Racing Post Trophy Weekend Review 2007

I recorded Channel 4′s Saturday afternoon racing program on my Sky+ box and sat down to watch it once I was home from watching my beloved football team Ipswich beat Wolves 3 – 0. Ibn Khaldun was a three length winner of the Racing Post Trophy for Godolphin and looks a nice prospect for next year. He is already being quoted at 10/1 for next years 2000 Guineas.
Later in the evening I switched over to ATR to watch the remaining four races in the Breeders Cup Races. I could not believe the state of the ground on the dirt track, nor could I understand the connections of George Washington running him under such conditions. I was looking forward to seeing him run at Newmarket in the Champion Stakes and was naturally disappointed when he was re-routed to go to America. It is such a shame that we will not see him anymore. As for Dylan Thomas, he has never performed on yielding ground and I could not understand how they came to make him such a hot favourite. A very disappointing end to his racing season and to his racing career. He followed in the footsteps of a lot of winners of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in failing miserably in the Breeders Cup Turf.
On Sunday it was over to the BBC2 to watch Steeple Chasing from Aintree. How good to see the classy Chasers and Hurdlers out again for another season. Kauto Star nearly gave 14lb to Monet’s Garden but tasted defeat for the first time since falling in 2006 Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Katchit won the handicap hurdle race for four year olds and looks in line for a another good season.
For me the first big race of the new National Hunt season is the Charlie Hall Steeple Chase to be run at Wetherby on Saturday 3rd November. A lot will depend on the going as to who is going to run. Rain is needed in Yorkshire for quite a few of the runners. However we could see State of Play, Aces Four, Ollie Magern, Our Vic, Kingscliff and Monkerhostin. The race is worth £90,000 and is for 5yo’s+ run over 3 miles 1 furlong. The excellent Channel 4 racing team will be covering the race. I will be writing another blog regarding the race once I have researched and collated the past winners of the race, and once we have a better idea of who is going to run.

For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".