Any requests? Worzals back home
Good was also present within the guess the going today. It was firm and that's all I'll say about it. Wincanton is nowhere near anywhere in particular and clearly wants to attract only those with their own vehicles (including presumably combined harvesters) as there is not much chance of getting here by train. Also not many signs for the track so thank god for the satnav invention is what I say. Firsy bit of bad news is 'many thanks for £18 to get in and perhaps you'd like a £3 racecard'. Smarting from this pilfering I didn't really have a close look at the food and drink so no review there. Wincanton is quite a spacious track for a gaff, decent paddock (pleb free at these prices) and plenty of stands offering fair viewing.
Impressive modern stand
The undulating nature of the track obscures some of the track as does the golf course club house. This right handed track is very fair and despite the undulating nature does not disadvantage long striding galloping types but does appear to suit hold up horses.
Not done full review but here are the headlines
Race 1 Mares mainen hurdle 2m6
Red hot favourite manages to beat unbroken field of in season mares despite hurdling like drunk
Miss Overdrive; hot odds on favourite strong mare made all and won easily despite not being fluent, she has run in a cuple of decent races including the David Nicholson's rce at Cheltenham. Has not been lifted too far in the weights but is unlikley to finad as easier task again and although not a complete negative she remains one to leave clear of
Be Kind; On toes in paddock moderate form including recent 2nd at Taunton. Was all over the place looking a very difficult ride
Little Fee; sketchy jumper who fought bit
My Legal Lady; poor hurding throughout on heurdling debut
Peotic Beat; looks a hard ride and jumping poor little to encourage for future
Race 2 class 3 Handicap hurdle 2m6
AP gives master class when managing to win race twice on sweating headcase
Moghaayer; Looked well but was edgy and sweating. Suits right handed tracks. Always prominent and led until between last two hurdles but battled back under an inspired ride to get up on the line.
Forest Rhythm; looked lean and maybe a bit lacking in condition. chased leaders and led approaching last. Was caught near line
Lupanar:Looked in good nick beforehand. Held up and under pressure made effort around halfway but failed to see challenge through from 3 out appearing not to be suited by today's fast ground. This is underpinned by most of his decent form is in soft ground and around right handed tracks, It is a long time since he won and there appears little respite from the handicapper and even given advantageous going there is not much confidence for future success,
Noddies Way; prominent but not fluent and soon beated
Anak; held up but never challenged being soon beaten
AP was in top form tonight
Race 3 Somerset National 3m4
Can six seasoned staying chasers produce entertainmnet? They can when AP is in a completely possesed mood to win three way photo
The Ferbane Man; held up until produced from 4 out led 2 out and batteld well to just hold on. I had seen him well beaten earlier in the season at Newcastle where the soft ground was against his preferences. He had won all his races on fast ground and it is clear that this is within his preference. He ran well today but it was a tight finish and I wonder how well handicapped he actually is.
Upham Atom; exagerated waiting tactice and only produced coming into the straight made rapid progress but just failed to get up
Knighton Combe; disputed lead for much and won the battel of the front runners however was caught approaching 2 out and although ended third battled on stoutly to be a close third. For an older horse he continues to run very well over these 3m4 type races. Probably had training problems in the past as has not that meny miles on the clock, The fact that having to make his own running with Dizzy thus leaving themselves open to hold up horses he ran with plenty of credit.
Double Dizzy; led or disputed lead for much but once headed 3 out quickly was outpaced.
Cold Mountain; never really a factor once the pace increase in the final mile
Earth Planet; not always fluent and was outpaced from about a mile out
Surely not another National. Someone calll time on this proliferation.
Race 4 Novice handicap hurdle Class 4 2m
Announcer mangles common Irish girl's name yet again as Aine's Delight purches clear.
Aine's Delight; held up and produced from about 4 out punched clear 2 out and was driven out for an easy victory. No real sign in previous efforts ove3r hurdles to indicate such a powerful win even duringher flat form there was little to indicate todat's win. She did win very easily which cannot be discounted but because her mark from 90 is likely to be driven upwards so best watched
Take The Wine; strong favourite generally mid division. Not always that fluent and was beaten when failed to quicken approaching 2 out. Had been driven 12 lbs to 104 on the basis of only one race. The horse ran as well as could be expectd but is clearly pushed up too far by the assessor. Needs to come down as leat 5lbs and at 5 yeqars old can win if that rating comes down.
Raise Again; always chasing leaders but failed to quicken as was and was a well beaten third. 21 runs and no wins over hurdles, 51 runs and a single career win says it all don't get involved in this one's efforts too come
Moonbalej; led or was prominent throughout. Was outpaced from about 4 out
Medicine Man; disputed lea throughout until bad mistake 4 out and weakened quickly
Capdalight; always behind
Aine get you gun. She's at the back but soon her name gets the plumby tone of the half baked English semi-genteel
Race 5 Class Handicap Chase 3m2
Stunk more than a three day old kipper with a burst boil lodged in a kiln cleaner's jockstrap
Classic Clover; carried 2lbs overweight in error? made all but began jumping slowly and looking more and more laboured in final mile but somehow held. Stables second string
Reymystrero; made steady progress on distant leader from 4 out and despite looking the stronger and jumping better failed to get a blow in. Appeared to get a relatively easy time of it and from my viewing point should have got up
Terrible Tenant; Although close up going into back straight final time quickly dropped out of being outstayed
Skipper's Lad; odds on favourite and stables first srting. Never in the hunt and unseated rider
And they're over and clear at the damp tarpoling jump
Race 6 Bumper 2m
Conor O'Farrell confirms that the new Charlie Swann has arrived
Indie Go; looks a good chasing (is from the Fort Leney family and set to be a decent juming as he matures)sort in the making and appeared to be a bit backward in the paddock. Settled toward rear in muddling pace. produced from 2 out with well timed run to lead inside final furlong to gradually pull well clear and belie the long odds. Impressive riding
Chuckery; did not impress in paddock as a workmanlike type. Produced from 2 out and held every chance until failing to quicken at distance, probably unsuited by the slow pace
Ambrose Hill; looks a good sort and interesting when hurdles. Would propably prefer softer ground was not disgaced in third having had every chance into final furlong
Shuflewing; 6/4 favourite neat looking in good condition was disadvantaged by the fact that the race deteriorated into a five furlong dash. From Circus Plume broodline and must surely win a bumper once we get better pace in a race. Worth keeping on the right side.
Tula Tots; on her toes and very green, outpaced from 4 out
Midnight Lira; sparely made and very green being tetchy in the paddock throwing her jockey. never a factor
One Conor O'Farrell, there's only one Conor O'Farrell
Nootbook
Miss Overdrive (Negative) up £10
0
showed speed on reappearance but jumping let her down. Still unlikely to win any time soon
Taste The Wine up £130
0 3 0 1 20/1 2 2 2 4
Looked good and bar a lack of fluence appeared a decent sort. Has not come down from 104 and three recent seconds pushed him up 6lbs. He took his good form on the flat and managed a win. I think he can win off the 110 mark but I will have to fold as eight races have elapsed from the original effort
Shufflewing down £20
4 0
Bit diappointing last run but that was in very heavy ground. Difficul to rate but I would prefer to see him run on fastish ground but time to move on