Review of the day

It was another tough day at the office, with short priced horses once again dominating – and the tips generally running disappointingly…

In fairness, the tip in the first race, L’Ami Serge, ran with great credit.

In fact, he looked likely to collect, when taking up the running rounding the home turn.

However, he was probably delivered to early and after erratic jumps at the final two fences, was a tired horse when he reached the Cheltenham hill.

Dropped back slightly in trip – or ridden with a little more restraint – he is likely to prove very high class.

Our Kaempfer also put in a decent effort in the Pertemps final.

Settled out the back, he made up ground coming down the hill – and whilst he as never quite getting there, he stayed on for an honourable fifth place.

The vast majority of bookmakers paid out on the 1,2,3,4,5 – so hopefully most of you recovered your stakes on him.

The unlucky horse in the race was If in Doubt.

He suffered 2 lots of significant interference up the home straight - without which, he would almost certainly have won…

The Ryanair chase was blown apart by a magnificent performance from Vautour.

After the race, Willie Mullins said the horse had worked dreadfully until late last week – and very nearly missed the festival comepltely.

That may well have been the case – but based on todays performance, you have to think he would have gone very close in tomorrows Gold Cup.

Thistlecrack was an equally impressive winner of the following World Hurdle.

He barely turned a hair as he cantered to a 7 length victory.

The tip in the race, Aux Ptit Soins ran really well -  travelling like a dream to the home turn, but then running out of steam.

Maybe he needed the run – or maybe the trip was a bit too far.
Either way, he looks a horse of serious potential, both for the rest of this season – and also for next year.

I was quite optimistic that we would get a result in the Byrne Group plate – but race just didn’t pan out as I expected.

For a start, Johns Spirit was ridden prominently; whilst Fingal Bay was settled in the pack.

The moves seemed to suit neither horse: with Johns Spirit making mistakes – and Fingal Bay severely hampered by a faller.

Both of them were beaten, not long after halfway.

That was also the case with the 2 more speculative selections in the race.

Niceonefrankie raced prominently, but was already under pressure and beaten, when taking what turned out to be a fatal fall.

Salubrious on the other hand, just never featured – and I suspect he will be sent back over hurdles.

As a result the finish was fought out by a bunch of horses who never featured in my thinking – it was all a bit bizarre.

The mares novice hurdle was won in convincing fashion, by Limini, for the Mullins/Walsh combination.

They do have some very good horses – but I can only get so much enjoyment out them repeatedly outclassing the opposition.

The final race of the day went to Cause of Causes.
He was one of the 4 I short listed - and was very strong in the market.
He looked to have little chance as the leaders turned for home – but powered through to ultimately win by 12 lengths !

Upswing was weak in the market – and ran accordingly: whilst Granddads Horse never really featured either.

It was a disappointing end to the day…

TVB.