Hi all,
There was a lot to take out of the Dublin Racing Festival. Some great performances and few horses to add the trackers going forward.
On the betting front, yesterday wasn’t good and I got involved in a couple of races I shouldn’t have but the racing was so tempting to resist.
My latest eyecatcher article will be with you tomorrow and by Wednesday you will have my latest Cheltenham ante post article which is likely to be the penultimate one as far as the Festival is concerned and there are a few more selections that I will be adding to the portfolio.
Just a few thoughts I would share with you on the Dublin Racing Festival and an improving handicap chaser that ran at Taunton yesterday
Leopardstown
Looking at the times for yesterday at the Dublin Racing Festival,
The watering, plus the small amount rain that fell overnight turned the ground much softer than the official going description of yielding.
The hurdles track was soft, and the chase course was more soft to heavy than yielding. It will be worth taking that into account going forward.
In the circumstances it was a good effort by Easy Game to run Faugheen so close in the Flogas Novices’ Chase. I have Easy Game down as a better horse on a sounder surface. Not sure why he’s as big as 12/1 for the Marsh Chase at the Festival while Faugheen is as short as 5/1.
If they both end up in the Marsh Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. That is going to be some race with the likes of Itchy Feet, very impressive at Sandown on Saturday, Allaho & Mister Fisher other possible runners.
Taunton
There was a welcome return to form for the Kim Bailey stable over the weekend.
Lots Of Luck was one of his winners taking the 2m 2f novices’ handicap chase at Taunton on Sunday in the manner of a progressive young handicap chaser. The 6-year-old is a big chasing type, just the sort that the trainer enjoys working with. He should stay 2m 4f and is very much ahead of his mark. He will go up a fair bit the weights for this effort, maybe 11 or 12lb but he has an entry at Huntingdon on Thursday so it will be interesting to see if the trainer decides to run him under a penalty. The trainer is 2 winners from 6 runners 33% -0.25 4 placed 67% with winning handicap chasers racing within seven days of their last start. Both winners were sent off favourite.
I don’t think there will be many selections until the weekend but watch your inbox for any updates as well as the eyecatcher and ante-post articles.
Cheers
John