Well we had a winner last week and a decent priced each way shot that finished one place out of the frame which just about sums up my luck at the moment (or so it feels). After sitting here all week thinking of various headlines such as “Can Aidan conjure up another victory” and “Do the Irish have a winner up their sleeve” (you can groan out loud), they have all been consigned to the recycling box after Ballydoyle sadly withdrew Magical from the Hong Kong races almost as surprisingly as her entry was in the first place. We still have a strong field to look forward to in all their International races (just over two weeks and counting), but it would have been an added bonus had the trip Group One winning daughter of Galileo made the journey.
I have to add my easy sprint winner in Hong Kong last Sunday (Aethero), partly because he took the breath away and also because looks likely to be my main bet at the meeting in a couple of weeks, but also because I don’t tip that many winners! Last year the home team landed a clean sweep of all four of the International races and although that will be difficult to replicate this season, the sprint will be the hardest to prise from their grasp if the improving three-year-old turns up with his A game.
On to politics, which is not something I ever mention if I can avoid it, but there has been plenty of concern in the writing ranks about the Liberal Democrats idea of basically removing racing welfare from the BHA remit and creating a new independent body instead. The concept has not gone down well in racing circles at all and as I see our sport as far too fragmented now, another piece in an ever growing jigsaw is not what we need when we should all be singing from the same hymn sheet.
The best news of the week for me was Hollie Doyle riding her 100th winner of the year at Chelmsford on Thursday, becoming just the third female jockey to pass that milestone, with seven more needed by December 31 to overtake Josephine Gordon’s 106 and take her place in the record books. I have never personally judged any rider on their sex or any other issue the politically correct brigade will jump upon, but more on their abilities from the saddle, and Hollie clearly has all the tools to succeed both now and in the years ahead. There is even a possibility that she will remain profitable to follow thanks to those blind enough to oppose her on principle, but with an ardent supporter in Archie Watson (who is also destined for the top in my opinion), all her mounts need more than a second glance when placing any bets.
Talking of bets (as I must), what can we find worthy of the name this weekend with some decent jump cards at Ascot, Haydock, and Huntingdon, backed up by Lingfield on the all-weather. We seem to have the standard Saturday mix of small fields and unknown quantities which makes life difficult but that bit more fun as well.
The Christy 1965 Chase from Ascot at 2.05pm may only have the three runners (shame on you, whinging owners), but it still rates as one of the races of the day. The trip of two miles five is the question mark against the mighty Altior, and with all three entries capable of front running it may yet be run at a decent pace. Solomon Grey has thirty-two pounds to find to get competitive according to the official ratings but connections will be compensated with £7,490 if he comes home last as expected, Cyrname is a dual course and distance winner who loves it here, but Altior is the best two-mile chaser of recent years and is hard to oppose. Hats off to connections for trying him over this extended trip when there are easier pickings over shorter in the next few weeks, and I can only assume Nicky Henderson is confident his stamina is not an issue to allow him to make his season return this afternoon.
One more speculative bet from Ascot when the highly regarded Quiet Flow makes his debut in the bumper that closes proceedings at 3.50pm. I suspect he won’t be given a hard time once his chance is gone and this is a race that will take some winning, but he should be a decent enough price and won’t be disgraced regardless of the quality of this opposition.
Further North at Haydock Nigel Twiston-Davies fans could well be in for a rewarding day with plenty of his in with chances including Bristol De Mai who looks to win the Betfair Chase at 3.00pm for the third year in a row. Amazingly he is still only an eight-year-old despite seemingly around for ever, and having worked with Nigel in a past life I can tell you he will still be hoping to win a Gold Cup or a Grand National with him this season. The more cut in the ground the better according to the form book yet he won this last season on good ground and as he invariably goes well fresh, I am hoping he can land the hat-trick here.
Horses To follow:
Emma Lavelle has a small but selection National Hunt team in Newmarket, but I hear that Éclair Surf may well be the best of them long term. A well-backed winner last time out at Exeter the five-year-old can only get better with experience and with his shrewd connections sure to campaign him at the appropriate level more success is expected this season with chasing the long-term aim.
Sean’s Suggestions:
Altior 2.05pm Ascot Saturday
Quiet Flow 3.50pm Ascot Saturday
Bristol De Mai 3.00pm Haydock Saturday
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