Daily Thread - Thursday 20th June - Royal Ascot

Its Off Topic a bit but James Gandolfini died yesterday, he of Sopranos fame Tony Soprano... He was 51...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-22980414

What a shame and a great loss to his family and friends...

The Sopranos was one of my favourite all time programme's, and i still watch it now... And Tony Soprano is one of the best tv charcaters we have ever seen... R.I.P

 

Remember Ralphie's horse in season 4, Pie Oh My? When the thing won, Ralph had to shell out half his winnings to the boss. Great series, with a fantastic cast. He was my age, James Gandolfini, born in 1961. RIP big guy.

 

I have a bit of a soft spot for Windhoek. Will love the quick ground. I have it between him the O'brien horse and ze german. Might stick a Tricast combi on.

Like Wind Fire in the first and Alive Alive oh on the second

 

Archers, is it right that H Turner has left Bell's yard? Anyone picking that up?

 

Hayley Turner and Michael Bell are to go their separate ways after a 13-year association that peaked with the victory of Margot Did in the 2011 Group One Nunthorpe Stakes. The pair insist there has been no falling out but the news deprives Turner, the most successful female jockey Britain has seen, of her most reliable source of winners.


Quoted in the Daily Mail, Bell said: "Hayley is a great girl and I will continue to use her but she has been with me for 13 years and sometimes you just need to freshen things ups." Working hard to put the most positive gloss on his decision, he added: "It hopefully will also do Hayley good – she possibly needs a new challenge. It will give her a chance to build new contacts."


Turner had the grace to thank Bell for the security he has offered her and told the Racing Post: "It's a bit scary to suddenly be going it alone and I don't really know what to expect, but there's lots of racing and lots of horses to ride, so I'm sure it will work out fine."


Bell has used Turner more than any other jockey in each of the past four years, peaking last year, when he gave her 157 rides. However, their strike-rate together was only 12% that year, down from 20% in 2011.


The Derby-winning trainer is enduring an unproductive summer, having gone 28 days and 50 runs without a winner. He has had only 16 winners in 2013 at a strike-rate, 9%, that would be his lowest for more than 20 years if it does not improve by the end of the season.


His prize-money total has been sustained by placed efforts in major races by The Lark and Sovereign Debt. Turner has ridden both horses but was not in the saddle when the pair were stepped up into Group One contests.


Turner's most recent ride for Bell was on the 10-1 runner-up Tautira at Lingfield on Saturday. Her statistics from recent seasons suggest she will be mainly reliant for winners on James Fanshawe and Conor Dore until such time as she can forge a new association

 

It's in today's RP. An amicable split by all accounts. She did seem to get overlooked for the high profile rides though that may have been more to do with the owners than the trainer. Anyway, she's gone freelance. I sincerely hope she gets some realistic chances in the big races, she deserves it imo.

 

In the early hours, before going to bed, I checked the BBC Weather Forecast. In no half measure was it predicting heavy showers and rain for the Ascot area from early morning through most of the day. I decided then that a few judicious investments on tose who might enjoy a little cut in the ground would be advisable. I awoke this morning her in West London to not a hint of a shower, indeed it was warm and stuffy with the sun fighting to make itself known through the cloud. With trepidation did I visit the BBC Weather Website and lo and behold, it's all fecking change! Now, aside from a hint of a shower around midday, all is sweetness and light in the Ascot area. Remind me to kick Tomasz Shafenaker in the shafernakers next time I see him. Bah!

 

Irish sing along double today

No Nay Never in the opener followed by Alive Alive Oh in the second

Small e/w on Granell also later in the day

 

Coulsty and Simeon at Ascot for me 2 singles and a e/w double

 

This week has almost been enough to put me off racing.

Possibly only backing one today - Alive Alive Oh 3.05 - hearing it's the week's Irish banker.

 

Remember Ralphie's horse in season 4, Pie Oh My? When the thing won, Ralph had to shell out half his winnings to the boss. Great series, with a fantastic cast. He was my age, James Gandolfini, born in 1961. RIP big guy.

Its Off Topic a bit but James Gandolfini died yesterday, he of Sopranos fame Tony Soprano... He was 51...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-22980414

What a shame and a great loss to his family and friends...

The Sopranos was one of my favourite all time programme's, and i still watch it now... And Tony Soprano is one of the best tv charcaters we have ever seen... R.I.P



Best show and character ever. Gutted to hear that this morning. I loved Ralphie and his death scene at the hands of tony was brilliant. On a horse racing front I have put my two bets on Coulsty in the first and rite of passage in the stayers.

 

Morning all.
Today's lucky 15.
R.Ascot-3-05=Winsili, 3-45=Estimate, 5-00=Remote(Nap) 5-35=Bold Sniper.
Good luck to all.

 

Alive Alive oh a Non Runner

 

Blue wave 5:35 25-1

 

Really like Gold Cup day and I hope we get a good true run race unlike last year's slow run affair. The one I am on again is Saddlers Rock 3:45, he'll appreciate the good ground and the trip and if we can get a true run race i'm certain he'll be bang there again today and no one target's a race for me like John Oxx.

Of the other races I like Wentworth 4:25 who was unlucky lto and was no doubt the winner only for not getting a run through. It might not get any easier in today's big field but I'm willing to give this very well regarded horse a chance here and hope Hughsie can steer him in the right direction.

 

$%!**£

 

Shame I really fancied Alive Alive Oh, did no rain come at all then?

 

Lucky 63 EWHide Details

No Nay Never @ Guaranteed Price (5/1)WinOpen

2:30 Royal Ascot

Riposte @ Guaranteed Price (10/1)WinOpen

3:05 Royal Ascot

Estimate @ Guaranteed Price (6/1)WinOpen

3:45 Royal Ascot

Cape Peron @ Guaranteed Price (7/1)WinOpen

4:25 Royal Ascot

Elkaayed @ Guaranteed Price (7/1)WinOpen

5:00 Royal Ascot

Bold Sniper @ Guaranteed Price (11/2)WinOpen

5:35 Royal Ascot



REALLY keen on no nay never in the first with the ground dry, only worrying thing is that all the main foreign raiders have failed so far.

Also on Kylachy Rise, whoever put that up I agreee completely that hes well overprices and an ew bet for value for me.

 

Lucky 63 EWHide Details

No Nay Never @ Guaranteed Price (5/1)WinOpen

2:30 Royal Ascot

Riposte @ Guaranteed Price (10/1)WinOpen

3:05 Royal Ascot

Estimate @ Guaranteed Price (6/1)WinOpen

3:45 Royal Ascot

Cape Peron @ Guaranteed Price (7/1)WinOpen

4:25 Royal Ascot

Elkaayed @ Guaranteed Price (7/1)WinOpen

5:00 Royal Ascot

Bold Sniper @ Guaranteed Price (11/2)WinOpen

5:35 Royal Ascot



REALLY keen on no nay never in the first with the ground dry, only worrying thing is that all the main foreign raiders have failed so far.

Also on Kylachy Rise, whoever put that up I agreee completely that hes well overprices and an ew bet for value for me.