Welsh National Day

Good Morning/Afternoon/Evening depending on where you are in the world. I again find myself starting this weeks blog on the skytrain and fear i am becoming 'that guy'. You know the kind that tries to sit there with his ipad or laptop and draw attention to himself. The kind you want to hit round the face with whatever device he uses. Alas i shall have to soldier on through my fears and get to writing about all things equine today. But first a small recap.

last week our NAP and nb both won providing us with a nice double in 10 minutes, both looking horses to follow in Zuzka and Taquin Du Seuil. A third selection visited the winners enclosure in the last at Newbury with Chatterbox, who looked very impressive and should build on that performance. We almost made it 4 winners but for Fill The Power to be just touched off at Doncaster. We managed to line our wallets and purses with a bit of money for our night out and we march on to this week.

The centre of attention is the rescheduled Welsh National meeting at Chepstow. Teaforthree is the first really well back favourite in the race in years at 3/1 for Rebecca Curtis and Tony McCoy. But Sandown offer a very good supporting card as they have the 2013 running of the Tolworth hurdle featuring the classy flat recruit Poet for Clive Cox. Without further ado lets crack on with the weeks action and a placepot at Sandown.

12:45 Sandown - Kentford Grey Lady

Emma Lavelle's mare scored in pretty nice style last time under a huge weight over course and distance. She may have been beaten that day but for justazippy falling when upsides at the last. However she went on to score in resolute fashion and today should be no different. She gets weight from her main rivals, receiving 8 pounds from Une Artiste, Alasi and last years winner Kells Belle. The ground wont be an issue with her being a previous winner on testing ground including last time out. Despite her short odds she should get favourite backers off to a nice start and be the first in many multiples. (10/11)

1:15 Sandown - Angelot Du Berlais

Dr Richard Newland's newcomer is of huge interest here, having his first run since coming over from France. In his homeland he showed a liking for testing ground without winning, he did however run some promising races. Im more interested in his hurdling relatives however, showing there could be more to come over hurdles. He is related (through Afreen) to Champion Hurdle third Afsoun and the more than useful dual purpose performer Afrad. If he is anything like those two then he could well take some beating here. The top two have also both been beating and could well be vulnerable again giving weight away to the girls. (8/1)

1:35 Chepstow - Swnymor

Swnymor was mighty impressive at Newbury on debut for Tim Vaughan and it really does seem that the sky is the limit for him. He handed out a 11 length pounding to the useful Amoralist for Nicky Henderson, barely breaking sweat in doing so. This is a much stiffer assignment however, Paul Nicholls thinks the world of his representative Caid Du Berlais. John Ferguson also plays his cards with the unbeaten Ruacana. If Swnymor builds on his hurdling debut however, it will take a top class horse to beat him and we have a really good race in store. (7/2)

1:50 Sandown - King Edmund

Chris Gordon probably has the most exposed runner in the whole field here in King Edmund with today being his 33rd run. He takes on younger horses but has been well in himself this year in Handicaps without winning, he has come 2nd on his last 3 runs and is due his time in the sun. Last time he was behind only the once top class and brave front runner Marodima at Fontwell. He is up 2 pounds for that effort but likes it here and should go well. (7/1)

2:25 Sandown - Poet

As mentioned before, Poet is the potential class act of the race with a very impressive hurdling debut at Newbury under his belt. Rated 110 on the flat (116 at his highest) he frequently contested top flat races and was far from disgraced. Right after his Newbury race I named this as a race that would be perfect for him and it would seem im not far off. The ground will aid him rather than hinder him, and he may get to dominate this small field and steal it from the front. (7/2)

3:00 Sandown - Lord of the House

Lord Of The House won at Folkestone on really testing ground so todays ground will be no problem at all. He is still a very lightly raced horse and after his first win there could be alot more to come from his featherweight. He is two pounds out of the Handicap carrying 10 stone but Gavin Sheehan takes off a further 5 pounds. Off that weight on this ground makes him very interesting and it also doesnt look the strongest race so is well worth an each way shout and this race could be the placepot destroyer. (12/1)

3:20 Chepstow - Soll

Jo Hughes gave a glowing report of the ex Willie Mullins inmate earlier this week and the giant horse looks tailor made for a race like this. He was running well in the national hunt chase a Cheltenham before being bought down by Allee Garde. Last time out he also ran a blinder in the Hennessy before being outpaced by top class horses. This race is much more to his stamina built self and the ground poses no problem whatsoever. Should go well and is a very strong each way bet. (12/1)

3:40 Sandown - Fruity O'Rooney

With Across The Bay going to Chepstow instead of here, Gary Moore's tough front runner should take some beating. He was runner up at the Festival last year and ran his heart out in the Hennessy last time. I have been told a change of tactics may be tried today, he wont fight for the lead but instead drop in if challenged. This is coming from the idea that he is using too much energy early on in his races. Though its a competitive race today, Fruity O'Rooney could take all the beating. Railway Dillon is the big danger. (9/1)

NAP - Poet and Kentford Grey lady double
Nb - Swnymor

Happy Punting today guys

Sandown Eclipse day

Sorry there was no blog last week but I was busy and had prior engagements, lets just hope that this week we are back with a bang this week. I'm not far away from Sandown and as off 10pm it isn't raining which means the going will be testing but not too bad. I'm off to Sandown today and will be hoping for a good days racing, even though its a huge shame So You Think doesn't and has been retired.

1:30 - Sandown Park -Rocky Reef - Andrew Balding will be hoping for a good start to the day with Bonfire running in the big one later on. This one scored last time out on his step up to this trip at Chepstow on very testing ground. Soft ground would aid his chances no end but it doesn't seem a necessity as he has run well on faster ground. He has to run from two pounds out of the handicap today but it isn't the end of the world and he is an improving horse. If the overnight rain comes then everything will be in his favour but he should go close regardless.

2:05 - Sandown Park - Judge n Jury - A bold front running horse who has been a revelation this year running in much better races going down half a length in a group 3 at the Curragh last time. A powerful jockey booking in Luke Morris today who is really coming into his own this year. The more rain in the ground the better for this lad, but again goes well on quicker ground also. A good draw for these sprints at Sandown as historically lower numbers do prevail and he is out of stall 3 today. Shouldn't be out of the places.

2:40 - Sandown Park - Spa's Dancer - Absolutely loves it here, in five visits to the course he has never been out of the first four recording 2 wins along the way. He is another one that will be doing a rain dance in his stable tonight after hitting a rich vein of form when discovering soft ground. The most eyecatching part of his entry today is the fact that Ed De Giles has booked Tom Queally for the first time which shouldn't go un-noticed. Another bold show expected.

3:10 - Sandown Park - Starscope - Ran a blinder in the Coronation Stakes at the Royal meeting and has been consistent all year without managing to get her head in front. Today should finally be the day she gets out on top and this would appear to be her distance. There doesn't look to be anything of the class she has been running against here today and she really should mop up here. John Gosden's stable is in good form as per always.

3:45 - Sandown Park - Crackerjack King - Probably the unknown quantity here in the sense that he has never ventured to these shores but in other countries he has some really smart form. In Cappanelle he had Sri Putra well beaten and also beat German Derby winner Waldpark that day. The going was much firmer that day but he should handle this ground fine and the booking of Ryan Moore really catches the eye. Everything points towards a big run today and should go close.

4:20 - Sandown Park - Thimaar - An absolute giant of a horse and one who will appreciate getting his toe in the ground. His form from the Sagaro last time is possibly the strongest staying form around from the early season, that day finishing behind Colour Vision and Red Cadeaux who have both gone on to much better things. The switch to turf will help the Gosden horse no end today and this could be the second John Gosden trained winner of the day.

4:55 - Sandown Park - Fortieth And Fifth - Very unlucky when a beaten favourite at Ripon the other week when Hayley Turner admitted wasn't her best ride. He was slow away that day and got no run till late on yet still ran on into a good third. Before that he was an impressive winner at Hamilton and a reproduction of that will see him in front at the line today.

Happy Punting today guys, lets hope for a couple of winners!