Pinch punch, first day of the month and another week nearer to the eighth wonder of the World that is the Cheltenham Festival but we start with something a little different and my hobby more than my career. This who know me will have watched me pitifully attempt to play the pub sport of pool which I manage to do at the lower level without much success. Somehow I got dragged in to help out at the professional level (as a journalist not as a player), and have been part of the team that has dragged the sport kicking nad screaming out of the dark ages with live tv coverage now the norm as well as a few column inches in local and national papers now and then.
Next week I am off on another trip but no champagne at the airport this time as I drive north to Bradford for the IPA World Championships from Tuesday through to Sunday with what looks the strongest line up yet. Pool politics has stopped some players in the past thanks to prospective banning orders but those have now been lifted giving us the best cueists on the planet including Phil Harrison, Adam Davis, Karl Boyes and Darren Appleton (of 9 ball American pool fame) as well as the IPA Professionals including current Champion Marc Farnsworth, rankings leader Liam Dunster, the unpredictable Jordan Shepherd and a whole host of other potential winners that I haven't even named.
Singles, doubles, mixed doubles, ladies and seniors will all be decided over the six days with the singles final Saturday evening and the others on Sunday form 1.00pm onwards and if you fancy a bit of pool while sat at home feel free to the in to Freesports for the majority of the action - you might even see my ugly mug walking across the set at some time or other (probably mumbling under my breath).
Back to the bread and butter work and I have to admit it has been a spectacularly busy week in the racing sphere with my in box jammed full of press releases left right and centre meaning I have to make decisions about what is or isn’t worthy of further comment from yours truly, and what do I really care about and have an opinion on to share.
As a big advocate of International racing, this morning’s e-mail from the European Pattern Committee made the most interesting reading by some margin as the powers that be, headed by Ireland’s Brian Kavanagh, define which races are upgraded, downgraded, or put on notice that they need to up their standards to maintain their current level.
My limited knowledge of the subject suggests the International handicappers keep track of the standard of both competitors and winners of the so called black type races (which adds considerable value to a horse via prize money but more importantly for future breeding prospects), which is why the new list will be seen as vitally important to trainers and owners as they look to plan out a list of targets for the season ahead.
Germany has not fared well at all with both the Meilden Trophy (Dusseldorf) and the Goldene Peitsche losing their Group Two status (now Group Threes), while Norway took perhaps the biggest hit with Polar Cup (Group Three to Listed) a major casualty, and the Norsk Derby and Norsk Jockeyklubs Sprintlob losing Listed status.
None of those really come as massive surprises to anyone in the industry but I confess to being shocked to see the Prix Hocquart at Longchamp on the “endangered” list with a chance they could lose their Group Two kudos. Admittedly last year’s winner Al Hilalee hasn’t been seen since, but it has always looked a classy enough contest to me, and it would be a shame to see it fall down the pecking order. The Grand Criterium De Saint-Cloud is also at risk with though if last season’s winner Mkfancy goes on to better things as hoped then they may well be saved at the last minute.
On to this week’s racing and how impressive was Barney Roy when taking the Al Rashidiya at Meydan on Thursday afternoon on the Meydan turf? Fully entitled to improve for the run after returning from seven months off he left Dream Castle for dead close home when quickening up as hoped and it will be interesting to see how much more there is to come. Trainer Charlie Appleby reported they had left a bit to work on which makes him a horse to keep on side next time out with Super Saturday on March the 7th his next planned outing before decisions need to be made regarding World Cup night. His time was a new Stakes Record clocking 1:47:41 on the day but be warned, the form looks a touch suspect as he led home a Godolphin owned one two three four in a seven runner field.
Next up we have the weekends racing of course, and the best stuff comes from Ireland this week, both Saturday and again on Sunday – thank you Leopardstown. In many ways it could well turn in to the Willie Mullins show (nothing new there I suppose), but it is mouth-watering stuff and I have struggled to find some sensible options as opposed to one in every race! As always, I try to look for a bit of value which sometimes results in success, more often than not with losers (if I was a tipping service I’d be skint), and this weekend is no different I’m afraid. Having said that you can be fairly confident the Mullins hot pots will all go in, but I’ll be backing a couple each way at around the 6/1 mark instead in singles and a double Saturday afternoon. Minhas always been a classy sort and has now won close to £700,000 in prize money and although I do wish his jumping was a little more efficient at times, he has a monster of an engine and looks overpriced ahead of the Dublin Chase due off at 1.25pm. He may well have to make his own running dropping back to a furlong over two miles but must have been pleasing connections to be turned out here (goes well fresh so a bigger break would see me happier), but with stablemate Chacun Pour Soi close to odds on I am happy with the nine-year-old in the circumstances.
At 2.00pm I am living off conjecture and rumour once again as I dare to oppose the brilliant Notebook with Melon in the hope he is finally beginning to live up to all the lofty expectations. Pretty close to the top over hurdles he was only beaten a neck by Buveur D’Air in the 2018b Champion Hurdle before his levels dropped but just two races over fences have seen a second at Navan and a win here over course and distance. I just get the feeling he has a mind of his own but if his master trainer can unlock his undoubted ability then he certainly has a sporting chance this afternoon.
On to Sunday to finish this week and once again we have some decent stuff with four Grade Ones on an eight race card. I have an opinion on them all, but one suggestion seems the best way forward and I was very taken with Asterion Forlange when he made his debut over hurdles at Naas after winning a point to point at Oldtown and a bumper at Thurles. A fast early pace will suit him down to the ground as I suspect he will comfortably stay a lot further in time (and eventually over fences), and although the son of Coastal Path needs to step up on his earlier form in this company, he won with any amount in hand and is hopefully up to the task.
Sean’s Suggestions:
Min 1.25pm Leopardstown Saturday
Melon 2.00pm Leopardstown Saturday
Asterion Forlonge 1.55pm Leopardstown Sunday
Small stake each-way singles, doubles, and a treble.
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