Review of the day

It was disappointing to see Ffos Las abandoned at lunch time – particularly considering the amount of time I’d put into studying for it !

In truth though, it wasn’t much worse than at Sandown, where I honestly had little idea how the ground would be riding (for the record, it was quicker than I expected).

It all provided further demonstration of just how difficult it is to tip at the moment.
I issued 7 tips – yet only 4 of them actually ran !

Fortunately, one of them was Saddlers Encore and he showed real determination to get the better of a very tight finish at Sandown.

I’ve said it before, but if Dickie and Philip Hobbs have ever let me down – I don’t remember when it was.

They really are the TVB ‘go to’ guys…

The other 3 tips on the day, all ran at Leopardstown - but not of them managed to trouble the judge.

That makes them sound like poor tips – and they probably were – but the rationale for tipping the horses in question was sound…

In the first race, I was keen to take on short priced favourite, Ivanovich Gorbatov – and he finished well beaten, behind shock winner, Footpad.

Footpad was joint favourite with Rashaan when the two ran in the Knight Frank hurdle over Christmas – but unfortunately it was him, rather than Rashaan, who showed his running that day to be all wrong…

Next it was Vercingetorix.

He travelled nicely enough in the handicap hurdle – but unlike the winner, Blazer, found nothing when it mattered.

Finally, Sir Des Champs showed that his best days are definitely behind him, with a laboured run in the Irish Gold Cup.

Again, somewhat ironically, it was Carlingford Lough, another seemingly on the decline, who instead rolled back the years and won in convincing fashion.

You couldn’t fancy Road to Riches much for the Gold Cup on the back of today comprehensive defeat…

In the Flogas novice chase earlier on the card, Monksland was indeed no match for Outlander – though again, whether the race will have much bearing on the Cheltenham festival, is debatable…

Back at Sandown:

Peach and Co settled reasonably well – but still couldn’t get past Rayvin Black,

Irritatingly however, Connetable did, thereby messing up my straight forecast !

Arthurs Oak dug very deep to win the following handicap chase – I think the ground was as quick as he would want.

The ground was probably also as quick as Bristol de Mai would want  – but that didn’t stop him from impressively winning the Scily Isles novice chase.

He will be a tough nut to crack in the JLT chase at the festival.

Le Reve showed no ill effects from his run at Doncaster last weekend and was a game winner of the distance handicap chase.

It was slightly irritating, in so much as I would have fancied him quite strongly if he hadn’t run last Saturday.

It was also slightly irritating to watch Sew on Target win at Wetherby.

As I said this morning, he had a lot going for him – but the presence of Renard in the race, put me off (partially because I thought he might get into a battle for the lead – and partially because it was Renard !).

Blaklion was a gutsy winner of the following Towton novice chase – and in the process, franked the form of Seeyouatmidnight for the RSA chase (I hope I’m not the only one on him at a fancy price).

Finally, Waterclock seemed to be given too much to do in the handicap hurdle - and whilst he was running on late, the winner had already flown.

A similar race over 3 miles must surely be within his compass….

TVB.