Sunday's Racing - 26 March

	Hexham	First Choice	E/W or Forecast Choice
1	14:10	Gottany O’s 3rd
2	14:40	Thelobstercatcher 2nd
3	15:40	Rival D’Estruval 1st	Realmont (EW) UP
4	16:40	Tipsy Indian 3rd
5	17:10	Red Danger Angel UP	Indian Voyage (EW) 2nd

	Wincanton	First Choice	E/W or Forecast Choice
1	14:55	Barton Cliché NR
2	15:55	Perpetually UP	J’Adhere (EW) UP

Only the one winner and -5.28 today

There are two things about McCain runners that I always kick myself when I don't remember- the first is any runners at Bangor should be backed blindly and in a multiple!  The four timer that he had there yesterday passed me by.  And the second thing is that when he puts first time blinkers on, take notice that these are likely to have a very beneficial effect!  Realmont wears them today (15:40 Hexham) 
Not today though - he only managed 4th

A quick post to leave my nightly nap - short price I'm afraid but then it should win by a few miles hundred yards furlongs yards!  i'm not in the least worried about the firmer ground, he's won on the flat on good to firm and had a 3rd in January on good ground - after which he had his wind worked on so it wasn't the ground that was against him that day.  His sire also liked a sound surface.

Gottany O's
Hexham 14:10
3rd

You can do worse than back anything that either Luke Morris or Joe Fanning are riding over the next few days...they're neck and neck for the AW title!

83                           82

Wednesday's 18 Days Until Christmas Selections & Updates - 07 December

A lesson learned yesterday was not to discount a horse purely because of the jockey  - which I did twice in one day!  Nanna Maura and Matrows Lady both won - one ridden by Brian Hughes who has a relatively poor record over hurdles at Sedgefield (11 wins from 145 rides) and the other by James Best, a 7lb claimer.  Ending the day just slightly down, I've put yesterday down as a good learning experience.

Probably just as well that I didn't get my internet back properly until around 15:00 given what was happening at the NH (how badly could Le Roi Rouge and Koup De Kanon run?)  

Kempton made up for it though (although Next Cry in the 17:50 foiled my 8 lines of winning placepot!).....3.58 PROFITS today

	Kempton	First Choice	E/W or RF Choice
1	16:20	Quizzed 1st
2	16:50	True To Form (EW) 1st
3	17:50	Next Cry UP

	Hexham	First Choice	E/W or RF Choice
1	13:20	Le Roi Rouge UP
2	13:50	City Of Doral UP
3	14:20	Koup De Kanon UP
4	15:20	Mr Chippy 2nd

Notes:

2/            Edge Of Town is new to chasing and has been off the track for almost 2 years but if anyone can get him ready FTO  then it’s McCain and this small field will be in his favour but the heavy ground conditions today will be a baptism of fire for him on his chase debut and although stamina and ground shouldn’t present too much of a problem, the sharp track might.  I’m not convinced that Bescot Springs can cope with the ground with confidence also being an issue after his LTO fall.  City Of Doral may well do better than expected having contested some much better races in Ireland if it gets too much for Edge Of Town.  Not one for many£££ though.

	Leicester	First Choice	E/W or RF Choice
1	13:30	Joker Choker 1st	Take Of Shoc’s (RF) UP

Notes:

1/         The Henderson unchased horse Joker Choker looks to have the best chance here but will be a short price – although an easier introduction to chasing would be hard to find.  I’m intrigued by the booking of McCoy for Take Of Shoc’s who should like the better ground and won comfortably won a PTP in the past and may be worth putting in a reverse forecast.

The vagueries of racing is such that Will Kennedy has been jocked off Time For Rupert.  I don't know who'll be taking the ride from now on.  Will he did absolutely nothing wrong (some may suggest that the horse was aimed too high too fast) but I guess is the jockey the easiest 'part' to replace in a not always so well oiled machine.


Johnny Farrelly had the most horrendous fall yesterday and was ambulanced to hospital where he was found to have broken his collar bone.  He was very lucky but it is a reminder of how dangerous the sport is and how jockeys (mainly NH) can be out of action with no income for weeks or months.  The Injured Jockeys Fund does some good work and you can help by donating or buying from them ... click the flashy vastness of red at the bottom of this post!

Here's a Canon (Kanon if you're German!) with a twist !

You may have seen it before - the original YouTube video had 85 Million + hits

It's not too late to order your Christmas Cards!  Click the image below to go to the Injured Jockeys Fund website to order