The journey to Nottingham's Colwick Park from the west takes you through part of Nottingham and passes Meadow Lane which is the homw ground of the oldest football league club in existence although the Sheffield club which plays in non league football is older. This makes the trip a bit more congested in terms of traffic on a bank holiday monday than ideal. However the course is set in a fine woodland location giving a rural feel to an essential urban track.
Plenty of free parking which is well marshalled and on a busy day went smoothly. Entry was a reasonable £12. There was plenty for the kids but some was not that great. Face painting has become the norm and kids seem to like this stuff as there was a fair queue. The animal / per feature was a bit low key being a couple of rabbits and hamsters. However there were a trio of shetland ponies which were a popular feature. The bouncy castles were free and always had a large number of users. All in all it was one of the better family events I have seen and it kept the vast array of kids out of the older grumpier partons' hair (those that had some)
The main grandstand was open to all and this is a good size facility having fair views. The food on offer was a bit more expensive than I would like but I suppose burger and chip at £5 is the mean level these days.
Main grandstand view at Nottingham
Nottingham has a large paddock which did not have a tree in it so this needs some speedy remedial action and perhaps a small bush might do the trick if money is tight. The pre parade ring was inaccessable to all bar the connections. Bit of a detraction as many racegoers like to have a look at them there. The view down the homestraight is a good place to watch the races. When I have been here before you have been able to gain access to nearer the winning post but some ex Stasi foot-soldiers were unaccommidating in this respect.
Paddock view of stands
A very pricey racecard was available at £3. But for that extra ten bob you at least had the two year olds' foaling dates. So well done Nottingham for bucking the trend.
The 62 pages contained a fair amount of adverts but there was a handy page for jockey's autographs and as this was a kids day it is something they like to do. This is one of the few sports where the sportsmen mingle with the crowd with little fluster despite the money being gambled and the occassional mistake from a rider leading to losses. As such children can get close and to be fair the jockeys are very open to sign. It helps to hake the day for the kids in a way. I remember my younger brother doing this and getting some good ones such as John Francombe when he broke Stan Mellor's long standing most wins in a career. The programme also contained some puzzling aspects such as a sudoku with 16 not 81 squares and an obscure picture montage to someone called Paddy which had no connection to any of the race sponsors of the day.
The marketing of the day was well targeted by the team betting a range of local children orientated operations to sponsor and promote their wares was very well done. This is the sort of stuff racing needs to do. You pitch your card to the customers likley to be accessing the event. This is a family event so pitch at family orientated services / products and it helps both organisations. Plus you get a bit fed up with endless sponsorship by industry with long titles for races which contain web address or phone numbers.
In terms of entertainment there was a live band who performed from a balcony overlooking the paddock. It was a classy jazz / blues group with a lady singer who had more than a pleasant voice. Didn't get to find out what they were called as announcement wasn't clear and there was no reference in the racecard at all. However from my point of view this is a big plus over the usual ragtime banjo stuff or poor man's tribute band which is just kareoke with money.
Decent live music for a change
E B F Buddy Redmond Maiden Stakes (Class 5) (2yo) (5f13y) 5f
This looked a fair maiden with some exposed with decent efforts in such as the Brocklesbury and one of the good Chester races the Lily Agnus. It was won in a stirring finish with three locked together over the winning line. Dark Ages had been gradually improving having been hauled inlate on in similar event at Leicester.She is a May foal f=so a bit immature before and probably a bit weak but looked fine in the paddock and having chased the leaders batteld on well to assert inside the distance and hold on for a slim victory. She is really sprint bred and it is difficult to see her staying further but certainly showed plenty of resolution. Second home was Brimstone Hill who has a little unlucky as was switched to make a challenge around the leading pair about a furlong out and was plugging on in the cosing stages. Quite whether he would have got there is debateable but he showed plenty to suggest he can pick up a moderate maiden. He appeared a bit green in the preliminaries he has run as if a bit weak in earlier efforts but today appeared to be ready for a step up to six furlongs. He looks middle distance bred, has Rainbow Quest in the line which is usually an emphasis for stamina and softer ground so I would say he is one to watch out for on the basis of these facts. The other in the bunch finish was Beau Mistral who appeared a bit edgy beforehand. Has been well held but still running with some credit in conditions events but probably acts as a bit of a benchmark in that her best finishing position was in a moderate maiden auction. She probably ran to her best again leading for much before being held allbeit by around a length when headed around the furlong pole. She probably needs to step down to auction stakes. There were a few of these who were backward including debutante Finbar who ran with great credit despite falling out of the stalls. He got the hang of things to chase uo to he furlong pole where his weakeness kicked in to finish a fair fifth. Pedigree suggests middle distance and is closely relar=ted to Soviet Song who was a great miler from the recent past. Needs more time and once muscled up and matured is sure to pick up a maiden over further.
Furlong out and the three principles have pulled clear with Brimstone Hill (in green) finishing well
Peppa Pig Returns Twinlakes - 2nd August Handicap (Class 6) (0-65, 3yo) (5f13y) 5f
A decent size field for a low grade three year olds handicap producing another tight finish. The winner was Royal Bajan who took it up a furlong out havng held a prominent position along the rails stayed on resolutely for a head victory. Won a maiden at Wolverhampton on debut in March having been unraced as a juvenille and was probably made too much use of in 6 furlongs on earlier start as pedigree suggests should be at home over further with seven furlongs as optimum. Pineapple Pete was a bit of an unlucky runner up coming from a poor draw to just fail to catch the well handicapped winner. Has been mainly campaigned on the all weather. I think that whilst is on a sound mark of 60/62 he is a difficult ride often hanging and suits these flat galloping tracks. Third home was Hootys Agogo and with such a name this should be the end of his winners' ring entry. Not fantastically bred but does look sprinty. Is on a fair mark given promising debut and plenty of excuses for defeat on second effort. He was then upped to six which would not be to his benefit. Didn't run badly today and can win over five off this 53 mark particularly if put back on the polytrack. Of the remainder Johnny Han**** showed speed suggesting a sharper track might be best. Whilst Indie County carried 3 pounds overweight and despite being tapped for early toe stayed on well. Clearly needs six furlongs, has run well on the polytrack and off 50 is fairly rated at the moment.
Royal Bajan (the grey on the rails) asserts close home in another close finish
Royal Bajan back into the winners' enclosure
Pineapple Pete was a touch unlucky with good run from poor draw
Fireman Sam Visits Twinlakes - 2nd July Handicap (Class 3) (0-95, 4yo+) (5f13y) 5f
Another closely fought race in terms of the finishing position but the winner was comfortable and had this in bag from a furlong out. This was a decent handicap (which was the top race on the card)and you would think that Solomon could well come in again for a hatrick if he is not clobbered on his 84 mark. He needs fastish ground and is not suited at all by soft ground. Tagula Night might have been well held but did run with credit after being exposed for pace early and then staying on well to be clearly second best to a sprint handicapper at the top of his form. He was making his first outing since the autumn and showed that he is in fine form and if put to six furlongs his current 87 mark does look fair and I would think he can win. The third Rocket Rob also marked himself down as an unlucky loser who would be thought of as a proable future winner. His current mark of 82 looks ready for a win as has come down the weights a ot over the past three months. Although he looks to need further I think he needs a stiff five such as Sandown or Newmarket. Of the other the well backed Secret Millionair ran a mullish race running in and out of it. Has shown a bit of temperament issues before, I had seen him flatter a bit at York earlir in the season and looks one to leave alone. A similar comment could be leveled at fancied Humador who was bother througout preliminaries yet again. He has five wins, 2 seconds in last none runs which led to a creep up the weights from 75 to 93 and now looks to be in the grip of the handicapper at last so would dobt if there is a win coming any time soon. Whozthecat ran to his mark and is a consistant sort best over this five.
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Into the final furlong and Solomon (yellow) looks to have this in the bag
« 3:20 » Winter Wonderland - Twinlakes 19th November Onwards Handicap (Class 5) (0-70, 4yo+) (1m6f15y) 1m6f
Fine finish to this modest stayers race. Notimefortears was left standing a bit early but stayed on to get up at the post. It was a bit of a shock when reviewing the form. However first handicap run and upped in trip is often a warning sign but it has to be said that there was littler sign that she was anything better than useless and that this test of stamina would be favourable. This was particularly puzzling when she picked up multiple class 5/6 1m6 winner Dubara Reef (who has been upped a bit in the weights but first run back over 1m6 since february. Outland was off a winning mark and returing to course and distance venue of his last of two wins of a year ago. Was ridden positively and looked to have a great chance a furlong out before being outstayed by the first two home. The warm facourite Rannoch Moor ran no sort of race finishing almost last of the fifteen runners. God only knows why he was favourite other than first run in handicap and upped in trip. Never looked like he stayed thiw trip and in fact based on pedigree you would have to say that a mile is likely to be his limit. Perhaps a 1m2 seller next?
Doh, The Simpsons - Wheelgate - 27th July Handicap (Class 5) (0-75, 3yo) (1m75y) 1m½f
This was a modest race but was run at a decent clip with Bertie Blu Boy taking a firm hold. This underpins the fact that the winner Shadow Catcher thoroughly sees out this mile trip as took it up before the furlong pole and galloped on strongly to win. This was his first effort over the mile and this based on his pedogree is probably the limit of stamina. His 72 mark is now likley to be under scrutiny after two out of last three handicaps have been won. Second home Feerruccio could not get to grips with the winner in the last 100 yards when joining issue. I think he could be better aimed at seven based on his pedigree. So if being allowed to make all based on a lack of a bit of toe then racing much more prominently may well be worthwhile. Urban Kode was another to go into the notebooks, didn't seem to handle these easy bends which suggest maybe a straight mile beneficial. Was running all over the place for Cathy Gannon (who has won on him in past) and you have to say that the visor has not had the desired effect, has won without it so perhaps best didtched. Not on a bad mark at the moment of 62. There was yet another disappointing and warmish favourite in Matavia Boy. Comprehensively beaten but was reported to have broken blood vessels.
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Bertie Blu Boy leads the milers into the straight
Timmy - Wheelgate - BAAAAAA 15th August Maiden Fillies' Stakes (Div I) (Class 5) (3yo) (1m75y) 1m½f
The Godalphin trained Paoletta was backed at 2/5 favourite on the basis of some encouraging form on debut second at Windsor. However again held every chance without quickening. This was a fair maiden being a bit quicker than the other division and the preceeding handicap. But I would say this one will have to go further in trip to break her duck . I would not back her with confidence over a mile. The winner Thistle Bird stayed on resolutely and looks better over 1m2 based on this run and her pedigree. The pair were well clear of the rest headed by Totheendoftheearth who ran an encouraging debut to show some pace but weakened in the final 200 yards. Another to look promising on her debut was the Hamdan owned Bashasha who ran very green. Extremely well bred and will be well suited by this mile and if not overtried can easily pick up a maiden.
Never back odds on in a fillies maiden part one
Timmy - Wheelgate - BAAAAAA 15th August Maiden Fillies' Stakes (Div II) (Class 5) (3yo) (1m75y) 1m½
Never back odds on in a fillies maiden part two. These fillies maidens turned into a benefit for the bookies when another well odds on shot (this time Focal at 1/2) was beaten in a photograph. The Cheveley Park / Stoute combination had run with some promise on her debut and this time really looked like she had the race in hand but was mugged on the line. The winner was debutante Graceland who looked well held two out but just managed to rally well and pick up the good thing. Deck Walk was never in the hunt and plugged on without getting too hard a time of it to finish third. She is particularly well bred, sure to do well over a mile and comes out well in this race. Of the rest Eraadaat came out of this well. She was very green looked in need of the run and is nicely bred for this mile
Ben & Holly - Wheelgate - 16th October Handicap (Class 6) (0-65, 4yo+) (1m2f50y) 1m2f
This was a seller in all bar name with top weight off 61 and beaten ten lengths into the bargain so there is little to see coming from this in the future. The winner Guga was about a stone down from a December high. This was his first win in 15 efforts when winning a claimer. Poached a massive lead and by the time the rest woke up he was home. Unlikely to be so lucky again. You would have to say that this may not have been James Doyle's finest ride as he held up the favourite Transfer and produced him far too late. This would have been the final straw of defeats for the backers I am sure. His handicap mark is miles off his peak and I would say that if still off 50 and perhaps running in a class 6 around 1m2 to 1m4 would be very useful for him.
Notebook
Brimstone Hill (P)
0000P1 33/1 up £270
I had been waiting for him over a longer trip so backed hime first time over a mile but saddle slipped and he was pulled up. Next time out was over the mile at 33/1. Left him at that.
Indian County (P)
01 22/1 up £210
I thought he would stay OK but found 6f too stiff. He was then down effectively 6lbs next run on the AW over 5f and got home by a length with first time tstrap. Left him alone then
Tagula Night (P)
000001 11/1 up £60
He ran three times poorly when poorly hcapped at or above 87. mark dropped to 82 on soft ground came in at 11/1 so closed on him
Bashasha (P)
0 down £10
Another poor run suggests I overrated her on her connections rather than her ability so closed
Deck Walk (P)
01 16/1 up £150
won next time out at 16/1 looking an awkward ride so closed on her from there
Transfer (P)
1 100/30 1 4/9 up £28
quickfire double and then up a stone so left him alone from there
£708 UP