Racing Nerd

It is brilliant to have the excellent Betfair Hurdle card to look forward to today. There are plenty of interesting horses on show, not least last year's RSA Chase winner Champ, as he reappears over the minimum trip. Realistically, it is impossible to see him winning a Grade 2 at this trip considering it took him almost the full trip to hit the front in the 3 mile Novice at the Festival. It is clearly being used to get a run into him without bottoming him out over 3 miles so close to Cheltenham. Nicky Henderson loves running his horses at Newbury too and I am sure he will be quite fit with the Gold Cup less than four weeks away. The race doesn't interest me from a betting point of view though and instead I want to look at the hugely competitive Betfair Hurdle.  On To Victory  was a winner for the blog in the November Handicap off a mark of 99 and that alone suggests he could be well-handicapped off a mark of 129. The fact that he hasn't shown it yet is of little concern as

While one eye is very much on Cheltenham for most people at this stage, we have an excellent weekend of racing this weekend, enhanced by Newbury's Betfair Hurdle meeting rescheduled from last weekend to Sunday. Tomorrow's action has a Grade 1 feature from Ascot where Cyrname is the short-priced favourite. He is possibly the horse in training that has divided public opinion the most. I, for one, have just come to the point where I can't figure him out. I'm starting to think he needs things going his own way and while that may well happen tomorrow, his unpredictability means I won't be having a financial involvement in the race. I thought Master Tommytucker was priced fairly but the change in jockey is a big negative for him in particular as he needs a lot of help at his fences and Harry Cobden just about had him figured out.   In terms of a selection tomorrow, I am heading up to Haydock where course form is always a huge plus and a starting point for me in many races

Firstly, I must admit putting both feet into it in the blog on today's racing. I thought Honeysuckle was vulnerable and she proved me wrong in emphatic style. It was one of those times that I was quite happy to be wrong watching Rachael Blackmore at the peak of her powers with her perfect partner in the mare. As impressive as it was, you could argue it wasn't the most impressive performance of the day. For me, I was blown away by Kilcruit in the Bumper. While it was only a Grade 2, I thought it looked a real good race beforehand and he passed them like they were trees on the straight before powering away unextended to win by the proverbial mile. Chacun Pour Soi did what he does, he just oozes class and it is hard to explain his ability in words. The closest thing I can say is just that he has the X-Factor, hard to define but easily recognisable. I adore him. Energumene gave us another brilliant display in the Arkle and Shishkin will at least have something to seriously think ab

What a weekend we have in store. The Dublin Racing Festival has had some negativity since its inception (mostly due to ground conditions admittedly), but one cannot argue with the quality racing we are being treated to this weekend. We start with four Grade 1's tomorrow and a Grade 2 bumper that is a Grade 1 in all but name. As well as that, there is excellent racing from Sandown (hopefully) if it passes a morning inspection and the rescheduled Cleeve Hurdle also takes place at Wetherby. I have focused my attention on Leopardstown however, as I was surprised to hear that Sandown passed the inspection on Friday afternoon. I was tempted by Hitman in the Scilly Isles' Novices Chase as I think the trip will suit after staying on well behind Allmankind last time. That race was run at a frantic gallop and I think he might have too much speed for his rivals here late on but I won't put him forward as a selection. It does appear to be a really strong renewal and the price is short