I may well be a touch insane to event attempt writing this, but I am bored at home with zero racing in the United Kingdom and precious little else to do, so here goes.
We may have cancelled the Grand National (terrible news obviously), but I am trying to keep smiling through (let’s be honest here, not going to the pub is where I am suffering the most), so this week we will have a look at racing abroad for a change – not the usual big meetings I won’t be attending in the near future, but the run of the mill daily stuff from Ireland and South Africa as we search out something to alleviate the withdrawal symptoms.
As an advisory note, let’s make things perfectly clear – although not exactly fumbling around in the dark here, my knowledge of the daily meetings abroad is not as detailed as it is for my local racing, and I expect my strike rate for the next few weeks to prove exactly that. We can have a bit of fun, we might even find a winner or two, but those looking to top up their earnings in any way would be far better off looking elsewhere, I assure you!
Lastly, do have a look at the survey link at the bottom of this article – five minutes of your time could well help shape the future of British racing – when it starts again, of course.
Thurles Ireland
Not a place I have been to as yet, but real horses jumping hurdles and fences, so plenty to cheer us up on a Saturday afternoon. It is less than exciting stuff to be honest, but I won’t be saying that if we can find a winner will I, so let’s have a look.
Sizing Pottsie 3.10pm Thurles Saturday
Possibly a little unlucky to not be unbeaten over fences after what could go wrong did go wrong at Leopardstown before he unseated at the last behind Melon on his debut over the larger obstacles in December. Two easy wins since at Fairyhouse and then Navan suggest he learnt a good deal that day, and if he can get through this with no or limited errors, he may well lead them all a merry dance from the off before coming home alone.
Max Dynamite 4.10pm Thurles Saturday
A horse with unlimited talent at his best but having only his third race over fences at the age of ten. Rated as highly as 141 over hurdles and 117 on the flat, he looked a pale imitation of that horse when fourth to Mitchouka here over two miles last time out, but an added three quarters of a mile today will suit him admirably, and trainer Willie Mullins will struggle to find him a much easier race over fences than this.
Next we move on to…
Turffontein South Africa
Anyone who knows me is fully aware of my love for South African racing as well as their culture and people, and I am still naively hoping that a trip to the Durban July will go ahead to make my summer. Before then here’s hoping for a winner or two this afternoon.
Bowie 11.30am Turffontein Saturday
Sean Tarry is a trainer I hold in the highest regard and he and his string are regularly in amongst the winners at all the main South African meetings. I wasn’t looking for a tentative link to British racing, but I got one anyway here with the son of dual Champion Stakes winner Twice Over having his second start here after a very promising second at Kenilworth in January. Well backed that day he looked as if he would improve mentally for the outing and can make amends this morning - he seems sure to win a race in the near future regardless, and hopefully today.
Al Jahbath 3.00pm Turffontein Saturday
A good looking Soft Falling Rain gelding, he arrives here with a two form tow record after a pair of springing successes at Vaal, both under today’s jockey Randall Simons which is a positive. We have to take his fitness on trust as he has not been out on the track since June last year, but Mike De Kock can get them ready when he wants to, and he could prove too good for these despite having to give weight away to the majority of the field.
PS If you see yourself as a punter or UK racegoer please please please go to
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdcJZO-44vLgejJRn07LhmUPbEPhLLm3D16Thq3Wh70Abk9Vg/viewform and fill out the HBF fixtures survey – we would like your views to move this forward!
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