Tanya Stevenson
Hard to think it is soft at Ayr when sunny down here
19 September 2012
Today's selections:
2.10 Yarmouth Lord Of The Garter
3.15 Yarmouth Timepiece
4.00 Sandown Gabrial
As the sun beats down in Middlesex it’s hard to believe at Ayr the ground is soft, good to soft in places. I loved going up to Ayr, the betting ring was so strong and vibrant, those in it either standing up on a pitch or punting, welcoming.
Jim Goldie has sounded the warning regarding the ground for local favourite Hawkeyethenoo and its understandable why David Nagle is considering an Ayr Gold Cup challenge with Chipchase winner Maarek - he wants more rain if possible. At this stage I wouldn’t discount the chances of The Cheka. You need class and he possesses bundles.
I am hoping Richard Hughes can use all his skill and luck into cajole Gabrial back to winning ways today. He showed such promise when winning at Haydock in May and then followed it up with a blinding run at Royal Ascot. Subsequently maybe the expectation has been too high, a tactical event may suit both of them.
Over to day two of Yarmouth’s three day festival and although Sir Michael Stoute's runners have dominated the 2.10 in recent years, Lord Of The Garter’s form reads very well. On debut he was third to The Gold Cheongsam and last time out he was second to Wentworth at York, he deserves to break the maiden tag and I see the Racing UK predictor has gone for him, too!
Not that I like flagging up odds-on chances but Timepiece in Yarmouth’s 3.15 is eyecatching. Last time she ran she was fourth to Snow Fairy at Deauville!
I was sat in the cinema for most of Sunday watching Total Recall, Anna Karenina and Lawless, the latter totally outshone the other two and many other films I’ve seen this year, although I did enjoy Dredd. Lawless deserves an Oscar nomination. I’d put it in the best film category but I know it probably won’t sneak in. Tom Hardy for Best Actor at least, just as an acknowledgement of the brilliant and varied performances in all his films. He is unrecognisable from character to character and portrays them with an individuality which is extremely engaging and very rare.
When I did emerge from the cinema it was on to the NFL and after the high scores of week one, it was on to ludicrous eventualities for week two. New England beaten by Arizona. How can that be? Denver and Peyton Manning with three turnovers? They do say On Any Given Sunday and 16th September was just that! Not though for my Superbowl fancies and San Francisco 49ers blocked the Matthew Stafford airspace and reduced his normal 320+ passing yards to 220+. Massive plaudits go to Jeff Fisher, who stood on the sidelines with the utmost of patience and tolerance for his offense led by quarterback Sam Bradford. They were 21-6 down at one point, clawing it back to 21-13 at half-time. Then there must have been a magical Fisher team talk as they came back for an improbable win. Can’t wait to see Fisher and the Rams at Wembley in a few weeks. If there is one coach who knows how to shock New England….
Tanya's pointers:
Sir Henry Cecil has had seven winners from his last 13 runners
Tom Dascombe has had five winners from his last 13 runners
Ed Walker has had four winners from his last 9 Yarmouth runners
Jamie Spencer has had six winners, three seconds and three thirds from his last 21 rides
Don’t expect a result in Beverley’s 2.00 as the biggest starting price of the winner is 7-1
Nine of the last ten winners of Beverley’s 2.30 came from the first three in the betting
Course specialist Select Committee is attempting his third straight victory in Beverley’s 3.40
David Bergin has had three winners from his last seven rides at Beverley
The favourite has won Beverley’s 5.15 seven times in the last eight years
The favourite has won Sandown’s 3.25 eight times in the last ten years
Daniel Tudhope has won on both his Sandown rides
Sir Michael Stoute has won Yarmouth’s 2.10 four times in the last ten years
The favourite has won Yarmouth’s 2.10 nine times in the last ten years
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