Plenty to waffle about as usual this week starting with the mooted idea of a new racing series aimed at syndicated horses only, which for reasons beyond me appears to have put the cat amongst the pigeons. The naysayers are already out with their “where will it all end” mantra, but the cold hard truth is that racing needs to do something to attract a wider audience, both on TV and in ownership, so where is the harm in giving it a go? The truth is racing does (and perhaps always has) heavily relied on the more wealthy among us, and we have lived under the cloud of the likes of Godolphin walking away from the sport for far too long now – if this helps to foster an affordable option for some who will then go to the track, tell their friends and so on, I can only see it as a good thing as long as the money is not diverted from elsewhere and is found from a different budget.
Next up we need to talk about racecourse issues, a never-ending subject that really needs to be sorted. Low sun is the bane of many punter’s lives, who spend hours working out the best jumper in a race with the most stamina – only to find fences omitted last minute and the race turn in to a sprint for home and not the jumping test they had expected. Now I don’t have much of an answer I’m afraid other than to suggest sunset times don’t vary that much between one year and other, and I do wonder if that is taken in to account – surely every card could have a bumper (or two if necessary), to be run at or around sunset time so the whole problem simply disappears – or even have a longer gap between races if that is what it takes to solve the problem? Worse still we have the going issues, something that has been going on for over 30 years that I know of. Whether its someone using their heel to draw a conclusion, or the official going stick reading, we all know it simply isn’t accurate enough. How many times do we see the gong changed from soft to heavy mid-meeting – despite the fact no further rain has fallen, and for me I am sorry, but that simply isn’t good enough. We are talking a billion pound a year industry (give or take) relying on a man with a pointy stick, and the BHA really need to look in to a better way of doing things, whatever that may be.
Want to know more – or hear the opinions of Ron Robinson – tune in to our podcast here https://postracing.co.uk/2022/01/27/low-sun-frozen-tracks-and-12-races-this-weekend-discussed-and-all-the-winners-free-to-access/
This weeks racing
Friday
1.50pm Doncaster
Yet again a disappointing turnout with just the seven runners leaving us severely limited when it comes to an each-way play, and at first glance I thought we were in Ireland, with three of the seven travelling over looking to plunder the prize money in this Listed contest. All three have solid chances in my book, but I am willing to take a chance here on French import La Renommee, who I am hoping has that little bit more stamina to see her home today. A winner at Les Sables-d’Olonne in September over a furlong further than she faces here, she came close to following up with a short neck second at Auteuil in October before changing hands for 120,000 Euros at the sales. She makes her debut for Dr Richard Newland here, and will hopefully be ignored by most punters in this field, making her a value call for a spot in the first two home.
2.35pm Huntingdon
Back to my old mate Nigel Twiston-Davies for our second bet this Friday when he sends Vienna Court to Huntingdon, looking to make it a hat-trick after two ins in a row at Cheltenham. Last time out she managed to get the better of the very useful Simply The Betts by close to two lengths in a decent handicap, and although she was getting lumps of weight from the runner-up, this does look an easier race. Her stable are going well with a couple of recent wins, and she is 8lb the superior of market rival Maskada on official ratings, and if she can put in a clear round (she can make the odd error), then this could or even should be hers for the taking.
Saturday
12.45pm Cheltenham
A Grade Two Novice hurdle to start our day, and although Nicky Henderson has won four of the last nine runnings, we cannot rely on him this year as he hasn’t got an entry! Generally speaking the market has proved a good guide with eight of the nine winners priced at 6/1 or shorter, three of those at odds-on. Three unbeaten horses in the line-up means something has to give, and I am bopping for a big run from Iceo who made a big impression when winning on his UK debut for Paul Nicholls having arrived from France after a win at Dieppe. Sent to Kempton for a decent enough race he strolled home by 17 lengths from some decent looking sorts and although this is tougher, I suspect he may have even more to offer in the months ahead.
2.30pm Cheltenham
This may not be quite as clear cut as the betting implies, with short priced favourite Chantry House pulled up last time out in the King George at Kempton when never looking remotely interested. Trainer Nicky Henderson is adamant that was a one off, and his earlier form (four wins on the bounce including the Marsh Novices Chase here at the Festival) still make him the one to beat. Cheekpieces are tried for the first time which sets alarm bells ringing but his best form is so far ahead of the rest of these that he is impossible to oppose.
3.05pm Cheltenham
A genuine Stayers Hurdle trial next with the Cleeve Hurdle over three miles, and a chance for Champ to stake his claim. Decent over fences with an RSA Chase win here in 2020, connections have sent him back over hurdles this season with an impressive win in the Long Walk hurdle at Ascot in December. Although all out close home to hold off favourite Thyme Hill, I like to think that he idled a bit once he hit the front that day, and he may do better if held up even longer. Paul Nicholls thinks a lot of McFabulous who could be the biggest danger, while Paisley Park is a stalwart of these races, but we may have seen the best of him, and at the age of ten others may have improved past him here.
3.40pm Cheltenham
Plenty of the winners of this novice hurdle have gone on to a much higher level, and it will be interesting to see if any of these make the grade, be that over hurdles or in later years over the larger obstacles. Five of the six runners won last time out so we know it won’t be a cakewalk for anyone, but I have been quite taken with the performances of Donald McCain’s A Different Kind so far, including a very impressive win at Catterick last time out. With the top southern yards represented here we may even get a half decent price about the five-year-old and although this is clearly his toughest assignment yet, he may yet pass it with flying colours with the excellent Brian Hughes in the saddle.
4.15pm Cheltenham
A decent looking bumper to round off the Cheltenham card and one that Willie Mullins appears keen on winning with five of the early entries. In the end he has settled on Nos Na Gaoithe as his sole representative though she does need to build on her Navan fifth last time out to have a say here. Flirtatious Girl has won two of her three bumpers and is not comfortably overlooked, but she does have to give 4lb or more to all her rivals which could be her undoing, and I will take an each way chance on Mistral Nell from the Lucy Wadham yard. The winner of her only start at Fakenham, she was as green as grass once she hit the front that day but still won by an easy five lengths, ad with the likelihood of plenty of improvement to come, she could yet surprise them all here.
1.35pm Doncaster
Not the race I had hoped for to be honest with just the six declared at the early stage, and only the three now going to post. This ought to be little more than an exercise canter for Third Time Lucki as he looks to get back to winning ways after a third at Sandown ended his unbeaten run over fences after two wins at Cheltenham. He remains a 10/1 chance for the Arkle back at Cheltenham in March but I rather doubt we find out anything more about him here than we already know and barring mishaps, he ought to prove far too good for these.
2.10pm Doncaster
A Grade Two Mares’ Hurdle next, won last season by Miranda for the Paul Nicholls/Bryony Frost double act, and the pairing are back for more of the same in 2022. On official ratings she has 2lb in hand of all of these, but she is a “character” and didn’t really want to take pat last time out before eventually winning by a hard fought noise at Ludlow. She will no doubt go off odds-on here but she has enough flaws to make me want to take a risk on Western Victory at these prices. Six times a winner in Ireland she has only had the one run for Emma Lavelle when tailed off over three miles at Ascot last week, but her better form includes plenty of wins over this sort of trip, and she could go close at a more sensible price.
2.45pm Doncaster
An Albert Bartlett trial in name but I would be surprised if any of these were up to that level come the Festival back here in March, though that is not to say we don’t have a decent looking field. Unanswered Prayers looks the likely jolly here after winning at Wincanton last time out but this represents a step up in trip and I prefer the each way chances of Ann Duffield’s The Real Whacker, who looks massively overpriced. Sixth on his only start in Ireland, he changed stables and won on his first start here by an easy enough seven lengths at Carlisle, staying on well over this sort of trip despite clouting a few hurdles. Sent off a 22/1 shot that day, it seems fair to suggest he will improve again for the experience, and at a forecast 10/1 or bigger, he may yet come home in front, though second will do for me.
1.40pm Fairyhouse
One for our Irish readers next with a two and a quarter mile Novice Hurdle restricted to mares, and a race won five times by Willie Mullins since 2012, though Henry De Bromhead was responsible for the last two with Minella Melody in 2020, and living legend Honeysuckle (at odds of 6/4) the year before (it wasn’t run last year for obvious reasons). With four of the nine runners it must be odds-on Willie wins this yet again, but all look to have chances and it is a hard decision to make. Jockey bookings suggest Brandy Love is the one, but I will side with Allegorie De Vassy who went in to my little black book when winning on her Irish debut over C&D in December. Nothing to write home about in her native France, Willie worked his magic as is oft the case with the daughter of No Risk At All, who is closely related to multiple Group One winner Laurens as she strolled home 11 lengths clear of her field, and I am hoping the reason Sean O’Keeffe is in the saddle is down to sportsmanship with the owners and trainer allowing him to keep the ride.
10.34pm Gulfstream Park (USA)
Not a race included for betting reasons I’m sorry to say, but when the best horse in the World (as judged by Longines) takes his place in the line-up it deserves at least a passing mention. With £1,333,333 up for grabs for the winner of the Pegasus, Knicks Go was sure to take his place, and to be honest, it looks pretty likely barring an off day that he will add to his career earnings which already stand at a little shy of £6.5 million. The six-year-old has won his last four starts including the Whitney Stakes at Saratoga last August (beating Maxfield by five lengths), the Lukas Stakes at Churchill Downs beating Independence Call by four length, and the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar, beating the ill-fated Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit by three lengths. That form is light years ahead of anything else in this field, with Breeders’ Cup Dirt mile winner Life is Good the only one in this field who looks as if he could possibly give him a race.
Sean’s Suggestions:
A Different Kind each way 3.40pm Cheltenham
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