Short and Sweet - 2 of Note

Some excellent racing tomorrow and it will be interesting to see how the results shake up the Festival markets after races like the Challow. Plenty of horses to note but 2 in particular are down on my lists of horses to follow:

 

Blackwell Synergy could be interesting in the first at Newbury tomorrow. His Irish hurdles form isn't too bad (beat a couple on debut that are now rated 120+) and he won a handicap hurdle under Davy Russell off a mark off 114 which is the same as his current chase mark having dropped 2lb for his handicap chase debut. There could be more to come as he jumped slowly on debut for Jonjo before jumping a little better last time over a trip too short but 2m6f in testing ground should suit better. Would be one to follow when upped again to 3m I think but worth keeping an eye on the market in case the money comes.

"Dick Dundee is a good horse who hasn't made his racecourse debut yet but won a point to point for us last year and Jamie Codd thought the world of him. Unfortunately getting ready for last season he picked up an injury that has kept him out until now. It will probably be the New Year and we'll discuss it with Barry Connell whether he will go for his bumper or because of his age go straight over hurdles. He's a horse with a big engine and a horse we think an awful lot of so we are looking forward to getting him out."

That's from Paul Nolan's ATR Stable Tour. The 2nd in that Point was leading by 2 lengths when falling (and dying I think) in his only subsequent run and that horse and Dick Dundee were 20 lengths clear of the 3rd. He hasn't run for 664 days but is obviously well regarded and with Ruby booked you'd think he'll go alright in the 12.55pm at Leopardstown tomorrow.

Leech Racing and Cheltenham Racing Club

 

A couple of weeks ago I enjoyed another stable visit, this time at Tudor Racing Stables in Gloucestershire, home to Sophie Leech (pictured above) and her husband Christian (who is also assistant trainer). I’d been to the Leech’s once before, when considering joining Cheltenham Racing Club, a fun, fairly small syndicate who lease a few horses with Team Leech. I thoroughly enjoyed the morning and shortly after paid the very reasonable membership fee for CRC and have since had a fantastic time following the horses we lease.

 

CRC is made up of around 26 members (some of which are pictured above at a previous visit) and always has 3 horses in training at any time of the year (which runs from April-April), meaning we regularly have runners which allows members to enjoy a slightly more involved experience of racing. Since April, we have leased 6 different horses, who have run in a total of 24 races (20 National Hunt / 4 All Weather) at 14 different racecourses. In the 20 races under National Hunt rules, CRC horses have operated at a win strike rate of 20% and a place strike rate of 50% (returning a £1 level stakes profit of £4.88). When also taking into account the 4 all-weather races the club has achieved 4 wins, 4 2nds, and 3 3rds; accruing total prize money of just over £12,000 in the process! One of the perks of membership is a share of prize money accrued by CRC horses at the end of the year which further adds to the excitement of having a horse win or place! Due to the small nature of the club (some racing clubs contain 200+ members) it is very rare not be allocated an Owners badge upon request when the Club has a runner, and combined with access to the parade ring for a pre-race brief between jockey and trainer (and a visit to the winners enclosure post-race on those lucky occasions!) and use of the O&T bar during the day; the value for money of membership is, in my opinion, unbeatable for passionate racing fans as it provides members with the opportunity to experience, albeit on a much smaller scale, the benefits of racehorse ownership. CRC are also fortunate enough to be invited to regular stable visits by the always welcoming Team Leech; so for someone who loves racing this affordable experience truly is worthwhile!

 

Back to the stable tour and after greeting us with mulled wine and mince pies on arrival, Sophie and her team paraded the 3 horses we are to lease for the next few months – Old Magic (recent Chepstow winner for the Club who is pictured above), Referent (formerly owned by Sizing Europe’s connections) and Gtaab (lightly raced horse coming back from a long injury layoff). Sophie provided a commentary of each horse and their likely plans for the near future, before taking us up to the gallop to watch all 3 being worked.

 

 

 

This was followed by Referent and Gtaab popping over a few hurdles in the schooling field before we returned to the yard to be shown a few more equine members of Team Leech who were entered to run in the week ahead. These included the eye-catching Grey Soldier (pictured above); new recruit Take Of Shocs; and a nice prospect for the future in Winston Churchill (a lovely looking son of Presenting who is pictured below). Then free to have a look around the yard and ask any questions, the morning was wrapped up and  most departed for lunch at the Apple Tree Inn at Minsterworth (though some of us rushed home to catch the football!). As always it was a thoroughly enjoyable morning and Sophie, Christian and their excellent team were all very approachable and more than happy to chat about their horses and all things racing. The team are fantastic and provide their inmates (and owners!) with the utmost care and consideration, whilst their smaller sized operation (in comparison to some of racing’s powerhouse training yards) arguably enables them to offer a more personable experience for their owners. Another bonus of owning horses with Leech Racing is that they are able to attract a great number of jockeys; a list which this season alone has included Paul Moloney (who regularly rides out and schools for the yard), Jason Maguire, Paddy Brennan, Noel Fehily, Richie McLernon, James Best, Donal Fahy, Donal Devereux and Stephen Clements.

 

If you are considering racehorse ownership, whether it be alone, with a friend, or through joining a racing club like CRC, don’t hesitate in contacting either Sophie or Christian (whose contact details can be found on http://www.leechracing.co.uk/ ) to discuss the different options available.

 

Racecourses at which Cheltenham Racing Club horses will have run between 1^st April 2012 and 1^st January 2013:

Bangor                         Cartmel                   Chepstow                      Fontwell

Hereford                       Ludlow                    Newton Abbot               Perth

Plumpton                      Southwell                Towcester                     Windsor

Wolverhampton            Worcester  

 

 

Boxing Day Bonanza!

 

          Merry Christmas! Hope you have all had a great day! Although I’m almost too stuffed to move my hands and type, I’ll soldier on as we have a great racing day to look forward to tomorrow!

Kempton is obviously the best place to start and the King George looks a seriously competitive renewal! The only factor that disappoints me is that the going will be heavy, meaning it may not shed too much light on how the Gold Cup may pan out in March! Having had a couple of quid each way on Cue Card at 25s before his reappearance, I’m happy enough with that given his current price though I wouldn’t be 100% confident that he’ll stay this trip in heavy ground - we shall see! Long Run has to have a favourite’s chance. I like the horse and just feel he is more of a plodder these days as he doesn’t have the turn of foot the speedier sorts have (hence not quickening past Kauto last season!). Hopefully he’ll make the running tomorrow and if so I could imagine him galloping them into the ground and making it a gruelling test of stamina. The chief dangers in my eyes would be Kauto Stone (proven in heavy and won a Gr1), Riverside Theatre (pictured below, goes extremely well fresh and proven over C&D) and Grands Crus (top class in Feltham last season and if wind op helps him see out his races better, he could play a massive part). I won’t be getting involved but it certainly looks an excellent race to watch and I can’t wait to see what happens!

 

The first race on the card also looks very competitive, but I feel the likes of Spirit Of Shankly and New Years Eve will have their work cut out to get close to River Maigue. The latter of the pair in particular is unlikely to be suited by the ground conditions, but even on better ground I’d fancy Barry Geraghty’s mount as I believe the race he ran in last time could turn out to be one of the best of its kind this season. The winner, Dodging Bullets, looks decent value in the Christmas Hurdle later on the card in my opinion, and the third, Court Minstrel, is a horse I think will also play a big part in the Supreme at Cheltenham in March.

Although the aforementioned Dodging Bullets could be decent value in the Christmas Hurdle, it’s another race I wouldn’t be getting too involved in. Darlan (pictured below) is the horse I think could be the best in the race but I’d have worries about the ground for him. Another who seems to have people worried about the ground is Cinders And Ashes, but although flopping last time behind seriously impressive Countrywide Flame in tough conditions, he is proven on such ground and I’d be inclined to ignore that run as he was beaten first time out last season before racking up a few nice wins, culminating in the Supreme at Cheltenham. He’s around 4/1 tomorrow and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him improve massively on his previous run.

 

The 2^nd race looks set to be fought out by just 2 of them in my opinion and those 2 are Rajdhani Express and Coole River. The former looked set to win before departing last time and I’d expect him to go very close tomorrow, but Emma Lavelle’s representative made a more than satisfactory reappearance after a long layoff. He had some very smart looking hurdles form before his injury and if he has retained that ability he could take all the beating with some improvement likely, you’d just have to hope he doesn’t “bounce”.

The third race is an interesting one as there is a short favourite (quite rightly so some may say after the way Dynaste won impressively at both Cheltenham and Newbury), but I think I may take a chance on Paul Nicholls’ Poungach improving considerably for the step up in trip and serving up a shock. He was high class over hurdles and although not looking the finished article yet over fences, I feel there is more to come and at 11/2 he looks worth an each way bet as you’ll get your stake back if he places. Hadrians Approach is another who I think will continue to improve with every run and for that reason I won’t be including Dynaste in any multiples tomorrow.

 

The final race on the card is somewhat frustrating as both Saint Roque and Katkeau figure highly in my “horses to follow” notes! As mentioned when he was withdrawn a week or so back, I quite fancied Saint Roque having backed him on reappearance when he was brought down a few from home at Cheltenham when arguably looking like the winner. He should defy a mark of 118 as I feel he could make into a 145+ chaser in time, so would have to go close tomorrow. Katkeau was in the process of running a big race last time and was still cruising on the bridle when making a clattering error and smashing one of his hurdles, after which he was hardly touched and seemingly looked after. He’s proven in the conditions and is likely to run a big race with Tom Scudamore now taking the ride, so given the both relatively short prices it may be worth chancing a reverse forecast on the pair.

 

Kempton is by no means the only card tomorrow and a couple of horses catch my eye across both sides of the Irish Sea! David Pipe (pictured above with his King George hope Grands Crus) looks to have a big chance of taking the Ffos Las bumper with Top Gamble after he was beaten in similar conditions last time by a horse that cost a few quid. The other horse  of note at the Welsh track would be former Hennessy winner Carruthers who has dropped to what could still be a very winnable mark. He also drops seriously in class of race so could take the beating in what doesn’t look the best of contests.

Over at Wincanton the 2.15pm is another very annoying race in that a good few are down on my lists! Connectivity looked a decent horse for Dr Richard Newland but has had a layoff since and The Pier certainly has a race in him for David Pipe but when that is I’m not sure. Rangitoto is one I’ve mentioned before and it appears worthy of note that he continues to take in Handicap Hurdles and not go back over fences (where he is bred to excel) as it suggests his connections feel he can win one of these before doing so. However, Holywell and Ardlui are the pair on which I’d rather concentrate. Holywell looked competitive last time out and should be winning a race soon if you ask me, but Ardlui certainly looks well handicapped on his Newbury 3^rd (see previous blog article “Could Be More To Come” to see why!) and the step up in trip looks sure to bring about further improvement so for those reasons I shall be having a punt on him tomorrow.

 

Though unlikely to back them other than possibly in the odd multiple, Umpact (Limerick), Fickle Fortune (Down Royal) and Ned Buntline (Leopardstown) all look to hold big chances in their respective races in Ireland. Another horse I’d like to flag up in the Emerald Isle is Gordon Elliott’s juvenile Fisher, who goes in the 1.20pm at Leopardstown. His form to date looks decent and his trainer is reportedly quite impressed by him, but even more interesting is that he has had a wind op since his last run so there could be more to come on the back of that. However, he is expected to improve a fair amount for better ground so I’d be willing to leave him alone tomorrow as it’s a half decent race (he could make the places) but then have an each way ante post punt on him for the Cheltenham Festival. I’d say the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle is the most likely race and if you could get a price on him with BetVictor it would be worth utilising their excellent Non Runner Free Bet offer in case he doesn’t go for the race. The final horse of note in Ireland is Old Kilcash who takes up an engagement in the 3.30pm at Leopardstown. He cost £300,000 so is worth keeping an eye on but, as with all these big money purchases, is likely to be a longer term project so may not be a good thing in a race like this. In any case, it could be worth making a note of him with a view to the future!

 

Best of luck with whatever you back and most of all, enjoy a top class day for racing!!

Never Too Early For A Grand National Bet!

 

The Grand National is one of the highlights of my year and is arguably one of my favourite races all season. My approach to betting in the race is simple – I back half the field! I don’t care about winning or losing money as I would never have a serious sized bet in a race of its nature, but there is nothing worse than waiting all year for the race, betting on 2 or 3, and having none left to follow by the 4^th or 5^th fence! I like to go into the race with a huge team, in an attempt to ensure I still have some chance a couple from home! I don’t have level stakes, I’ll have bigger bets on horses I actually fancy, and sometimes even £1 each way on huge priced outsiders whether it be because I like the jockey, the name or the silks (very professional selection eh!). Usually I will chip away at different points in the season and get a fancy price about something I feel will contract on the back of a particular race, meaning I only need tiny stakes. An example of this is the £2 I had at 80.0 on Join Together to win (and a little bit on the place at 27.0) before he ran in the Becher Chase a couple of weeks ago. My theory was that given I fancied him to run a massive race in that (he did, narrowly beaten by Hello Bud), his price would automatically be cut for the big race in April as connections would obviously consider that route for his season. He is now around 21.0 and 5.1 respectively.

 

Today I have added another horse to my portfolio and that comes in the shape of the soon-to-be 10 year old, Chicago Grey (pictured above). Having won the 4m NH Chase at the 2011 Cheltenham Festival, he would appear to have been a disappointment if reading his results literally. However, this could have played to his advantage as, having been campaigned in conditions by which I feel he is not best suited (shorter trips and soft ground); his chase mark of 150 has now dropped to 143. What this means in terms of the National is that he is very likely to be allotted a racing weight not much higher (if at all) than the bottom 10st; a factor that may prove highly beneficial to his cause. He is definitely targeting the race according to a stable tour given by trainer Gordon Elliott (pictured below); his stamina is proven; and although he was brought down fairly early in last season’s renewal (a risk that is ever present in the race for horses who are dropped out the back), he didn’t appear to be too troubled by the 4 obstacles he did negotiate.

 

 

For the above reasons, I’ve decided to invest each way at his current price of 50/1 (widely available) and will be hoping he can add another big pot to the one his trainer took at Ascot on Saturday with Cause Of Causes.