Another decent weekend overall with both bets landed (one for the place), but we cannot afford to sit back on our laurels with plenty of decent racing to look forward to this weekend – weather permitting, of course.
We do have a few things worth talking about before we get down to the nitty-gritty, starting with the media grabbing Tiger Roll and his wonderful connections (I was considering a different word, but these guys have lawyers). In a nutshell, the dual Grand National winner will not get the chance of a third because the owners feel his handicap rating is far too hight, as is their right. That said, I doubt they are the only ones who feel the same way – but no-one else blasts it from the rooftops in an attempt to embarrass the official handicapper. Racing has continued for hundreds of years having neutral handicappers deciding a mark for a horse, and that has to continue for the good of the sport – there are methods of appeal (rarely taken, funnily enough) if any trainer feels a horse is hard done by, but to try to put down someone doing their job to the best of their ability smells of rich man syndrome to me (you do what I say), and I don’t think connections have done themselves any favours with their outburst.
Next up we have Sir Mark Todd – and where do we start? Most of us appreciate that the World is a changing place, my generation were smacked by our parents which would be frowned upon now, for example, and for those from a different generation, following the rules can prove tricky. That said, he seems in big trouble now with his licence to train suspended (whatever good that does) for hitting a horse repeatedly (I’ll admit it now – I haven’t seen it and I don’t want to), and it never ceases to amaze me in the days of mobile phones that people seem blissfully unaware that their every action can be recorded for public consumption. Where it is really going to get interesting is the public comparison with the Kurt Zouma “kick-a-cat” incident, and those claiming he has been unduly punished due to the colour of his skin. I am not willing to down that road for a moment, but what I can see is whatever punishment Sir Mark ends up with, it won’t be £250,000 (two weeks wages for a footballer), which will immediately bring about a “them and us” argument that the bottom feeders who seem no good in anyone at all, will undoubtedly pounce on.
Lastly for today, a bit of good news to round things off – did you all see the photos of Enable’s Kingsman colt that was born earlier this week? Nothing comes with a guarantee in the breeding game, and he is a homebred, but can you even imagine how much he would be worth if he was sent through the sales ring? As a well-known jockey once said to me, the fact his Grandmother could play the piano doesn’t mean he can, which was his way of telling me the genes guarantee nothing, but if the young lad takes after either parent, let alone both, he will be worth adding to your trackers once they name him in the years ahead.
If you want to listen to our views, feel free to listen to the podcast here https://theworldofsport.co.uk/2022/02/17/back-in-the-saddle-with-tiger-roll-top-of-the-topics-discussed/– it’s me and Ron Robinson of World Of Sport and Post Racing fame waffling on about racing.
Oh, and you can read my daily tips seven days a week here if you are interested?
https://dailysport.co.uk/category/sport/horse-racing/
On to the horses…
Saturday
1.30pm Haydock
Heavy ground awaits us at Haydock and that will make life that bit more difficult for us punters, though I am pretty hopeful that Porticello will handle the conditions and come home in front. Gary Moore is having a season to remember and the son of Sholokhov has own two of his three starts over hurdles since arriving from France. Last time out he pulled clear to take a decent race at Chepstow by over eight lengths, and with the softer surface expected to play to his strengths he ought to win this, though only at a skinny price.
2.05pm Haydock
I might have this all wrong, but I was pleasantly surprised to see Thomas Darby trading at odds against in the early markets as he looks by far the likeliest winner here. Fourth to Champ last time out at Ascot, he is officially rated 3lb better than Mollys Ollys Wishes at these weights, and has won on heavy going which is a bonus. His market rival can run in snatches and get detached at times but is certainly talented on her day and she looks a serios threat, but making up lost ground can bring about hurdling errors, and I am happy enough with my suggestion here.
3.50pm Haydock
Hillcrest may make it a good day for favourite backers and he certainly hasn’t done anything wrong (unseated after being hampered last time out to stop his winning run), but I sniff an each way opportunity here with David Pipe’s Anglers Crag. Formerly trained in Ireland, he made his debut over hurdles for new connections when running on strongly over shorter at Leicester at the beginning of the month, and as that was his first race since march last year, and his first after a wind-operation, I am fairly confident he will improve considerably for the run. If he does, he could be overpriced in this field, and even surprise them all under Fergus Gillard.
1.50pm Ascot
This is not a race I will be betting in myself, and one look through the recent form will soon tell you that pretty much every horse here has issues with their jumping, and that is the name of the game in a novice chase. We have numerous potential front runners who could yet cut each others throats over this trip, and with very little confidence, I have finally come down on the side of Fern Hill who has a squeak. Second on both starts over fences over shorter than this I feel the increased trip may seem plenty of improvement, and if you have to get involved, there are worse options in a very tricky contest.
3.38pm Ascot
We had a zoom call with trainer Joseph O’Brien earlier in the week and it sems safe to say he seemed pretty bullish about the chances of Fakir D’oudairies who sees sure to go off favourite here. A bad error at the first pretty much ended his chances last time but he still did well to come home second to Allaho at Thurles, and he does admittedly look the one to beat. That said, I am a huge fan of Dashel Drasher who was only beaten a short-head last time after a titanic battle up the straight at Lingfield, and he is one of those horses I just keep on backing. He landed our bets over hurdles at Newbury in December and he owes us nothing, and although he does have a few pounds to find, he is a tough horse to beat if its gets in to a fight close home.
2.20pm Gowran Park
If the blinkers bring Saldier back to life then official ratings say he will win this with ease, but I am not 100% convinced, and at these prices I prefer to look elsewhere. Quilixious toyed with the opposition when winning the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham last March, but hasn’t really sparkled since with two second places so far this season. I had noted that the De Bromhead horses weren’t really firing on all cylinders at that time, but they are doing much better now as he brings them to a peak ahead of Cheltenham 2022, and I would not fall over in shock were he to get back to winning ways here.
3.30pm Gowran Park
How many dodgy horses can you get in to one race? Melon is the obvious choice for the in-form Willie Mullins yard, but he hasn’t won since December 2019 and won’t be carrying any of my money for that reason alone. Hardline hasn’t won since December 2018, and Sizing Pottsie December 2020, so hopefully you are beginning to see why I will be pouring myself a cold beer and not betting here. If I had a charity bet, then I might take a chance on Chatham Street Lad, three times a winner on the predicted going (soft), twice a winner at this trip, and having his first start at the track. He could go well at a bigger price but this really is a race where anything can happen, and possibly will.
Sean’s Suggestions:
Dasher Drasher each-way 3.38pm Ascot Saturday
Anglers Crag each-way 3.50pm Haydock Saturday
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