Runners and Riders

King George VI Chase at Kempton 2011

Ian Wade — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:43:56 +0000

As always the highlight of the Christmas Holiday period for Jump enthusiasts will be the King George VI Chase sponsored by William Hill, worth £180,000.00 and run over 3 miles at Kempton Park on Boxing Day (26th). Long Run (pictured) won this last year and is the bookies favourite to do so again. There will be a select band of runners opposing him none more so than Kauto Star who was brillant when beating Long Run in winning the Betfair Chase at Haydock Park. Kauto Star was trained to the minute for that race and put up a superb performance. Can he repeat it? Long Run needed his first run last season and should strip fitter come Boxing Day. Master Minded who runs in the same colours as Kauto Star will be tackling 3 miles for the first time. This race has always been his main target. Captain Chris will also be trying 3 miles for the first time. Diamond Harry will stay but he was soundly beaten by Kauto Star and Long Run in the Betfair at Haydock. Barry Geraghty now gets the leg up on him.

If he is in the same form as this time last year then Long Run should win again.

Hennessy Gold Cup Chase at Newbury 2011

Ian Wade — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 16:45:04 +0000

The Hennessy Gold Cup Handicap Chase, worth £150,000.00, will be run over 3 miles 2 furlongs at Newbury this Saturday (26th November). I doubt if we will have the excitment and emotion as experienced last Saturday with Kauto Stars’ brilliant comeback win in the Betfair Chase at Haydock Park but there have been some great performances in the Hennessy over the years. The race was first run in 1957 at Cheltenham as were the 1958 and 1959 races. Mill House, Arkle and more recently Denman have put up some smashing performances in this race. Denman won it in 2007 and 2009 and ran third in the race last year when trying to give loads of weight away to Diamond Harry.

This year Joncol (pictured) comes over from Ireland and is reported to be in fine fettle after his first run of the season. He is a big horse well up to carrying his alloted weight of 11 stone 6 pounds. Barry Geraghty takes the ride again as Nicky Henderson does not have a runner.

Sarando won well at Carlisle recently and his form with Quito De La Roque at Aintree last April in the John Smith’s Mildmay Novices Chase is beginning to look good after that horse’s comeback run in Ireland at Down Royal in the JNwine.com Champion Chase over 3 miles.

Great Endeavour won the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham two weeks ago off a low weight. He looked well primed for that race and although he won it easily this race might come too soon. It is certainly a tougher race.

Joncol had his problems last season but if he is back to his best and the ground is on the easy side he could run a big race here. Lets hope all the runners return safe and sound.

Cheltenham Open Meeting 2011

Ian Wade — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 18:43:24 +0000

As it says on the Cheltenham Racecourse Website “Football has Wembley, Tennis has Wimbledon and Jump racing has Cheltenham”. Already all roads lead to Cheltenham in March 2012. The three Day Cheltenham Open Meeting kicks off this Friday (11th November) with the main race being the Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase run on Saturday. Long Run ran third in this last year before going on to win the King George VI Chase at Kempton and the Cheltenham Gold Cup. In the Gold Cup we had one of the most exciting finishers seen for a number of years with Kauto Star, Denman and Long Run all rising as one (as pictured) at the second last fence. This years Paddy Power Gold Cup Chase which is worth £150,000.00 and run over 2 miles 4 furlongs looks as though it will go off with the maximum number of twenty runners. Poquelin heads the weights and has probably been left in so that his stable companion, Mon Parrain, can run off the handy weight of 10 stone 8 pounds. Ruby Walsh comes over from Ireland to take the ride. Wishful Thinking from the Phillip Hobbs stable also has strong claims along with Great Endeavour from the David Pipe stable.

In the final race on Friday, the Steel Plate and Sections Novices’ Chase, Grand Crus makes his chasing debut. He receives 5lb from Cue Card who has already won over the bigger obstacles. It will be an interesting race over the 2 miles 4 furlongs. Earlier in the afternoon Garde Champetre looks a worthy favourite in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase run over 3 miles 7 furlongs. Provided the years have not caught up with him he is a standing dish in these races.

On Sunday Fingal Bay reappears in the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle run over 2 miles 5 furlongs. He was mighty impressive at Chepstow and is highly thought of by the Phillip Hobbs stable.

bet 365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby 2011

Ian Wade — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 17:46:03 +0000

For me the Charlie Hall Steeple Chase run over 3 miles and 1 furlong at Wetherby signifies the start of the new National Hunt Season. The race was first run in 1969 as the Wetherby Pattern Chase and won by Arcturus trained by Neville Crump and ridded by Pat Buckley. In 1978 it became known as the Charlie Hall Memorial Wetherby Pattern Chase and then in 1990 simply as the Charlie Hall Chase. Tetley Bitter sponsored the race in 1991, 1992 and 1993 and then it reverted back to the Charlie Hall Chase until 1999 when the Peterhouse Group started sponsoring until 2002. In 2003 Bet365 took over sponsoring the race. This years race is worth £100,000.00 and looks to be between the leading four in the betting:- Diamond Harry, Time for Rupert, Poquelin and last years winner Nacarat. Diamond Harry (pictured) won first time out last season when winning the Hennessy at Newbury and will have a new jockey this season in James Reveley. Time for Rupert was an expensive failure at the Cheltenham Festival when he broke a blood vessel. Nacarat won this race on his first outing last season and is reunited with Sam Thomas. Ruby Walsh chances his arm and comes over from Ireland to ride Poquelin who has never raced this far before. Ruby Walsh is fearful of collecting another whip ban which would see him suspended for ten days. The British Horseracing Authority are great at shooting British horse racing in the foot. The whip rules were tinkered once again after the media coverage of Ballybriggs hard fought win in the Grand National. The nearly 9 million BBC TV viewers would have seen Ballybriggs dismounted after crossing the line and doused with water. On an unusally hot day all the riders had been instructed to dismount after the race. When jockey Jason Maguire was given a five-day suspension for excessive use of the whip the usual media idiots like John McCririck, who have probably never sat on a horse, expressed their opinions again about the whip which can be detrimental to horse racing. The timing by the British Horseracing Authority to introduce the new rules one week before Champions Day at Ascot showed complete incompetence. It was a shame this shadow hung over what was a very successful day for Ascot, helped no doubt by the appearance of Frankel and some glorious weather. Lets hope the British Horseracing Authority can get their act together and sort out the mess that they have created.

To get back to the Charlie Hall Chase, Diamond Harry looks a worthy favourite and he might prove too strong for Nacarat who looks the eachway value.

Qipco British Champions Day at Ascot 2011

Ian Wade — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 16:20:03 +0000

The much heralded Qipco British Champions Day takes place tomorrow (15th October) at Ascot. There is a terrific card of top class racing, the star of which I am sure will be Frankel (pictured) who runs in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes over the straight mile. This race used to be run over the round course but as the Champion Stakes run over 10 furlongs has been moved from Newmarket’s straight Rowley Mile course and can only be run over Ascot’s round course there would be two similar Championship races on the same card. In my humble opinion the Champion Stakes should have remained at Newmarket because now it will be a completely different type of race where both horse and jockey will have to negotiate two bends. The idea of Champions Day is to try and compete with Arc day at Longchamp which is always run on the first Sunday in October and has seven top class races with a lot of prize money on offer. The Arc will always be the race to win. For Champions Day to be successful and compete with the best it would probably stand a better chance if it were brought forward to take place in September and make the Champion Stakes a mile and a half race. It is also amazing that the admission fee to Longchamp on Arc day is only 8 euros which is double the normal fee. British race courses should take note if they want more people to go racing.

Off my soap box and looking at the other races on offer tomorrow, the meeting kicks off with the Long Distance Cup, another race transferred from Newmarket. Times Up might be the one to shake up Opinion Poll and Fame and Glory.

Deacon Blues is a warm favourite for the Sprint Stakes over 6 furlongs but with sixteen runners there might be more value with the French runners Moonlight Cloud and Wizz Kid.

The Fillies and Mares’ Stakes run over one and a half miles could be the start of a treble for jockey Tom Queally and trainer Sir Henry Cecil. Vita Nova ticks all the boxes in this race.

Sir Henry Cecil is double handed in the Champion Stakes with Twice Over and Midday. Twice Over has won the last two runnings of the race but that was at Newmarket. Midday has been extremely consistent. Both horses come into the race fresh whereas Snow Fairy and So You Think only ran two weeks ago in the Arc finishing third and fourth. I hope Midday can get her head in front. She might have most to fear from the three year old colts.

Lets hope there are no hard luck stories and we see some real Champions. Heres to a great days racing.

Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe 2011

Ian Wade — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 17:52:05 +0000

The Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe is the greatest flat race in Europe and will be run this Sunday (2nd October) over 12 furlongs at Longchamp in France. Workforce (pictured winning from Nakayama Festa a year ago) will be attempting to win the race for a second time. The last horse to do this was Alleged back in 1977 and 1978 ridden by Lester Piggott on both occasions.

The going looks as though it will be on the fast side of good which will not suit Workforce to produce his best form. So You Think has the beating of Workforce over 10 furlongs and he goes for the Arc as the owners lost Pour Moi’s participation due to injury. He is a tough horse but not proven over 12 furlongs although connections are sure he will stay. Sarafina finished third in the Arc last year after being quite badly hampered and her whole season this time has been geared to this race. She has form on the ground, has a fine turn of finishing speed and is favourite in a very open looking race. Snow Fairy will also like the ground conditions and she will have the services of Frankie Dettori.

The three year olds do get a weight concession from the older horses. The three year old filly Galikova, trained by Freddie Head, is a course and distance winner. There does seem to have been plenty of support for her and she receives 8lbs from the older fillies and 11lbs from the older horses. Masked Marvel who won the St Leger at Doncaster has been supplemented at a cost of 100,000 euros. As a three year old he receives 8lbs from the older horses. The gallop in the St Leger was relentless and Masked Marvel handled this very well. Provided he has recovered from his exertions he might well run into a place and could be the eachway value.

Countdown to Ladbrokes St Leger Stakes at Doncaster 2011

Ian Wade — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:38:59 +0000

It is ten days to the fifth and final classic of the 2011 Flat season, the Ladbrokes St Leger Stakes at Doncaster. The race is worth £500,000.00 and run over 1 mile 6 furlongs. Sea Moon (pictured) is the antepost favourite after his win at York in the Voltigeur Stakes. Either all the other horses had an off day or Sea Moon is very useful. The distance of the St.Leger should not pose any problems and if he wins without having a hard race I am sure connections might think about running him in the Prix de L’arc de Triomphe which comes three weeks later. Of course they already have last years winner Workforce engaged again but Sea Moon could become a great second string. The last St Leger winner to get near to winning the Prix de L’arc was the great Nijinsky who was beaten a head by Sassafras. Nijinsky had a hard season winning all the major races and Lester Piggott is quoted as saying he felt Nijinsky bottomed out in the St Leger as it stretched his stamina to the limit. In his opinion the Prix de L’arc came too soon after the St Leger. However Sea Moon has run only twice this season and been brought along steadily by Sir Michael Stoute. If he wins the St Leger and wins it easily it will be interesting to see if he is sent across to France with Workforce.

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2011

Ian Wade — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 17:41:57 +0000

July is always a terrific month for Flat racing, starting with the Coral Eclipse on the 2nd where So You Think beat Workforce, then my favourite meeting, the three day July Festival at Newmarket, but the big race of the month is the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on the 23rd. I am going to miss this as well as Goodwood the week after. Back on board Celebrity Eclipse again.

At the time of blogging the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, which is worth £1,000,000.00, looks to be between Rewilding, St. Nicholas Abbey and Workforce. St. Nicholas Abbey beat Midday at Epsom, Rewilding beat So You Think in a really tough race at Royal Ascot and Workforce was beaten by So You Think in that tremendous race for the Coral Eclipse. St. Nicholas Abbey (pictured) will be the freshest horse but if he runs, Workforce has the best form. Workforce’s substitute would be Midday.

In the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood on the 27th the clash between Frankel and Canford Cliffs should be a race to savour. The younger Frankel with the age allowance of 8lbs ought to win.

Coral Eclipse at Sandown 2011

Ian Wade — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 19:36:43 +0000

The Group 1 Coral Eclipse worth £400,000.00 which will be run over one mile two furlongs at Sandown Park tomorrow (2nd) should be a cracking race. There are only five runners and the race does look as though it will be fought out between So You Think and Workforce. So You Think comes over again from the Aidan O’Brien yard and is likely to start favourite. When beaten at Royal Ascot he was ridden by Ryan Moore who now rides Workforce for his boss Sir Michael Stoute. Sir Michael Stoute has great success in improving older horses. Last season Workforce won the Epsom Derby and the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in tremendous fashion. Ryan Moore is the best Flat jockey riding at the moment and that might just spring the balance in Workforce’s (pictured winning the Arc) way in what will probably be a tactical race.

Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby 2011

Ian Wade — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 17:45:52 +0000

The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby will be run this Sunday at the Curragh in Ireland. The race is worth 1,250,000 euros and will be run over 1 mile 4 furlongs. There will be eight runners and the Queen’s horse, Carlton House (pictured), is a warm favourite to run a big race. The Aidan O’Brien stable have four runners, Treasure Beach, Memphis Tennessee, Roderic O’Connor and Seville. Memphis Tennessee set the pace in the Epsom Derby and so nearly set the race up for Treasure Beach. Carlton House came late with the eventual winner Pour Moi but seemed to not quite get home. Perhaps the injury scare in the week leading up to the Epsom Derby took the edge off him. Seville did not act on the Epsom course and his run is best ignored. His rider, Christophe Soumillon, looked after him and earlier in the season in the slowly run Dante at York he was not far behind Carlton House. This race looks as though it will be a thorough stamina test which should suit Seville and he appears to be the eachway value.