Good morning all,
Plenty on today as I'll be doing the Bangor comments for the Sporting Life tomorrow, so waiting for the final decs to come out at 10.30. Then I've got the Downpatrick card on Sunday as well, so I'll be cracking on with that afterwards!
Plans for Garthorpe tomorrow have been shelved as I'm staying down South for another day but I may go to Newbury tomorrow if time allows instead.
Today, a review of some interesting races I've seen on the smaller tracks over the past few days, plus one of my Cheltenham Horses to Follow. The rest will be in this month's Betting Insiders.
Southwell Monday 20th March
4.40 – 2m Bumper
A mixed bunch in the paddock, as you might expect.
The better ones were Grania O’Malley, fit and ready for this, and has a bit about her (some size and scope) but was simply too green under pressure to pick up the well-backed Rosemary Russet late on, despite looking like doing so a couple of times.
Rosemary Russet herself herself was nice enough in the paddock but got a little warm under the saddle. She was in control of herself though so this wouldn’t be anything to worry about in the future. She’d shown a bit at Exeter the time before, and was building on that here, but this was weak and in better company she’d have to improve again.
Potters Angelique, in third, got the comment “will improve” before the race so this was promising enough and she might be able to find a small race. Lady Master was the biggest of these, a really good size but a bit green and she’ll know more next time. Will make a good chaser in time (half sister to the yard’s Noble Legend). Witham looked well but couldn’t build on her debut effort and maybe needs further already.
The rest were much of a muchness and I’d not be in a rush to back anything else from the race.
Warwick Wednesday March 22nd
2.20 – 2m5f Maiden Hurdle
Some decent lookers on show.
Burst Ya Bubble looked very fit for this but clearly hated the ground. He’s better than this and may go off overpriced next time out as a result of this effort. But he has some solid form to his name and on better ground I’d be interested.
Clondaw Rigger has a very pronounced stringhalt but seems of little account anyway. Fortified Bay looked well and ran fine, sticking to the task. Oscar’s Bay looks like he needs a fence already but this was another poor effort and can only be watched at present.
Robbin’Hannon is, as you’d expect of a point winner, a good size although his neck is slightly out of proportion to the rest of him. It didn’t stop him though, and although he got a bit tired late, was always holding on. He has a future at the game.
Shanty Town, who I rather fancied, didn’t look great, getting a bit warm and on toes but again ran a race with a bit of promise, staying on late. I think a step up to 3m is in order now and I might give him another chance.
The other to catch the eye in a big way was The Tin Miner, big and unfit but staying on nicely at the end under hands and heels. He’s one to keep an eye on, possibly when handicapped.
Uttoxeter Saturday Match 18th
1.50 2m Novices Handicap Hurdle
The one I was interested in on the Friday was Weld Arab, who I’d seen running well last summer at Worcester but he turned up here badly in need of a run and indeed I’d spoken to trainer Michael Blake beforehand, who said the ground had gone against him. Good ground will be essential to his chances and he should remain on trackers with a handicap hurdle (probably in Class 4) well within his grasp.
Cheltenham Horse To Follow
Tahira (Richard Hobson)
There weren’t too many from the Mares Novice hurdle that you’d want to take going forward, but Tahira, who had caught the eye in the paddock at Haydock when last seen, did so again here. She has the scope to go chasing should connections so wish, and did a lot better than her finishing position suggests, only weakening between the last two after leading them turning in, and given that was her first run since November she may well have needed it too. She was decent on the Flat and seems to be translating that ability over hurdles, and although she may not be a superstar, she’s the sort to pop up at a decent price again.
Today's pick will hopefully run better than most of them have this week,and it's Malapie in the 3.05 at Newbury. Adam Pogson just about did everything wrong on this horse last time out at Southwell and still won a shade cosy in the end, looking better value than the 7lb he has been raised. This galloping track should suit him and now he's proven his stamina, he can go in again.
Good luck with all your bets today,
David.