John McWhinnie
John McWhinnie’s Blog - What a great weekend of highs and lows
20 February 2012
What a weekend!
Review and today
What a great weekend of highs and lows in the racing world we have had, from the re-arranged Newbury fixture on Friday to Sunday’s bonus meetings on Racing UK from Pau and St Moritz, we have been spoiled for choice. I could write 10,000 words and clog up the website today, but I won’t do that. Instead here is my top 10 from the weekend, some good, and some bad, in no particular order. Please feel free to comment.
1. Binocular’s defeat of Celestial Halo at Wincanton, just a little reminder that he is by no means done with yet and that the Champion Hurdle is not a one horse race.
2. AP McCoy-is there a week that goes by where he doesn’t get trampled into the ground, rise up like a Terminator and go on to win the following race?
3. The fantastic 3,379-1 5-timer for Dorset trainer Colin Tizzard in just over an hour on Saturday afternoon, I would assume his followers are still celebrating now.
4. Black Caviar extending her unbeaten run yet again to 19 - now I think, c’mon get yourself to Ascot and if your connections get dressed up they can come to?!
5. Triumph or Supreme, Triumph or Supreme? A nice choice to have for Alan King, whatever he decides for Balder Succes put it in your ‘Nag Me’ account. http://nagme.com/horse/116603/Balder-Succes-
6. Noel Fehily appointed as first jockey to Emma Lavelle, solid rider and well deserved.
7. Richard Hills announces his retirement from the saddle, and the book opens on his replacement for the retainer with Hamdan Al Maktoum, my choice would be SDS.(More on that below)
8. Best ride of the week-Ruby Walsh on Zarkandar on Friday, watch it gain and you will see why! http://www.racinguk.com/video/race-replays/2012-02-19
9. Worst ride of the week-Ruby Walsh on Nearest the Pin 4.0 Navan on Sunday, please watch that again and let me know why!
10. And last but not least we are only 22 days from the Festival.
Bourne’s win on Saturday paid for my weekend and then some. More improvement is expected and here are where a couple more eye-catchers to go in the account from the weekend:-
http://nagme.com/horse/116667/New-Years-Eve- and http://nagme.com/horse/102934/Royal-Guardsman-
Monday’s racing is a little more....well Monday morning, although Robert Cowell thinks that his horse, Cats Eyes ‘will be in the first three at worst’ in Wolverhampton’s 5.0, Princess Gail catches my eye in the 2.45 and I have rustled a couple of Lay bets below if you must have a bet today.
Twitter @ProlificRUK
Lot’s of speculation and suggestions flying around Twitter, on Richard Hill’s replacement. Buick, Hanagan, Barzalona have all been mentioned and for any one of these it would be a step up and surely a job they could not refuse. One cheeky tweeter suggested Mr Fallon who is still a legend and can still do the business. Another suggested Derek Chisora, but I think he may have been joking? And what about Hayley Turner for the job, go on I dare you!
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Lay of the Day
Today's LAY selections (2.2 in running win market and 1.6 in running place market) are:-
Do It For Dalkey 3.40 Carlisle
Dunmore Boy 6.0 Wolverhampton
Today’s Comp Selections
No Selections
Regards
Prolific
@ProlificRUK
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