Monday's Meetings Lingfield A/W 6 Races 1:00-3:50p.m. Catterick Flat 7 Races 1:45-5:08p.m. Roscommon(E) Flat 6 Races 4:45-7:45p.m. Windsor(E) Flat 6 Races 4:50-7:25p.m. Bangor-on-Dee(E) N/H 7 Races 5:00-8:05p.m. Racecards At The Races Sporting Life Racing Post Good Luck
Hello, all. Hope everyone well. Am really looking forward to the hurdling bow of FIRST STREET (5.00 Bangor) of the morrow. This gelding is trained by our very own Lieutenant and owned (and also bred) by old girl, Lady Bamford. First Street has shown a nice level of form in finishing runner-up in both bumper starts to date. And the 4YO son of Golden Horn could potentially be a nice sort over the sticks (although I guess you could say that about any horse before it has ever jumped a hurdle in public!) and certainly better than most running at this time of year. I would expect him to commence his hurdling career with a win tomorrow. His breeding indicates class as well as First Street's dam was a Group 3 winner, on the level. Like this one team and would be surprised if he didn't win. Good luck all.
Mount Fairweather 5/1 Roscommon 4.45 - meets the reopposing Pride of Derry here where they finished 3rd and 2nd respectively lto. Pride of Derry was arguably unlucky not to win but Mount Fairweather made the running and it seemed as though he got a little lonely and then tired at the business end, where he hung left allowing Malayan and Pride of Derry to go past. Roscommon doesn't have as stiff a fiinsih as at Galway and with Mount Fairweather drawn out wide I am hoping he can get across swiftly enough without hitting the front too early and get some cover. With Joseph O'Brien seemingly able to turn water to wine (keep improving them) with these types I think at the price he's a better bet to land this race where very little separates them. Worth noting that Malayan (who won the Mount Fairweather/Pride Of Derry race at Galway) goes in the following auction race but is a short priced fave currently, could receive a form boost prior to racing. Have a good Monday
I like Esspeegee in the opener at Lingfield. Beaten fav last 2 runs but I think to soon to write the horse off (run at Brighton 2 runs ago when a close 2nd was promising). Has run well on the AW in the past and cheekpieces back on could eak out some improvement. Horse is on a good mark.Stable amongst the winners in the last 14 days.
Catterick 2.55 Kodikova Another horse that was getting market support last 2 runs without living up to expectations. Its Paul Mulrennan's only booked ride today and 9 from 16 runners from the Camacho yard have finished in the first three last 14 days. I've the feeling this former US runner will show an improved display today.
Bangor 17,35 Dawn Rider 11/1 e/w four places 18,35 Wishfull Dreaming 4/1 19,05 Calum Gilhooley 5/2 19,35 Shanandoa 11/1 e/w five places with betfair, others four
I went with Barud in that Roscommon maiden mentioned by SaveTheHumans. The Weld horse has had a few goes now and ran a solid enough race in a Nursery off 85 last time out. The blinkers applied there are replaced by a first time visor, so I am assuming they feel there is more to unlock from the gelding and as he has already been de-plummed they are now running out of tricks. One last go in the hope that the visor can unlock a few pounds more and 85 isn't a bad standard for a 2YO maiden anyway. 4.45 Roscommon Barud 9/2 Good luck all.
I see the Racing Post ratings are in for yesterday's 3.10 at Pontefract. I had backed the 106 OR Valeria Messalina and she ran a shocker. Her RPR? Wait for it, wait for it..............7 Yes that is SEVEN, a James Bond 007, Licensed To Stink 7. How can a horse run 99 lbs below form and be assessed as normal post race? I've rarely seen anything as poor as that without the horse sustaining an injury or having something obviously amiss.
Massively underperformed there given the winner was Pride Of Derry - the pair closely matched on their last run. Just put it down to experience is all I can do there, not to be.
Well done! Shanandoa race was very interesting, the winner and the McCain horse both got interfered with by the faller and I thought both can be upgraded effort wise.
My selection Barud also ran a shocker there. Barely ahead of a 300/1 shot and in arrears of a 100/1 horse who was rated 41 on RPR for their first start when last of six. Barud had run to 84, 81, 82 and 88 on his previous four starts and it is hard to fathom that he was beaten further today than when he ran behind Guineas favourite Point Lonsdale. Efforts like this make you reluctant to put selections up because it makes you look like a chump. Having had one run 99 lbs below her rating the other day it makes you think of backing Usain Bolt in the 100M and watching him trail in last clocking 15 seconds. Never mind, York is coming and perhaps we will see good horses running to something like their form.
Barud was given as running 21 lbs below his previous start and Mount Fairweather 20 lbs below his previous race. Barud's jockey reported that the gelding hung left throughout the race. Not sure if Mount Fairweather had any reason for his poor run. Barud was rated 88 for his previous race and Pride Of Derry won the race with a performance rated 88, so if Barud had run to his previous form it would theoretically have been very close to winning it.
