Review of the day

It was a bit scary this afternoon, watching the betting market predict the outcome of race after race…

Horses with decent form, were drifting like barges and running like drones; whilst horses with limited form, were halving in price and running as if they had been fitted with turbos !

I appreciate it happens in races, most days – but today did seem chock full of examples.

The Thyestes wasn’t the most extreme example on the day – but it was a good one…

This morning, the 3 Gordon Elliot horses: Out Sam, Monbeg Notorious and Ucello Conti, dominated the betting - with Out Sam 4/1 and the other two, 6/1 shots…

Come the off, Monbeg Notorious had been backed in to 7/2 favouritism: with Out Sam drifting to 6/1 and Ucello Conti 7/1 (16/1 on BF !)

Considering that Monbeg Notorious had next to no chasing form, the move must have been driven by people close to the horse – which makes it very difficult for people not so close to the horse !

The only hint we got, was with jockey bookings.

The fact that Jack Kennedy was riding Monbeg Notorious, suggested he was the stables best hope - though it wouldn’t have been a major surprise if the late betting contradicted that.

It didn’t - and he won as he pleased…

The days tip, Call the Taxi, wasn’t strong in the late market (15/1 on BF).

He started slowly – and a horribly ponderous jump over the second fence seemed to seal his fate !

It looked as if it was all too much for him – which was a little surprising considering how he had run in the Paddy Power chase.

Maybe the fall that day affected his confidence – I really don’t know.

All I do know is that he never featured !

Earlier on the card, Presenting Percy was an impressive winner of the Galmoy hurdle.

He did look the one to beat – even if it appeared a strange race to run him in !

In the same race, it briefly looked as if Outlander might rewind the clock.

He was strong in the betting (in to 16/1 at the off) – and he led to well beyond half way, seemingly travelling strongly.

He actually touched 5 in running – but as soon as he was put under pressure, he stopped.

I would be relatively confident that the horse has a physical issue (probably breathing).

Over at Warwick, Whiskey Chaser was a massive drifter in the 2:00.

He was a 3/1 shot last night – but went as big as 15 on BF, pre-race !

His eventual SP was 8/1 – and the lack of confidence was spot on, as he never featured…

By contrast. The Artful Cobbler and Talk of the South, were backed pre-race, to the exclusion of almost everything else – and they had the race between them from a long way out.

The market was equally prophetic in the following race.

Crucial Role was backed into a scarcely believable 11/8 – considering he appeared to face at least 2 big dangers (and quite a few smaller ones !).

Neither of the apparent dangers were backed – but King Uther was…

An unfancied 20/1 shot last night, he was in to 15/2 at the off – and managed to fend off the favourite.

It was another result which was difficult to anticipate without knowledge of the market moves…

Somewhat ironically, the market didn’t predict the outcome of the bumper quite as well…

Granard was very well backed - in to 2/1 favouritism – and whist he ran a good race, he wasn’t able to fend off  Stoney Mountain or Not Normal.

In fairness, they were returned the second and third favourites – and were the only other horses backed in the race.

It was a similar story at Kelso, where Uno Valoroso continued to drift and was eventually sent off at 9/4.

By contract, Whitsundays started a seemingly very short 11/8.

It certainly seemed short half way down the back straight, when he was under pressure and appeared to be going nowhere.

However, as Uno Valoroso tired, he got his second wind – and ultimately ended up a very easy winner…

All in all then, a bit of a disappointing day !

TVB.