Daily Racing Thread Wednesday 7th. March 2018

Wednesday's Meetings

Catterick
N/H 7 Races 1:50-4:50p.m.
Lingfield
A/W 7 Races 2:00-5:00p.m.
Fontwell
N/H 6 Races 2:10-4:40p.m.
Kempton(E)
A/W 8 Races 5:40-9:10p.m.

Racecards
At The Races
Racing Post
Sporting Life

Good Luck

 

Off to Fontwell, all winners gratefully received.

 

Won’t be around of the morrow but after all the chat about horses incredibly well handicapped in one sphere (Broadway Dreams over hurdles, in my mind, remains the absolute standout re this discussion) I see Mr Nicholls ditches timber for Cliffs of Dover and runs him on the level, at Lingfield Park (5.00) tomorrow, with the daughter up.

Cliffs of Dover was perched on 145 prior to his return to hurdling, last month, but tomorrow races off just 64 on the all-weather. Since he last ran on the flat, for Barrington’s boy, Cliffs Of Dover has won 6 out of 8 (including at Listed and Grade 2 level) in the NH sphere and looks a totally different animal to the one who’s flat formline reads -506535.

Now admittedly some horses just don’t function on the level and are far superior over obstacles but given the improvement shown since at Ditcheat you would have to expect even if that is the case Cliffs of Dover should be able to exploit such a low ranking. What Cliffs of Dover is though is bred for the flat as his dam was a winner in that sphere and his grand-dam a Group 2 winner. Plus Cliffs of Dover’s half-brother won 3 races for that terrible old rogue, Sir Mark Prescott.

The bigger worry would be that he has returned to training (following the injury that kept him off the track for 14 months) not the same animal as he was – i.e. he’s regressed.

But if connections are going to aim him at the big handicaps later in the term (such as the ‘Ascot Stakes’ and ‘Ces’) then they are going to need a significant hike in the weights for Cliffs of Dover to qualify for them. Would expect to see this climb through up the perches to begin after the Lingers race of the morrow.

At the time of writing there are no quotes (and ultimately I wouldn’t be surprised to see something short enough to mean ‘no bet’) but SkySports are forecasting 11/8.

 

Please note that the Mr Henderson with runners, at the meet, isn’t OUR Mr Henderson.

Cor blimey though I think anyone who bets in a few of those heats deserves one of those medals for bravery pinned on their lapels by a sneering minor Royal. Diff-e-calt.

Standout for me at the meet (although I won’t be backing it) is the county’s Crushed (3.10). Had a very decent reputation after arriving from the Haggas barn for 40,000 guineas in the Autumn but was absolutely terrible on his hurdling bow, back in January, when sent off a warm favourite. A flat rating of 76, and 2 wins in that sphere, shows Crushed has the potential but he will need to improve markedly on his NH debut if he is to figure tomorrow. The race doesn’t look the strongest maiden hurdle ever run though and Crushed, as a 4YO, is receiving a fair bit of weight from those forecast ahead of him in the market.

Interesting to see how he fares and if he hadn’t have run at Catterick Bridge, in the above mentioned race, you would expect Crushed to be favourite or challenging for that ‘honour’.

 

Seriously, could you take 11/10 for a horse that's form reads 5PPPPP.....?

 

there are folk who do , see if alex tips it. ......

 

Not that you need horses off me but for what it's worth I reckon Free Range in the 3:40 looks worth a bet back over hurdles at around 7/1.

Enjoy your day.

 

K 610 Bookmaker 9/1 gotta be winning soon or at least hopes for a place. Going to double up ew with Strategic Heights 7/1 who is a leading type and hopefully the jockey can steer him home from the front - at least there are no balls for Spencer to be focusing on!

 

Bookmaker. 6.10 Kempton.
Come from a long way back last time and good old Josephine might get him in a better position. Well handicapped and due. 8/1 and being backed.

 

A little bit out there! But have you considered the favourites?

 

One of the guys on my table last night was bigging up Cabarnet D'arlene in the 340. It is favourite though.

 

My mum said number six

 

I like the look of Sandy Beach in 4.10 - tizzard form just coming at the right time, he is very well handicapped off a mark of 119, it is raining but he has won on heavy ground, so that shouldn’t be an issue. But as I have backed it, probably best to stay away

Have a good day!!

 

8:40 Kempton - Munsarim 25/1 ew

 

I think tizzard will have a couple,have a look fergal runner and I think greatrex might win the bumper. Btw if you see dickie ask him for a lift to ogradys preview night after. It's gonna be a cracker. Johnson, fehily,Coleman, fitzy and Harvey. Gutted I can't make it I'll be at Wembley.

 

Cheers. That race that FOB has one in looks like Plot Central...!

Looking busy next week....4 days at Cheltenham and now it looks like an appetiser at Chelmsford on Monday night!

 

Where you staying for Cheltenham, in town?

 

At my daughters house in South Cerney. Getting the bus there and back each day. No driving!

 

We will have to have a beer in town after racing one day. I'm trying to get a ticket for Thursday in tatts my cousins in their with his mates.we normally go best mate as that's where my old man and my uncles like to go. If I get a ticket we can have a meet up Thursday on track.

 

Alex's two to avoid today.....

Star Archer (17.40K) & Gronkowski (19.10K) both to win