Review of the day

I guess non of you would have been to be too surprised by the way things panned out this afternoon…

On a day that seemed to typify the month – and the last week in particular – I managed to take a short list of 3 horses and tip 2 seconds, whilst electing not to put up a winner.

It’s almost as if a greater power is trying to make the point that content of the write-ups is more valuable than the actual tips !

I don’t want to pre-empt the monthly report, but I honestly think that my reading of the races in March, has been stronger than at any other point in the season – however a combination of poor luck and poor judgement has prevented it from being a month to remember.

To illustrate the point, when Ballybough Pat came home second this afternoon, he became the 8^th tip this month to occupy that position (from 22 tips).
When you consider that I have also tipped 3 winners during the month, that really does represent phenomenally consistent tipping…

Anyway, there will be more on that in a couple of days – this review is just about how todays tip/mentions ran.

The first tip into action was No Buts.

He was very well backed, going off 7/2 second favourite – and when the favourite, Horizontal Speed, fell at the second fence, the race looked to be his for the taking.

However, his jumping lacked its normal fluency.

He too made a mistake at the second – and numerous more as the race progressed.

It says much for his ability that he managed to stay within striking distance of Seventh Sky for as long as he did – but ultimately the errors took their toll and he could only come home a well beaten second.

Just ten minutes later, Ballybough Pat managed to fill exactly the same position at Chepstow – but he went far closer to victory.

Turning into the home straight he had most of the field beaten – but he just couldn’t shake off Candide.

Ballybough Pat still seemed the most likely winner, as Candides jumping was nowhere near as slick.

However, when he ranged up along side Ballybough Pat approaching the final fence I feared the worst – and sure enough Candide took full advantage of the 15lb he was receiving from the runner up, and managed to hold him at bay, up the run in.

It was another tough one to take – and we’ve had a few of those this month…

With regard to the mentions, then the main one of the day, was Rhapando…

I put him up last week in a weaker race than todays, and I think we can now feel a little hard done by.

He was withdrawn from that contest and was only available at half the price for todays race.
I knew that wouldn’t stop him winning - but it did make him marginal value.

Needless to say, he laughed in the face of value and came home a comfortable winner…

He was the only winning mention on the day: Verano never really featured in the opener at Warwick; whilst Smart Story was pulled up after racing prominently in the handicap chase at the same venue.

Thecorrupter made little show at Kempton – but did better than Right Story, who jinked and unshipped his rider as the tape went up (having been hammered in the betting to 11/2 from 16/1 earlier).

Finally, good old Luddsdenene ran exactly the race I expected at Chepstow.

He was 12 on BF at the off, having been 20 earlier on – but managed to touch 3 in running up the home straight, before folding into a ball.

If the horse could breath properly, he would be a champion – but he can’t and when he comes under pressure he stops.
Good job all the layers haven’t picked up on that fact just yet 

Tomorrow is the last day of the season (excluding Aintree) and having had a quick look at the declarations, I suspect it will be a quiet day.

That said, I’ll spend this evening, in the same way that I have spent most evening over the past 5 months, trying to find a winner.

I’ll advise on whether I manage to find anything suitable, at the normal time tomorrow morning.

TVB.