The only race all day worth watching is the Pontefract listed and good luck with that one George.

Not a bad day for the cold list trainers with two of the above escaping from it.

As for the selection, had every chance and ran well to make the frame. I suppose in theory as her mark will now go up, that she would have been a 'good thing' for the handicap at Ayr last night which was worth over £20K to the winner but for which she was withdrawn from (on account of the ground - good to firm ), but perhaps having secured some black type will be more important to them.

2024 Running P/L: +91.55 pts

Good Luck George.B, always good to read.

best thread on here by a mile, i always try to have a look if i get time, i dont think ive ever seen you in the minus george which is quite an achievement, well done

It's like share prices...can go up and down in the year.  George began this thread with 31 pts and now it's 91 pts.  Been higher, could go lower.  Still no reason to sack the Chairman

Bad luck George, GL tomorrow

hat,gloves and bodywarmer needed

You forgot to mention food bank voucher, chav.

I'll try to youresomean, and hopefully I'll bag another one soon, if only down to the Law of Averages, though I usually find I'm more likely to encounter the Law of Sod.

Sugar Hill Babe, 1pt EW @ 20-1, 4.55 Newcastle (4 PLACES)

Sugar Hill Babe was disappointing the last twice back in the spring but under conditions that might not have been ideal, and she's of interest back over a C/D where she's compiling a good record. She's 8lb above her last winning mark but only 2lb higher than when finishing a good second on her last visit here in March when she had subsequent winners in behind.

Sugar Hill Babe is returning from nearly three months off but was returning from an even longer break when winning over C/D in February, and it's encouraging that her yard won with one who was returning from a significant absence the other day at Ffos Las.

Olympicus, 1pt EW @ 20-1,  5.05 Doncaster (4 PLACES)

Olympicus didn't offer much on his recent reappearance at Leicester but the run might have been needed and doubt the easy ground would have been ideal. He's only a pound higher here than when winning at Newmarket (10f, g-f) last August when he pulled clear with two subsequent winners, and that was only the second time he'd encountered ground with 'firm' in the official description (the other time being on his stable debut when returning from a long absence).

Olympicus only ran twice more last year, when not disgraced on soft ground in the Grassroots Series Middle Distance Final Handicap at Nottingham, and then when pulling his chance away on the Polytrack at Lingfield. He would appear well handicapped on his Newmarket win and interesting to see if getting back on quick ground (in the hope they haven't done a 'good' job with the watering) can be the catalyst for a return to form.

Rampage, 1pt EW @ 16-1, 7.50 Curragh (6 PLACES)

Rampage disappointed on his latest start at Leopardstown (1m, good) when upped in grade, but he'd previously finished a good second of 16 over that C/D when equalling his previous best RPR. He finished a close-up third here of 19 over a mile at the Curragh last season so he can be effective here too, and he's not badly drawn in 6 in this big field for one who can be ridden prominently.

He was pulled out of a race at Leopardstown just eight days ago due to "coughing" but hopefully the fact he's out again soon means it was nothing serious.

Good luck to us both, PHS

Hey chav, hoping Chillhi can get me off the cold list!

Chillhi, 1pt EW @ 12-1, 2.35 Newcastle (4 PLACES)

Chillhi impressed when winning twice here as a juvenile, and he's only been back twice since, both times last season, when shaping well in a muddling class 3, 12.5f  handicap last July, and on his final start of 2023 over the same trip when a bit disappointing but perhaps he'd had enough for the year by that stage.

He showed he still retains ability as a 4YO when a staying-on second at Chester (12.5f, g-f) in May to one who had plummeted in the weights and had been rejuvenated by a change of stable, with a subsequent winner behind him in third.

Chillhi has his stamina to prove for this stretch two miles but looks worth a try at it and his mark has dropped 11lb below his peak rating of 89.

Francophone,  1pt EW @ 20-1, 3.30 Curragh

It probably wasn't a vintage renewal of the Musidora in which Francophone finished second, particularly given it was steadily run and the favourite didn't give her running, but she showed she's an improving filly when winning a Listed race at Goodwood (10f, good), and although the runner-up who was carrying a 3lb penalty didn't get the clearest of runs, Francophone herself didn't have the smoothest of trips having raced three-wide but still left the impression she could have found more if necessary.

This is obviously a big step up in class but she looks worth a crack at it and hopefully from her draw in 2 can get a good tactical position against the rail.

Hoornblower, 1pt EW @ 12-1, 5.40 Lingfield (3 PLACES)

It would appear that Hoornblower is a better horse on the all-weather and having run poorly three times on turf last season he shaped with more encouragement back on an artificial surface over this evening's C/D in September when keeping on well from off the pace to finish a never-nearer 6th of 12.

His fitness has to be taken on trust back from 277 days off but he ran well off a two-month break in March last year when finishing second in a 8.5f novice at Wolverhampton to one who subsequently showed himself to be a big improver, and behind him in 4th was Peace Man, who admittedly was making his debut and went on to be rated over 100.

Hoornblower is now rated 12lb below his initial mark and this is a drop in grade so hopefully can give a good account here if fitness isn't an issue.

WD

WD George

Cheers all, the icicles have melted a little.

Might have got a bit lucky in that the fav was having an easy time of it in front until the hard-puller moved up and put some pace pressure on.

Chillhi was held up in the Northumberland Vase, in a race where the prominent runners were allowed a soft time of it  and were able to stay there throughout.

There had been talk of Francophone running in the Group 3 Hoppings at Newcastle, but connections opted instead to pay the 30,000 euros supplementary fee to run in the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes where she finished plum last, and while this might be as good as she is, it's possible the rain was against her.

2024 Running P/L: +91.95 pts

"Who knows what tomorrow brings?"

Jennifer Warnes no less chavman...

"I can saw a woman in two
But you won't want to look in the box when I do"

Warren Zevon

"May the force be with you guys"

Obi-Wan Kenobi, no less chavman

Wallaroo, 1pt EW @ 11-1, 3.20 Wolverhampton (4 PLACES)

Wallaroo didn't offer much on turf last time out but he's of interest back at Wolverhampton based on his previous effort here over 8.5f, when he seemed to do well to finish second considering the wide trip that he had. The winner was winning for the third time this year, and the third and fifth have won subsequently, so the form looks solid for the level.

The selection is closely matched with Meng Tian on form over the 8.5f trip here in April when beaten under a length into third by that rival. The furlong longer trip today is a query for both of them, and Wallaroo's form has come at the shorter trip, but there's no obvious reason on pedigree why he can't be effective over the stretch 9f given he's by Australia with Rainbow Quest close up on ths dam's side of his pedigree, and two of his siblings have won over longer distances.

A lot could depend on how this pans out as Wallaroo tends to be ridden forward, but Ella-May Croot, his regular jockey rides in this rider restricted race and hopefully if she can get the fractions right then he won't be far away.

Lot Of Joy, 1pt EW @ 11-2, 5.50 Curragh (4 PLACES)

Lot Of Joy has only managed the one win (at long odds-on) since joining Willie Mullins and perhaps hasn't always lived up to expectations, including when a beaten favourite when last seen in the English Cesarewitch, but interestingly they didn't go back over hurdles with her for whatever reason and she's had the pause that refreshes since.

She ran a remarkable race at this track in the 2022 renewal of the Irish Cesarewitch (16.5f, y), when drawn 29 of the 30 runners and despite a tough trip she still managed to hit the front under two furlongs and stuck on well before having to settle for third place.

The obvious concern is the drop back in trip to 12f, but the recent rain will help, she's 5lb lower than for that good Cesarewitch effort, has the inside draw and James Doyle is hanging around until ten-to-six to take the ride.

No Surrender, 1pt EW @ 16-1, 3.50 Chelmsford

I'm going to give another chance to No Surrender, who I thought might have run better than his finishing position suggested at Newcastle in May, when although he could only finish 7th of 12 and beaten 22L on his first try at 12.5f, he had been up on the pace with Fairbanks, who had set a strong gallop and kept on relentlessly with the field strung out behind him, and the selection was still in second place under 2f out before weakening out of it.

I selected him last-time-out when he was presented with a slightly easier stamina test at Lingfield (12f), but he was a keen in first-time blinkers and, having been in front from 4f out, he folded tamely once headed over a furlong out. I'm not sure about him after that, particularly with the blinkers retained given he can be keen, but the drop back to 10f may suit, he's been dropped 7lb since the Newcastle run, Tom Marquand rides for the first time, and the selection didn't shape too badly on his sole previous run here over a mile on his racecourse debut.

Believe In Science, 1pt EW @ 6-1, 5.15 Listowel (4 PLACES)

Believe In Science is still a maiden after 22 starts but he's plenty of good efforts in defeat to suggest that he should be up to winning a race at some point, and it was interesting that when he was stepped back up in trip to 14f at Gowran last-time-out that he came in for some solid late support in the betting, and although he could only finish 5th of the runners, he put in some good late work to be only beaten 2.5L, on what was his first start for 83 days. He has a 3lb pull with the winner Influential Lady.

The selection had left the impression in some of his runs round Dundalk (12f) that he's a grinder who may be suited by a stiffer test, so this further step up in trip to 2m1f looks worth a go and hopefully that recent return to action has brought him on.

Royal Countess, 1pt EW @ 18-1, 5.20 Ayr

Royal Countess is an 8Y0 mare whose mark has bottomed out, but I took a chance on her when she reappeared as she's a three-time C/D winner, and her trainer Mike Smith had recently produced a couple of fillies to win first-time-out at Ayr (and Golden Valour has since been another from the yard to win here on their reappearance), however, Royal Countess could only finish 5th of the eleven runners, though did have a subsequent winner finish just behind her. She could only finish fifth of seven back here on her latest start though wasn't entirely disgraced as that was a higher grade than today's and the winner followed up under a penalty.

It could be that the selection's winning days are behind her but I'm going take a chance at the prices as she may appreciate this drop back into 0-57 company, even though she's again racing from out of the handicap, and won't mind if the ground continues to dry out given two of her C/D wins came on good to firm.

Abu Royal, 1pt EW @ 14-1, 8.10 Newbury

I'm going to give another chance to Abu Royal, who probably ran better than the distance (18.5 lengths) he was beaten would suggest when finishing 4th of 16 Doncaster (12f, soft) in April, over a trip that might have stretched him in the conditions, when he tried to match strides with Fiddlers Green, who was 10lb well in and clearly relished conditions, but he paid the price for doing so, losing second place around 1.5f out and eventually dropping to 4th. The form worked out with the second and third having won since.

Of Abu Royal's two subsequent runs, he might have found the ground quick enough when a beaten favourite at Windsor (10f, g-f) in May, and when I selected him last-time-out at Nottingham (10f, g-s), he was a little disappointing given it was a drop in grade, but he certainly didn't travel with the same zest that he had gone with at Doncaster, having got behind early, though did put in some good late work to be beaten just under three lengths at the finish, in a race where the first two home were bang-in-form rivals.

This looks harder back up in grade, particularly with three-year-olds among the opposition and receiving the weight-for-age allowance, but in the hope the ground doesn't dry out too much, a chance is taken at the odds, with him being 4lb lower than for that Doncaster effort, and the application of cheekpieces may also assist.

Inanna, 1pt EW @ 13-2, 8.30 Hamilton

Inanna hasn't looked in much form the last twice so it has to be hoped that she hasn't gone off the boil for the time being, but it's possible conditions haven't been ideal, and she's of interest here based on her run four starts back at Beverley (7.5f, g-s), on what was her second start for Brian Toomey, when finishing second of 13, and although no match for the winner Powdering, that filly went on to win twice more, completing a hat-trick off an 11lb higher mark. The selection appeared to do well to finish second given she'd been keen enough on the pace in a race where the other principals were ridden patiently.

Inanna then ran okay to make the frame at Wetherby (7f, good), and while the last twice has been disappointing even allowing for the sharper tests, this is a drop in grade and the Beverley effort, which came off a 5lb higher mark, offers hope that she should be fine back up in trip to 8.5f with a bit of ease in the ground.

I don't know if there's any significance in the booking of Andrew Slattery, who comes over for two rides on the card when there is a meeting in Ireland today, but maybe it's just a case of a lack of opportunities for him back home.

Can't find juvenile hurdlers thread!

Rogue King must be a shoe-in for at least a place today.