Yesterday
being the first time I’d put anything up on the new blog (for today at
Newbury), there felt a need to have a winner or 2, and thankfully we did!!
Meganisi opened the day winning the first race, Parsnip Pete wasn’t put up as a
bet selection and I didn’t back him, but suggested the soft ground had been the
key and there may be more to come and there was. After Otto The Great pulled up
in the next I was hoping it hadn’t been a flash in the pan, but Harry Topper got
up in a cracking finish to the competitive novice chase and made the day!! He
is certainly a horse to be on the right side of for the future. The opening
price of 7/1 last night was much appreciated as he went off 3/1 so hopefully
you got on early! Cedre Bleu was a bitter disappointment and maybe didn’t stay,
but Lyvius (again not tipped as a bet but favourably mentioned) did the
business in the Gerry Fielden to secure a few more pennies, before the also
mentioned Alan King bumper horse ran a cracker for 2nd in a race
where I feel the first 2 will go on to better things.
On to
tomorrow and the market for the opening juvenile hurdle at 12.30pm is likely to
be dominated by the Nicholls runner with Ruby Walsh aboard, but if I have a bet
in this (I’ll assess the market first) I may take a chance on the Colin Tizzard
trained Bold Cuffs. Obviously not knowing how a race littered with unraced
sorts will pan out, Tizzard recently said in his stable tour that they wanted
something to get on with and bought this one off the flat from Sir Mark
Prescott, who reckoned he could end up a Champion Chase horse. Now whether that’s
the case I don’t know, but he must be fairly smart to even warrant such a
comment so if an each way price he may be worth a nibble.
The
1pm Mares Hurdle may only have 6 runners but it is by no means uncompetitive
and for that reason I will more than likely not punt. Glorious Twelfth will
have obvious supporters given connections, and Dancingtilmidnight (I won’t be
tonight!) looks progressive for today’s bumper winning training Harry Fry,
whilst Carole’s Destiny is well bred and has looked okay so far so could have
more to come.
My
first bet of the day will probably come in the 2m2f Handicap Chase at 1.30pm on
the Kim Bailey trained Ballywatt. Handled by a trainer I like a lot, this horse
has some very smart looking Point form behind Simonsig and Yes Way Hosay, and
although unlikely to ever scale the heights I’m sure those 2 will, I’d like to
think he should be up to defying a chase mark of 110. I backed him last time
out which was his first chase start (and a handicap as it was before the new Novice
Chase rules came in) and he ran a nice race, slightly unlucky to finish 3rd
beaten less than a length having looked the winner. He goes off the same mark
tomorrow, should be fine on the ground so I’d hope he’d be competitive.
As if
we didn’t enjoy a competitive enough Novice Chase today, tomorrow’s 2.05pm is
arguably as good if not more so! Theatre Guide was super impressive in his
victory a few weeks ago, and Court In Motion has the potential to make up into
a smart novice chaser having returned from a long injury layoff last time
(should improve a fair bit for the run).Ruby’s mount There’s No Panic will have
the usual Nicholls/Walsh support and Dynaste looked extremely impressive in
beating Fingal Bay at Cheltenham. Certainly a race to be watched, some serious
pointers are likely to be seen with regards to the rest of the season.
My
main fancy of the day comes in the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle at 2.40pm in the
shape of Ballybough Pat. He will make a cracking 3m chaser next season, and in
my opinion should definitely be up to defying his mark of 132 over hurdles. The
trip is likely to bring about more improvement and he is proven on both good
ground and heavy ground so is versatile in that regard. He has opened 7/2 with
Bet365 and I’ve just invested a few quid and will be disappointed not to
collect. Destroyer Deployed and Curtain Razer are both very interesting and
should both stake their claims, but I’d fancy Ballybough Pat to see to them and
am looking forward to the race. The only time today’s winner African Gold has
lost was when beaten easily by this horse, and the only time Ballybough Pat has
lost was to Wonderful Charm in the Persian War at Chepstow. That rival is being
touted as a serious tool by Mr Nicholls and I think over the next few
months/years that form will be franked on a serious level!
Prince
of Pirates is not a horse I would lump on but I do feel he is well handicapped
and due a win so will probably have a small interest at 5/1 but the 3.15pm is
another race I wouldn’t go mad in. The 3.45pm is a slightly annoying race as it
contains a couple I’ve been waiting for. Kaki De La Pree has reportedly
schooled well, King Spirit looked decent when winning, Sound Investment I
fancied would win next time out, and Puffin Billy looks a serious horse. For this
reason I will again be taking a watching brief, but can see it turning out to be
a strong Maiden Hurdle in time.
This
morning’s stable tour at Alan King’s was a great experience and very enlightening.
I backed his bumper horse as a result of it and although beaten he will go on
to be a very nice horse in time. I will be including a couple of his horses in
tomorrow’s article for Saturday’s racing and will be putting a piece together (sometime
next week I’d imagine) on the morning, but for now, I’m off out for a drink in
Newbury!
Happy
Days!
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