Good luck, Tattcorner. She's now back in the sole ownership of the trainer's wife, so not sure that's a good thing if they're having to pay the bills for her themselves!

Day 186

Sanshiro, 1pt EW @ 20-1, 5.00 Dundalk

Sanshiro is only rated 68, so he's not obviously one for a maiden, but he has shown early pace in his races on occasions which may help around here if taking to the surface, notably in a Curragh (6f, soft) nursery in July when wearing first-time blinkers, when although no match for the winner who came to the nearside rail, he kept on well to finish second with a couple of subsequent winners in behind, and the winner has run well in defeat since including when finishing second in a valuable sales race.

Sanshiro been a bit disappointing since but I thought he had an excuse last time at Navan, when he was keen and having been taken back to get cover, he ended up poorly positioned and was never able to get back into it.

He has to prove himself on Polytrack and wouldn't want to miss the break from his inside stall, but Colin Keane takes over in the saddle, and the blinkers which were replaced by cheekpieces last time, are back on.

Snowdonia Song, 1pt EW @ 25-1, 7.30 Dundalk (4 PLACES)

Snowdonia had suggested there might be a modest handicap in her when running well three times round Gowran Park earlier in the season on good or yielding ground. She's been a bit disappointing since, including when back on a better surface, but doubt heavy ground would have been any good to her last time back at Gowran. She clearly has a bit to prove now, but I'm going to take a chance on her at the prices, in the hope a decent surface on the AW suits.

Ameerat Jumaira, 1pt EW @ 20-1, 8.30 Dundalk (4 PLACES)

Ameerat Jumaira has improved for the step up to  middle distances this season, and although her progress came to halt on her latest start at Thurles, it's likely the soft ground was unsuitable. Her win on her previous start in a rated race at Cork probably wanted marking up given she endured quite a wide trip, and the second has won since. Two of her qualifying runs for a mark came at this venue last season over a mile when she was noted keeping on.

This looks quite a competitive heat and cases can be made for many, but hopefully the selection can resume her progress now back on a quicker surface.

Cheers Virgin, saved me from going back to square one...For a day at least.

Sanshiro was laid at over 100 earlier today despite the booking of Keane, and the layers never had a moment's worry as Sanshiro didn't take to the Polytrack at this first attempt and is probably ideally served by soft ground.

Snowdonia Song helped force the pace but was on the retreat from over a furlong out.


Running P/L: +4.21

While I obviously hope that you're right 'ace, fair to say a couple of risky ones today.

Day 187

Claymore, 1pt EW @ 33-1, 3.22 Newmarket

Claymore has been disappointing in a couple of spaced out starts in Group 3 company this season, so it does take a leap of faith to support him, but he might have had excuses, as he reportedly bled from the nose at Sandown in May, and when he returned to action last month at Ascot, he was too keen upped in trip to 12f. It may be worth noting that his yard had the similarly-rated Blanchland run poorly on his return to action this autumn before taking a big step forward to win a strongly-run class 2 handicap at Newcastle off a mark of 104.

Claymore has had two previous starts on the Rowley Mile and run well both times, having made an impressive winning debut here on soft ground as a juvenile, and then when finishing second in the Craven Stakes to subsequent 2000 Guineas runner-up Native Trail.

He clearly has a bit to prove at this stage and evidently hasn't been the easiest to train given how sparingly raced he has been, but there are grounds for thinking he may run better today.

Dirtyoldtown, 1pt EW @ 25-1, 3.57 Newmarket (5 PLACES)

Dirtyoldtown wasn't cheap at 100,000 gns when bought out of George Boughey's yard after three starts as a juvenile, but he made an encouraging start for Grant Tuer when finishing second in a good class 3 handicap at Musselburgh (one mile, g-s) on his 3YO reappearance last season, and again ran well when encountering some give when finishing runner-up in a 7f handicap at last year's St Leger meeting.

There have been plenty of disappointments too, including when back on easier ground, and having run poorly on his three starts for his former yard this season, he hasn't offered much in a couple of starts on the AW for his new yard, including just three days ago at Lingfield (6f, AW) in reapplied blinkers, but he's out again quickly with the headgear removed,  and interesting to see if he can run better off his reduced mark now having his first turf run for Dylan Cunha, granted his highest draw doesn't prove to be a disadvantage.

Wd George gl ....

well done George. comfortable winner, must have been good to watch.

Good one George, brilliant price..

A few more like this will be forthcoming from GB during the Winter AW season IMO

Crazy

Thanks all.

Now for the tricky bit, keeping it moving in the right direction.

Cheers youresomean

Day 188

A couple against the field at double-figure prices in the Kempton finale

Dutch Kingdom, 1pt EW @ 16-1, 5.40 Kempton (4 PLACES)
Spacer, 1pt EW @ 12-1, 5.40 Kempton (4 PLACES)

Dutch Kingdom hasn't been in much form on the turf this season but his mark has been dropped and is able to return to the AW off a rating 4lb lower than when successful here over a mile in March, which was the last time he was seen on Polytrack. He underwent wind surgey following that win and has undergone a second wind-op since last seen on turf seventy days ago.

A potential negative is the 7f trip because there is no doubt he saw the mile out strongly here for his success considering how the race panned out and having found plenty for pressure, but he hasn't had many chances on synthetics and has a handy draw to work from if being ridden forward again.

Spacer suggested there would be more races to be won with him when finishing runner-up over 7f at Leicester last season, and although that was just a four-runner affair, it was run in a good time and the filly who eventually got the better of him, went on to win a £25K-to-the-winner Racing League handicap.  As it turned out, Spacer was inconsistent after but did run a couple of good races later in the year to finish runner-up at Wolverhampton off slightly higher marks than he runs off today.

Spacer hasn't been done any favours with the draw and has been absent for nearly ten months, but he has gone well when returning from shorter breaks, and if back in good form then he's off a rating he can be competitive off.

Coconut Bay, 1pt EW @ 12-1, 8.00 Wolverhampton

Coconut Bay was 10f winner at Lingfield (AW) for Hughie Morrison last year, and she ran well enough on a couple of occasions at Ayr earlier this season to suggest that she should be up to winning a low-grade handicap for her current yard. However, following a mid-season break during which time she went underwent wind surgery, she then only hinted that she may be about to find some form again.

I selected her last time at this course over the stretch-mile when she ran better to finish a keeping-on third, and the winner has gone in again since. She's again having to race from out of the handicap, but the step up in trip to 9.5f should suit better and hopefully can give another good account if getting into a good rhythm from stall 9.

Day 189

A couple against the field at prices in the 13f Listed fillies' contest

Wynter Wildes, 1pt EW @ 20-1, 1.47 Lingfield (4 PLACES)
Luckin Brew, 1pt EW @ 16-1, 1.47 Lingfield (4 PLACES)

Wynter Wildes has enough to find on the adjusted figures, but arrives here on the back of a career-best effort having finished second at Newcastle (12.5f) on her latest start in a class 2 handicap against male opposition, where she raced from out of the handicap and forced a strong pace under a 7lb claimer, and having gone clear at one point, kept on well for second once headed over a furlong out.

Richard Kingscote takes over in the plate, and there was enough encouragement in two previous runs earlier in her career over a mile at this course, to think that she can be effective here.

It looked a good effort from Luckin Brew when she was stepped up to Listed company and finished second on her final juvenile start last season at Pontefract (one mile, g-s), where she was one of three to pull clear, and behind her in third was Caernarfon, who won a Listed race on her next start, and went on to finish third in the Oaks.

Luckin Brew didn't reappear until Ayr's Western meeting, when she was weak in the betting and finished last of seven in a Listed race. So clearly has a bit to prove given the prior absence, but hopefully it was just a case of the run being needed, she's 1-1 on the AW and this step up in trip to 13f may suit given she's a full sister to a Listed and Group 3 winner over 12f.

Dandys Gold, 1pt EW @ 25-1, 8.30 Newcastle (4 PLACES)

I'm going to have a speculative pick on Dandys Gold, a 9YO mare who showed back in the spring when finishing a close-up third on heavy ground at Thirsk that she still retains some ability, and had been noted shaping better than the bare result over C/D back in February when denied a clear run.

She hasn't threatened in a few starts since, including in three runs back following a 76-day break in the summer, though wasn't totally disgraced at Carlisle in September.

Dandys Gold is 7lb lower than for the aforementioned Thirsk effort, and as she's usually held-up, this may be run to suit with the likes of Blackcurrent, Gowanbuster and Fighting Chance all potential pace-setters.

This is a lesson in discipline and perseverance this thread, this forum used to have £10 to 10,000 challenges galore but most of them disappeared very quickly after a bad start or an inevitable losing streak.  George keeps going!  Well Done!

Very well done George - she was on my "long-list' last night - but didn't make it onto the short-list this morning

What's the scores on the doors (for win only at BFSP - if it's not too inconvenient to calculate) please.

Thanks for the positive comments.

Proof, if it were needed, that even a blind squirrel finds the occasional nut! And funnily enough, like Saturday's winner Dirtyoldtown, the industry SP 33-1 was bigger than the Betfair SP of 31-1. There was some 60s being offered 10 minutes or so before the off, but another late mover.

Another career-best from Winter Wyldes, who was one of three to pull clear in the 13f Listed race.

Luckin Brew, who was very weak in the betting, played up in the stalls, and ran dismally.

Cardinal Scott, after I'd failed the 100 day challenge, I thought I'd have it done by the end of summer, but thar ya go, tames lions this game Could still be going with it this time next year

TM, I've not kept a record win only at Betfair SP, I've combined the win and standard place where applicable, and currently after 2% commission, it's a disappointing -5.96. But what can ya do when the few that win are being backed late on? Anyway, where's that Hugh Taylor quote about Betfair SP....

Running P/L: +66.81

Up, up and away for GB's
Georges barnstormers

Brilliant George, Top Class Stuff..

Thanks for the kind words.

I started typing a selection for the 8.30, for a horse I thought I had a notebook run for at Newcastle last year, but when I brought its form up, there was no Newcastle run last season.  Same stable, SIMILAR name, but not the horse I thought it was. I've watched it the last twice thinking it was the one I had in the notebook

Ended up picking nothing and probably saved a points.

Day 190

Magical Max, 1pt EW @ 33-1, 11.45 Newcastle (4 PLACES)

It was only four starts ago that Magical Max showed good battling qualities to win at Newmarket (7f, good) in June, when he got the better of one who was chasing a four-timer, and the form worked out well with the next three home winning on their next start.

Magical Max was then off for nearly two months and three runs back since haven't been great, though he might have had excuses with one thing and another, including on his latest start at Kempton where he raced wide from a wide draw.

He's only had five previous starts on the AW, three of which came at Chelmsford, where he ran well twice earlier this year. Today's stiffer track could suit better considering how he rallied at Newmarket, having looked in trouble when headed well over a furlong out before staying on well to prevail.

Magical Max looks potentially well drawn based on the evidence of last night's card, though whether it plays out the same way today with a stands' side bias remains to be seen. He is eligible for weaker races than this one and there is a question mark over his current form, but he's only 2lb higher than for his win on the July course, so hopefully he can give a good account if in similar form here.

Wd George gl ...