Good morning racing fans, I hope we have all recovered from a whipping last week and are ready to soldier through another tough day. We are spoilt for choice with race meetings today which spread all over the country, from Perth down to Lingfield. The main meetings of the day come courtesy of the Garden Racecourse Ripon, and Newbury who stage the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes. Support cards come from Chester, Doncaster, Market Rasen and one Irish meeting from Tramore in the evening. The other meeting is at Newmarket where they stage the annual Grey's only race in which 15 horses, of course all grey horses go to post.
Last week wasn't our finest hour and was most definitely the worst weekend we have ever had on this blog as all our selections failed to place. Hopefully things get a lot better this week!
Speaking of last week. I went to the evening meeting at Lingfield and had a great night, however one thing slightly bemused me. In the third race (A maiden over 6 furlongs) there was a 2/7 favourite in a nine horse race that duly obliged under James Doyle. In the parade ring I picked out an outsider to have a pound each way on who eventually came third at 66/1 for Tom Garner.
I walked up to one of the bookmakers on a stand and said 'one pound each way on number one please'. To my shock he replied 'we aren't betting each way on this one mate' and pushed me aside, so I looked at the other bookmakers looking for someone who would take my tiny bet. There were around 20 bookmakers there last week, which two of them were offering each way terms and offering 20/1 only. This happened again later in the night once more in a 9 runner race.
So my question, in a sociable evening when there is a concert on and there are unlikely to be any real gamblers there, why aren't they offering each way. Most people will be there for a night out and want a pound bet here and a couple of pounds there, where are they expecting to get trade from? Until then I have always been in favour to have Bookmakers on their pitches at the racecourse, but after that? Im not sure.
But from a rant to this weeks Pigeon Swoop! Martin is running a contest for the 2:20 and 2:55 from Newmarket and the 2:50 and 3:30 from Ripon. If you wish to enter just send your selections for them races to @pigeon_island on twitter and you will be entered for free. You can check everyone else's selections on this website, www.pigeonscoop4.wordpress.com and also see where you rank. Good luck if you decide to enter!
Once more George Gorman has kindly joined me in a tipping challenge. George is an amateur jockey based with Roger Teal and rides out for Gary Moore when he can as well as race riding in point to points. You will hopefully be able to see George in action on your TV's on board She Is A Cracker as soon as she makes it into a race off her mark. If he manages to tip you a winner, feel free to say thanks to him on twitter at @GeorgeFGorman. Good luck to him! But I hope he comes in 2nd.
Luke George
2:50 Ripon - Mehdi Head Space
3:15 Newbury - Gregorian Caspar Netscher
3:30 Ripon - Secret Witness Pearl Ice
6:40 Market Rasen - Lemon Drop Red Lauberhorn
Now onto the selections this week!
1:35 Newbury - Fashion Fund
Just the one early selection today with Fashion Fund who definitely didn't disgrace herself on debut at Glorious Goodwood. She was drawn in stall one which is furthest away from the stands resulting in her not being able to find any cover in the field. She also ran alone down the centre of the track for the majority of the race which isn't what a horse on debut needs. With a furlong to go she still held a slim chance in around fifth place but was looked after by Frankie Dettori, saving her for another day. That could be today after everything from that field that has run again has finished in the first two including Valen winning impressively the other day. I'd expect a much bigger run from Fashion Fund today and she can get off the mark at attractive odds. (9/2)
6:40 Market Rasen - Lemon Drop Red
A long wait not for the first of this evening's selections and it comes in the form of the promising Lemon Drop Red. His chase form doesn't read too well, but on the whole his jumping is very good despite unseating his rider twice. That includes last time when he was in the process of running the opposition into the ground when bought down by a loose horse. He even jumped that fence perfectly well but it just so happened the loose horse jumped across him and clipped heels upon landing. His unseating at Kempton was his fault however after trying to put in an extra stride and going through the top of the fence. This looks like an ideal opportunity for Lemon Drop Red and he can finally get his chasing career off the mark. (11/8)
7:40 Market Rasen - Coronea Lilly
Coronea Lilly is a horse I am very fond of but doesn't come without her injury risks, when fully fit however she is a very good horse. Last time she ran here over course and distance and just ran out of room to get to the leader, going down by half a length. She is up 5 pounds for that effort and instead of a 3 pound claimer she has Noel Fehily on board, i.e. carrying 8 pounds more. She is coming off the back of a personal best here though and despite being a 9 year old she is still very lightly raced so improvement is on the cards. Coronea Lilly to refind the winning thread in a fast run affair. (5/1)
11:44 Arlington Park - Grandeur
A long wait now and I hope you will be able to stay up with me till 11:44pm to watch the Arlington Million where Grandeur should be able to win his first Grade 1. Like Coronea Lilly he is coming off the back of a clear personal best when 3 quarters of a length behind Mukhadram when giving him three pounds. That was by far his best run to date and we already know he can handle the American tracks and bends after winning at the Breeders Cup meeting last year. After then he went to Hollywood park and was second once after being unlucky but then went on to win over two furlongs further. That will be the same distance today and after he has improved once more he can prove himself as top class. The one thing against him today is his draw, he is drawn 13 out in the graveyard but he should be able to drop in behind the field and pick them off. Grandeur to finally win his Grade 1 in America for Jeremy Noseda and William Buick. (5/2)
NAP - Grandeur
Nb - Lemon Drop Red
Good luck today and as always, happy punting!!
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