First of all I have to apologise as there was no blog last week, the only excuse I can offer is that I got too caught up in the Breeders Cup action. Hopefully you still watched out Breeders Cup video and also our video covering last week's action, both of which returned winners. Today the racing comes from Doncaster who hold their annual November Handicap meeting and are the only track racing on the flat today. We also have national hunt action from Sandown, Kelso and Wincanton which stages the Badger Ales Trophy won last year by The Package.
Speaking of The Package, he was runner up to Restless D'artaix when AP McCoy made it to Three Thousand winners at Plumpton in 2009. This week he passed Four Thousand at Towcester when riding Mountain Tunes to victory in typical McCoy style. When turning from home he looked to hold little chance and he even touched 50/1 in running after a mistake at the 2nd last hurdle. Coming to the last he had just about got his mount staying on before jumping in to Panama Petrus, would that stop him? No, of course not. Mountain Tunes was galvanised and more importantly a more than willing partner which enable the duo to catch Kris Spin and Jamie Moore late on.
People have asked what an achievement like this means to me and to be truthful, I couldn't tell you. I am a 20 year old guy who as a passion for horse racing, but I have never known the sport when it hasn't been dominated by The Champ. For me personally, it is hard to think of the sport without one man being so far ahead of the others in the jockeys championship. It will show exactly how much he means to this sport on the day he retires and we realise how privileged we have been to see this man in action.
Before we start with the days selections I have to mention that we have prepared another video including some singing... You have to watch it to understand. Joining me today were the usual suspects Adam Webb (@adamwebb121) and Michael Andrews (@Mytentoryours). Watch the video through the link below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgxwckNt-x4
12:20 Wincanton - SGT Reckless
Mick Channon landed the Haldon Gold Cup this week with Somersby who we very much know everything about. SGT Reckless is at the other end of that scale in the sense that we dont know much about him as he makes his hurdling debut today. His career got off to a great start as he made two big impressions first at Wincanton and secondly at Lingfield, both in bumpers. He went to the Champion Bumper at the Festival with a leading chance and was sent off 8/1, in truth he probably wasn't bred to be a flat horse. Which brings us onto today and his hurdling debut, this discipline definitely makes more appeal for a horse like him and he could even make a nice chaser in time. There is nothing else I can really add to that other than the fact that he looks every yard a National Hunt horse and this looks a winnable race. (No Price Available Yet)
2:05 Wincanton - Far West
Paul Nicholls had the first two horses home in this race last year with Zarkandar and Prospect Wells fighting out a thrilling finish. Far West looks to hold the key to today's race as well and can land this for the 2nd year running for Team Ditcheat. Sam Twiston-Davies rides again for Paul Nicholls and over the past week he has an outstanding strike rate when teaming up with the ex Champion Trainer. This is also an exciting race for a number of reasons, mostly for me its exciting because of the fact that Our Conor's form will first be truly tested. Sametegal has already come out and won who was of course third in last year's Triumph Hurdle and 2 and quarter lengths behind Far West. A repeat of his Triumph Hurdle effort would hold him in fine regard for today and he handed out a 12 length beating of Handazan first time out last season. Far West to land the Elite Hurdle 2013. (3/1)
2:25 Doncaster - Jack Dexter
Jack Dexter is undoubtedly the class horse of the race and definitely brings the best form to the table after his 2nd to Slade Power on Champions Day. He must give away 6 pounds to everyone in the field except for Arnold Lane and he gets his preferred ground today which is a huge positive. The Ayr Gold Cup form should be turned around with Highland Colori and that remains a monumental effort to finish third from top weight on ground that probably was too fast for him. Ballesteros could be the biggest danger to him on his first outing for Richard Fahey and with Paul Hanagan on board, he wasn't at his best last time but can correct that. Jack Dexter to take all the beating today however. (7/2)
3:00 Doncaster - Miss Cap Estel
This is a really hard race to dissect but I have a strong fancy in this to some people's disbelief, not naming anybody on last nights video of course. At the start of the season as some of you may know I interviewed Kirsty Milczarek, she gave us all a horse to follow for the season. That horse was called Kikonga who has since gone on to be successful this year, one of the times was when beating Miss Cap Estel at Ascot. That was when she first caught my eye as she was the only one who made any sort of ground from the back of the field and was never nearer than at the finish. She then went to Goodwood twice, the first time was behind Wild Coco when she was thoroughly outclassed and the second time is best forgotten. She righted that wrong though when absolutely bolting up at Ffos Las before tailing off in a French listed race which can also be forgiven. Miss Cap Estel to go well at a price. (50/1)
3:15 Wincanton - Meister Eckhart
Meister Eckhart is one of my Novice Chasers to follow for the season and has been a horse that has impressed me for a couple of seasons now. I first noticed him when fifth for Rebecca Curtis behind the late Brindisi Breeze in the Albert Bartlett at the Festival a couple of seasons ago. Everything about him just screamed that he was a chaser and he has done nothing to put me off that since switching to Alan King's yard. On his belated reappearance last season he was runner up to Prospect Wells in the National Spirit Hurdle at Fonwell, before again finishing runner up at Cheltenham in the Coral Cup. He then went on to finish third at Aintree in another hot race with was a great effort as many Cheltenham horses struggle when going to Aintree in the same season. Alan King couldnt have found a much harder race to start him off over fences, despite it being a four runner race, all of these could be Grade One chasers. Meister Eckhart to start his chasing career off on the right foot and land today's race. (7/2)
NAP - Far West
Nb - SGT Reckless
Good luck today everyone and as always, Happy Punting
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