 2f. 

4.45 1m 2f -- Fairly uninspiring event, am giving one last chance to the bottom weight EVACUSAVE LADY [4th 25/1 was 40s] who's now priced at 33/1 here though won 3 in a row not that long back and went up sharply in the weights as a result. Slight ease in grade and good jockey on board at the price seems worth a risk. [Good run all things considered.]


7.15 6f -- 12 declared here with Major Jack and Steelriver the market principles but I like the look of DUNGANNON at 25/1 having raced at this level and won a couple of races last month at Ascot and Doncaster, was also thought well enough of to have a period out racing in Dubai too. Shouldn't be dismissed here with his apprentice taking 5lb off too -- has ridden him before as well which is a plus. [10th 16/1 poor]



7.45 1m -- The finale is an Apprentice Handicap over the mile course here, TAMUJIN wouldn't be an obvious pick but has a squeak on couple of runs, to place that is, at 25/1 has only run 6 times this year, probably found the heavy ground and 11f at Brighton a bit too much last time out this seems a better alternative, flat, 1m, safe AW surface, decent apprentice on board. [10th 25/1 always rear, not good bad choice by me]


Place chance at least and has plenty of AW experience having raced in Ireland at Dundalk last year. 

Not as good as it turned out, never mind this will happen when you chance a big price selection as we will continue to do over the winter. 

Thursday 20 November 2014

ASCOT NATIONAL HUNT MEETING - FRIDAY 21st NOVEMBER 2014

A very welcome day off work this Friday and off to Ascot racing for one of their low key National Hunt cards. 

Racing starts at 1pm with a 6 race card concluding at 3.50pm with a handicap hurdle that will almost certainly be run in in the dark ! 

Forecast rain during the day but ground should remain Good to Soft. 

Selection as follows;

1.00 -- SCORPIANCER [5th 8/1] (res - Heated Debate)

1.30 -- THE SKYFARMER [5th 9/4] (res - Puffin Billy)

2.05 -- CLONDAW BANKER [3rd Evens] (res - Jebril)

2.40 -- RUM AND BUTTER [6th 14/1] (res - Fairy Rath)

3.15 -- GRANDADS HORSE WON 10/1 (res - Imperial Circus)

3.50 -- SWEET DEAL [2nd 13/8] (res - Starluck)

Just the one winner today but 10/1 means we turn a profit all the same, have not had time to update Saturday's evening card so will resume next week when I'm better. Have a great weekend.


Tuesday 18 November 2014

KEMPTON PARK AW MEETING WEDNESDAY 19th NOVEMBER

It's Wednesday once again it feels like a week ago since the last one, Kempton Park is our regular midweek venue;

http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/meeting/kempton-park/19-11-2014/fast-cards

Sticking with the Handicaps tonight and we've three to look at which get under-way with the 3.50 race over 1m 2f. 

3.50 1m 2f -- Andrew Balding has his yard in good order at the back end of the season and his 3yo Gelding THANKS HARRY [5th 6/1] has had a break and comes into this fresh looks a tempting price too about 10's. 

We also like the chances of GRACIOUS GEORGE [4th 20/1] who's been sent up in trip and down in grade of late now back on the AW could show some improvement and at 14/1 worth a shout too. 

6.55 2m -- Disappointing field with just the 6 declared. DESERT SNOW from Godolphin looks the likely favourite and should oblige, whereas CHILBERTA KING has been running in the big long distance handicaps and should appreciate this easier grade though top weight makes it difficult. 

7.25 1m 4f -- Bit more competitive here with 14 declared and seems that the handicapper has caught up with MEETINGS MAN now and his run of form stopped abruptly last time out. Could benefit from a rest now and options are elsewhere. 

LATIN CHARM won a handicap on heavy ground at Windsor last month and while the ground is completely different should go well again stepped up in trip. ZIPP could probably do with further than this and might be found wanting at the finish so we side with INVESTISSEMENT.

Will update results later on in the evening, and we've an additional meeting this week as we're off to Ascot for a NH card on Friday. 


Saturday 15 November 2014

WOLVERHAMPTON SATURDAY EVENING 15th NOVEMBER

Checking out the handicaps from the Saturday evening fixture at Wolverhampton. Our plan this winter is to keep ticking over on the AW action on Wednesday evenings at Kempton Park and the Saturday evenings at Wolves. 

With 4 maiden events and 2 nurseries we've only 2 handicap contests to have a look through for tonight, so we are going to include the 2yo Handicaps too this time and see if we can find some interesting each way selections rather than focusing on the obvious favs. 

As one of the maiden contests has been split to 2 divisions our first handicap is the opening race at 5:45 over 5f;

17:45 - 5f Handicap,  top weight WEST COAST DREAM [7th] and the bottom one KODAFINE [9th] are the two for me, top one a recent winner and back on AW should cope with most of these and looks good at 8/1. The bottom one gets so much weight must be worth a go and I'll aim to dutch the pair against the field for an early result tonight.

18:15 - 6f Nursery, Not many here tonight preference is for Henry Candy's dual winner SON OF AFRICA.Wins at Windsor and Goodwood this is his first venture on the AW but you would expect him to be well schooled on the surface at home.

19:45 - 1m+ Nursery, lively short priced fav with Godolphin's WINTER QUEEN [WON 6/4]. Am taking a punt by opposing that one with VITA MINA [7th 25/1] who sprang something of a surprise at Chepstow in September but ran two poor races since albeit on ground that might not have been suitable. Gets a sound surface here and 20/1 looks worth a go for the place money. 

21:15 - 1m+ Handicap, we end with a 13 runner handicap and nothing really appeals, the top weight AD VITAM [10th] has at least won recently and could go in again off 4lb higher even though it's a step up in trip should be in his compass. 

Perhaps the bottom one OAK BLUFFS [WON 12/1can put the large chunks of weight to their advantage on their first try on AW. 


Another successful evening with the 12/1 winner in the last guaranteeing another profit. Next update will be from Kempton Park on Wednesday night.




Monday 10 November 2014

KEMPTON PARK AW MEETING WEDNESDAY 12th NOVEMBER


Wednesday night comes around again and hopefully we can keep our wonderful winning record going though finding another 33/1 winner like Delagoa Bay last week will be tricky but we like a challange. 

We've had all the fireworks, and we've paid our respects to the hero's of WW1 so tonight could be a little quiet, all the same we do need some money for Xmas shopping so here we go;

http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/meeting/kempton-park/12-11-2014/fast-cards

Sticking with the Handicaps here and things get underway with the 4.20 race over 5f. 

4.20 5f -- Going to give Pat Eddery's charge TWILIGHT ANGEL [N/Ranother go over 5f, latest effort was over 7f and clearly didn't get that, his horses do usually go well here and at 14/1 forecast worth a punt in a tight class 7 handicap. 

4.50 5f -- Up a few levels now for a Class 3 contest again over the min trip. CAPTAIN SECRET didn't get the 6f trip last time and back to 5f looks likely to get back to winning ways. The others don't look in great form and if BOOM THE GROOM [2nd 11/1] can settle better in the preliminaries his 12/1 looks interesting back on the AW having blown his chance early at Newmarket recently.

7.50 1m 3f -- 14 declared for this contest, Mary Le Bow only held on at Wolves last time and has 2f more to cope with so looks opposable tonight, Classic Mission is looking expensive to follow with a string of "2's" beside his name - [2nd yet again!!] and I do fancy MCBIRNEY [4th 6/4] if he can repeat his last run to go close off a similar mark. Poor result


Good luck tonight, we'll have some results posted up later on.

Next update will be from Wolverhampton on Saturday.

Tuesday 4 November 2014

KEMPTON PARK AW MEETING WEDNESDAY 5th NOVEMBER 2014


Wednesday night comes around again and it might be dark and cold out but at least the lights are on and the hip flask is full (for the moment). 

As usual we are only looking at the handicaps here tonight and there are only three for us to savour, let's crack on then...

Handicaps tonight;

4.35 -- The 2m contest see's MAY HAY as a likely fav off top weight, made a good go of things over distance last time and should be right up there at the end. DELAGOA BAY [WON 33/1wasn't far off either last time out and at 10/1 represents better value especially in receipt of a stone in weight from the fav.


7.40 -- Godolphin don't run that many on the AW and their MUSADDAS [WON 9/2has been around here finishing in the frame a few times, had to go to Thirsk to land his maiden. Might well be placed again but at the price doesn't appeal that much. Do like to follow Jamie Osborne's yard and they should have been awarded last Saturday's Breeders Cup Classic ... this isn't much compensation but OUTER SPACE [4th 14/1] at 16/1 looks a decent shout. 


8.10 -- The finale has a lot of horses that might have had enough this year and cold do with a break, the pair that bucks this stat are the Pat Eddery trained REIMPOSE [2nd 14/1] and the Tony Carroll trained SAN QUENTIN [WON 4/1]. Both trading about 8/1 so will dutch the pair against the field. 

Well that race couldn't have gone much better for us 1st and 2nd plus a forecast which paid £53.51 too ! 

What a night under the lights 33/1 winner, 4/1 winner, places and forecasts too. It's well worth checking these winter handicaps and long may it continue to thrive. 

Saturday 1 November 2014

BREEDERS CUP MEETING SANTA ANITA SATURDAY 1st NOVEMBER 2014

Just going to go through the big races on Day 2 of this years Breeders Cup meeting which is being held at Santa Anita. 

And YES I know there are races on Friday as well but since most at handicaps and lesser contests (albeit with excellent prize money on offer) I am not really interested. It's all about Saturday and the build up to the Breeders Cup Classic which has a prize pot of $5m. 


The post times I have are approximate, and Uk time, the live broadcasters will be ATR and Racing Uk, I hark back to the old days when it was on Channel 4 but alas nothing this year.


Your alternative solution to watching the big races will be via a bookmaker such as Betfair, William Hill or Paddy Power, have a bet with them and watch it streamed on your PC. It's a delayed feed of course, but you'll get to see if your horse runs well or not. 


So here we go with Saturdays 9 Grade 1 events which will get underway with race no 4 about 7.05pm the 2yo Juvenile Fillies Grade 1 contest;


19.05 -- [2yo Juvenile Fillies, 1m 110yds]

The previous course and distance winner ANGELA RENEE is the preference over stablemate Feathered and the unbeaten Christina's Journey


19.43 -- [Filly and Mare Turf, 1m 2f]

Last year's winner DANK comes here looking to repeat her success and has only had 2 runs in Europe at G1 level so is fresh and should be ready to go. Should go off a fairly short price so something at a higher level with an EW chance is Irish Mission who is consistent and as big as 33/1 here.


20.21 -- [Filly and Mare Sprint, 7f]

BETTER LUCKY is a decent EW shout having been running in regular G1 races and usually up there at the finish. Won at this time last year at the top level and Godolphin usually have a few to pick from so 14/1 does look value. 

Both Living The Life and Leigh Court have plenty of wins recently but they are at G2/G3 level or lower and their odds are perhaps lower than they should be though could step up.

21.05 -- [Turf Sprint, 6f 110yds]

The Royal Ascot winner NO NAY NEVER should be popular to go in again on grass here with main rival Free as a bird a non runner. 

Stablemate UNDRAFTED might be the danger.

21.43 -- [2yo Juvenile, 1m 110yds]

Of the three unbeaten colts, Daredevil / Souper Colossal and CARPE DIEM the latter has the form to "seize the day". 

Won by a long way latest, and has top jockey on board again. Should be a cracking race if they are all to the fore down the straight.

22.22 -- [Turf, 1m 4f]

European trainers usually go well here, Aiden O'Brien won this last year with Magician and while he is not going to start tonight his stablemate Chicquita can go well at a price. 

Telescope and Brown Panther have had excellent seasons but may have to give way to FLINTSHIRE from France, ran a cracker to take second in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe

23.01 -- [Sprint, 6f]

Bob Baffert has a couple here with excellent chances including last years winner SECRET CIRCLE who will benefit from recent outting to be spot on for his defence. 

Stablemate INDIANAPOLIS is unbeaten and steps up in grade but you'd expect he's considered good enough by his top class trainer. 


BAKKEN can go well at decent odds under Gary Stevens.  

23.40 -- [Mile, 1m]

The Breeders Cup Mile is another event that Europe have done very well in of late, and Richard Hannon has a strong claim for this with TORONADO who has conquered some of these on home soil already and if 100% will take the world of beating.

The main challenge may well come from France and ANODIN & VEDA could take advantage if the fav is not able to dominate.


00.35 -- [Classic, 1m 2f] 

Hopefully you are still awake after a busy night as it's now Sunday morning.

The Classic is a race that has in the past been targeted by the big guns from UK, Ireland and France this year only has one horse Toast of New York from Jamie Osborne's yard to stand up against the might of the USA team. Not sure why that would be with $5m on offer and even Godolphin only have Footbridge to rely on and he's a 33/1 outsider. 


Unbeaten in seven events including three Grade 1's SHARED BELIEF comes into the race with the best form and is a worthy fav. The lightly raced CIGAR STREET could also go well at a decent price if you don't like the short odds on offer. 



So enjoy the best racing this weekend has to offer, once this is done it's NH Jumping all the way and that only gets interesting in March so it'll be quiet till then. 


Result to be here during the evening / Sunday. 


Have a great weekend