second again - he did try to lead all the way at Chelters and was not as well off as he will be in a handicap. Ridden slightly differently, I feel he could stay the distance on a flatter track.

The Anorak - will look out for that as it sounds like a really good idea. Guess there is a good chance for that on race day.

As an aside I tried to place a bet with Slybet and they offered me £2 e/w. Considering it is an antepost market and I have no idea whether he will even run or not, I just cannot accept that a "bookmaker" should be allowed to reduce their liabilities to such small amounts on such large prestigious handicaps!

Good evening Guys,

Thanks for the posts, i will look in later.

Good morning Guys,

Trusty

Thanks. Sometimes this game makes fools of us, but it's all about opinions and i thought my reasoning for the lay of Ron O was valid enough, even though he was a risk at 2/1 (time of posting). I appreciate he had improved over the winter, but his 2 previous runs didn't show much and although he was hampered in the penultimate, it didn't mean he would have won or even been placed, so he wasn't unlucky by any means. Didn't break well, but the initial slowish pace allowed him to get into a prominent position early and chase the leader throughout before taking it up 1f out. I actually thought layers were in trouble after the 2f pole, nothing was really getting into the race. The pack closed near the line and finished in a heap, but to be fair he won cosily enough, although may have had run of the race. Slowest time of the meeting by standard. I will be watching with interest where he goes next, but if it's in similar class i would be content to lay again. Well done to backers, i got it wrong this this time, simple as.

My profit/loss lay selections in 2023 have been poor, and i'm sure many, or most would agree when you have a bad run, it impacts your judgement. C'est la vie, it is what it is, so i move on and dwell not dwell on it.

Alan/Second Again/Trusty

Thank you for the GN posts.

I used to like the GN when it was a 'real' race, today it's no more than a decent staying handicap, although we are all glued to the TV to watch it, in fact, it's the race that stops a nation akin to another across the other side of the world. The current favourite Corach Rambler could be thrown in, 10 lb better in the handicap after Cheltenham, but i fancy the couple that finished 1st and 2nd last year, in particular Noble Ye@ts, in my opinion the ideal GN type although he's carrying 15 lb more this year. One runner i was surprised to see in the field at decent odds (40/1) assuming he runs is Royale Pigalle, more so if the rains come. In a 'best of the English' i would probably go for Our Power.

I totally agree about start of the flat and not backing anything (significantly at least) for a few weeks, but i will be at Newbury on 22nd for the Greenham that looks a decent field if they all run. At least i  will have an idea if my ante-post bet on Noble Style for the Guineas is warranted. Hoping to meet Alan there and he can condense a lifetime of 'paddock and going to post' knowledge into 10 minutes.

I'm actually going to England twice this month, including next Wednesday (not to the course) albeit depending on how many are declared in the Aintree Hurdle the following day. If the field cuts up and Constitution Hill is 1/8, then i won't bother and simply move my Easy Jet ticket to another month. As it's a mid-week trip, i can use it as a 'business' expense against my 2023 tax return.

No definite Easter 4 day weekend plans for me, maybe a train trip to Bamberg (North Bavaria) on Saturday, never been, but locals tell me it's nice up there, Olde Wolde as we Brits would say.

I haven't looked at the RP cards today and that's probably a positive.

Good luck and have a nice Wednesday all.

Morning Alan,

He doesn't have to beat Our Power, as that's trained in Wales!

A valid point that show's what i know. I had it in my head that Sam trains in England, but don't we own Wales

Good luck with Eagle Court. It was an Easter Monday that my first Greyhound, Claremont Point made his debut at Reading, well backed, but came 3rd after leading.

Thank you T.A

Very disappointing, Positive the first one beaten and the Balding stable having a field day. Going to be a long season if they all turn out like that!

Good afternoon Guys,

Decent racing this afternoon, albeit further afield in Ireland and France with median day of the Fairyhouse Easter meeting and a group race card at Longchamp respectively..

As per the norm at Irish festivals, or in England for that matter, WPM could have several winners, but i don't think he will be winning what i consider the feature race, the Gold Cup (4.55) where the almost certain favourite Mighty Potter seeks redemption after Cheltenham, although it wasn't necessarily a poor run to finish 3rd in the Turners after losing a shoe. It may be that the course simply doesn't suit him and he did win at Punchestown after pulling up in the previous years Supreme.

Back on home turf, a CD winner, 8 lb ahead on ratings (7 lb on RPR) he's going to take some beating. Assuming the race didn't take a lot out of him (look at Allegorie De Vassey yesterday) i expect him to win and any odds against is good considering he was 4/6 to beat a similar field at Cheltenham.

Over at Longchamp, several GB/Irish jockeys and trainers are represented on the card, but none by the latter in the G2 Prix D'Harcourt (4.00). Skalleti has won it in the previous 2 years, but is not running due to the ground. Al Hakeem is the odds-on favourite by virtue of his 4th place in the Arc although i'm not convinced he's as good as this form line may suggest.

I was at the course last year and backed Simca Mille in the Prix Neil (probably posted on my previous thread). He won well and was considered as a possible in the Arc, but didn't run. Forget his subsequent run in the Japan Cup that was on firm going and the 41/1 SP was an indication of his chances then. He was beaten 2.5L by Al Hakeem as a 2 year old over 8f, but has improved significantly since, runs well fresh and i think the 10f trip will suit (could make the running). At odds around 7/1 he's an EW selection.

Good luck and have a happy Easter Sunday all.

boooooom ,Simca Mille scoots in at decent price ,well done Andrew ,you know your French form .

Good afternoon Guys from a sunny and pleasant West of München.

In the office, but only for 4 hours or so as i'm off to Gatwick on Wednesday evening for a short trip. No prizes for guessing what i will be backing the following day.

The usual array of Easter Monday cards this afternoon albeit quality at a minimum with final day of the Fairyhouse 3 day meeting (3 graded races) and the first of 3 Grand Nationals in April. No meetings of note in France or Germany, but the AW card at Kempton is interesting with a couple of conditions races for potentially half-decent 3 year old prospects of each sex.

The Irish GN (5.00) is the handicap minefield it often is and looking at stats since 2000, an Irish trained 7 year old carrying less than 11 st appears the way to go. I don't do stats, but at least my selection meets a couple of these pointers in the Gordon Elliott trained 6 year old The Goffer on 10-13.

Lightly raced, only 6 runs over fences, and in novice company as recently as January. Finished 4th in the 25f Ultima at Cheltenham behind the current Aintree GN favourite, but prior to this won a decent 21f staying handicap at Leopardstown giving away 16 lb to the runner-up. Ground shouldn't be an issue as long as the rain stays away, but stamina has to be taken on trust. In my opinion the trip will be fine and at odds of 34 for the win and 7 for 4/TBP is worth a small bet.

Several shorties running at various meetings although nothing that looks totally bombproof. I like the Gosden trained filly Running Lion in the first of the conditions races at Kempton (2.55) she looked one to follow last year with a couple of easy wins in novice company. Half-sister to group race winner Majestic Glory and ridden by in-form jockey Oisin Murphy (26% strike rate last 14 days) so i will be backing her. Currently around 2.86.

The same trainer can win the other conditions race with an odds on favourite Slipofthepen for the King, adding a few GBP to the forthcoming coronation celebration coffers and the filly Laurel can make it a good day for the Gosdens in the listed race later, but i will let these run without a bet.

Plenty of NH action in GB albeit run-of-the mill quality, although one time group race placer Brentford Hope who ran with credit behind the likes of Victor Ludorum, Magny Coures and Skalleti back in 2021 is probably the classiest of any running and wouldn't look out of place in the forthcoming Guineas meeting. Regressed a little in flat ratings, but hurdles have at least reinvigorated him, albeit at a lowish level. Won LTO, but this was expected at 1/6f and i wasn't impressed by any means. A fast, flat Huntingdon (1.35) should suit him, but he may want some juice in the going to be at his best. On flat ratings he could be a good thing, but i think Nicky Henderson's year younger, ex-French Impose Toi could be better than a class 4 hurdler and will beat him.

Snowynoon/PHS

Thanks for the comments.

I always look at German/French cards, in particular the latter, but there is already one prominent poster on here that knows far more than me about racing over there.

Longchamp is one of my favourite courses and probably the one i've been to most over the years and not only for the Arc. Older guys will remember the HRAC trained Salse back in the late 80's; i was working in Stans, Switzerland at the time and told my g/f i would take her to Paris for a day out with lunch, so we drove up to Basel early morning and took the train, although i conveniently didn't mention we were going to the races until we got there. Salse won the Prix Foret (it wasn't part of the Arc weekend program then) and i remember it was a good day, with me forgiven.

I was at the Arc trials last year (several photos in my gallery) and was impressed by Simca Mille when he won the Prix Neil, prior to this he was runner-up in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris beaten a neck by Onesto. I thought he was a possible ante-post EW bet for the big one, but the trainer stated he was a doubtful runner and needed to be supplemented anyway.

He won well yesterday, kicking clear in the final furlong and although tiring close home never looked like being caught. He could turn out really useful, so i will keep an eye on him, but i suspect he won't run in the Arc as he's a good ground horse. Yesterdays winning times suggest it wasn't soft even though the RP description states this.

Alan

Good luck with Eagle Court at Wolverhampton later. A small field of 9 with only 4 lb between them on ratings, but a difficult task nevertheless. Has won off higher, but i guess you will be happy with a place and ecstatic if he wins.

Good luck and have a nice Easter Monday all.

Several shorties running at various meetings although nothing that looks totally bombproof. I like the Gosden trained filly Running Lion in the first of the conditions races at Kempton (2.55) she looked one to follow last year with a couple of easy wins in novice company. Half-sister to group race winner Majestic Glory and ridden by in-form jockey Oisin Murphy (26% strike rate last 14 days) so i will be backing her. Currently around 2.86.


WD Andrew. Never got on at the prices after I saw it.

Yes, that run confirms I bought a racehorse, not a donkey - and it also confirmed that he needs further. The useful 5lb claimer on the winner made the difference, but we can't complain about that as we made good use of Marco when he was claiming. The race didn't go to plan as the other jockeys had all been told that Lexington Knight would lead and make it a good pace, but he came out of the stalls like a three toed sloth, so that was plan A scuppered. Hence the slow pace and bunch finish.

Congrats on the run Alan. Like you say, it gives you a marker to plan from.

Surprised Nicky has put Nico up on Mister Coffey. Horse already 2lb wrong and Nico can only do 10-7, so now 5lb wrong at the weights. Will rue it if he loses it after the elbow!

Also galling to scrap around for 66/1 AP and find him at 85/90 in the day of race market!

Rule The World.

Thank you ANDREW  G/L

Trusty

Mister Coffey ran well, at one stage i thought you were on a big odds winner. 

Lampus

Thanks, but poor selections today, Noble Y@tes being the best with 4th (another was 5th).

Good afternoon Guys,

Typical Sunday NH cards although the Curragh and Longchamp fare better with 2 and 3 group races respectively, including classic trials at the latter.

I noticed the G3 Gladness stakes is prefixed with 'Lester Piggott', a nice touch after his passing away almost a year ago and a fitting tribute as he won it on a few occasions, and also on the mare this race takes its name from, including the Ascot Gold Cup.

In bygone years the race was won by the likes of Nijinsky, El Gran Senor and Giants Causeway, but the standard appears to have lessened since the latter with only Excelerbration of any real note and it looks a soft group field today.

There wasn't anything that jumped off the page with exception of the 3 year old filly Blue Rose Cen in the G3 Prix de la Grotte at Longchamp (3.25) a trial for the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French 1000 guineas). I backed her at last years Arc meeting when she won the Marcel Boussac impressively over CD after finding a gap near the rail and showing a good turn of foot to go clear. First foal and only offspring from the mare, winner of 4 from 6, only beaten a short neck by the AOB trained Victoria Road (subsequent winner of the Breeders Juvenile turf) and an intended runner on the card before being taken out. Of course, we have to hope she's trained on and there are 3 unbeaten fillies in the field, 2 of which have run in 2023, but they will need to be quite decent to beat my selection in my opinion. Probably my only bet today, currently 5/4 with WH.

Good luck and have a nice Sunday all.

Great call Andrew...thanks again.

Thank you Andrew. Took your advice this time. Keep well.

Good afternoon Guys,

Laurie

I think Blue Rose Cen is decent and looking at her main rivals at Longchamp on May 7th, the best of them is probably the unbeaten Dermot Weld trained Tahiyra, but i suspect she will go to Newmarket on the same day. AOB has several possibles, but a similar story, although Meditate could run. Irrespective of this, i think she will be difficult to beat on the day, although draw and going will obviously need to be considered.

Alan

Many thanks for the head-up, i was obviously hoping he would run, at least i will have a better idea if he's a miler (albeit not a given) with Chaldean in the field and likely very soft going. Using breeding as a basis, you would think more so the latter, but we all know it's not an exact science and i was impressed with his Gimcrack run, hence my ante-post for the Guineas at decent odds. Charlie has a very good strike rate on the course.

Good luck all.