13:10, Ladbrokes 'New Horse Racing Bet Builder' Handicap Hurdle
I managed to get on Olly Murphy's Hold The Serve at 3/1 on Friday, thinking that he'll shorten up. He did shorten up into 15/8 but so too did Grenadier Jed who opened up at 7/1 and was punted down to 7/4 fav at one point before drifting out to a 9/4 SP. Hold The Serve ran on well up the home straight to get the better of Royal Infantry with Grenadier Jed a fast finishing 3rd. The winner is a 3 mile chaser of the future but could go in again yet over hurdles before this season is out, maybe over 3 miles at Aintree. As for Grenadier Jed, a mid race flat spot cost him his chance and he may be suited to a more open track. Royal Infantry has proven he can mix it from his mark and ran well considering the poor stable form. The win made sure that I couldn't lose on the day, which was a huge boost to confidence after the disaster at Ascot last Saturday.
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13:46, Ladbrokes Adonis Juvenile Hurdle
If it wasn't for the dismal stable form, I'd of made Precious Man a decent bet here but in the end I decided to leave the ran alone. I had it in the back of my mind that La Luna Artista could go close though but missed the early price and had to duly sit and watch Jane Williams's filly romp home (stable going well). Precious Man suffered a fatal fall at 2 out and although hard pushed, you couldn't say the race was over for all the winner looked likely to come out on top. It was a very sad postscript to the race and connections must be devastated to lose such a promising young horse. The winner won well enough in the end to have her trainer pondering bigger things for all it sounded as though Cheltenham will come too soon. Imagine Aintree will be on the agenda. One Horse Town ran well considering he couldn't get to the front due to the free going French raider but I imagine Harry Derham will see the Triumph as a bit of a free hit anyway. One who is unlikely to head to Prestbury Park is Nicky Henderson's Fantasy World. A big money buy who just hasn't looked to have the gears at 2 miles over obstacles. If they want to continue in this code, he may have to go up in trip.
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14:25, Ladbrokes Pendil Novices' Chase
This race was late off due to the injury to Precious Man but they did well to make up time in the end. I thought Jax Junior would take the world of beating here as it looked a poor Pendil but I missed the even money and didn't want to get involved at odds-on so instead decided to have him in a double with one in the Ladbrokes Trophy later on (more on that later). Go West looked the main threat, if given a solo on the front end, and he was traveling well before banking into the last open ditch and that was his race over. From thereon in, it was plain sailing for Lucy Wadham's progressive young chaser and he won well in the end. He looks better at this trip but connections are entitled to have a go at the Arkle nonetheless and he's capable of being in the first 5. The Paddy Power could be a big early target next season.
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15:00, Ladbrokes Dovecote Novices' Hurdle
This was the race I got most involved in on the day. I made Klub De Reve a decent bet here and managed to get enough on at 9/2. He duly bolted up over course and distance in a decent novice on Boxing Day and it spoke volumes that connections were keen to target this. Nicky Henderson and JP's Mustang Du Breuil was being well backed and I managed to get on at 3/1 to make the French import a winner in the book, albeit not as big. It ate into likely profits but when the market speaks so well for a Henderson youngster it's best to keep them onside. In the end Harry Derham's 6 year old ran out a clear winner and it will be interesting to see if he takes up his entry in the Supreme or waits for Aintree, either way he'll be a lovely chaser in time. Chris Gordon's Kocktail Bleu bounced back to form here and could land a big handicap if he keeps his progression up. Mustang Du Breuil ran on well from an unpromising position up the straight, he lost the race when he dropped back through the pack at the half way point. He's clearly talented and will win more races. I was now well up for the day heading into the big race.
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15:35, Ladbrokes Trophy Handicap Chase
I had spied that Lookaway was freely available at 20/1 mid-week for this and very nearly had some money on, but in the back of my mind he'd be at least 14/1 on the day given I didn't really believe he had enough in hand from the handicapper to claim a race like this. When I saw he was no better that 8/1 by the morning of the race I had no choice to take him on and did so all day while he shorted. I considered Anthony Honeyball's Kdeaux Saint Fray the most likely winner and had him in a double with Jax Junior that paid about 12/1. Both of Emmett Mullins' runners were backed at double digit odds as well and a saver was invested on Katat Dori in case he managed to back up last year's win. In the end I had plenty laid out on the race but had to sit and suffer while Neil King's likeable 9 year old Lookaway fended off all challengers up the straight to run out a game winner. I'm not sure where he will go from here, maybe Aintree, but it doesn't matter after winning such a big prize. Doyen Chief ran on well to finish 2nd and connections must be delighted with him. I imagine it will all be about coming back here in 12 months time to go one better. Kdeaux Saint Fray ran well to finish 3rd but was ultimately outstayed. He's worth continuing with at the trip before going back down in distance as this was a hot race to have a first go at 3 miles in. Hoe Joly Smoke moved well throughout but found little like many of the stable's runners are at the moment and he should be considered for wherever he's going later on. Neither of the Irish horses ran well and that was disappointing. I was still in front for the day but this had put a bit of a dent in profits.
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16:05, 'Join Ladbrokes Bet 5 Get 30' Handicap Chase
I made this a 2 horse race between Bad and Califet En Vol. In the end the Henderson horse looked to have way more up his sleeve from a handicapping point of view so made sure I had enough on at 9/4 to win back the losses from the last race. A saver was laid on Bad and off we went. In the end it was pretty nice watching throughout and although Viroflay made a fight of it up the straight, de Boinville always looked to have matters in hand. I couldn't say where the winner will go now but he's progressive and should be kept on side whereas Bad is now looking poorly handicapped.
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16:40, Ladbrokes 'Best Odds Guaranteed On Racing' Open NH Flat Race
I was back where I was before the big race and although the last race looked pretty open (as it should for a classy bumper with decent prize money) I made Jane Williams' Merlin Allen a fair bet at 7/2. He ran well and looked the likely winner turning in but couldn't match the finishing effort of Fine Shot who won well in the end for the King and Queen. He's a horse going places off the back of this whilst the runner up, Rattlin Home, was pick of the paddock and will make a lovely chaser in time. He finished fast to fill out the runner up spot and considering the stable form this effort should be marked up. He'll likely win wherever he goes next whilst I wouldn't discount Merlin Allen next time out either.
In the end it was a profitable day and despite a few losers at Chepstow (Don't Tell Rosie was a gutter), I made back most of what was lost at Ascot last week. I go into the end of February just a nose in profit for the year so far after what has been a bruising month on the whole. It's important to keep the confidence in this game however and I'm happier ending the month in a bit of form than doing it the other way round with Cheltenham just around the corner. I will be at Newbury on Friday and Saturday this weekend for what is usually a decent couple days worth of action.
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