First of all I must apologise as this blog is up pretty late this week, its my birthday on Sunday and was out for a meal. I may have misunderstood the size of the burger before it came out so I'd be putting up overweight today. However the lovely waitresses in small bits of fabric made it worth it... And the company of course!
But to more pressing matters, the racing world suffered devastation when Champion Hurdle winner Katchit passed away from Colic this week. On his day there was no tougher horse, especially up the Cheltenham hill. They say a bee has a body shape of one that should make it impossible to fly, but they of course can. Well Katchit was of the size where being a National Hunt horse should have been impossible. He was barely bigger than the hurdles, but what he lacked in size he made up for with heart, guts and determination. R.I.P Katchit.
Onto this weeks racing on a sour note then, but lets try and brighten our day with some strong selections to follow.
1:30 Kempton - Westaway
He was knocking on the door last time after a promising fifth first time out at Newbury. He was Behind the improving Ballytober at Ascot who looks to be shaping into a very smart peformer, second to him is no bad thing. We are just beginning to get some good ground back and that should help make his claims as he seems to tire in more testing ground late on. One last plus is that the David Arbuthnot yard are hitting some form as of late, but with 8 runners (3 places) Westaway looks a fantastic each way proposition. (16/1)
2:05 Kempton - Cruchain
There are a few reasons for putting up Dai Burchell's, Cruchain today, the first of which being he was last years winner off 8 pounds higher. Since then he has won at Cheltenham off a rating of 125, recent efforts however have seen him slip to a lowly 110. There are excuses for that in the sense that he is a better ground horse, so the drying ground here will help no end. The most pressing matter for me though is that he always runs a blinder round here. Even when out of form he can turn in a good effort, just like last year when winning. Last times 3rd showed a return to form was imminent and a further 2 pound drop will help no end. (6/1)
2:25 Warwick - Holywell
We venture over to Warwick for the first big field handicap hurdle today and Jonjo O'Neill is taken to land the spoils. Not with the Tony McCoy ridden Storm Survivor though, instead we go with Holywell. Maurice Linehan takes the ride the week after losing his 7 pound claim last week aboard Storm Survivor. Jonjo is usually pretty selective over what horses he puts Mr Linehan on to use his claim to full effect. So his ride here on Holywell must be taken down and noted. The horse in himself is improving all the time just struggling to pass the post in front, coming in 2nd on the last three outings he could take some beating today. (7/1)
2:40 Kempton - Captain Sunshine
A horse that has required a bit of patience this year after 'refusing' at Exeter second time out. He has also turned in two useful performances in Cheltenham handicaps off a mark of 134. He goes today off of 132 and should prove to be alot better than that mark and may even contest graded races in the not so distant future. A flat out gallop would suit this one down to the ground and Richie Mclernon on Board is a positive. (14/1)
3:15 Kempton - Baile Anrai
Onto todays strongest bet of the day in Ian Williams second season chaser Baile Anrai. Last year he was a useful novice landing events at Market Rasen, Leicester and Towcester. His best run was coming at Ascot however when he fell 3 out when well in contention and travelling powerfully. Silviniaco Conti, Bobs Worth and Invictus were in the field and he was travelling just as well as them. Over hurdles he was useful, finishing 6 lengths behind Fingal Bay at Chepstow. He made a below average return as Ascot behind Roberto Goldback, that would have blown away the cobwebs and he should go well here today. (10/1)
NAP - Baile Anrai
Nb - Cruchain
An each way lucky 31 would pay handsomely and hopefully some nice returns come from it.
Happy Punting
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