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 wolverhampton. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wolverhampton. Show all posts
Friday, December 24, 2010
Sunday, October 03, 2010
A pick of grass
Epsom Derby winner Workforce disappointed badly in the King George at Ascot but the colt was back to his brilliant best this afternoon to take the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe by a head from Nakayama Festa with the filly Safarina a further two and a half lengths away in third. Winning his first Arc, trainer Sir Michael Stoute was quick to acknowledge a debt of gratitude to jockey Ryan Moore who was right out the back as they turned for home and rode a fine race to weave his way through the field and pip the Japanese runner at the post. Teddy Grimthrope, racing manager for winning owner Prince Khalid Abdullah said: "...I think there is a good chance [Workforce] will stay in training at four."
There was a twist in the race for the Flat jockeys' championship when Richard Hughes was hit with a six day ban for careless riding in the concluding handicap at Wolverhampton last night. Earlier in the evening Hughes had received a separate one day ban for excessive use of the whip when beaten a neck on Tallawalla by (the somewhat suitably named) Miss Whippy. He is set to appeal the six day suspension - should that appeal fail, Hughes' chance of taking the Flat jockeys' title looks all but over.
Noted at Huntingdon today - Cockney Trucker (7/2) won the novice chase from the front despite hitting a couple of the obstacles rather hard. Philip Hobbs' inmate certainly didn't look a natural over fences but, having said that, he still managed to beat odds-on shot Rock Noir (8/11f) seventeen lengths; the favourite emptied alarmingly quickly two from home. Songe (11/4f) won the competitive-looking Class Three chase in most convincing fashion and can expect a hike up the handicap for his troubles. Songe's victory was the first part of an across-the-card treble for trainer Charlie Longsdon who won the penultimate race at Uttoxeter with Young Albert (17/2) and the finale back at Huntingdon with Rey Nacarado (100/30f) owned by the intriguingly-named partnership Runthatbymeagainagain.
Finally The Sunday Telegraph reports that today's Huntingdon meeting has become known for the Mascot Grand National but this year's event has been hit by a boycott. Several club mascots are complaining many of the competitors are 'ringers' who just dress up as a mascot for the day. All is not well in the mascot world.
There was a twist in the race for the Flat jockeys' championship when Richard Hughes was hit with a six day ban for careless riding in the concluding handicap at Wolverhampton last night. Earlier in the evening Hughes had received a separate one day ban for excessive use of the whip when beaten a neck on Tallawalla by (the somewhat suitably named) Miss Whippy. He is set to appeal the six day suspension - should that appeal fail, Hughes' chance of taking the Flat jockeys' title looks all but over.
Noted at Huntingdon today - Cockney Trucker (7/2) won the novice chase from the front despite hitting a couple of the obstacles rather hard. Philip Hobbs' inmate certainly didn't look a natural over fences but, having said that, he still managed to beat odds-on shot Rock Noir (8/11f) seventeen lengths; the favourite emptied alarmingly quickly two from home. Songe (11/4f) won the competitive-looking Class Three chase in most convincing fashion and can expect a hike up the handicap for his troubles. Songe's victory was the first part of an across-the-card treble for trainer Charlie Longsdon who won the penultimate race at Uttoxeter with Young Albert (17/2) and the finale back at Huntingdon with Rey Nacarado (100/30f) owned by the intriguingly-named partnership Runthatbymeagainagain.
Finally The Sunday Telegraph reports that today's Huntingdon meeting has become known for the Mascot Grand National but this year's event has been hit by a boycott. Several club mascots are complaining many of the competitors are 'ringers' who just dress up as a mascot for the day. All is not well in the mascot world.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Ayr Gold Cup, Newbury and Newmarket
When the draw was made for the Ayr Gold Cup earlier in the week, those first out of the hat went for the high stall numbers in the belief that was where the advantage lay; the first seven home in today's Bronze Cup all came from single figure berths. Twenty seven are set to go to post for tomorrow's renewal of the Gold Cup over a trip of six furlongs. The race, as always, is ultra-competitive and has something of the look of a bookmakers' benefit about it. Those who can wait will have a further clue to any draw advantage as the Silver Cup is due off at 2.05. Given the result of today's Bronze Cup I've decided to opt for a low-drawn horse. Dandy Nicholls, who has won this race five times in the last nine years, saddles likely favourite Evens And Odds (drawn 3) - in a race of this nature his price is unlikely to offer much value. I'll have a small each-way investment on Jim Goldie's course and distance winner Hogmaneigh (drawn 2). There appears plenty of speed nearby, the horse should run his race with the stable in reasonable form (6 wins from 37 runs in the past fortnight) and Coral stand out this evening by offering 22/1 - most firms go 18s.
In the Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury Radiohead is the one they all have to beat but the World Trophy at 3.25 looks far more difficult to solve. On official ratings J J The Jet Plane should win with something to spare but he disappointed somewhat in the Golden Jubilee at Royal Ascot and has since moved to Richard Hannon's yard; I won't get involved.
For some unfathomable reason the two and a quarter mile Cesarewitch Trial (3.20 Newmarket) has caught my imagination. Several of these like to race from the front including Ragamuffin Man, Saga de Tercey and Aajel - if they take each other on early, the race could be set up for a hold-up horse. The first-named was beaten fair and square by the second-named last time out and should confirm the form. The Weekender quotes Saga de Tercey's trainer Alan Swinbank after that victory - "He runs like a good horse and could be our next really good one." He is likely to start favourite but I haven't totally ruled out the top-weighted grey Aajel who won a Class 3 at Yarmouth last time easily, his first run since September 2007. I'll chance Aajel as he's likely to offer better value and Marcus Tregonig's stable boasts an impressive 31% strike rate over the past fortnight (6 wins from 19 runs).
Finally, for those who like to keep a tab on these sort of things, Tom Dascombe sends out his first runner from his Michael Owen / Andrew Black backed stable; top weight Emerald Rock goes in the 9.20 at Wolverhampton.
In the Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury Radiohead is the one they all have to beat but the World Trophy at 3.25 looks far more difficult to solve. On official ratings J J The Jet Plane should win with something to spare but he disappointed somewhat in the Golden Jubilee at Royal Ascot and has since moved to Richard Hannon's yard; I won't get involved.
For some unfathomable reason the two and a quarter mile Cesarewitch Trial (3.20 Newmarket) has caught my imagination. Several of these like to race from the front including Ragamuffin Man, Saga de Tercey and Aajel - if they take each other on early, the race could be set up for a hold-up horse. The first-named was beaten fair and square by the second-named last time out and should confirm the form. The Weekender quotes Saga de Tercey's trainer Alan Swinbank after that victory - "He runs like a good horse and could be our next really good one." He is likely to start favourite but I haven't totally ruled out the top-weighted grey Aajel who won a Class 3 at Yarmouth last time easily, his first run since September 2007. I'll chance Aajel as he's likely to offer better value and Marcus Tregonig's stable boasts an impressive 31% strike rate over the past fortnight (6 wins from 19 runs).
Finally, for those who like to keep a tab on these sort of things, Tom Dascombe sends out his first runner from his Michael Owen / Andrew Black backed stable; top weight Emerald Rock goes in the 9.20 at Wolverhampton.
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