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Ladbrokes did it on the Championship races (Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase and World Hurdle) from November last year.
The firms normally go NRNB at the start of March.
Martin
HK Sprint
Rich Unicorn @ 40/1. My main bet on the card tonight is this John Size trained fellow who looks highly progressive particularly in light of his G2 handicap win on his penultimate start when coming from last to first to defeat todays rivals Little Bridge, Entrapment, Joy And Fun and Dim Sum over todays CD. He got no sort of run last time out when fourth behind two of those rivals and Admiration off level weights and with a clear run I think he’d definitely have been in the shake up. I have to say it’s a race I love for betting purposes and the only other bet I can see is Little Bridge at 9/1 as he’s a proven top grade performer in HK and I can’t have any of the European horses on my mind for this and the Singapore star Rocket Man has a very poor draw to overcome.HK Mile
Destined For Glory @ 11/1. Was a decent horse in Ireland for Ger Lyons racing under the name of Wade Giles and has proven to be a high class performer in Hong Kong for his new connections including last time out when beating Ambitious Dragon over a mile in a Group 2 trial for this last month. He’d reviously been beaten as favourite in a handicap over 9f and in a similar race over 7f the time before but the form of his last run looks solid and the price looks far too big. Would also add that the 66’s Outdoor Pegasus (not beaten far LTO by Destined For Glory) and the 100/1 about Fat Choy Oohlala (also close up LTO when upped in grade) are too big.HK Cup
California Memory @ 10/1. Unlucky in running last time out when beaten behind Thumbs Up (Vase runner), Pure Champion and Irian in the trial for this last month and had previously taken out a G2 Handicap over a mile. Arguably his best run came when runner-up behind Ambitious Dragon (who’s a very worthy favourite here) at Kranji back in May when he came late and fast as he usualy does to take second late on. I think he’ll go well whilst I’ll also have a saver on Ambitious Dragon who IMO represents decent value at 2/1 when compared to the same price available about French raider Cirrus Des Aigles.Martin
one would have to be extremely naive to assume that she’s in this position because she’s been in love with the game since she was a child.
Her dad was an on-course bookmaker of some renown, so that comment is a tad wide of the mark, for all this particular message was off-kilter.
Chas still stands at Hove dog track – not sure if he’s still around on UK racecourses though, certainly haven’t seen him recently.
There’s a 2 1/2m Hunter Chase at Cheltenham on HC night if I remember correctly or he might be suited to the Ladies Hunter Chase at Stratford at the end of May – possibly with the ever capable Gina Andrews.
Waiting for the re-appearance of Over The Phone too here which will hopefully be sooner rather than later
He was 4th in the Mens Open Stodge when a 4/5 fav, Offshore Account won the race.
He seemed to travel well for a long way but IMO he’s better on the speed tracks like Cottenham and Higham – 2m 5f Hunter Chases etc. are likely to be his cup of tea later in the season though you’re right he was one of the better young horses last season.
Alan Hill took a stroll into the ring though don’t think he fancied the 4/5
Aces Or Better likely to go well in the Tweseldown Open too if it develops into a test of stamina – was top 4 in 10 of 11 starts in Open’s last season so providing his new connections are as good as Graham McKeever he should go well and he stays 3m 4f so a stiff finish will help.
If you don’t mind a trip to Brackley then I can fully recommend Whitfield a week on Sunday – quite whether it’ll have much for the kids at this meeting is another matter but it’s normally a well supported meeting with plenty of good competitive races.
Oh and the added bonus of my self and GC I think.
Kicks For Free won at Barbury Castle yesterday in the Ladies Open
Gidam Gidam had his first start since the Scottish National of 2010 when 3rd in the Mens equivalent.
Race 1 – Won by ex-rules horse Mount Benger under a cracking ride from his Novice pilot. Third was New Little Bric who ran with some success under rules over here and in France.
Race 2 – ex-Nicky Henderson mare Kahlua Cove (half to Amaretto Rose) won Div 1 of this Mares Maiden, she looks like she’s able to score in a Restricted in time.
Race 3 – Pretty Penny who was tailed off in three rules runs for Martin Keighley earlier this year took the 2nd division of the Mares Maiden.
Race 4 – Offshore Account won the Mens Open on this tough staying track.
Race 5 – The Richard Barber trained Toby Lerone (half to Mr Warbucks) won this for Niche Market’s owner. He did well for a 4yo on his racecourse debut and was running on strongly at the finish to suggest he has a decent future under rules as a staying chaser in time. The horse I part own ran in this but was Pulled Up approcahing 6 out, the vet is down at the yard today so we’ll try and find out what the exact problem is.
Race 6 – Won by the ex-Edward Stanners trained What A Laugh for Gary Hanmer and Josh Hamer. He was my nap of the meeting and was last seen when pulled-up behind Oneeightofamile at the Punchestown Festival. His best effort was when runner-up in a Limerick Maiden Hurdle in March whilst he was runner-up in a Dromahane Maiden in May 2010.
Martin
Can’t disagree with any of that and as Paul allude’s to I’d make Gareth Topham a very very short priced favourite to be the one of the three mentioned who makes it big
Any ideas on a meeting place?
Last years was a nice pub in Holborn IIRC (though I never made it).
Cheers VTC – Not sure if they’re aiming him at the race but they think he has plenty in hand on his current rating when tackling decent trips.
Hoping Chapoturgeon turns up on Sunday at Barbury if I go Jeremy – working out what to oppose him with is the main question
Rain in Wiltshire and Swindon is greatly appreciated this week so that Aim For The Stars can make his seasonal return too
Not forgetting that twostarts back she was running in a similar race on unsuitably fast ground whilst she’d beaten a well regarded horse on her bumper debut the time before.
I think that’s twice in two years a daughter of Catcher In The Rye has won that Listed race.
Thanks Tuffers – had a feeling that’s where it came from but surely adding £5 on isn’t going to break the bank, could easily raise at least an extra £1m or so just from that. It’s also going directly to prize money so not like the BHA are taking 20% or the bookmakers taking 15% etc.
It is indeed Reet – if "racing" has learnt anything from the past few years fiasco it should be that it’s over reliant on bookmakers contributing to the prize money and running of racing.
Rightly or wrongly bookmakers are moving and have moved offshore and there’s not a lot that the BHA, Horsemans Group etc. can do about it without intervention from the government, intervention that they’ve already admitted won’t be forthcoming.
If they are really desperate for the £117.1m then they’d be much better moving away from the HBLB funding model and more towards sponsorship and racecourses – particularly given it took government intervention to obtain as much as they did from the HBLB.
Anyone know where the extra £32.9m that racing "needs" is going to come from?
Martin
