Probably the only thing I have in common with Kempton's clerk of the course Barney Clifford is the fact we both took a peek under the covers this morning and didn't particularly like what we saw. Kempton's Boxing Day card has been abandoned; Monday's revised eight-race card at the track is now subject to an inspection on Sunday (Boxing Day) at 2.00pm.
At the time of writing the current state of play is:
Boxing Day 26th December
Kempton Park - abandoned
Fontwell Park - 11.00 am inspection Christmas Day
Huntingdon - abandoned
Market Rasen - abandoned
Towcester - abandoned
Wetherby - abandoned
Wincanton -abandoned
Wolverhampton - inspection 6.30 am Boxing Day
Leopardstown - abandoned. Rescheduled Thursday 30th December
Limerick - abandoned
Down Royal - abandoned
Monday 27th December
Chepstow - abandoned. Welsh National meeting rescheduled January 8th
Kempton Park - inspection 2.00 pm Boxing Day
Southwell - no inspection currently planned
Wetherby - inspection 9.00 am Boxing Day
Leopardstown - abandoned
Tuesday 28th December
Catterick - abandoned
Ffos Las - course currently covered
Leicester - inspection 8.30 am Boxing Day
Wednesday 29th December
Kelso - abandoned
Thursday 30th December
Haydock - inspection 11.00 am Tuesday 28th December
Makes grim reading, doesn't it? Pass the port, please...
Showing posts with label leicester. Show all posts
Showing posts with label leicester. Show all posts
Friday, December 24, 2010
Friday, April 24, 2009
Final showdown at Sandown
Traditionally Saturday's mixed card at Sandown brings down the curtain on the National Hunt season. Given the quick underfoot conditions, it's not surprising that a number of the top jumpers have been re-routed to the Punchestown Festival which starts next Tuesday, leaving this card a little short of top quality. The highlight is the Bet365 Gold Cup at 3.10, with the Celebration Chase, the Bet365 mile and the Flat v jump jockeys' handicap providing decent support. The withdrawal of Roll Along leaves Darkness set to carry top weight in the feature, although at this stage he's not a definite runner. Paul Nicholls' Hoo La Baloo has been trained with this race in mind all season, having finished third in the same event last year when he carried six pounds less. The trainer has indicated he may put five pound claimer Harry Skelton up on Hoo La Baloo and switch Ruby (Walsh) to New Little Bric. Oliver Brett of BBC Sport asks whether a five pound advantage over three and a half miles is preferable to the nous and skill of Ruby Walsh; given that Harry Skelton rode Niche Market to win the Irish National last week, on balance I'd take the five pounds... Venetia Williams' Zacharova catches the eye at the bottom of the handicap; the horse won at Cheltenham just over a week ago but didn't look the most straightforward ride on that occasion, running in snatches and, at the age of six, is probably a little inexperienced for this. Kilbeggan Blade loves Sandown but won't like quick ground while Always Waining may not quite last the trip. I've looked for something that should stay and handle the quicker going; two that fit the bill are Bowleaze and Church Island. The worry with Church Island is this may come a little quick after his second in the Irish National where the blinkers appeared to help but the 12/1 offered by Betfred seems reasonable - I'll have an each-way interest in Church Island.
It would be unwise to discount the top-rated Twist Magic in the Celebration Chase as he appears to have run his best races at Sandown; having said that, he is not one to trust - likely favourite Kalahari King is the safer option, although it's worth noting the jolly has obliged only once in the last eight runnings. American Trilogy appears the one to beat in the listed hurdle but this looks trappy and is a race I'll watch from the sidelines. In the Bet365 mile Paco Boy could be worth opposing after his run in Dubai at the end of March. Connections reported he returned tired but is better now. He has to carry a penalty here - I'll use the market as a guide to the chance of John Gosden's Virtual and Walter Swinburn's Stotsfold who has done most of his racing over ten and twelve furlongs. The favourite has won five of the last ten renewals.
Over at Leicester Winker Watson is the top-rated animal in the 3.40 and would take this if at his best but he disappointed last time out. Joint owner Andrew 'Bert' Black has indicated since that nothing came to light - I would be prepared to forgive that run and will back the horse if he's priced up around 9/4 as the Sporting Life tissue predicts.
It would be unwise to discount the top-rated Twist Magic in the Celebration Chase as he appears to have run his best races at Sandown; having said that, he is not one to trust - likely favourite Kalahari King is the safer option, although it's worth noting the jolly has obliged only once in the last eight runnings. American Trilogy appears the one to beat in the listed hurdle but this looks trappy and is a race I'll watch from the sidelines. In the Bet365 mile Paco Boy could be worth opposing after his run in Dubai at the end of March. Connections reported he returned tired but is better now. He has to carry a penalty here - I'll use the market as a guide to the chance of John Gosden's Virtual and Walter Swinburn's Stotsfold who has done most of his racing over ten and twelve furlongs. The favourite has won five of the last ten renewals.
Over at Leicester Winker Watson is the top-rated animal in the 3.40 and would take this if at his best but he disappointed last time out. Joint owner Andrew 'Bert' Black has indicated since that nothing came to light - I would be prepared to forgive that run and will back the horse if he's priced up around 9/4 as the Sporting Life tissue predicts.
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