POINT TO POINT & HUNTER CHASE SEASON 2015

Went to Milborne St Andrew yesterday.  Fast ground and smallish fields.  Enjoyable day. Could do with some rain before Easter.

Hunter chases at Ffos Las and Wetherby this week.

Heavy going at FFos Las makes this a difficult hunter chase for me to weigh up, but expect the top two in the market to prevail in these conditions. No need to get involved.

Went to ston easton sunday, foynes island made amends for falling 3 out at charltone horthone by winning the mens open, ridden by harry cobden, he fked up on roseyroo in the first tho, gave it far too much to do, was backed from 6/4 into 1/2 as well, for same owner as foynes.

So both well supported again and once again one has failed. I think it's all quite a local connection and obviously someone had a lot of confidence. Perhaps they'll get it right next time?

See Special Occasion spoiled the party - now that's a horse who's difficult to work out.

Luckily some decent rain fell overnight so the going should improve for the weekend.

A desperate race yesterday and an unappealing match at Wetherby today.

Very uninspiring racing at Larkhill today.  Profitable but not that enjoyable with small fields probably due to quick ground. Might be the end of my season.

Bit of an upset at Exeter today.  Expected Aerial to win, but too short to play and din't see that coming from Moscow Chancer.  Good to see Tataniano back in action and interesting to see if there is more to come as he should competitive at this level.

Hoping to go to Wincanton tomorrow, with Coombe Hill looking for another C&D win, but up against a useful Nicholls' horse in Merrion Square and Foynes Island.  Must admit I'm a big Coombe Hill fan.

Interesting race at Towcester too with Mr Mercurial taking on Legal Legend.

Ok REM ? was looking at winc race, fav did have very hard race last time, coombe is 14 now and foyes island obv improving and getting weight and rider allowance, hes a good kid but he does like holding up a long way back sometimes, 8/1 i might have few quid e/w good luck

I'm OK thanks.  Just back from an exciting days racing at Wincanton.  Backed five winners and good to see the old boy Coombe Hill win the hunter chase, although a touch fortuitous. Quite shocking to watch the young jockey get catapulted from Merrion Square in to the last fence.  Never witnessed anything quite like that and hope he's OK.  Foynes Island ran a good race in 2nd.

Completely forgot the Towcester race, although I did fancy Legal Legend against Mr Mercurial.

Big point to point weekend as always at Easter.  12 meetings on Saturday and 11 on Sunday.  Hopefully get a good turnout with the recent rain and more forecast, as that's a lot of races across the country.

Yeah watched the unseat on bbc sport back protector done his job, got up and walked away !!! makes you wonder how these footballers roll around after getting a tap.
kingston st mary point for me monday

Have to take on Foundry Square at ludlow, as much as I like this horse it only ran four days ago.

yeah, rockiteer already beaten it and bigger price

Foundry Square ran below par.  Tugboat ran on well in the conditions to claim first hunter chase.

I went to Kingston St Mary last year.  Good meeting but the traffic on the 303 has horrendous, so might stay at home.  Did go to Lockinge the year before that which was good too, but can suffer small fields and not the regular Wessex horses that I keep tabs on.  Don't like Hackwood at all.  So might be Badbury on Saturday for me.

Good luck.

Declarations now in for Aintree Foxhunters, I will be there on Thursday, what is everyone's early thoughts?

Went to Badbury yesterday.  Mixed feelings about the day.  Winners easy to find with Will Biddick adding four more victories to his already impressive total and two close seconds as well.  Smallish fields and a large holiday crowd many of whom were indifferent to the racing.  The bookies were betting to 150%+ books, making any value hard to find.

Looking forward to the Aintree meeting and look at the foxhunters.

A couple of races at Sedgefield coming up.  Fancy Special Portrait over Dica.  Can't get enthusiastic about anything else out of the first three in the betting.

That was close.  Charles Bruce ran a big race and was more like the horse of a few seasons ago.

Another Sedgefield race at 17:15 and not many that I'm familiar with.  See why Banny's Lad and Monogram are at the top of the market, not so sure about Tough Talkin Man, but this is an ordinary race.  No need to play.

Stayed at home today.  Nice weather for racing and probably good crowds.  See Will Biddick added another five wins at Kingston St Mary to move even further ahead in the mens championship, including the return of Chapoturgeon and getting a ride on Ghizao (that might have been worth a decent punt had a been there).

PROLIFIC THAT'S RHYTHM SUFFERS POTENTIAL CAREER-ENDING INJURY

by Carolyn Tanner

The veteran That's Rhythm, one of the season's leading horses, pulled up lame after working on the gallops this morning [Tuesday], and was found to have fractured a pastern.
It is hoped he will make a full recovery, though it seems doubtful he will make a return to the racecourse at the age of 16 next year. "He will tell us what he wants to do!" said trainer Charlotte Fuller, emphasising that he was not in any pain.
He won four Hunter Chases for previous owner-rider Nick Wakefield, and since being purchased by the Fuller family has added three more, including the 2013 AGA final at Stratford under Page Fuller, who has also piloted him to five Point-to-Point successes.

hi REM and KOI.
Went to kingston st mary- glorious day, biddick and barber banging winners in.
He gave ghizao lovely quiet ride brought it thru won easy, odds against available early too.
aiteenthirtythree wasnt interested at all.

Apr 4, 2015 -- 7:01AM, Swardean wrote:

Declarations now in for Aintree Foxhunters, I will be there on Thursday, what is everyone's early thoughts?

Hi Swardean, Pacha Du Polder would be a lot shorter if not for jumping errors, I can't see past this one.

Cheers MJ, Similarly I would be very interested in Twirling Magic if you could guarantee his jumping.   Falling at the first in the national doesn't inspire much confidence.  But to be fair he has been much better last few times, will be ridden up with the pace, and although 21f looks too short, at the likely pace they may go, he could be keeping on when others have had enough.

Aintree foxhunters today.  Can't see many surprises at the head of the market.  Twirling Magnet and Big Fella Thanks both have question marks in the jumping department, but have big chances if completing. On The Fringe has form to suggest a shorter trip around Aintree won't be a problem so he's a worthy favourite and Warne should be there abouts. Pacha Du Polder must have a big chance too and is worth a nibble at 9.0ish. The one I like that seems to be overlooked is Current Event, who I didn't expect to be seen at his best at Cheltenham and he usually jumps well.  Shoreacres might be in the mix near the end to.  Looking forward to a good day's racing.

Age 21 - Hope you filled your boots up on Ghizao.

Real shame to hear about the injury to That's Rhythym. Saw both his victories at Barbury and Larkhill and seemed to be better than ever at fifteen.

I think Warne could take some pegging back, this race usually suits those that go from the front. GL

Well that was carnage.  Brave jockeys to line up for that.

Pacha Du Polder ran a big race, but On The Fringe just had too much in hand for a famous double.  Backed quite a few at the top of the market and had the first three home for a small profit.

Brilliant from On the Fringe and Nina, got a nice snap of him coming into the winners enclosure

Nice picture. Did you enjoy the day's racing? You had the weather for it.

Excellent day REM, I think I am actually now starting to prefer Aintree to Cheltenham.   Superb races and generally better weather.   Cheaper for excellent enclosure.   Paid just £45 for Queen Mother Stand, compare that to £65 club at cheltenham!  Club at Cheltenham is basically tatts+.   At Aintree, you get never queuing for Bar or Toilets, and amazing viewing facilities.

It wasn't ladies day yesterday but if someone had told me it was, I would have believed them !!!  Plus one a £60 taxi ride home, rather than paying £300+ a night hotel in Cheltenham.

Stayed at home this weekend.  Barbury didn't look promising and suffered from a low turnout.  Upcott Cross was always going to be the place to be, but it's a long drive for me.  Perhaps Littlewindsor can entice me this weekend.

Meanwhile there is a hunter chase at Kelso today, Exeter tomorrow and Southall on Friday to look forward to.

Not been able to look at horses for a few days and missed the Exeter hunter chase.  Thought Third Chance would get the better of Little Cornham, but did not see Blinding Lights gatecrashing at 50/1, although that was probably a big price in hindsight in what looked an open race.

Im begiining to agree as regards Aintree v Cheltenham. 3 Days is perfect at Aintree, 4 days a slog!

Just back from three days at Aintree. 95 quid for Daresbury roof. Amazing view but nowhere to sit inside stand....and of course no roof if it rains! I would say Cheltenham still has the edge. Just.

Hunter chase coming up at Southwell.  A lot depends on what Owen Glendower retains in terms of ability after a long absence and that's an unknown to me.  Can't see anything beyond the first three to get excited about, but no play for me.

On The fringe would not be out of place in a Gold Cup in this form

Easy enough for Mr Mercurial.  Not sure if Owen Glendower fell of was bumped, but going well enough at the time.

Think a gold cup would be too hot for the On The Fringe.  I expect to see him attempt to follow up his hunter chase victories next year and no reason why not.

I just wonder if they will have a crack at a Grand national with him? Nice mark if they could pick up a couple of pound.

Yes win at Cheltenham first!

Absolutely no chance in the Gold Cup...

Monogram and Iznt Getting Court both lost their lives in the Hunter chase yesterday.

That's sad news koikeeper. Never like to see horses suffer injuries.

Went to Littlewindsor on Sunday.  Smallish fields and plenty of short favourites, but a few turned over (if only I could just lay some of them).  Larkhill this Sunday looking a bit thing and currently described as firm, but rain is forecast for Friday/Saturday.  Dry weather could spell the end of the season for me, but let's see.
Notice that Exeter is suffering from a low turn out too today.

Missed the hunter chases yesterday, which is a shame as they looked interesting, but just too busy.  Quite an eventful period now with Cheltenham and Fonwell evening meetings coming up on the horizon and just have to hope the ground conditions improve.

Hunter chase today at Ludlow, with Perth, Warwick and Chepstow later in the week.

Just got home in time to see Claire Hart drive Vincitore to victory at Warwick.  She's having a fine season.

A good novice Hunter at Chepstow Today..

Yes, quite an interesting race.  Have Desertmore view top rated for falling at the last in a useful looking Larkhill restricted race, but no value in 6/4 imo given that the next three in the market (Sweet Like You, Patricktom Boru and Fine Resolve) have all shown more than enough to come out on top, although their respective races are difficult (for me anyway) to weigh up.  Can't really see the winner coming from outside the first four, so might just have a place bet on Fine Resolve as he showed plenty of resolve to win at Milborne from the front in what seemed a strong gallop and should find Chepstow to his liking.

Strange race.  Big gamble on Railway Benefit.  Fav won with a lot in hand.  I had no angle on his Welsh restricted and intermediate wins, esp as he finished alone in the later, but is obviously a decent horse.  Fine Resolve jumped poorly, but ran on well to grab a place.

Giving Larkhill a miss tomorrow. Stafford Cross looks like the better card, but it's a long trip.

Looking forward to Cheltenham hunter chase evening on Wednesday with seven decent races in prospect.

A day out fro me at Cheltenham tomorrow.

Looks a good card, disappointed that Desertmore view doesnt run, didnt have a race the other day.

It is a good card to my eyes with seven hunter chases and many of the horses are familiar to me being from the Wessex area. The interemdiate final is quite a puzzle and must say I don't have Raffa as a 33/1 shot in my book, so worth an early each-way nibble. Following Dreams and Current Event look worthy of support too. Must admit to a soft spot for old boy Coombe Hill, but it looks a competitive race. But I think I should see what these horses look like in the flesh, as some have been busy for five months or so and may not be at their peak.

I guess Desertmore View is being given plenty of time, but like you say it didn't have to work hard last time and will be interesting to see wherever it runs next.

That was a long day and I can't say Cheltenham was a joy to behold, despite the splendor of the facilities.  Quite annoying to be forced to park the other side of a busy main road when there was ample space inside the course.  Not very hospitable.  A good sized crowd with the usual point to point brigade swelled by Cotswold's posh set and evening racing's usual groups of revelers. Can't say I felt at home.

As for the racing, betting highlights were Quinz getting up under a great ride from Joe Hill and Current Event cruising home in the last.  Would have been better personally had Alskamatic prevailed in the thrilling four miler and Following Dreams had found a bit more against Harbour Court (unfortunately I went in early sniffing out value because I would sided with HC once they had flipped in the market). Shame to see Coombe Hill pulled up, but it was always likely to be too much to ask in a decent race.

Biggest joke was correctly deciding against backing Penmore Mill to win in the first, but having a place bet when the tote was showing 2.40 with four other horses lower than evens. Now I know that such obvious value doesn't always last with the tote, but wasn't expecting a 1.10 return. 10p in the pound! Guess I wasn't alone in that thinking.  See it was a massive 1.32 on Betfair by comparison.  Oh well...

The Fontwell hunter chase evening is a few weeks away and although that's closer I think I'll watch from home.  Bangor has a race in the last tomorrow evening too.

On The Fringe looks like a good thing at Punchestown tonight, but is too short for me.  Quite like Threapwood at 4.0 at Bangor later.

Threapwood only beaten once around here, unseated at the 2nd last...loves the course.

A fine hat-trick for On The Fringe.

Threapwood didn't quite have enough, but was hampered and lost several lengths.

Just about to race at Fakenham. Think Master Workman is the value against odds-on Neverownup, who I'm not entirely convinced about.

Shocking race.  All went wrong at the 2nd.

Better result at Exeter, although the first three did stand out.

Rouge Et Blanc looks the most likely winner at Uttoxeter, but now evens and that seems about right and can't find any other angles, so leaving alone.

Five runner race starting shortly at Newton Abbot. Indiana Bay looks the safest bet, but whether he represents value at a bit less than evens is debatable.  Iron Chancellor seems to be running below his best, although he won last year's renewal.  Batu Ferringhi showed a lot of promise a few years back, but hasn't recaptured that after missing a season, so it's difficult to be hopeful. Couldn't put much faith in Buckstruther or Ifonlyalfie, but they are big odds. Not a race to get excited about.

Quite easy for Indiana Bay in the end.  No surprises.

I think the point season is over for me as the remaining fixtures are out of range.  Wincanton has the Wessex hunter chase on Friday (now an open instead of a Ladies race) is interested for me.  Fontwell holds its evening meeting on Friday, which is popular with the South Eastern pointers, although I notice that Desertmore View might be making a trip for the second race.

Went to Wincanton yesterday.  A bit of a strange day being ladies day and far too many attempts at distraction in between races.  Hunter Chase didn't go my way as I was quite confident in Divine Intervention would find the race ideal, but never seemed to travel or jump well enough.

Fontwell evening card tomorrow and promised rain should make for some decent races.

Never been to a point, Nearest i think is Parham looking at the map is it any good, off to Fontwell tonight hunter night, anyone fancy anything.

Just to add sporting life still has going as g/f, i live local to track and we had 5 hours of heavy rain today.

Just seen the first race.  Soft ground and quite a test.  Been backing/laying on that basis all day.

Impact Area hasn't stopped surprising me and that was a gutsy win. Good jockey on board.  Thought John Daniel could have given a bit more.

Remarkable Man sets a good standard in the next.  Traded for a free bet, but not much value now.

Think Spiritofchartwell is a bit of EW value.

Conditions looking more desperate.

Expensive race for me.  Remarkable Man was unremarkable and Spiritofchartwell never jumped or traveled.

The next three favs look quite obvious selections, but I can't be confident at short prices in these conditions.  Think I'll just watch.

first bet in the next, betting the old Dr to enjoy this easier race and soft underfoot conditions looks solid e/w @ 5/1.

Probably be the 1st one off the bridle around here..

you dont get paid for being on the bridle lol..

some of these in the next have zero form on this ground, going for another oldy 9/2 quarry to sneak a place..

This is testing stuff.  Should allow my cynical side to do the betting, but all the favs looked quite solid when I looked at the card earlier (always complaining that I can't lay horses at the points). The travelers are doing much better than the local horses.  Desertmore View is up next.

traded out at 6/4

think the old boy needs retiring.

wtf only half my trade got matched ???

Carnage. Gina Andrews finally off the mark.

no bet in the next, e/w on broken eagle in the last g/l.

REM, form gone out of the window with the ground turning..

Kimora looks the safest option next.  Running In Heels might be good for a place.  No real confidence in anything (thinks, should just lay the fav).

Full Throttle is a horse I rate quite highly, but it's jumping is a concern and unsure about the ground.  Star Of Massini would be my choice.

You talked yourself off that one rem, hope you had saver.

Place on Star Of Massini was my rather cowardly bet.  Small profit on the evening.

Hope you enjoyed your visit to Fontwell.

not really got involved, dont know the form well enough, off for a night on the town, good night all.

An interesting hunter chase at Newton Abbot his evening and unusual in being a handicap.  Current Event being asked to give lumps of weight away and while he looks like the most likely winner after his Cheltenham romp, I can't get excited about evens.  Swallows Delight won this last year with Delta Borget some 8l back in third.  King Of Alcatraz is a horse I like a lot, but he struggled last year and makes a belated reappearance. Findlay's Find comes out top of my ratings at these weights, but that's based on old form.  Expect another bold show from Current Event, but can't see any value.

See that Will Biddick broke the record for most winners in a season with win number 57 at Bratton Down on Sunday.  Shame I couldn't have been there as it looks like they had a good meeting.

A comfortable win for Current Event.  Only King Of Alcatraz able to mount a decent challenge.

Hunter Chase season draws to a close at Stratford tonight.  I'm a bit busy, but hopefully I'll get to watch most of it.

As much as as I respect the Barber/Biddick combination, Ruddy Article is too short for me up against a few useful sorts, but a tricky race to weigh up. Small lay of fav.

Another interesting race with a useful Irish horse leading the market.  Quite a few of these have shown good form over an extended three miles.  I was much more impressed with Mr Mercurial than Following dreams at Cheltenham, so think FD is worth a small lay as he doesn't seem to dig deep when it matters.

Connies Cross looking tempting for a place, given how well it ran at Cheltenham.  Small place bet.

Current Event stands out in the next, but a few of these were quite decent in their time and it won't be plain sailing.  Might have backed the fav at bigger than evens, so not a race to play in.

A fine win for What A Laugh and given a good ride by Jane Williams.  Current Event just didn't look to be travelling as well as he usually does, but it has been a long season.

Paint The Clouds is a horse I like a lot and looks a worthy favourite.  Trip seems against a few of these including Pacha Du Polder.  Twirling Magnet rates a danger if overlooking his Aintree run and although inconsistent is a big price.  Fancy Major Malarkey to be running on at the end, so worth a small place bet in my book.

MM ran a stinker.  Doing well until then.

Last race and I think Tataniano makes perfect sense. Win bet at 2.50 ish.

What a shocker!

Well, I just seem to be talking to myself now...

THE END