Review of the day

I knew we were going to need a bit of luck to come out on top this afternoon…

Every race looked tricky – and I figured the best plan of action was to put us on some big priced horses, that I felt had a chance.

Obviously that’s a high risk strategy and unfortunately it didn’t come off…

A couple of the tips ran with some credit – but none ever looked like winning, which was a shame.

Pyrshan was one of those to run with credit.

He finished well to take 4^th in the opener on the Ascot card.

However, he was never going to get to the easy winner, Amiral Collonges.

He had only run once previously in this country – and produced a performance which suggested the handicapper had significantly under rated him.

That’s always a possibility in race like that – so whilst I couldn’t have found him I wasn’t overly surprised when he won.

The next tip to run was Johnny Og.

I was a little fearful over how his race might pan out, pace wise – and those fears proved well founded.

A natural front runner, he couldn’t get to the head of affairs and had to sit in behind Big Society and Dartford Warbler.

I don’t think that suited him – and I actually thought he ran pretty well to ultimately finish 6^th.

In an easier race, where he would be likely to lead, I would be interested in him again.

Next up in was The Giant Bolster.
The worry with him was the track – and I think that’s what undid him.
He never seemed particularly comfortable, making a few early mistakes – and was beaten not long after half way.

He’ll doubtless drop further in the handicap as a result of this run – and would have to be interest if he next appeared in a handicap at Cheltenham.

The final tips of the day, ran in the Ladbroke hurdle.

However, they never managed to get into a race, dominated from the off, by Sternrubin.

You will rarely see a horse attack a big handicap so ferociously – and still be in with a chance jumping the last.
The fact he managed to then rally to snatch a share of the spoils, suggests that he is a seriously talented animal.

Zarib and Vicenzo Mio both ran reasonable races, but 6^th and 12^th was probably as good as they deserved…

In the earlier races on the Ascot card, Royal Regatta benefited from first time blinkers and a tongue tie, to take a very winnable Graduation chase; whilst Thistlecrack showed him self to be from the top drawer, with a hugely impressive win in the Long Walk.
He is going to take a lot of beating in the Stayers hurdle in March.

At Haydock, O Maonlai's jumping and stamina both let him down – leaving Seventh Sky to come home a gutsy winner.
We were on him last time at Aintree, when he bumped into one of Venetias – but there was nothing from her stable to contend with this afternoon.

Earlier on the card, Venetias Arthur’s Oak had dotted up in the 2 mile handicap chase.
He was making his seasonal debut over a trip that looked to be short of his best - but the market said otherwise and he was probably the easiest winner of the day.

Yes I Did and Baby King both ran fair races – but neither were up to winning: whilst Sybarite ran the kind of race I expected – under heavy pressure early, before staying on late.
I wouldn’t put it past him to win a race like todays – but he will need at least 3 miles - and bottom less conditions.

TVB.