Andrews 2026 Lay/Racing Thread

On a personal note, my workload is still high, consulting for 2 clients on the AirTech Aerospace campus west of München and another based in UK/Turkey (remotely) but this could reduce in time in what may even be my last year in Germany (albeit communting to Sweden and England often) so i fully expect to surpass the number of selections i posted in 2025.

Regular readers know i'm part of the Fellowship Racing Syndicate who had runners, Salamanca Lad and Calibos with Dan and Claire Kübler, both sold at the HIT sales in October 2023 and 2024 respectively (the horses, not the humans) now replaced with a once raced filly Lady Of Clover trained by George Scott in Newmarket. She's expected to run at Chelmsford in a class 4 novice next Thursday.

Agouti Bear, my Irish based filly with Kildare Racing has been sold for breeding, so only one runner at present.

We (including several posters on here) have been very lucky as owners, 3 horses, all winners, 5 in fact. Salamanca won 3 (beaten a head once) and only finished outside the top 4 once in 11 races. He's currently racing in Bahrain where he has won twice, finished 3rd in a £36K to the winner handicap LTO and ran in Listed class in his penltimate run. Calibos won at Windsor and similar to SL was only outside the top 4 twice in 11 races. Now with Jo Davis who trains near Swindon and will make his hurdle debut soon. Agouti Bear won at Sligo and finished 2nd at the Curragh, Naas and Navan.

I was at the DRF last weekend with a few of the usual guys, good company as always, all with a great sense of homour, so lots of banter and occasional sensible horse racing and football debates. I've mentioned on here several times how much i love going to Ireland, very friendly people, laid back and quality racing, i can't wait for Punchestown in April and it may have stopped raining by then.

The weather was horrendous on the Friday afternoon and evening, so we more or less guessed the meeting would be cancelled for Saturday at least, the rain was incessant. We spent a few evening hours in Molloys Sportsbar (Tallaght) watching football on Sky (i use the term loosely) as it was my home team Bristol City, who were unlucky losers at home 0-5). Not much was said after the game and rightly so.

Saturdays weather wasn't much better, but to compensate we spent most of the day in the city and O'Neills Bar, back to Molloys in the evening (both bars are recommended, good food in each).

Before going to Leopardstown, my banker bet for the meeting was Romeo Coolio in the Arkle, i had already backed at 1.62; expected him to win and thought i could use some of the winnings to play on the following day, but the best laid plans etc. I didn't play in every race, but couldn't find a single winner and to rub salt in my wounds, i backed Ballyfad who was beaten in a photo, i couldn't believe it when the fav was called the winner by a short head. He did well to be fair, one of the few to come from way off the pace and win, he looks decent.

I met Simon Nott for a chat, he was 'blogging' for AK bets.

I didn't to to the course on Monday as i had a KLM lunchtime return flight, but the other 3 guys went, and one of them backed Romeo Coolio (4/7) again on my behalf.  Thankfully he won, although it was a still a losing DRF fixture for me, but it could have been a lot worse. I was still on my flight home when the race was run, so i didn't see it live, if i had, i would have thought he was beaten at one stage. To give him credit, he idled when clear on the run-in, but another 25 metres and he was beaten.

Going back in trip for the Cheltenham Arkle is certainly not a positive, assuming he's entered there. Irrespective of this, i've always thought he was pretty decent, you don't win three Grade 1 novice chases before Cheltenham by being anything but, and i'm confident he will win one or even two more before season end.

The most impressive winner of the meeting was Majborough, but very soft going, first time cheekpieces and given an easy lead on a course that suits front runners obviously aided him; i'm not convined he can do the same at Cheltenham and may be laying him.

Brighterdaysahead also won well, but i would back Lossiemouth to beat her in the Cheltenham CH, although the latter will probably go for the Mares anyway. Another potential lay at the festival is Final Demand, but more on these in March.

Good luck and have a nice Sunday all.

Andrew, good to see you are still posting.

Good evening Andrew agree about Majborough wasn’t a huge fan but couldn’t believe what I was seeing ,did you bump into workrider I’ve not seen or heard from him for quite a while.

Thank You   ANDREW   

Think Lampus has a soft spot for Andrew……

Good afternoon Guys,

Thank you for the posts.

Pushed for time, but a few thoughts.

A reasonable afternoon of NH racing without going overboard, although from a betting perspective, i didn't see one i fancied too strongly, backing or laying. Several shorties running at various meetings, but i wouldn't be in a hurry to back Jonbon in the Ascot Chase at 8/15, although i'm not suggesting he won't win.

Another i thought was more lay than back is Mondoui'boy in the opener (1.15) on the same card. Probably better than his breeding suggests he will be, but i see him more of a staying type and may prefer it softer. Won well LTO, but it wasn't a strong maiden and only a couple got into the race.

If there is a buying money bet maybe the favourite Forever Young in the Saudi Cup (Riyadh 5.40) the worlds richest race is the safest option, albeit 1.66 is not for everyone. Won this race last year and went on to win the Breeders Classic.

At much better odds, Whiskey Yankee is a tentative EW choice in the Grade 2 novice hurdle (Haydock 2.40). The most inexpereinceed in the field, but looked promising at Ascot LTO and has any amount of improvement in him. Could be heading for the Albert Bartlett next month if he performs well here. Currently 13/2 with the books.

Jimnast

Our filly Lady Of Clover ran as expected at Chelmsford on Thursday evening, keen, still a bit green, but will improve of course. Sprinter Sacre is my favourite chaser and i followed him over a cliff, but unfortunately not when he won the CC in 2016.

Formoftherace

Lampus has posted on my thread for years, i don't know him, but we both have connections to the best county in England.

Good afternoon All,

Lampus

Thank you, but probably a wasted 10 minutes typing yesterday with my suggested lay Mondoui'boy winning (albeit 8/11f) and the tentative EW choice Whiskey (7/1) only finishing 5th after a bad mistake at the 3rd and another at the 7th. Stayed on well on the run-in, but simply not his day.

I was never going to back or lay Jonbon at Ascot, but fair play to him i thought he was beaten at one point. An exciting race to watch and a deserving winner who probably doesn't get the recognition he deserves, 12 G1's and never out of the front 2 places in 27 runs, an incredible CV.

The saving grace in my post was Forever Young (we can all pick these) who won the worlds richest race, the Saudi Cup at Riyadh. I backed at 1.66 and 1.67, but was surprised when he drifted to a high of 1.79, although money buyers must have lumped on late afternoon as the BSP was 1.49. Next up is the Dubai World Cup and although he won the Breeders cup in 2024, could miss it this year in favour of staying in Japan.

Over at Flemington, Australia, the latest sprinting sensation over there, the Goldolphin owned Tentyris was impressive coming from last to first when winning the G1 Black Caviar Lightening Stakes (5f) showing a very good turn of foot. The Kings Stand at Royal Ascot has been mentioned; Native Strip won the same double and went on to win the Everest, the richest turf race in the world. Whether he comes over or not, if he keeps winning, a match up with superstar sprinter Ka Ying Rising in the pre-mentioned race in October will be worth watching.

On to this afternoon, the meetings in GB are ordinary at best, but at least there are a couple of listed races at Punchestown, one of them a Grand National trial. I did consider putting up my first P/L lay selection Heads Up in the other one, a novice hurdle (3.00) but it's drifted, so i will swerve it and maybe look for another.

At Musselburgh, Nicky Hendeson runs the 600,000 guineas purchase Fantasy World in an Egg and Spoon maiden hurdle (1.50). He should win and go on to run in the Triumph next month, but i fail to see why you would pay that much for a listed winner (off 89) even if the form has been franked. I should have studied bloodstock, not Aerospace Engineering.

I certainly won't be backing anything to win this afternoon, but if there is a shortie at odds against, it could be Tarbat Ness (2.12 Newcastle) for a small stake. Won well and had a couple of these behind him LTO, although giving weight to The Crafty Master will not be so easy.

At much better odds, a win and 4/TBP on Ney (2.30 Punchestown) could result in a profit, running well recently and has a 1-2 record on course. No stranger to heavy going with a 1-1-5-6-2 record over fences. Currently trading at 17.0 for the win.

Looking ahead, i noticed Constitution Hill (my favourite hurdler) has been quoted at 4/6 for his flat debut on the AW on Friday. Could hose-up, but anyone taking those odds shouldn't be allowed out without an adult present

Only tentative selections this afternoon, to be honest i didn't fancy anything and may watch the football instead.

Good luck and have a nice Sunday all.

Thank you ANDREW

Good evening Guys,

Considering the 19.30 Southwell will almost certainly be the most watched race this weekend, at least in Europe, here's my take on it, that is probably similar to many. I don't accept this is a trial for Cheltenham at all, there's a much better option at Warwick tomorrow, albeit with hurdles on course. If he wins, i can see him running again on the flat, but i doubt he will run at Cheltenham whatever the outcome.

NH bred, although Blue Bresil did sire winners of 55 bumper races; the best was probably Dancing in Brazil who finished 3rd in Listed class.

Constitution Hill is now 9 years old, never run on the flat, the pace will be quicker than he's accustomed to and he has a poor draw. On the plus side, he has a relaxed attitude, travels well, has a turn of foot and his class could see him win, but this is not a race to backing or laying, too many unknowns. It's basically a guess.

My favourite hurdler and i would like to see him win this evening, but i have my doubts.

Lampus, thank you.

Good luck and have a nice evening all.

Impressive Stewart, fair play to the horse.

It wasn't a strong race, but i could have have won on him, he looked the winner from some way out.

Surely stays on the flat now.

I will be surprised if Nicky runs him at Cheltenham, irespective of how easily he won earlier.

Slickster

You may be correct, but it's not a given and i was simply posting an opinion.

Visually impressive last night, but there's a world of difference between an ordinary novice stakes on the AW and a Grade 1 at Cheltenham with 8 hurdles to jump. 3 falls in his previous 4 hurdles races tell ther own story.

He may not be able to win a G1 on the flat and the going will play a big part, but the John Porter and St Simon stakes are possibles in England at opposing ends of the season. A 9 year old actually won the latter race in 2025. There are not many suitable Spring/Autumn group races for him in Ireland or France, although there's more chance of softer going in each of these countries. The G3 Paddy Power (Kilternan) stakes at Leopardstown in September could be an option.

The risk of him falling over hurdles again is high, if he did (and maybe worse) the media and anti-racing brigade would have a field day with a sport that already receives bad press on occasion.

I posted on another thread that I would be  orderliness retiring him. He's not a flat horse. What will he realistically achieve as a 9 year old. Then next year as a 10 year old. Of course 3 falls out of 4, and nearly 4 out of 5 is totally worrying. If he falls again, which is probable, the law of averages say it could prove fatal. Henderson and Buckley will have nowhere to hide. Having said all that I believe they will roll the dice at Cheltenham and pray.

if he were mine i would stick to the flat, he has already won a CH so has nothng to prove there and if he did fall and was injured or worse then thats your flat dreams gone.

Good evening Guys,

Thanks for the posts.

The CH and CH saga will roll on for a while yet, will he/won't run and there is divided opinion of course, but i was surprised to see YES was favourite on here. Mind you liquity is poor and AP backers of CH may be using it to trade.

Ashleigh

Thanks, but she will not be close to winning this evening. I can't post much out of respect to fellow owners, but i will not be having a cent on and looking at the current odds it doesn't appear to be a secret.

I thought she ran okay, as a third run for her mark. Total different ball game now switching to handicaps. We break and back for the turf, good luck with her

I'm not suggesting she's a winner in 2026

Losing it

Last nights £20k Ladbrokes Golden Jacket final.

   https://greyhounds.attheraces.com/video/replay/372495

All eyes on Tuesday now, to see what mark the handicapper gives her.

We did the same with ours (Evelyn's Garden) the other week there. The spread was from 49 to 60, she got 47.
Really happy with that and fingers crossed she can be competitive in her grade.