rebelfm

If a wet summer dress contests for teenagers (eighteen and over naturally) is your thing then Epsom on the rainy night Wanted are doing their thing here at Epsom is for you. To be absolutely honest the group is a complete unknown to me having absolutely no idea who they are other than the promotion stuff Epsom’s not bad at all website communicated. They appear to be a sort of downbeat Bay City Rollers without the tartan and hopefully for them the mental scars.  Clearly there is a sizable crowd who thought they must have something going for them as the intermittent squeals made it sound like I had wandered into some hellish theme park where the entire fourth form girls of some shire grammar school had been strapped into the roller coaster on a never ending funride. It was in truth horrendous and has no place on a racecourse. Even mothers who should know better were probably re-living their Take That days training binoculars on the plinth where the band occasionally popped out to pat their egos . The consequences of this booking was that from a sporting perspective  £35 was required to see some low key poorly numbered races which was not to my mind  value for money. My biggest mistake was being down south tonight and not next week when Blondie are on. Now £35 for them is worth paying as they did write their own songs which to my ear are pretty good stuff and to be fair to Debs she is wearing pretty well. But as the size of the crowd showed on a dreary Thursday evening it got families through the gate who would never have seen a race meeting in their lives and who knows maybe they will return.



Decent size stage for The Wanted; crunch on that carrott Worzals

Epsom has invested heavily since I came on a bus trip down from the north to see Emprey win in 1975. That was a fair old do that as our coach left at 2am which meant too much ale for a teenager beforehand, got lifted by the law because for some obscure reason I gave my name as my mother’s maiden name of Madden (I was named after the famous GAA-mad lord mayor of Cork) as I was bored in the gap between half ten chucking out and getting the 2am coach. Somehow the police let me off to get the coach which put them a few notches up on my scale. We then got to Epsom at about 8.30am, managed to jump a fence into the members and saw a great meeting. We all fancied Lester, Joe Mercer won on Sauceboat and the only blip was one of my favourites of the times one eyed Belper was just run out of it by Blaskette.




The modern stands at Epsom are fantastic and a far cry from when I first came here in the 1970s

From then I tried to get to as many Derbies as I could with mixed results. I was sure El Gran Senor would not stay so backed Secreto which won at big odds, I heavily fancied Authorised and I was in Rome on business on European Cup Final night when I made sure every Roman in the bar I was watching the scallies get turned over in that they would promise me they would get on Betfair and bet like gladiators on their Franco , was sure for some reason which even now seams nonsensical that Sharastani would beat the great Dancing Brave and I backed Shergar at long adds after the Sandown Guardian trial. But there were downsides of course and out of the many the ones that hit my memory the most were opposing the great Nashwan when it was obvious that he was sure to win, I missed out on Reference Point because the traffic was so bad I could not get near the track in time, and most raw was the fact that I laid Slip Anchor to my girlfriend at the time’s mum by standing the tenner she wanted me to place on the dratted thing (to then to see Stevie C win so easily just rubbed salt in wounds as for at least one very good reason I couldn’t welsh on the bet).

To be fair to Epsom they put up one big feck off stage for these boys in comparison to the beer tent I had seen The Worzals do their stuff in at Wincanton in the spring. To avoid feeling too ripped off as a racegoer rather than a hormonal young lady I took refuge in the Lonsdale enclosure which normally for £30 I would baulk at but it is smack on the rails and you use the car as protection from elements/private box.

I was here a couple of years ago so have had a look around the facilities and they are very good. This was much needed as visiting Epsom on anything other than Derby Day in the pre 2000 was dreadful in terms of antiquated facilities and complete lack of atmosphere. So I would say Epsom is a good track to visit just be aware that you may not like the music entertainment that bumps up the price of your entry.

So what do you get for £30 other than parking and a very good view of the racing? Well not much else as there was not one food concession, a couple of bookies, restriction to view up to the furlong pole and some loos. The incessant chart music was probably unnecessary and frankly boring

Racing 

The first race was a five furlong sprint for class 4 three year olds. The big thing out of this is the considerable camber upset a few of these including the winner Diamond Charlie who when under pressure began to wander left with the hill but was staying on strongly enough to hold on. The challenge emerged stands side where the better ground is in the form of the soft ground loving Cocohatchee who almost got up. The cheek-pieces applied for the first time seemed to keep his mind on the racing. I would say a step up to 6 furlongs and he will be winning especially if the weather keeps wet and he gets softish ground. The third home was Volcanic Dust who ran out of puff in the closing stages which infers that may have preferred better ground, he wandered left independent of the winner and was not unlucky as I am sure the subsequent enquiry established had the stewards not been viewing it through the haze of a decent lunchtime bottle of claret. Nothing either jockey could really do. The other two were the plodding modest Paradise Place (fourth) and the Richard Hughes Shostakovich who looked going down to hate the ground and raced on the only level bit which is smack on the stands rail so I can assume also not keen at all on this strange cambered track. Really needs to run at a Newbury nice flat and galloping. If he does I give him a fair chance of putting this behind him on fastish ground.



Hayley Turner's(in pink)winning mount drifts a bit on the difficult camber but she gets a caution

The second race was a four year old plus five furlong sprint set at class 4. It was won in a close finish by top weight Living it Large who had previously beaten the first winner Diamond Charlie so the form was there. Clearly acted on the going and is currently in good heart however having been fairly treated for the last win is likely to be hiked up a fair bit and I would say will find getting a hatrick difficult. Second home was Boogie Waltzer who showed good speed but not quite at the right weight acts on soft and no excuse on an accurate mark. The third was Ryan Style who was subject of an objection by the clerk of the scales which normally means disqualification and that is precisely the outcome of the stewards who presented with the obvious had no chance of another irrational verdict. Quite how this can happen these days is difficult to comprehend as it seems to be far more prevalent that I remember in the dim and distant past. Anyway he ran ok showing fair pace and is in any case a bit in and out and always worth opposing. The outsider Spanish Acclaim either missed the kick or was tried with different tactics today as equipped with blinkers. I would say he showed enough pace coming home to suggest that a return to six furlongs and better ground will see him getting even closer. Ran on very well after being a bit outpaced early and then doing all best running when pulled wide for a run at the furlong pole having to tackle the slower ground. Is a positive coming out of this race. The other two were the fading Bronze Beau who showed some pace until ending up last looking like he needed the run and a drop in the weights as a long fruitless journey from North Yorkshire awaits the connections. Clear Phase was outpaced and plodded home for fifth



Living It Large (in blue) franks the winner of tonights first race

The third race was a two year old maidens over six furlongs which was won comfortably by the hot 2/5 favourite Tones who made all. However was stoked up three out when Intomist challenged and it was until the furlong pole that he had asserted. Couple with that was the fact that the eventual runner up Dark Ambition was very tardy coming out of the stalls but stayed on fine which shows a bit of improvement but not enough to make him a positive but looks capable of picking up a little maiden somewhere. The general feel of this race gives me the impression that Tones is not a juvenile to follow as he goes up in grade so believe it or not I have him as a negative on a number of counts one being that in general Hannon two year olds tend to be much shorter price than their ability indicates.  Intomist ran better than I thought he would as he got the favourite well off the bridle and continues to improve gradually.  Christopher Chua looked a bit moderate to be fair as never got a blow in.



I was not totally enamoured with Tones win tonght

Race four was for three year old maiden fillies over ten furlongs. This was won in emphatic style by Neumark who won this in the fashion of a very useful filly. Hard held throughout and dictating from the front had the rest in big trouble around Tattenham eased out and extended led without being hard ridden. I would say this is filly is capable of listed. Of the remainder Deraasa tried hard for her second spot and this was an improvement on her debut run but does not constitute a positive. I think Favourite Girl would have been expected to run second but after being held up was never in a challenging position and this despite stepping back in trip after a mile and half effort last run.

 

I gave up photographing as the gloom was falling in but not before the useful Neumark had won

Race five was a class five handicap fir three year olds and up over the Derby trip. It was run at a bit of a muddling pace by local filly Suhailah who ran ok but needs  dropping to class 6 a few pounds in the handicap. It was won by mudlark Shesha Bear who was held up until produced when the field shifted stand side looking the best ground.  She then stayed resolutely seeing the trip out fine to win by a couple of lengths with the field fairly spread out given the early pace was not that quick. She was a little unbalanced in the final furlong and edged a touch left and as such I am not convinced this is the right course for her. The runner up Tanjung Agas tracked the leader and was produced around two out but first hit traffic problems then when switched to the centre rolled a bit left down the camber and in the circumstances ran well to be second. In good heart at the moment clearly with course and on going he is not totally at ease with being better suited by firm he mst rate a positive next time out on a stiff gallop like Bath especially if going is on the fastish side. Clearly sees out a mile and half. Top weight Miss Bounty ran with credit trying to seize the initiative three out and head for home and was just found out close home by two horses decent at this level. She was bandaged behind so I do’t know if she has had tendon or ligament problems but wasn’t inconvenienced tonight. Of the rest I am sure that Dr Darcey ran as well as he could and his action suggests is a better performer on firm ground. So I would not be too critical of his run today. The same goes for Rodrigo De Freitas. I thought Professor John was carrying a bit of condition so better for the run.

The final race was a seven furlong handicap  set at class 4. It was won by an improving three year old Kingscroft who made all and won well being driven hard from two out. Well suited by the seven and acts on any going. None of the remainder could go with the Mark Johnson gelding who outpaced them when he quickened up. On that basis I rate him a positive .

Noted Horses Tonight

Cocohatchee (P) down £20
0 0
Unimpressive but neither race had a cut but I still backed

Shostakovich (P) down £15
0 0 0 2 1 7/2
Some modest efforts was then followed by a really good 16/1 each way second. i would say not at home on a camber but OK on a tight track. This was encouraging as was over 7f and his next race was at the same Libfield but over the desired 6f. We closed of this account behind but with a winner


Spanish Acclaim (P) down £30
0 0 0
Was stone last in the next three starts and we binned her on that basis

Tones (N)£17.50 down
1 11/4 2
Won a minor event and then a second. Binned now

Neumark (P) down £10
4
Thrashed at Goodwood wo shelved


Tanjung Agas (P) level
Now with Eddie O'Grady over teh sticks. Have no idea how well he may or not do


Kingscroft (P) up £30

0 1 5/1 0
First time on fastish ground as identified and in he came.

Thank God for Peppa Pig is all I can say as she was the only sane person who I could understand a blind word being uttered today. Her estuary grunts are to be honest more desipherable and intelligible when compared to the general slurred nasal hubbab which mascaraded as conversation which created a buzz similar to that of angry wasps here at Ayr this afternoon. So it was me and Peppa versus the world as here I am on the west coast of Scotland in trades week or whatever they call it these days with no trades exersised in industrial Great britain. We used to avoid Blackpool like the plague during Glasgow fortnight when I was younger, yet I have made my trip to Ayr right at the beginning of the kids summer holiday and on Glasgow Fair Festival Family Raceday. It just doesn’t get any worse for me than that. Except for the fact that it absolutely chucked it down all day with those heavy squally showers beloved of the west coast of Scotland.



It has to be said though that the team at Ayr do their best to promote things well but their hope of a bumper crowd did not seem to materialise. This has traditionally been a big day out at the seaside for Glaswegians with 8000 at the races and throngs exiting the trains. However things are different now, the drop of mining shipbuilding and manufacture means that there is no pit or works shutdowns so people no longer have and en mass holidays. However alongside Peppa and of course her kid brother george we had an array of attractions. For example cheerleading which included a mysterious workshop section, there were few in the audience today which I would have thought lithe enough to do those birth channel stetchng splits or who you would fancy balancing on your shoulders in a pyrimid structure beloved by the Dallas Cowboys orange tango girls.Ayr United's goalkeeper turned up to promote next week's friendly against Manchester United (brilliant promoted as providing a team which may include some players who have premier league experience before musing on the fantasy of Scotland's skipper Fletcher may also make a trip Murray style with a tear in his eye no doubt) and the magic of Gary Dunn(no me neither). The racecard actually gave a timetable of events and where they would be held which you have got to say was much better communication with their customers than I have come across before. The card was sponsored by an array of local newspapers making a welcome relief from the boring 'bet on 012324567 now for best prices and guaranteed bonus returns at betyousap.com maiden filly stakes' we seam to be continually afflicted with. For the future we have a decentish band for a change rather than singalong with a fat bloke in a curly afro wig murdering Sexual Healing and a joint promoition with the new sponsors who may just take Ayr United (a sleeping giant in the Scottish game for sure) to challenge one day for europe. This was plus an after racing 'disco' yes at 5pm you can grind away to Agadoo no doubt and get into the sunshine seaside party mood. That's quite enough sracasm I think as I ahve to say this is a far far better effort to make a good day of it for the public than I find most paces.

[img]

As a track I am not overly fond of Ayr for some reason that I cannot quite grab. There seamed to be far too make betting facilities you even had bookies bellowing out 'Ineh mure fae Yarrmuf' right bu the cafe selling mashed spud pie and chips. The stands are a bit antiquated the car park was suspension testing and the catering in general poor in quality. But the weather does help that's for sure. Perhaps I should come here in the summer.... 

This was the third time I had visited Ayr. The first was back in 1979 for the Ayr Gold Cup sponsored by Ladbrookes with the winner being  Primula Boy in 1979 ridden by Willie Higgins and trained by Walter Bentley in his first season training having been a useful jockey beforehand twice winning the Chester Cup. The race included the useful Cree Song who was fourth from the the stable of  Williams who was linked with Nigel Angus who won the Ayr Gold Cup a few years before ridden by Johnny Seagrave on-board Roman Warrior (a great big sprinter over seventeen hands tall striking chestnut with a white blaze and a single white sock was  one of the very few Scottish trained winners over the past half century). The other big race here which I have also seen was the Canada Dry Shield which was won three times by Roman Warrior and on the day I was here the canada dry was won by  Crimson Silk. According to one website the Ayr Gold Cup was son for Mick Easterby with the great Lochnagar ridden by Eddie Hide who was to be the 1976 July Cup Kings Stand Stakes, Nunthorpe Stakes and Temple Stakes winner a treble very few have managed to achieve.  On another occasion I visited Ayr with my in-laws who for some obscure reason took to a horse called Kelpie The Celt. He pulled his way to lead and continued to do so jumping a bit erratically until falling soon after halfway. But even fifteen years later they still talk in hushsed tones of the great Kelpie and how he aould surely have won if he had stood up. To my knowledge good old kelpie ran in many subsequent races but never once won a piece of evidence which the in-laws take absolutely no head off. There is always a danger of going racing with your in-laws that something from it will drive you nuts for the rest of your natural. In our family my Dad never lived down his mother in law perpetually reliving her tip when they went racing at Kempton Park back in the 1950s. This revolved around her favourite plant’s namesake Hollyhocks who obliged unbacked at 10/1.



The great Scottish horse Roman Warrior



Primula Bot Ayr Golf Cup winner from the 1970s



Economics of horse racing

Tracks in greyhound and horseracing are always in the news as struggling with the spectre of the property developer looming particularly those in up-coming urban neighbourhoods. Here is some colour to this debate which you might like to look at based on a couple of years ago when there were doubts about the future of racing here at Ayr.

‘AYRSHIRE businessmen Alan Macdonald and Richard Johnstone announced their decision today to put Ayr Racecourse and Western House Hotel up for sale.

They cited a combination of the poor state of the housing market and the planning system in Scotland as the reasons behind their decision.

Alan Macdonald and Richard Johnstone bought the racecourse just over five years ago and have overseen a dramatic turnaround in the fortunes of Scotland’s premier racecourse.

More than £14 million has been spent on a raft of improvements including the four-star Western House Hotel - Ayrshire’s premier wedding destination, the Princess Royal Banqueting and Conference centre and upgraded hospitality facilities.

Major investment has also been made in racing, with prize money for races including the two flagship fixtures the Coral Scottish Grand National Festival and the John Smith’s Ayr Gold Cup Festival being substantially increased.

Ayr has thrived over the last five years, attendance figures have shown sustained increases, and the 2008 crowds to date boast the highest attendances at the track for more than 50 years. Advance ticket sales for this month’s John Smith’s Ayr Gold Cup Festival also sit at a record high.

Ayr Racecourse general manager William Gorol said: “It’s business as usual. We are very proud of what we have achieved, and we look forward to providing the same high standards for the new owners.

“We are immensely proud of the team at Ayr Racecourse and Western House Hotel. Over the past few years we have successfully built a reputation as Scotland’s premier leisure destination, achieving accolades for both quality of food and service. I am confident that one of the key attractions for any new owner will be the professionalism of the team and the high standards they consistently achieve.

“It’s very much a case of business as usual.”

Christie & Co have been appointed as agents to oversee the sale of the leasehold racecourse and the freehold Western House Hotel.

Ayr Racecourse chairman Alan Macdonald spoke of the decision to sell and the reasons for doing so.

He said: “Richard and I stated when we bought the course five years ago that our intentions were to restore Ayr to its former glory and to ensure a long term sustainable future as Scotland’s only Grade One track.

“Cross-funding to finance both that goal and to also bring all the facilities up to a high standard was to come from residential and commercial developments on surplus land held by the racecourse.

“The planning process took five years, considerably longer than anticipated, and we had to go to Public Inquiry, but finally in May this year the process was completed.

“We now have planning consents in place for these developments, but the property market is such that it could be a few years before value can be realised from this.

“Having already spent £14 million on taking the business to where it is now and growing our status both as a racecourse and as the operator of one of Scotland’s finest hotels, we feel the time is right to invite offers from people who feel they can take it to the next level. More importantly Richard and I need to believe these are the right people.

“Significantly both these businesses - the racecourse and the hotel - operate on a profitable basis.”

Attendances of all the major meetings at Ayr have shown dramatic increases, with the Coral Scottish Grand National Saturday topping 17,000 this year - a rise of more than 8% on 2007 - while Coral Scottish Grand National Friday was 43.5 % up, and the two Family Days up by 19% and 14%.

Ayr also staged the Saints and Sinners Racenight for the first time this year, and almost 8000 people attended.

Western House Hotel has been voted Scotland’s Wedding Hotel of the Year in 2007 and 2008 and was also awarded a Thistle Award for Customer Care by VisitScotland. The Princess Royal Centre will cater for more than 40,000 banquet covers in 2008 and a host of major conferences including the Scottish Conservative Party Conference.

“We have turned a sleeping giant into a vibrant multi-purpose business but the time is right to hand the baton over.” Alan Macdonald added’

The Racing

The adveretised going was predominantly good but with the overnight rain was dead at the start of the meeting and the severe downpour during the early part of the meeting the going had become soft. This led to a significant amount of non runners during the course of the day.




Itsraining again

First race was a seven furong maiden stakes for two year old and was won by the filly Fresa who came up from Sir Mark Prescott’s Newmarket yard to score after a couple of modest by not totally useless all weather efforts over trips short of her best. She was still a bit green which given her relative experience advantage over many of the others  was not expected and also pulled a bit but she stayed on fine. Not certain this was that good a race but probably needs further and dead ground played to her stamina credentials .Newmarket raiders accounted for only three of today’s runners but they went home with one winner and two seconds so clearly when they venture up to Scotland Newmarket raiders should be not be overlooked. Joshua The First was second yet again this being the fifth consecutive time. Has been visored last two runs without any extra improvement and it has to be questioned as to his attitude to battle. Will continue to disappoint I would say. Rasputin (who looked particularly well) was ridden with enterprising tactics but again was found wanting close home being headed at the furlong pole. Cost a lot of money and maybe needs to be dropped to six as there is plenty of pace in the family. Of the rest favourite Eraada looked in good condition in the paddock but ran as if needing a mile. Very nicely bred with some top class 1m2 relatives. Cannot stay a maiden much longer and I have her as a positive if tried over the mile and may just prefer better or faster ground. Sygnature (an early Authorise gelding) was a well backed springer was very green missed the kick and was doing all his best work close home for a noteworthy debut probably needs a mile already.

Second race was a seven furlong handicap class 5 which was won by the three year old Sabratha ridden by useful female jockey Julie Burke (carried three pounds overweight to add to the pluses on a very good run) who did very well to slip through the gap when it emerged to win with this tricky hold up horse. Stepped back a furlong which seemed to suit but wins so infrequently as best left. The second Dhhamaan led everywhere bar the final stride. Is a very consistent seven furlong specialist goes fine on polytrack and appears to be best on fastish going on the turf so the dead ground may have just took the edge. Even so it was only a short head. The pair were well clear so I would suggest the others either didn’t fancy the ground or are not at their best at present. Nothing of major note here.

The rain was beginning to kick in by the time the 1m2 handicappers faced the starter in a class 5 event. It was won from off the pace by top weight Persian Peril who is suited by cut and goes in the mud. Won this with a little bit in hand but needs going his way to be a confident selection in subsequent races. The runner up was the fancied Newmarket raider Focail Maith who looked well in the paddock before hand is a three year old improver. Galloping sort who goes well at Newmarket and Yarmouth is better suited by further and another run over 10 furlongs would see him do well. Could easily make a decent hurdler if turned to that arena as looks the right build plus there has been a bit of success in that field in the family. I make him a positive on this run. The third was Free Art a big outsider who ran well and could be another improving three year old as I think August is the time when they have a bit of an edge condition and handicap wise over the older horse. The favourite was Jewelled Dagger who looked very well beforehand as usual tried to make all but was collared inside the final two furlongs and come home at one pace. He was probably beaten by better handicapped and younger competitors. 



Persian Peril and Focail Maith in the winners' enclosure




Persian Peril loks a decent handicapper as he returns to the stables

The class 6 handicap over a mile produced a driving finish with three having good chances at the furlong pole. The winner Abernethy was friendless in the market, was denied a clear run himself two out  but then wandered to the left away from the stick and may have squeezed up the runner up  a little bit 110 yards from home but not enough to even think it was material to the result. This was the sort of  result that makes you wonder why you bother looking at the form book. The third was 15/8 favourite Glenluji and although short of room I am sure was held. I still think he was eased down a touch after being slightly hampered, A consistent miler who acts on any going. The runner up Focial Eile was limited for space when trying to come between horses. Probably would have preferred it much deeper today so in the circumstances not a bad run at all so keep an eye out when the ground is heavy off this 63 mark. Also of note was fourth home Classic Descent who stayed on well without being given a particularly hard time of it. Has been running well but handicap mark has gone up a little bit. However worth mentioning that today’s 60 is a far cry from the OR of 90 he started out handicapping. No wonder he wins so infrequently as in once since May 2008 some 32 races ago. Gadabout Dancer attracted some interest but was flat to the boards from three out quickly weakening and is still a bit highly tried in the ratings.



Daniel Tudhope getting drenched before riding Glenluji

The class 6 five furlong sprint was prone to wholesale late drop outs which meant the  eleven quickly reduced to nine with the soft ground. It was won by good sprint mare Wicked Wilma following up off the same mark as her recent win. She was produced to punch through inside the final furlong. Sure to get a real pasting from the ratings man now. She beat fellow mare Ballerina who looked in good nick beforehand but is on a difficult mark of 62 compared to last winning weight. I wouldn’t say much will emerge from this race in terms of future winners.



Wicked wonder (pink cap) coming to do battel with Ballarina (yellow cap)

The class 5 six furlong sprint was won by bottom weight to help Julie Burke notch a notable double. She had Royal Blade up in front from the break and won well giving the impression that provided rating is below 50 can follow up. Runner up Beckermet ran fine but is way below his best (he won the Hackwood Stakes which is a listed sprint at Newbury a good few years ago). Still always tries his best and may just prefer seven to six nowadays. Biggest disappointment was hat-trick seeking Monel who was sunk without trace early on today. Maybe needs a bit of a break as only went up six pounds for recent win. Has won with a cut so reason for poor run is not obvious.



Royal blade takes it up

The final race was a class 6 sprint over the six furlongs for three year olds. It was won by mudlark Spinatrix  in an absolute canter taking firm control around 3 furlongs out and maintained a strong gallop to storm home. You could not be more impressed and his 57 rating plus the 6 pound penalty are probably going to get a severe shunt upwards., Guinea Seeker was well backed for some strange reason and then promptly was thrashed. Nothing of note amongst the rest.



Spinatrix clear
Horses noted today

Eraada (P) up £50
1 5/1
Only one race and came home. It was over today;s trip and she is likely to better over further with time. However with the end of the season in view she is binned.


Joshua The First (N) up £60
0 4 4 3 3 2
As ststed this looks a decidedly modest animal and he layed all autumn with success

Sygnature (P) down £30
0 0 4
Not matured this season although last run was a bit more positive

Focail Maith (P) up £40
0 3 0 1 8/1 3
Won oveer 10f and on a slightly lower mark. Backed when next run but up 5lbs and although ran well be tird was clear handicapped had a bit of a grip so binned

Free Art (P) down £20
3 0
Not disgraced but as season's ended he's binned

Focail Eile (P) up £150
0 1 18/1 2 2
Bit disappointing next run but them stung them as Musselburgh on good ground and won at 18/1. Up 12lbs after the two fair seconds as well and I have to now fold my hand on him

Sharing the site of the oldest golf course in the country of the sport’s origin which was home of the Open Championship for several years sits Musselburgh racecourse. It is a fine course with very modern facilities has a great atmosphere and is one of my favourite tracks. I had a great day here as my tour bus paid it’s visit to East Lothian and although other Scottish tracks like Kelso and Perth are often cited as the ‘best’ in the country this is the one I would chose to visit in Scotland if I had to make only one selection. I like the mix of old and new architecture, I like the mix of bars, cafes and restaurants, I like the fact that it doesn’t feel like the gambling aspect is the predominate reason  for attendance and I especially liked the fact that I was allowed to park in the owners and trainers car park adjacent to the furlong pole without some officious jobsworth saying ‘You can’t park there pal’. The security man who I asked where to pay once I had parked up and wlked through the gateds unimpeded said ‘You shouldn’t really be through this gate but just tell them you’re disabled when you pay and it will be fine, if we were a lot busier I would have had to ask you to park elsewhere but it’s not that busy and it will cause you some hassle so I’ll turn a blind eye just remember next time please’. That’s how to treat customers a bit of respect and civility; some racecourses do not always have this on their list. 



Grand modern course



The padddock with runners going down

Le Garcon D’Or

A racing plate worn by record breaking racehorse Legend mounted together with a signed letter of authenticity from trainer Jack Ormston who was the winner of 34 races between 1960 and 1972 a record still standing in GB for flat racing and was sold at auction by Sotheby’s for £130. The trainer was also an accomplished sportsman and ex speedway champ. For many years there was an annual handicap run in early July in memory of the famous racehorse hut the seams to have slipped of the list in last year or so which is a great shame. There is however a fine bar and carvery in recognition as it is always good to see heritage such as this marked as it is this linage which helps build the horseracing brand but is often allowed to pass by.  These middle rankers and selling platers have a place in the memory and it was the same in greyhound racing as well. I well remember there was a portrait of a dog trained by Hugo Spencer which ran unlit I think seven or eight which had the legend ‘Only A Grader But...’




All weather and Edinburgh

Here is an interesting article which set the scene a couple of years ago to the aspects of development and the history of the racecourse at Musselburgh

OVER the next two to four weeks, a hearing will take place in Musselburgh which could well decide the direction of Scottish racing. A public inquiry into Musselburgh racecourse's plans for an all-weather racetrack plus improvements to the historic golf links within the course will hear arguments for and against the developments.
Philip Hutchinson, the reporter, is a highly-experienced official who has handled several contentious inquiries, and it

is to be hoped that he can give ministers at the Scottish Executive a recommendation as soon as possible. An election is looming in May, and if the decision is not made before then, it will be put back many months, and the racecourse will lose its chance of gaining some extra all-weather fixtures, which will become available next year.

I have made my feelings known: I believe that the all-weather track is vital for the future of the sport in Scotland, and the plans, which have the approval of the local planning department and East Lothian Council as a whole, should be allowed to proceed forthwith.

The serious objectors consist mainly of NIMBY types whose main fear, if they are being honest, is that the value of their homes will be reduced because the plans involve erecting retractable floodlights on pylons to allow more meetings to be held on winter afternoons and during evenings throughout the year. Objectors can dress up their arguments as they like - concerns about bird sanctuaries and so on - but they are worried that properties will lose value, despite the absence of evidence that this will happen.

If they would admit the true basis for their opposition, the antis would gain more respect, from me at least. It's an honest argument, for in days of soaraway house prices, people have a right to object to developments that they believe will materially affect property values. Indeed, I believe that compensation should be paid where loss is proved.

But to claim that there is a massive groundswell in the Honest Toun to "save the Links" for reasons of history, wildlife and scenic value is so much tosh. More than 22,000 people live in Musselburgh, and I doubt if 20% of them could state why the golf course, for example, is deemed historic. It hosted six early Opens before 1890, the standard golf hole worldwide derives its diameter of 4.25 inches from Musselburgh, and the oldest recorded women's golf competition was held there in 1811.

The anti-campaigners also include people who have been scared into objecting because of misleading reports that the golf course will be altered beyond recognition. Yet curiously, the golf club whose members play on the course is not listed among objectors, and senior members are looking forward to improvements, such as a new six-hole course and practice area.

It is the golf course itself which provides evidence on why the racecourse developments should go ahead. Musselburgh Links was once a home of golf, a significant place where pioneers such as Willie Park senior and junior plied their trade. Though the original seven holes were extended by two in the 19th century, the course declined in the next century after tenant clubs, such as Royal Musselburgh and the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers moved elsewhere.

Musselburgh racecourse also went into decline, until the past 15 or so years saw a remarkable alliance develop between de-facto owners East Lothian Council and enthusiastic professional managers, such as Mark Kershaw and incumbent Bill Farnsworth, which has transformed the venue.

The racecourse is thriving, but it could be even better. An all-weather track, which would be the first in Scotland, would deliver a huge boost to Scottish racing and to East Lothian's economy, as many more racing opportunities would be created for Scottish-based trainers and owners, and pubs and hotels would benefit from increased visitor numbers.

If the developments do not go ahead, it is easy to conclude that the racecourse will stagnate, as the golf course did. A chance to make history would also be lost: Musselburgh could become the first major racecourse in the world to offer turf racing on the Flat and over jumps and all-weather Flat racing.

It boils down to going forward and making history or staying still and being trapped by history. I know which course I prefer.

Musselburgh Links lies to the east of Musselburgh. At one time the Links were covered by the sea and an old feu charters the sea covered the low grounds of Pinkie to Inveresk Hill. (In 1856 a well was being sunk in the grounds of the nearby school (Loretto) and the remains of an old oak ship were discovered. This would suggest that the sea was 1/2 mile further south of where it is today.) The Links is common land and was granted to the people of Musselburgh from time immemorial for recreation and leisure purposes.  It is land which for years Musselburgh people grazed their goats and geese. land which their womenfolk would dry their washing and it was land where they would play football, practice archery and play the ancient game of golf.
While the golf course was being prepared for one of the Open Championships in the 19th century, human remains were found near to the first green (now the second).  It was thought that these were mid 16th century remains from the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh which took place near to the Links in 1547. A battle plan of that dates shows English ships landing(?) on the shore at the Links.
In 1650,Musselburgh was taken possession of by Oliver Cromwell, who encamped part of his foot on Musselburgh Links, where they remained for nearly two months—the site of his own tent being, according to a report in the Second Statistical Account of Scotland, supposedly opposite Linkfield House. Use of the Links was interrupted again in 1803 by a military camp established during the Napoleonic Wars.
The name ‘Musselburgh Links’ appears on John Adair’s map of Midlothian of 1682.

In the late eighteenth century the Links were used for drilling and training the 2000 soldiers based in barracks on Linkfield Road. The barracks were located in a large field adjoining Pinkie Mains. When the barracks were full, the soldiers were billeted on the inhabitants of Musselburgh or accommodated in tents on the Links.
In 1906, WC Maughan wrote “The links of Musselburgh enjoy a peculiar charm of their own... where can you find a finer breadth of delightful old turf, sprinkled over with clusters of bluebells, perchance single flowers peering from the grasses beside tufts of whins vainly struggling for a precarious existence, while the modest yellow trefoil and scented wild thyme, give touches of colour”.
Musselburgh Racecourse
Racing has taken place on the Links for many years. It is reported that a maximum value of £50 was placed on all horses entering races in 1680. In 1711, the winner received the prize of a saddle. In 1816, the racecourse was built around the golf course - no opposition to this event is recorded. Racing, apparently, moved from Leith Sands, near Edinburgh, because of rowdy spectators. The first recorded meeting, a six day meeting, took place on the present course on 7th October. In 1987 the first National Hunt meeting took place on 5th January.
In the 1800’s the September Races were the principal event with a mixed company of gentry and local people. Two hundred bookmakers were said to attend. Visitors were entertained by ‘jugglers, organ grinders, fortune tellers, acrobats and itinerant musicians’. Fishwives sold shell-fish, oysters and crabs; loaves called “penny bricks”, ice cream and sweetmeats.
The New Year Sprint
The New Year Sprint, formerly known as the "Powderhall", is a unique event in the annals of sporting history being the last of the old time pedestrian galas. It has been an annual New Year event since 1870, the heyday of pedestrianism (professional footracing) then the sport of the people.
A handicap race held over 110 metres, the Sprint has been staged in Scotland on or around New Year's Day annually since 1870. Competitors, both amateur and professional, vie for prize money totalling over eight thousand pounds.
The 131st New Year Sprint held in December 1999 was held at Musselburgh Racecourse - the first time the Sprint had ever been staged at such a venue. Bad weather thwarted attempts to stage the final alongside the Christmas National Hunt meeting, as it did the following year. In December 2001, for the 133rd New Year Sprint, runners and horses finally competed in the same meeting.
£11m Musselburgh all-weather racing plans denied

Published Date: 15 August 2007
CONTROVERSIAL plans which would have allowed floodlit racing to be held at Musselburgh Racecourse have been turned down by the Scottish Executive.
Ministers refused to grant the racecourse planning permission for a new all-weather track and floodlighting amid fears that the development would dwarf neighbouring listed buildings and lead to unacceptable noise during night meets.

The news, which was announced this morning, comes after the Executive released the findings of a three-week public inquiry into the development.
Officials also said that the expansion would have a “serious impact” on the historic Musselburgh Old Golf Course, whose first green would have been moved under the plans.

Philip Hutchinson, who compiled the Executive’s report, said: “The proposed development is at odds with the local development plan and it would be very detrimental to the settings of several listed buildings.
“The development would also adversely affect the character and appearance of the local Musselburgh Outstanding Conservation Area, to which this site makes an important contribution.”

Ministers agreed with the findings of the report and have refused to grant the scheme planning approval.

The £11 million expansion was expected to lead to 30 extra race meetings a year and generate an estimated £12m every year for the local economy.

A spokesman for the racecourse said that they were “disappointed” with the decision and added that they would make a full comment once they had seen the Executive’s report.

The Racing

The racing started off with a class five handicap over nine furlongs. There were no three year olds, no CD and one course winners. Of the course winners Ra Junior has won over a mile and has tried this trip before. Style over the mile gives impression may well stay but mark of 66 is still a bit high was on his toes in the paddock beforehand and was made too much use of for a doubtful stayer. Is best confined to mile races. There were four distance winners. Top weight Marvo has not won for two years and his nine furlong win was at Hamilton in a class 3. Was running in much better races than this last season but has been frankly awful this season in which he has been dropped from 78 to 68 but making the long trip from Newmarket was in his favour as a pointer. Looked well in the paddock today and ran a much better race than of late when staying on from two out after having been held up to take second close home but was left too much to do as winner had poached a nice lead approaching the furlong pole . Nonetheless this was an encouraging run.  Petomic is a true nine furlong horse and is only four pounds up on a previous winning mark. In good form at the moment with 13312 for runs over this trip and in good heart as bit of an unlucky loser being squeezed for space last run when second. Was off the pace and held up but was running on all too late and eased a touch close home where he got nutted for runner up. Sweated up beforehand and got a bit restless at the post he does look a bit of a stuffy sort and may have had enough of it for a while.  Gumnd had finished last in all his last five races since they took the pieces off him. Yet first time on the pieces nearly did the trick at Goodwood over this trip when a decent second. His mark has fallen 20 pounds this year since that run and now over the trip he has won at (his form over the 9f is 12) had a shout today as still only a four year old. However yet again was hopelessly last despite being in touch till two out. Either there is something physically wrong with him or he needs the cheek pieces again. The final distance winner was Mangham who had not won for two and a half years. Enterprisingly ridden today being placed close up and then produced to lead approaching the furlong pole to pull clear quickly. Suited by today’s softish ground and appears inconvenienced by fast surface..



Petomic on the way down to the starrt got a bit stewed up and looks a stuffy type

Race 2 is a two year old maidens stakes over seven furlongs. I will start off with the Mark Johnson early foal Courtesy Call who was a debutante. He is stoutly bred which is no shock for a Johnson horse and closely related to Arc winner Three Troikas. Got stewed up beforehand (coltish in the ring) and dwelt running very green for much of the race. Stayed on a bit but is immature and I would not be surprised if we do not see him until next year as I thought his action indicated a preference for faster ground. I have him as a negative for the remainder of the season but I thnk he will be a much better proposition as a three year old and would not have him negative when older as he is sure to score next season. Storm Fairy had been improving a little bit and the step up to seven on racing style seemed sensible as pedigree suggests she should stay this trip. However dropped right out of the race after being close up till halfway indicating that she either is useless, didn’t like the ground or something was amiss. Comanche appeared to thrive on this step up from six to seven furlongs as was always close up, took control of the race two out and the jockey had time to check all the others progress at the pole before easing him home for an easy and impressive win. He has got the hang of things now and can step up in class. I think he is one to watch particularly as we go into autumn and we get this softer ground I think he prefers. Daddy Warbecks ran green as expected on debut but did plug on once got the hang of things. Back over the seven again today with that experience under his belt I thought he could be interesting. Pedigree does not scream 7f at this stage of development. He ran with a great deal of promise today being clear of the remainder, is still green but learning and I think he has a great chance of picking up a maiden next run if not too highly tried and is a positive coming out of this race. Karma Chameleon has winners in the family and although sure to come on for his debut he ran so green and without much promise that I gave him little chance today. In fact he showed a little improvement to finish fourth but still looks backward in condition. Villa Reigns  has a very decent middle distance pedigree but is still backwards and ran a bit all over the place so best watched. Rosies Lady on the face of it was promising on debut when third, but I tempered that with the fact that the cantering winner was clear by seventeen lengths! was then a distant seventh. Showed a little improvement today finished third but was well behind the runner up and she does not look to have shown enough ability yet to indicate that she has the ability to win a maiden any time soon.

Race 3 class 6 handicap over five furlongs for three year olds. This was difficult race as all are pretty well exposed maidens. However Green Warrior, who had only run twice over five, last run was from a hopeless box at Beverley and the other was a good second at Leicester off similar mark when held up. On the basis of this promise it was no surprise to see Paul Hanagan hold him just behind the leader and then punch him through from approaching the furlong pole  for a comfortable victory. Clearly a five furlong horse and I would think he can follow up. These Dreams has gone up 10 pounds without winning which must always be a bit of a bind for the connections. But now on 51 after a 56 top and has run close off this mark before over her favoured five trip. Held up and ran on well but could not quite get second and is one to keep a bit of an eye out as this was indicative of further progress. Tancred Spirit was made favourite. Is exclusively a five furlong sprinter but just cannot find his way to putting his head in front where it matters most and again faltered inside the distance almost being nutted for runners up.  Ideally suited by half a mile! She bang out but gets caught as even Catterick appears a test. Bygones For Cash was a bit disappointing off a decent mark.  Majestic Millie was doing her best work late on but is not up to much in my view of the form. Pieces did no good last time. Face East makes a hash of the starting gate to make too much appeal and was never a factor today.



Useful Green Warrior heading back to his stable after comfortable victory

Race 4 1m4 class 5 handicap. No three year olds. One CD three C and three D. The CD is Birkside who races regularly here. But has only one win here despite regular attempts with a 10% strike rate. Again hopelessly detached today and is best left. Three distance winners are headed by recent hat-trick winner Fossgate under Amy Ryan all over this trip. For a ten year old clearly has a new lease of life over his favourite trip and despite a weight hike cannot be discounted. Ran with credit yet again to finish fifth and I think that he is unsuited by this track despite running very well in the past at another sharp right hander Ripon.  Bring Sweets was used as a pacemaker today to give Dane Cottage’s stamina maximum advantage. She needs to drop to class 6 or selling company soon as I still think there is a win in her. Merrion Tiger has shown all his best form  at Southwell and although suits this trip is probably better off racing there as was thrashed today. Of the course winners Persian Peril only ran here twice and both as a juvenile. Won well yesterday over 1 mile 2 and my comments were ‘It was won from off the pace by top weight Persian Peril who is suited by cut and goes in the mud. Won this with a little bit in hand but needs going his way to be a confident selection in subsequent races.’ Again with a bit of cut in his favour and looking in very good condition was ridden with confidence to again score. As the announcer stated there is plenty of evidence that horses can hold and even improve their form is running within 24 hours and especially handicappers you would have thought that where possible bringing them out again makes sense even with the six pound penalty. With Ayr and Mussel burgh being relatively close in geography it was not a shock to see a few follow up and race today having run the previous day ay Ayr. In terms of Persian Peril I think the handicapper will note this improvement and I think we may see a significant hike which will make winning yet again difficult. Pokfulham has won here but that was in a selling hurdle. Favourite when good second at Ayr over a furlong further but idled and may not be entirely genuine. Had chances entering the straight was soon  put in his box and was a disappointing 5/2 favourite today who sweated up a little bit beforehand.



Persian Peril wins two in about 24 hours



Returning victorious


Race 5 five furlong claimer as a class6. Ridley Didly is one of the CD and did nothing wrong in winning a class 6 on his last run. But has never won above class 6. Was easily beaten in this claiming stakes today.  Old favourite Strike Up the Band group 3 winner back in 2005 and suited the Goodwood sharp sprint. Not sure he is quite up to winning again and it is a bit of a downer to see very decent horses scraping around in claimers at the end of their careers. Still I do not pay the bills. Sandwith only one win since July 2008 did  not auger well for today and recent form very poor in class 6 events. In the event was never dangerous. Angelo Poliziano headed the claiming weights and is far better in the pieces. He is best suited by five furlongs. Ran particularly well at Haydock in a class 4 when was nutted on the line when I am sure the jockey felt he had the race won then Taurus Twin came flying down the stands rails out of eyeline. Was bandaged all round today and did not look in top condition. Ran OK to be third being scrubbed along and I think he did not act on the ground so a return to faster ground would make him a positive next run. The winner was the under exposed ex Irish flashy chestnut filly Atlantic Cycle only win at Down Royal. Best run was two efforts back when staying on well without getting too hard a time of it over five at Haydock. Entirely resolute racing off a good mark of 69. She might not look like a sprinter in terms of size and shape but she has speed and is resolute so do not be surprised if she wins in handicap company soon for new connections (J M Bradley) having been claimed. As only a four year old that may just have been a decent £7000 purchase and she rates a positive.



The filly Atlantic Cycle turns the odds on favourite over in the claimer

Race 6 was a three years old 1m5 handicap class 6. Cotton Grass was a disappointing favourite when holding every chance in the straight in most recent Hamilton run and at the weights I think she is held at the moment. She looked well and tried to make all but that was not necessarily the right tactics as was easily picked off in the straight. Needs to be reassessed and is a genuine 1m4 filly but I am also not convinced she stays the 1m5. On the basis of the recent Hamilton run I would have to say that Hal of a Lover had the edge over Cotton Grass especially when considering was reunited with De Sousa who was successful in partnering over 1m4.  He was produced into the straight and kicked clear. May have idled a little bit but it was a comfortable win. Of the two maidens that completed the line up Purkab looked mulish and ran no sort of race really and will find winning difficult. The other maiden was a neat grey filly Silver Tigress who looked in good nick today. Very unfortunate to snap reigns exiting the stalls. P J MacDonald did very well to correct her and then was able to ride a fine race to stay on in eyecatching manner to finish a two and a half length runner up. Sometimes this sort of incident is exaggerated in terms of its impact but I would have been positive about the filly’s run even if the tack had stayed intact so with that additional factor I think she is clearly on a good mark and is an improving filly.



Great ride with a broken reign from PJ MacDonald on Silver Tigress



Halofalovekicks clear to win if a little on the workmanlike side

The final race was won by another horse who came straight over from winning at Ayr the day before. Sabratha had a six pound penalty but was actually only three pounds worse off because her jockey carried three pounds overweight the day before. In contrast to Ayr she was encouraged to make all and she stayed on well to hold on by a length. It was a good battle with Istiqdaaam who was a short priced 5/4 favourite. He comes out of this very well and although his mark has been upped to 63 before today I think he may go close again as in good form at present. Old English is a funny horse as either runs well finishing close or winning or ends up at the tail. Maybe he is a bit of a tools down merchant and when room gets short hasn’t the guts to go for gaps preferring to give up. That is just my impression and as such I see him a negative out of this race.



Old Englsh did not run too well today and I rate him as a bit of a negative



Sabratha (yellow) wins again 24 hours after an Ayr victory

Notebook

Petomic (N) up £100
0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 4 0
Is pretty well hopeless and I have been able to lay him all autumn but as the season is over I will bin him

Courtesy Call (N) up £60
2 0 0 2 0 0
Useless really and has been layed without too much angst but end of season so binned

Daddy Welbecks (P) level
0 0 1 2/1
slight drop in wieght gave him chance in nursery which he took and is now binned

Green Warrior (P) down £30
0 2 0
Not run too bad but three losing races without much drop in the weights leads to withdraw

Angelo Poliziano (P) level
not seen out since so off the list now

Atlantic Cycle (P) down £30
0 0 3
Ran well and a decent each wayer at 25/1 on third effort. Left alone after that

Silver Tigress (P) up £4
1 11/8 0
As expected won well next run. Up a bit but backed when unplaced however continued to pushed up by more than 10lbs and was shelved

Old English (N) up £60
0 2 0 P 0 P
As expected he was useless for the remainder of the season and was continued to be layed

Bath had a recent and well publicised problem at its last meeting where a horse slipped on a bend after rain fell on ‘hard’ ground knocking over another horse and the jockey sustained an injury. On the plus side neither horse was hurt but the rest of the meeting was abandoned. This led to a review as to whether tonight’s card would proceed. In the event the restriction to five and six furlong races led to an agreement that the meeting would go ahead. Which is fine but gave the meeting the feeling of a graded greyhound meeting with little variation. There were some tight finishes in general with most horses having a chance approaching the final furlong.

Where do you think Ryanair got the idea of enticing passengers with the promise of flights to exotic places like Milan and Berlin only to end up in a different city or on a disused Luftwaffe runway in a run-down post-communist ghetto? The source of the scam could very well be the racecourse naming committee. How else do you explain Hexham (severe long walk up a steep hill to a remote hilltop), Exeter (it’s Haldon) and Huntingdon (Brampton). Add to that list Bath which is really Lansdown. For the unwary rail traveller getting off at Bath station with the happy prospect of a short walk through this Georgian world heritage site would probably be appealing. But several miles away lies the racecourse and the route is hardly a safe easy walk either.

The route to Bath Racecourse is off the M4 at junction 18 where the signs direct you to follow the A46. The track is to the right and lies to the north west of the city sitting near the village of Lansdown. The view is stunning as the town of Bath can be seen from the racecourse which is about two miles away.

It is an idiosyncratic left-handed track which has a strange U shape which means horses are often on the turn. As a consequence the draw over most distances favours those drawn with low numbers. There are- undulations and the finishing straight is uphill making this a testing track. One interesting additional factor is the altitude of the circuit. Set at about 800 feet above sea level it could be that this generates some strange results and in theory should lead to course specialists. Bath is the highest track in the UK. So being at the course the question is raised, does that fact having any bearing on the horses ability to win. Athletes have to have specific training when competing at high altitude. Footballers competing in Mexico or at the even higher La Paz stated that the ball whizzed through the air faster than at lower levels. People find walking around in Denver more tiring than in Amsterdam. If there are there effects on humans why not on horses? If a horse can cope better than his competitors then that edge, even if it is only a length could be the difference between winning and losing.
It is also thought that jockeys with previous experience around this track have a major advantage because the different nature of the course.

Because of the weather landing us  in the middle of a dry summer the ground rode firm, which is not unusual here because the draining nature of the sedimentary rocks of the Mendip limestone and sandstone.

The facilities at Bath are pretty good. There is a very decent cafe in the grandstand which sells proper food, nice cakes and tea you add cow's unprocessed milk to. I like this a lot and the price was not too bad at all. The car parking is extensive and adjecent to a golf course with a good freemand vew up to the furlong stick and some car drivers had taken advantage of this facility. The paddock is big and alongside the track just after the jamstick. The views across the very wide valley are great and the stand even for teh plebs had many padded seats! Bath is a very decent track to visit, is good value and even if the racing was not great fair play for teh executive for getting a programme on at all. I hope they sort out the bend issue from a safety perspective without having any ridiculus realighnmnet plans. Bath celebrates 200 years of racing this year and there is a very well researched book to accompany it which is well worth purchasing. It was launched tonight and you can buy it through the course executive. It costy me £14 to get in which is par for the course and I wuld happily have paid £20 on the basis that this wasn't another of those bladsted theme nights.



The 'cheap' stand at Bath houses a great value cafe on the first floor and padded seats to view from on the second floor.
Parentage and its certainty.

My first trip here in the 1980s had a more varied card and the three year old mile handicap that day went to the Frankie Durr trained Kellathi who beat off Paul Cole’s Mouslat ridden by the master lightweight jockey Richard Fox. The interesting aspect of the winner was being by the great Seattle Slew. I wonder if they had a Bath handicap in mind when the owner of Desert Law put her to the American Triple Crown winner? This meeting threw up quite a few who would go on to do well over hurdles. The first was an apprentice stakes which was the first leg for Guy Harwood. Bahoor was drawn ten of sixteen in this ten furlong race. The other legs were the mile and half three year old handicap won by the top weight Statesmanship and Gamblers Cup who won the second division of the two year stakes over a mile. Both of these were ridden by Greville Starkey. Gamblers Cup went on to be a useful juvenile hurdler although his main claim to fame was to provide John Francombe with his final winner when he picked up a hurdle at Huntingdon. Unfortunately that was his final victory as Gamblers Cup was plagued with lameness in the following season.

The first division of the two year old stakes went to the exposed Adiyamann who beat the filly Worthwhile and Harewood’s Spitalfields who was running under a penalty for an earlier victory. .None of the seven debutantes in the two year old divisions made the frame so some previous experience of racing may be useful at Bath.

There was an interesting two mile one furlong handicap with a good battle between the top weights Bajan Sunshine getting the better of Kings College Boy. They would both meet again in that year’s cesarawitch and go on to do well over hurdles. Others in the field to take to hurdling were the third home Kate Kimberley, Royal Insight and Almighty Zeus. Harewood’s horse in this one Flying Oats must have been from some South London sink estate as the father was listed as either Empery or Delta Flag clearly some girl our Kelly Kairn! Although you would think that a stud farm would be clearer on parenthood, who gets the fee and I am sure the owners of Kelly would rather have found a legitimate reason to avoid paying a derby winner’s cover fee. I wonder if they use DNA nowadays to sort out this type of confusion.

Racing

The opening nursery P5 was won by hold up horse Fanrouge bought with a decently timed run by Dane O’Neill. Has now won twice here over the minimum trip so should be respected if returning here. Half length behind was Gin Twist who took it up at the furlong pole but could not hold late burst from winner. Probably stick to nurseries but on 62 is probably held for the present as quite exposed. Balm showed plenty of early pace and it may well be that she needs an easier track and maybe a shot at a seller should be on the list as on 63 and five runs could be held by the assessor. Big disappointment was the favourite who missed the kick and was never competitive plodding home. Needs to sort out her trapping that’s for sure if winning again.



Fanrouge heading back to the transporter after winning the opener


Next up was an A5 won in a driving finish by Triple Dream who has shown ability on a range of going and has a tendency to hang into horses coming home. Just got up today and looks a tricky ride. Second home was the well fancied (by me in the main I suspect) she led from the gun really but was just reeled in despite battling well. Goes well for Guillambert and needs firm ground and the minimum trip although has won at galloping tracks including here at Bath but seems particularly at home at Nottingham. Musical Bridge ran well to be a reasonably close third under a penalty although may just prefer going right handed. However the hot 5/4 favourite Whitecrest was well and truly hammered and despite having every chance finished last with no excuse.



Baby Queen and Triple Dream battling it out a furlong out

We then had an A4 where the finish was a bit messy with horses hanging in and cutting up others with the first three finishing in a bit of a heap. Ebraam won it on the line nicking the lead from Comptonspirit who had just headed long time leader and 15/8 favourite Wooden King. Not much to say about this race really.




Three locked together in a rousing fight up the final furlong

The big race of the day was an S3 over lust shy of 6 furlongs. This
was an absolute blanket finish which the graded would be proud of and probably means they are all fairly handicapped at the moment. The first five had less than a length between them. One thing to note was that Collect Art who was the 5/2 favourite was only a length and a half off the winning group when finishing sixth. He had led up to the furlong pole and is ten pounds off his last winning mark of 75. Is very consistent and thus unlikely to come down fast any time soon. The winner Drawnfromthepast was well ridden by Sophie Doyle who also did well in an earlier race. She looks a very decent female jockey. Long time leader and thrid home was Yuratini. This flashed me back to the first greyhound I owned that won open races back in the 1980s. His broodbitch line led straight basck to one of the very best Yuratini who was responsible for many including greats such as Yanka Boy.



Sophie Doyle (Pink) is just producing a rare run out of Drwanfromthepast



Sophie Doyle returns to wiegh in after winning the big race of the night in good driving style

Easiest winner of the night was first time outer Waseem Faris who won the P5 over the stayers distance of six furlongs tonight. Absolutely thrashed them. But then the them in mind are decidedly awful. Has previously proven troublesome to get in the cages but looked to have improved in that department. He is closely related to one of tonight’s runners up Baby Queen as well as some flash group sprinters. Difficult to assess as beat nothing and as winning distance so far I think he will be priced too short to make sense and on that basis I make him a negative.



Easy winner but is likley to be over-rated so is a surprising negative

We then had a fillies maiden over the sixish. This was won in good style by Sarangoo who has a very good record around here. Really powered clear and if returning to CD and if mark not too much higher than the current 60 I think she can pick up a handicap. The 5/4 favourite Cheherazad again looked a seven furlong filly and a shift back to that distance on the basis of this decent run should see some return.



The quitely fancied but ultimately thrashed Hollies does to post proably faster than the return leg

We closed off in very mediocre style with an S6 but one the grader will no doubt feel satisfied with. The distances of nk, 1.5l, .75l, 1l, hd, 1.75 but with the winner off 48 the quality just shines through. A review of the winner My Meteor shows that he entered the handicapping malarkey off 59 and after a series of pretty well woeful efforts was dropped to 48. Then followed a good second at bath in an A6, stepped up in trip here by under a furlong to S6 and in he came.

On an uninspiring night there was only one positive and one negative. Although in truth I doubt many winners will be thrown up by tonight’s entertainment

Horses noted

Waseem Faris (N) up £30
4 3 0
Finished last in all these runs and as a simple lay binned now

Sarangoo (P) down £20
4 3
Up 8lbs and really too much to should so binned

I made my way to the most easterly racecourse in my quest to get around all GB courses in a year. And what a night to be here. It’s ladies night and the feelings right; it’s ladies night OOHH what a night. If this record of racing in 2011 gets over the point that 'racing for change's' precondition that as many feature night as possible is the future then I would have done my job. As you roll up to the gates you know there is a possibility of yet another theme night with the odds being 6/4 Ladies 2/1 Irish craic night, 5/2 Family Funday 5/1 no theme and 10/1 Fancy dress theme. With ladies night goes the ubiquitous fashion and cosmetic marquee and a best dressed lady. To be fair the Norfolk birds scrubbed up well and fair play to them. A lot less orange flesh on view than the Aintree version and a lot less pretention than at the big festivals. I suppose I am a bit disingenuous here as they all seemed to be enjoying themselves; there was a decent sized crowd and a band on. But not Scissors Sisters like at Haydock, or Texas as at Epsom but Billy Lee. No I lie; the superb Billy Lee (quote courtesy of Glenn Tubby course General Manager. Who is Billy? He is a Tom Jones tribute. Some people like them so don’t knock it.

What is it about Norfolk and windfarms they seemed to be everywhere on the way to Yarmouth. The road to Yarmouth from Newmarket and most other directions end up at Norwich. Some may say that thankfully the city is then by-passed as you make for Great Yarmouth along the A47. Once in the town the racecourse lies just to the north and is well sign posted. It is close to the north beach area. The railway station is not too far from the racecourse and if you are reasonably fit and have the time you could consider walking it. The first problem I came across was having to pay £2 to park my car. This is a throwback to a bygone era and the first time I have had to pay to park a car at a racecourse in years. However on reflection this is to get some recompense from the freemans brigade as you can watch from comfort of your car at the furlong pole. The next shock was the prospect of paying £17 for a pretty ordinary card of seven races. The third problem was that the facilities were second rate. No decent food to be had, small cramped bar areas, only tea available with processed milk substitute. The facilities under one grandstand were shut. For £20 you get into the premium area but I decided against this. I cannot understand this differential as when you have a look around all you seem to get is access to a smarter stand behind the winning line which probably has better stuff to eat and drink. But all this makes it an expensive day with race card and entry you’ve done in £19. With food and drink you’re talking about nearly £40. Yarmouth is a complete throwback to a time where the paying customer was extorted of the maximum in pursuit of the minimum. In layout the Yarmouth track is a bit like Doncaster as many of its races run up the whole or part of a mile long straight. You see nothing much until about two furlongs out.  Luckily on my last visit, I could rely on the excellent Derek Thompson commentary, although his pronunciation of Connacht would have had any Mayoman shaking his head. Even the pompous sounding racecourse announcer got it horribly wrong. Derek called the western province con-natch, the announcer con- nowlt when we all know it’s said con-urt. Now looking back in the nineteen nineties there was little employment of massive TV screens to let spectators see what was happening and it was only at the big meetings that these appeared. But now even at modest tracks such as Folkestone for an ordinary hunter chase evening meeting you are very likely to find these facilities to help customers follow the action. At Yarmouth it was a trip down memory lane had by all as such there was no display to be seen when I visited in 2009 so hopefully the message got over as a screen was in position tonight. If only Harrison Fraser the marketing gurus appointed by the British Horseracing Authority had popped in to Yarmouth they would have seen the life breath of racing being choked out of it. But of course the high proportion of over 55s and the working class and the young families are not on the scanner when the industry’s string pullers are debating where racing’s future fortunes lie. A vision based purely on replacing Brian with Ben. The track itself is a long oval of about a mile and a half circumference. The bends are tight but because the straight is so long the track is a good gallop. However one point worth remembering is that there is a slight camber for the final furlong and this means it provides a good test of how well balanced a horse is and therefore can be a pointer to such as Epsom. The draw seemed to favour low numbers a little bit on the day. This statement is made despite the experts believing there is little bias. I think on reflection very high numbers are at a disadvantaged rather than low numbers being favoured. The track has a straight mile and this is one of the few tracks to boast such an option. Because of the sandy nature of the sub soil the going at Yarmouth is rarely anywhere near soft, rain doesn’t have a major effect during racing and a customary bracing wind assists the drying process. Because of the soil type it also rarely gets too firm. Tonight we had Goof to Firm and I am sure there was little firm in it based on a stroll around before racing.

Racing

The opening maiden stakes for two year olds over seven furlongs was probably the most interesting race of the day. It was won in fine style by the Mark Johnson trained Comical who pulled clear before the final furlong and won comfortably but was punched out to keep up to his work.  Sure to stay 1m2 at least with time and looks the sort to shoulder a penalty especially if stepping up to a mile. The runner up Croquembouche was also a positive on his debut. Looked green in preliminaries but stayed on very well without being a real threat. Will stay 1m4 and definitively needs to step up to a mile. The third home was the filly My Guardian Angel showed improved but still modest form whilst Bewilder having shown some early speed weakened to be fourth and may not see seven out at the moment. Of the rest Like Clockwork was coltish beforehand and never a factor, the Godalphin trained Grand Rapids was very green and ran as if inconvenienced by the going and may be suited to a cut.

The seller over seven was a nursery and was won easily by the filly Abercandy who did not attract and bid and none of the competitors were claimed. It was that sort of race. Ciaro Boo (who I have seen run at Thirsk and Redcar this season) ran with little enthusiasm and is best left well clear of. Queen of the Hop was favourite (who I had seen beaten in a Redcar seller by Ciara Boo) had every chance but failed to quicken finishing third. Aljosan was on toes beforehand looking good and showed improved form to finish second in handicap debut. Probably suited by trip but it was a poor event so easy to get a bit carried away.

The class 6 six furlong handicap was won by Captainrisk who had appeared a bit tetchy beforehand. He has come down from 73 to a 57 level so was reasonably in. Won by a comfortable length and clearly suits fast ground and six furlongs having been campaigned over seven or stiff sixes in past year. Clearly able to win off current mark in right conditions but likely to go up and if 64+ I would give him little chance. Second home was the old stager Steel City Boy who despite racing alone on the stand side saw out the trip at speed resolutely and comes out of this race as a positive. He is much better off carrying big weights in class 6 than bottom weights in class 4. So given the right class I think he will go close next run. A very consistent sort. Imjin River finished third today but was not really stoked up being eased down last half furlong when chance of winning had gone and will be better returning to all weather where his 70 OR is not too bad having won off 72. He is a stone better on sand than turf.

The class 5 sprint over the minimum trip was Danzoe completing a double for local trainer Christine Dumett, like his stablemate Captainrisk in the race beforehand was a bit buzzy in the parade. Held up but quickened well inside final furlong to pass four and win easily. Has won off 69 before so OR 62 was not too bad. However is a very tricky ride to get right as needs to be held up and produced with a burst. One to lay as needs too much to go his way and likely to be weighted out of it on reassessment. Runner up Whisky Junction looked in great nick beforehand and is currently on a 5 pound lower mark of 64 than tonight's rating and if taking advantage of this by racing at one of the entries particularly on 21st at Bath where he is a CD. He had visor for first time which may have helped a bit but a move to six furlongs will be to his advantage. Of the rest 13/8 favourite Bobbys Doll looked well beforehand but ran without much oomph racing as if something was amiss, Wreningham pulled hard and showed speed for 4 furlongs but could not quicken and I think he clearly needs a cut.

The class 6 handicap over nine furlongs was a  poor race won very easily by 6/4 favourite Dubawi Dancer who is now likely to be  given a fair old hike having won twice here off 45 and 52 so expect 60 plus and a stopper so on that basis I would have her as a negative. Sea The Storm was second and although right in the winners pocket they were clear of the field. Suits around a mile and if held on this mark of 52 could run well next effort. Invent ran better than of late but a distant third is hardly time to get too wild particularly as this was a moderate race which really only concerned the first two. Scarborough Lilly looked more eyecatching than is probably the case as was plodding through weakening animals to finish fourth, no chance in foreseeable and although there is a view that could be taken that she needs much further has been well beaten over 1m2 (although did not handle Lingfield’s bends on that occasion)

The class 4 handicap was over 1m2 and represented the feature race of the evening. It was won in very comfortable style by top weight Agent Archie. Bizarrely had come here off some modest efforts in the snow of St Moritz. Is racing off 80 and this was 2 pounds less than last handicap win so was well weighted. Sure to get a bit of an uplift off this run but has previously run up a sequence so if not harshly treated (ie less than 6lbs climb) is the sort to win again soon.  Favourite England Rules was not disgraced but probably not ideally suited to 1m2 favouring a mile I would say when finishing fifth. I would like to see him juvenile hurdling this winter as he looks just the sort to do well in that sphere. The Sir Michael Stoute trained Top Diktat ran no sort of race and was eased down when failing to spark when asked two out. Keeps being backed but looks very moderate and rates as a lay if favourite in the hope that will be shorter odds than he deserves.

The final race tonight was a 1m6 race at class 5 level. It was won by big outsider Royal Premier landing a 2500/1 treble for Seb Saunders, you know the former champion jockey! The leading pair were well clear and behind them they finished in a bedraggled and tired procession. As such it is only worth looking at these two. Royal Premier clearly stayed the trip well and kept on gamely. Blinkers first time may well have done the trick as had visor beforehand. He has had a long spell without kit after winning 33/1 in May last year on first time without. I think is just the sort that keeps needing a bit of a change to spark him up a bit. Native Colony was 9/4 favourite and top weighted three year old. Clearly stays this trip is on a good mark of 64 and given not too harshly reassessed I think he can go on and win next run representing a good positive.

English Holiday Resort

Great Yarmouth is first and foremost a seaside resort. It is stuck in close proximity to the Norfolk Broads. When you enter the town there are symbols all around telling the tale of the local economic reliance on the tourism industry. Holiday camps still exist. There are not too many seaside racecourses in Great Britain. Musselburgh, Brighton, Ayr and Redcar come to mind. Some are in tourist hot-spots such as Newton Abbott, Bath, Cartmel, and Stratford. This is strange as you would have though that as a major leisure activity a concentration of courses would have emerged in areas with specific leisure industry concentration. Perhaps the long term decline in holidays by the British seaside has been so great that there is little commercial reason to develop facilities there. However the vitality of the English tourist trade could be set for a major jolt. For decades it has been in steep recession. Brighton has rebranded itself as a savvy London dormitory town. Bath no longer relies on influx of culture vultures and has become one of the centres of our new fifth industry collectively called the knowledge based economy. So what of the others? The change in climate, the relative strength of European currency viz a viz Sterling and the shear hassle of air travel make for a period of opportunity which the tourist industry needs to cotton on to. Each resort needs to consider its branding, its offer, how this is communicated and who it perceives as its target market. Looking at Yarmouth I would say unless it spruces its image up it may quickly fall away. It isn’t the easiest place to get to but if the local airport improved its cover then it may be on a European map. Perhaps Yarmouth ought to consider the way Ryanair has helped open up new destinations as long as the process is economically attractive to them. How will the local racecourse benefit? Yarmouth Races is an attraction in the same way as a funfair, museum or zoo is. This is the opposition that Yarmouth Races competes against. If a family of four on holiday spends £100 before they have a bet, the facilities available to them are poor, they cannot see the racing action fully, some of the course is off limits, the whole event is unintelligible and its participants unknown  plus if it rains god help them do you think they are going to come back?


Horses Noted

Comical (P) down £10
0
Moderate next run but a 82 OR entering nurseries was too high so binned

Croquembouche (P) up £3.20
1 4/11
easy win but rated too high as a consequence for nurseries and was binned

Queen of the Hop (N)up £40
0 0 0 0
Hopeless and easy to lay as I don't think she is much good. I didn't lay her last run as 100/ a grand to pick up a tenner is mad

Steel City Boy (P) down £30
2 0 3
Handicap hardly moves and inch and backed out after three runs. Unlucky with the assessor as he is too consistent forr his own good

Danzoe (N) up £100
0 0 4 0 4 0 0 0 4 4
Hardly moved an inch in the handicap despite being well beaten. Has been an easy to lay runner and now binned as end of the season


Whisky Junction (P) down £30
0 2 3
Didn't run badly for the three runs I backed him in. Not quite up to it off this mark so I have shelved him


Dubawi Dancer (N) up £18
1 4/5 1 evens
Two great wins followed up the win at yarmouth. Was up over a stone on his mark today and was shelved. To be fair he has continued to improve even further but I got out when it was sensible I think.


Native Colony (P) up £9
1 11/10
Followed up with smooth victory in maiden handicap. However up half a stone and therefore binned


Marketing

The results of an in depth study by an expensive market research consultant called Harrison Fraser led to much anguished debate in the days leading up to this meeting at Yarmouth. A leading journalist identified that a prime stakeholder group had not been involved in the study. These were the over 55 year olds and those from working class demographics. The simple pleasure of trying to win one over the old enemy in the easily accessible money market that is horse-racing is well established. It has long been the working class equivalent of the financially well heeled’s stock market. One of the big problems in racing is the lack profile. In the pat jockeys such as Lester Piggot and horses such as Red Rum were well know to the general public. Nyjinski was the popular nickname of the only decent Manchester City player I ever saw, Colin Bell, on the basis that he never stopped running. In truth the personalities around racing have not been well publicised in recent years. Perhaps there isn’t the same pool as there used to be. I cannot understand why Haley Turner was not wheeled out as the front of a push on promoting the sport to women. Her century so soon after being joint apprentice of the year was remarkable. She is articulate and not unattractive but looks one of the girls as they say thus providing a role model for women. In fact the flat racing has seen several more than useful female jockeys and I have written about this in the Nottingham and Chepstow sections. To my eye a woman on a horse no longer constitutes a line through. So Haley has been a missed opportunity. Frankie Dettori is another marketable item and is probably the most charismatic in the game at the moment. At Yarmouth he showed his interaction with the public. Just getting back from winning the opener a girl with her camera phone asked him for a trademark flying dismount. Most jockeys would blank any comment whilst in the middle of post race debrief. But Frankie acknowledged the shout and spoke to the woman saying ‘His only a little baby and I wouldn’t want to frighten him.’ In truth this is what racing needs. It needs a bit of personal touch with the customer. This doesn’t mean complete dialogue but some kind of connection that the paying punter is part of the event. If they feel an empathy to the sport in terms of the participants then perhaps the perceived reason d’être of the sport of winning money could be replaced. The more people go to watch a sport where there is empathy the more repeat customers a sport will have. If attendance begins at £40 for the basics with winning enough to cover the day the measure of a successful day then the sport will generally have more unhappy than happy customers. They will be less likely to return and the law of diminishing returns kicks in.

Windfarms

I heard on the news that in actual fact the population density of windfarms in Norfolk is not the greatest in the United Kingdom. Much to my amazement other places are blighted even more. Poor old Glasgow comes top of this league with the biggest anywhere recently opened. The claim was that this could provide half of the city’s electricity requirements. When I see ‘could’ followed by a double take fact my marketing spin alert gene kicks in. To me ‘could’ means if we all tried hard and with just a little bit of luck the claim may just about be validated. It should mean that the claim given is within the scope of the product when used normally. I can move at over 100 miles per hour provided I don’t mind falling off a very steep cliff. If I bought a lottery ticket I could win millions provided the right numbers are called. Anyone could be educated to doctorate standard if they have the will, money and intelligence. So could is just a useless inspirational term which has no place in scientific or rational process of thought.



Stands at Yarmouth

When you do make the effort and travel to this most south westerly outpost of racing under rules remember that the direction signs must mave been erected by the ultra wing of the temperance society. The most likely destinations will be either a hell-hole of an industrial estate ar you will find yourself wandering around the aisles looking for the 50p offer on Lenor at the local Tesco emporium. 



The main Grandstand viewed from the first bend

This was my fourth visit to Newton Abbott. The first time was in 1989 around the Easter bank holiday.  Clearly the heavy ground would cut up on Saturday of my visit and the real money spinner was the bank holiday Monday fixture. I was amazed when the meeting was called off early that morning, sceptical as to why when having walked around part of the track it appeared very soft but not waterlogged. The cloud lifted from my naïve view when racing resumed a couple of days later. Newton Abbott must be twinned with Tralee as the going would have been described as decent jumping ground in Kerry as a mark of balance in the crazy world of going declaration. My third visit was in 2009 and then the  ground was described as soft when in fact to my eye it was on the fast side of good. The second time I visited Newton Abbott was to go greyhound racing in 1991, more of that later. The tricky nature of finding value today meant that in all four visits I have yet to have a bet here.

The trip down the M5 is pretty tame until you cross the River Avon just to the west of Bristol. The Avonmouth port has a huge area for stocking cars and vans. Generally when I pass you can it about half full. Today it looked absolutely chocker. A sure sign that the recession in the car industry is a long way from reaching bottom. From here you begin the journey into the South-West. The scenery is relaxing and the route to the track is along the A38 from Exeter towards Torquay. In fact you pass Devon and Exeter racecourse about eight miles away which is known as Haldon locally. Signposts to Newton Abbott direct you to then follow the A380. The track is to the south of the town and is near a small industrial estate. One description of the track as nestling between this trading area and the main London to Penzance high speed railway would conjure up a negative image. This is very unfair as the track lies in a small flat plain with the town of Newton Abbott and two villages guarding the track to the east, north and west on three hilltops. It is as a consequence in a very picturesque position best viewed from the back straight. There has not been much investment in the track since I was last here except for what looked like exstensive improvement in the dranage. Probably to ensure good to soft ground in the hight of summer! The stands are adequate and provide a decent view despite their age and cannot be described as dilapidated. The track is left handed and square in shape having tightish bends. It is perfectly flat and is a fairly easy test. The fences are nicely scoped and pretty easy to jump. The going today was good to firm and to be fair despite the decent very dry spell there was enough juice in it to prevent jarr and the good covering of grass maintained the watering for the meeting. Well done the groundstaff.

Entrance to the centre of the track allowing access to the silver ring with parking for a car was a pit pricey £14 which was £4 up on my last visit. The racecard was the by now average £2.50 but the information inside was moderate and I have seen better in the recent meetings attended. There was no large television which would have helped racegoers in the stand but as I was wandering around the infield didn’t provide much of a negative. I assume that the fact that the track is the most south-westerly in Great Britain acts as a disincentive to haul it all the way down. Still, no TV counts as a detraction on the day nonetheless.


In terms of food my 2009 visit was a real eyeopener. I can best describe it as  imagining the standard of catering at a transfer station for illegals where repeat trade is not part of the business plan and the customers are grateful for any morsel. Then think that the canteen was being run by BNP’s most hardened case. Compound the fact that the head chef is also employed by the rival trader and is hell-bent on destroying the business. That is what passed for food at Newton Abbott. The menu read like the famous spam sketch. The vegeburgers were ‘off’, the bacon rolls were off. I negotiated chips (10% technically raw) and a cup of coffee (10% residue reminiscent of early stage mudstone) for £3.20. Apart from that it was ok! The promise of food in the covered area in the Silver Ring did not materialise. Perhaps the free-marketeers are right when they claim that standards are highest where competition is fiercest. However I have visited a Warsaw Pact oil transfer station’s snap-bar north of Prague and I have to tell you it was a different league to most and would literally shame efforts experienced this afternoon in Devon. I was not happy then but I have to say things looked much improved today with a fair permanent cafe offering pasties and usual fare. Whilst there was a pork roll BBQ which was tasty at a bit on the expensive side £4. However at least it was decent quality.

I was very disappointed to learn that the old greyhound flapping track had been turned into an indoor bowling alley which is now what looks lke a leisure / fitness centre could winners. I went flapping here in the 1980s and in those days if you were licensed under the old NGRC you could have it removed if attending flapping or independent tracks. Of course most people in the game woudl go flapping and some trainers particularly in the north and west where the independents were strong raced under both rules to keep the books in order. Down here there in devon there were also tracks in the north at Bideford and also around the Exeter rugby ground. The best track for layout and condition was the Newtoon Abbott surface. On the day in question we went racing were noticed in the bar some friends who trained at Portsmouth who were originally from Cornwall. There was a bit af tension as we did not expect to see poeple from our track so far from home as you were never completely sure if the others would let the cat out the bag.



One time indoor bowls centre the old flapping track is a gym now unfortunately


When the firm I worked for merged with English China Clay in 1997 it opened up a new geographic arena for me. I had a brief experience in 1993 when a quarry in the middle of nowhere and known as Devon Quarry was assigned to me. It was called Devon Quarry as being the first major industrial lime burning in the region. Commercially it was a complete basket case, operationally it was deadly and technically we were on a hiding to nothing with the local engineers. The reason for it being a lime working was because it was so soft. Being so soft meant it was useless for building. The old pit floor was allowed to flood after a disaster around the time of the First World War and was probably cursed as a consequence. To make matters worse we were a mob of northerners and the Devonians seems to trust even cockneys more than northerners. We couldn’t make the quarry profitable and had to close it. When we warned of the likelihood there were prayers said in church beseeching the almighty to intercede as the anti-Christ, or at the very least his scouts, where present and active on the edge of Dartmoor. It was a bizarre experience. I remember being in the quarry weighbridge when a Yorkshire wagon driver popped in to ask for directions. He asked the foreman ‘ Do you know where Cheriton is please?’, the foreman said ‘Yes I do thanks’ thirty seconds break ‘Oh you want to know where it is then.’ We should have known this was going to be bother when we took over and found the Londoner in charge had booted out the local hunt from access despite it being local customer to allow the landed gentry to go just about anywhere they like. As the HSBC ad goes local knowledge is vital to conducting trade.


Horses of note today

I was negative about the winner of the opening mares novice hurdle over two miles six furlong Miss Tenacious. Although on the face of it she is open to improvement as a four year old I didn't think she was that fluent and was a bit dosey over the final two hurdles. I think her handicap mark will be elevated making anything other than novice events outside her scope and penalties will be hard to shoulder given this second win. On the other hand I thought the hurdling debutante Caravan Queen who finished trhird was very promising and am positive about her ability to win soon. She jumped well looking like she will be even better suited to fences. She plugged on at one pace possibly needing the run although could be better placed over three miles. Of the rest I thought Our Guardian Angel looked a genuine sort battling on for second place.



Caravan Queen on the way to post for her encouraging debut over hurdles

The first two home in the beginners chase over two and a half miles look above average. The winner was Vico who jumped nively and seemed to benefit from first time cheekpieces. I think he can step up to handicapping. The runner up Karasenir was in contention throughout and given that this was his first chase experience jumped reasonably well. Held every chance until overhauled approaching the home straight by a more accomplished and experienced rival. However has plenty of talent, has raced and done well in good quality hurdles being rated over 130 at one time, so if progresses even slightly on today's effort will not stay a novice for long.



Vico comes to join issue with Karasenir 5 out as the pair pull clear

There was a big field of seventeen for the class 5 handicap hurdle over two mile six. Of the runners. Safe Investment was heavily backed from 7/2 to 9/4 and won well on return to hurdles and with tongue strap reapplied. This did the trick. However I think he is likely to be handicapped out of contention and is a bit of negative.



Carahue Princess in light blue and yellow close up tracked by the yellow and black of Chapel House who eventually finished third

The class 3 handicap chase over three m,iles two furlongs was the feature race of the day and attracted a srong field with no less than three from the nearby Hobbs Minehead facility. They were rewarded with having the first two home. The winner was very well ridden by the amnatuer rider J A Best who has struck up a good partnership with Estates Recovery. leading early and jumping very well the six year old won with any amount in hand and should be respected. The second home was The Templer who has been noted positively before by The Blog. He is a thoroughly game and consistant sort who stays even further than this is given the chance. Not that badly handicapped and could well win even though on the face of it he is exposed as is a ten year old. Chiaro finished fourth and although far from fluent did run well and looks like he needs a touch shorter. Of the remainder keep an eye out for Troy Tempest  who I have as a positive. Held up and making a bit of progress before jockey realised the leader wasn't stopping and as such quite sensibly eased down to my eye. I think he will win soon as this was a much better run than the bare form figures show. Likewise Earth dream's run is best forgot as is a significantly better horse onsofter ground.




Second fence in and already the yellow and red of Estates Recovery is to the fore



Halfway and thereis clear daylight



Over the second last and clear Estates Recovery has the feature chase in the bag

The top hurdle was a class 4 handicap over two mile one and was won in good style by forntrunning top weight Dereks who hurdled tidily. Of the rest I was very encouraged by the run of second home Tamerillo Grove who I have a positive going forward. Was beginning to make some progress into the straight when the saddle appeared to slip and as such was eased down and coupled with a bit of overweight by the jockey I am sure he would have gone close today. As handicap mark has also dropped to 87 from91 there are plenty of positives to consider this a decent bet next run given no excessive reassessment by the handicapper as is not entered in the foreseeable future. American Art was well backed again but as with amny of his efforts over hurdles he was less than fluent and soon beaten. I think he will struggle to win in handicap company and his only hope from what I can see is if dropped even further to the seller / claimer territory. As such I ahve him down as a negative.



Rushwee who went on to finish third on his way to post



Halfway and Dereks has asserted going on from long time leader Halling Gal

The final chase was a fairly low key affair with the first time well clear of the remainder who looked useless to be honest. The winner was the aptly named given recent political chunterings in the press as Benefit Game who did enough but was not entirely fluent winning from a course specialist who looks a bit under the handicappers thumb at the moment Lord Lescribaa.



Milling around beforehand Lord Lescribaa is in the green and blue

Closing off maiden hurdle was won under a bit of driving but pretty easily by Sagredo who was made a strong odds on favourite mainly on the basis of the utter hopelessness of the opposition rather than any ember of real talent. Has been well exposed in the past and I would imagine the hadicapper will at elast raise him to his previous 115 mark for this run. This will be too much in my mind and I doubt very much that he has the ability to shoulder a penalty against other novices. Therefore and on the basis that will be short priced in the main he makes good lay territory and is a negative.

How did they do next three runs?

Miss Tanacious (N)
still not out again abd remains a begative


Caravan Queen (P)
0
Poor return but still a positive

Vico (P)
3
Fair run when a bit unlucky nect run. Continues as a positive


Karasenir (P) up £14
1 5/6  1 4/9
Nice double in novices. 130 OR too much for handicapping and as that is his likely route now I have binned him


Troy Tempest (P) down £10
F
Fatal fall I am afraid

Temerillo Grove (P) up £55
3 3 1 15/2
Was improving nicely and then slotted in but the handicap mark goes up 13lbs and I have binned him now

Art American (N) up £10
0
My summary was needed to drop to claimer / seller to have any chance and is a lay in higher grade. Layed next run but then sellers and had form figures of 21111. He then went up in grade and was beaten. I exited once he had begun his plating career... luckily


Sagredo (N)
0 0
Well beaten down to 7lbs off winning mark now but is still a lay

It might be a tortuous route through the not unattractive catheral city of Worcester to get there but the course has got a certain amount of charm making it a nice course to visit. The entry to the circuit facilities car park is across the track which makes this a decent venue to visit for the freemans brigade. To enter the county stand it cost me £15 which was OK and although not the most expensive was a touch higher than I had hoped. The racecard cost £3 and was pretty standard fare. The food on offer was good but a bit pricey to my mind. The limitations for the track squashed as it is by railway lines / viaduct, the River Severn and developments makes it a bit tucked up but they have worked well in the circumstances. I particularly like the view from the last which is at the point where the runners cross the course to get to the pre parade ring and where after the race they are washed down. Ideal vantage point. The setting is very nice with the cathedral spire and other historic building providing a backdrop as you look down the course from the last towards the winning line.

The River Severn dominates the track and there have been plenty of Sporting Life / Racing Post photos in the past showing rowers heading up the home striagtt passing the furlong pole when the river has flooded the track from time to time. I am sure the proximmity of the river does help to keep a decent water table level and with a good covering of grass today we had good to firm ground although officially Good. The tow path along the river is smack bang benind the stands. A decked bar with river views has been constructed and is a pleasent place to have a beer. All adds to the ambiance. In fact the washing off area is right by the river itself.

Brush hurdles were used here today. I was not aware that this was the case and none of the races either in the racecard or in the racing press indicated that this was the case. I think this information should be included. I have not made my mind up as to whether hurdlers' form alters from one type of obstacle to another and I have not seen any views expressed on this to date. There where one or two runners today who did not seem to run as well as their form of recent runs would indicate particularly those who were less than fluent today having shown more than satisfactory technique in the past.

Sponsors tent positioning was a bit of a gripe for me. I know the only other option would have been stick it in the middle and then have some special path over the course to enable guests to get to the paddock etc but to plonk it right by the paddock and making life difficult for other racegoers to get to various vantage points was not great. Still as the PA stated the sponsors Suckling Transport are big supporters of the game in general and Worcester in particular. To the degree that accomodation needed to be secured.

I have only been to Worcester twice before. On both occassions well back in the late seventies and early eighties. On the most recent time I was lucky enough to see a real battle horse in his prime. Not many peple will be familiar with Grey Dolphin as he was a moderate chaser. But in these days where top chasers often run three times a year it is worth remembering one who improved and then held his form over several months of intense competitions. Grey Dolphin ended the season with form figures of 312331111121140131023020. This was as a 9 year old chaser and he found improvement from somewhere. In his three previous seasons he had produced only two wins from 25 starts and looked little more than a selling plater. However in the season in mind he gained three wins at Worcester, three wins at Ludlow, two wins at Exeter twice winning races on consequetive days jumping well and making all including beating the high class chaser who was to be Grand National runner up in his time The Tsaravich. He was expertly handled by JM Bradley. Also of note is the perception of Timeform in those days. This improving chaser was rated well clear of the field and with a commentary which compelled you to back him. Great days.



Grey Dolphin in full flight




Timeform provided superb work in the 1980s which I am sure they are still living off today



The main stand at Worcester is hardly imposing


View from the last hurdle which is the best place to see what's going on



Washing off by the River Severn

First race  looked plenty less than encouraging as a two and a half mile class 4 conditional jockeys handicap, but it ended in success for a big 25/1 outsider Mr Valentino who was the subject of an enquiry on the basis of his previous two lacklustre runs with trainer offering the explanation that he could not explain the sudden improvement. However if the authorities could not believe his victory then you have to ask yourself what right did the handicapper have in alloting 106 as a starting point after three hurdle efforts which was all of 16 pound higher than today's weight. So on that basis he was not badly treated and although ran a bit in and out did stay on well to prevail by a length and a half. I doubt this radce was up to much and would be surprised if he managed to prevail after reassessment.Second home was Googoobarbajaagel or something like that and should be the subject of an enquiry himself on the basis of an assault on the aesthetic of racing names. Still a novice and on the basis of his name I am confident it will remain so unless winning a three mile plus seller where with hope the procurer will do the decent thing and change its name. Third home Bon Spiel (Good Game in duetchais probably) was subject of a bit of money held the lead when blundering at the last and one paced from there. Ex italian who had a bit of success on the flat there and is apparently much better on the flat in GB than he has so far shown over hurdles. If he could just get his hurdling sorted would be on a great mark so could easily be the sort to run up a sequence if or when that happens. However based on today I remain less than confident that this is likely to ahppen any time soon. Fourth home was the not very srtong 9/2 favourite Dashing Doc. This was most likley on the back of recent Newton Abbott win and a seven pound hike. I think the handicapper may have just about got his measure.

The three mile novice hurdle was won in emphatic style by well backed 2/1 favourite Teenage Kicks. Always prominent and led coming into the staight he soon put this lot to bed being eased right down over the last. Has been in great form this summer winning three from four with also a third place when a little unlucky. Looks to have a bit in hand of the handicapper if trainer decides to move on from novices. Currently OR 120 and if still around that is worth another look. Was impressive today. Second was Pliny who is flattered by proxinity to the winner and the fact that the second home was eased in the straight. Probably needs a cut and although last run over fences was far from great I still think he is better chasing than hurdling. Ely Brown looked to hold a fair chance four out but was struggling under pressure when an error three out was followed by an awkward landing knocking the stuffing out of him at the next led to him  being eased down. It is worth remembering that he still finished third and only a length or so behind the hard ridden runner up. Has struggled on both runs with a penalty and based on the rating of the winner his current OR 114 looks too high if aiming at handicaps, Free World is an interesting one. Has shown good form over fences and OR has come down to 118 which is close to his 115 winning level. Reverted to hurdles, possibly to get a bit of confidence. Does look much more a chaser than hurdler and was a little less than fluent but did run with plenty of credit in a reasonable field of novices. As such I think he can win at an easier fencing circuit than his last race at Sandown, thought to prefer right haded and as such a return to three miles at Leicester looks on the cards. I am quite confident about this ones prospects in the short term. Of the remainder the most notable was the 5/1  Akbabend who having been prominent failed to finish in the same parish as Teenage Kicks. Held every chance until weakening entering the straight. Has won over 2m6 and return to that sort of trip would make sense.



Free World coming back towards the winners' enclosure is one I thnk is well treated over feces next run

The two mile class 5 handicap chase was marred by a broken bone in the off hind of Battlefield Bob sustained before meeting the third flight. It looks career threatening which is a body blow to connections who withdrew their other runner later in the meeting. The race was won in an absolute canter by Naxox jumping very well and ridden well by seven pound claimer Adam Wedge. Suits flat tracks and has not been able to battle up hills before now. Sure to be clobbered for this and in fact everything went his way today and as such may struggle to follow up. The Grey One comes out of this with credit. Held up was cayght flat footed when Naxox went for home and although The Grey One was making progress late on once the bird had flown. Very inexperienced chaser as this was only his third effort, has a tendancy to jump to the right so maybe a run right handed plus some clobber to keep him focused and it is interesting that all five wins on the flat came with peices on. I have him down as a positive in novice handicaps as his jumping is pretty clesn for relative beginner. Watch this one I thnk he has a bit of potential. Manjam ridden by Richard Johnson finished third home. Was making ground when a bad error three out and came home in his own pace. This was his chase debut and although encouraging I think he would be much better off reverting to hurdles. Big outsider Grand Fella a 33/1 shot ran better than expected and after being held up was making progress when clobbered two out but plugged on gamely to be fourth. Did win a hurdle in heavy ground in Ireland and perhaps he needs mud to win again. One with ability off this mark in this class when going suits. The only other horse worthy of discussion based on this run was 4/1 co favourite Sumner who has had a great summer to date but his OR entry of 82 has now gone up to 95 which is just too much based on today's race. The other co favourite was Baron Whatlass who was comprehensively beaten. Has ability but I am not convinced is a chaser and is better off hurdling even if mark not that attractive.



The Grey One approaches the third on the way to an encuraging runners up position

The two mile selling hurdle was won in comfortable but workmanlike style by the mare Denton Ryal who has been in very good form this summer in sellers, a sphere which she was also successful in on the flat. Is not brilliantly handocapped but in claimer / sellers on fastish ground she appears to be well suited. This was also two out of two at Worcester for her. The runner up was Belle de Fontenay who had run not that well when I saw her run at Market Rasen last time out a couple of weeks ago. This time she attempted to make most giving best to a well in opponent before the last. She made a bit of a hash at the last but was well held. This was a better run and her form suggests she may be better served by further having run well at Fontwell over 19 furlongs. However I would say even on the new 97 mark she is not brilliantly handicapped so a seller / claimer remains best hope. The third home was the badly handicapped Mutab who stayed on OK but was never really a danger.



Belle de Fontenay leads the way early in the seller



Washing off Flying Snow after the seller



Denton Ryal is led back to the transporter having bought in for seven and half thousand guineas after landing the seller

The main race of the day was a mile four handicap hurdle class 3. This was won in good style by Kings Forest who was held up just off the pace. Has been tumbling down the weights and shown little in handicaps although had won well in novice company. On the face of it he is suited by around two and a half miles and form shown around tight tracks particularly right handers . The runner up Crystal Rock looked all over the winner approaching the last but skewed a bit, hung a fair amount and didn't look all that genuine. His recent form has been 3223232 and has gone up from 114 to 129. I would say he will find winning hard off the current mark and his less than resolute style marks him as a negative as he is likley to go off at odds much shorter than his chance really represents. Ex Irish maiden hurdle winner Schumpters Lad was tapped for toe and finished second looks a bit high in the weights as 115 which is a fair way from the 106 rating he had before coming over. Not disgraced but looks to need to come down note that this trip is about right for him. Biggest disappointment of the race was hot even money favourite Suburban Bay who having been held up and beginning to make progress made a right hash of the third last and was less than fluent after being eased down to finish fourth. I would not rule him out off this 120 mark and it could well be that these fixed brush hurdles do not suit. It is not possible to see if prevous runs have been over conventional obstacles and as I have remarked earlier perhaps they should be noted in the formbook so to speak. I am not sure if some hurdlers do not fancy them as much but it could well be and on that basis I would give him another chance. He is a smart looker and had solid form with wins at Uttoxeter and Southwell, suited by this trip and appears to act on any going.



Crystal Rock leads the chasing pack behind early frontrunner Cracbaumwiz in the afternoon's main event



Hot favourite Suburban Bay ran a disappointing fourth



Yet another second place for top weight Crystal Rock seen here being led into the runner up zone



In the two mile seven class four handicap chase appeared quite competitive. The winner Kiama was a very easy victor being seen held up travelling well until produced entering the straight, not entirely fluent at the third last but that did not stop her momentum as she jumped clear. Useful in points and on the downward trajectory in the weights from 110 down to today's 90, best on fastish ground and has not been at best when meeting a cut, stays three miles and given simlar weight and underfoot conditions could shoulder a penalty successfully. However I was most struck by a great return to the track after nine months off by House of Bourbon who jumped very well throughout and just lacked a bit of toe against a very well treated mare. Form suggests needs fastish ground but Rainbow Quest influence would say might need a cut. Stays three miles well and is on 104 OR a useful chase mark. He looked well in the paddock and I have him down as a positive after this effort. Third home was big outsider Chase Gate who ran with some promise. Step up from two mile four may have been beneficial, was on his toes beforehand. Difficult to know what to make of it to be honest. Of the remainder Bondai looked badly in need of the run as 438 days off would have indicated so fourth home wasn't too bad. French form suggests might be seen to better effect with a cut and isn't on a bad mark. The Aussie bred Horseshoe Reef was trying to make most but weakened into the straight has been successful with cut and over two mile four off 104 so maybe a return to those conditions once mark comes down a bit is the plan. Morestead looked in need of run after six months off and chased leader until weakened 4 out. Also needs a shorter trip. Heezagrey who is a three mile hold up horse was given no chance today being too far off the pace to launch a creditable challenge. Up a fair amount since recent CD win and probably needs to come down below 80 to be wanted. That may be a long wait. the 5/1 favourite was Youngstown who was soon out of sight. Clearly a plater.



Over an early fence in the two mile seven handicap chase




Kiama skips clear over the last in the sponsored handicap chase

The bumper was run at a good pace which is not always the case for these type of races. It was won by debutant Rysbrack who looked fit in the paddock. Stayed on well under pressure if a little green. Has a decent pedigree and will likely prove best at a trip of 2m4 when he jumps hurdles. Looks type to progress well over sticks but 2 mile bumpers with a penalty may prove too much. Second home was even more for the future as Barton Stacy looks all over a chaser and has been successful in points. Won on debut over CD and was then bought for good money to race out of Martin Pipe's yard. Came out and ran very well again under a penalty to be close runner up. This is one to follow as I am sure they will novcie chase this six year old. Rachael green retained the ride and she looks a more than useful lady jockey. I was also struck by how another ex pointer (Irish this time winning twice)Lough Derg Way performed, leading for much and just failing to outstay two horses with plenty of stamina in the pedigree. These three were clear of the remainder and of the debutantes only Rocky Raccoon (who looked well but ran a bit green to finish fifth and is very well connected including top bumper stayong hurler Rhinestone Cowboy)and Lily Le braz (bred to be mile and halfer on the flat and is nicely bred being Monjeur with dam line to a Vermille winner so don't underate this encouraging effort got warm beforehand and was understandably a little green).



Bumpers settle down with a circuit to go



Heading home inside the final furlong Rysbrack (red and green) beats Barton Stacy (red white and black)

Horses of note today

Free World (P) up £60
1 7/1 2
Good win over fences next run but then ratcheted right up. Was still on a fair mark over hurdles when second. The new mark was too much for me to cover and he is binned

The Grey One (P) down £35
3 F 2 2 2 2 1 7/2
I stuck with this apparent dodge pot as I thought there was a win in him. He had four consequetive runners up positions until struck gold at last. Whacked up the handicap as a consequence and I have binned him as such


Crystal Rock (N)level
Not seen out since


Suburban Bay (P) down £10
0
Every chance next run when mistake and stumble knowcked the stuffing out of win. I still have him as a positive

House of Bourbon (P) down £30
3 3 0
Jumping has gone to pot a bit and even though down half a stone now doesn't mark him down as a positive any more which could be a mistake but there you go

Barton Stacy (P)
3 2
Good run on hurdling debut when a scond as probably should have won bar the error. One to keep positive about as can win a maiden / novice

Do you wake up at three in the morning wondering what happened to that tall slightly creepy effete northern geek, the corkscrew haired shouty screamy leather trouser wearing one and the lets be frank very fat black usherette bloke all from X factor? Well they were all featured on a poster at Market Rasen and I can only assume they will be manning the turnstilles at lady's day later in the summer. Luckily I did not see them today when half of Cromer had stumbled on the races. Quite what trade will be garnered by various 'logistic and forwarding experts', '125 years of stephadore services and warehousing expertise', 'providors of stewardship solutions for the cargo world' or ' award winning tug services and salvaging advice' can be sought from this happy throng of basically septegenerians is anybodies guess. My wife has long believed that inappropriate / obscure sponsorship of sporting events is just a good way of having a day out with your mates at a favoured event where the pretext of doing business is a mere sham. And so today's list of unlikely sponsors huddled around the British Ports Authority's petticoats is right up there as Exhibit B.



Lincolnshire at leisure

But who wouldn't want a nice day's summer jump racing at the track which probably does it better than most. I do like the announcer here he puts a phenomenal amount of effort into this and is the total professional. I think he does Southwell and Nottingham as well.

The card opened up with a selling hurdle over 2 mile and one. The hot favourite Hucking Hero was an uneasy in the market having sweated up a bit. Raced a bit too freely and was picked up before the last and seemed to tire badly. He will have to settle much better to stay even the minimum trip and I think he remains a negative despite having the ability to win a similar event. This was not a good seller but Red Skipper did not have to be fully extended to win today. Pulls a bit and not entirely fluent he did settle better than most which enabled him to challenge hard held and only had to be loosened to win by an easy ten lengths. This was his first hurdle win but not before time having run reasonably well in prevoous efforts. Third home and outsider Pobs Trophy ran creditably bespite sweating up a little beforehand, this is his sphere but is better suited to sharp tracks like Plumpton. Is on form at the moment. Belle de Fontenay was a well fancied mare in this race but did not produce her form being pretty well taken off her feet by a fast gallop despite looking fit and well beforehand. Probaby better on softer ground. The front running Mutajaaser was edgy in the parade, jumped with a lack of fluency and pulled too hard for his own good. Thetasteofparadise lost its race early on when her saddle slipped and had to be pulled up.



The seller is led by the hard pulling Mutajaase who could only finish third

A varied card then moved on to an early juvenille hurdle over seventeen furlongs. It was a good close race where the Alan King trained just prevailed. He looked a bit backward in the paddock despite having had a couple of flat runs since a break since the autumn. Rated 70 on the flat without much promise, hurdled reasonably well after an early blunder. The runner up Royal Bonsai looked in good condition in the paddock but really didn't have any luck at all today. Made an error two out when making a move, once balanced again was then short of room and once an opportunity emerged had not enough time to assert. This was a very encouraging run and must hold a good chance of winning next time out. Will probably be suited to further with time. Third home Reach Out showed more fluency than on debut but was held by two promising youngsters. He will continue to find winning hard as better three year olds begin running although looked a touch backward and will benefit from the run. Previous winner Market Maker was not good enough to carry his penalty but probably improved on his debut win. He held every chance until the pace quickened approaching two out and his fluency went. Arizona High was 3/1 favourite who was fancied to turn form around on Market Maker with the weights in his favour. However ran prominently until error around halfway and was quicky outpaced. You would say he will probably have to drop to sellers in due course. Fine Style was also fancied on the back of at least having won on the flat and had a third on hurdling debut. In a similar way that his unseating wasn't a big shock last run, successive mistakes signaled no chance today when short lived effort pettered out three out. Basilica looked backward in the paddock showed for a bit but was soon out with the washing. Go went at the first. Jellyvator was edgy beforehand and despite being prominent early was soon beaten.




Winner Red Mercury returns to the winner's enclosure



Good run by Royal Bonsai who is worth keeping the right side of


The two mile four novice chase culminated in a three way battle from the last. The winner was favourite Point of View whose success was really based on a sound display of jumping for a novice plus looked in very fit condition as his recent intensive campaign would have signalled beforehand. Was being caught close home so if his chief competitors had jumped better the result would have been different. But they didn't and that is obvioulsy of major importance for novice chases. Can he kee winning? I think a move to handicapping would be worthwhile, is a btter chaser than hurdler and on that basis an OR of 130 or lower would be favourable. Pyrancantha was not that fluent and did make at least one serious error, lacks pace. Third home was unlucky loser Sunsetten (bit edgy in the preliminaries to my eye) who looked all over the winner approching the last when slipped and nearly unseated jockey wholost his irons. Despite not being hard ridden on run in was only six lengths of the winner. I know he has had three thirds in his efforts in novice chases, but this was an improved effort and I think he can pick up a novice especially over these easyish fences. Exiles Return failed to jump with fluency. Home She Goes looked well but was beaten by better chasers and may benefit by restricting efforts to mares only novice affairs.



Pyracanta leads the way but could only finish runner up


Big race of the afternoon was a class 3 handicap chase over two mile seven. This was won by the prolific Ostland who was completing a hatrick comleted in five weeks. As can be expected looked fit and well beforehand. Is still very novicey making a lot of errors and edging right under hard driving from the last to just hold on. Is talented but is likely to go up a fair bit on todays 128. If he met Rockiteer again I would favour the later. He was unlucky as was squeezed for room on the run in as the winner drifted and I think it may well have affected the result. He has won here recently staying on over 2m4 and with the summer plate coming up soon I make him a decent bet off this mark to be successful. Kirkhammerton stayed on in eyecatching manner without getting a hard time of it to be third. Worth a go over 3 mile plus and is on a good mark. The trip noted is despite both wins to date being over 2m2. Of additional note are the facts that jockey Danny Cook weighed in two pound heavier and got a serious level of suspension and that he still doesn't look fully wound up yet. This further underpins the fact that his mark at present looks one to win off. No Panic was fancied in the market but exagerated waiting tactics didn't put him in with much of a shot today although did finish fourth. The moody Nostringsattached was never in with any chance and was pulled up before the straight. Chorizo was well backed today and was leading or prominent for much until faded when pace quickened about three out. He is quite exposed in the market and having to take on class 3 rather than class 4 opponents is quite a step which he is just not up to on the basis of this run. Saphir des Bois jumped well but was backward in condition and is sure to benefit from today's run.



Eventual winner Osland in the pre parade ring


A two mile one furlong novices' handicap hurdle was next up. This was a closely fought race which suggests that it was tightly handicapped. The winner Silver Lady was held up and produced two out running on to just prevail by half a length looking a tricky ride but was coaxed home by a useful seven pound lady claimer Carey Williamson who has ridden her to the three from last four rides which is very impressive. Has only gone up five pounds and must be due a large increase now. Suits fastish ground and a hold up tactics. Has done little wrong but I think her run is due to come to the buffers with a reassessment. Executive Hall was coming here with a big slug of weight and had also been on a hot chain of novice and handicapping events. Ran as well as could be expected just couldn't hold on against a nicely handicapped and in form challenger. This makes the effort of the third home Lombok all the more commendable. He was held up off the pace, came into the race entering the straight and looked all over the winner at the last but failed to quicken. This was a very encouraging effort, attracted a lot of market support and I would say wuld suit a tight track so a similar event at Plumpton for example where the trainer has the odd winner would be a claxon to break into the bank. Solway Blue ran with credit appearing to suit a longer trip as stayed on fine. Has run with credit before at Perth and has not always looked like a longer trip has suited. Remains a bit of an enigma. Golden Dream attracted support and started as 9/2. Was in with a chance 2 out but was weakening when bumped on run in. Had a bit of a rough race but could not claim to be particularly unlucky. Still not likley to lose maiden tag based on today.  Waldo Winchester ran ok but was pulled up lame. Galileo Figaro was backed a bit today, pulled a bit and his sketchy jumping led to the partnership being broken by the second flight.



Lombok in pink parading



Moore gets off Lombok after blowing up when cruising. Can win soon

Two mile seven novice handicap chase looked a bit trappy. It was won by Mumtani (who looked well in the paddock)with a fine jumping run coming from behind and the length and a half winning distance was on the comfortable side. Jumping is his main attribute, but that could not be said for the fairly short favourite Bob Will. He was very far from convincing in his jumping despiite looking on a very useful handicap mark. On the face of a series of seconds and one win you would think another win is close at hand, however I believe that he will continue to be short priced, that unless his jumping takes a radical improvement he is always open to an improver so I think he is a lay for the foreseeable. Third home Walls Way ran with much credit on his chase debut running as if a drop in trip would be useful Has a bit of form over two miles four and has the ability to pick up a similar event off current mark. Second favourite Gunner Rose who looked to need the run today and appears to be on a fair mark but is nowhere near fluent enough to win yet and did not seem at ease over fences just yet. In the circumstances ran reasonably well. Kilshannig looked fit but shape doesn't look a typical chaser to me. Mistakes soon put paid to his chances and is best avoided over the fences. Hardwick Wood was making a bit of progress when a mistake knocked the stuffing out off him. Looked well and his style and form suggests best at quirky tracks such as Fontwell.



A two mile one furlong bumper was a very exciting close three way photo. This gives the impression that the race deteriorated into the classic muddling paced race prevaillent in these types of events. But this was a well run affair at a fair pace. It was won by the well fancied 4/1 shot Must You Go (he looked a little backward in the paddock)  who came with a rare rattle from 2 out to just get up on the line. He is closely related to champion bumper winner Cork All Star. Not to be underestimated as thoroughly genuine. Bellapais Abbey also showed resolution and looked to have got up halfway up the final furlong only to be nutted. Again is a well bred National Hunt family so it looks a very fair bumper. Third home behind these two debutants was the McCoy ridden Leath Acra Mor (looked particularly well beforehand) who had been gradually improving in bumpers and looked a lve contender. Held vevery chance staying on well to go down by two heads so whilst more exposed than the first two home is still improving. 3/1 favourite Bookemdano, who appears weak in comparison to most of the field today, had looked a difficult ride based on his bumpers in Ireland and looks one to avoid like the plague as appeared highly ungenuine when holding a winning lead 2 out going down tamely behind three moderate but gutsy opponents.  He almost got beaten for fourth as Bollin Tahini showed stamina going home. He was well clear of the remainder and looks like a stiffer trip might help aas was doing his best work coming home. Rhinestone Rebel had shown promise on his debut when second here ran green and was edgy in the preliminaries.


Horses Noted

Hucking Hero (N)up £10
2
Strong in the market next time in Uttoxeter seller at 6/4 held up but again looked like was inlikely to stay. Still a negative

Royal Bonsai (P) up £267
1 13/8 1 10/1 1 16/1
Has been running well on flat to keep fresh and his two hurdle victories have been very good indeed and even off 130 I expect even more especially if tried over further. Worth taking on the  top juveniles and is entered in a grade 2 at Donny at the weekend. Best on flat tracks by the looks of it. Went on to win a listed juvenile nect run at big odds. Still a positive

Rockiteer (P) up £50
3 3 1 7/1
Has been racing well since I maked him down as a positive and after a couple of decent staying on thirds and down 3lbs to 117 he popped in when pushed up in trip to three miles. Up 7lbs now so will be laft


Kirkhammerton (P) down £30
0 F 0
been a disappointment and binned

Lombok (P) up £25
0 3 1 7/2
Left alone over too far over 2m3 when returnin. Kept up improvement shown in 17f race when running next over similar trip at the unsuitably tough Towcester. Kept ticking over on the level and then won well at Plumpton. I had said break the bank in similar at Plumpton and that's what I did. Up 6lbs and shelved

Bob Will (N) up £40
4 0 0 3
Not shown much really and even after four more runs still hits ffences and gets knocked out of his stride. I will give him a rest now


Bookemdano (N) down £42.50
1 2/1 1 9/4
Won next bumper easily. I then took a chance inlaying him on hurdle debut and to be fair he looked a decent novice and was a risk to lay so was binned.

You cannot ignor the connection between racing and out of luck musicians these days. The tidal wave of desperate eighties has been trying to pick up a gig on the back of a summer's drinking and racing has swamped almost everywhere including the advertised 'raw instincts' of Tony Hadley which presumably means desperate for some easy mortgage money. To be fair to Warwick at least we have the chance to see someone young enough to gaze mystyfied by the term Yuppie. As their main event is that long haired leggy kid who sings that catchy song about kitbags (I know rock and roll) which was  mixed to such dramatic effect with a second world war marching song on one of the talent shows recently. If only Warwick could move fifty yards across and nick something of the Golf Course as the facilities are a bit cramped really. However they have made the most of what they have and it is not a bad course at all. The lure of a midweek listed race for three year old fillies was enough to convince me to get along today.



View of the stands from a hill in the centre of the golf course

The opening seven furlong maiden stakes was dominated by the three year olds. The winner Sea Soldier made almost all and won seeing the trip out well. Has been improving slowly but on a OR of 78 he seems set to get a stiff mark which is likely to rise quite a bit which will make handicap winning very difficult. He is though open to improvement as still looked a touch backward today. The runner up was the long odds on and edgy  Kawssaj who was not well drawn given that they raced stands side. Was a bit one paced and could not quicken enough to lay a blow. I would like to see him have another go at a mile as pedigree suggests this is his best trip. Can still land a maiden and two seconds does not indicate a lack of resoluton. Third home and well beaten was Minety Lass who was completely disregarded by the market and on her toes beforehand but led for a part and stayed on at one pace to run her best race to date. Logans Legend was a bit disaapointing being a well beaten fourth. An expensive purchase but looks pretty one paced and off OR70 will find handicapping a struggle based on this run. Wordiness looked well and had a promising fifth for his debut. A poor draw put paod to his chances today.



Sea Soldier wins the first

The class five sprint handicap over the minimum trip was won in very comfortable style by Albany Rose who had won at Bath over six the night before. This showed her adaptability. I was quite impressed with the manner of the victory and it will be interesting how she is re-assessed given this penalty based OR65 run. She came trough strongly on the favoured stands rail to challenge inside the final furlong and quickly assert. The genuine and good benchmark Whitecrest was a well held second off OR 68 with the pair clear. She remains a maiden but not many are won by exposed sorts off her sort of mark. Of the others Johnny Handcox is now off a good mark, gives every impression will be suited by a sharp five such as Catterick and ran well today in a similar fashion to how he ran when I saw him at Nottingham last month. Re-assessed at OR 61 and can win off that at the right track. The fancied Hootys Agogo was a great dissapointment although appeared to be slightly hampered two out. Whilst might have finished nearer I would say had no chance of winning this. I thought today offered a great chance and on the basis of this needs a drop in class.



The hard working Albany Rose wins again within 24 hours of run previous evening at Bath

Another handicap sprint followed this time over six for class 4. It was won by the punter outsider Serenas Pride who won this quite cosily by a head. She had been running with credit as a juvenille in group races including at Royal Ascot. This led to a very high mark which has taken a klong time to come down. She now has a good mark of OR73. Well suited by six or seven she is likely to go close again off a similar mark. Stevie Gee fought hard and just went down. Was favoured by the draw and a bit unlucky to meet one on such a good mark. He is though better siuted by a stiffer track eg Carlisle. Third home was Tyflos who held every chance entering the final two furlongs but did not have the pace. Silver Wind ran with credit but although suited by six looks a bit too high in the weights at the moment. Of particular note is the badly drawn Picabo who was favourite. Never in with a shout and not given a hard race has won on fastish ground over six, is a hold up horse and probably a will win when wanted type.



Cantering down for the third


Tyflos leads the way into the enclosure after finishing third

Big race of the day was the Eternal stakes for three year old fillies over seven furlongs. It was won in very impressive style by Khor Sheed. Won good races as a two year old including listed event. Ran well in similar when second at Nottingham last run, acts well at Newmarket and looks capable of stepping up to group company. Manner of win suggests she can stay a mile (pedigree supports step up in trip)  if held up in similar fashion to today's effort. Sweetie Time may have been well beaten but  she did run with credit staying on well after being prominent throughout to just get up for second. Had beaten Khor Sheen on soft ground and it could be that she may well be seen to better effect with a bit of cut. She is useful and may yet win condition / listed although I think a mile will suit well. Masaya again was outpaced when holding every chance two out in a listed event and I would say she is not at this level. Biggest disappointment was the well regarded Eucharist who was held up towards the rear. Made some ground approaching two out, failed to qicken into a challenging position and was eased down final furlong. However I doubt she is listed level based on this run and her other efforts. Masaya ran a fair race again to be thrid. She is a genuine filly but not up to listed company and probably exposed thus on a high end handicap mark. Carrignavar was outpaced final couple of furlongs and probably does not stay seven in this class. Sadafiya looked fit and well.




Khor Sheed kicks on for a comprehensive classy win

The second division of the seven furlongs maiden stakes was a higher class even won in good style by Above Standard. He ran a bit green but quickened nicely two out and outpaced this lot to win by a  very comfortable two lengths. I saw him run with credit on his racecourse debut when fifth in the prestigious Wood Dittton stakes at the craven meeting where he was also very inexperienced. Clearly well regarded, is sure to come on for this win and can make listed class probably over this seven but pedigree suggests a mile. The second home was the eyecatching staying on second without getting anything like a hard time. Brick Dust looked a nice sort in the paddock and whilst not up to the winner in terms of class must hold great chance of losing maiden tag soon. Running style may suggest further, I think seven suits just right and ridden closer to the front will give every chance of winning next run. I am particularly keen on his chances of winning and I thnk in time will be interestig in NH field. Third home Thuda was outpaced from the turn into the srfaight and although ran OK looks a sprinter and so slip back to six may prove best.Perfect Mission was the 9/4 second favourite and showed lack of pace.



Useful Above Standard wins in a canter

There was a three year old handicap set at class 5 over 1 mile 3f. Itwas a fairly trappy contest but had a real hard luck stody when 100/30 favourite Amistress encoountered all sorts of travel problems, eventually got a vlear run was flying coming home to fail by a short head. Very unlucky. Goes well at Nottingham and for Cathy Gannon, has been in great form this season. The winner was Fallon ridden Ugo who benefited from the favourite's problems.Looks a tricky ride as although has a turn of foot his effort is short lived so timing is everythng.



Pulling up after the race

Final race was a modest apprentice race over a mile. It was won quite comfortably by Qeethaan who had run badly since coming over from Ireland in May and hadn't won since 2008. Nothing much of note from this race I would say.

Noted Horses

Kawssaj (P) level

Needs a mile. Won his next race but that was over seven so not backed. Not tried over a mile last season and now shelved

Khor Sheed (P) up £7
1 7/10
Group horse over a mile. Tride next over seven so left followed that by winng a mile group 3. No further runs

Above Standard (P)level
Best suited by a mile. But never tried over this trip as stuck to seven with no success. As such was not a betting medium

Brick Dust (P)down £30
0 4 0
looks to suit seven and could be a NH in time. However ws a big disappointment being well beaten and then shelved

'Let's groove tonight let's taste the spice of life', yes they are back to the mating game courtesy of West Yorkshire’s premier flat track’s singles’ night. What a day to choose to be at Pontefract. A new low in marketing of racing where those game enough have to select a traffic indicator described by the announcer as (I kid you not) ‘red is up for anything, amber undecided and red plain boring’. Hunt as I might there was no woman under a welterweight with anything other than red. And who could blame them as the Love Shack or whatever they called it looked like it was some kind of dungeon as the stair leading down seemed to suggest. I for one baulked at entry not knowing what kind of hell’s creatures may have been shackled up howling torment like some moorland hermit from a Bronte novel.




Nod towards the old chalk jockey and odds indicator off pre-digital times

It cost £14 to get into the main grandstand and paddock, although typical of Yorkshire tracks there is a great deal of segregation into Premier and Members this and that. Given that it isn’t the biggest track in terms of facilities it makes for a cramped environment. So that was a bit of a downer for me. I did like the old fashioned entry with Art Deco type facade. The race card at £2 was good value but no foaling dates for the two year olds. Some interesting notes to differentiate North and West Yorkshire based on visiting Thirsk and Pontefract. One has a Blacksmith and the other has a Farrier. One has a strict jacket, tie, no jeans policy, the other county appears not so stringent. This is based on the decidedly dishevelled appearance of one  winning owner picking up a pot allows Boss Jeans and a crumpled shirt with the collar half up and half down reminiscent of someone turning up for work late at the pottery factory after a hard night out. 



1950s style entrance offset by period farmer's pick up

For a track so close to the major motorways of Yorkshire it was particularly difficult for me to find and probably is to the unwary. When you come off the A1 first time where there is a sign for Pontefract you have entered a time warp to the Second World War where the directions were designed to mislead should the Germans invade. Do not be conned into taking this first turn whatever you do. This leads you through by what look like a typical pit-town. Upton was a tidy town and you’d probably think it would have good spirit. By the time you get through Upton you start to believe that seeing a sign for Pontefract was in the dim and distant past. At this point being lost is a distinct possibility. A sign for Badsworth is a must to follow for those who followed one of the greatest two mile chasers in history. The village is pretty but although no sign of any commemoration of the most famous namesake. Though there was one for Pontefract, at last!



View across paddock towards yet another restricted access facility

However the torture was not quite complete as when you hit Pontefract a carefully positioned sign to maximise ambiguity appeared to steer the newcomer to the right. Wrong. This adds ten minutes to your drive. Going through Pontefract you will find it a busy town plenty of traffic.

This is a massive irregular pentagon shaped track of about two mile perimeter. It has quite a few undulations and a short straight which makes coming from off the pace difficult. As such it is testing and a real gallop. There is no chute therefore sprints incorporate a bend thus two year olds are often facing a bend for the first time in their racing lives when they run at Pontefract. Like most courses Ponte has had its share of specialists, one of which ran tonight and had a race named in his honour.

The racetrack has a park and lake inside its centre. The infield is free to the public and as this was an evening meeting as it was no surprise to see the car parks almost full. This makes it very good value as at this stage in the day everything was free.  The public area gives a full view of the racecourse, access all along the home straight including the winning post. There is an old fashioned riders’ board. This was a real throwback to my early days of going racing. There was the so called chalk jockeys, these are the ones who have little reputation and haven’t got a painted board to slip in to the appropriate slot. The old method of using blue or yellow for example as background colour to the horse number to indicate the claimers allowance was the first time I had seen this for some years.


Pontefract is of course the spiritual home of the lazy punter. Like me. Phil Bull’s idea takes the drudgery out of piling through volumes of formbooks and analysis of the clues within them or leaving assessment to reviewing a couple of lines in the Sporting Chronicle – which was the racing paper of choice to me and my teenage betting shop cohorts.  Timeform was a brilliant innovation by applying science and rational calculation to a game which some still believe is crooked and ****. Timeform showed that most races can be analysed and those with the clearest chance in a high proportion of races dominating the frame. The times you review the race afterwards and see that the Timeform commentary pointed you in the right direction predominate. To back without this aid requires too much time, too much experience and plenty of connections if you want to be profitable. However I think that Timeform is not as punchy as it used to be. Too vague on suggesting going requirements. Not harsh enough in analysis of temperament or ability. Often happy to congregate around a mean like a market research return on rating service between 1 and 5 90% of returns will be between 2 and 4 so as not to offend too much. Perhaps Timeform is now part of the establishment.

The first race tonight was a very ordinary auction stakes for maiden two year old fillies over six furlongs. It was won by the resolute Pendle Lady, ignored in the  market after running green on debut, led for much and kicked clear. This is a poor race so I am afraid she will be unlikely to support a penalty. The runner up Majestic Zafeen had shown promise when third on debut, but tonight threw her head around looking decidedly ungenuine when throwing away the race on quite a few occasions. She is likely to be green after such limited exposure but she looks a temperamental sort best kept well away from. As such is a negative at the moment as is very likely to go off much shorter than I think warrants. Sunny Side Up ran with a bit of promise to be third showing speed time two out. Debutante In A Jiffy was well supported in the market swerved out the stalls, didn’t handle the bend and generally was all over the place. Has some ability and can gain from this experience particularly over a straight six somewhere and rates a positive as I think will be decent odds next run.

In a nice varied card there was a 17 furlong class 4 handicap. This was on the face of it a tight handicap. This race was also part of an innovative scheme by the executive for the Pontefract Stays’ Championship. It was won in fine style by the top weight Wells Lyrical who had looked like returning to something like his best with a fair run at Musselburgh. Tracked leader and was then pushed on to lead 3 out, stayed on resolutely to win by five lengths. Hollins finished second staying on at just the one pace, clearly stays well and has some fair hurdling form. Third home was the held up Pittodrie Star who came with a run too late to throw down a challenge. May have been better closer to the pace but the winner looked different class so probably ran about as well as he is. Of the others Maoi Chinn Tire, who is a good hurdler, ran prominently looking to take a hand before weakening two out appearing not to stay further than 1m6 on the level, Spruzzo ran as well as he can to finish fourth being given every chance by Kelly Harrison and Vision of Johanna was ridden as if stamina was a doubt and despite making progress 3 out he weakened to suggest this was too far. The other runners Jackson and Dan Buoy were comprehensively thrashed.

A well contested three year old handicap sprint was the feature race on the card in commemoration of fine course specialist Mr Wolf. It was a class3 event over six furlongs. It was won by Lois The Pious who was ridden just off the pace and produced two out to lead at the distance for a comfortable win. Well suited by a stiff 6 furlongs having just been found our over seven at Haydock last run. Plenty of ability and interesting to see where his 74 mark moves to. Second home was Jade who looked particularly well in the paddock. Clearly at home here having a CD to her name and ran very well battling down the straight but just getting done close home by half a length. Breezolini stayed on well to be third and may suit softer ground. Favourite Foxtrot Hotel had no sort of run after being held up early. Ended being switch and by the time was ready for run the first two had slipped clear. I think he is on a nice mark at the moment of 82, has plenty of ability to do well as a sprint handicapper and perhaps a straight galloping six furlongs will see him back in the winners’ enclosure soon. Of the others Strictly Pink is pretty well exposed to the handicapper looked in very good shape but ran about as well as he could behind some decent under the radar sorts, Fieldgunner Kirkup who I had seen run well when second at Thirsk recently was eased when chance had gone two out looking like protection of mark a priority and King Ferdinand was prominent until weakening furlong out and may suit a sharper track having won at Chester earlier in the season.

The other three year old handicap was a class 4 affair over ten furlongs. It was won by the useful looking top weight Seelo who led early and then kicked clear two out to win by a very comfortable seven length without being given a hard time of it. Looks the sort to be able to step up to listed company on the face of this effort, has done well at galloping tracks. The rest were well strung out and difficult to make any positive observations, The favourite Watercourse was soon under pressure as tried to keep tabs on the winner but was beaten before the straight and the fancied Maktoum horse Mutayaser was help up and seemed to be coming with run until eased right down into the straight suggesting that something has gone amiss with him.

The class 5 all age handicap over six furlongs was won in a close finish by top weight Apache Ridge who performs well on these stiff tracks over the six. Not much better than class 5 though. Ran and battled well tonight to outpoint the favourite by a diminishing neck. Close To The edge is another specialist around here looking to be well in on the book ran with credit tonight as three year old are not that well treated at this stage of the season so could be on the right side. Third home was Stamp Duty who ran a great race for a three year old especially given that he has shown his best form in soft ground. Marks as a positive when he has conditions to suit.

Final race tonight was a five furlong class 5 handicap. This race contained the course specialist ten year old top weight Mr Wolf who had a race named after him earlier in the card. Tonight he led for much until being run out of it at the distance to finish a respectable fourth. It was won by Lingfield specialist Hinton Admiral who after a sluggish start put his stamina to best use getting up late. Jigajig ran on late and led 100 yards out but was nutted on the line tends to be in and out of form. Unlucky loser was outsider Silvanas who never had any luck in running being denied a clear run at least twice so did very well to finish third. Goes well for Hanagan (which horse doesn’t) and has won twice at Musselburgh. On the bare bones of how this race ran I would have to mark him as a positive.

Notebook


Majestic Zafeen (N) up £10
0
Next run was rubbish but hasn't been seen out since

In A Jiffy (P) down £30
0 0 0
I think I should stop taking drugs this one was absolutely rubbish and review of the race itself that led to me giving her a psitive rating was such a  bad run that I am still trying to work out why I thought she had any potential at all

Foxtrot Hotel (P) level
3 3
Not backed yet as hasn't had a race without a bend. I would back him a the straight six. Still have to close on level


Seelo (P) down £30
3 0 0
Not disgraced next run but then went up a stone in the handicap and was shelved after three efforts


Stamp Duty (P) down £10
0
Needs soft ground so restricted backing to when there is soft in the description. The onlly happened once and he was thrashed. I think that was because he is suited to 6f not the mile he was raced over. Still worth a gamble in the spring is over 6f with a decent cut but is to be shelved now

Silvanas (P) down £10
2
Suited by Musselburgh type tracks so betting restricted to that then. Only ran once over the 5f on similar which was Catterick (other runs were at Ponte and Beverley). That run was a good 2nd at  decent 11/1 each was price