There is only one thing dominating the racing news this week and as I write this, we await the result of the BHA enquiry in to the allegations against Robbie Dunne.
If you weren’t in the room (and I wasn’t) then I cannot and should not have an opinion on the guilty/not guilty decision, but I have been intrigued by the support for both parties from highly regarded figures inside and outside of our sport. To my surprise, there has been a huge amount of support for Robbie from female jockeys and others within the sport, with plenty of anti-Irish accusations being levelled at the BHA which I didn’t expect. We do live in the year 2021 (some would say sadly, including me), and attitudes deemed Ok in the past are no longer seen as acceptable to the wider public, but I do get confused when one minute I am reading Bryony should be treated exactly the same as her male counterparts (which I agree with 100%), the next that we should be sympathising because she burst in to tears, or that she saw naked men – in the Male Changing rooms? I do not and never will condone bullying (from school all the way up), and if that is the case then racing needs to put its house in order pretty sharpish, but I am wary of a massive overreaction here to what may have been ill-advised weighing room banter, and all the bad publicity racing has brought upon itself by failing to deal with this earlier and in-house.
NOTE - since writing this, Robbie Dunne has been found guilty and suspended from racing for 18 months pending an appeal.
Stop press (well, almost) and personally I see it as a good thing that the Sunday Series will go ahead again in 2022 – anything that attracts the next generation to horse racing has to be a good thing. Six meetings will take place this summer, between May and August with a much-need £1.2 million in prize money up for grabs, though as a soft Southerner I was disappointed to see Sandown joined by Musselburgh and Haydock (as last season) along with newcomers Hamilton, York, and Pontefract – so just one meeting in the most populated part of the Country, and my next nearest over seven hours drive away – someone needs to explain that to me as it makes precious little sense? On the bright side we will see seven race cards broadcast in their entirety by ITV4 which has to be a good thing for the sport – but I still can’t work out the reasoning behind the heavy northern bias?
Bored of reading – feel free to listen here instead https://postracing.co.uk/2021/12/09/the-frost-dunne-case-dominates-discussion-but-plenty-of-races-to-work-with-too/
And on to the racing….
Friday
Cheltenham 2.25pm
I like the look of this contest for a little each-way action thanks to the presence of the Paul Nicholls trained Enrilo, a faller last time out when going well enough in a Grade Three Chase at Newbury. He may well win this with his head in his chest but 2/1 looks skinny enough to me, and gives us a far better price about Santini instead. In many eyes the nine-year-old has gone off the rails recently, pulling up in the Gold Cup this year, but in case you have forgotten, this is the horse who was beaten a neck by Al Boum Photo in the Cheltenham Gold Cup 2020, and if he can get back to anywhere near that form he wins this in a canter. He has left Nicky Henderson since we last saw him and is now with Polly Gundry, and if she can freshen him up (and she has a reputation for doing just that), then a mark of 159 (he peaked at 172) seems more than fair enough and at 8/1 or so, how can I resist a little each way look.
Cheltenham 3.00pm
I do appreciate that the racing purists just hate these cross-country events but they bring a little bit of variety to the sport we love, and you don’t have to bet on them or even watch them if you don’t want to. I am not going to pretend it’s a race I will go crazy about, but fun is the name of the game sometimes and I can’t resist a little each way on Alpha Des Obeaux who has raced here twice without success, but competed on both occasions. My logic on this one doesn’t really stand up to too much scrutiny, other than the red-hot form of the Gordon Elliott string added to the fact that he has got round here and won off marks as high as 155 (back in 2018 to be fair), and races off 142 here, and I am hoping he can do better now, though with close to zero confidence.
Saturday:
Doncaster 2.40pm
This looks a top-class renewal with the first three on the racecard arriving unbeaten and whoever wins this will quite rightly rocket up the antepost betting lists for the Cheltenham festival. Knight Salute has won three out of three but pays scant respect to his hurdles on occasion, and a mistake in this company may be all it takes to take care of his chances of a NAP hand here. Porticello won at Auteuil for trainer David Cottin and was then moved to Gary Moore for his new connections, and he could not have been any more impressive when out straight in to Listed class at Wetherby before landing the odds with ease. Magistrato looked unhappy to be held up last time but may well revert to front running tactics here, but I am going to take a big chance on Kolisi here as he makes his hurdling debut for David Pipe. Decent enough on the flat for William Haggas with a head second to stablemate Titian at Doncaster in a Class Three handicap, the noises coming out of the Pipe yard suggest they think they have a decent sort on their hands, and at the (admittedly forecast) early prices, he may hit the frame at a massive price.
Cheltenham 12.05pm
You can always rely on Cheltenham for high class racing but we start with a really complex novice hurdle that hasn’t been easy to solve. I feel a little hamstring here (see Doncaster 2.40pm) with David Pipe training Titian who is also expected to go well on his hurdling debut, but good as he may be, I will be on Dan Skelton’s Message Personnel on this occasion. Bought privately after winning very easily at Dieppe in July on heavy ground, the son of Saint Des Saints has been schooling well at home ahead of his British debut, and although he has to give weight away all round, he is a sensible price for a stable who seem to have big race winners every weekend lately.
Cheltenham 12.40pm
A race best ignored from a betting perspective with My Drogo sure to go off at a ridiculous price, but there is no harm in looking for Festival clues, which makes this a contest worth watching. Cruising and looking sure to win on his debut over fences, he knuckled on landing two out and is now registered as a faller, but this is his first race since as he looks to get back to winning ways. If I had a concern it would be the possible lack of pace in the race which may mean he loses concentration, but he ought to win regardless if he is as good as we think, before perhaps one or two more starts ahead of a tilt at the Festival back here in March.
Cheltenham 2.25pm
This is turning in to one of those days where I like a horse only to find out it is a ridiculous price – so have I got it horribly wrong or have the layers? This is a decent contest, won in the past by the likes of Coneygree, Blaklion, Unowhatimeanharry and Wholestone to name but three, and it will be interesting to see how high those competing here will go over the years ahead. Blazing Khal was a good winner here over shorter last time when running on strongly, and probably deserves his place at the head of the market, while Gelino Bello was second that day, and is 5lb better off for two and a half lengths, which makes life interesting. Either could go on to be superstars, but once again I find myself turning to the in-form Skelton stable for a bigger priced alternative. Ballygrifincottage won his last three point-to-points in Ireland before being sold on privately for a new career under rules, and at a double figure price (correct at the time of writing), he look worth a quid or two each way in the hope he can sneak in to the first two home.
Cheltenham 3.00pm
Can anyone else remember when Ballyadam was the next big thing, the new Irish Pegasus and Arkle all rolled in to one – well that didn’t work out too well I’m afraid. He hasn’t lived up to those lofty expectations and returns to hurdles here after two unsuccessful runs over fences, but if he can be got back to his best form he is not without a chance here. Song For Someone is forecast to go off at the head of the market after his second to Buzz at Ascot, but that was a bit of a mudding race run in a slow time and I am yet to be convinced the form will hold up in the long term. Sceau Royal, on the other hand, ran a blinder in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle when third to dead-heaters Oh So Sleepy and Epatante last month, and takes a small step down in grade this afternoon. A repeat of that seems likely to be good enough here as well in my eyes, and at the price I will most certainly be having a bet myself.
Newcastle 2.20pm
Just the one for you all-weather fans this weekend with a Fast track Qualifier and the winner getting a shot at the big time on “finals day”. Rainbow Dreamer is the highest rated according to the official ratings, but Alan King’s horse has not been at his best recently and needs to bounce back to form to take a hand here, and I cannot back him at 11/8 or so (forecast). Island Brave won this last season but was tailed off on the Newmarket turf beaten 45 lengths in Listed class in September, and he needs to bounce back to form here if he want to make it win number 12 on start number 49. Coltrane has it all to do on the numbers, but Andrew Balding’s son of Mastercraftsman returned from over as year off, and following a gelding operation with a good second over the mile and a half at Kempton in a Class Two handicap. Running on strongly that day, he is well worth another try upped to this trip, and if he improves for that run as I hope, he can give us a decent run for our money with a place the minimum I am hoping for.
Sean’s Suggestions:
Santini each way 2.25pm Cheltenham Friday
Sceau Royal 3.00pm Cheltenham Saturday
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