After a day away to gather our thought’s and yesterday’s racing proving that our decision was right to leave it alone as the 1/20 shot getting beat by a 20/1 outsider show’s. We are back with some thought’s on Friday as we head into the weekend and the return of the Flat(albeit briefly) at Doncaster on Saturday! So let’s focus on Friday and leave that until tomorrow…. Charlie will take you through his runners and Rich will bring you his Nap before descending into Final Word!
Charlie – Cheers Rich, before we get down to my selections, I thought I’d mention that they won’t count towards profit/loss figures as the site I use for tracking that is down at the moment. Now that’s out of the way I guess it’s time to give my 3 Selections.
Newbury 3.05 Doombar Handicap Hurdle 3m 52y Class 4 (soft)
Christmas in April 11-4 – Trained by Nicky Henderson, was 4th when last seen back in December at Ascot over 2m 7f and 118y in a Class 4 handicap hurdle. Nicky has been patient with this one and I’m sure the horse will be switched on and seems the stables first choice seeing Nico de boinville has picked this over Darius Des Bois who has had a wind op with Noel Fehily taking the reigns on that one.
.Win Advised
.
Navan 2.25 Toals.com Casino Handicap Hurdle 2m (heavy)
Dis Donc 5-2 – Has placed 2nd on 3 occasions before going one better last time out here back in February for trainer Noel Meade beating the Mullins trained Antey by a neck. If repeating that here should be enough to go in again although Pats Oscar may be a danger for Gordon Elliot. But my preference is for Dis Donc as a previous course and distance winner.
.Win Advised
.
Navan 4.05 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Handicap Chase Final Grade B Handicap 3m (heavy)
Augustin 5-2 -Trained by Willie Mullins although has only ran in 2 chase’s placed 2nd to Monbeg Notorious over 3m 1f 100y on chase debut at Punchestown in December last year. Was then sent to Clonmel in February this year and beat Fire In His Eyes by 1 and 3/4 lengths over 2m 7f on heavy ground. Seems to be progressive and could go in again if in same mood as last time.
.Win Advised
. Well that’s my thoughts on Friday’s selections, good luck if following and please remember to keep stakes small so it doesn’t hurt your pocket. I will now hand you back over to Rich for his Nap and Final Word.
Rich’s Nap
Lingfield(AW) – 3.50 – Handicap Class 2 – 1m 4f
Golden Birthday – Although Harry Fry’s Poliglote gelding has been away from the track since making it 3 wins from 3 starts at Doncaster in October, when winning a Class 3 1m 6f Handicap by 2 & 1/2 lengths. That was his 5th win in 5 races, 2 Hurdle contests before starting winning on the flat. The 132 rated Hurdler has a flat mark of just 90 and has won on the AW at Kempton prior to the Doncaster victory. Re-United with Fran Berry, who is 3 from 3 on board of Golden Birthday and is still well in on Hurdle rating – 7/4
Final Word –
There has been lot’s written about Richard Johnson’s ban for excessive use of the whip, when winning the Gold Cup last week. Nothing should take away what a fine ride it was on Native River and despite getting a hefty fine and ban, will go down in the history book. I have no issue with this as the winning distance was more than 1/2 a length. My issue is with winner’s , who have won by 1/2 a length and less, with excessive use of the whip, yeah double standards I hear you cry… The distance is the thing and the amount of times the whip is used… now say it’s 1 tap over…. wins by a head…. Steward see’s this…. Result reversed…. 2 length win 1 tap … Keep’s the win… that way the jockey’s may stick(pardon the pun) to the rules! Rant over….. You will see enough of it in the next few months, more so than in the NH field…..
Back to the racing, I only looked at the UK AW meeting’s , so at Lingfield, African Jazz(4.20) makes race course debut for Charlie Appleby. The Cape Cross gelding is half brother to Usherette and has George Wood on board, who is two from two when riding for the trainer…..
At Kempton in the evening, two caught my eye… These are Khamry(6.15) who was a 4 & 1/2 length 3rd on debut over 1m at Newcastle back at the start of November. Winner that day was AL Galayel, who has since won again as has the runner up Francis Xavier, while 4th Acker Bilk, has won twice and has been placed on 3 more occasions from a subsequent 6 runs. Now drops back to 7f….
And finally, I do like taking notice of a Hurdler, who is running on the flat, so Muhtardis(8.15) caught my eye. The 124 rated hurdler, was last seen pulling up at Newbury in a Class 2 handicap hurdle on December 31st 2016. Muhtardis also has AW winning form, last won on AW at Southwell back in January 2016 over 1m 4f(same distance as today) and was rated 75 back then. also won at Kempton on the AW too. Now with Ian Williams and makes stable debut after 447 days away from the race course.
If you have a view on anything in this post, do please feel free to message us, but abuse will not be tolerated…..
All the Best – Charlie & Rich
arseonlineracing 