Tanya Stevenson
Tanya’s Blog - Hands up who has Sprinter Sacre
18 February 2012
Hands up who has Sprinter Sacre as their new Cheltenham Festival banker!! What a day at Newbury yesterday, what an advert for racing, what an advert for FREE racing and if you were there how long did it take you to get out of the car-park! Might be worth jotting down all who ran at Newbury yesterday highlighting those who finished first or second and then seeing how many go on to glory in a few weeks on the hallowed turf.
I was sat in a studio in Ascot, yet still I was awestruck by Sprinter Sacre, I thought Evens was generous for March, so I wonder how much the 6-4 will last for the Racing Post Arkle.
Fast-forward to the Betfair Denman Chase and Long Run, a lucky winner me thinks, Burton Port was wrong footed at the last and a lack of a run to get match fit. Long Run was eased out to 5-2 and I’m a bit surprised the bookmakers didn’t venture out to 11-4 or even 3-1, but that may come on the day itself. Paddy Power was mightily impressed with Burton Port as his price contracted from 40-1 with Boylesports to as short as 8-1 with Paddy Power and as big as 16-1 with Sky Bet. The Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup is really shaping up into a rare battle even without Quito De La Roque. No surprise though that Burton Port snatch Grand National favouritism in some places from Junior. April 14 at Aintree just can’t come soon enough.
Roll on to the Betfair Hurdle and Zarkandar, whose performance was overshadowed by the horrendous fall of Darlan and AP McCoy at the second last, JP McManus’ runner may have even won, but he gained massive consolation and satisfaction with the run from Get Me Out Of Here. It is a race best watched again and again now we know that AP McCoy is safe and well and even had the gall to get up and ride the winner of the last!!!
Horses to note, Desert Cry, who was never ever, ever a factor made a mistake at every flight yet still loomed large turning into the straight, a big Cheltenham Festival or Aintree handicap hurdle beckons me thinks…..remember Tara Royal recently. Alarazi, last year’s Imperial Cup winner may well win at Sandown again providing there are no ill-effects from being hampered by the Darlan fall and unavoidably trampling all over AP McCoy. Then Get Me Out Of Here, surely the County Hurdle beckons and of course Zarkandar, he must now be relishing the chance of taking on Hurricane Fly.
On to today, trainer Richard Lee had a wonderful success with Knock A Hand yesterday at Newbury and he saddles Welsh National winner Le Beau Bai in the Grand National Trial at Haydock. He has finished third in 2010 & 2011 and hopes to go two better. Yet I am dishing out a big portion of forgiveness to ALWAYS RIGHT, taking a deep breath and ignoring his run at Wetherby in December and hoping he returns to the form which saw him win the Grimpthorpe and finish third in the Scottish National.
FEATHERBED LANE seems the ideal type to step in class and take in the Rendlesham at Haydock Park, his previous run in the Lanzarote at Kempton was a blinder.
Who dare bet against Nicky Henderson at present? He could have the first two winners at Ascot with Keys and BOBS WORTH. I thought the latter ran a blinder at Kempton and was never asked to go out of first gear. Now we know why, he has had a subsequent breathing operation. Ascot will suit Bobs Worth more so than Kempton and my RSA Chase selection needs to win this to have any hope in March.
To let you into a little secret I like Kauto Stone for the Ascot Chase, yet I will be watching Medermit much closer as he is my idea of a Cheltenham Festival winner and I hope he doesn’t disgrace himself.
ORZARE caught the attention of all and sundry at the last meeting at Ascot with his strong late run and barring a mistake at the last flight would have been closer. He could reduce the deficit if not reverse it with Smad Place at 3.35.
POINTERS
The last ten winners of the Reynoldstown Chase were aged either 5, 6 or 7
Eight of the last ten Reynoldstown Chase winners were priced 3-1 or shorter
Massini’s Maguire and Deep Purple have won two of their three races at Ascot
Five of the last six favourites have won the Betfair Ascot Chase
Robert Thornton has ridden Medermit 18 times to six wins, five seconds and three thirds
Noel Fehily has ridden Gauvain 19 times to seven wins, three seconds and two thirds
I’msingingtheblues has run four times at Ascot for a win and three seconds, but he has never won in five starts in February
Five of the last seven winners of Ascot’s 3.35 carried 10-12 or less
Eight of the last nine winners of Haydock’s 2.10 were aged five or six
Seven of the last nine winners of Haydock’s 2.10 were priced 4-1 or shorter
Recent winners of Haydock’s 2.10 include 2010 Wymott, 2008 Tazbar, 2007 Chief Dan George, 2006 Neptune Collonges, 2003 Iris’s Gift
The last nine favourites were beaten in the Grand National Trial at Haydock
Nine of the last ten winners of the Grand National Trial finished in the first three on their previous start
Fredo has won two of his three races at Haydock, King Fontaine has won two of his four races at Haydock
Mon Mome has not won in six runs at Haydock
Celestial Halo has won two of his three starts at Wincanton
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