Thursday Tickle - Tipping 14/12/11 - Towcester, Exeter and Southwell

A brief column before a more detailed look at Saturday’s racing; however there are a some interesting runners Friday, which although at short prices, could be worth perming up, or at least keeping an eye on for the rest of the season.

JP McManus likes to have runners on every card at every National Hunt meeting, and stable jockey AP McCoy goes to Towcester as opposed to Exeter, to take some decent looking mounts for his boss, as well as some promising juveniles for Nicky Henderson. His stand out ride looks to be RATE OF KNOTS, who just loves the soft ground, being campaigned almost exclusively in the last year, in an attempt to get the best out of mare. She finished a hearty, yet unlucky second on her first run for 266 days, when going clear, yet blundering the last month under Richie McClernon, and still rallied in the final strides to only go down by a length. She showed great heart and character, and a replication of that form can take the 2.40.

The Pipe stable are in good form as of late, with the main eye catcher being Tom Scu giving Buddy Balero a terrific ride on Buddy Balero Tuesday in the famous Malcolm Denmark silks, an owner with an attractive string this term. Scudamore goes to Towcester rather than Exeter, and his best chance seems to be CLOSE HOUSE. Showing good form last season, he was well supported on first attempt hurdling, and can be considered rather unlucky, with Tom losing his irons three out, and yet the four year old still showed promise of staying on late on. The ground was very soft that day, and if it could go good-to-soft, it will give the gelding an even greater chance.

One of the stable’s most progressive horses last term was ARRAYAN, who failed completing his hatrick bid, when unseating at the last hurdle in a grade 3 handicap, when ten lengths clear and seemingly home. He finished a respectable 9/18 on his reappearance this term, won by the highly respected Poungach for champion trainer Paul Nicholls, and is expected to come on for the run.

A short priced fancy for tomorrow is ROYAL CHARM for Paul Nicholls in the Betfair Graduation Chase at Exeter. He was a tough, game novice chaser last year, including winning this very race. He finished behind Medermit and Wishful Thinking, two of last seasons star novice chasers, and was unlucky when falling 4 fences out in Future Stars Chase at Sandown last time out when tanking along. He has 7lb in hand on official ratings and a big challenge is expected.

Last but not least, GREYFRIARSCHORISTA seems streets ahead of the handicapper, and will be similarly short in the 1.30 at Southwell. Since being claimed by Brian Ellison from Mark Johnston, he is 2/2, and punted off the boards in both starts. He runs with a 6lb penalty, but given the cosiness of both victories, the handicapper is sure to have fun when reassessing, and appears to be a penalty kick under Barry McHugh who was on board last time out for his 10 lengths victory.

13.10 Towcester - Close House

13.20 Exeter - Arrayan

13.30 Southwell - Greyfriarschorista (Nap)

13.50 Exeter - Royal Charm

14.40 Towcester Rate of Knots

The Yorkshireman – Jack Milner / @JJMSports

Ascot Amlin Chase Day and Haydock Betfair Chase Day November 19th.

A feast of jump racing lies ahead this weekend, with terrific cards at both Ascot, where their highlight is the Amlin 1965 Chase with Master Minded defending his crown, and at Haydock, featuring the Grade 1 Betfair Chase, where Gold Cup and King George hero Long Run is scheduled to make his seasonal debut.

Haydock’s Betfair Chase day has a fantastic card. The Betfair Hurdle race is where GRANDOUET can regain his reputation after coming down at Wincanton last time out, handing Celestial Halo the race. He was absolutely cantering in behind when misjudging the second last and would have been a definite winner in my eyes. He is all class this French import, as he showed last year when winning the Irish equivalent of the Triumph Hurdle at Punchestown in May, after decent previous efforts at Cheltenham and Aintree. I think he is a lively consider for this years Champion Hurdle, and is one to stay on the right side of.

Betfair have also sponsored the handicap at 1.55, which has a decent turn out. I am very sweet on the Reveley family’s EYRE SQUARE. He won a novice hurdle on his seasonal beau. He then ran well in a chase, finishing second to a well handicapped horse. The favourite finished third that day and the three pulled 43 lengths clear. Eyre Square rallied and stayed on, and the extended 3 and a half miles should suit this resolute galloper, who has remained on a nice figure of 120.

The Betfair Chase has developed into a jewel in the crown of the National Hunt season and this year’s event looks like living up to that billing. Long Run is the very short favourite, too short for a horse who disappointed in the Paddy Power last season, running after a 241 day absence. The drying ground could prove a worry for Diamond Harry, who loves running fresh and is 2/2 at Haydock.

KAUTO STAR won this race 2 years ago and when the 11 year old is at his best he is still a horse sitting at the top table of British chasing. He has won first time out on both the last two seasons, Down Royal last year, and in this race two years ago. Trainer Paul Nicholls is adamant he has been working like his old self and he could turn out to be significantly over-priced at the current 8/1.

Switching attention to Ascot, and the first race, the novices chase. The Nicky Henderson trained MUSH MIR, who came from James Boyle on the flat, showed at Southwell he is a good prospect. He has made a successful transition to hurdling, and is now 3/3 in novice hurdles. He attempts a step up in class but, as his winning distances of 32 lengths for his three races indicate, he may well have better things ahead of him.

Similar sentiments apply to OSCAR WHISKEY, who runs in the Coral Hurdle, a Grade 2 contest. This Welsh Champion Hurdle and Aintree Hurdle winner is rated 165 and is being aimed at a clash with Big Bucks in the World Hurdle. His only defeats in the last two years have come in the Champion Hurdle to Hurricane Fly (3^rd) and to Menorah in the Supreme Novices (4^th). He should be too classy for the likes of Celestial Halo and Overturn.

MASTER MINDED could be overpriced in the Amlin Chase, largely due to his disappointing reappearance run at Aintree. The 8 year old, who won this same race in impressive fashion last term, appears to need soft ground over 2 miles or 2 and a half miles these days to be shown at his best and he should get his preferred conditions on Saturday.

He has won his second run of the season, using the first as a tune up, on each of the last three seasons, and although the likes of Somersby, who chased him home in the Victor Chandler, and Arkle winner Captain Chris are young guns snapping at his heels, hopefully Master Minded, still no pensioner at only eight, can show he retains plenty class.

12.15 Haydock Grandouet (Nap)

12.25 Ascot Mush Mir

2.10 Ascot Master Minded (Nb)

2.45 Ascot Oscar Whiskey

1.55 Haydock Eyre Square (Ew)

3.05 Haydock Kauto Star (Ew)

The Yorkshireman – Jack Milner

Saturday Tipping - Saturday 17th September, Ayr and Newbury

The showpiece race of Ayr's autumn three day festival is the Ayr Gold Cup, one of the most prestigious sprint handicap races of the flat season with a first prize of £74,000, and it invariably attracts some of the best speedsters in the country. Trainer Dandy Nicholls usually arrives in Scotland mob handed and had five runners last year, including the winner, Redford. This year he has chances with Regal Parade, Tajneed and Evens and Odds, but I’m going to look elsewhere.

Jim Goldie’s Hawkeyethenoo is a tough, consistent sort who finished down the field last year, but has been in good form this year, winning the Victoria Cup at Ascot. Pepper Lane has been a talisman for trainer David O' Meara and completed a hatrick when winning The Great St Wilfred at Thirsk, but has gone up 22lb since the start of his winning sequence. Eton Rifles was impressive when landing a massive gamble under the incomparable K Fallon in the second leg of the Betfair Summer Double.

However, the leading prospect here may be MACS POWER, for the James Fanshawe stable. He has been running well in good quality handicaps this season, and seems to thrive on good ground. He didn't seem to enjoy soft ground in a listed race at Newmarket, but before that ran well behind subsequent narrow Sprint Cup third Hoof It. He is yet to get that slice of luck that is often needed in these big sprint races, and off a decent weight, with the ground possibly in his favour, I am expecting another big win for the successful Fanshawe and Cosgrave partnership.

Aside from Ayr there is an excellent card at Newbury, including the Arc Trial, won last year by the subsequent Breeders Cup Turf winner Dangerous Midge. This tough colt looks to defend his crown, after winning this race in impressive style last year against a good field, including Group One winners Rainbow Peak and Campanologist. His last run was at Meydan in the Sheema Classic where he appeared not to handle the surface and finished last. From his runs last year he sets a good standard, Green Destiny steps up in trip and it is unknown whether he will stay.

Caspar Netcher is a juvenile who has gradually been stepped up in class after a maiden win and a second in a conditions race. From there, he finished second, third and fourth in listed races, including a third to Frederick Engels in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot. A third in a Group 3 race behind current ante post 2000 Guineas favourite Harbour Watch was then topped by a Group 2 win last time out in the Gimcrack Stakes (Group 2) at York. The form was franked from Burwaaz who finished second next time out, and Reply winning the big sales race last weekend for Ballydoyle. As a final plus, that man Fallon is booked.

2.30 Newbury - Caspar Netcher (Nap)

2.00 Newbury - Dangerous Midge

3.20 Ayr - Macs Power (Ew)

The Yorkshireman - Jack Milner