Well I am back and its 2022 (who would have thought), a birthday recently for all the horses in the Northern Hemisphere and although they may be another year older and wiser – I only fit the first part of that sentence.
We have plenty to talk about this week (podcast link below) as British racing appears to be wrestling with itself over the future of our great sport. With the head of the Racecourse Association (RCA) saying publicly that racing “needs to be more exciting”, just what will that entail – or has he got it all wrong? I do see the tricky balance between die hard racing fans like myself (call me old, I don’t care), who think it should be suit and tie in the members enclosure at the very least, and the fact that mine is a bygone age (does anyone even wear a suit to the office anymore?) and that the next generation don’t see it as an occasion? I cannot be the only one wary of it turning in in to a gloried drinking session (you all know what I mean), but for me, if you can’t get excited to feel the ground move under your feet as tonnes of horseflesh go thundering past at speed, then a few neon lights and a tribute band won’t endear you to the sport either, and I suspect the racing powers are barking up the wrong tree.
On to the U S of A and what exactly is going on with Bob Baffert? I will watch my words for obvious reasons (aka lawyers), but my understanding is that more charges have been levelled at the number one trainer stateside regarding unlabelled drugs in cabinets. Now the problem of me is the word “drugs” instantly brings to mind illegal or banned substances, but if you have ever been lucky enough to see behind the scenes at a training yard, you will be fully aware that medication is needed for what are basically pretty fragile animals doing a hard job on our behalf. So, my point is there is a world of difference between “medication” and “drugs” and the public (and media) should not be judging until the facts are clear – though if he does have unlabelled meds in a cabinet, then surprise surprise if someone got given something not allowed within a set timescale before raceday.
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On to the racing…
Wolverhampton 5.30pm
I have been accused of failing to give the all-weather racing sufficient attention in the past, but I have noted the number of formbook no hopers backed from big prices and then coming home hard held, and as I can’t see that the night before, I would rather leave the lesser quality races well alone. The 5.30pm at Wolverhampton is a case in point with up to eleven runners all set to go to post for a Class Six event, but my first piece of advice would be to watch the early betting like a hawk. Bernard Spierpoint would have been the selection but as a front runner drawn in the 10 stall he may have to use up far too much energy to get to the front here, and I prefer the chances of veteran Captain Ryan at the not so tender age of 11. Well drawn in the two box, the gelded son of Captain Gerrard has won here five times in total and placed a further four times which has to be a positive. He won’t be getting any better at his age, and he was only tenth here when last seen in September, but he has been rested since and has gone well fresh in the past.
Saturday
Sandown 12.05pm
An interesting juvenile hurdle starts off our Saturday afternoon and for those who note such things, the last three winners have all gone off at odds on. Gary Moore has won this twice in the last decade, in 2013 with Knight Of Pleasure, and more recently with Hudson De Grugy last year, and he had two in here at the early stage before deciding to rely on Moulins Clermont, a disappointing sixth on his UK debut despite being sent off the Even money favourite. He may well prove to be a lot better than that but on form, I am happy enough to weigh in with Family Time. His last run probably wasn’t as good as the C&D second of Romeo’s Bond, or the likely favourite Malakahna,but I feel mine may be best suited by the stiff finish here. My suggestion was a four length second to Knotty Ash at Market Rasen on his second start over hurdles, with 19 lengths back to the third, and as he gets 6lb from the only previous winner in this field, today may well be his day, though to the smallest of stakes.
Sandown 12.40pm
Mares only for this two and a half mile Listed race over hurdles, and a race dominated by “household name” trainers with Nicky Henderson (three times), Paul Nicholls (twice), and most recently by Harry Fry with Whitehotchillfili, and she is back this year sporting a first-time tongue tie after her sixth over C&D on her seasonal return. I do like her, but she looks up against it here and a place may be the best connections can hope for at these weights. Martello Sky is best in according to the official ratings and looks sure to go well, but she had a tough race when winning by a neck ion a Cheltenham handicap in December. I am not as convinced as the handicappers by that form with Runasami River a length and a half behind in third, and I will stick with the tried and tested method of picking anything trained by Willie Mullins. Gauloise has won four of her seven career starts including a bumper, but hasn’t been seen since hackling up at Punchestown in April over two miles in a Listed novice event. Beaten half a length on her only previous attempt at this trip, I felt she may have been in front too soon that day, and if she is ridden with ore restraint here, we may have ourselves a winner.
Sandown 2.25pm
A Grade One hurdle next but the entry of Nicky Henderson’s Constitution Hill seems to have scared away a few possible opponents, and we are left with just the six runners. Trainer Nicky Henderson has won this three times in the last ten years but not since 2015, and will be looking to put that right here, though thanks to acres of media attention we won’t be getting any sort of price. An impressive course and distance win on his only start over hurdLes saw him rocket to near the top of the betting for the Supreme at Cheltenham in March, and if he is as good as they think, he ought to win this and do so with ease. Mr Glass intrigues taking a big drop back in trip, and he may well try to take them along from the off, but it would be a big surprise were he to have the pace to deal with the jolly over this trip.
Newcastle 2.33pm
Plenty of early entries here for this novice hurdle, though with just the one running, won by 10/11 shot Overthetop for Olly Murphy last year telling us very little statistically. Crystal Glory will be some beast when they eventually send him over fences, but the dual point-to-point winner may make it three out of three over hurdles after successes over this trip at Hexham, and two furlongs further here at Newcastle. He does have to give 12lb away to all of his rivals which is, on the face of it is a big ask, but I suspect we still haven’t seen the best of the son of Fame And Glory, who may go on to bigger and better events over the years ahead.
Newcastle 3.43pm
This is a Novice Championship Hurdle Qualifier so we can expect some decent sorts going pot hunting in the eventual line-up, headed by Since Day One, twice a course and distance winner this season the latest by 14 lengths in mid-December. He looks likely to try to make all again here, and may prove pretty difficult to catch, but I am wary of Stokes who looked a horse to follow when second here on his first start in 22 months. He came close to being selected, but add the course form of the favourite and the risk of the bounce factor for Ben Pauling’s horse, and the scales tip in favour of the McCain animal.
Wincanton 12.55pm
So many novice hurdles this afternoon for some reason or other and this two and three-quarter miler has seen some decent winners over the years, two of the last three trained by (you guessed it) Paul Nicholls, and two in a row (2017 and 2018) by Dr Richard Newland – and none of the eight winners since this race was envisaged starting at bigger than 6/1, with seven of them sent off at 13/8 or shorter. Unanswered Prayers was disqualified and placed second behind rival Blue Stello who reopposes here on seven pound worse terms which suggests he should come out on top, though if Nicky Henderson thinks he has improved enough to take his chance, who am I to argue, and it could be close between the pair of them. Flemenstide looks the part on paper as a son of top National Hunt sire Flemensfirth out of a Poliglote mare which makes him closely related to the great Master Minded, and although as green as grass, he still won on his debut over hurdles in a Class Two Novice at Ascot in late November. With improvement likely and a drop in class this afternoon he looks the one to be on with the rest of the field looking as if they are only there to make up the numbers.
Kempton 6.45pm
Same old story, owners moaning about low prize money and a lack of opportunities, then along comes a £13,000 Class Two on the all-weather - and we only have six runners. Perhaps surprisingly, Edraak is the only course winner here having scored over seven furlongs in a Class Two handicap last time out, but he has won over the six he faces here four times, so please don’t worry about the drop in trip. Lord Of The Lodge seems likely to take them along from the get go to ensure this becomes more of a stamina test having won twice over seven furlongs in 2021, but I am hoping that simply sets things up for the Appleby closer to pounce late on and win going away at level weights.
Sean’s Suggestions:
Flemenstide 12.55pm Wincanton
Edraak 6.45pm Kempton
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