Unfortunately I will miss the Newmarket Guineas Meeting this year. Irish trainer Jim Bolger seems to hold the key to both Guineas. Considering Teofilo has had an interupped preparation he seems a short price for the 2000 Guineas. Haatef was only 3 lengths behind him in the Dewhurst and makes more appeal as does Major Cadeaux who was impressive at Newbury last Saturday. Finsceal Bio looks a bit special for the 1000 Guineas and might prove to be just that. For me this meeting announces the start of the flat season. I find it hard to get enthusiastic about Flat Racing while we have all this excellent Jump Racing going on. Labels: Flat Horses For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing". |
Newmarket Guineas Meeting 2007
Sandown Betfred Handicap Chase
What used to be the Whitbread Gold Cup will be run at Sandown on Saturday 28th April 2007. Hot Weld could easily follow up his success in the Scottish Grand National. I remember Mr Frisk winning the Grand National in 1990 and then going on to win the Whitbread Gold Cup three weeks later. Hot Weld has only one week between races, but if he runs he must be respected. I doubt that we will see the emotions following Mill House's triumph back in 1967 when ridden by David Nicholson. Happy Memories ! Labels: Memory Lane For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing". |
Punchestown Festival Runners and Riders 2007
Unfortunately I will not be able to get across to Ireland for the Punchestown Festival this year. The Irish hospitality is brillant and the atmosphere is terrific. The entrance fees to the course are much more realistic than the fancy prices at Cheltenham. The race of the meeting looks to be the three mile Champion Stayers Hurdle where Mighty Man, Brave Inca, Hardy Eustace and Skys The Limit all take part. The Gold Cup looks as though it could go to In Compliance who will be a fresh horse. Good old Beef or Salmon will be trying for his 11th Grade One in Ireland. The Champion Hurdle looks to be between Sublimity who was so impressive at Cheltenham and my old favourite Macs Joy. I will miss not being there but for all the latest runners and riders go to at the races. Labels: Hurdlers For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing". |
Scottish Grand National 2007
Ferdie Murphy gained compensation for Joes Edge poor display in the Aintree Grand National with a 1-2 in The Scottish Grand National. Hot Weld made virtually all the running to score a deserved victory. Nine De Sivola came second in his second Grand National. He was second in The Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse. A young horse he looks to have a bright future next season, possibly a Aintree prospect. Labels: Chasers For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing". |
Aintree Grand National Meeting Review 2007
Silver Birch was a worthy winner of The Grand National. Connections of Mckelvey consider he was unlucky as he injured himself in the race. One to watch for next season. My fancy L'ami clearly did not stay. The money that was poured on Point Barrow was lost at the first fence. He did what so many have done in the past and over-jumped the fence. Remember Springbok and Aldaniti, just two that spring to mind. Hedgehunter and Longshanks, both very well backed, ran as though the interuppted preparations had taken the edge off them. The gamble on Monkerhostin just before the off went astray at the 7th fence. He refused and nobody had told him about the gamble ! Earlier at the meeting Mighty Man was an impressive winner of the Stayers Hurdle. Black Jack Ketchum clearly does not stay 3 miles or is he overrated ? Exotic Dancer was also very classy on the first day in winning the Betfair Bowl Chase. Detroit City and Asian Maze were both very disappointing in the Aintree Hurdle on Grand National Day. The Scottish Grand National today looks very open. My thoughts are already turning to Punchestown next week. More of that later but in the meantime all the runners and riders can be found at at the races. Labels: Chasers For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing". |
Aintree Grand National 2007
Although Tony McCoy thinks that L'Ami has too much weight I beleive he is one of the class horses in The Aintree Grand National of 2007. The going will be no problem for him and I expect him to give us a good run for our money. You can read Tony McCoy's comments and download all the runners and riders for The Aintree meeting at the Sporting Life site. Labels: Chasers For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing". |
Aintree Grand National 2007
I was hoping the performances of Distant Thunder and Juveigner in The Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday would give us some clue to Joes Edge in The Aintree Grand National. He has been well backed after beating them at Cheltenham but neither Distant Thunder nor Juveigneur appeared to stay the trip. The BobbyJo Chase run at Fairyhouse in February was an interesting affair where Homer Wells beat Jack High, Point Barrow and NumberSix Valverde. Point Barrow has been very well backed following a run over hurdles since. He is following a similar route to NumberSix Valverde last year. The ground is going to be the key. With no rain forecast the ground will be good. They are continuing to water at Aintree. The ground should favour the higher weighted horses or the classier horses. Hedgehunter has had a interrupped preparation but the trainer is confident of a good run. The one I like the look of is L'Ami to be ridden by Tony McCoy. Could this be his year for himself and J.P.MCManus? Longshanks who Tony Dobbin will ride after being injured following an accident on Cloudy Lane in The Irish Grand National could run into a place at long odds. Point Barrow should be thereabouts if we are to beleive the money. All four horses have one thing in common, they are sound jumpers and stay. So the short list is L'Ami, Hedgehunter, Point Barrow and Longshanks. Be lucky. Labels: Chasers For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing". |
The Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse
There will be a lot of runners for The Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday. The main contenders going across the Irish Sea from England are Cloudy Lane, Juveigneur and Distant Thunder. Distant Thunder very nearly did the business for me at Cheltenham. He jumped the last in front and was caught first of all by Juveigneur and then both were collared by Joes Edge. Two short heads separated them. Oulart was runner up in this race last year and Jack High was runner up two years ago to NumberSixValverde. They have both proved that they stay the trip. Perhaps Oulart can go one better this year and beat Distant Thunder and Juveigneur. For a guide to racing in Ireland go to their site. Labels: Chasers For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing". |
The 2007 Liverpool Grand National at Aintree
With only eleven days to go, the ground will be a major factor as always. They have started watering the course at Aintree to ensure good jumping ground. Point Barrow has been well backed following his last run in Ireland and is taking much the same route as NumberSixValverde last year. My friend Pete has told me to look out for Longshanks trained by Kim Bailey. Kim Bailey of course trained Mr Frisk in 1990 when he won The Grand National breaking the track record on the fast ground. Longshanks is recovering from a bruised foot at the moment but they are hopeful of him making the line up this year. He failed to make the line up last year due to injury at the eleventh hour. He has jumped the fences in previous seasons when fourth in the Topham Chase. He is quoted at 25/1 at the moment. This brings back happy memories of 1961 when MacJoy trained by Kim Bailey's father Ken romped home, ridden by Michael Scudamore, in a 3 mile 5 furlong handicap at Sandown Park. His starting price was 25/1 and Pete and I were both on ! For all the runners and riders go to at the races. Labels: Memory Lane For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing". |