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Feel exactly the same. Thankfully I don’t watch horses jump fences any more so I didn’t see it. I tend to flit from watching the tv, listening to racing radio and closing my eyes when they jump. I even use a delay whereby I listen to the commentary which is a second or so ahead of the picture so if I hear there’s a faller I take my eyes off the screen. If I hadn’t loved racing for 60 years now I think I’d walk away from it and racing radio has been a lifeline to me throughout the pandemic. It’s often less painful when you’re actually at the track but, even so, it’s the tragedies that stick in my mind. I can’t justify my interest in the sport with most of my friends: I try to explain my interest in it and most of them forgive me. It’s heartbreaking to think of the amount of love and hard work that can be snuffed out in a split second. I don’t know how the stable staff and connections pick themselves back up when this happens. Then again I have a lifelong love of the wild mustangs in America and they’re being rounded up by helicopter and, in many cases, sent to kill pens, so it isn’t just racing that has elements of cruelty. He was such a grand stamp of a horse. It’s a b****r isn’t it….x
I agree profoundly with those sentiments, but I have not had the years of involvement (and joy in seeing one of your favoured horses succeeed) which you have. There are many around who just say the right words and others who can’t be bothered at all. I think anyone who cares about animals recognises there is an ethical issue which has to be squared with one’s conscience, one way or another. It’s been very sad indeed these last two weeks.
Nice post re Midnight Shadow VTC – he was a real favourite of mine too. I didn’t see the race live and didn’t want to see a replay. Latest Exhibition earlier in the season was another tough one.
PS your Stattler bet looks very good now
Thanks Tommy, that’s much appreciated mate.
Yeah, very hopeful for Stattler, and although the likes of Run Wild Fred looks a huge, huge threat, I think he can go well.
So many good races that I have to be selective.
Covered all bar Valadom in Big Races, and bit busy this morning, but hopeful of a happier Saturday this week.
Still mulling over adding Janidil
1405 Musselburgh – Valadom 7’s
PP Hurdle – De Name Escapes Me EW 7pls
PP Hurdle – Scoir Mear EW 7pls
PP Hurdle – Unexpected Depth 20’s
1455 Sandown – Garo De Juilley EW 7pls
1455 Sandown – Dans Le Vent 9’s
Irish Gold Cup – Conflated 33’s EW
Irish Gold Cup – Frodon 9-2Back on track today with Conflated, and certainly hopeful that he can give me a run at those big odds for The Gold Cup. Conscious of the record of winners of this in The Gold Cup, but very happy.
The rest were poor, bar Dans Le Vent, who is going to win again, and I’ll maybe just stick with Garo De Juilley.
Few bets today, and feel better for Conflated. No EW’s in Liffey Hurdle. If they’re prominent, I’ll lay stakes back, and I’m just hoping that this isn’t the day for Call Me Lyreen. He’s definitely one I’m looking forward to over fences.
I’ll be adding Annamix and Winter Escape six places.
Bulmers Chase – Annamix 28’s
Bulmers Chase – Ten Ten 14’s
Bulmers Chase – Winter Escape 33’s
1440 Muss – The Big Galloper 7’s
1515 Muss – The Mouse Doctor 7’s
Liffey – Suprise Package 20’s
Liffey – Visionarian 25’sConflated was a truly inspired selection! So much so that my brother (a lifelong punter in his eighth decade) asked me if you had an inside track at Elliot’s yard. You are achieving legendary status.
Thanks mate, that would be good, but sadly no.
I was hopeful that Frodon would do it, but I wasn’t as confident as usual about him, and having served him in The King George, I needed another.
Conflated or Janidil looked the most likely to improve of the pair, and Conflated at the price, with so much potential improvement in him, made it an easy choice.
I doubt he’s got enough improvement in him to win The Gold Cup, but hopefully he can do himself justice. I’ve already greened out on the race with Galvin, but laid off some more on Conflated after the race yesterday, so very healthy book now in The Gold Cup
Sunday topped up a decent weekend, and a decent EW on Winter Escape, followed by The Big Galloper rounded it off nicely. Said a few swear words when Call Me Lyreen won, but I was happy to wait for him over fences, and I’m confident he’s going to be a target horse of theirs.
Looks at the moment like possibly a quieter one this weekend, so having a midweek play.
The opener at Doncaster looks a good opportunity for Wilhelm Vonvester. He’s caught the eye a couple of times, and although not a race to go mad in, I thought him worth a try. Few pounds pull with the winner last time, and faster going might just be the key.
At Thurles, Damut is a huge price. He’s a horse I’ve bet a few times over the years, but don’t think I’ve ever put him up before.
On a fair losing run, but he hit form this time last year, and I think this sudden return to fences, his first since winning over them last year, is worth noting, as is the booking of O’Keefe. Return to this trip shouldn’t be a hindrance, and I thought he travelled really well last time without quite getting home. I should be able to beat the current 28’s, and started chipping away at him. Hoping to get 40’s+, taken 36’s so far.
1300 Doncaster – Wilhelm Vonvester
1420 Thurles – Damut EW 4pls/36’sVery unlucky with Wilhelm yesterday, and I thought he was going to be bang there, but for a very soft unseat.
Not the case with Damut, who is one of those ones where you cringe for putting it up. Just a terrible selection, and I hope that’s the old boys last race. It’ll be a long long time before you see me betting another 14yo, mark my words, absolutely no way.
On to Saturday, and a few I’ll be watching closely without betting. O’Toole who did me a turn last year is back out, along with my old pal Royal Pagaille. I didn’t have much joy with King Ottokar on the flat, but a very interesting recruit to hurdling.
I’m already behind this weekend with Editeur Du Gite a Non Runner. Wasn’t my kind of Antepost Price, or my kind of race, but I put a few quid his way. Some of these Anteposts I put up are a few quid here and there, not this one sadly. Really liked him.
Anyway, took Boothill Antepost in The Betfair Hurdle. Happy enough with 12’s, but not so happy at not taking the 25’s.
In the 1358 at Uttoxeter, I’ve went with Hurricane Ali. He was close to getting bet last time, and he did enough to keep me interested here. Couldn’t believe the opening 28’s with Hills, and it disappeared as I was about to snap it up. I managed to get the 16’s.
Wishing and Hoping catches my eye again, and unlike last time, I’m with him tomorrow. I’ve a feeling that he’ll have another target in a few weeks, but as he drifts at 16’s, I’ll chance him.
Brazil, who I’ve mentioned a few times, is out at Naas, and at 4’s I’m tempted. I’ll decide in next few hours, but 90% certain I’ll chance him.
Finally in the Handicap Hurdle at Naas, we have Josies Orders. Getting on a bit, but back down to last winning mark, I think this 14yo can go well at big odds, and putting a few quid his way EW
1305 Naas – Brazil 4’s
1358 Uttoxeter – Hurricane Ali 16’s EW
1515 Warwick – Wishing and Hoping
1525 Naas – Josie’s Orders EW 6pls
Betfair Hurdle – Boothill 12’sAn very entertaining read! I think the reason we repeat patterns of betting is that they have worked in the past…even with 14 year old runners…and they might do so again.
Thanks mate, though remarkably, Josies Orders ran even worse than Damut, which took some doing. This doesn’t bode well for next week. I haven’t seen any word on Regal Encore retiring, so I can only assume he’ll be back for The Keltbray Swinley.
Reasonable day today, with Brazil winning, decent EW from Wishing and Hoping, and laying off stakes on Hurricane Ali before the off. No idea where that gamble came from on Hurricane. I obviously liked him, but not that much that I thought he’d be fav. Very pleased to have taken the money back.
Delighted with Brazil, who repaid the faith, and although not my favourite race of the week, he’s very interesting for The Boodles.
Happy Saturday then, but that Antepost on Editeur put a dent in it.
On to Sunday, and as per Big Races, I’m with Stones and Roses. Added him at big odds for Aintree, but he has to win handsomely tomorrow to even think about getting in the lineup. It rarely works out that way, and he remains of interest for The Leinster or Irish Nationals.
Nothing much else doing tomorrow. I’ve taken 15-2 for Midnight Maestro, but I’m hoping for bigger, and reckon I can. Tout Est Permis is a very interesting recruit to this discipline.
Elsewhere, Grand Bornand looked big, but in the end, the opening 4’s for Jack In The Box, drew me in. I thought he looked very interesting last time, and may be one to have some fun with in the future.
Punchestown
1340 Midnight Maestro 15-2
1440 Stones and Roses 16’s
1540 Jack In The Box 4’sDelighted with Midnight Maestro on Sunday, and was a decent winner for me. It had to be, as Stones and Roses was a decent bet too, and he was a big disappointment to me. Problem with him is that I’ll bet him again no doubt.
One bet and Sandown today, and it’s Potters Legend, who looks too big a price on his last run.
1605 Sandown – Potters Legend 18’s
Another really very sad loss with Mr Fred Rogers today. I just saw the collapse between fences, but no details. Terrible.
I watched the race Sungold, it seemed to stumble and trip on the road crossing, maybe stood in a hole or something like that, went down very quickly. Horrible to see
Thankfully I was at work and missed it guys. Such a shame, I thought he was going to be a very good horse. It doesn’t get any easier.
Hopefully a happier day today. Couple of losing Antepost bets already, and although just small bets, a loser is a loser. I bet Any Second Now for Red Mills Chase, and I’ll get that back I’m sure.
He’s did me enough favours, so no surprise that my main bet of the day is my old pal Regal Encore. I think Fiddlerontheroof is going to be very hard to beat, and called myself a few names for not taking the 10’s, but I think Regal is worth sticking with. Disappointing last time, but given a chance by handicapper, loves it here, won’t mind the ground, and no way they’d put him out again if he wasn’t up to it.
I’m on Dashel Drasher in The Ascot Chase. I’ll stick with my Antepost on him, even if he goes above 7’s, as although he’s very good, this is a tougher looking race.
I considered Annual Invictus at 5’s for The Reynoldstown, but he’s left alone for now. Think he’ll run well, but trying to control number of selections.
Jepeck back out at Wincanton, and having passed him over last time, I can’t leave him this time. Regular rider is at the track, but he makes way for a 10lb claimer, and he looks a cracking EW Bet.
In The Kingwell, Faivoir is a whopping 25’s. I loved this horse a hurdler, but not as interesting for me over fences. Has an entry in The Morebattle, and I really think we have a proper County Hurdle horse here. He won’t want to be running this today with those races on the horizon, but 25’s? Worth a go, as must be a real chance of getting that back in running.
In the last at Wincanton is Braganza Bay. He won’t be a World Beater, but should pick up some prizes. I’d only bet if any earlier luck.
Unusual for me, but no bet in The National Trial. I cashed out Antepost Bet on Achille, which was a good move, but The Galloping Bear, Time To Get Up, and Sam Brown still there from the early shortlist. I’m not betting any of them, but I think The Galloping Bear might just edge it, and I’m hoping for a moderate run for Time To Get Up with a view to his Kim Muir chances.
Talking of The Kim Muir, Grand Paradis out at Gowran Park today, and I’m sure he’s going to run a big race. I missed the price for Cheltenham, but won’t try and make up for it here.
Swinley – Regal Encore 18’s EW 4pls
Kingwell – Faivoir 25’s (to lay)
Ascot Chase – Dashel Drasher 7’s
1558 Wincanton – Jepeck EW 4pls
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