Review of the day

There was no joy this afternoon, which was a little disappointing – if not massively surprising, considering the odds at which we were playing…

I made the decision last month, to edge towards more speculative selections, due to the uncertainty caused by very heavy ground.
That tactic served us well in January – but with the ground much better at the moment, I’m wondering if it is the right strategy to be using.

Certainly that didn’t seem to be the case at Leopardstown, where all of the winners were quite straight forward to pick (even if the rewards for picking them weren’t that great !).

It was also the case at Exeter – though I do think we were a bit unfortunate not to be on at least one winner there…

That one was Alaivan, who ran an absolute screamer in the 3 mile handicap hurdle – looking all over the winner until Regal Encore cruised past him approaching the last.

As I said this morning, I did fear Regal Encore - but he had disappointed so many times, it would have taken an act of faith to put him up.

I might have taken a risk at a double figure price – but 8/1 seemed tight enough in the circumstances.

It was just our luck therefore that chose today to put it all in – and show himself a very well handicapped horse.

I think we can consider ourselves a bit unlucky to have bumped into one, for the second day running…

The other tip to run at Exeter, Kasbadali, didn’t run such a good race.

He was on the back foot from an early stage – and whilst he did try to stay with the leaders, he was always fighting a losing battle.

The one I was most fearful of in the race, was Soll – and despite being backed in to 9/4 fav at the off (from 11/2 this morning) he too struggle to go with the early pace.

However, Tom Scudamore never gave up on him and the horse gallantly responded to win quite comfortably in the end.

I suspect he might be able to follow up, given a bit more of a stamina test.

Over at Leopardstown, I was very disappointed with the way things panned out in the novice hurdle.

Ruby Walsh was allowed an uncontested lead on Nichols Canyon – and he took full advantage.

Now I’m not saying that either Silver Concord or Sempre Medici would have won however the race had been run – but the chances of both were ruined, by being held up off a slow pace.

The one to take out of the race was undoubtedly Windsor Park.

He stayed on very well from an impossible position.

I suspect that he won’t be far way in the Neptune Investment hurdle at the festival.

There were no excuses for The Tullow Tank in the Flogas novice chase.

He was given every chance if good enough, he just wasn’t good enough.

The race was won by Apache Stronghold, who we were on last time out.

I think we might have been a bit unlucky that day – either that or Don Polli (the horse that beat him), is a serious animal...

I think we can also think  ourselves a bit unlucky to have been on Foxrock when he got beaten in the Paddy Power chase over Christmas.

He has since won off a 6lb higher mark – and today was a very close second in the grade 1 Hennessy.

Getting beaten off a mark of 142, now looks like quite an achievement !

Our tip in the race, Home Farm, ran well enough - but I don’t think he got home (a bit like Taquin du Seuil yesterday).

I would expect him to be dropped back in trip next time out…

Finally, the only mention on the day, Petite Parisienne, managed to upset the favourite and win the opener.

I think it can go down as ‘one of those days’…

TVB.