News from the North(ern) Hemisphere

[Red Rum 1,833]

52 minutes ago, Berri said:

I think you mean Long Run.Long-Run-Article.pdfHave a read...

Long-Run-Article.pdf 1.04 MB · 1 download

No Won't be Gone Long by The Parson . Had a go round the National Fences a few times , 1990 Topham Winner . I always liked him and went to Kempton in 1991 and backed him in Racing Post Chase as my banker of day , he was brought down by Gainsay who was owned by Erroll Brown lead singer of Hot Chocolate so I done me dough . 

Long Run  a way better horse than Won't be Gone Long but he was a decent chaser on his day .

[stodge 1,949]

Looking ahead to Thursday - the third day at Cheltenham and we have the final declarations through.

Eight run in the Grade 1 Marsh Novices Chase over 4000m for the mid-range novice chasers. ENVOI ALLEN is many people's idea of the banker of the week among others. He's looked very impressive so far particularly in the Drinmore and on that evidence he wins this. He won't carry my money but as long as eight run. there's an each way angle as it pays down to third place. I fancy SHAN BLUE to give the favourite a real race and at 8s, he's tempting but then so is CHATHAM STREET LAD who won a big handicap over this course and distance in December. This is of course better than a handicap but at 12s he looks another possible each way option.

At the moment and based on the fact the ground is drying out I'm probably going to play on SHAN BLUE.

The Ryanair is the equivalent for the more seasoned chasers and is a much more open race - they go 5/1 the field. I think this is the race of the week in terms of depth and there are any number of angles. Willie Mullins has the top three in ALLAHO, MIN and MELON and on their day any of them could win. MIN flopped badly at Leopardstown and both MELON and to an extent ALLAHO have questions to answer at this exalted level.

I'm tempted by IMPERIAL AURA who won nicely at Ascot in November before departing early at Kempton last time. He's fresher than some of these and could go close. MISTER FISHER won the Peterborough over the course and distance and is another who comes here off a quiet preparation. SAMCRO won the Marsh last year but hasn't done much this season while SAINT CALVADOS wasn't going that well when being knocked out of the race at Sandown last time - I do think the drying ground will help him as well.

Oddly enough, it's a race with so many angles I'm probably going to leave it alone. If @Red Rum offered me $20, I'd probably go $10 each way on SAINT CALVADOS at 12s.

The feature is the World Hurdle over 4800m which is the championship race for the staying hurdlers. PAISLEY PARK brought the house down when winning in 2019 for his wonderful blind owner, Andrew Gemmell, but last year he was disappointing and the thing is for all it's a staying trip it doesn't often become a stamina sapping slog. Usually, you need a horse with a bit of tactical speed. Nonetheless, it's a weak division currently and PAISLEY PARK is a warm favourite at 2s. Obviously, it'll be all emotion if he can win again but I wonder if this is one of those occasions when the old generation gets swept aside by the new kids on the block.

That brings in the two I fancy - FLOORING PORTER was a convincing winner of the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown beating the very useful dual purpose horse THE STORYTELLER. He's had a nice break and has a huge chance. The one I like at a huge price is BEACON EDGE, who beat FURY ROAD in the Boyne at Navan last time. At 33s, he's almost worth an each way interest but I think FLOORING PORTER is the more solid bet at 8s.  

[stodge 1,949]

The betting plan for Day 2 as follows:

1.20 Ballymore Novices Hurdle - BRAVEMANSGAME £20 win at 5/1

1.55: Brown Advisory Novices Chase - ECLAT DE RIRE £2.50 each way at SP

2.30: Handicap - no bet

3.05: Champion Chase - NUBE NEGRA £10 each way at SP

3.40: Cross Country Chase - DEFI DES CARRES £2.50 each way at SP

4.15: Handicap no bet

4.50: Champion Bumper - no bet

 

[Red Rum 1,833]

On 3/15/2021 at 11:18 AM, Red Rum said:

That Fred Winter 4 yo handicap diverts some of those field fillers from Triumph nowdays.  Been some tough customers win it over the years Tiger Roll , Zarkander and Celestial Halo who I think ran in a Doncaster St Leger .

The first race looks lighter on number that usual, I remember huge fields in that back in day . 

Might have a few bucks each way Vintage Clouds in Ultima , dropping in ratings , not getting any younger but has gone well in this race in past , looks around the 16s mark ew 1 to 4 in UK if 16 stand ground  . Foster runner in it might improve for wind surgery and won at festival last year . 

Good Luck on the punt Stodge .

Good old Vintage Clouds , my betting secretary up North got me 25 to 1 so well chuffed . I would have been very happy with 16s but she's got an eye for a bargain. 

Janika might go OK at the 33s mark each way in Coral Cup, back from chasing  a decent horse , a value roll of the dice .

[Red Rum 1,833]

8 hours ago, stodge said:

The betting plan for Day 2 as follows:

1.20 Ballymore Novices Hurdle - BRAVEMANSGAME £20 win at 5/1

1.55: Brown Advisory Novices Chase - ECLAT DE RIRE £2.50 each way at SP

2.30: Handicap - no bet

3.05: Champion Chase - NUBE NEGRA £10 each way at SP

3.40: Cross Country Chase - DEFI DES CARRES £2.50 each way at SP

4.15: Handicap no bet

4.50: Champion Bumper - no bet

 

Thrown in Glen Forsa each way  in the Grand Annual to go with Janika in Coral , had a wind op since last run and Mick Channon does OK with the odd 2 miler .

Good Luck tonight Stodge. Looks like Irish will clean up in big ones .

[stodge 1,949]

On then to the final day of the Cheltenham Festival on Friday and the final declarations are through.

Just eight stand in the Triumph Hurdle for the 4-y-o novices over 3200m. There's very little between the top three in the betting - ZANAHIYR won the juvenile race at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival but this will be a different test though perhaps less so than normal with the much smaller field. TRITONIC looked very good at Kempton but I have some doubts about him on this more undulating track so I'm left with QUILIXIOS who looked good when winning the juvenile hurdle at the Dublin Festival in early February.

17 stand in the Albert Bartlett for the staying novice hurdlers over 4800m. This is a race which has grown in stature in recent years as it is a path either for the future staying novice chasers or for future champion staying hurdlers. Overnight favourite is STATLER who was third over 4400m at Leopardstown in early February and gave early impression a stiffer track and a step up in trip would help. FAKIERA  was two lengths behind in fourth and there's very little between them. As you would expect, there's a strong home challenge with BARBADOS BUCK'S having every chance but I quite like Warwick winner ADMIREL at 10s and may play each way.

The Gold Cup is the Blue Riband of jump racing - the championship event for the staying chasers over 5250m. 12 go to post and this race starts with AL BOUM PHOTO, winner the past two years. He looked perfectly good at Tramore on New Year's Day and has been brought to his peak superbly by trainer Willie Mullins. He's 6 lbs ahead of these and should win but it's the Gold Cup. A PLUS TARD won the Savils at Leopardstown at Christmas beating KEMBOY and was as decent third to MIN in the Ryanair last year but he's not proven at this trip. CHAMP won the staying novice championship last year and returned with a fine second in the Game Spirit over 3200m at Newbury - this is more his trip and he will go close if his jumping holds together.

Plenty of the others have claims - FRODON won the King George  but this is a very different race and he won't get an unchallenged lead. SANTINI ran a blinder in this last year but hasn't really performed this winter. The first time visor is an interesting move and the drying ground will also help - he tempts me at 14s as an each way play. One or two have bene talking up 2018 winner NATIVE RIVER and while he looked good at Sandown, I'm just worried about the ground - he was found out on it last year and it'll probably be a shade quicker.

[stodge 1,949]

The betting plan for Day 3 as follows (subject, as always, to change):

1.20:Marsh Novices Chase - SHAN BLUE £5 each way at SP

1.55: Handicap - no bet

2.30: Ryanair Chase - IMPERIAL AURA £10 win at 8/1

3.05: World Hurdle - FLOORING PORTER £5 each way at SP

3.40: Handicap -no bet

4.15: Mares Novice Hurdle (GR.2) - no bet

4.50: Handicap - no bet

[stodge 1,949]

In the midst of the Cheltenham fun and games, probably indecent haste of me to mention the Irish turf flat season starts on Sunday at The Curragh where the going is Heavy.

The traditional curtain raiser in Ireland is a 2-y-o race over 1000m. 11 have been entered - Aidan O'Brien has entered CADOMOSTO, a son of No Nay Never out of an Invincible Spirit mare. Jim Bolger has entered four, a colt and three fillies. The colt is I HAVE A VOICE, a son of Vocalised out of a Teofilio mare so you'd think 1000m would be plenty sharp enough.

FREEDOM OF SPEECH is by Australia out of a Vocalised mare so you'd think 2000m would be her trip in time. GAIRE OS ARD is by Teofolio out of another Vocalised mare and MISSING MATRON is by Vocalised out of a Rock of Gibraltar mare so all four are home breds. 

I'm more interested in SILVER SURFER, trained by Donnacha O'Brien - a son of freshman sire Caravaggio out of a Kodiac mare so looks all speed.

[Red Rum 1,833]

3 hours ago, stodge said:

The betting plan for Day 3 as follows (subject, as always, to change):

1.20:Marsh Novices Chase - SHAN BLUE £5 each way at SP

1.55: Handicap - no bet

2.30: Ryanair Chase - IMPERIAL AURA £10 win at 8/1

3.05: World Hurdle - FLOORING PORTER £5 each way at SP

3.40: Handicap -no bet

4.15: Mares Novice Hurdle (GR.2) - no bet

4.50: Handicap - no bet

Some of the 1 to 7 places in big handicaps keep balance ticking over , got 33s 5/26  Janika last night so kept the balance going forward .Glen Forsa though  still running I think.  

What's the punter going to do with Envoi Allen , I'd stick rather than twist for  the 276k for a fiver rather than risk it for 511k . What would you do Stodge , EA only has to jump round by looks of it .

[stodge 1,949]

The opening day of the Cheltenham Festival dawned sunny but breezy. The ground on the Old Course (in use for the first two days) was Soft, Good to Soft in places.

This was a Festival unlike any other - the cacophony of 60,000 punters absent and while the “roar” for the first race was provided as a recording, the cheers greeting the inners, the ecstatic connections, all were absent.

Another less talked about feature were the small fields. For the first time since Britain formally left the European Union, the impact of changes to the transportation of horses from both Ireland and France to the UK was keenly felt. With the cost of transporting a horse now 650 euro and no prospect of the Owners being present to watch their horse run, many in Ireland, especially those for whom Cheltenham was as much about the craic as it was a live chance of picking up some prize money, had opted to stay at home.

The lack of quantity in the championship races did not mean a diminution of quality and the opening Supreme Novices Hurdle over 3200m had the main protagonists from both Ireland and England in an eight strong field. Favourite was the Willie Mullins trained APPRECIATE IT who had won the big Irish equivalent races at the mid-season Christmas Festival at Leopardstown and back over the same track at the Dublin Festival in early February.

APPRECIATE IT was backed in from 5/4 to 8/11 and to be honest those who took part in the plunge had very few worries. In February, he had looked less convincing when having to make his own running and his jumping suffered from the slow pace but with FOR PLEASURE jumping and running, the early gallop (sub 27 seconds for the first 400m) was searching and Paul Townend soon had the favourite settled and jumping well.

As they started down the hill with two to jump, however, APPRECIATE IT wasn’t the only one travelling – BALLYADAM, BLUE LORD, SOARING GLORY and METIER were all in close attendance and seemingly travelling well but on the way down the hill both METIER and SOARING GLORY got outpaced while BALLYADAM blundered at the second last and lost his chance.

Townend sent APPRECIATE IT for home on the long run from the second last round the home turn and only his stable mate BLUE LORD could go with him, but the latter was six lengths down though booked for a clear second when toppling at the last (horse and jockey fine).

This left APPRECIATE IT to come home by 24 lengths in a time only five seconds off standard so very decent in the conditions. BALLYADAM came home for second just in front of the pace setter FOR PLEASURE.

As for the others, METIER flopped badly and short of a medical or physical explanation, it seemed as though he couldn’t go the gallop at the critical point. SOARING GLORY plugged on into fourth and may be better as a chaser. FOR PLEASURE outran his odds but he needs to learn to settle as he’s a free running sort. BALLYADAM was fortunate to get second – I suppose had he not made a Horlicks of the second last he would have been closer. He ran like a horse who wants a bit further but again he’s another who could improve for a fence.

The winner looked visually very impressive as all 24-length winners do. The sky is literally the limit – they could see if he’s a potential Champion Hurdle type, but I suspect it’s more likely he’ll be sent chasing. The question for me is his trip – he’s a great big strapping gelding and the way he runs you’d think 4000m wouldn’t be an issue. I think he’d get 4800m on a tight track like a Kempton, but this is all for the future. I suspect they’ll go to Punchestown with him if the ground is reasonable.

The second race was the Arkle for the speed novice chasers over 3200m. With ENERGUMENE taken out at the 48-hour declarations, SHISHKIN looked the obvious choice and was backed in to 4/9. In the end, only five went to post with NUMITOR a late scratching.

It was expected ALLMANKIND would have the lead, but he has taken on by CAPTAIN GUINNESS from the second fence and the two went at it down the back straight. They were clocking sub 15 second 200m which is pretty impressive given they might have a fence to jump as well. SHISHKIN was always just off them but you had the sense Nico de Boinville had the situation well in control and down the hill towards three out, SHISHKIN made his move.

At the second last, SHISHKIN jumped on as the pacesetters started to feel the pitch and that was that. In the end, SHISKIN sauntered home by 12 lengths with ELDORADO ALLEN, who had sat fourth and a long way back, running on up the hill to snatch a never nearer second.

The time was only 1.4 seconds off standard so another very strong performance by a quality chaser and you’d have to say SHISHKIN looks a huge prospect for next year’s Champion Chase on this evidence. Could he go further? It’s a thought and they might be tempted to try 4000m at Aintree if they knew he was going to get decent ground but there’s no real need and we can but hope the clash with ENERGUMENE takes place sooner rather than later.

The feature of Tuesday’s card was the Champion Hurdle. It looked a race dominated by the girls with last year’s winner EPATANTE facing the unbeaten Irish runner HONEYSUCKLE who had won the Mares hurdle on this card last year. The Irish mare had looked very good when winning the Irish Champion Hurdle in early February and was backed down to 11/10.

SILVER STREAK was soon leading and while ABRACADABRAS took a heavy fall at the third, GOSHEN ruined his chances by lugging right and for all Jamie Moore managed to keep him on track and in contention, he had lost too much ground was done with at the top of the hill.

Rachel Blackmore had always kept HONEYSUCKLE close to the pace along with ASPIRE TOWER, but she was herself tracked by EPATANTE and SHARJAH who were waited with off the pace.

Down the hill and ASPIRE TOWER took over as SILVER STREAK faded while HONEYSUCKLE moved forward and took over with a fine jump two out and she quickly asserted. It all got a bit tight for room in behind on the home turn as ASPIRE TOWER came under pressure and neither SHARJAH nor EPATANTE were done any favours but in a very real sense the bird had flown and once over the last HONEYSUCKLE drew away to win by six and a half lengths.

SHARJAH came out of the pack and ran on to be a clear second with EPATANTE third just in front of ASPIRE TOWER and the big outsider NOT SO SLEEPY.

EPATANTE hasn’t looked the same horse this year - she was perhaps fortunate to win a messy race at Newcastle and was decisively held at Kempton and this proved she has declined a couple of notches.

Another way of looking at this is through the runner up SHARJAH who, I thought, ran a huge race. He’s been well held three times by HONEYSUCKLE in the past and this is as close as he has ever finished to her, but she beat him six and a half lengths while EPATANTE beat him three lengths last year in the Champion Hurdle. I suppose you could argue were it not for the fillies, we’d be hailing SHARJAH as a great dual Champion Hurdle winner.

It’s also worth mentioning the fillies get 7 lbs from the geldings and some people are starting to ask if that isn’t excessive. The problem might be, if they changed the sex allowance to say 3 lbs, the fillies might head for the Mares Hurdle and the overall quality of the Champion Hurdle might be compromised.

HONEYSUCKLE has threatened to be a very good filly and she’s proved that in no uncertain terms. The worry is whether she can hold her form next season and EPATANTE shows how quickly it can unravel at the very highest level. I imagine she’ll go to Punchestown and while there will be something down the line to get past her, it’s hard to see what that will be at the moment.

The final Grade 1 of the first day was the Mares Hurdle over 4000m which HONEYSUCKLE won in 2020. This time her trainer Willie Mullins saddled CONCERTISTA who was backed in to 10/11 as those who had won on the three short-priced favourites earlier in the card sought to play up their winnings.

They went a bit steadier here than in the 3200m events earlier on the card with GREAT WHITE SHARK and FLORESSA setting the fractions. ROKSANA sat third with CONCERTISTA and DAME DE COMPAGNIE among those waited with off the pace. Down the hill and ROKSANA jumped into the lead three out and Harry Skelton went for home on the filly who has form at 4800m, but the speedier types were closing and at the second last CONCERTISTA went on and it looked for all the world the bookies were going to be in a world of pain with a fourth short-priced favourite going in.

It was not to be as BLACK TEARS, who had sat out the back, was produced by Jack Kennedy to challenge after the last and she got up in the final 100m to run down the favourite and win by a head. ROKSANA was just under three lengths back in third with INDEFATIGABLE also coming from off the pace for fourth.

The front four were nicely clear and are all decent fillies. ROKSANA is trapped in a no woman’s land (I suppose) of being too slow for 4000m and not a strong enough stayer for 4800m. I wonder if they’ll be tempted to see if she stays better over the fences. CONCERTISTA did little wrong in defeat and presumably will be back for this next year. The winner had been runner up in the Coral Cup, a handicap at this meeting, last year but has obviously improved and it was a welcome first winner for Denise Foster who has taken over the yard from the suspended Gordon Elliott.

In the big races, it was Ireland 3 England 1 and to be fair in APPRECIATE IT, SHISHKIN and HONEYSUCKLE, we saw three very strong champions and it will be fascinating to see what the future holds for them, especially the two novices.

 

[stodge 1,949]

The final day betting plan (assuming I have arms, legs and a pot to pi$$ in):

1.20: Triumph Hurdle - QUILIXIOS - £10 win at  7/2

1.55: Handicap - no bet

2.30: Albert Bartlett Hurdle - ADRIMEL - £2.50 e/w at SP

3.05: Gold Cup - CHAMP - £10 win at 5/1

3.40: Foxhunters - BILLAWAY - £10 win at SP

4.15: Mares Chase - COLREEVY - £10 win at 4/1

4.50: Handicap - no bet

 

[Red Rum 1,833]

Belfast Banter race 2 , just off the minimum weight  , running well in Irish Novices.  Good run in Ascot handicap in December .Good each way value at 40s in 26 horse field , UK 1/5 the odds 1 to 7 places , OZ might be similar . 

[stodge 1,949]

Day 2 of the Cheltenham Festival was a cloudier and colder day but with little or no overnight rain, the ground was upgraded to Good to Soft, Soft in places.

The opening Grade 1 was the Ballymore for the mid-distance novice hurdlers over 4000m. Once again, the Irish looked to dominate with both BOB OLINGER from the Champion Hurdle winning yard of Henry de Bromhead and GAILLIARD DU MESNIL from the Willie Mullins stable leading the market. The best of the home team looked to be BRAVEMANSGAME who had won the Challow at Newbury last time.

It wasn’t long before Harry Cobden had BRAVEMANSGAME in the lead and well though he was jumping and travelling, the two Irish challengers were both seemingly going well in behind. BOB OLINGER wasn’t good at the third last but soon came back on the bridle and at the second last jumped past BRAVEMANSGAME who simply couldn’t quicken. From there, it was straightforward for Rachel Blackmore as BOB OLINGER powered up the hill to win by seven and a half lengths. GALLIARD DU MESNIL fluffed the last and never landed a blow on the winner with BRAVEMANSGAME just holding third from BEAR GHYLLS who ran home fourth.

BRAVEMANSGAME is a chaser in the making – no question – and I know Paul Nicholls thinks he will be a fantastic steeplechaser so a bit further and the bigger obstacles could well see him in a better light. I’m less convinced the first two are natural chasers – to be fair, the winner isn’t short of speed and might well have given APPRECIATE IT something to think about in the Supreme had he gone there. I imagine they’ll look to fences for both BOB OLINGER and GALLIARD DU MESNIL, but I wonder if the 4000m trip will be seen as the better option than the staying trip.

This year’s crop of staying novice chasers had their time in the Brown Brothers Chase over 4800m. MONKFISH, from the Mullins stable, looked the dominant horse in this division having won both the credential chases in Ireland at Christmas and in early February with the minimum of fuss.

With only six runners, they were never going to go hard from the start and indeed the lack of pace caused one or two of these jumping problems, but MONKFISH and THE BIG BREAKAWAY dominated from the start. SPORTING JOHN made a horrendous jumping error at the fence past the stands going out on the second circuit – Richard Johnson did wonders to stay on board, but his chance was gone. At the next fence, ECLAT DE RIRE nodded on landing and dislodged Rachel Blackmore leaving Paul Townend and MONKISH with the two Colin Tizzard trained runners THE BIG BREAKAWAY and FIDDLERONTHEHOOF and with the former weakening after a mistake three out, Townend sent MONKFISH for home from the second last but the loose ECLAT DE RIRE was doing him no favours and MONKFISH didn’t jump the last well.

MONKFISH powered up the hill and won by six and a half lengths and those who took the 1/4 could form an orderly queue at the pay out window. It wasn’t wholly convincing – a few commentators were quite negative – but the pace of the race didn’t help. In a Gold Cup, you’d see a much faster gallop with more runners and that would, I’m certain, suit MONKFISH in comparison to this which was akin to driving a sports car in third gear.

FIDDLERONTHEHOOF has always promised to be a decent staying chaser and on this evidence he’s well on the way. He’s not blessed with tactical speed, but he jumps and stays and there’s a big prize with his name on it in the future.

The Queen Mother Champion Chase is the championship race for the speedy chasers over 3200m. With last year’s winner ALTIOR side-lined, CHACUN POUR SOI was a short priced favourite to continue the Mullins and Irish domination of St Patrick’s Day.  There was drama before the start when last year’s winner POLITOLOGUE was scratched owing to bleeding from the nose.

From the start, as you might expect, there was no quarter asked or given. ROUGE VIF led early with PUT THE KETTLE ON prominent followed by CHACUN POUR SOI and the likes of NOTEBOOK, NUBE NEGRA, SCEAU ROYAL and GREANETEEN all waited with. Down the far side, CHACUN POUR SOI’s jumping was a little erratic – indeed, he was going so well he overjumped on a couple of occasions.

ROUGE VIF hit the fence at the top of the hill and that was his race over and PUT THE KETTLE ON led down the hill, but the pack was closing and there was plenty of scrimmaging with SCEAU ROYAL being badly impeded as the field passed the weakening ROUGE VIF. On the home turn, there were still plenty of chances, but Paul Townend had CHACUN POUR SOI in front from PUT THE KETTLE ON and GREANETEEN but PUT THE KETTLE ON produced the jump she needed and landed with momentum to outbattle CHACUN POUR SOI up the hill.

NUBE NEGRA had to switch round the favourite and was closing on PUT THE KETTLE but was a half length down at the jam stick. CHACUN POUR SOI was a length back in third with GREANETEEN in fourth closely followed by SCEAU ROYAL, FIRST FLOW and NOTEBOOK.

FIRST FLOW was in all sorts of trouble down the far side – he just couldn’t keep up with the championship gallop but ran on well up the hill and you’d think over 4000m or on softer ground he’d be a real star. SCEAU ROYAL was desperately unlucky – he was beaten less than four lengths – and plenty will argue he’d have been in the first three with a clear run.

GREANETEEN out ran his odds and he’s one for next year though he may be taking on NUBE NEGRA and that won’t be easy. CHACUN POUR SOI just didn’t get home – he’s a funny type who either jumps too well or not well enough. He’s able to boss inferior horses on flatter tracks but up against the cracks at Cheltenham and you just sense his heart isn’t in a fight.

NUBE NEGRA ran a blinder as I thought he would and it’s worth pointing out the 7 lbs mares allowance made the difference. He’s the one to beat in this and races like the Tingle Creek but will always prefer decent ground.

PUT THE KETTLE ON won the Arkle last year so she has done what SHISHKIN will try to do I suspect. She won over course and distance in the autumn and saves her best for this course – she was well held by CHACUN POUR SOI on the flatter Leopardstown course in slower ground.

As to whether NUBE NEGRA or GREANETEEN or any of them will be up to the challenge of SHISHKIN next year, that remains to be seen but this was far and away the race of the meeting so far in terms of spectacle.

The final Grade 1 of the second day was the Champion Bumper or National Hunt Flat Race over 3200m. As is so often the case, the Irish and Willie Mullins seemed to have the leading contenders in SIR GERHARD and KILCRUIT but it’s a race which often throws up an unconsidered one which has been quietly “plotted” for the race.

This year, though, wasn’t like that. Paul Townend had chosen KILCRUIT, but Rachel Blackmore set the pace on SIR GERHARD and on the home turn had poached a lead of four lengths and while KILCRUIT went in pursuit and got to within half a length at the line, he never really looked like pegging back the winner. The two finished six and a half lengths clear of the others and are clearly both very good horses. It’s often the case the Bumper winners aren’t quick enough for the Supreme so you’d be inclined to think the Ballymore might be the logical objective, but I suspect Mullins won’t want them clashing all season and perhaps one of them will go further and head for the Albert Bartlett.

Finally, just worth mentioning dual National winner TIGER ROLL won the cross-country chase with ease to regain the title he lost last year. He won’t be going to Aintree but has been entered for the Irish equivalent at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday, but he clearly needs decent ground these days.

A memorable St Patrick’s Day for the Irish who won six of the seven races to open up an 11-3 lead over the British in the Prestbury Cup. There’s little doubt on this evidence the balance of power in jumping up here has tilted toward the Irish but there’s still two days for the British to salvage something.

[Red Rum 1,833]

13 hours ago, Red Rum said:

Belfast Banter race 2 , just off the minimum weight  , running well in Irish Novices.  Good run in Ascot handicap in December .Good each way value at 40s in 26 horse field , UK 1/5 the odds 1 to 7 places , OZ might be similar . 

The classic Irish set up job , hoses home  at 33s . 

[Rusty 575]

19 hours ago, Red Rum said:

Belfast Banter race 2 , just off the minimum weight  , running well in Irish Novices.  Good run in Ascot handicap in December .Good each way value at 40s in 26 horse field. 

Between Belfast Banter getting up at any ole odds, and Vintage Crop, sorry I mean Vintage Clouds rolling home at plenty a few days ago, I dare suggest that tonight at the fish and chip shop, perhaps upgrade from the cheap plain battered fish, to the crumbed sole fillet. Whilst you're at it treat yourself to a couple of those wee plastic, single serve tartare sauce sachets. 

Great tipping on the northern horses mate! 

[stodge 1,949]

Day 3 of the Cheltenham Festival kept the cloudy and cool theme. The racing moved to the other course (the New Course) which is a more galloping track and for example there are only two hurdles in the final 1400m.

The opening race was the Grade 1 Marsh Novices Chase over 4000m for the mid-distance novices. ENVOI ALLEN, unbeaten in eleven races, went off 4/9 favourite – he had won the Bumper in 2019 and the Ballymore last year and had swept all before him in novice chases in Ireland.

However, it all went wrong at the fourth as ENVOI ALLEN took off too early, banked the fence and fell. Fortunately, he’s fine and will live to fit another day. That changed the complexion of the race and SHAN BLUE went prominent and down the far side Harry Skelton tried to jump the race out of the others, but SHAN BLUE wasn’t fluent enough often enough and the pack always had him in their sights down the hill.

FUSIL RAFFLES had disputed early before Skelton sent SHAN BLUE on and he came back to challenge approaching the second last with CHANTRY HOUSE, CHATHAM STREET LAD and ASTERION FORLONGE but by the last it was CHANTRY HOUSE who had asserted for Nico de Boinville and he led home a 1-2 for veteran trainer Nicky Henderson for whom this was a 70^th Cheltenham Festival winner making him the most successful British trainer of all time.

CHANTRY HOUSE beat FUSIL RAFFLES by three lengths with ASTERION FORLONGE third, CHATHAM STREET LAD fourth and SHAN BLUE fading to fifth. You’d have to say the departure of ENVOI ALLEN devalued this to some extent but let’s not forget CHANTRY HOUSE was third in the 2020 Ballymore to his other stable mate, SHISHKIN and comprehensively reversed December form with FUSIL RAFFLES on this better ground. I think he could be a Ryanair contender next year.

Speaking of which, three late withdrawals due to the quickening ground left just eleven in the 4000m Ryanair Chase, the Championship race for the mid-distance chasers. On paper, this looked a wide-open race with many chances, but the money came for ALLAHO, who had previously looked the Mullins second string behind MIN.

However, this seemingly open race was taken apart by ALLAHO who produced a scintillating performance in making nearly every yard. MIN went with him until he weakened from three out and while the likes of KALASHNIKOV and FAKIR D’OUDAIRIES along with TORNADO FLYER scrapped it out for the minor places, there was only one winner and ALLAHO came home by 12 lengths.

A number of reputations went up in smoke with the likes of MIN, MELON, IMPERIAL AURA and MISTER FISHER all pulling up, broken by the relentless gallop set by the winner and on that evidence, you’d have to wonder whether we’ve seen next year’s Gold Cup winner (and that even allows for MONKFISH).

ALLAHO was third to CHAMP in the staying novice chase last year but put up a couple of moderate efforts in the John Durkan and the Savils and for all he won well at Thurles last time, this was a huge step forward and while the Gold Cup looks a big ask, the way this horse jumped and ran suggested he could mix it with the very best.

The Stayers’ Hurdle is, as it says on the tin, the championship race for the staying hurdlers over 4800m. Last year’s winner LISNAGAR OSCAR and the winner the previous year PAISLEY PARK formed the core of the British challenge but faced a strong Irish challenge from the likes of SIRE DU BERLAIS, FLOORING PORTER and FURY ROAD with the last named backed into 4/1 against PAISLEY PARK.

Jonathan Moore, FLOORING PORTER’s usual rider, stood himself down in the morning. He had a heavy fall at Naas last Sunday and still didn’t feel 100% so selflessly gave the ride to Danny Mullins.

From the start, Mullins made his intentions clear sending FLOORING PORTER to the front and setting a searching gallop. LISNAGAR OSCAR crashed out at the seventh and badly hampered FURY ROAD ending his race.

At the top of the hill Mullins took a breather and then kicked down the hill towards two out by which time the chasing pack were under pressure but trying to close. However, they never landed a blow and with a fluent leap at the last, FLOORING PORTER was away and gone and ran on strongly to win by three and a quarter lengths. SIRE DU BERLAIS ran on for second depriving PAISLEY PARK who had to settle for third while BEACON EDGE, who had threatened briefly on the home turn, weakened for fourth and THE STORYTELLER was a never nearer fifth and I’d love to see him in a National.

It's no coincidence the winner was the youngest horse in the race, and I noted in the preview the staying division was in a period of transition and so it may have proved with one or two of those in the Ballymore and maybe the Albert Bartlett looking like they could be stayers next year. Both second and third are 9-y-o and you just wonder if their time has been and gone – the fourth, BEACON EDGE, as a 7-y-o, could yet improve but the winner is now the dominant force in the staying division and will surely be a big player in the next couple of seasons.

It was good for the British to get one back but the Irish dominance of the top races continues unabated – ALLAHO was spectacular and I’d love to see him in a King George as Kempton’s 4800m on decent ground looks tailor made.

[Red Rum 1,833]

4 hours ago, Rusty said:

Between Belfast Banter getting up at any ole odds, and Vintage Crop, sorry I mean Vintage Clouds rolling home at plenty a few days ago, I dare suggest that tonight at the fish and chip shop, perhaps upgrade from the cheap plain battered fish, to the crumbed sole fillet. Whilst you're at it treat yourself to a couple of those wee plastic, single serve tartare sauce sachets. 

Great tipping on the northern horses mate! 

After this week it' s one of those rare days today  Rusty that a man feels alive and can come in from work and  say to his family get dressed up smart  I am treating you out me winnings ,  get in the Ford  Cortina guys we are all  off out to the  Chippy and you can all have  anything you want from Menu up to a total cost of 5 bucks each , then come home and gorge on the fine cuisine , inc individually wrapped Tartare Sauce sachets.

[stodge 1,949]

The final day of the Cheltenham Festival maintained the cloudy and rather cool theme. A dampening of drizzle left the ground on the New course unchanged at Good to Soft.

The opening Grade 1 was the Triumph Hurdle, the championship race for the 4-y-o hurdlers over 3200m. As with the other novice events this week, an unusually small but select field as the costs of transportation and other factors meant it wasn’t worth the effort for those for whom running at Cheltenham was more about the craic than any serious prospect of success.

Three dominated the market – two from Ireland and one from Britain. The Irish par had been in the same yard until a couple of weeks ago but with Gordon Elliott’s disgrace, connections of QUILIXIOS had moved him to Henry de Bromhead while ZANAHIYR had remained but now under the care of Denise Foster. TRITONIC, the impressive winner of the Adonis at Kempton, carried the hopes of the British who had already conceded the Prestbury Cup to Ireland.

QUILIXIOS was always prominent from the start and disputed with TALKING ABOUT YOU to the top of the hill. ZANAHIYR was taking a hold as was ADAGIO but both were close in behind followed by HAUT DE COULEURS and TRITONIC.

On the downhill run to the second last, Rachel Blackmore sent QUILIXIOS on and off the home turn she quickened again and immediately TRITONIC was beaten. Tom Scudamore moved up with menace on ADAGIO but at the last QUILIXIOS put in an immaculate leap and that settled it. He kept on strongly up the hill to score by three and a quarter lengths. ADAGIO just held off HAUT DE COULEURS to hold second while ZANAHIYR was fourth and TRITONIC fifth.

TRITONIC might do better at Aintree if the ground comes up decent while ZANAHIYR might also prefer a flatter track. I was particularly taken by the third HAUT DE COULEURS who was having his first run since arriving from France where he had won over 3600m at Auteuil. I suspect he’ll give the winner plenty to think about next time.

ADAGIO comes out of this as arguably the best British juvenile – he should have won the Finale at Chepstow in January but idled and he’s the one I would take forward to next year as a potential rival to the likes of HONEYSUCKLE. The winner was very good, and I suppose a fence beckons – given a past winner of this went on to win two Grand Nationals anything is possible, but the Triumph very often ruins horses. That may not be the case this week given it was a smaller field and a much less frenetic race – I imagine they’ll go to Punchestown but he’s not proven on good ground so that may be the last we see of him until next season.

The staying novice hurdlers have their championship race in the form of the Albert Bartlett over 4800m. This is one of those races which can be a huge bearing on the feature as the principals can either challenge for top honours as staying hurdlers or as staying novice chasers.

As always, this looked a very trappy race – the Irish looked to have big chances with STATTLER from the Mullins yard and FAKIERA along with TORYGRAPH from Denise Foster’s stable. The best of the British looked to be BARBADOS BUCK’S and THREEUNDERTHRUFIVE from the Paul Nicholls yard for whom, by his usual standards, it had been a quiet week.

Richard Johnson sent ADMIREL to the front after the third with VANILLIER prominent throughout – on the other hand, BARBADOS BUCK’S was in trouble after the first and never looked that happy. At the top of the hill the field clustered with any number going well and looking for position.

In the straight, a bunch finish still seemed likely, but no one told Mark Walsh on VANILLIER who quickened away between the last two and in the end routed these by eleven lengths. OSCAR ELITE came out of the pack to be another placed runner for the Tizzard yard in second with STREETSOFDOYEN third. STATLER travelled into the race well but fluffed the last which I think cost him second, but he wouldn’t have won. After him came ALAPHILIPPE and THREEUNDERTHRUFIVE.

This was another visually impressive performance but VANILLIER, though nibbled at in the betting market in the morning, was still returned at 14/1. That was mainly due to a poor effort at Leopardstown in early February when he finished over 50 lengths behind STATTLER and FAKIERA in the Irish equivalent to this race. Last November, he had beaten STATTLER at Naas, but it was a classic example of forgiving a horse one bad run. This was a second Grade 1 meeting for handler Gavin Cromwell after FLOORING PORTER won the Stayers the previous day.

I imagine he’ll jump a fence now and it’ll be a problem for Cromwell if connections decide they want a hurdling campaign, and he will have two of the top stayers in his yard.

I’m sure OSCAR ELITE will jump a fence next season and I think STATTLER will improve a lot for the larger obstacles.

It’s worth mentioning VANILLIER beat OSCAR ELITE by 12 lengths in an Irish point-to-point in 2019 – nearly two years on and they reproduced that form almost to the ounce. It also demonstrates the strength of the Irish point-to-point arena as a nursery for young jumpers – British buyers used to dominate and being the horses back across the Irish Sea to be trained. Now, the buyers are still British, but they keep the horses to be trained in Ireland because, to be blunt, the Irish jump prize money is so much better than the British. It’s that more than anything else which is the cause for the shift in balance to Ireland in recent years and the BHA and others need to take a long hard look at jump racing funding – the onus seems to be on quantity – more races for betting shops and the tv channels – and quality in terms of running races for decent money has suffered.

On then to the Gold Cup – the championship staying steeplechase over 5200m. The winners of the last three renewals gave this race all the depth you would expect. AL BOUM PHOTO, winner in 2019 and 2020, went off favourite while 2018 winner, NATIVE RIVER, came in to the race on the back of a rejuvenated win at Sandown.

The Irish challenge was much more than the dual winner and favourite – KEMBOY, a horse who has dominated Leopardstown but never enjoyed Cheltenham to the same extent and the de Bromhead pair of MINELLA INDO and A PLUS TARD. The home challenge looked led by the Henderson pair of CHAMP and last year’s runner up SANTINI as well as King George winner FRODON and the promising novice ROYALE PAGAILLE.

Richard Johnson had hoped to get NATIVE RIVER to the front from the start but the old boy (the horse, not the rider) just didn’t have the speed and was always struggling. For Nicky Henderson, the race was a nightmare, but it was over quickly – CHAMP belted the second fence and was never happy and was pulled up at the top of the hill on the first circuit. SANTINI clouted one of the ditches on the far side and was eventually pulled up in front of the empty stands with a circuit to go.

Bryony Frost and FRODON did what they do best – made the running and jumped from fence to fence but the Irish were never far away. MINELLA INDO, A PLUS TARD and AL BOUM PHOTO all sat in behind the pace while KEMBOY and BLACK OP (running a huge race) were up the front.

Going down the hill for the final time, FRODON went on but was quickly attended by MINELLA INDO and A PLUS TARD while Paul Townend finessed AL BOUM PHOTO into a challenging position but jockeyship counts even in a 5200m race and as they approached the home turn Rachel Blackmore moved over to hold in Paul Townend on AL BOUM PHOTO. As it turned out, it didn’t win the race for her and it probably didn’t lose the race for him, but the beneficiary was Jack Kennedy on MINELLA INDO who quickened ahead moving down the last and had enough in hand to hold the late rally of A PLUS TARD winning by a length and a quarter. AL BOUM PHOTO was four and a half lengths further back in third and in turn 25 lengths ahead of the first British trained runner, NATIVE RIVER.

Of the others, FRODON again proved 5200m is too far for him at Cheltenham and weakened into fifth. It was all too much and too quick for ROYALE PAGAILLE who wants it much softer while KEMBOY once again showed he loathes Cheltenham.

The paucity of the British staying chasers was laid bare here – NATIVE RIVER is frankly a slow old boat, but he finished well in fourth – I’d love him to run in a Grand National, but I suspect his connections aren’t keen.

As for the first three, AL BOUM PHOTO was defeated but not disgraced. He’s been superbly campaigned by Willie Mullins but whether we’ll see him again at this exalted level remains to be seen. A PLUS TARD won the Savils at Christmas which I thought was the best staying chase in Britain and Ireland, but this was unknown territory and while you can’t say he didn’t stay he was just running on empty close home. He’s only a 7-y-o and will be back next year.

For MINELLA INDO this was redemption on the biggest stage of all. He won the Albert Bartlett in 2019 and was only just outrun by CHAMP in the staying novice event last year. He was favourite to win the Savils but fell early on and was then flat when fourth to KEMBOY at the Dublin Festival, but this is a horse in which connections have always believed.

For Jack Kennedy, this was redemption after the fall from ENVOI ALLEN on Thursday and while Rachel Blackmore seized the riding plaudits, on this occasion she got it wrong, and he was on the right one.

Henry de Bromhead becomes the first trainer to saddle the winners of the Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase, and Gold Cup in the same year and that’s an incredible achievement eclipsing the expected dominance of Willie Mullins.

To be fair, Mullins has MONKFISH waiting in the wings next season and it’s no surprise the staying novice chase winner is 4/1 favourite for the 2022 Gold Cup. ENVOI ALLEN and MINELLA INDO are at 8/1, A PLUS TARD at 10/1 and the best of the British challengers is CHANTRY HOUSE at 16/1.

It wasn’t so much a whitewash as a greenwash as the Irish swept the British aside in almost all divisions this year. The balance has never been so one-sided for the reasons I’ve stated above (among others). Paul Nicholls, the British champion trainer, was almost absent and the Irish won the Prestbury Cup 23-5, their best result ever. The British haven’t won since 2015 and are light years away from so doing.

With the notable exception of SHISHKIN who looks a real threat to the Irish in the Queen Mother next year, the Irish look set to dominate the other NH divisions for the foreseeable future.

[stodge 1,949]

Just to mention tomorrow's opening Irish turf flat meeting at The Curragh will take place on Soft to Heavy ground and it seems I'm not the only one who thinks SILVER SURFER could be interesting - he's 5/4 overnight with CADAMOSTO at 3/1.

[stodge 1,949]

Well, I can't match @Red Rum for tipping prowess - superb spot on BELFAST BANTER by the way. 

MY book for the week ended up as follows:

Day One:

1.20: Supreme Novices Hurdle: METIER (£10 win SP) - LOST

1.55: Arkle Novices Chase: ALLMANKIND (£5 win SP) - LOST

2.30: Handicap - ALNADAM (£5 each way @ 14s) – LOST (7^th, my bookie paid down to 6^th)

3.05: Champion Hurdle - SHARJAH (£10 each way @10s) – 2^nd – returned £32

3.40: Mares Hurdle - ROKSANA (£20 win @4s) - LOST

4.50: Handicap: REMASTERED (£5 each way @12s) – LOST

Staked:  £75

Returns: £32

Loss on Day: £43

Day Two:

1.20 Ballymore Novices Hurdle - BRAVEMANSGAME £20 win at 5/1 - LOST

1.55: Brown Advisory Novices Chase - ECLAT DE RIRE £2.50 each way at SP - LOST

3.05: Champion Chase - NUBE NEGRA £10 each way at SP – 2^nd at 11/1 – returned £32

3.40: Cross Country Chase - DEFI DES CARRES £2.50 each way at SP – LOST

Staked: £50

Returns: £32

Loss on day: £18

Total Loss after Day 2: £61

Day Three: 

1.20: Marsh Novices Chase - SHAN BLUE £5 each way at SP - LOST

2.30: Ryanair Chase - IMPERIAL AURA £10 win at 8/1 - LOST

3.05: World Hurdle - FLOORING PORTER £10 each way at SP – WON at 12/1, returned £164 

Staked: £40

Returns; £164

Profit on Day: £124

Total Profit after Day 3: £63 

Day Four: 

1.20: Triumph Hurdle - QUILIXIOS - £10 win at 7/2 – WON, returned £45

2.30: Albert Bartlett Hurdle - ADRIMEL - £2.50 e/w at SP - LOST

3.05: Gold Cup - CHAMP - £10 win at 5/1 - LOST

3.40: Foxhunters - BILLAWAY - £10 win at SP - LOST

4.15: Mares Chase - COLREEVY - £10 win at 4/1 – WON, returned £50 

Staked: £45

Returns: £95

Profit on Day: £50

Total Profit at end of Festival: £113

In the end, it all worked out fine. Indeed, if the three seconds had gone in I'd have been well ahead but that's still a 50% return over the week and I can't really complain. Best decision I made was to go in stronger on FLOORING PORTER than I had intended. 

 

[drewandjo 129]

I see the first runner for Caravaggio finished a well beaten fourth as 13/8 fav in the first Irish meeting of the year at the Curragh..the Ballymore team won both 3YO maidens, the fillies by the full relation to group winners Gleneagles, Happily, Taj Mahal & Coolmore and the colts a son of No Nay Never

[stodge 1,949]

20 hours ago, drewandjo said:

I see the first runner for Caravaggio finished a well beaten fourth as 13/8 fav in the first Irish meeting of the year at the Curragh..the Ballymore team won both 3YO maidens, the fillies by the full relation to group winners Gleneagles, Happily, Taj Mahal & Coolmore and the colts a son of No Nay Never

JOAN OF ARC is bred in the purple as they say up here. Full sister to GLENEAGLES, HAPPILY and TAJ MAHAL among others. She's 10/1 for the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on the back of yesterday's performance.

HOROSCOPE is the complete opposite - the dam has thrown nothing and I just wonder whether the colts maiden was anything special. Both the maidens were run 10 seconds over standard suggesting it was very deep early ground.

That may have done for SILVER SURFER in the opening maiden but MISSING MATRON was an emphatic if unconsidered winner at 16/1. She's full sister to two moderate jumpers in Britain so make of that what you will. It's worth remembering the stable introduced DAWN APPROACH in this race and he was pretty good. 

[stodge 1,949]

All roads lead to Meydan this week with the World Cup the feature of a stellar eight race card with five Group 1 and three Group 2 races.

Looking at the Group 1 races:

13 go in the Al Quoz Sprint over 1200m on the grass. Favourite is SPACE BLUES but he's better known as a 1400m horse and I'm far from convinced this flat 1200m will be in his favour. EQUILATERAL is coming from the opposite direction - he's a 1000m horse and I'm not convinced the 1200m will work for him either. FINAL SONG won a Group 3 over course and distance three weeks ago and is well fancied but at a price I prefer the runner up MOTAFAAWIT who is 14/1 but was only a length behind FINAL SONG and on similar terms could be worth an each way shout.

The Golden Shaheen is also over 1200m but on the Dirt. The Japanese pair COPANO KICKING and MATERA SKY were first and second in the Riyadh Sprint on Saudi Cup day and this is basically the Dubai equivalent. Both have claims - YAUPON was excellent in the US until flopping in the Breeders Cup Sprint at Keeneland. WILDMAN JACK was seventh in the Breeders Cup Turf Sprint but did it very well on the Dirt at Santa Anita last time. CANVASSED and SWITZERLAND are the best of the locals but this looks a wide open race.

13 go in the Dubai Turf over 1800m. The wonderful LORD GLITTERS got up to win the Jebel Hatta last time -  EQTIRAAN and AL SUHAIL were second and third and re-oppose. REGAL REALITY has been a consistent performer in the UK but is a notch below Group 1 grade for all he has run really well at Group 2 level over 1600m. Top rated is LORD NORTH who brings the very best European form to this. He was a convincing winner of the Prince of Wales at Ascot, a fine third to GHAIYYATH in the Juddmonte and while a flop in the Ascot mud can be excused, he was a strong fourth to TARNAWA in the Breeders Cup Turf at Keeneland. To me, he looks best fresh and has a huge chance. The Winter Derby runner up FELIX looks to have a lot to find as does the Japanese runner VIN DE GARDE.  

10 go in the Sheema Classic over 2400m and this looks another serious race. MISHRIFF won the Saudi Cup last time having won the Jockey Club earlier in the season. He's never run beyond 2000m so this will be fascinating but he's up against MOGUL who was denied a run in the Arc after a fine win in the Grand Prix de Paris. He was fifth to TARNAWA at Keeneland but last time bat none other than EXULTANT at Sha Tin. They've always rated him at Ballydoyle and this has a serious chance. Into the mix we can throw the Japanese challenger CHRONO GENESIS who was less than a length behind the great ALMOND EYE in the Tenno Sho last autumn before an impressive win in a Group 1 at Nakayama over this trip. Given the record of Japanese raiders of late, he's not to be undersestimated.

14 go in the Dubai World Cup which carries a first prize of £5.25 million. This doesn't look the strongest of renewals. The favourite is the American MYSTIC GUIDE who was runner up in the Jockey Club Gold Cup and sauntered home in a Grade 3 at Oaklawn last time. SALUTE THE SOLDIER won the final round of the Al Maktoum Challenge over this course and distance and is the best of the locals. Andre Fabre saddles MAGNY COURS who won a trial at Chantilly on the Polytrack last time. MILITARY LAW was sixth in the Saudi Cup last time and needs to bounce back from that.

More thoughts once the barrier draw is made. 

[stodge 1,949]

Harry has already referenced this but the death of Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum at the age of 75 has been widely reported up here.

In many ways, his legacy is as profound as that of Sheikh Mohammed. Sheikh Hamdan started the Shadwell Stud operation and owned many great racehorses. He was champion Owner nine times in the UK including both 2020 and 2019. 

Any number of champions carried his colours from NASHWAN and DAYJUR through ERHAAB to BATTAASH and one constant in today's tributes has been the deep sense of loyalty shown to trainers and jockeys by Sheikh Hamdan. 

He has a number of children and no announcement has been made about the future of the Shadwell racing and breeding empire.

Three days of national mourning have been declared in Dubai but the World Cup meeting is due to go ahead on Saturday.

 

[stodge 1,949]

Harry has already referred to the prize money changes coming in here over the weekend but to show what they mean in real terms:

Two maiden races - one at Lingfield on Friday and one at Doncaster on Saturday - both carry £5,300 in prize money.

On Friday, the winner will get £3428.57 (64.6%), the second £1020.25 (19%), the third £509.86 (9.6%) and the fourth £254.93 (4.8%)

On Saturday the winner will get £2862 (54%), the second £1343.55 (25.3%), the third £672.04 (12.6%) and the fourth £336.02 (6.3%)

So it's the same cake just with different slices rather than a bigger cake. Appearance fees are £350 over the jumps and £300 on the Flat.