Pride Of Dulcote

Terrible news concerning Pride Of Dulcote at the weekend.

Pride Of Dulcotes trainer Paul Nicholls is quoted as saying "He was a very good horse and, for us, he was the next generation. You hate to see that sort of thing happening. The owner was here as well, but what can you say in circumstances like that?"

I was obviously a fan of the horse, having him on my Dirty Dozen list. It is a shame when we lose any horse in this way and it is even more tragic that we will now never get to see just how good the horse might have been.

Moonshine And Pride

Horrible wet, damp, cold, miserable morning but there is some good racing today and hopefully I can find a winner or two to warm the cockles.
Up at Haydock in the 2.45 I like the look of Mr Moonshine. Available at around 6-1 this morning the seven-year-old looks certain to stay, having won over further and on similar going, and can be considered the 'dark horse' of the race with most people concentrating on Bensalem and Any Given Day.
Closer to Girdy Towers we have a nice meeting at Ascot and in the 3.00 Dirty Dozen member Pride Of Dulcote takes his chance. The drop in trip might not be ideal but as I said at the start of the season the unexposed eight-year-old could be anything and a win here would have to make him a serious contender for next months Cheltenham Gold Cup. I will be having a bit of the 5-2 early.
Be lucky

Better Luck Tonight? - Super 7

Too close to mention again yesterday with St. Ignatius getting caught close home and going down by a mere three-quarters of a length at 40-1.
We have two qualifiers again today in the7.05 at Wolverhampton so I shall be splitting the stakes between the two. The grey mare Our Kes has a case on paper without being the system pick and the gelding Le Corvee may have been disappointing last time but I am not about to leave out a big price animal having been so close with Steel City Boy (13-2), St. Ignatius (40-1)  and Colamandis (25-1) all being beaten less than a length.
Be lucky.

Bag A Saint

The Super 7 system found a nice winner yesterday and we have another race today at Wolverhampton. Once you have done the maths and allowed for the penalties we have two qualifiers in the 6.00, Aggbag and St. Ignatius.
The later named hasn't much form to shout about of late, but the same could have been said of Colamandis last week and the beast came second at 25-1 caught in the last 100 yards. Aggbag has notched up three wins at the track and is a more obvious punt. I will be splitting the level stakes between the two.
Be lucky

Super 7 Is Back

The Super 7 system is back with a bang today Lunar River getting the job done at 5-1 with the other qualifier Holyfield Warrior duly following home in second - shame didn't have the forecast!

Kempton Super 7

Very quiet thus far this week but we do have a Super 7 qualifier at Kempton today. In the 5.10 Lunar River at 11.2 generally and Holyfield Warrior (a previous qualifier) at around 6-1 are the bets, I will be splitting the level stakes between the two.
Be lucky

Newbury Drama

Horrific scenes from Newbury yesterday as two horses, Fenix Two and Marching Song, unfortunately died in the paddock prior to the opening race. Speculation has it that they may have suffered an electric shock, an underground cable has reportedly been found, though investigations are on-going. A third horse, Kid Cassidy, collapsed but thankfully recovered. The horses were being mounted in the parade ring when they fell to the ground and died. Thoughts are naturally with connections at this terribly sad time.
BHA Chief Exec Nic Coward is quoted as saying 'This was a tragic incident and our thoughts have to be with the connections. Once the incident had taken place racecourse officials got together with trainers, jockeys and owners and I think in difficult and freakish circumstances, they had some difficult decisions to make and made the right ones. Obviously Newbury are still in close contact with investigators they have there carrying out inspections, trying to work out what really happened. It is premature to describe in detail what happened because that would be speculation, but fingers are being pointed at some kind of electrical fault. Post-mortems are also being carried out. I think we should stress that racecourses have a very strong track record of dealing with all of these issues at the track in the interest of welfare - the horse, the jockey, trainers, owners and the customer. Racecourses are doing all they can and at the moment I think we should look at this as a bizarre moment that people who have been around racing for decades and decades have never seen the like. Courses are very vigilant and owners and trainers are very vigilant always. People across the country have seen this happen and their feelings will be for the connections of the horses."

Need A Friend

Morning dear reader. Some nice racing today at Newbury and I shall be investing a couple of bob on What A Friend in the AON Chase at 2.25.
In the Emerald Isle Dirty Dozen member Zaidpour is out in the Novice Hurdle at 2.45 as is expected to get back to winning ways.
Be lucky

Be Brave

The Super 7 tip Avonvalley was a non-runner yesterday unfortunately but we have two qualifiers today in the very last race of the day the 8.10 at Wolverhampton.
On The Cusp is a non-runner so the level stakes money now gets split between Brave Decision and Colamandis. The latter named filly hasn't shown much form to get excited about but I must stick with the system. On the plus side the grey gelding Brave Decision shaped well enough on his return race at Lingfield after a lay-off to suggest he is capable of taking a race such as this.
Be lucky

Happy Valley?

Not much luck yesterday with the Super 7 system, Steel City Boy got within half a length for us in the 5.10 and Ocean Of Peace appeared to be going well in the 6.10 before fading in the final furlong.
We have another qualifier today in the shape of Avonvalley in the 5.10 at Kempton; the filly hasn't been flying of late but at 14-1 here's hoping she will have us singing in the valleys later.
Be lucky

Super 7 At Kempton

The Class 7 system has several qualifiers today at Kempton. In the 5.10 we have Thoughtsofstardom, Mythical Blue and Steel City Boy so I will be splitting the level stakes three ways. In the 6.10 we have one qualifier, carrying the 6lb penalty for his win here 10 days ago, Ocean Of Peace.
Be lucky

Fontwell Fancy

Another winning day on Saturday and I have a little fancy today at Fontwell. Ilewin Tom put in an impressive performance at Folkestone last time out and despite having to carry the 7lb penalty today is expected to follow up; the gelding is due to get a 16lb rise in his OR for future races.
Be lucky

Two At Sandown

A winning day yesterday which is always nice.
We won't learn too much we don't already know about Binocular and Oscar Whisky today and both are expected to take easy wins at ridiculously long odds-on.
I do fancy two at Sandown and the first is Dirty Dozen list member Medermit. Two and a half miles is possibly stretching his stamina, I am convinced he is an Arkle horse, but he might be able to take this Novice Chase at 2.25.
My other fancy is Mister Hyde in the 3.00. The six-year-old is in fine form of late and I can see the beast progressing again today, and with the assistance of A P McCoy, he should take the Totesport6 Handicap Hurdle.
Be lucky

Handsome Squirrel

No joy with the Class 7 system yesterday and no races today. We do though at Wolverhampton tonight have the Bet On Winning Distances At bluesq.com Apprentice Handicap at 5.00 and Cyril The Squirrel is worth a small investment. I don’t usually get to involved with Apprentice Handicaps but the gelding seems to like it round her with two wins to his credit and a couple of good efforts so is given a tentative nod.
In the Stay At The Wolverhampton Holiday Inn Handicap at 6.30 Justcallmehandsome looks to have a chance back over the extended mile with the usually reliable George Baker booked for the ride and is also worth an investment.
Be lucky

UAE 1000 Guineas Goes To Mahbooba

Mahbooba, a daughter of Galileo, has won the UAE 1000 Guineas in some style for trainer Mike de Kock. Pulling away from her rivals in the final furlong to justify odd-on favouritism she won more than a shade cosily to give the great South African trainer his first win in the race, one of the few major Carnival races he hadn't won previously.

Mary Helen, Grace And Virtue

The title sounds like the start of a Priests speech but no I haven't found religion it's todays tip!
No luck yesterday with Farmers Dream turning into a bit of a nightmare looking like he might challenge before fading out of contention and Valentino Swing having a bumpy ride and finishing a staying on third beaten a neck and a neck.
We have another Class 7 race today, this time at Wolverhampton, in the shape of the one mile one furlong Great Offers Online At Wolverhampton-racecourse.co.uk Handicap at 7.30.
Two of the beasts qualify for the Super 7 system so I shall be splitting the level stake between Mary Helen and Grace And Virtue.
Be lucky

Dreaming Of Valentino - Super 7

A couple of recent Super 7 qualifiers are out again today at Kempton but they do not qualify to be backed this evening.
The two runners that should be backed are Farmers Dream in the 5.50 and Valentino Swing in the 7.50. Neither beast has been setting the world alight, in fact on paper their form is average at best even at this level, but a system is a system so I will be sticking with the level stakes bet on both as the system showed a nice 9.33 point profit for me in December.
Be lucky

January Review - Another Winning Month

Not a bad start to the year – following on from a winning December – GirdysGeeGees hit the high notes again in January. I showed a + 2.68 points profit to level stakes on all bets in January.
If we look at the ‘Super 7’ system alone it is showing a handsome + 9.33 points profit for the month to level stakes.
Here’s mud in your eye and to another winning month in February.

Shakalak Christmas

Some good racing at Cheltenham today but most of it might be better watched with the big meeting in March getting ever closer - 45 days to go.
I do like the look of one in the shape of Shakalakaboomboom in the 1.30. The seven-year-old will doubtless be popular coming from the bang-in-form Henderson team and I think he is worth a bob or two.
Over at Lingfield on the All Weather in the 2.25 Christmas Coming has a chance to notch up his first win. The colt is reappearing after a summer break and is officially rated 13lb higher than his rivals, I think the four-year-old will appreciate this step back up in trip and the return to polytrack.
Be lucky

It Would Be Folly To Ignore It

Nice little 3-1 Super 7 winner in the shape of Johnny Ebeneezer yesterday, unfortunately the second bet went down but at level stakes we finished two points up on the day again.
Today at Wolverhampton we have another qualifier and it’s one we backed last week. Kielty's Folly carries a 6lb penalty in the 4.40 for his Kempton success last week but the grey gelding looks to have a chance to rack up a quick double.
Be lucky

Super 7 At Kempton

Gone down with a touch of the ‘Placeitus’ this week with The Happy Hammer and Thumbs Up both finishing second to add to Dvinsky coming third on Sunday and the two seconds and third from the five tips on Saturday; at least the other two were winners.
We have two Class 7 races at Kempton today with three qualifiers for the Super 7 system. In the 4.50 Johnny Ebeneezer sets the standard on recent form and even at twelve years of age looks sure to go well. In the 5.20 we have two horses in the shape of Holyfield Warrior, who finished runner-up over a mile here last week in our bet that Kieltys Folly won for us, and the filly Mororless who hasn’t looked to impressive in her two starts this month but a system is a system and I am not about to change the rules.
Be lucky

Happy Hammer?

No Class 7 races today so the Super 7 system is on the back burner again. I do like the look of one at Lingfield in the shape of The Happy Hammer. Winner over course and distance 18 days ago, the 2lb rise doesn't appear to harsh and the gelding has a big chance in the 2.55.
Here's hoping it's an omen for later tonight with the Hammers taking on Birmingham in the second leg of the Carling Cup semi-final - Up the Hammers!
Be lucky

Thumbs Up At Leicester

Over at Leicester today I am going to take on the odds-on shot in the Dick Christian Novices' Chase, 3.10. Likely jolly Giorgio Quercus took a heavy fall on his chasing debut at Plumpton, he was going well at the time, but as they say jumping is the name of the game.
Thumbs Up was the highest rated of the four runners over hurdles, and duly won first time over fences at Cartmel last season. The form of that race isn’t exactly sensational stuff but Donald McCain is likely to have the grey ready for his seasonal reappearance and if there is a chink in the armour of Giorgio Quercus he looks the most likely to take advantage.
Be lucky

Attendances Up In 2010

Good to read the figures released by The Racecourse Association showing that attendances at racecourses increased in 2010 by a reported 3.4% on 2009 with over 5,769,000 reported visitors - the second consecutive year attendances have increased. The number would surely have topped the six million mark if it wasn’t for the huge number of meetings lost to the worst winter since records began.
I’ve said it before and I will no doubt say it again; you can have all the gimmicks and offers you like but supply a quality product and quality service and the punters will come through the door. It is no coincidence that one of the best tracks in the country for facilities and service, namely York, increased their average gate by a reported 11% with Bath posting an impressive increase of over 16%.
Stephen Atkin, Chief Executive of the Racecourse Association commented, ‘I am delighted to see these figures, it is a vindication of the hard work being done behind the scenes on Britain’s racecourses to attract customers, especially those new to the sport. It is a shame that the bad weather in December stopped us from beating the previous high of 2004, but it lays down the marker for the Racecourses in 2011 to maintain these high standards’.

Dvinsky Code

Close but no cigar yesterday with two winners, two seconds and a third.
No Class 7 races on the All Weather today but I like the look of one at Kempton in the shape of Dvinsky. The Jane Chapple-Hyam trained ten-year-old isn't getting any younger but ran a nice race when finishing second over course and distance last time out and has a big chance in the 2.40. The stable is ticking over nicely in 2011 having notched up four winners thus far and placed up eight times out of twenty-seven runs; three of the winners and four places have come at this track out of ten starts. At 3-1 early the gelding is worth an investment of a couple of quid.
Be lucky

Five For Ascot

The Class 7 system failed yesterday but such is the way of things and I am not giving up on it yet as it is still showing a nice profit in January thus far.
Some cracking racing at Ascot today and there is a very big chance of a Nicky Henderson treble and Paul Nicholls double on the card.
Osric should get the ball rolling for Henderson in the opener. Grandouet won nicely at Newbury last time and is fancied to take the 1.15. The quickfire treble should be completed by Caroles Legacy in the 1.50. Always there or thereabouts the seven-year-old mare should be good enough to win this.
As for Mr Nicholls the great Master Minded is turned out in the 2.25 and is expected to take this on the way to the big one in March. Unbeaten on this track, he won this race in 2009, and I can't oppose him today. Breedsbreeze runs in the 3.30, back from injury after nearly two years off with a credible second at Newbury in December, the gelding should prove a class above his rivals today.
Be lucky

Orpens Again And The Duke

Hardly the most inspiring of racing today and most of it is best left well alone. We do have two qualifiers for the Super 7 system today; Orpens Peach won easily for us yesterday and is the top rated officially in the 4.35 at Wolverhampton with the 6lb penalty. The filly is best priced 100-30 for a quick double. In the lucky last at 7.35 Duke Of Rainford is the qualifier being OR rated 55 and is available at around 5-2.

Be lucky

Super 7 Strikes Again

The Super 7 system strikes again with Orpens Peach bolting in at a returned price of 12-1 in the Bet On Winning Distances At Bluesq.com Handicap at Wolverhampton by three and three-quarter lengths; Guildenstern finishes fourth.

It might not be the best racing you will ever see but that's three from three now this month and it's always nice to visit the payout counter.

Super 7 Qualifiers And A Dabble In Dubai

We have two qualifiers for the Class 7 system (currently being refered to as the Super 7 system at Girdy Towers) today in the 4.20 at Wolverhampton. Guildenstern and Orpens Peach are both rated at 49 so, as the system is two for two thus far this month, I shall be taking a little of the 4-1 and 8-1 available respectively on both and hopefully one of the beasts will get its nose in front.
At the other end of the racing spectrum out in Dubai we have the Cape Verdi Stakes Sponsored by Bal Al Shams a Group 2 on the turf. Mike De Kock has been making all the right noises about River Jetez in interviews and by all accounts he expects the filly to do well in the coming months. With his record in mind if De Kock thinks he has a good’un it must be worth a second look and she has won a Grade One in South Africa. A couple of quid will be invested on the eight-year-old to make a winning debut for her new connections.
Be lucky

Class 7 System Strikes Again

Well the little All Weather system worked again as Kieltys Folly duly obliged in the Class 7 heat at Kempton with joint top rated Holyfield Warrior coming home second - should have had the cast!

The other top rated horse Queenies Star disappointed but having invested wisely on all three a couple of bob has been trousered on the result and it is always better in my pocket than the bookies!

One Out Of Three Will Do

Bit of a dilemma today at Kempton as we have multiple qualifiers for the Class 7 All Weather system I touched upon earlier this month when Barodine duly obliged.
The simple rule is to back the top rated horse in All Weather Class 7 races but in the 4.30 at Kempton today we have three horses all rated at 50: Kieltys Folly, Queenies Star and Holyfield Warrior.
Available at 13-2, 16-1 and 14-1 respectively I suppose the only thing to do is have a small investment on all three, worse case scenario if one of them wins we are four and a half points in front.
Be lucky

Eclipse Awards

Hot on the heels of the WTR we have the Eclipse Awards in the USA with Zenyatta named US Horse of the Year at a ceremony in Miami on Monday night, the mare beating her Breeders Cup Classic conqueror Blame in the ballet by 26 votes. She had of course finished runner-up at the Awards in 2009 to Rachel Alexandra and Curlin in 2008.

ECLIPSE AWARD WINNERS 2010

Horse of the year: Zenyatta

Older male: Blame

Older female: Zenyatta

3-y-o male: Lookin At Lucky

3-y-o female: Blind Luck

2-y-o male: Uncle Mo

2-y-o female: Awesome Feather

Male turf: Gio Ponti

Female turf: Goldikova

Male sprinter: Big Drama

Female sprinter: Dubai Majesty

Steeplechase horse: Slip Away

Owner: WinStar Farm

Breeder: Adena Springs

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: Ramon Dominguez

Apprentice: Omar Moreno

The Eclipse Awards are decided by votes cast from members of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, the National Turf Writers Association and the Daily Racing Form.

Ballydoyle For The Cup?

It has been six years since the O’Brien stable sent any runners out to Dubai but it appears they may be popping on the plane come 26th March with four horses reportedly entered for World Cup night. Irish Derby and Irish Champion Stakes hero Cape Blanco heads the list and is in-line for a crack at the $10 million Dubai World Cup if reports are to be believed.
The Ballydoyle team haven’t sent a horse to the meeting since the reported fall-out between Sheikh Mohammed and Coolmore boss John Magnier in 2005.
Whether the entries are a sign of a possible reconciliation between the two camps or not will no doubt stay confidential, Sheikh Mohammed described the original fallout as a "private matter". It is though good news for racing fans with more top class horses at the meeting and for Sheikh Mohammed, whose desire to increase the status of the Dubai Carnival had been severely affected by a lack of runners from a major player such as the Ballydoyle stable.

Five Star Kauto?

Seven horses tipped in January so far with a return of four winners (Medermit and Gold Story were both second with Sam Winner being the big disappointment.) so ticking over nicely at the moment.
If Kauto Star can win his fifth King George VI Chase today he will have beaten the record set by the great Desert Orchid. A few of the usual suspects line-up against him but if the eleven-year-old is at his best a place in the record books await. The jumping of Long Run is a little to suspect but The Nightingale may just upset the apple cart. It will be a great race to watch but as Dessie was one of my first favourite horses, who I fell in love with as a wet behind the ears teenager when he won this for the first time in 1986, I shall be suffering from mixed emotions should Kauto eclipse his great record in this race. That said records are there to be broken and I shall be investing on Kauto to be the King of Kempton yet again.
In an attempt to keep the cash coming in I shall also be having a couple of quid on Angelic Upstart in the 2.20 at Lingfield. The colt can rack up a hat-trick today following two nice wins at the back end of last year and I shall take a little of the 3-1 on offer.
We also have the re-arranged Christmas Hurdle with Binocular, Starluck and Khyber Kim locking horns once more. Binocular is of course one of my Dirty Dozen but I think he is better at Cheltenham, where Starluck doesn't appear to be at home, so this is a race to watch rather than bet on for me.
Be lucky

Class 7 Cash

There is a system doing the rounds which simply states back the top rated horse in Class 7 races on the All Weather; I have kept an eye on it for a few weeks and if you had been following it you would be winning money.
With that in mind I shall be investing a few shillings on Barodine in the lucky last at Wolverhampton tonight, 7.40. The gelding won at Lingfield last week and though that was a seller this little handicap looks no tougher and he won nicely enough, out staying the odds-on favourite, and he should follow up before going up in the weights.
Be lucky

The Thursday Titter XV

A joke recently told to me credited to Joe Palmer, the late racing expert and Racing Editor of the New York Herald Tribune:
A man from Idaho breezes into Kentucky with a six-year-old horse that had never raced before, but which he entered for a race.
The horse won easily and paid a whopping price. The racing stewards did not like the look of the thing and questioned the owner.
‘Is this horse unsound?’ they asked.
‘Not a bit.’ said the owner.
‘In that case,’ asked the stewards, ‘why have you never raced him before?’
‘Mister,’ said the man from Idaho, ‘we couldn't even catch the critter until he was five years old.’

Gold From The Sand?

Hardly classic stuff on offer today but over at Southwell in the Play Megajackpots Cleopatra At bluesq.com Handicap the Brian Ellison trained Gold Story has a decent chance. Finished second here last twice and I think the drop to six furlongs today may help. The gelding is not one to lump on but a couple of quid at 7-2 is worth a risk.
Be lucky

World Thoroughbred Rankings for 2010

The World Thoroughbred Rankings for 2010 are out and as ever the debate as to the ratings and whether correct or not is up and running in pubs the length and breadth of this green and pleasant land. It is one of my favourite times of the year, remembering some of the best performances of last season and telling anyone who cares to listen that so and so is rated too low and thingymabob too high. The rankings of course are a 'peak performance' system and not a 'handicapping' system showing the best figure obtained by a horse in the season and not a reflection of consistency or a measure of what may have been achieved in different circumstances.
There can be little argument concerning the rating of Harbinger with his King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes win earning the colt one of the highest ratings in recent years. A rating of 135 puts him 1lb behind the rating allocated to the great Sea The Stars in 2009 and 6lb off of the all time top rating of 141 gained by Dancing Brave. This of course is a case in point of a 'one off' wonderful performance as due to injury the colt never had the chance to prove he could do it again. Other notable Older Horses include Dirt performers from the US Blame on 129 and Quality Road on 128 followed by Japanese trained Nakayama Festa on 127 and Rip Van Winkle rated 126. The previously unbeaten mare Zenyatta, defeated by Blame in the Breeders Cup Classic in 2010, gets 125 the same rating as Goldikova to lead the way for the fairer sex. Aussie sprinter Black Caviar topped the sprint figures on 123 with J J The Jet Plane getting 122.
The Three-Year-Old ratings are likely to get a few heated debates going with Makfi and Workforce both being rated at 128 and Canford Cliffs on 127. Personally I would have had the Arc and Derby winning colt ahead of the 2000 Guineas winner. The Stoute trained colt is the fourth successive Derby winner to top the ratings which shows the Epsom showpiece to be in rude health. Although biased with the colt being arguably my favourite of the year I would have had Canford Cliffs a pound higher than the 127 he has been awarded but what do I know when it comes to ratings? The way in which Canford Cliffs runs/has to been ridden makes him a hard horse to rate as he is never likely to beat a field by ten lengths so is a colt that can only be judged on what he has done and not what he might be able to do if he had to. Cape Blanco gets 126 and Dick Turpin 124. As for the fillies Snow Fairy gets a rating of 120 1lb behind Lily Of The Valley and and Sarafina. Top Three-Year-old sprinter was my favourite Starspangledbanner on 121.
The Two-Year-Olds appear to have most people scratching their heads and commenting on websites with Frankel and Dream Ahead both getting a rating of 126. Dream Ahead had been the highest rated of the two until Frankel gave him a seven length beating in the Dewhurst Stakes. Opinion appears to be divided between punters who think this is fair and that Dream Ahead simply did not run any sort of race in the Dewhurst but deserves the rating for his Middle Park run and those who feel Frankel is being hard done by not being rated Champion Two-Year-Old. We are unlikely to get an answer in their Three-Year-old campaigns as Dream Ahead appears destined for sprint distances.
Like I said at the start the debate rages……..

Pot Of Gold At The End Of The Rainbow?

A late update today but hopefully there will be a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow in the 2.20 at Southwell. Finns Rainbow had proved a little frustrating for connections but appears to have got the hang of things now with a couple of good second places over course and distance last month and getting a win on the board last week. The 6lb penalty should not bother the chestnut colt too much and he is expected to win the Bluesq.com On Your Iphone Handicap 

Be lucky

Johnson Charged

I am a little shocked by the news that Howard Johnson has been charged by the BHA with running a horse that had undergone a neurectomy and also administering anabolic steroids to three other horses in his care. The trainer has reportedly admitted to running Striking Article in eight races after the horse had undergone the neurectomy procedure, known as being ‘de-nerved’ and described as ‘the severing of nervous connection to the lower leg to cause numbness’. The neurectomy procedure is banned on welfare grounds as in the simplest of terms, as I understand it, it allows horses to continue running through pain which they would normally feel due to the severing of the nerves.
Johnson could face a variety of bans and fines if found guilty of the charges reportedly up to £3,000 and a year ban for "neglect and very poor husbandry". If the trainer is found guilty of the more serious‘wilful neglect’ the maximum ban could be imposed of up to ten years. A provisional date of 10th February has been scheduled for the BHA disciplinary panel to hear the case.
This is a story that will run and run for the next few weeks and will no doubt have the anti-racing brigade up in arms. Hopefully the case will be dealt with swiftly and fairly with justice being seen to be done and minimising the bad publicity for the sport.

A Winner, Bit Of Class And The Chief

Some fine racing today at Sandown and Chepstow.
Sam Winner looks to continue on his winning run leading to a tilt at the Triumph Hurdle come March, the gelding will be short priced but should be good enough to win the 1.10 at Chepstow without to much fuss.
Over at Sandown I like the look of Minella Class in the 2.40. It was a nice win at Newbury in December, Red Merlin easily held, and the Henderson trained gelding should handle this step up in class; Toubab is the obvious danger.
I was a fan of Mille Chief last season and the Alan King five-year-old looked to be back to somewhere near last years form at Ascot in November. The gelding has to give weight to all his rivals but I am hopeful of a big run and will be taking a bit of the 9-4 on offer.
Be lucky

Lets Be Frank

Having recovered from a particularly severe, nasty and horrid bout of swine/bird/bovine/fish/man flu I am back – hurrah you cry!
Hopefully I can get straight into the winners and with that intention I am investing a couple of bob on Yourelikemefrank in the 2.10 at Lingfield. The gelding is hopefully still on the upgrade, nice win last week over course and distance, and he should be able to take this handicap.
Be lucky

Take A Dip

Some nice racing at Cheltenham today and Dirty Dozen list member Medermit lines up in the Dipper Novices Chase at 2.00. The grey is up in trip and hopefully will stay the two mile five furlongs. I shall be investing a couple of bob  at the 11-2 available this morning.
Be lucky

New Years Eve Cash

Lets try and end what has been a winning month with one more visit to the payout counter.
The meeting at Uttoxeter gets the go ahead this morning and I like the look of Ban Uisce in the 2.10. The gelding has been raised in the weights for his Plumpton win in November but he likes to get his toe in – all three victories on soft or worse – and there has been a few quid for him this morning. Investing a couple of quid should pay for a large scotch or two to see in the New Year.
Happy New Year to you all and most importantly, be lucky

Who's Affraid Of The Big Bad Wolf

Down at Kempton this afternoon you could put the fear into the bookies and invest a couple of bob on Wolf Slayer. The filly has a big chance to follow up on her recent success in a six furlong maiden at Wolverhampton as she appears to be going in the right direction – also my little nephews middle name is Wolf (ask his mother) so what more of a tip do you need?
Be lucky

The Thursday Titter XIV

A champion jockey is about to enter an important race on a new horse. The horse's trainer meets him before the race and says, "All you have to remember with this horse is that every time you approach a jump, you have to shout, "ALLLLEEE OOOP!" really loudly in the horse's ear. Providing you do that, you'll be fine".

The jockey thinks the trainer is mad but promises to shout the command. The race begins and they approach the first hurdle. The jockey ignores the trainer's ridiculous advice and the horse crashes straight through the centre of the jump. They carry on and approach the second hurdle. The jockey, somewhat embarrassed, whispers "Aleeee ooop" in the horse's ear. The same thing happens-the horse crashes straight through the centre of the jump.

At the third hurdle, the jockey thinks, "It's no good, I'll have to do it" and yells, "ALLLEEE OOOP!" really loudly. Sure enough, the horse sails over the jump with no problems. This continues for the rest of the race, but due to the earlier problems the horse only finishes third.

The trainer is fuming and asks the jockey what went wrong.

The jockey replies, "Nothing is wrong with me. It's this bloody horse. What is he -- deaf or something?" The trainer replies, "Deaf?? DEAF?? He's not deaf - he's blind!!!"

Big Names And Short Prices

Big Bucks should win the Long Walk at Newbury this afternoon in a canter but at 1-5 you aren’t going to get rich quick.
Over in Ireland we have some nice racing at Leopardstown but again at the prices you won’t be paying off the Christmas credit card bill.
Dirty Dozen member Zaidpour is out again and looks a good thing for the Future Champions Novice Hurdle at 12.50.
Hurricane Fly and Solwhit lock horns again in the 1.55 with both horses looking to put down a marker in the build up to the Champion Hurdle.
Current Champion two-mile chaser Big Zeb, the promising Golden Silver and top class novice chaser from last season Captain Cee Bee go at it in the 1.20.
We will know more about the Cheltenham prospects of them all after today.

The Thursday Titter XIII - Happy Christmas

All quiet for the next couple of days so dear reader wherever you may be in the world Happy Christmas, Glædelig Jul, Nodlig mhaith chugnat, Hristos Razdajetsja, Bozic, Boze Narodzenie, Sawadee Pee Mai or souksan wan Christmas, Linksmu Kaledu, Nadolig Llawen, Joyeux Noel, Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan, Fröhliche Weihnachten............

A Preacher wanted to raise money for his church and, being told there were fortunes in race horses, he decided to purchase one and enter it in the races. However, at the local auction, the going price for horses was so steep he ended up buying a donkey instead. He figured that since he had it, he might as well go ahead and enter it in the races, and to his surprise the donkey came in third.
The next day the racing press carried the headlines, "Preacher's Ass shows"
The Preacher was so pleased with the donkey that he entered it in the races again and this time he won!
The papers said, "Preacher's Ass out in Front"
The Bishop was so upset with this kind of publicity that he ordered the Preacher not to enter the donkey in another race.
The newspaper printed this headline, "Bishop Scratches Preacher's Ass"
This was just too much for the Bishop and he ordered the Preacher to get rid of the animal. The Preacher decided to give it to a Nun in a nearby convent. The headlines the next day read, "Nun has the Best Ass in Town"
The Bishop fainted.
He informed the Nun that she would have to dispose of the donkey and she finally found a farmer who was willing to buy it for £10.00.
The paper states, "Nun Peddles Ass for Ten Quid"
They buried the Bishop the next day.

Gladiator Ready

Fantasy Gladiator was a winner for us on the 4^th December and I think the handicapper may not yet have caught up with the gelding. As stated before he so rarely runs a bad race a hat-trick looks on the cards in the 2.05 at Lingfield.

Be lucky

What's That Coming Over The Hill.....

What's that coming over the hill is it a monster, is it a monster?
Under the A.P. treatment Blue Monster gets up by a head at 10-1 to bolster the Christmas coffers very nicely thank you.

Jumpers Bumpers

Down at Kempton today we have the ‘Jumpers Bumpers’ National Hunt Flat day on the All Weather; no-one can ever accuse the team at Kempton of not being inventive.
There are some very interesting horses having a run-out such as the top class Noland in the 3.50 but a number of the races are tricky little events on paper with the well being of a number of runners having to be taken on trust or rumour.
One that catches the eye is Blue Monster in the 1.20. Reportedly bought for £80,000 by current connections in 2009 the bay gelding run a fair second on his hurdles debut back in May and with the assistance of newly crowned Sports Personality of the Year A.P. McCoy today he should be good enough to take this prize.
Be lucky

Winner By A Distance

With over two hundred and ninety three thousand votes (42%) fifteen times champion jump jockey A.P. McCoy wins the Sports Personality of the Year Award 2010. It was great to see such a wonderful Champion and dedicated hard working sportsman such as McCoy receive the accolade.
Congratulations

Pub It Is Then

The snow has well and truly come down again. Nothing to get involved with today so I would suggest find a pub with a decent fire and settle in for a large scotch or two.

Stay Loyal

Little unlucky yesterday with Swinging Sixties just getting caught in the shadow of the post at Meydan out in the U.A.E.
Over at Southwell today in the 1.45 Loyalty has every chance of continuing his fine run of form. He is due to raise four pound in the weights for future races so is nicely treated, the main worry being the change of surface; if this race was at Wolverhampton he would be odds-on. At a price of 6-4 early its hardly a get rich quick punt but the gelding should get the job done with the slightly longer trip likely to suit.
Be lucky

The Thursday Titter XII

Two disgruntled evidently losing punters had been consoling themselves in the bar and after the meeting were walking it off on the course.
'I don't know what these bloody jockeys get paid for' said the first punter, scowling at the nearest fence, 'Any bugger could jump these things, I could do it without a horse.'
'Go on then,' said his friend, peering owlishly through the gloom. 'Jump that one.'
The first punter took of his race glasses, took a run at the fence and cleared it with a foot to spare..........and........landed face first in the water!

Swinging Party – Today!

Now I have you attention you filthy, filthy people.
Sorry to mislead but it’s not that sort of party but you should be able to pay for a drink or six by backing Swinging Sixties out in the slighter warmer climes of Meydan this afternoon.
The former Michael Jarvis inmate now trained by Dhruba Selvaratnam in the U.A.E. ran a decent race in finishing second here two weeks ago and with the assistance or William Buick should be able to get his nose in front in the 5.45 Ford Fusion Trophy Handicap.
Be lucky

Twist Magic Put Down

Terrible news from Newbury concerning Twist Magic fracturing a fetlock and having to be put down following his fall, it is always very sad indeed to lose such a talented horse.
He could be more than a little quirky but had some talent and on a good day was up there with the best two-mile chasers of recent years. I was lucky enough to see him run at Ascot, Cheltenham and of course Sandown, a course which seemed to bring out the best in him, where he won two Tingle Creek chases.

Supreme or Neptune at Cheltenham For Zaidpour

Pretty impressive stuff from Zaidpour over the Irish Sea earlier today, pulling clear from his rivals as easy as you like at the last to win in very impressive fashion. He has been immediately shortened for the Supreme Novices and Neptune Investment Management Novices Hurdles at Cheltenham but trainer Willie Mullins was giving nothing away as to which race he is most likely to line-up in come March. Personally I would like to see him go for the Supreme, although I am a fan of Cue Card, it would be a cracking race.
The next target according to the trainer is likely to be the PaddyPower.com Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown on 27th December.

A Jewell In The Emerald Isle

Girdys Gee Gees Dirty Dozen member Zaidpour is out in the Emerald Isle today running in the 12.20 at Fairyhouse. Following his tidy win at Punchestown in November the four-year-old takes the step up to Grade One level but is expected to take this Novice Hurdle on his way to bigger and better things later in the season.
Be lucky

Hong Kong Review

Mixed results from Hong Kong in the wee small hours at the weekend with Snow Fairy winning and Paco Boy getting beat.
Ryan Moore almost left it too late on the dual Oaks winner but she responded wonderfully to his encouragement and put in a terrific turn of foot to get up inside the final furlong to win by a neck. She has been brilliant all season and it would be great to see her back next season and a possible clash with Workforce in the King George is a real mouth watering prospect.
Paco Boy just didn’t seem his old self in the Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin. He has been a marvellous performer on the track and will be sadly missed in the major mile events next season. All the best to the old boy in his new career at Stud.

Stocking Fillers

Some very good racing at Cheltenham today including the re-arranged Tingle Creek. Four of Girdys Dirty Dozen are out and I fancy all four to pass the post in front and add a few coppers more to the Christmas fund for the old stocking fillers.
I fancied Master Minded for the Tingle Creek anyway and now it is here at Cheltenham, a track Twist Magic is not suited too, I think the two time Champion should show he's class again today on the way to a crack at a third Champion Chase.
Cue Card was on just about every tipsters 'horses to follow list' and for good reason. The 3.05 is the geldings first big test but I am convinced he is something special and should be able to take this Grade Two event on his way to bigger things.
Zaynar runs in the 1.20 and is looking to make amends for a poor first time out effort this season. The grey won this race last year, and though the application of first time blinkers isn't necessarily a positive, he was top class last year and I am not giving up on him just yet.

Sam Winner runs in the 12.10. Installed as jolly for the Triumph Hurdle following his impressive victory at the Open Meeting here last month, if reproducing that form this afternoon Noel Fehily should have a nice armchair ride early doors before getting the leg up on Master Minded later.
Be lucky

A Win For Australia?

Finally we get a bit of action over the sticks again today with the Cheltenham meeting going ahead with some nice racing, a handful of tricky handicaps and of course the Cross Country race. I realise its not everybody’s cup of tea but I am a fan of the Cross Country races; if you ever get the chance to get into the middle of the track and get up close to the action I would thoroughly recommend it.
I am going to have a small investment on Sizing Australia.
Garde Champetre is obviously a past master of this game and has won this race twice, but at the weights and with the Bolger trained gelding not get any younger, I think the Henry De Bromhead eight-year-old might be able to get the better of his old rival on this occasion.
Be nice for Australia to get a win - have I mentioned the Ashes yet?
Be lucky
UPDATE: If that's not a sign I don't know what is - no sooner do I put a tip up than the race is abandonded! The meeting goes ahead but the Cross Country race is off due the the course being frozen which is a shame as it is a great spectacle and adds something to the meeting. The first fence on the chase course will be omitted due to ground conditions.

The Thursday Titter XI

One for the Aussies ;o)
A horse was looking over a fence watching a game of cricket. ‘Any chance of a game?’ he asked the captain.
At first the captain was taken aback by the talking horse, but when it insisted it was keen to play the skipper thought it might be a bit of a laugh if he sent the horse out as opening bat.
The horse shaped up to the first ball and slammed it over the boundary for six. He did the same with the second and third, indeed every ball he hit for six until the over ended.
He had been partnered by the captain, and when the bowler ran in from the other end and the captain managed his first hit for a meagre single he called for the horse to run. But the horse just stood there.
Frantic calls by the captain to run were ignored and in the confusion the skipper was stumped out.
‘Why didn't you run?’ roared the captain at his equine batting partner.
‘Listen mate,’ said the horse, ‘if I could run I would be at Ascot today, not messing around with this cricket game.’

Time To Strike

Nicely in front for December so far with three winners from five tips giving ole Girdy an £11.63 profit to a £1 level stake at the advised prices.
I go in search of a little more Christmas cash today at Wolverhampton with my fancy being Strike Force in the 3.50. The six-year-old likes it at Dunstall Park and has been in good form of late. Although getting high enough in the weights now he should have enough to take this little Handicap this afternoon.
Be lucky

Little Investment At Lingfield

Not a day to be lumping on with the cash but there are a couple of horses worth taking a look at down at Lingfield.
The 12.40 at Lingfield sees My Lord trying to complete a hat-trick on the back of his two victories at Wolverhampton last month. Kieren Fox was on board for those two victories, as he is today, and the gelding is a two-year-old going in the right direction.
In the 2.40 Norman Orpen is open to further improvement after finally opening his account last month having been running well in defeat up till then. I am hopeful the bay gelding will continue his winning ways now he has got his nose in front and should be good enough to take this little handicap.
Be lucky

You Saw Me Standing Alone

No I have not become a City fan - I like the look of Blue Moon in the 1.30 at Lingfield today. With Final Drive and Tevez both high enough in the weights now this looks like an opportunity for the Kevin Ryan trained grey filly to notch up a victory. I will be grabbing a bit of the 10-1 on offer from Victor Chandler.
Be lucky

Kempton In The Snow

Luckily we have some All Weather action to get our teeth into today and I will be trying to nick a couple of quid at Kempton and hopefully I have found a couple of winners to make up for missing the Tingle Creek.
Fantasy Gladiator rarely seems to run a bad race, always finishing there or thereabouts, and I see no reason why the gelding won't be there again today in the 3.10. He will be short enough price wise but looks a good thing to take this fairly standard handicap.
I like the look of Mia's Boy in the 3.40. The six-year-old was mixing it with some good horses last year and put up some decent efforts in Listed class earlier this season. The Dwyer trained bay looked to be coming back to form at Wolverhampton last time out and the drop back in trip today should suit.
Stay warm and be lucky

Tingle Off!

Gutted!
The annual lads day of beer, betting and boobies is off as Sandown announce the abandonment of racing on Saturday. Can't remember off the top of my head the last time I wasn't at Sandown for the first weekend in December.
What am I going to do?

All Weather Meeting Lost To The Weather

The All Weather meeting at Lingfield today has been abandoned due to heavy snowfall at the course although officials are hopeful of staging Fridays fixture; Wolverhampton does still go ahead today.
Down at Esher Sandown have been forced to cancel the planned meeting on Friday, first day of the Tingle Creek meet, after a further three inches of snow fell on the track overnight. An inspection concerning the Saturday meeting is expected later today and officials still hold out a little hope that they may be able to race but it must be odds against now.
The annual lads beer, betting and boobies day is looking more and more unlikely!

All Weather Fixture Could Be Lost To The Weather!

How bad can it get?
The ‘bonus’ All Weather meeting set to be held at Lingfield on Thursday is now subject of an early inspection on the day of racing. Apparently they have had eight inches of snow at the track and at the time of the report on Wednesday afternoon it was still snowing! An inspection will be held at 6am Thursday.

All Weather Only

The big freeze continues with all racing but the All Weather meeting at Kempton off today. The meeting at Wincanton tomorrow (Thursday) is also abandoned, following the earlier cancellation this week of meetings at Leicester and Market Rasen that were planned for Thursday leaving us with Wolverhampton and an extra fixture at Lingfield to provide tomorrows action.

Things are not looking any better for the racing on Friday and Saturday - Don't know what I am supposed to do if I am not at Sandown on Tingle Creek day for the annual lads beer, betting and boobies day out!

Monumental Gamble

A truly monumental gamble landed at Lingfield today in the shape of Brabazon.
Unraced since June 2008 and having never won a race in eighteen previous starts the beast was available at 50’s early, was gambled down to 11-4 favourite and duly obliged.
To add to the fairytale feel of our story the horse was ridden by a young chap called Freddie Mitchell landing his debut win on his very first run under rules. The youngster picked up the ride as planned pilot Graham Watters was reportedly held up by the bad weather conditions and arrived five minutes too late to get the leg up.
Christmas has come early for some people!

A Tingle Of Excitement

No great surprise to hear this morning that Market Rasen and Leicester have abandoned their Thursday jump fixtures after failing inspections on Tuesday morning. Plumpton are to inspect later today in regard to their meeting scheduled for Wednesday. Lingfield and Southwell on the All Weather go ahead today (Tuesday).
Some good news as the entries for the Tingle Creek have been announced and Paul Nicholls is represented with the expected strong hand with both Master Minded and Twist Magic among the ten. Nicky Henderson is also double handed with his French Opera and Petit Robin entered; Somersby, Gauvain, I'm So Lucky, Kinkeel, Mahogany Blaze and Oiseau De Nuit make up the full list.
Fingers crossed for the meeting getting the go ahead. The BBC weather report shows no more snow this week for Esher but with temperatures not getting above freezing until Saturday and then only just.
It is one of my favourite meetings of the year and as ever I have tickets – but at the moment it is not looking good.

Weekend Preview

Here we go round the Mulberry bush, the Mulberry bush, the Mulberry bush. Here we go round the Mulberry bush, On a cold frosty morning. Not quite Arctic conditions at Girdy Towers just yet, but blooming cold!
It is not looking good for the weekend having already lost Newcastle and Towcester to the weather; Newbury are though still very hopeful that their meet will go ahead. Big Bucks of course looks a good thing in the Long Distance Hurdle and I will be having a couple of bob each way on Dirty Dozen listed horse Diamond Harry in the Hennessy Gold Cup. All the best to Denman in his quest for an unprecedented third win in the race.
Down at Kempton in the Williamhill.com Hyde Stakes the lightly raced The Cheka has a big chance if taking to the all weather track. Campaigned at the highest level through the summer, including a run in the Lockinge Stakes, the colt ran a nice race at Newmarket last time out and is fancied to take this Listed event.
Be lucky

Newcastle Lost To The Snow

The weekends fixture at Newcastle has been lost to the snow and officials are currently working on options concerning the running of the Fighting Fifth Hurdle which was of course was the planned seasonal reappearance of Binocular. Nicky Henderson apparantley prefers Newbury for the replacement running, personally, on a purely selfish note as I am there, Sandowns Tingle Creek meeting would be my choice - what a cracking card that would be.

Meeznah Disqualified

Bad news today for David Lanigan as his Meeznah has been thrown out of the Oaks having been found guilty of failing a drug test. Following the disqualification, the result of the Oaks will be amended with Remember When being promoted to second and Marcus Tregoning trained Rumoush being declared third.
Lanigan was fined £750 following Meeznah's disqualification at a British Horseracing Authority disciplinary inquiry, the source of the drug was never confirmed.
Owners Saif Ali and Saeed Altayer have pledged to stand by the fledgling Newmarket based handler. Bruce Raymond, racing manager for Ali and Altayer, is quoted as saying ‘Obviously we knew about this for some time and it was inevitable. It had to go through the correct procedures and we're obviously disappointed she has lost second place. The inquiry was very thorough and every avenue was exhausted as to how it (ACP) has got in there. They (the BHA disciplinary panel) couldn't find any fault with David's stable management but somehow it has ended up in her blood stream. The good thing is they can't attach any blame to anyone and we will be giving David our full support, and will continue to support him. Meeznah stays in training as a four-year-old and we're hopeful she can redeem herself.’
The result is a real blow for a young trainer who has made a great start to his training career.
One thing is for sure the fact it has taken five months for this sorry story to come to fruition is unacceptable and to have a revised result of a classic run in June announced in November is ridiculous.

The Thursday Titter X

A jockey is in the unsaddling area of Huntingdon. His horse has trailed in at the back of the field and he is trying to explain the problem to the trainer.
‘That's not his trip, guv'nor,’ says the jock ‘I think he'd get three miles.’
The trainer looks at the jockey and says ‘Three miles? He wouldn't get three miles in a ****ing horse box.’

Who’s A Naughty Boy Then?

Trainer David Lanigan is set for a visit to the BHA disciplinary panel on Thursday (25th) it has been announced after it emerged that his charge Meeznah tested positive for ACP after the Oaks in which the filly finished second.
Elsewhere Sam Twiston-Davies will be appealing against the three day suspension dished out to him at Kempton for careless riding on board Mad Moose on Monday. Twiston-Davies had of course received a five day ban on the Sunday for his ride on Hello Bud (a winner tipped here on Girdys Gee Gees) for excessive use of the whip.

Looking Ahead

Champion Hurdle winner Binocular and the unbeaten Peddlers Cross are due to do battle at Newcastle on Saturday in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle - weather permitting. Binocular is one of my horses to follow this year and I would expect the six-year-old to prevail.
Big Bucks looks to have a straight forward assignment at Newbury in the Long Distance Hurdle on Saturday in what on paper should be no more than a racecourse gallop for the dual World Hurdle winner.
Denman will of course be going for a third win in the Hennessy Gold Cup and it would be marvellous to see the horse manage it. He has got to shoulder 11st 12lb and it will take an almighty effort off that weight and one of my other horses to follow Diamond Harry will be there or there about I hope and is worth a little investment at 7-1. The Nick Williams trained seven-year-old will be carrying 27lb less than the favourite.
Another of my horses to follow for the Jumps season Medermit will be out to redeem himself at the Tingle Creek meeting according to reports. The Alan King trained grey, one time Arkle favourite until blotting his copy book by refusing at Huntingdon on his seasonal reappearance, looks likely to run in the Henry VII Novices' Chase. I haven’t given up on him yet and look forward to seeing him run.

Imperial Debate - Horses Welfare First

The reported cut to the back of his near-fore suffered by Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander at the weekend has got the posters on the RP website hot under the collar. Opinion appears to be split between those who feel Nigel Twiston-Davies is doing the right thing taking no risks with a stable star and those who think connections are using it as an excuse not to show up at Kempton on Boxing Day to take on Kauto Star. A lot of the talk it must be said appears to be coming from the pockets of punters and disturbingly a number show little concern for Imperial Commander.
My point of view is if the horse is injured he must be rested and it would be wrong to race him under prepared be he a Gold Cup winner or a low grade handicapper. As much as we all want to see the best horses racing each other, better that when a horse races it is fully fit and able to give its best than when rushed back from a small injury at the risk of suffering a more complicated one.
The welfare of the horse must at all times be the top priority and if a trainer of the stature of Twiston-Davies says his charge needs a week at least in his box then I see no reason to disbelieve him.
Also, and something that appears to have been overlooked by many, credit should be given to Nigel Twiston-Davies for informing the public as he did.
I personally hope Imperial Commander returns to full fitness soon and look forward to the clash with Kauto Star be it at Kempton on Boxing Day or at Cheltenham come March with Denman and co hopefully also all taking their place in the starting line-up.

Becher Briefing

Not a bad Saturday though at the prices the cruise in the Med will have to wait for another week. Master Minded won like a good horse and Imperial Commander, though looking to tire a little, got the job done nicely enough with everything but the fast finishing Tidal Bay well beat. I was a little disappointed with Zaynar but hopefully he will come on for the run and be back to his best soon - the winner looked a handy horse and is in the notebook.
Its the Becher Chase up at Aintree today and I like the look of Hello Bud. The Twiston-Davies gelding has won three 'Nationals' including the Scottish version in 2009 and ran a big race in the real thing here last year. Distance and conditions under foot won't be a problem and at 8-1 the bay must be worth a couple of quid each-way.
Be lucky

Weekend Preview

A cracking weekend of racing ahead with a number of the big guns from the jumping game in action.
At Ascot two time Champion Chase winner Mater Minded will be taking on five rivals in the Amlin Chase. The seven-year-old faces a test of his stamina in the two mile three furling race having never before won beyond two mile one but I expect him to make a winning start to his campaign.
Zaynar is looking for a repeat performance in the Coral Hurdle having won the race last year. Two for two at the track the grey looks a good bet to take this on his way to bigger engagements later in the season. Victor Chandler is on record as stating he thinks ‘Zaynar is bigger and stronger this season’ and that ‘Zaynar's main aim this season will be the World Hurdle where we believe the step up to three miles will suit him very well.’
Up at Haydock Imperial Commander will be making his seasonal reappearance and is fancied to take the Betfair Chase. Nigel Twiston-Davies is expecting a ‘huge run’ according to his interview on the Racing Post website and that is good enough for Girdy to invest a bob or two.
Be lucky

Ballydoyle Vacancy Update

Christophe Soumillon has signed up with the Wildenstein stable in France it has been announced meaning he is now out of the running to take over the vacancy at Ballydoyle. Colm O'Donoghue has taken over as 2-1 favourite in a new market with some interesting names available at bigger prices such as Olivier Peslier at 8-1. There is of course the possibility that the Ballydoyle team could simply take the approach of using the best jockey available which would be interesting next season but I would assume that approach is unlikely.
As I said last week I was considering putting the CV forward and the way it is going it might be worth a trip to the sauna to shed that last six stone or so!

The Thursday Titter IX

Paddy is walking down the road leading a horse when he bumps into his mate Sean from the pub.
His drinking buddy says to him ‘What are you going to do with that Paddy?’
Paddy replies 'Race it.'
Sean smiles and says ‘Well by the looks of it you will win!’

Cartier Racing Awards

The Cartier Racing Awards were handed out on Tuesday evening at a prestigious ceremony at London's Dorchester Hotel (my invite must have been lost in the post). The Awards are determined by a points system with points awarded during the season in Pattern races combined with the opinions of a panel of racing luminaries and journalists headed by Brough Scott (surely just an oversight that my opinion wasn't requested this year and it can’t be long till I am asked to participate) as well as votes from readers of the Racing Post and the Daily Telegraph.
Goldikova was the star of the evening being named Horse of the Year following a wonderful season topped off with her win at Churchill Downs taking the Breeders Cup Mile for the third consecutive time. The mare beat off the likes of star miler Canford Cliffs, Champion Stakes winner Twice over, Derby and Arc hero Workforce and King George winner Harbinger to take the top prize. The mare was also named top Older Horse, a category she had won last year also. A full list of the winners can be found below.

2010 Cartier Racing Awards roll of honour:

Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: Frankel

Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Misty For Me

Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Workforce

Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Snow Fairy

Cartier Sprinter: Starspangledbanner

Cartier Stayer: Rite Of Passage

Cartier Older Horse: Goldikova

Cartier Horse of the Year: Goldikova

Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: Richard Hannon

No Big Guns For Commander

Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander returns to action at Haydock this weekend for the Betfair Chase. The Nigel Twiston-Davies trained nine-year-old has been installed as odds-on favourite for the contest and connections are confident. Ian Robinson, a member of the Our Friends In The North syndicate that own the bay gelding is quoted in the racing press as stating ‘We've got the Betfair Chase, the King George and the Gold Cup, and we intend to compete in all three.’ He is also quoted as having said of the horse that he has ‘improved since last season.’
None of the 'big guns' will be taking him on but the Paul Nicholls trained What A Friend, who is no bad second string, will be lining up and it looks an intriguing contest.
It is a great opportunity for Imperial Commander to take up the gauntlet thrown down by Kauto Star at Down Royal earlier this month with Denman of course waiting back in the Nicholls stables entered for the Hennessy at Newbury on the 27th.
It will be an informative week or two.

Read In The Papers

The unbeaten Paul Nicholls trained Silviniaco Conti will be taking on some established stars in his next outing at Ascot for the Grade 2 Coral Hurdle including last year's six length winner Zaynar and former Champion Hurdle winner Katchit. The Alan King trained stable mate to Katchit, Karabak and Restless Harry also figure amongst the entries.
Master Minded will be returning to action on the same card. The two time Queen Mother Champion Chase winner will be testing his stamina in the two mile three furlong Amlin 1965 Chase, the horse has never won over further than two mile two furlongs.
The new boss of Johnny Murtagh has been announced, he will be retained by the Aga Khan in Ireland for next season. The Aga Khan has one hundred and twenty horses in training in the Emerald Isle with John Oxx and Michael Halford and Murtagh will of course be renewing his association with Oxx having been stable jockey for the trainer in the nineties up to 2003.

Ogee, Ogee, Ogee, Oi, Oi, Oi

Racing over the sticks is back in the spotlight and we have a cracking meeting at Cheltenham today.
I marked Ogee down as a staying chaser to keep an eye out for last year and he re-appears in the wide open 1.55 handicap chase over in the west country. At seven the chestnut gelding is still open to improvement and is worth a couple of bob at the 9-1 on offer early this morning.
Elsewhere Jazz Age has the chance to reverse the form with Moonbalej on terms much better than when they met at Plumpton last time and I doubt David Pipe has sent his charge all the way to Wetherby for a look at the scenery.
Be lucky

The Thursday Titter VIII

The trainer was giving last minute instructions to the jockey and appeared to slip something into the horse's mouth just as a steward walked by.
'What was that?' inquired the steward.
'Oh nothing' said the trainer, 'just a polo.'
He offered one to the steward and had one himself.
After the suspicious steward had left the scene and the trainer continued with his instructions
'Just keep on the rail. You are on a certainty. The only thing that could possibly pass you down the home straight is either the steward or me.'

Ballydoyle Vacancy

A lot of talk at the moment regards the job vacancy at Ballydoyle with Christophe Soumillon looking the most likely to be taking over the reigns so too speak. He has been cut on the betting lists to as short as 13-8 but as yet has only commented 'no comment'.
I was considering putting the CV forward but I just can't lose that last six stone to get back to my riding weight!

Plonker Of The Day

Plonker Of The Day Award goes to Chris Timmons over at Bangor in the 3.40 getting beat on Jeanry in the shadow of the post having been clear over the last. Easing his mount on the run-in almost to a walk the pursuing Monsieur under the encouragement of Matt Griffiths was gaining all the time and when Timmons reacted – all too late – to try and get Jeanry up and running again the inevitable happened with Monsieur prevailing by ¾ of a length.
According to reports Timmons was booed in the winners' enclosure and he certainly won’t be on many peoples Christmas Card list with apparently over £55,000 being matched on Betfair at 1.01.

RFC Wins An Award

I see the guys at Racing For Change are in the Awards already this year. Their ‘Free Week’ campaign was judged to be the best Media Relations Campaign of the year at the recent PRCA Awards; good luck to them and I am sure they all had a jolly good night out.
The organisation certainly knows a thing or two about self promotion, a quick glance at their own ‘news’ page on their website testifies to that, and they know how to garner column inches in the press as well. but I am guessing not many of the Trainers quoted in the racing press over the last few months were involved with the judging panel; can’t help but laugh every time Mark Johnston refers to them as Racing For No Change.
No doubt we can look forward to the lovetheraces website winning awards soon. Take a look if you have five minutes spare.
First off you have the ‘Voices of the races’ in which the very attractive Tabitha introduces herself as ‘A presenter and a commercial model from sunny Hull!’ and adds ‘What I know about horse-racing you could write on the back of a postage stamp’ and the intriguing Eliza who tells us she is ‘a Geographer by profession ‘ and that ‘during a year out, I fell into working as an in-house model for Agent Provocateur’ one way of getting teenage boys interested in the horses I suppose - the ‘Scene at the races’ section includes pictures of various people you don’t know and one great photo of the back of some blokes head – the ‘Fashion’ page is there so you are up to date with all the latest news in regard to whether heels or flats are the must have this year – the ‘Star Spotting’ page is the one in which you can find photos of people you may recognise such as ex-footballers and the cast members of a daytime soap opera– then there is the ‘What’s On’ page all about what courses are holding what concerts after racing, and then finally you come to the ‘Course Guide’ and ‘New to Racing’ sections just in case you actually wanted to know something about horseracing!
I am all for bringing new people to the sport but surely we should be using the brilliance of the sport itself and the enjoyment to be had from it as the main selling point not just as another jolly day out in which horses happen to be in the background.
Just this weekend we had the seasonal reappearance of Kauto Star and the wonderful battle for the Flat Jockeys Championship between Paul Hanagan and Richard Hughes going down to the very last day just as in 2007 when Seb Sanders and Jamie Spencer shared the spoils – neither of which were even mentioned on the site.
It is good to see blogs from Amy Weaver and David Crosse on the lovetheraces site to give an insight into the life of a trainer and a jockey and the blog of Hilary Pavitt as a keen racegoer and owner but surely they should take a much higher profile position on a horseracing site? It is also nice to see the not so imaginatively named ‘Girls on Top’ section with short biographies of some of the top lady jockeys in the game today.
In truth though none of this tells us much that we didn’t already know or for that matter holds information that hasn’t been printed elsewhere before and often done better - see sites such as eclipsemagazine.co.uk which has the fashion pages and photos but also a complete racing news and features sections, blogs from jockeys, trainers and others, competitions, guides, reviews and an on-line shop.
Ultimately the questions that need answering are is the RFC actually doing anything that we haven’t seen before? If they are is anybody outside of the game taking any notice?

Weekend Review

The luck didn’t change much for me in the States following up on the three seconds and a non-runner on Friday night with three seconds a third and a non-runner on Saturday – Close but no cigar as they say!!!!! Even allowing for the Girdy coffers being somewhat depleted it was a great meeting yet again and stays firmly amongst my favourites of the flat season.
Back home congratulations to Paul Hanagan on his first British Flat Champions Jockey Title. Having started the final day of the season at Doncaster with 191 winners on the board, two clear of his rival Richard Hughes, the pair failed to get among the winners on Town Moor and Hanagan lifted the trophy. It has been a thrilling battle over the last eight months and credit to both men who have conducted themselves admirably throughout the season and showed true sportsmanship, a lesson many other sports would do well to learn from.

Breeders Cup

Its the day of the big meeting, hoping to be a little more successful than last night having picked three seconds and a non-runner from my six selections.
In the Juvenile Turf I will be siding with Mantoba who could be anything and is worth a punt.
For the Sprint I like the look of Smiling Tiger who looks a good animal and hopefully will go on the surface.
In the Turf Sprint my preference is for Silver Timber who won well last tine and has course and distance form.
For the Juvenile Boys At Tosconova will be hard to beat if getting the trip.
In the  Mile I have decided to go with Gio Ponti who must have a chance of lowering the colours of the great Goldikova having won on his last four starts at the trip.
The Dirt Mile can go the way of Tizway who won his prep race like a good horse.
For the Breeders Cup Turf the Girdy pennies will be going on Workforce; if the horse that won at Epsom and Longchamp shows up it is all over.
In the classic the romantic in me makes me plump for the magnificent Zenyatta to win for the twentieth time and enter the realm of legends.
Be lucky

Breeders Cup Friday

All eyes across the pond for the Breeders Cup.
In the Marathon I am going to stick with a European trained horse. Most of the Yankee horses have no experience over a mile and three quarters and I think Bright Horizon can take advantage. The colt showed improvement in winning the Irish Cesarewitch and if he goes on the dirt he can teach the home team a thing or two about staying.
In the Juvenile Fillies Turf there has been a bit of money for O'Briens Together but she was a little disappointing last time and the home team might have a good thing in the grey Winter Memories. I have watched the Miss Grillo Stakes and the filly won very nicely, a similar performance would be good enough to take the prize.
The Filly and Mare Sprint is a real puzzler. I have decided to go with the front running Rightly So. The filly has never finished out of the first three and I have watched the Ballerina Stakes several times and it is an impressive front running performance. A repeat of that and hopefully she can run the opposition off their feet again today.
In the Juvenile Fillies there is an argument to be made that the Brian Meehan trained Theyskens Theory should improve for the use of Lasix and that she is bred for the dirt being by Bernardini. If she was American trained she would be shorter than 7-1 and she is worth a few bob to nick this.
The Filly & Mare Turf sees Midday defending her crown. The filly has been better this year than last and on all known form she is a worthy favourite. It is hard to see any of her opponents improving enough the beat her.
I like the look of late and fast performer Blind Luck in the Ladies Classic. The filly won the Kentucky Oaks over course and distance and appears to be a fighter going down by a neck to Havre De Grace giving that filly 10lb last time out; off levels expect a different result.
Be lucky 

The Thursday Titter VII

Riding the odds-on favourite at Cheltenham a young conditional jockey is well ahead of the field two out.
Suddenly he’s hit on the head by a turkey and a string of sausages.
He manages to keep control of his mount and the beast pulls back into the lead, only for the jockey to be struck by a box of Christmas crackers and a dozen mince pies as he goes over the last fence.
With great skill the youngster manages to steer the horse to the front of the field once more when, at the start of the run in, he’s struck on the head by a bottle of sherry and a Christmas pudding.
He heaves himself back into the saddle and rouses his mount for one final effort up the hill but he succeeds only in coming second.
Upon dismounting he immediately goes to the stewards to complain that he had been seriously hampered.

Breeders Cup Update VI

Zanyatta is as low as 2-1 with some firms for the Breeders Cup Classic following sustained support for the unbeaten mare. If she can make it twenty wins from twenty runs by taking the big one for the second year running it would truly be one of the great racing stories of all time.
Michael Stoute has arrived in the States and having watched Workforce take a gentle piece of exercise at the track is quoted as saying ‘The track is in wonderful shape and it's got a nice covering of grass. There's been no rain and the ground is a bit faster than we would like.We just have to hope they put a bit more water on.’
American jockeys have been quoted as describing the going at Churchill Downs as ‘soft’ in direct contrast to the descriptions of ‘hard’ and ‘rattling’ used by European trainers and connections earlier in the week.

Breeders Cup Update V

Home is where the heart is; Richard Hughes will not be traveling to the Breeders Cup and will instead stay in Britain and attempt to claw back Paul Hanagans lead in the jockeys' championship. Hughes will of course be giving up the ride on Paco Boy in the Breeders Cup Mile with Ryan Moore taking over on the Richard Hannon trained colt.
Workforce had his first look at the Churchill Downs track and connections expressed concern about the conditions. Ryan Moore described the going as ‘Quicker than ideal’. Traveling head groom for the Stoute stable, Stuart Messenger, described the turf course as ‘Having a lush grass cover, but extremely firm underneath’. The Arc and Derby winner has drifted slightly in the betting.
Henry Cecil is another expressing worry in regard to the going at Churchill and is quoted as saying ‘They have to take the jar out of the ground. You can't expect them to be running on a road.’ but it looks likely that Midday will still take her chance in the Filly & Mare Turf having been drawn in stall seven for the race.
Following the draw on Tuesday afternoon Goldikova has eased in the betting having been allocated stall ten in the Breeders Cup Mile which does leave her on the outside with a short run to the first bend, Paco Boy has got box six. Zenyatta got stall eight in the Breeders Cup Classic and has been cut slightly on most books.
It has also been reported that the majority of the European raiding party including all of the Godolphin runners as well as Aidan O’Briens four runners will be using the anti-bleeding medication Lasix.

Breeders Cup Update IV

Goldikova will have to face Gio Ponti as she attempts an historic hat-trick in the Breeders Cup Mile. Connections of last years Breeders Cup Classic runner-up revealed in the early hours of Tuesday morning UK time that The Christophe Clement trained five-year-old will line up for the mile this year.
Workforce has experienced delays in traveling to the States it is reported. The favourite for the Breeders Cup Turf had to endure 18 hours of traveling before being safely housed in his barn at Churchill Downs. The Arc and Derby winner is said to have coped well with the delays caused by a bomb scare at Louisville International Airport and further delays with the vet checks and paperwork at the track, but it can hardly be considered ideal preparation.
The going at Churchill Downs turf track looks certain to be firm with track superintendent Butch Lehr reportedly saying that there had been no significant rain at the track since June. They have been watering the turf course but he has confirmed that the going will be firm.

Breeders Cup Update III

Richard Hannon has been talking up the chances of Paco Boy for the Breeders Cup Mile. Generally available at 6-1, behind 11-10 favourite Goldikova, Paco Boy is reported to have worked well recently under Richard Hughes and Hannon is quoted as being hopeful that the five-year-old can 'bring home a fistful of dollars.'
Richard Hughes though may not be in the States to get the leg up as it is reported on Monday (1st November) that the jockey said when talking about the big meeting ‘We'll wait and see for a day or two and see how things are then before making a decision about whether to stay here for the weekend.’ Richard Hannon Jnr had also earlier claimed in an interview on BBC Radio 4 that winning the jockeys title was more important to Hughes than riding at the Breeders' Cup.