Plenty of Racing Today

After a blank day yesterday National Hunt racing returns today with three cards at Newbury, Taunton and Uttoxeter and whilst there are plenty of runners of interest there are no official blog bets as the racing is fairly competitive as exemplified by the 2.05 at Newbury where I would be interested in backing 5 of the 6 runners if they were not running against each other.

Two horses of interest today:- 

Utt 12.25 My Flora (Very good hunter chaser during the last couple of season and now being professionally trained by Donald McCain. I assume the Mares only race at the Cheltenham festival will be the long term target if they stick to the hurdling route so should have the class to win this race over two miles but not prepared to back at odds on to find out as there will be better opportunities to back her over longer trips later in the season).

Taun 3.55 Miss Exhibitionist ( Up 7lb for winning well at Lingfield last time and could be able to defy the rise now dropped back into a mares only handicap)

P&L for 2012 -6.56

Selection At Taunton

Loose Chip was very disappointing on Sunday. Cruising 3 out he stopped very quickly and although there was a doubt about the getting the trip I think there was probably another problem. No excuses for the other selection Maringo Bay who put to a good performance but was beaten by a classier horse. He remains of interest to me probably in staying handicaps later in the season although he does hold an entry in the 4 mile National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham. Two meetings today at Wetherby and Taunton and there is one selection at Taunton.

P&L at advised prices since 24/8 = +20.52 2012 = +1.14 Unplcd(8/1)

Taunton 2.00 Giordano Bruno 1/2PT E/W @7/1 Various

Giordano Bruno made an interesting debut at Taunton 6 weeks ago after almost 3 years off the course. Jumped out in front he caught my eye as he travelled smoothly throughout the race until lack of peak fitness caught up with him turning for home where he was passed by Darlan and Jump City. Once headed Richard Johnson gave him an easy time. I got the impression from this run that there is much more to come and although today is no easy task with natural progression I would not expect him to be out of the first three, although odds on favourite Urbain De Sivola may be a tough nut to crack I have a doubt that this tight track may not suit him. Held up in last never put in the race at any stage, clearly looking to get a handicap mark for later in the season? Reported finished lame.

One For Today

No bet yesterday but with three meetings today at Lingfield, Ludlow and an excellent competitive card at Taunton I have one bet.

P&L at advised prices since 24/8 +19.48 2012= -1.94

Lingfield 2.00 The Tracey Shuffle 1PT WIN @9/4B365 2ND(4/6F)

A dual bumper winner of soft ground last season before running a decent race in the Cheltenham bumper where he finished 10^th this novice hurdle looks an ideal starting point for a horse I expect to go onto much better things. A brother to the ill fated Mr Thriller and a half brother to Gaspara he has proven class in his pedigree and the trainer comments in his stable tour “He’ll be a lovely staying novice hurdler on easy going”. The main danger comes in the form of Ile De Re won the Shergar Cup Stayers Handicap at Ascot and though he's shown promise in two starts over hurdles I believe he will need an even more strenuous test of stamina to exploit his full potential. With main market rival being a non runner this looked a simple task for The Tracey Shuffle, but after a prolonged battle with Becausewecan until approaching the 2nd last he was outstayed by a 40/1 shot to leave me pulling out what hair I have left :-(.

Selection For Taunton

No selection yesterday and with two meetings today at Haydock and Taunton and there is one selection at Taunton. I live about 5 miles from Haydock and am actually surprised the meeting is going ahead given all it has done for the last 48hrs is rain heavily so I would expect the ground to be very testing.

P&L at advised prices since 24/8 +22.42

Taunton  2.20 Rowan Tiger 1/2PT E/W @9/2Various

Rowan Tiger won very easily at Bangor last time and I would expect him to go close to defying  the penalty in this fairly competitive novice hurdle considering Tony McCoy has chosen to ride him again. However this will be no easy task as he was over 20lbs inferior on the flat to favourite Ted Spread, but like Bangor I expect him to go out and make all and put pressure on the others jumping in the later stages of the race. If he is unable to defy the penalty I cannot see him finishing outside the first three so hence at the price this is really a bet to nothing.

Two For Today

After a quiet week there are three competitive meetings today at Huntingdon, Ludlow and Taunton and there are two selections.

P&L at advised prices since 24/8 +28.42

Ludlow  1.10 The Chazer 1PT WIN@7/2 Various

Reading the form literally is small field novice chases can sometimes be misleading,  but  in this case I don’t think so and I am confident  the handicapper has got it wrong. The Chazer made his chase debut a month ago at Bangor finish 2^nd to the mighty  Peddlers Cross beaten only 4 ½ lengths. The race comment from the race are “raced keenly, held up in rear, went 2nd 8th, switched right and tried to challenge approaching last, always fighting losing battle, eased when no chance final 110yds”. What impressed me although he was never going to win his jumping was fast and accurate against a far superior rival and it was only after the last that the jockey eased off. Taking the above factors into consideration I believe the horse ran to a higher mark than the 121 he ran off that day and runs off again today. With the Richard Lee yard remaining in tremendous form he is worth a bet to see if I can prove the handicapper wrong.

Huntingdon 3.30 Amalric 1PT WIN@9/2 Various

I very rarely put selections up in bumpers but Amalric caught my eye when running a highly promising race in a competitive bumper in November. He was travelling extremely well on the inside going into the final half mile, but was short of room as the pace quickened losing valuable ground, but once clear stayed on all the way to the line to finish a comfortable 3^rd to a well regarded winner.  Today represents a race of similar class, but given the normal improvement from race 1 to race 2 I expect him to go very close.

The Good Run Continues

The good run continues with another winning selection yesterday with Dream Function winning the last at Exeter in very impressive fashion having been backed in from 4/1 to a starting price of 2/1 and in the process  overturing the highly regarded Swincombe Flame. Two meetings today at Ludlow and Taunton and having looked at the cards there is no bet.  I’m off the Cheltenham for the three day Paddy Power meeting tomorrow so I’ll be getting stuck into tomorrow’s card once the declarations are available.

P&L at advised prices since 24/8 +18.97