Thursday 27 September 2012

Interesting Novice Chase


A very poor day on Sunday with both selections failing to win.  Khazium ran ok to finish 2nd but I was expecting more. That was probably his level and  I expect he will be place to win a little juvenile by his trainer. Oscar Prairie was subject of a huge gamble and was never travelling after a mistake at the first. I don’t mind the odd gamble going astray but if I look back at my records for this season the majority of the ones I have been involved in have failed to deliver, hence the reason I am still showing a loss on the year. Nothing has been of interest in the past couple of days but that is different at Perth today where there is an exceptional novice chase for this time of year and I expect it to throw up a number of future winners.

P&L for 2012 -7.44

Perth  3.20  The Tracey Shuffle 0.5PT E/W @ 7/2PP(Fell 2nd 6/4F)
For the time of year this is a really good novice chase with warm favourite Carlito Brigante the class act, being rated 157 at his best over hurdles. He made a winning chase debut back in May, but was very disappointing on his next run and on that basis I am going to take a chance with The Tracey Shuffle who David Pipe sends him all the way from Devon. He was a fairly decent novice hurdler last season winning one and finishing 3rd in competitive hurdle at Punchestown.  Provided he takes to the fences then I cannot see him being out of the first three and if the favourite puts in another poor performance then the race could be for the taking.2nd gamble of the week to go astray and to rub salt into the wound Aneyeforaneye who was a blog selection last time shows greats battling qualities to put a lifetime best performance in winning.

Sunday 23 September 2012

Back After Break With Two Selections


Back after the 10 day break with two meetings at Plumpton and Uttoxeter and there is a selection at each meeting.

P&L for 2012 -5.44 

Plumpton 2.30 Khazium 1PT WIN@5/2 B365 (2ND 11/4)
Khazium made a satisfactory introduction to hurdles at Stratford 12 days ago when runner-up to Third Half. Brendan Powell does well with his juvenile hurdlers and given this race is no more competitive than the race at Worcester I would expect him to go very close given his hurdling experience. Travelled and jumped well but found one too good again.

Uttoxeter 3.40 Oscar Prairie  0.5PT E/W @13/2 WHill (PU 7/4F)
Oscar Prairie returns to chasing off a very attractive mark in this very competitive handicap chase. Subject of a wind operation during last season, his form improved and he had the pace to win a Kempton bumper for jumpers, when gambled on, before winning a handicap hurdle off 125 at the same track. He runs today off his old handicap chase mark of 116 and I expect him to be primed to go very close given this is trainer Warren Greatrex’s first runner from his new base at the historic Uplands stable. Heavily backed but never travelling or jumping with any fluency.Explanation from BHA website Wayne Hutchinson, the rider of OSCAR PRAIRIE (IRE), which pulled up, reported that the gelding slipped going into the first losing his confidence and never travelled thereafter.