Shorties

One bet since I last had a chance to post which was Time For Spring last Saturday. I nice welcomed winner that I unfortunately didn't have time to post.

Off to Cheltenham today for the 3 day Paddy Power meeting. The card looks competitive and the two horses I will be backing today are class animal in small fields which are reflected in their prices.

P&L for 2012 -5.69

1.15 Cheltenham Fingel Bay 1PT WIN @5/4 various (2nd 5/4F beaten by a much better horse in Dynaste probably will win when stepped up to 3 miles)
2.35 Cheltenham Dodging Bullets 1PT WIN @ 11/10 various(1st 5/4F made all under an enterprising ride by Ruby Walsh)

Sunday

Carlisle 1.30 1PT WIN Vintage Star @9/2 Various (2nd 11/2) Beaten by slightly better fancied stable mate.

Revised Blog Format

As you may have gathered due to lack of updates I am unable to find the time to continue doing the blog in its current format. I am still having the occasional bet and will updated the results for October. Going forward I will just put up the horses I am going to back but without any narrative.

Back With One at Carlisle

Nothing has been of interest over the last 10 days but there is one of interest at Carlisle today.

P&L for 2012 -9.44

Carlisle 5.00 Attaglance  1PT WIN@7/2(Boylesports)

Attaglance was a progressive hurdler for Malcolm Jefferson completing a remarkable double of winning handicaps at both the Cheltenham and Aintree festivals last season. Today he starts his novice chasing career in a very competitive novice chase. By far the highest rated hurdler in the field and with the stable in excellent form this looks a good opportunity to make a winning start to his new chasing career.

New Month Change of Luck Needed

Last week was one I want to forget with two of my three selections being subject to huge gambles only to fail to deliver what was clearly expected of them. Consequently the results for the month look a bit grim showing a loss of 3.38pts on the month taking the yearly loss to 8.45pts. Clearly there is much work to do to get back in profit but with the better horses now starting to appear there will be some good opportunities over the coming month and a change of luck certainly wouldn’t go amiss! One meeting today at Newton Abbot and there is one selection in a good novice chase.

P&L for 2012 -8.44

Newton Abbot  2.30 Double Ross  1PT WIN@11/10(Sporting Bet) (2nd 5/6f)

Double Ross went into my note book after winning a novice hurdle at Folkestone last November and continued to improve throughout the season finishing up with a very creditable 3^rd in the  Swinton handicap hurdle at Haydock in May. Overall he has a more progressive profile than market rival Jump City who was kept to the smaller tracks last season and has yet to win on any ground worse than good. Available at 13/8 last night Double Ross has already been heavily back today.  Tried to make all and didn't travel or jump that smoothly during the race and did well to only be beaten a neck.

Interesting Novice Chase

A very poor day on Sunday with both selections failing to win.  Khazium ran ok to finish 2^nd 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 3^rd 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.

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.