Review of the day

Having endured a 25/1 shot hitting the wood work on Saturday, I’m not sure that we deserved the same fate again this afternoon – but that’s exactly what we got !

I tipped Ms Parfois a couple of weeks ago, when she was 25/1 – and watched her get backed in to 11/2 at the off.

I then watched her travel nicely through the race – until she made a bad mistake at the second last.

I thought that would end her chance - but not a bit of it.

She battled back on the run in, and for a few strides looked the most likely winner.

However, Rathviden had a bit too much for her in the closing stages and she ended up an honourable second.

It was a tough one to take – though the post race interview with her trainer, Anthony Honeyball, suggested we’d got off lightly !

Aside from that, it was a case of what might have been...

As ‘The Value Bettor’, I always find it had to put up favourites in big field, competitive handicaps – and that cost me today…

In the first of them, I resisted Coo Star Sivola – simply because of the price.

I could have taken 8/1 a few days ago – but that seemed a bit too tight…

Ultimately, he was sent off the 5/1 favourite – and was very game in defeating Shantou Flyer (another one who I could easily have tipped).

In terms of the ones that I actually did tip: then Ramses de Teille fared best – but he was never really in with a winning chance.

In the second handicap on the card, it was Mister Whitaker who I resisted.

Again, I could have secured 8/1 – but felt that was a bit too short.

He got backed in to 13/2 at the off – and like Coo Sat Sivola, managed to get the better of a very close finish.
Fine lines.

Neither Tycoon Prince not Le Rocher really featured (the former made a race ending mistake at the third last: whilst the latter fell, around half way).

In the opener on the card, Paloma Blue ran well to finish fourth.

Once again, he was a bit too keen in the early stages – and as he was only beaten  a couple of lengths, you have to feel he would have gone very close, if he had settled.

Brain Power probably ran as well as could reasonably been expected, on unsuitable ground, in the Arkle.

The race panned out as I expected, with a pace duel doing for the chances of 2 of his main rivals.

In fact, if Footpad hadn’t managed to find a leg, having made a bad mistake at half way, Brian Power would probably have won.

However, he did - and Brian Power was therefore only able to finish a distant second.

John Constable also ran pretty much as expected in the Champion hurdle – never featuring, on ground that would have been way too soft for him.

Buveur Dair was a very game winner of the race – showing he’s got guts as well as class.

Finally, there was a bit of a surprise in the mares race, with Apples Jade running well below expectations.

Unfortunately, Jers Girl did the same and it was Benie des Deux who took advantage.

On to day 2 then…!

TVB.