Earlier today my attention was drawn to a snippet in The Times...
The box Willie Carson used to gain height when co-hosting BBC racing coverage with Clare Balding is be auctioned for charity.
The box, ambivalently inscribed 'This is the extra seven inches you asked for', has a price guide of £150-£200.
I don't intend to bid.
Tomorrow's Cartmel Cup Handicap Hurdle (5.20) looks the best race of the day at the Cumbrian track. A competitive-looking affair, the winner has come from the first three in the betting in the past five years - Oliver's Gold arrives in good form and has a racing weight to boot while the booking of McCoy for Tinseltown won't go unnoticed.
I'm tempted by Donald McCain's Sud Pacifique. This one isn't the most consistent but was done for toe at the business end of affairs at Stratford last time. He boasts course and distance winning form and shouldn't be inconvenienced by forecast rain - a short-head second to Starluck at Cheltenham in April reads well and the handicapper appears to have given him a chance here off a rating of 117.
Sud Pacifique, 10/1 in the tissue, is the each-way suggestion.
Postscript: Nice to see Mini Muck (by Kayf Tara out of Madam Muck) make her return to the track after an absence of 733 days for team Twiston-Davies in the opener at 2.30.
Showing posts with label cartmel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cartmel. Show all posts
Friday, August 23, 2013
Friday, August 26, 2011
Cartmel considerations
After a very quick glance at tomorrow's Flat cards, the only entry I can see with NH form running over more than 12 furlongs is Drunken Sailor in the opener at Goodwood. Back in 2008 the bay took a Gowran Park maiden hurdle and has gone on to considerably better things since. Luca Cumani's course and distance winner has an obvious chance in the small field but at around even money doesn't make much appeal as a betting proposition.
So, here are some brief notes on the jumpers at Cartmel, where the going is currently reported good to soft, good in places.
Only four in the first which on paper looks a match between Stonethrower and Sara's Smile. The two trainers concerned have exceptional strike rates in the past fortnight - Tim Vaughan (Stonethrower) - 16 wins from 41 runs (39.02%); Donald McCain (Sara's Smile) - 6 wins from 15 runners (40%). Stonethrower's jock claims a handy-looking seven pounds but the gelding has done most of his racing over further...
The highlights are the class 3 Cavendish Cup, a handicap chase, at 3.20 and the Cartmel Cup, a handicap hurdle, at 4.15 . Only four declared for the chase in which course and distance winner Foxesbow will be an odds-on chance. Seize sports first time blinkers but was beaten a distance here by Foxesbow in July. The handicap hurdle looks an altogether more competitive affair. Front Rank bids to take this for the third consecutive year but at the age of 11 faces a stiff task. Jockey F. Keniry has won twice on The Tiddly Tadpole in recent weeks; five pound claimer Henry Brooke gets the leg-up tomorrow while Keniry rides Gary Moore's Guy D'Arnac. I'll take a small each-way interest in The Tiddly Tadpole if priced up 10/1 or bigger.
Finally, trainer A E Jones' two runners, Temple Place and Murfreesboro, catch the eye in the finale, having made the journey up from Timberscombe, Somerset.
So, here are some brief notes on the jumpers at Cartmel, where the going is currently reported good to soft, good in places.
Only four in the first which on paper looks a match between Stonethrower and Sara's Smile. The two trainers concerned have exceptional strike rates in the past fortnight - Tim Vaughan (Stonethrower) - 16 wins from 41 runs (39.02%); Donald McCain (Sara's Smile) - 6 wins from 15 runners (40%). Stonethrower's jock claims a handy-looking seven pounds but the gelding has done most of his racing over further...
The highlights are the class 3 Cavendish Cup, a handicap chase, at 3.20 and the Cartmel Cup, a handicap hurdle, at 4.15 . Only four declared for the chase in which course and distance winner Foxesbow will be an odds-on chance. Seize sports first time blinkers but was beaten a distance here by Foxesbow in July. The handicap hurdle looks an altogether more competitive affair. Front Rank bids to take this for the third consecutive year but at the age of 11 faces a stiff task. Jockey F. Keniry has won twice on The Tiddly Tadpole in recent weeks; five pound claimer Henry Brooke gets the leg-up tomorrow while Keniry rides Gary Moore's Guy D'Arnac. I'll take a small each-way interest in The Tiddly Tadpole if priced up 10/1 or bigger.
Finally, trainer A E Jones' two runners, Temple Place and Murfreesboro, catch the eye in the finale, having made the journey up from Timberscombe, Somerset.
Friday, May 28, 2010
A Saturday evening at the Stratford races
There's plenty of competitive racing at Stratford tomorrow where the going is currently described as good to firm, with good places on the chase course. That could well change if the forecast rain arrives.
Alison Thorpe currently has her team in fine form and Dishdasha makes some appeal as an each-way wager in the opener. The gelding never really took to fences but returned over hurdles at Cheltenham last month after a long layoff; he finished fifth behind Ashkazar and then went on to win at Uttoxeter before finishing third in a flat handicap at Chepstow four days ago. I'm hoping that run over an inadequate trip has put him spot on for this - he wouldn't want too much rain before the off. Alph is in grand nick at the ripe old age of thirteen; he won the last time at Towcester but this is a much more competitive affair.
Nine runners in a tight handicap chase at 6.50. Passato and Miss Sarenne are likely to be popular but I'm going to side with Evan Williams' Tempting Paradise. This one won a chase at Plumpton last month and hails from a yard that has a 31% strike rate over the past fortnight with five winners from sixteen runners - twelve of those sixteen runners (75%) have been placed.
There are plenty with chances in the 7.20. Peter Bowen saddles North Island who won well last time but faces a stiffer task here. King Troy returns after a long layoff but is respected nonetheless while Nelson's Spice has talent but isn't always the easiest to catch right. In receipt of five pounds Postmaster beat Herons Well just under three lengths at Ffos Las but has to give that same opponent two pounds here - in addition claimer Aodhagan Conlon takes off another seven pounds. The tissue puts up Postmaster at 9/2 and Herons Well at 12/1 - that looks decent each-way value should the price become available on the day.
I won't get involved in the Foxhunter Champion Hunters' Chase at 7.55. On official ratings Roulez Cool has upwards of twelve pounds in hand of his rivals; this one was brought down in the Christie's Foxhunter Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. For those interested the suggestion is Ice Tea, formerly with Donald McCain and now trained by Mrs S K McCain of the same address!
In the Ladies' Hunters' Chase I'd be prepared to forgive Mad Victor his latest unseating - Polly Grundy takes the ride this time and she looks the most accomplished rider in this field by some considerable margin.
Finally the Weekender's West Country correspondent has advised readers not to miss Mutual Friend (provided the ground stays on the fast side). The grey had two entries for Saturday - a class 3 handicap chase at Stratford and a class 4 novice chase at Cartmel. Connections have chosen the latter, by far the easier of the two options.
Alison Thorpe currently has her team in fine form and Dishdasha makes some appeal as an each-way wager in the opener. The gelding never really took to fences but returned over hurdles at Cheltenham last month after a long layoff; he finished fifth behind Ashkazar and then went on to win at Uttoxeter before finishing third in a flat handicap at Chepstow four days ago. I'm hoping that run over an inadequate trip has put him spot on for this - he wouldn't want too much rain before the off. Alph is in grand nick at the ripe old age of thirteen; he won the last time at Towcester but this is a much more competitive affair.
Nine runners in a tight handicap chase at 6.50. Passato and Miss Sarenne are likely to be popular but I'm going to side with Evan Williams' Tempting Paradise. This one won a chase at Plumpton last month and hails from a yard that has a 31% strike rate over the past fortnight with five winners from sixteen runners - twelve of those sixteen runners (75%) have been placed.
There are plenty with chances in the 7.20. Peter Bowen saddles North Island who won well last time but faces a stiffer task here. King Troy returns after a long layoff but is respected nonetheless while Nelson's Spice has talent but isn't always the easiest to catch right. In receipt of five pounds Postmaster beat Herons Well just under three lengths at Ffos Las but has to give that same opponent two pounds here - in addition claimer Aodhagan Conlon takes off another seven pounds. The tissue puts up Postmaster at 9/2 and Herons Well at 12/1 - that looks decent each-way value should the price become available on the day.
I won't get involved in the Foxhunter Champion Hunters' Chase at 7.55. On official ratings Roulez Cool has upwards of twelve pounds in hand of his rivals; this one was brought down in the Christie's Foxhunter Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. For those interested the suggestion is Ice Tea, formerly with Donald McCain and now trained by Mrs S K McCain of the same address!
In the Ladies' Hunters' Chase I'd be prepared to forgive Mad Victor his latest unseating - Polly Grundy takes the ride this time and she looks the most accomplished rider in this field by some considerable margin.
Finally the Weekender's West Country correspondent has advised readers not to miss Mutual Friend (provided the ground stays on the fast side). The grey had two entries for Saturday - a class 3 handicap chase at Stratford and a class 4 novice chase at Cartmel. Connections have chosen the latter, by far the easier of the two options.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Brief notes on Goodwood (and Cartmel)
The feature on Saturday's Goodwood card is the Group 2 Celebration Mile due off at 3.10. Only seven stand their ground, with layers going 14/1 the field bar the top two - Delegator and Zacinto. I would have been interested in Mac Love each-way if eight or more had gone to post. Currently Delegator is priced at evens and Zacinto 7/4; Delegator is the form pick, Zacinto the improver. At those prices I'll maintain a watching brief.
In the Prestige Stakes (3.45) Sent From Heaven's third behind Long Lashes in the Sweet Solera Stakes reads well enough - that day Barry Hills' charge was noted flashing her tail out the back; she finished beaten two and a half lengths. On official ratings Full Mandate is the one although this filly steps up from six furlongs. I'll chance Sent From Heaven, although I would have preferred a slightly higher draw.
The winner has come from the top three in the betting on eight of the last ten runnings of the Windflower March Stakes (2.35); favourites have obliged on four of those eight occasions. Godolphin's Urban Poet will be popular with the weight for age allowance against Mourilyan. While looking for an each-way shot in this, I noted that only two of the field have won previously over the trip - Andrew Balding's Victoria Montoya and John Dunlop's King of Wands. On official ratings, the Dunlop horse looks well in, so I'll take an each-way interest in King of Wands.
At Cartmel, I'll watch to see if Tom George allows Invisible Man to take his chance in the 2.40. I'm not keen on four-year-olds running against their elders in novice chases but this one put up a good show over a slightly shorter at Market Rasen last time out. On the same card former Alan King inmate Noticeable will be worth noting if taking his chance in the competitive-looking handicap hurdle at 4.25; running over the larger obstacles at Southwell a fortnight ago, this one looked a big threat when coming to grief two out.
In the Prestige Stakes (3.45) Sent From Heaven's third behind Long Lashes in the Sweet Solera Stakes reads well enough - that day Barry Hills' charge was noted flashing her tail out the back; she finished beaten two and a half lengths. On official ratings Full Mandate is the one although this filly steps up from six furlongs. I'll chance Sent From Heaven, although I would have preferred a slightly higher draw.
The winner has come from the top three in the betting on eight of the last ten runnings of the Windflower March Stakes (2.35); favourites have obliged on four of those eight occasions. Godolphin's Urban Poet will be popular with the weight for age allowance against Mourilyan. While looking for an each-way shot in this, I noted that only two of the field have won previously over the trip - Andrew Balding's Victoria Montoya and John Dunlop's King of Wands. On official ratings, the Dunlop horse looks well in, so I'll take an each-way interest in King of Wands.
At Cartmel, I'll watch to see if Tom George allows Invisible Man to take his chance in the 2.40. I'm not keen on four-year-olds running against their elders in novice chases but this one put up a good show over a slightly shorter at Market Rasen last time out. On the same card former Alan King inmate Noticeable will be worth noting if taking his chance in the competitive-looking handicap hurdle at 4.25; running over the larger obstacles at Southwell a fortnight ago, this one looked a big threat when coming to grief two out.
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