Having just returned from the annual pilgrimage to Ludlow, I'm not tempted to get involved at Cheltenham tomorrow.
Chase experience was at a premium at the Shropshire track yesterday with Neon Moon and La Renommee helping to ensure a tidy profit for participating pilgrims.
There was plenty of incident in the Vera Davies Mares' Novices' Hurdle (4.05).
Alan King trained favourite Baby Sage made a bad mistake and unseated Tom Cannon at the first before conditional rider Daire Davis caused mayhem on the home turn by appearing to take the chase course on Faha Belle before attempting to correct the error and clipping heels with Van Hallers.
In the ensuing melee Daire Davis, David Bass (Van Hallers) and Tom Bellamy (Kit's Coty) all unseated. Davis, found guilty of improper riding, has been banned for 21 days; the spoils went to 28/1 shot Victoria Milano trained by Alastair Ralph.
Henry Daly's runners are always worth a second look here.
Four-year-old filly Wyenot ran out a comfortable winner of the first division of the Tom Calvert Memorial Novices' Hurdle. Recoup's winning time for the second division was over three and a half seconds quicker.
Part-owned by Harry Redknapp, Recoup showed real determination to deny Choccabloc a head on the line. The Henry Daly trained Jour D'Evasion, noted giving his saddling box a damned good kicking beforehand, claimed third after Adjuvant sprawled on landing at the final flight.15/8 favourite Ittack Blue, part-owned by Sir Alex Ferguson, jumped his hurdles far too big from the off and was soon beaten after appearing to suffer some interference on the home bend.
In the opening amateur jockeys' handicap chase Dan's Chosen held on gamely to deny Striking Out who didn't help his cause by jumping out to the left on numerous occasions. Family Pot along with Dindin did not impress in the paddock.
I'm monitoring the Philip Hobbs & Johnson White stable at the moment. In the past Hobbs would have had a few runners at Chepstow's October meeting but this year there wasn't a single one - possibly on account of the soft ground.
8 comments:
"I'm monitoring the Philip Hobbs & Johnson White stable at the moment."
Celebre D'Allen, sight's lowered a bit here, good record fresh, some value in the jockey's 10lb claim?
TW
Quite possibly, TW, but 5/1 would look short enough for me in a race of this nature.
Mr Callum Pritchard won the opening amateur riders' chase on Dan's Chosen for the stable at Ludlow. Rode a decent race too and hung on to deny the favourite who jumped out to his left on occasions and had done so previously.
When I lived down in the South West - many years ago now - Phillip Hobbs would have lots of runners at the likes of Exeter, Newton Abbot, Taunton etc. over the summer months - and he'd specifically target that first meeting at Chepstow in October, the start of the season proper if you like.
To my untrained eye, that didn't happen this year and I just wondered if that signals a change in approach.
Thoughts?
TW,
Hang In There has had a decent summer campaign and the Old Roan has been the target. He was of interest provided the ground remained good but Unfortunately too much rain has fallen. Another plan scuppered... ;)
Looking back over the last 4-yrs [quick back of fag paper exercise so may lack some accuracy] for the yards October runners:
2020 : 69
2021 : 45
2022 : 28
2023 : 11
So the transition looks to be a gradual switch in October emphasis?
That said the yard's 11 2023 October runners have, on the whole ran well.
My system's take on the Veterans race is:
RTG,WC%,Horse
159,25.39,CELEBRE D'ALLEN(FR)
154,14.29,CAP DU NORD(FR)
153,13.4,NESTOR PARK(FR)
150,9.59,DUC DE BEAUCHENE(FR)
148,7.86,LANDOFSMILES(IRE)
150,7.57,CHIRICO VALLIS(FR)
148,6.65,JIMMY THE DIGGER(GB)
147,5.68,WISHING AND HOPING(IRE)
147,5.53,BOLDMERE(GB)
147,3.44,TOP VILLE BEN(IRE)
133,0.61,DALY TIGER(FR)
So I do see a chink of value in the 5/1, backing it EW will ensure no loss if it is placed in first four. Still hoping it might drift a bit before the off!
Old Roan Chase is a cracking race.
TW
Thanks for those figures, TW.
Interesting.
Good luck!
I'd certainly be more confident in Hang In There if the ground was good but he ran well enough off a big weight in the Summer Plate on soft ground.
RTG,WC%,Horse
175,22.05,MINELLA DRAMA(IRE)
174,19.51,HITMAN(FR)
170,11.01,HANG IN THERE(IRE)
167,7.75,COURTLAND(IRE)
168,7.51,JETOILE(IRE)
167,6.98,MY DROGO(GB)
165,6.72,AL DANCER(FR)
164,6.42,TOMMY'S OSCAR(IRE)
165,5.35,DATSALRIGHTGINO(GER)
164,4.59,ERNE RIVER(IRE)
159,2.1,DO YOUR JOB(IRE)
I backed both Minella Drama and Hang In There EW early today. MD has shortened and I'd not back him at current odds but HIT has drifted and still looks a good EW play at 28/1
TW
TW,
Celebre D'Allen wins 16 lengths and Minella Drama second.
Well done!
The Veterans Chase was a messy affair and I'm sure the result flattered Celebre D'Allen.
The Old Roan was unsatisfactory because of the omitted fences, hard to say how the result might have differed if all the fences were jumped.
Well done on highlighting that Hang In There's chance was "scuppered" by the ground.
Weather permitting some good jump racing next weekend.
TW
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