Race review

Anyone who read my prophecy on how today’s race would unfold, must have thought that I’d got the time of the race wrong…

Half an hour earlier, riding Firebird  Flyer (also for trainer Evan Williams), Paul Moloney executed a ride almost precisely as I had suggested Tarkari would be ridden…

So quite why he then rode the race he did on Tarkari, is anyone’s guess….

For a horse who is normally held up, seeing him trying to force the pace, immediately set alarm bells ringing.

Sure enough, he was soon working his way back through the field and was eventually pulled up before the second last fence.

I could only speculate on why he was ridden the way he was.

I’m sure it is just a coincidence, that his price drifted from an opening 6/1, to 9/1 at the off (when I could easily have envisaged him going off 3/1 favourite).

In the same way, I’m sure it was a coincidence that Firebird Flyer was backed in from an early 6/1, to an SP of 9/2.

This game really is full of coincidences at times, isn’t it ;)

Anyway, best to move on I think…

Earlier on the Ludlow card, Vasco D’Ycy made a fine debut over hurdles in this country – but eventually gave best to Tidal Way. It was a commendable performance from both horses…

In the following race, Illegale tanked through the fist 2 miles of the contest – but then found absolutely nothing. A drop back in trip seems the obvious course of action for him…

Deceptive also travelled well enough to a point, in the novice hurdle and could have repaid those who backed him and layed back IR – provided you got your points of entry and exit right !

I might only have tentatively mentioned 3 horses at Tuanton, but 2 of them ran absolute crackers…

Romance Dance led to the home turn in the 1:50 before finally giving way to Queens Grove. However, she did plug on well enough to finish third and reward those who backed her EW, at an SP of 14/1.

Whilst in the 3:10, Notarfbad has to be considered a very unlucky loser (and possibly a winner next time out).

He refused to settle in the early part of the race and Dominic Elsworth was so keen on making him do so, he ended up a fair way off  the pace.
However, he really ran on from the final flight, snatching second in the shadows of the post.

If he learns to settle, he will surely come good very soon (possibly over a slightly longer trip).

Finally, at Clonmel, Sizing Europe destroyed a decent field in a way that only an animal of the very highest order, can do.

His performance was quite staggering and showed that he definitely not on the decline just yet.

Our Girl Sally finished second in the mares chase – though she never looked like troubling the easy winner, Tarla.

Tarla was making her chasing debut and look sure to take high rank amongst her own sex.

Bizarrely, Rubert did get a relatively easy lead in the handicap chase –and nearly made his rivals pay for it…

He looked to have his race won rounding the home turn, but tired a little over the final 2 obstacles.

I bet his connections wish they had taken my advice from the last time he ran and dropped him back to the minimum trip. There is no telling some people ;)

So that’s today done – now it’s time to go and prepare for the big battles of the next 3 days.

Wish me luck !!

TVB.