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Call The Police
1430 Gowran Park. Really took to this horse last season, and really fancied him as a chasing type. Thought of him as a possible RSA horse, and I’ve put a few quid on him, so pleased to see him over fences today.
I’d hope he goes down that route, but obviously a few other novice races at The Festival to choose from if he even went there. I’d also have to forgive him a poor run there last year, so betting him for RSA just a little risky.
Certainly wouldn’t be betting him at odds on today, I’ll be more than pleased to see a good round of jumping from him.
Won with a bit to spare, and jumped really well. Encouraging start for him.
Duke of Monmouth
1340 Fontwell. Ran here last month in really testing conditions. Although he was relatively unfancied for it, he only lost out near the line. Thought he was going to land it, and had him picked out as the winner a long way from home. He travelled really well throughout, unlike the majority of his rivals that day, and just looked a natural. One of those horses who just screamed ‘chaser’ to me, and I think, in time, he’s got the potential to develop into a pretty useful one. Could be a decent replacement for the owners injury plagued Roll Along.
Finished 4th today, but no idea how he ran, too busy at work.
Astracad runs in the 1320 @ Cheltenham. Put up a good show against Al Ferof last month. If he repeated that, he’d have to go close today.
Really chuffed with that, good round of jumping, and good battling qualities at the end, hopefully more to come.
Since my last post, Ipsos Du Berlais has been beaten again. However, I wasn’t too disheartened. I thought, in defeat he still showed a fair bit of promise, and more confident that he’s got some good races in him over the next few seasons. Had a couple of really decent horses in front of him last week.
Pateese ran at Haydock last week in 2m 4f race on Heavy. Not surprisingly, he faded pretty tamely at the business end. Amazed he went for it, I can only hope they’re trying to get his mark down. Providing that hasn’t knocked the stuffing out of him, I’m pretty confident he’s got another decent prize in him this season.
Fabalu
1450 Ffos Las. One of my very favourite horses in training. Been waiting for his reappearance for some time now, having not run since April 2010. Long thought he was a live Grand National contender, and this should go a long way to answering that one. Was entered for Welsh National, and although I had a few quid on him for that, I’m actually glad he missed it. This seems a more sensible choice for his comeback, and part of what I strongly suspect, is a carefully thought out plan to get him ready for Aintree in April.
Not sure what to make of that today. Not the most competitive race, but the way he travelled and jumped for the majority of the race was very good to see. All went according to plan, until he came to a virtual walk in the home straight. I’ll remain positive, and put it down to lack of match fitness. Work cut out though to get him rated high enough for Aintree.
Storming Gale runs in the 1325 @ Catterick today. If he can’t win this today, I might have to delete the posts on him from this thread.
Seriously, still think he could be useful, but he’s got to land this today. Certainly won’t be backing him though.
Easily swept aside by the winner yesterday, and yet more jumping errors, bit disappointed with him just now.
Circus Clown runs in the 1325 @ Ayr today. If his jumping has improved since his last appearance, then I think he should win this today.
Another disappointment. Jumped better today, but very easily beaten.
Consigliere
1450 Wincanton. Outsider of the field today, and based on his recent form, that probably seems about right. I’ve bet him today, but probably more out of hope than expectation.
He is of interest for Cheltenham though. One of those Pipe horses who seems to come alive round there in March.
I bet him for The Byrne Group Plate last season and he ran a nice race at a big price, coming up against even better handicapped horses. It wouldn’t surprise me if this turns out to be the long term plan again. I’ve bet him this week at 25’s for that race, if he turned up for that I’d be very hopeful of a decent run.
As for today, not expecting too much, if he gives me a return, I’ll be pleasantly surprised.
That went as well as could be expected, won very comfortably, and all roads hopefully lead to Cheltenham now surely. No doubt he’ll bypass the Plate now, and take in another race.
Ipsos Du Berlais runs 1355 Punchestown. Still think he could be very good. He’ll have to be, to beat Western Leader who was very decent before his setback, and Sergeant Guibs, who seems to be very well fancied today.
Really dug that one out, and ended up winning well. He continues to look very promising.
Pateese runs in the 1435 at Ascot. Easy to forgive him his last run, seemed totally unsuitable. This seems a better race for him, and think Ascot will be ideal. The trip might stretch him a bit, but think he could sneak a place. 12’s seems a fair price, so he goes in the Saturday multiple, but didn’t fancy him enough to bet him on his own. Be more than happy to be proved wrong on this.
Consigliere runs in the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock. If he can see out this trip on the going, then I’ll be very impressed. On the face of it, I don’t think it would suit him. However, he deserves it after his performance a fortnight ago. If he does land this, then I’d think my a/p voucher for Cheltenham could be ripped up. With that in mind, I hope he’s looked after today if it’s clear he’s struggling. I’ve left him alone today.
Seen enough today to think that Pateese will be of serious interest in one of the big 2m Handicaps, despite being unplaced, was happy with him today.
Consigliere ran his heart out, and hopefully he’ll be given a break before Cheltenham.
1445 Newcastle. D-Day for Fabalu today, and my now, apparently, annual bid to throw good money away on him for The Grand National. He’s got to win this, to have any chance of making the line-up at Aintree. Even then, it still might not be enough to get in. Times running out. Hopefully McCains worked wonders with him since he bottomed out last time, but I’ll be watching with a lot more hope than expectation.
Romulus D’Artaix
Runs in the 1525 @ Warwick. Bet him a couple of times, and thought there was a hint of some ability in him. To be honest, he’s disappointed a little, but hopefully this introduction to fences, and the sharper trip, might just bring that improvement out in him. Travelled well for a long way at ascot last time. I’m hopeful that he can pick up a few races over the next couple of seasons.
Fabalu faded like a light yet again, and looks as if his injury has taken it’s toll. A shame. At his best this would have been a formality.
As for Romulus D’Artaix, I won’t be looking out for him after today, he didn’t look anything special at all.
Call The Police runs tomorrow in the 1440 @ Leapordstown, The Dr P J Moriarty Novices Chase.
Obviously not as well fancied as the first 2 in the market, but I’m hopeful he gives a good account of himself. He’ll have his work cut out to trouble the front 2, who seem very decent. I had a few quid earlier in the week @ 10’s, and was quite happy with that price.
As I said earlier in the thread, I’ve been betting him for the RSA, which was always going to be a risky approach. That certainly seems to be the case, as the market would suggest he’s not going there. Nonetheless, hoping for a another good round tomorrow, which hopefully will set him up for a visit to Cheltenham, albeit, maybe not for the RSA. You never know!
Very happy with him today, hard to find fault with him. He just came up against a very good horse. Would still love to see him go for RSA though!
Consigliere takes his chance in The Racing Plus Chase. He’s looked as good as ever on his last 2 runs, he didn’t go down too easily last time. Think he’s got a really decent chance today, though I just slightly favour Deep Purple. Just.
I’m hopeful of a decent run from him, which will hopefully leave enough time for a good show at Cheltenham. Whether he’ll be running for me in The Plate, well, I’m even less confident now, but I’ll probably know a lot more this afternoon.
Not quite as impressive today, though seemed to run on at the end. None the wiser as to future plans, but I’ve not given up totally yet on The Plate at the festival.
A good day, with Fabalu
, and Storming Gale both winning at Bangor.Storming Gales jumping is still a "bit ropey", but he picked them off, and won comfortably in the end. A glimmer of hope for him, I’d all but written him off. I hope he can pick up a few more races here and there. Still a lot of work to be done on him though.
Fabalu, didn’t beat much, but there was no sign of him stopping to a halt, like his previous outings. Again, he travelled really well, and put in an excellent round of jumping. Wasn’t sure I’d see him again after his last run, which was difficult to watch, but that was more like it today today, very encouraging. I’m sure McCain may be eyeing a few more staying chases with him in the near future. I’d love for him to land one of the big ones, but for the meantime, delighted with that today.
What I meant to say was a longer trip might bring out some improvement in Romulus D’Artaix………….won at 9’s today over 2 miles 6.
I may also have to give him another chance now…….
Imperial Cup. Pateese. An outsider today, currently trading as high as 33’s. I think he’s got a decent e/w chance, there’s bound to be one or two plotted up down the bottom somewhere. I expected him to win a couple of handicaps this season, so though completely unfancied for this, I don’t think he’s a forlorn hope. Track and distance will suit, so hope he can spring something of a shock here.
1635 Ayr. Circus Clown. He’s been a bit disappointing, but to be fair to him, he’s managed to finish second in his last 3 runs, so nothing, if not consistent.
Although he was in the firing line coming home, I knew his fate. It was very similar to The Greatwood, a wall of horses behind him waiting to swallow him up, before he fades tamely. Can’t see him going to The County now. As for next targets, I don’t know, Scottish Cahmpion Hurdle or Swinton might be an option, but I’d probably be interested in seeing him at the "Whitbread" meeting back at Sandown.
Didn’t see the Circus Clown race, and looking at the result, he seems to have disappointed again.
Circus Clown was well beaten by the turn in the straight and was never seriously in contention. He’s run some fair races for second places this season, but he’s been comfortably held by the winners and isn’t seeing out his races as well as I’d like.
Rob
, and Storming Gale both winning at Bangor.
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