I appear to be finding every which way not to win at the moment. I was feeling mighty sweet all the way round with Hill Of Tara at Uttoxeter yesterday, who was absolutely cruising through the race, taking lengths out at every fence, but then got taken wide by the loose horse four fences out and that was the end of that.
She was pulled up, but having lost forward momentum, or at least in the right direction, I think Charlie Deutsch was more looking after the horse than anything amiss. For how well he had both travelled and jumped, it was immensely frustrating.
The other on the day, Sappingirl (28/1), ran a very fair race in the bumper at Ascot, finishing 6th of 15. He doesn’t do anything in a rush and made Harry Cobden work at it for a long way, but he definitely has ability.
Anything he achieves around the two mile mark will be a bonus, as he looks like one who will come into his own when given further to run at. Definitely one I’ll be keeping firm tabs on.
Some cracking racing today and I really wanted to tackle a few at Ascot, but I just couldn’t nail a bet down at a price I wanted. There are two very good bets to be had though, with the first up being a fraction away from a 2pt Win bet at 12/1, instead opting to split it 1pt E/W.
Holloway Queen 12/1 | 1pt E/W
14:13 Hereford
T: Nicky Henderson
J: Fred Gordon
A mare who made a great start to life with Nicky Henderson, winning her Maiden a shade cosily and then slapping up in a small-field Listed Novice Hurdle at Haydock last Christmas. Unfortunately 2025 didn’t pan out for her.
She was found wanting in a Grade Novice Hurdle at Sandown, and then pulled up when “not right” at Aintree. She made her reappearance at Cheltenham’s November Meeting, where she pulled up again, but off the back of a 225-day lay-off, you have to forgive those.
The interesting bit for me here was how she is sent straight into a Mares’ Handicap off a very generous looking OR125. In Nicky’s Stable Tour with Unibet, he waxed fair lyrical about how this mare has trained over fences, labelling her “excellent” and said plainly she’ll be going Novice Chasing.
I think this is seen as an opportunity too good to miss, so an ettempt to make hay before dropping back into the Novice Handicaps.
This isn’t a route he has taken with many – 2009 Desert Orchid winner Petit Robin probably the most famous of those he has, who won a Hcap Chase off of 132 in November ’08, before winning the Desert Orchid the following year rated 161.
Result: Unplaced – U/10 -2pt
Led but pestered, mistake and unseated 7th (SP 7/2F)
Follow Your Heart 7/1 | 2pt Win
19:15 Wolverhampton
T: Mark Loughnane
J: Billy Loughnane
A five-time course winner, three of which under today’s rider and three times also in this grade (Class 4). The latest of those was March this year, where he won easily off a 1lb higher mark.
He has been competitive in two of his three runs this autumn/winter, but has been eased 3lbs in the weights for the privilidge, which sees him come here off of a dangerous mark.
His last run is what really interested me, where he ran 7th of 10 but was only beaten 2½ lengths in a fiercely competitive race for the grade, in a field made up of seasoned handicappers at handy weights.
This race here is entirely different, instead facing a field of unexposed rivals. That could mean he may bump into one or two who are just vastly better treated, but I’d sooner take one who is tried and tested over one (of many) who might be anything.
Billy Loughnane rides Wolverhampton superbly, and s operating at an impressive strike rate of 20% over this last year, scoring with 40 of his 195 rides at Dunstall Park.
This looks a serious chance for a local yard to strike, and I right fancy him.
Result: WON – 1/12 +18
Ducked sharply left start, prominent, no impression over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, led final strides (SP 9/1)
Other notes…
Recent dissapointment Pallas Lord goes again at Newcastle (18:00, 20/1), but I can’t be fancying him on that last tilt. This looks like another race where there will be plenty of pace on and they seem determined to take him to the lead, so expect him to blow up again.
If they change tact and settle him midfield, which he can do, then he’d hold every chance. However, if ever there was a race to do that, it was the last day.
At Ascot I liked two of Skleton’s in the Handicaps, but none enough to get involved in what are fierce fields for an iffy time of year. Mount Gay Run in the Novices Hurdle (13:15, 9/2), who I wanted a good few pts more on to chance, and Faivoir in the Premier Handicap Hurdle (15:35, 20/1).
The latter was the closest I got to a bet, but drying ground and being a thoroughly exposed 10-year-old, he is almost certain to bump into one who just progresses well past him.
Best of luck with your punting today,
