Review of the day

As I’m sure you could tell, I was pretty keen on todays tips – so I felt a little disappointed that we ended the day without a winner…

It was a strange day as well, in so much as the tips either ran very well/were unlucky – or ran poorly/very poorly !

Purple N Gold was the first tip to run – and he ran poorly.

In fairness, the main reason I fancied him was because I thought favourite, Always on the Run, was likely to get into a pace duel with Ink Master.
However, Ink Master declined that challenge - and Always on the Run took advantage of an uncontested lead, and won comfortably.

In truth, I don’t really think it would have mattered how the race panned out. The late market drift suggested that Purple N Gold needed the run – and that is exactly how it looked…

Next it was April Dusk and Run Ructions Run - and they ran poorly and very poorly, respectively !

The performance of Run Ructions Run, was completely baffling.
She was literally under pressure from the off – tailed off after a mile and pulled up not long beyond half way.

April Dusk ran a little better – but not significantly.

Altesse de Guye was next – and thankfully, she did run well.
In fact, I think she probably should have won – but she’s a tricky ride.

Conor Shoemark had never ridden her before and I think that was her undoing.

She tanked through the race – and took up the running approaching the home turn.
But that was too soon: she needs holding on to and delivering late.

In fairness, she did battle from the last – but she couldn’t quite manage to get back up.

Then came Diamond Cauchois – and a performance almost as baffling as that of Run Ructions Run.

He was sent off 7/2 fav – but again, barely travelled a yard and was pulled up before half way.

I have no explanation for the run…

Muhtaris came next – but he was brought down at the fifth flight.
He was still travelling very nicely - but it was too far out to say how he would have fared.

In the same race, Braavos ran quite nicely, looking as if he would improve for the outing (his first for nearly 3 months)

So it was left to Sun Wild Life to try and save the day – and he very well might have done, if he’d not bumped into one…

Solstice Son had only run once in the past 18 months – and was sporting first time blinkers.

However, he travelled like a dream – and jumped like a buck.

You can’t really legislate for that kind of thing…

In the days other significant races:

Townshend was a major disappointment at Kempton – never really featuring in a contest won comfortably by the giant, Mite Bite.

Whilst Portway Flyer was an equally impressive winner of the following chase, clearly relishing the quicker ground.

Festive Affair ran reasonably in the latter race – but didn't seem to get home over the 2m4f trip.

I wonder if he maybe has a breathing issue (he does wear a tongue tie).

Finally, at Uttoxeter, Golden Chieftain came down to the last with the Midlands National in the bag – and took a crunching fall.

I felt for the horse (he did similar in his previous race at Exeter) - and I felt for Colin Tizzard.

He may have won the world hurdle on Thursday – but Cue Card yesterday and that today, were blows that it would be difficult to take…

It can certainly be a tough game at times…

TVB.