Monday, 5 December 2011

Tuesday's 19 Days Til Xmas Selections Blog & Results - 06 December

Silvestre De Sousa may not have won the champion jockey title this year but he was named the Horserace Writers' & Photographers' Association flat jockey of the year yesterday at their awards lunch in London.  Tony McCoy was their NH jockey of the year.  Frankel intriguingly won the President's award - I don't know what the prerequisites for nominees for this category are - fastest monster over a mile,  fastest legend on four legs......


My Xmas pressie suggestion list is now fighting for space on the fridge (where is was solitarily holding court underneath a fridge magnet proclaiming "No Coffee, No Workee") with another which has now appeared.   One of the items on this (daughter's) list is "Nars illuminator in orgasm"!! This is not as it sounds!  It is in fact a genuine premium brand item of make up concoted with "Polar Berries" (Cloudberry, Raspberry, Black Currant) and Frankincense with orgasm being a colour shade.  Polar berries?  Frankincense?  Cloudberry?  Tsk, please tell me I'm not getting old.............I think I need to add Ruby Walsh's autobiography to my list !



Pretty poor results with the jumps (but then they were mainly pretty poor races!) - better with Southwell especially the 7/1 Suddenly Susan.  An education re. James Best (15:40) and Nanna Maura the winner of the 12:50 was nearly chosen but that's no good to anyone!  That's Ben was very disappointing but there you go!   -1.9 today but lessons learned :)



Southwell
First Choice
E/W or RF Choice
1
12:00
Takajan UP
Suddenly Susan (EW) 1st
2
13:00
Even Stevens 1st

3
13:30
Mottley Crewe 2nd

4
14:00
Maslak UP

5
14:30
Soopacal 2nd
Cape Of Storms EW UP 5th
Notes:
2/            The 13:00 is a very tough race to read as all the principles have a negative.  I have gone for Even  Stevens who is down a class, has a decent draw and the speed to burn the others off (I hope!)



Sedgefield
First Choice
E/W or RF Choice
1
12:50
Monnow Made UP
2
13:20
That’s Ben UP (3rd)
Notes:
1/         Despite a winner yesterday, I still don’t have enough confidence in the stable form recently to back Lucia Bay but Nanna Maura also has a good chance – very open race with not too much £££ of mine on!  Nanna Maura won wouldn't you know!!
3/         I would have thought this trip was on the sharp side for Mansonien D’As and I feel Baltic Pathfinder will need the run so Panther’s Run who has won under Henry Brooke previously is the pick.



Fontwell
First Choice
E/W or RF Choice
1
13:10
Kauto The Roc UP
2
13:40
Fox Appeal 3rd
3
14:10
Curragh Dancer UP
4
14:40
Hohlethelonely UP
5
15:40
Manics Man UP

Notes:
5/             On paper Southway Star should take this easily BUT I’m concerned that this run comes so quickly after his last Friday’s win.  Matrow’s Lady would be more attractive with a jockey up that I’d heard of (sorry James Best) which leads me to Manics Man who could reverse the form of his 2nd to Southway Star LTO with the help of McCoy.Well I know who James Best is now!!




The Paddy Brennan / Pilgrim's Lane mini saga rumbles on with the trainer, Martin  Keighley spitting his dummy out and telling the press that Paddy was very apologetic on the phone afterwards.   I'm feel sure any well mannered person would have phoned up to apologise for being dehydrated and unable to take the ride and not (as Keighley is implying) to apologise for not riding because he thought the ground was too soft.  The trainer is having kittens about jockeys not having the right to make the decision whether a horse should run or not....and the owner is still furious apparently. 

Milton Harris (former owner, trainer and Keighley's rep at Aintree on Saturday) made an official complaint to stewards who were unable to complete their investigation on the day as Paddy had already left the track after being signed off by the doctor (as you would if you were unwell!) and so the case has been referred to the BHA. Mr Harris incidentally is no longer allowed to train after being refused a license by the BHA who deemed him not to be a "fit and proper" person.  

Could it simply be that the jockey was ill, the rain ruined the horses chances and perhaps everyone should all stop acting like petulant brats, settle down, take a reality check and plan for a later run when the ground is more suitable (and dare I say in a more suitable class race!).  I'm sure it must be incredibly disappointing for the owner and her husband but threats of lawsuits are not going to help with any decent jockey bookings for the future Mrs Sue Brown!  Meanwhile Paddy Brennan is keeping a dignified silence and (in my opinion) coming out of this looking by far the best.


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