Monday, 24 October 2011

Tuesday's Day Off But Still A Busy Blog- 25 October

The only thing I got right with yesterday's selections was to keep the stakes small!  Thankfully I picked up on the Marsh Warble gamble at Southwell so I ended the day no worse off.

I'm having a day off today (Tuesday) to refresh the batteries so I shall leave you with this funny funny vid of Father Ted (see below) - you'll find it almost impossible not to watch at least half a dozen more!

I lied about the day off......the two first races at Chepstow (both novice hurdles) were just too tempting so here we are with a couple of selections:
Chepstow

14:10  Prospect Wells 1st  – hurdling debut with  powerful connections and a listed win on the flat but given that Paul Nicholls has stated that he isn’t entirely a natural over hurdles a saver on Bob Lewis UP (e/w) may be wise – hopefully will have matured over summer and avoid throwing the race away this time.  If ever a correctional whip was needed.............


14:40  Connections could make this a double with Grandioso 3rd Who has come to Paul Nicholls from erstwhile trainer Howard Johnson.  I think the value in this race may lie with Gorgehous Lliege UP who could be a revelation over a shorter distance and better ground.  Almost Here UP could figure at a huge price after a not entirely disgraceful 4th in August after 4 years off the track.


15:10 Well Hello There UP should be able to overcome his 7lb penalty and add this to his tally.  Just in case the extra weight and distance are too much then Tin Pot Man UP (4th) may be worth an each way with the stable flying at the moment.  Another runner that caught my eye is Piran.  He was with Tim Vaughan until a week or so ago, is owned by a big Welsh syndicate and although he’s been off the race track for some while, fitness shouldn’t be an issue and may sneak a place at a huge price. 





I've been rattling on with my views on the Guardian website in response to a Lydia Hislop article here:  I tried my best not to offer up my opinions on the "divide and rule" approach of the BHA  ... honest!!!

My offerings are nothing as eloquently put as this piece by Alan Aitken for the South China Morning Post (Hong Kong!) which includes this sentence:
"This policy of appeasement beggars belief. Racing loses part of the war every time it cedes any ground at all in skirmishes about whip use. The misunderstanding is that so-called animal rights people want to see the end of the whip in racing - they don't. They want to see the end of racing, and whip use, or jumps racing in Australia, is simply the back door entry that lets them place the charges to destroy an industry that employs a great number of people and provides governments with large amounts of cash that paper over their mistakes in other areas."
Read it here



You may recall that I lost my Jack Russell Vinnie at the start of September.  I've just been sent a lovely photo of him surrounded by his toys (he liked chasing horses too!):
  
Vinnie RIP


   156                     147                     143

      56                        56                     25 


Ongoing non runners list – these are previous blog selections that were scratched on the day and worth looking out for NTO:

Grumeti
Gala Casino Star
Best One
Captain Dash
Murfreesboro
Shoreacres


I am now off to ponder one of life's big mysteries.......why are do many racehorses have "cat" in their names.



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