A very quick post this evening - running rather late - but still time for this short snippet...
In a moment of monumental bad luck, earlier this afternoon I drew Singlefarmpayment in the workplace Grand National sweepstake; colleagues in the same office drew Joe Farrell and Vintage Clouds.
Bemoaning such ill fortune and uttering imprecations under my breath, I stormed up the stairs into the admin office where, calling upon previously untapped reserves of punctilious behaviour, by way of polite conversation I enquired of a nearby colleague in a most light, carefree manner what horse she had drawn.
'Oh, Paddy Power,' came the confident reply.
'Well done!' I said. 'That one always wins.'
Politologue won last year's renewal of the JLT Chase (3.25) holding Min a neck and the duo meet again tomorrow. The grey comes into this off the back off a fine second behind Altior in the Champion Chase three weeks ago whereas Min was somewhat disappointing in fifth (Hell's Kitchen fourth, God's Own pulled up).
Nicky Henderson has decided to by-pass this meeting with Altior as he feels his charge hasn't fully recovered from Cheltenham.
Min is top-rated here on Racing Post ratings yet Waiting Patiently heads the market this evening.
Fans of Waiting Patiently have spent much of the season waiting patiently to see Ruth Jefferson's charge in action. He appeared unlucky to unseat on his seasonal debut in the King George at Kempton and then next time was blown away by Cyrname at Ascot. Cheekpieces are fitted for the first time.
Hell's Kitchen is a tricky ride and wouldn't be one to trust implicitly but he ran well in the Champion Chase (beaten nine and a half lengths) and this track, the step-up in trip and recent rain should all help the cause.
With just seven facing the starter, I'm going to take a bit of a punt and back Hell's Kitchen to win at odds of 12/1.
Nicky Henderson can boast a decent record in the Topham Handicap Chase (4.05) run over the National fences. Janika has an obvious chance at the head of the market while O O Seven finished fourth in this in 2017 but would prefer better ground.
I'm going to make a quick case for Kilcrea Vale.
Racing from four pounds out of the handicap isn't ideal and he appears to have had a somewhat indifferent season but his last three runs have all been over a trip of three miles. To my mind he doesn't look to stay that trip; two miles five on soft ground look like conditions to suit.
He finished fourth behind Ultragold in this race last year and third in the Sefton in December.
Kilcrea Vale is the each-way selection, currently 18/1 with Paddy Power who pay one fifth the odds six places.
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RTG Horse
185 WAITING PATIENTLY(IRE)
183 POLITOLOGUE(FR)
180 MIN(FR)
178 TOP NOTCH(FR)
177 HELL'S KITCHEN(GB)
177 GOD'S OWN(IRE)
172 WOODLAND OPERA(IRE)
RTG Horse
183 JANIKA(FR)
179 CADMIUM(FR)
179 MERCIAN PRINCE(IRE)
177 DIVINE SPEAR(IRE)
176 INDIAN TEMPLE(IRE)
176 HENRYVILLE(GB)
176 BIGMARTRE(FR)
175 VOIX D'EAU(FR)
175 ADRIEN DU PONT(FR)
175 BALLYHILL(FR)
174 ACTIVIAL(FR)
174 DOITFORTHEVILLAGE(IRE)
174 FLYING ANGEL(IRE)
173 BORN SURVIVOR(IRE)
174 EQUUS SECRETUS(IRE)
173 MORE BUCK'S(IRE)
173 DOUBLE SHUFFLE(IRE)
173 KILCREA VALE(IRE)
I’m 2PTS down after Day 1 and on the back foot but I’m hopeful Day 2 can get off to a flyer! Push The Tempo (PTT) has been thrown in at the deep end on his handicap debut but has shown enough promise in his 5 races under rules to suggest a mark of 133 is within his grasp if he can cope with the hurly burly of this race. PTT made a pleasing return on the 11th March in finishing 3rd when giving weight away to two decent yardsticks over today’ trip on soft ground. I’m hoping that run has put PTT spot on, and he can claim one of the 7 places on offer with William Hill at odds of 40/1 (1/5 odds).
At 18/1 I’m also taking a speculative punt on Top Ville Ben, clearly a bit of a character who may well be taken on up front by Lost in Translation but perhaps there is a chance Robbie Power will hold on to LIT over this extended 3 miles? If TVB can bowl along in front, he could get a few of these in trouble.
1PT EW Push The Tempo 40/1 7 Plcs 1/5 odds
0.5PT Win Top Ville Ben 18/1
Good Luck!
TW
Thanks for providing your ratings, TW. It would seem both my selections have a little to find... ;)
Good luck!
Many friends consider their selection(s) not figuring well on my ratings as a real positive…so I’d not worry at all on that score :-(
TW
TW,
I'm pleased to see you still have people you can refer to as friends. I have been forced to relegate people I previously considered to be in that category to the category of 'acquaintance'.
With the benefit of hindsight, I can now see quite clearly that the start of that gradual slide (oblivion beckons) coincided with the inception of this blog...
;)
PG
Friends; I did of course use the term loosely!
Going Update on April 5th 2019 at 11:30: National, Mildmay and Hurdle - Soft, Good to Soft in Places
The forecast for the remainder of the meeting looks set fair so I think I’ll, initially at least, work on the premise of Good to Soft, Soft in places for Saturday’s races.
Grand National Ratings: Final Field
RTG Horse
188 JURY DUTY(IRE)
184 ANIBALE FLY(FR)
183 TEA FOR TWO(GB)
181 RAMSES DE TEILLEE(FR)
181 VINTAGE CLOUDS(IRE)
179 CAPTAIN REDBEARD(IRE)
179 SINGLEFARMPAYMENT(GB)
179 STEP BACK(IRE)
179 LAKE VIEW LAD(IRE)
179 RATHVINDEN(IRE)
179 TIGER ROLL(IRE)
178 DON POLI(IRE)
178 GO CONQUER(IRE)
178 VIEUX LION ROUGE(FR)
178 JOE FARRELL(IRE)
177 BLESS THE WINGS(IRE)
177 REGAL ENCORE(IRE)
177 ULTRAGOLD(FR)
177 DOUNIKOS(FR)
177 GENERAL PRINCIPLE(IRE)
176 OUTLANDER(IRE)
176 A TOI PHIL(FR)
176 UP FOR REVIEW(IRE)
176 ROCK THE KASBAH(IRE)
175 MINELLA ROCCO(IRE)
174 MAGIC OF LIGHT(IRE)
174 MONBEG NOTORIOUS(IRE)
174 LIVELOVELAUGH(IRE)
174 VALTOR(FR)
174 WALK IN THE MILL(FR)
Jury Duty [20/1], Captain Redbeard [66/1], Singlefarmpayment [66/1] and General Principle [40/1] highlighted as potential value selections by the system and are on the short list!
Anibale Fly, Tiger Roll and Lake View Lad are the three horses that look to tick the most boxes but priced up accordingly.
Good luck!
TW
Hell's Kitchen (14/1) was never anywhere near the principals. He trailed in fourth, some 39 lengths behind impressive winner Min (2/1f) who quickly put the race to bed two from home - he finished 20 lengths ahead of Politologue (5/2) with Waiting Patiently (9/4) a further nine lengths adrift in third.
Kilcrea Vale (16/1) made a bad mistake at the fifth in the Topham and was on the back foot thereafter, beaten over 50 lengths behind Cadmium (8/1) with Sub Lieutenant (25/1) second, Doitforthevillage (25/1) third and 9/2 favourite Janika fourth.
TW's two top-rated finished first and fourth in this race.
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