"Something for the Weekend, Sir?" 16th/17th Jan 2021

Good stuff Oddy, and interestingly you've picked one of the races where I have gone into the antepost market. The Hampton is a race that Nicholls stated as being the target for Next Destination, and given the make up of the race at entry stage I thought the 2/1 on offer was pretty good value. He was the only horse jocked up at that point, and my theory was that I was expecting a couple of these to go elsewhere. Fiddlerontheroof and If The Cap Fits are both horses I want to take on over fences, despite their lofty rankings I think both are vulnerable to horses who improve over fences.

I also expect Dickie Diver not to run here and probably Full Back too, which would mean that the race should be set up nicely for Next Destination at the prices that are available currently.

It is a relatively quiet weekend of racing, so nothing too exciting to get stuck into antepost.

 

A small contribution from Timeform

FIVE HORSES TO FOLLOW IN BRITAIN AND IRELAND THIS WEEKEND

Next Destination – Hampton Novices’ Chase, 13:50 Warwick (Saturday)

Chatham Street Lad – Dan & Joan Moore Memorial Handicap Chase, 14:15 Fairyhouse (Saturday)

Jay Bee Why – Leamington Novices’ Hurdle, 14:25 Warwick (Saturday)

Notachance – Classic Handicap Chase, 15:00 Warwick (Saturday)

Envoi Allen – Killiney Novice Chase, 13:20 Punchestown (Sunday)

Follow link above for article

 

He was my horse to follow for last term and never ran! I see Dickie Diver is now fave for the Ultima at the Festival but (unless the qualification process has changed) surely he needs another 2 runs prior to Cheltenham to even be qualified. They will need to get the old boy out soon if he is to meet that criteria.

 

Nice nod to Sire de Berlais who, of course, finished 4th in the Warwick qualifier and then won the Final at the Festival. Will lightening strike twice again this term?!? I'm sure there will be much interest in those finishing 4th - 6th this time around with a view to the Final in March. A race to watch and then rewatch with the old notebook, methinks. Nudge, nudge and all that...

 

I thought it was telling that they put him in a handicap first time over fences, surely it would be silly to ruin the mark he has by running him against 150+ potential chasers in a graded race if a festival handicap was the route they wanted to go?

 

Nice nod to Sire de Berlais who, of course, finished 4th in the Warwick qualifier and then won the Final at the Festival. Will lightening strike twice again this term?!? I'm sure there will be much interest in those finishing 4th - 6th this time around with a view to the Final in March. A race to watch and then rewatch with the old notebook, methinks. Nudge, nudge and all that...[/QUOTE]


The interesting one in that is Potters Corner, who will be a jumpers bumper away from completing the full set at this rate -

Cross Country
Handicap Hurdle
Grand National
Jumpers Bumper

Many had presumed that the Cross Country would be his festival target before the big one, but it looks as if they want to get him qualified for the Pertemps Final. No doubt we will see him staying on into 4th or 5th here under a sympathetic ride.

 

At Warwick, on Saturday, that Grade 2 Novice Chase has cut up to just 3 runners (no Dickie Diver), The 'Pertemps Qualifier' is much more competitive with 13 ants, sorry decs. No Champagne Platinum but the above mentioned Potters Corner does go.

 

2/1 about what is now a 4/6 shot in a 3 runner race is a nice position, good old Paul Nicholls scaring off the opposition again. The issue with racing is that there are so few top class horses in the UK coming through the ranks and anything rated 140+ can swerve these graded races and take in novice chases instead where they will be long odds on. It is about time we had a look at novice chases, perhaps get rid of them and just run novice handicap chases outside of those graded races?

 

It depends on whether they ban racecourse gallops as well!! Which in all seriousness I think they should ban those days where the cameras go.

They could put on a few listed novice chases early season for the best horses, but they need to make racing more competitive and viable, the novice chase sphere is awful because they just swerve each other all season until the festivals/big graded races.

 

"She won’t be going jumping and she could be really nice on the Flat."


Should be banned from racing for that

 

They will have to change up the qualifying for the Pertemps race, a race designed for trainers and jockeys to not have their horses run on merit and then go hose up in the main thing. 1st two qualify and work backwards after all the races are complete to get the remainder, that way no one can be certain of a run if they finish 29 lenghts off in 5th position or 16 lenghts 3rd to a rag who was primed to win it's one and only race that day.

Eileendover has looked good but has the unfortunate handicap of being trained by Pam Sly, Grangee is a nice looking horse but he has the handicap of Nico De Boinville riding. I'd like to see Eileendover win the race personally, and I do hope Pam Sly can get more than 3 or 4 wins from the horse before a career of frustrating places and excuses about being highly handicapped.

The card is good in Ireland Sunday Oddy, I'm not sure they will all stand their ground though, not sure Envoi Allen will run, will he?

 

I was just coming on to say he is going to run, bit late to the party. It will be a good ask for him to concede the weight and win. Send him straight to the Gold Cup then.

 

2 from 4 with the big race to come tomorrow. All eyes will be on that first race over in Ireland!!