Review of the day

The way things panned out this afternoon, I was left feeling that I’d irritated someone quite important !

There was major disappointment with all 5 of the days tips – either in the way they ran or in other matters…

The 3 tips at Haydock just ran disappointingly:

Harry the Viking never travelled a yard in the Grand National trial.

The horse has some quirks – but he is most consistent, so the run was baffling.

The run of Horizontal Speed in the Pertemps qualifier, was easier to explain.

He looked like a horse who is in need of a break (my guess is that he still hasn’t recovered from his run at Cheltenham on New Years day).

Most puzzling of all, was the run of Woodford Island.
I thought 9/2 was plenty short enough this morning, yet he was sent off the 5/2 favourite.
Despite the apparent confidence, he never moved out of last place and was pulled up in the home straight.
Presumably, something went wrong – though I didn’t see what it was…

I saw what went wrong with Sirop De Menthe at Ascot.
He chased a suicidal pace – and paid the penalty in the home straight.
My suspicion is that he ran a huge race – though hopefully others won’t see it the same way.

Returned to 2 miles – and on heavy ground – I think he can bounce back (assuming today’s race didn’t bottom him).

It was also quite easy to see what went wrong with Muhtaris – just about everything !

The rain came at Ascot, making the ground heavier than he would have wanted - and once he refused to settle in the early part of the race, it was game over.

A couple of sloppy jumps didn’t help either – but I think they were immaterial…

Earlier on the Ascot card, Big Chief Benny ran well enough for the outsider of the field – but was put in his place by Yala Enki.

His future will likely be in handicaps.

Minella Rocco ran a massive race in the Reynoldstown chase.

I hope some of you picked up on my forum post after the race, as he looked every inch a 4m NH chase winner to me.

He was 25/1 immediately after the race – but is just 14/1 now.

If you knew he was a definite runner, that would still be a good price…

Silviniaco Conti bounced right back to form in the Ascot chase.

He was maybe a touch fortunate that the ground went in his favour – but he was clearly in the right shape to take advantage.

I wasn’t convinced that he would have the speed for the 2m4f trip – but with Royal Regatta putting some serious pace to the race, it became a war of attrition and played perfectly into his hands.

Back at Haydock, Reve de Sivola put some serious pace into the Rendlesham hurdle - and ultimately, non of his rivals could cope with it.
Despite having almost everything in his favour, At Fishers Cross turned in a laboured display and showed why you should never back horse from an out of form stable.

Over at Wincanton, Tagrita managed to win the handicap hurdle: but Irving finished last in the Kingwell hurdle.
The winner of that race was Rayvin Black – adding more substance to the form of Sirop de Menthe.

Gardefort and Ultragold fought out the finish to the handicap chase – but it was the latter who came out on top; and whilst money never came for The Chuckmeister, he was still moving well enough when taking a heavy fall.

Finally, at Fairyhouse, Townshend was weak in the market (out to 5/2 at the off on BF) – and maybe not too unsurprisingly, ran as if needing the run.
The race was won in impressive style by Squoateur – and he could be one for the Martin Pipe hurdle at the festival.

Baie Des Iles ran a fair race in the Bobbyjo – but was no match for the 3 Willie Mullins horses.

That has a familiar ring to it…

TVB.