Following the untimely passing of The Times' racing correspondent Alan Lee in 2015, readers noticed a marked decrease in the number of column inches the paper was prepared to devote to horse racing matters.
Perhaps in an attempt to redress the balance in some way, on Wednesday columnist Matthew Syed, currently reading the Autobiography of Bertrand Russell, wrote an article entitled 'Whipping horses is ruining racing. It must be banned' in which he affirmed:
'Horses are being thrashed with whips at meetings up and down the country...'
Now, clearly there is a debate to be had about the whip and its use in racing but this particular article really did not help the cause and its publication whipped up something of a storm in racing circles. Onwards and upwards as they say...
The highlight on tomorrow's card at Cheltenham is the Caspar Caviar Gold Cup run over the New Course at 1.55; fifteen have been declared with the going described as good but rain has been forecast from seven o'clock tomorrow morning.
Four weeks ago Baron Alco beat my each-way selection Frodon over the Old Course here in the BetVictor Gold Cup (Guitar Pete third, Rather Be brought down, Romain De Senam unseated rider and Splash Of Ginge pulled up).
I'd be wary about taking a literal reading of that form as those that raced from the front missed the traffic problems behind - just six of the eighteen starters completed.
Top weight Frodon was obliged to concede at least nine pounds to all his opponents that day; tomorrow he has to concede at least 12 pounds to the rest of the field. Paul Nicholls' charge won the 2016 renewal of this race off a mark of 149 carrying 10-10; tomorrow he races off 164.
In the past decade Poquelin is the only horse to win with an official handicap rating above 150; he won off 151 in 2009 and 163 in 2010. In the same timeframe no horse older than eight has come home in front.
At the prices previous course and distance winner Foxtail Hill (16/1) makes some appeal. The Twiston-Davies inmate gave a hint of a return to form last time but the forecast rain is a worry so in search of a wager I've looked at the Unibet International Hurdle at 3.05.
Laurina hasn't come over from Ireland on account of the ground and Nicky Henderson has indicated Call Me Lord prefers to race right-handed so is likely to go to Ascot next week where he holds entries in the Long Walk and the Betfair Exchange Trophy Handicap Hurdle.
That leaves just the eight runners and a fairly open-looking affair.
The Supreme winner at the Festival Summerville Boy is priced up favourite but his run in the Fighting Fifth a fortnight ago behind Buvuer D'Air (Vision Des Flos third) was most disappointing.
There are two previous winners in the field - The New One and Old Guard.
The former was beaten 25 lengths by Silver Streak last time; he wears a first-time visor tomorrow and would have every chance if returning to form but connections have indicated their charge will be retired if he doesn't show some sparkle. The latter would probably prefer a little further.
Nietzsche beat Silver Streak a head in the Greatwood here four weeks ago with Old Guard third and Western Ryder fifth. Silver Streak is certainly on the upgrade while Western Ryder's chance in first-time cheekpieces is also respected.
However on ratings the stand-out runner is Brain Power who receives weight from six of his seven rivals.
He hasn't really taken to chasing so I'm hoping a return to the smaller obstacles gets his career back on track. This is his second run since wind surgery in the summer; he finished eighth behind Buveur D'Air in the 2017 Champion Hurdle and was given an official handicap mark of 162.
Nicky Henderson's other runner We Have A Dream looks to face a difficult task with his stable companion on these terms.
Obviously I'm assuming a return to the smaller obstacles brings about a return to form - Brain Power (7/1 with Paddy Power and Betfair) is the win selection.
Showing posts with label whip debate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label whip debate. Show all posts
Friday, December 14, 2018
Friday, October 21, 2011
Brief thoughts on Saturday's jump cards
Having only just returned from a(nother) losing day at Ludlow races (report to follow), I'm fortunate enough to have insufficient time to work on the form for tomorrow's meetings - as a result I have saved myself from identifying additional ways in which to lose even more child benefit allowance.
Whatever, much of the this evening's talk is around the BHA's 'tinkering' with the new whip rules. It would be fair to say that the changes have hardly been met with open arms, either by the jockeys or their professional association, the PJA. One rider who will be pleased with the BHA's decision is Christophe Soumillon as this evening he's likely to be around £52,000 better off.
Master Minded returns to action tomorrrow in the Monet's Garden Old Roan Chase at Aintree where the going is reported as good to soft, good in places. A fiield of just three is most disappointing; on paper the race looks a match between Paul Nicholls' charge and Albertas Run who receives ten pounds - on these terms there's little between the pair.
In the concluding maiden hurdle I'll keep an eye on Cinders And Ashes who ran well for a long way behind Cheltenian in the Festival bumper.
At Chepstow the Persian War Novices' Hurdle should prove useful for future reference. The one I'll monitor is Evan Williams' Charm School (rated 98 on the Flat). This gelding was bought out of John Gosden's yard after winning the November Handicap at Doncaster in 2009. In a recent Stable Tour article in the Weeknder, the handler indicated the key was teaching the horse to switch off in his races; he concludes, 'If we get it right, he could be a very smart recruit to hurdling.'
A few interesting runners in the Silver Trophy (4.15) including two chasers, The Giant Bolster and Robinson Collonges, who will be looking for a confidence-boosting run over hurdles. The former, who has done work with Yogi Breisner over the summer, sports first-time cheekpieces and has the Paddy Power Gold Cup as his target. Tim Vaughan's Architrave is a young horse with potential; he appeared to lose his way last season but later stomach ulcers were diagnosed and he comes here having had a pipe-opener at this course a fortnight ago over a trip short of his best.
The Nicholls pair Tataniano and Woolcombe Folly will be popular in the 4.50 but Gilbarry is the interesting one, having won the Future Champions Novices' Chase at Ayr in April. This is his first run for Jonjo O'Neill, having moved down from Malcolm Jefferson's yard over the summer.
At Stratford I wouldn't take a short price about Karasenir in the opener. Philip Hobbs' course and distance winner has won on his last two outings but they haven't been the most competitive of affairs and this looks a tougher test.
Whatever, much of the this evening's talk is around the BHA's 'tinkering' with the new whip rules. It would be fair to say that the changes have hardly been met with open arms, either by the jockeys or their professional association, the PJA. One rider who will be pleased with the BHA's decision is Christophe Soumillon as this evening he's likely to be around £52,000 better off.
Master Minded returns to action tomorrrow in the Monet's Garden Old Roan Chase at Aintree where the going is reported as good to soft, good in places. A fiield of just three is most disappointing; on paper the race looks a match between Paul Nicholls' charge and Albertas Run who receives ten pounds - on these terms there's little between the pair.
In the concluding maiden hurdle I'll keep an eye on Cinders And Ashes who ran well for a long way behind Cheltenian in the Festival bumper.
At Chepstow the Persian War Novices' Hurdle should prove useful for future reference. The one I'll monitor is Evan Williams' Charm School (rated 98 on the Flat). This gelding was bought out of John Gosden's yard after winning the November Handicap at Doncaster in 2009. In a recent Stable Tour article in the Weeknder, the handler indicated the key was teaching the horse to switch off in his races; he concludes, 'If we get it right, he could be a very smart recruit to hurdling.'
A few interesting runners in the Silver Trophy (4.15) including two chasers, The Giant Bolster and Robinson Collonges, who will be looking for a confidence-boosting run over hurdles. The former, who has done work with Yogi Breisner over the summer, sports first-time cheekpieces and has the Paddy Power Gold Cup as his target. Tim Vaughan's Architrave is a young horse with potential; he appeared to lose his way last season but later stomach ulcers were diagnosed and he comes here having had a pipe-opener at this course a fortnight ago over a trip short of his best.
The Nicholls pair Tataniano and Woolcombe Folly will be popular in the 4.50 but Gilbarry is the interesting one, having won the Future Champions Novices' Chase at Ayr in April. This is his first run for Jonjo O'Neill, having moved down from Malcolm Jefferson's yard over the summer.
At Stratford I wouldn't take a short price about Karasenir in the opener. Philip Hobbs' course and distance winner has won on his last two outings but they haven't been the most competitive of affairs and this looks a tougher test.
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