Well the “fun” of Christmas and the New year is finally over, he in-laws have gone home albeit reluctantly, and the majority if not all of the leftovers have either been eaten of consigned to the compost heap, so it’s time to get back to the norm and on to the racing once again.
Everyone has been busy nominating their horse of the decade with Winx coming out on top for obvious reasons, though I am surprised to see Frankel failing to top the list and sit here utterly convinced that had they ever met the wonder mare wouldn’t have seen which way Henry Cecil’s colt went with an obvious gulf in class, though that may be the Brit in me speaking patriotically. One thing that cannot be argued is that we were all lucky enough to be around at the same time as the two of them, with some amazing memories and “I was there” moments on both sides of the planet for racing fans the World over, thoughts of which are bringing a wide smile to my face as I hammer the keyboard.
Overall, it was a good decade for the sport with plenty of stars to appreciate and to attract new people to the sport, though whether the next ten years are as positive is pen to question. As a sport we have never been so under attack by various animal rights groups as we are now, and more importantly they seem to have the ears of some powerful politicians, which is not a good thing (you can never trust anyone looking for votes to keep their jobs). However, IF we keep our own house in order (and I am sorry but if that means far far stricter punishments for digressers then so be it), then we can hope they will turn their attentions elsewhere and as far as I can see, that seems the best and perhaps only way forward.
On to the racing over the weekend and it’s that lull in proceedings after the King George meeting from Kempton and a long time before Cheltenham, but the top horses are beginning to appear ahead of their festival targets though some will be trying to stay under the radar as connections look for a favourable handicap mark. The better winter horses all head off to Sandown on Saturday afternoon with every possibility that some of those on show will be heading off to Prestbury Park in March, though the small fields overall will have me treating the form with caution. Nicky Henderson’s horses look overbet as always with the bookmakers running scared of any multiples for his many fans, though he should go close with Palladium in the opener at 12.15pm.
Unlucky on his debut for the yard when a short head second at Warwick despite losing a shoe, he seems sure to put up a bold effort here but looks far too short in the betting for my liking, and I can let him run unbacked (and no doubt watch him cruise home). Nope, my first bet will be on Hang In There for Emma Lavelle in the Tolworth Hurdle at 2.25pm instead. Ignore his first run for his new stable when unseating after being carried across the track and focus on his two impressive wins at Exeter and then Cheltenham that suggest he could be well above average. Making all or most of the running is a good thing as he should avoid any troubles in behind, and although this is a step up in class, he is hopefully more than capable of shrugging that off under jockey Aidan Coleman here.
Although odds against, he isn’t a massive price sadly (though I won’t care if he wins), and I will be taking a bigger risk on 12/1 chance Ainchea each way in the handicap hurdle at 3.35pm. Trainer Colin Tizzard has been as patient as necessary with the now seven-year-old who was last seen falling heavily at the last when in with every chance here in February 2018. He lost focus that day having been forced to make all the running after no one else took them along but had some decent novice form ahead of that, and if he can recapture past glories (and is fit enough to do himself justice), then a mark of 138 could well be extremely generous giving him a solid looking chance for a yard in among the winners lately.
Lastly, and one for the flat racing brigade for a change, and off to Lingfield where Finespun looks to have a great chance in the closing mile and a half handicap at 3.25pm. Still a maiden after three starts, I am quietly confident she is better than that (or Godolphin would have sold her on by now), she was only beaten a nose at Newcastle when last seen in December and a repeat of that off a rating of 71 would see her home in front for the first time, though as a daughter of Sea The Stars out of Irish 1000 Guineas winner Gossamer her career as a broodmare seems assured with a win all that’s needed to put the icing on the cake.
Sean’s Suggestions:
Hang In There 2.25pm Sandown Saturday
Ainchea each-way 3.35pm Sandown Saturday
Finespun 3.25pm Lingfield Saturday
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