Review of the day

I have to admit that I’m finding it increasingly hard to write these post race reviews…

Not because I’m filled with anguish at the way things are going (though I’m obviously not very happy !) – but because I feel that day after day, I’m in danger of writing exactly the same thing.

I want to try and make the reviews informative and entertaining – but how can I do that, if I just have to keep telling the same old story ?!

Today it was the turn of Walkon and Rigadin Du Beauchene to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

Once again, both horses traded comfortably odds on in running – but as has been the case so often recently, neither could find enough reserves to hold off late challenges…

That took the total of horses we’ve had trade odds on in-running this month to 10 (plus one that traded bang on 2) – and 9 of them have been beaten.

It truly is an amazing statistic.

If a horse trades at odds on in-running, it should have a slightly better than 50:50 chance of winning a race. So it should be like flipping a coin with a slight bias in your favour. To manage to get 9 out 10 calls wrong – is frankly staggering – and who is to say that it will end here ?

It is quite possible that the next sequence of 10 odds on runners will yield another 9 losers – though if that does happen, you might not find me here writing about it !!

Aside from those tortures, there wasn’t a great deal to report from the day.

At Cheltenham, the results proved to be just as predicable as they appeared last night…

Despite looking to be struggling at various points, Far West ultimately cruised home from Handazan in the opening juvenile hurdle. Though I would suggest that the bookmakers who decide to shorten his price for the Triumph hurdle on the back of the victory, were having a bit of a laugh.

Whilst the theory of being able to steal a bit of value on the place part of the bet with Best Served Cold was sound (he ultimately was sent off 8/1 third favourite) the horse was simply not up to the job.

From a long way out, the first two in the market had the race to themselves – with Highland Lodge eventually coming home a worthy winner.

He received a post race quote of 16/1 for the RSA chase – and if the ground comes up soft, there would be worse horses to have on your side.

Pepite Rose was declared a non-runner in the 2 mile chase - which was fair enough.

I did think it was a possibility, if connections really didn’t think she would handle the ground. I would much rather them take that course of action than run her and then say ‘we didn’t think she would act on the ground’.

With her out of the way, it was left to Shooters Wood and Garynella to battle things out from the home turn. Shooters Wood had managed to see off Garynella by the last, but then His Excellency came with what looked like a winning run.

However, as I said last night, he is an enigmatic character. I’ve seen him make Davy Russell look foolish a few times over hurdles –and he did the same to AP today.

I suspect the champ will be a little wiser, if he is asked to sit on him again…

Coneygree was a very game winner of the 3m novice hurdle, The horse really does have an attitude to die for – and plenty of ability too.

It will take a good one to lower his colours, when he has his optimum conditions.

In the big chase, both Walkon and Michaeal Flips ran really well – but neither could quite reached the required position for payment.

Walkon beat off the rest of the field comfortably but was unlucky to run into another very well handicapped rival in Unioniste, who defied his inexperience to win comfortably.

Micheal Flips ran a much better race than he has done recently but just never quite managed to get himself into contention. I suspect his finishing placing today is as good as he is.

The clash between Zarkandar, Rock on Ruby and Grandouet lived up to expectations – and it was the former who took advantage of race fitness and a 4lb concession from his rivals to record a workman like victory.

Whether the placings will be the same come next March is a debatable point however, as connections of all 3 runners could take positives from the race.

In the finale, Oscar Whiskey won as a 1/5 shot should do – he is an uncomplicated, highly talented horse, who deserves to bag a really big prize.

Over at Lingfield, Rigadin De Beauchene jumped without blemish but just couldn’t hold off Well Refreshed on the run from the last fence – it was a tough one to take…

Finally, I would like to wish a couple of my racing heroes a very happy birthday.

Frankie Dettori is 42 today – and despite his recent misdemeanours, he remains my favourite flat jockey, by some distance.
Whilst the delightful Henrietta Knight is 66 today – her sensitive handling of my equine hero Best Mate, was never fully appreciated…

And how do I know it is their birthdays today – because they share it with someone you all know, who is currently going through a bit of a tricky time trying to find a winner ;)

Until tomorrow then...

TVB.