Wednesday Racing at Pontefract

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Cracking racing on a Wednesday, and it’s a pity that I have to spend the day looking for an apartment in the south of Spain. As sad as it sounds, I would much prefer to spend the day at Cheltenham, Ascot or Pontefract. Not often will Ponty be thrown into the same league as the other two, but hey ho!


Cheltenham has its annual Hunter Chaser Card, and people who know their stuff will be able to make a few quid on that, but it’s not my sphere, and I won’t be backing or watching any of the action. For people reading this, a couple of people on Twitter will be able to offer more assistance - @Quevega and @Garethtopham who write the previews for such races.


Sticking to Pontefract, looking at their previous card that local trainers thrive, with winners for the Ryan, Johnston, Ford and O’ Meara yards respectively. Richard Fahey, Brian Ellison and Graham Swinbank stables have all been in good form and their runners warrant maximum respect.


A lot of the usual suspects in the 10 furlong maiden, but a stand out entry is Remote; for John Gosden and Khalid Abdullah, an exceptionally well bred three year old colt making his debut. He will have to be on top of his game going against rivals Boite and Marsh Dragon who look to have the pick of the form, but on pedigree, he could possibly be very smart indeed.


As mentioned, the Swinbank yard is in good fettle, and recent maiden winner Eutropius is thrown into a handicap off a mark of 68. He gives weight to a lot of tough seasoned rivals, but he remains open to plenty of improvement, being a four year old with two starts to his name. Blue Maisey went close over course and distance last time at a big price, and could be the danger, as could Alluring Star for the Easterby’s.


There’s a cracking fillies handicaps, with a mixtures of arguably well handicapped sorts, with Centred and Star Lahib being very well bred sorts, and Heading North going for the all-conquering Hannon team, but the most interesting runner in Abilene for Luca Cumani. To win a fillies maiden on debut for that yard, she must be half decent, and beat a decent horse of Charlie Hills’ in the process. She could be well on the road to black type, and a mark of 87 could see the handicapper give her a chance.


The final leg of the Lucky 15 will be hopefully brought up with Theodore Gericault, who was laboured and green when winning his maiden at Lingfield, but will be suited with the longer trip in the 10 furlong handicap. The form of his debut win has worked out excellently, behind 84 and 104 rated types, and plenty of other good ones in behind. Eric The Grey, Gioia Da Vita, Kuantan One and Buckstay are all relatively unexposed rivals, but should be up against it, the Sir Michael Stoute horse looks to have up to a stone in hand. We hope.


2.50 Remote
3.20 Eutropius
3.55 Abilene
4.30 Theodore Gericault (Nap)


The Yorkshireman - Jack Milner

Follow me on Twitter - @JJMSports

Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown

The Bet365 Gold Cup, formerly the Whitbread Gold Cup is one of those fondly associated races, that unfortunately brings the curtain down on the national hunt season, with a tear in one’s eye, knowing we have to endure the flat until The Charlie Hall Chase comes round at Wetherby. It is a race associated with hearty stayers and previous winners include the likes of Poker De Sivola and Tidal Bay, you need class, and you have to stay forever. Michel Le Bon heads the weights, but seems to only run well at Newbury. Recent winners Well Refreshed and Same Difference have been struck by the handicapper, and Balthazar King, On His Own, The Rainbow Hunter, Becauseicoudlntsee, Saint Are, Tatenen and Harry the Viking all disappointed in The Grand National at Aintree. A horse steadily on the improve is MR MOSS for trainer Evan Williams, who thrives in the field of staying handicap chasers. He put in a terrific effort to just get out-battled by a very game horse in The Grimthorpe at Doncaster, with the pair pulling eight lengths clear of the field. He is sure to be suited by the longer trip and better ground, and he looks the pick who could potentially have plenty in hand. Alvarado could run well at a big price for the same owners should he decide to take up his entry, who stayed on well at Cheltenham on his last start. Of the rest, Ikodoru Road is getting to the point of being potentially well handicapped, down to a mark of 135, providing he was to see out the trip.

Bet365 Gold Cup - Mr Moss 2pts EW

The Yorkshireman - Jack Milner

Aintree Festival 2013 - Saturday; Grand National Day

A cracking day of racing on Grand National Day, and it all kicks off in style, with Donald McCain looking to kick off a day his family is famously laden with history in, with some of his stable stars. Up and Go arrived from the pointing scene with a lofty reputation, and with the exception when falling behind Taquin De Seuil at Sandown, has an unblemished record thus far. He looks like an out and out stayer, staying on comfortably to win his last two novice hurdles over two and a half miles on fairly deepish ground, he will make a useful three mile chaser in time. On good ground and a flat track he may be found out however, and the value play could be the smart Eduard for Nicky Richards and Brian Harding, who has useful form in competitive hurdles. He was second in a Grade 2 at Kelso last time out over two miles and a quarter, and stayed on well on gain on Mwaleshi late on, who made all and took advantage of getting first run. On better ground and stepped up to two and a half miles, he can duly make amends.


At least the combination of Donald McCain, Tim Leslie and Jason Maguire can gain swift compensation with Overturn, who will arguably be the most well supported horse of the day, despite not even running in The National itself! The gamest of horses, he had the ground go against him at Cheltenham and was put under pressure of the looming presence of Simonsig in his slipstream. He will get his ground and a good flat galloping track can hopefully make all to the delight and roar of a packed Aintree crowd.


The best bet of the day looks to be Solwhit in The Liverpool Hurdle, a race that Big Bucks has won doing handsprings in recent years. With the superstar still on the side-lines however it looks well and truly up for grabs. Although Grands Crus chased him home in 2011, he looks a force of old and Solwhit has cemented his place at the top of the staying hurdle division, winning The World Hurdle decisively at Cheltenham last month. He famously won a bumper Aintree Hurdle field in 2009 with dual winner Al Eile in behind, not to mention previous Cheltenham Festival winners Celestial Halo and Hardy Eustace. His form tied in with Hurricane Fly looks incredibly strong, and he looks the best bet of the day to build some ammo up to fire later.


The 18 runner handicap chase looks a cracking renewal, and Battle Group is a deserved favourite having won a handicap hurdle on Thursday in facile fashion, rejuvenated with the application of cheek-pieces. A horse who has been on my radar for a while however is Loch Ba for Mick Channon and veteran Andrew Thornton, who is riding better than ever. He unseated when never really travelling at Cheltenham, and looking at his form aside from that, he has been very progressive since leaving Henrietta Knight. A rating of 137 may still under-estimate him. Cantlow and Opening Batsman are both respected at the head of affairs but would perhaps prefer a little more juice in the ground. Brave Spartacus could be a price to run into a place for The Reveley’s, and is over-priced at around 50/1, stepped up in trip.


The Grand National needs more luck than drinking a good pint in the majority of pubs in Huddersfield, or understanding the lingo here in La Linea, but I do occasionally run good, and hopefully that coincides with Teaforthree winning The Grand National. I tipped him up Ante Post for The National Hunt Chase last season, and I love the horse to bits, he is one of the best jumpers in training, it’s a pity Sprinter Sacre has set the bar so high! He got a cracking ride that day from JT McNamara, but kept finding and finding, and wasn’t stopping after four miles. Aintree has been his aim all season, and the way he travelled at Newbury and Cheltenham showed he is clearly getting better, and travels as strongly as ever. He would have won The Welsh National, if hadn’t been for an inspired Paul Carberry on Monbeg Dude, the pair pulling 11 lengths clear of the field. He will prefer the good ground and the harder fences the yard are flying. He just needs the rub of the green, we’re not asking much! On His Own and Chicago Grey are too short for horses that fell here last year. Colbert Station lacks experience, and I would be worried about Imperial Commander and Balthazar King’s recent absences. Ballabriggs is a game old sort who will probably run into a place; similar comments go for Cappa Bleu, who looks the biggest danger. Both travel, jump and stay, traits you need in a race like this. At the bigger prices, Saint Are and The Rainbow Hunter look the biggest chances of getting a good run for your money.


The Conditionals Handicap Hurdle looks another chance for leading claimer Brendan Powell Jr to show his superiority over his peers with Jumps Road for in form Colin Tizzard yard. He ran a cracking race when tiring over two and a half miles at Ffos Las, tiring late on, and since then when dropped back to two miles he has looked even better. Although up 12lb for two wins, his form looks pretty solid, and a cracking each way bet with Ranjaan and Cockney Sparrow making the market at the head of affairs.


The Champion Bumper here last year had two of the most exciting prospects in racing with The New One outstaying My Tent or Yours in the straight, and both have gone on to show them both to be even better over hurdles. Nicky Henderson and Barry Geraghty have another exciting prospect with Tistory in the famous silks of Punchestowns, but at a 5/2 favourite, he looks plenty short enough, and there could be value elsewhere. Wilde Blue Yonder ran with plenty of promise on debut for Alan King to suggest he has plenty of potential, running behind subsequent Cheltenham Bumper fifth Purple Bay on debut at Doncaster. He will improve a lot for that, and the stable are in good heart. Another chance at a price is Dance of Time for The Reveley team, who was impressive when showing a game attitude at Doncaster, before winning under a penalty at Southwell again a month later. He is well bred, and the form of his races is working out very well.


1.45 Aintree – Eduard
2.15 Aintree – Overturn
2.50 Aintree – Solwhit (Nap)
3.25 Aintree – Loch Ba
4.15 Aintree – Teaforthree
5.10 Aintree – Jumps Road
5.45 Aintree – Wilde Blue Yonder & Dance of Time

The Yorkshireman - Jack Milner

The Aintree, Grand National Festival 2013, Friday: Day Two

Last year, the second day of The Grand National was one of the most financially productive days of my punting life, and I went on the basis of backing the best horse, and backing them well. There are two superstars on display on the Friday, My Tent or Yours and Sprinter Sacre, and although heavily odds on, both should get the business done in style. Sprinter Sacre is quite frankly the most electric horse I have ever witnessed. He cruises through his races and pings fences with aplomb, although he has his stiffest test to date, Flemenstar and Cue Card going off in front should set the race up for him, and put it on a plate. Darlan finished second in The Supreme before winning at Aintree, and the combination of Nicky Henderson, AP McCoy and JP McManus can combine to take the Two Mile Novices Hurdle here again with My Tent or Yours. He was beaten at Cheltenham by a proven stayer in Champagne Fever, despite coming up cruising at the last, and on a flat track like Aintree, can gain deserved compensation.


Dynaste will be fancied for the Three Mile Novices Chase, but his record on good ground in the spring is woeful, and the form of the David Pipe stable is quite frankly, appalling. Super Duty looks like he wants a real test, not offered by Aintree, and Third Intention and Sea of Thunder aren’t good enough. Rocky Creek is the second favourite, but I just can’t warm to him, despite solid wins at Ascot and Warwick. He will probably be shorter due to the Ruby Walsh factor, on Ladies Day after all. The one with the best form in the book has been plying his trade over three mile handicaps, and that is Vino Griego for Gary and Jamie Moore. He has been incredibly progressive since being dropped out in his races, and will have a good pace to run at with Third Intention likely to set them off at a good clip. His form stacks up with the likes of Cappa Bleu, Rajdhani Express, Theatrical Star, and at 151, he only has 6lb to find with top rated Dynaste.


Although Ruby Walsh has deserted Lambro, he looks a potentially well handicapped based on his runs in better company, and could potentially chucked in, providing he thrives on The National fences of Liverpool. Paul Townend is a more than able deputy, and his record on the horse reads 121, he looks a lively player. As does Hector’s Choice, who has trickled down the handicap since his Grade 2 win at Cheltenham, around this time last year. The key to him is good ground, and being a course and distance winner at the track before, he holds a massive advantage over his rivals. Denis O’ Regan will drop him in and look to pick off his rivals, one by one. Tartak looks well handicapped on his old form, as does Little Josh, providing either of the old boy’s show their best form.


The Sefton looks ideally to be something of a steering job for At Fishers Cross, who cemented his position as the leading three mile novice hurdler when winning in the mud at Cheltenham, but he may be susceptible on better ground. It will be no worse than good-to-soft on the day, and he likes it dripping. And besides, I can’t have him at a short price. Master of The Sea would want it soft, as would Road to Riches, although he has more potential to improve. Just a Par lacks experience, and those rated below 130 have no chance. I backed Gevrey Chambertin at Cheltenham, and the way he lost the plot would be a big worry, not to mention the stable form. Our Vinnie could be a good each way bet if the money were to come for Charles Byrnes’s fellow. I’d be tempted to back both him and Uxizandre each way as value alternatives to those at the front of the market. Although only rated 135, the stable won the race last year and in good form, Wayne Hutchinson riding particularly well. He won a three mile novice hurdle last month, and put away for this, and the next two to come out have both won. He could be overpriced.


The two and a half mile handicap hurdle revolves around the principles of the market, and there are some horses with very lofty reputations that will be put on the line in the 4.50. Get Me Out of Here always runs well over the trip, especially on good ground, Cotton Mill is considered Champion Hurdle class, and Broadway Buffalo is unbeaten. The one to take out if Mesiter Eckhart for Alan King, who looks to possibly be the second string, Wayne Hutchinson sides with Manyriverstocross, but the former ran well on only his second start of the year, when a very game second in The Coral Cup. The stable are flying, and he ran with enough credit last time out to suggest he is improving with racing, only raised 4lb for that, the quicker ground could squeeze out further improvement. Another interesting runner relatively unexposed in handicap company is Minella Forfitness, again a supposed second string, with David Bass deputising for Barry Geraghty, who takes the ride on Khyber Kim. He was very impressive wearing down Zuider Zee and then Cheltenian, looking still quite green in the process. His latest win was over the extended two miles, and he needed all of it, to battle back on headed, and the extra half a mile is sure to suit.


The mares bumper looks a bit of a minefield on paper, but there are two stand out’s in the line-up. Molly’s A Diva has been very tough to win three bumpers in succession, mainly in bottomless ground; such was her win last time out at Sandown. She had some of these in behind, and Nick Schofield clearly gets on with her, she is respected. A more left field choice could be The Pirate’s Queen at a bigger price for the in form Alan King and Wayne Hutchinson. She is preferred by the jockey over Our Pollyana, and she had a taking debut, behind a smart Nicky Henderson trained West Wizard at Kempton. She gets 10lb from the bulk of the field and the King’s Theatre filly will have conditions to suit, she could be a big dark horse. Although, this is type of race to throw up a large upset. Be warned.

Aintree Festival - Thursday: Day One

It promises to be an action packed start to The 2013 Grand National meeting, with four Grade 1’s on the first day being an absolute treat for us National Hunt racing fans. The first race is for the juveniles and whilst Irish Saint is proven on good ground, Rolling Star could be better, having dispatched him last time they met at Cheltenham, before disappointing in The Triumph Hurdle. He looks to have a high cruising speed however and will suit Aintree’s flat track, as seen with Grumeti lst year. Ruacana is bred to appreciate better ground and could be a lively outsider for John Ferguson and Denis O’ Regan.


The Betfred Bowl seems a straightforward one for me, and I am dead against Silviniaco Conti. I don’t like horses that fell last time out, and have also never liked Paul Nicholls’s seven year old. First Lieutenant has the best form around, but the fact he hasn’t won a race for nearly 18 months is a big worry. At a price it could be worth siding with Cape Tribulation, a winner at the festival here last year. The key to him is good ground, as seen when winning at Cheltenham and Aintree last year, and looked laboured in The Gold Cup in softening conditions, over a longer trip. Before that, he ran a cracking race to beat Grand National top weight Imperial Commander in The Argento Chase, and he looks the one for me.


My favourite horse in training runs tomorrow, and I’m at a quandary as to what to do. The horse in question is Grandouet, and I would love to see him win, all financial reasons aside, I love him to bits. Barry Geraghty has chosen him over Oscar Whisky, and that looks to be a big positive. I can’t have Zarkander, he’s an absolute mule, and same goes for Prospect Wells and Raya Star, with Saphir River the rag of the field. Countrywide Flame lacks class, and that leaves Thousand Stars and The New One. Thousand Stars flopped last time out in dire ground at Navan, but has been second in this race the last two years, so is respected. Although The New One is only five, it’s hard not to like him, he travels jumps and has a turn of foot, and the trip should be perfect for him. I put him up for The Neptune in October, which he duly dotted up in, and will have the ground and the pace to suit him, and capitalise on rivals who thrive at other trips.


Cloudy Lane has been well beaten in two starts this season, but the key to him is the ground and the track. He won the race last year after being smashed up and trainer Donald McCain has said it is all about The Foxhunters at Aintree. He didn’t want to run him on poor ground earlier in the season, but had no choice; it was the only way to get him fit. As such, he will hopefully go off a bigger price on the day, and can make it back to back successes for Donald McCain and Richard Harding.


Kid Cassidy ran incredibly free last time out, as is his way, also hitting the front far too soon at Cheltenham and still managed to run a really strong race against a horse who was arguably a stone well in. He and Alderwood pulled ten lengths of the field, and with AP back on board, I can see him coming from last to first off top weight for the Champion Jockey to land the two mile handicap chase, expect a big punt from the horse’s notorious owner; JP McManus.


I like the look of Tap Night running over a longer trip, but he may be out-classed in the two and a half miles novice chase, with a stellar field of eight solid runners. It looks a match between Fago and Captain Conan, and Captain Conan looks the one to plump for. He came up travelling strongly at Cheltenham before being worn down in the closing stages, eased down by Barry Geraghty when beat, and the ‘5’ next to his name, doesn’t give a true indication of how well he ran. The trip will be easier to get around Aintree, and on better ground, he has a massive advantage to Fago, who has been plying his trade in bottomless ground in France.


Aintree 2.00 – Rolling Star
Aintree 2.30 – Cape Tribulation
Aintree 3.05 – The New One
Aintree 3.40 – Cloudy Lane
Aintree 4.15 – Kid Cassidy (Nb)
Aintree 4.50 – Captain Conan (Nap)