Thursday, 30 January 2014

Classy Certify Back, And Winning!

The classy filly Certify returned to the track with another win in the Cape Verdi Group 2 at Meydan. 
Held to the rear most of the way, until making her move up the outside with 400-500 metres to the post. Battled with L'Amour De Ma Vie eventually winning by 3/4 lengths, maintaining her unbeaten record.

Over 350 Entries For Novice Hurdles At Cheltenham Festival

There have been over 350 entries for the Novice Hurdles at the Cheltenham Festival this year.


Willie Mullins has a massive 64 entries, with favourites for 3 of the 4 Grade 1 novice hurdles at Cheltenham, with Vautour (Supreme), Faugheen (Neptune), and Ivan Gronzy (Triumph Hurdle). 

There are 104 entries for the Neptune, 102 for the Supreme, 81 for the Albert Bartlett, and 65 for the Triumph Hurdle.

Wednesday, 29 January 2014

How Many More Abandonments!

Once again I'm posting about the bad weather and the racing casualties brought with it. Today saw Thursday's meeting at Towcester abandoned, and Friday's Chepstow meeting also abandoned, both due to waterlogging on the track. 

There will be a 7:30am inspection Thursday morning, for the days meeting at Wincanton, where going is currently described as Heavy (soft in places).

More heavy rain forecast up and down the country, especially on Friday, and more abandonments could happen yet. 


Away from the depressing weather news, and a look towards the £1 million Grand National, where there's been a sharp increase in entries, attracting 115 entries, the most since 2009.
Willie Mullins has the most entries, with eight, while Nicky Henderson could run Hennessy Gold Cup winner Triolo D'Alene, along the brilliant Long Run and Hunt Ball



And the news on Defy Logic wasn't good, as it emerged his campaign was over, after breaking a blood vessel in the Irish Arkle. 
Paul Nolan says it was the best decision, to give him plenty of time to recover. And went onto say, 'We'll look forward to next season with him now.'


Join me again soon for more news, tips and stats, and also follow me on Twitter @JamesHarvey87

Grand National Winner Auroras Encore Forced Into Retirement

On Tuesday, Sue Smith revealed to the Racing Post that Grand National winner Auroras Encore has suffered an injury which has ruled him out of another crack at the race and forced him into retirement.
On the day that entries closed for the Aintree showpiece, she announced that the 12-year-old had hurt himself when warming up for a second tilt at the contest at Doncaster last Saturday.
The chaser, who gave Yorkshire its first victory in the National for half a century when scoring at 66-1 last April, underwent an operation to have screws inserted in his leg. 

"He got an injury during the Sky Bet Chase," Smith said. "He got a fracture to the off-fore at some stage. That's racing. He won't race again as he is 12 now and this is quite a serious thing."

Just Kempton To Look Towards......Wednesday's Racing

With all jumps meetings cancelled for today due to bad weather, we have only Kempton in the evening to look towards. 
So, I have a few stats and tips for the all-weather at Kempton....


Top Flat Jockey's at Kempton;

Jim Crowley     16% Strike-Rate   131-845
Adam Kirby      16% Strike-Rate   118-748
Jaime Spencer  19% Strike-Rate    50-259


Top Flat Trainers at Kempton;

Ralph Beckett    22% Strike-Rate    56-253
Andrew Balding 15% Strike-Rate    55-366
Sir M Prescott Bt 16% Strike-Rate   25-154
Kevin Ryan        20% Strike-Rate    18-90
James Bethell    18% Strike-Rate      4-22


A Couple To Look At.....

17:50 - Fleetwoodsands; has 5 wins from 27 over this distance (7f) and has Sean Levey on-board, who has a strike-rate of 19% over the last fortnight. Currently 4/1 at Paddy Power (from 6/1)

18:50 - Maggie Pink; has a strike-rate of 38% over the distance (7f), and is 2 from 2 on the course at Kempton, course-distance winner. Currently 7/1 with William Hill......Possible Each-Way bet.


A Few Significant Early Positive Movers....

16:50 - Guardi 12/1 (from 16/1)
17:50 - Fleetwoodsands 4/1 (from 6/1)
18:50 - Smokethatthunders 7/2 (from 4/1)
18:50 - Corporal Maddox 13/2 (from 10/1)
19:50 - Alumina 9/4 (from 3/1)
20:20 - Examiner 5/4 (from 13/8)

For that's about it, but please check back soon

Tuesday, 28 January 2014

Racing Latest - Ruby Walsh Talks Annie Power and Big Bucks

RUBY WALSH TALKS ANNIE POWER AND BIG BUCKS

Ruby Walsh admits that Annie Power's exuberance may be an issue if she was to run in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle in March at the Cheltenham Festival. 
She stretched her unbeaten record to 10 wins on Saturday at Doncaster, but was very keen before the race.
Walsh told Racing UK, 'She was more on her toes at Doncaster than she has been any other day, but she's always been highly strung. So going three miles over Cheltenham would be a worry.'

Walsh also spoke about Big Buck's, and says he wouldn't have ridden him any differently in last Saturdays Cleeve Hudlre, after new jockey, Sam Twiston-Davies, came under some criticism for taking up the running a mile from home. 
Writing on his blog, Walsh said, 'Things didn't go to script for Big Buck's comeback, but in my eyes he got beat because of race rustiness. He hadn't run in 14 months, and if you stoppped the race a few strides after the last, you'd think he was all over the winner. He doesn't appear to have lost any of his sparkle, and looked like he was going to pull away up the hill.' Read the whole blog post on PaddyPower.com


LATEST WEATHER PROBLEMS

And, once again, the weather is playing its part on race abandonments, with Leicester having to call their meeting off on Wednesday, due to a waterlogged track. The easy-call was made at 15:45 today following inspection.
Clerk of the course, Jimmy Stevenson said, 'We needed a wrong forecast. I knew the rain was around. The forecast is for rain this evening. And no let-up tomorrow.'

Newcastle's meeting tomorrow is also off due to waterlogging.

There is also an inspection at Chepstow tomorrow, for Friday's meeting. Currently described as Heavy, with waterlogging in places. 



Monday, 27 January 2014

A Look At The All-Weather Card From Southwell On Tuesday

UK racing once again effected by the weather tomorrow (Tuesday), with Lingfield already abandoned, and Taunton due an inspection at 7am Tuesday morning. There is also racing on the all-weather at Southwell, which I'll focus on in this post.


Early Positive Movers in the Market (Southwell (AW)

13:20 - Mediterranean Sea       5/2 (from 7/2)
13:50 - Take The Lead             5/2 (from 11/4)
13:50 - Laughing Back             5/2 (from 11/4)
15:50 - Victorian Number         4/1 (from 7/1)
15:50 - Dandarrell                   4/1 (from 7/2)
16:20 - Stun Gun                   15/8 (from 5/2)
16:20 - Beachwood Bay           4/1 (from 6/1)


Joe Fanning, who ran a four-timer at Wolverhampton on Monday has 4 rides at Southwell, including Ferdy (20/1) in the 4:20, and Thatchmaster in the 3:20.
Fanning also has an impressive record at Southwell, with a strike-rate of 22% with most wins for a flat jockey at the course; 81-370.

Certify Set To Return, Latest Weather Casualties, Cheltenham Festival and More....Latest News

CERTIFY SET TO RETURN AT MEYDAN

Certify, one of 22 Godolphin horses suspended from racing for six months last year, is set to return to action, and Charlie Appleby believes the filly will be competitive when she returns from almost 500 days off the track, in the Group 2 Cape Verdi Stakes at Meydan on Thursday. 
Appleby, who took over Moulton Paddocks in July, warns that Certify will be better for the run, but is excited to be getting her back on the track.


LATEST WEATHER

The latest casualty to the bad weather, see's Wednesday's meeting at Ludlow abandoned due to waterlogging on the track. 
Taunton's meeting tomorrow is subject to a 7am inspection in the morning.


FOX HUNTER CHASE FANCY, BESHABAR, RETIRED

And now for a couple of retirements announced today, with Beshabar, winner of the 2011 Scottish Grand National, and a leading fancy at the Cheltenham, in the Fox Hunter Chase, has been retired due to a minor set-back. Injuries have kept the 12 year old off since November 2011, where finishing 5th in the Hennessy Gold Cup.
And, the other retirement sees Marco Botti-trained Jakkalberry retired due to a set-back. Botti said, 'He returned back from exercise this morning a little sore, and exploratory tests have told us it is time to call it a day with him. He is fine in himself, and in great spirits, but it would be unfair to keep persevering with him.'


AN EARLY LOOK TOWARDS CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL

Finally on the latest news, we now have some prices in for Top Jockey's and Trainers for the Cheltenham Festival. Paddy Power have opened with Willie Mullins at 4/9 to take top trainer, with Nicky Henderson 7/2 and Paul Nicholls 9/2.
As for the Jockey's, there's no surprise as Ruby Walsh is 4/7 favourite, having been top jockey 5, out of the last 6 years. Barry Geraghty 7/2 and A P McCoy 6/1.


For now, that's about it, but do join me again soon for more news, tips and stats.

Ayr Passes Inspection

According to Sky Sports, Ayr passes inspection this morning and racing goes ahead. Going is Heavy.

Check my selections for Ayr in an earlier post, and also my post on stats for todays' racing.

The Funny Side Of Racing....

I still watch this video in shock, at what an unbelievably funny and crazy finish it was.......Enjoy the video from Fontwell, 26th December 2013