The "Oh My God, How Long?" Blog

I hang my head in shame that this is the first blog since the beginning of November!

In that time:

·        Richard Hughes became champion flat jockey for the first time

·        Frankie Dettori has been given 6 months ‘rest’ from the racecourse and is currently to be found inside the Big Brother house.  

Frankie lines up with the other runners

·        Barney Curley has voluntarily retired from training horses and is now devoting his time to his DAFA charity for Africa

·        John McCririck has involuntarily retired from his position as resident misogynist on TV and is now devoting his time to suing C4 for several million for alleged ageism.  

·        Kauto Star has retired from racing and now spends time practising bouncing in time to music 

·        Paul and Clive fell out

·        Big Bucks and Al Ferof were both discovered (on the same sad evening) to have tendon injuries ruling them out for the rest of the season

·       Frankel is now happily ensconced at Banstead Manor Stud ready to share his ‘£125k–a-pop’ lovejuice with 130 mares in his first season (I did the maths – it’s 16 ¼ million!)

·        Silviniaco Conti has announced his arrival on the NH scene in style (he’s a personal favourite of mine for 2013 so gets a mention!)

·        I vow not to leave my blog neglected, forgotten and forlorn for quite so long in future!

PS   You may remember the handiwork of the bad driver/bad SatNav combo on the 19 April!  The car insurers settled months ago BUT this is how the medieval cross now looks today.  

The delay is now due to the council.  The moral of this story is "if you want something doing don't give it to a committee"....if you look hard enough, in the middle of those pick up sticks is a 12ft high stone cross!

©

Gold Cup Cheltenham Festival Day 4 - 16 March

My blog which I had scheduled to publish this morning didn't schedule or publish - never mind though because it's Gold Cup time!  


Is there anyone in the country who doesn't want Kauto Star to win....it makes it considerably difficult to look objectively at the race as I tend to overcompensate for my heart by being harder on him than I should.  I cannot help but think (as does most everyone I speak to) that some new and unconsidered runner may grab the spoils...it would be nice if this was Weird Al (previous blog nap!)  I'm not too concerned about the Nicholls yard form as Kauto Star is housed in a satellite (segregated) yard together with Big Bucks, Rock On Ruby and others so hasn't been affected but the same 'air'.  It's going to be such a fascinating race to watch regardless of the outcome and as long as they all come home safely then picking the winner will be an added bonus.

Poor Peddler's Cross - he's such a game horse and that obviously wasn't his true running today.  I'm glad that Don McCain has seen fit to admit defeat with the chasing game (and with it any Gold Cup hopes) and will send him back over hurdles next season - let's hope we see the 'real' Peddlers back then.

Triumph Hurdle
I had backed Grumeti antepost in this (plus a little on Dodging Bullets each way at a big price more in hope of a place than expectation of a win)...however!  I have warmed considerably to Pearl Swan- stats wise he ticks all the boxes but does have the disadvantage (at the moment) of being from Nicholls yard...but which part?


Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle
A cavalry charge with the winner needing a jockey with wits about him and a lot of luck!  I have a soft spot for any past blog nap so Magnifique Etoile has been given careful consideration but I don't think he's up to this!  Olofi however is back as close as damn it to a winnable mark and has a good 2nd last November here in the Greatwood so passes the 'big field' test.  Court In Session could get in the places at a big price back hurdling.


Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (aka the Potato Race!)
Although Sea Of Thunder fell when he last ran here (6 lengths in front at the time), he has had a confidence restoring run since then and should perform today.  I was on Rocky Creek antepost but that was before the poor form of the stable.  Brindisi Breeze looks as though he needs more juice - although he had placed on good ground and his breeding suggests he should run well on this today.  Boston Bob is obviously a worth favourite.  He's another though who appears to need soft in the going description but in his case I would say that his breeding definitely suggests he needs it.  


Gold Cup
I will confess that I cannot look at this race at all objectively!  I'd love to be able to tip up the winner (kudos) but my heart says Kauto Star (like everyone's) and my head says Long Run.  Burton Port, Weird Al, Midnight Chase, Synchronised and What A Friend are all shortlist material but I'd have Midnight Chase (Dougie is 5/5 here on him) for 3rd.  Let it be know that I shall cry if/when Kauto wins.

	Cheltenham	First Choice	E/W or Forecast Choice
1	13:30	Grumeti 3rd	Pearl Swan F
2	14:05	Olofi UP	Court In Session  UP
3	14:40	Brindisi Breeze 1st	Sea Of Thunder UP
4	15:20	Kauto Star PU	Long Run 3rd
5	16:40	Bourne  UP
6	17:15	De Boitron UP	Toubab F

I have my brain engaged in some serious study for tomorrow and am getting stuck into the cards tomorrow but my nightly nap (severely lacking this week) has to be a previous blog nap - Bourne in the Martin Pipe at 16:40.  I backed him a short while ago at 10.16 so here's hoping!


More of the same in the morning after an early night to recharge batteries ......

Sunday's Late Selections & Results - 20 November

Wow!  Kauto Star!  What a horse and what a star!  He truly lived up to his name yesterday.  And it was a hell of a  training performance from Paul Nicholls and a clever canny ride from Ruby (who had hinted of this). It was wonderful to see the old(ish) boy winning the Betfair Chase and although I admit I didn't think he could do it (I was on Long Run and Weird Al, 2nd and 3rd) there was only one horse that I didn't mind beating my selections and I really didn't.   Hey, Kauto Star was trending on Twitter all yesterday afternoon - how cool is that?

I'm dong my usual 'taking my time on Sunday morning' thing - having cleaned the cat litter tray (nice!) and sorted the various recycling boxes/bags/bins whilst consuming mucho coffee.  


Now to the serious business of picking some winners :

	Punchestown	First Choice	Danger
1	12:40	Askanna UP	So Young 1st
2	15:10	Some Present UP	Dazzling Susie UP

Notes:

1/             Taking a chance that Askanna has no issues after her fall last week.

	Towcester	First Choice	Danger
1	12:45	Cross The Flags 1st	Tea Caddy UP
2	13:45	Harry The Viking 1st	Rhythm Seeker  UP
3	15:15	Safe Investment NR	Ifonlyalfie NR

Notes:

1/             A pretty poor race which won’t have much of my £££s on.

	Exeter	First Choice	Danger
1	14:00	Flaming Gorge BD	Rhum 2nd
2	14:30	Baseball Ted   UP	Renard 1st

4 winners today with the 15:15 being abandoned through fog and poor Flaming Gorge's chances scuppered when he was brought down at the first - down -2.2 win stake only