All three of Rizzel's selections finished second yesterday, which ultimately sums up how things have gone for us this past while.
I don't have the exact stats in front of me as Rizz tracks that side of things, but if going by memory I'd say we've had between 10/15 selections finish second this month. A fair few of those selections were beaten by a nose, a neck or simply down to poor rides by jockeys. Those results are the difference between having a good month and a poor one, and if luck is on your side then the picture would look a lot different. Of course, the horse hitting the line in front is the only thing that matters in this game, but we plug on as we always do.
Cairnzy's Tips
Dominic's Fault 5/2 – Sandown 3.35
My first selection on Friday comes in the shape of the Olly Murphy trained Dominics Fault, who will be ridden by the bang inform jockey Sean Bowen. The Bowen brothers are my two favourite jump jockeys, both ride extremely well and most importantly are strong in the saddle when push comes to shove. I've had plenty of jumps selections finish second this past month or so, and I do truly believe if Sean o was onboard they'd have won. Sean Bowen had a winner yesterday for Olly Murphy when his runner Space Voyage won comfortably by 8L at Huntingdon and he seemingly has another strong chance of getting another win on the board with Dominics Fault.
My selection is clearly a well-handicapped animal, and surprisingly at the age of eight has only had five career starts. Dominics Fault has won twice during his short career, notably both of those wins came on soft and heavy ground conditions. The ground at Sandown tomorrow should be on the testing side and knowing your selection will handle the conditions is a massive plus.
My selection fell on debut back in 2022 and was then off the track for 607 days before returning to racing in January last year, winning at Leicester on heavy ground under Sean Bowen. He was unable to follow up at Lingfield a month later when soundly beaten into fifth by the reopposing Yellow Star. That contest came over 2m, and given Yellow Star has flopped as such when sent over further, I don't see any reason why that one can uphold the form. The same argument applies to the other Gary Moore entry Spirit D'Aunou who is seemingly off the boil since being upped in trip with most of his better form coming over 2m.
I thought Dominics Fault was a tad unlucky on his following outing at Carlisle when connections sent him up back up in trip to 2m4f. He stayed the trip well that day but went down on the line by a short head to the eventual winner. The winner on that occasion was 22/1 shot Kilbrainy who ran well in defeat last time out off a 4lb higher mark to finish third.
Sean Bowen got Dominics Fault back to the winners enclosure last time out at Lingfield during the Christmas period, bolting up to win by a comfortable 6L in the end. That contest came over 2m but he had plenty left in the tank and stepping back up in trip looks the right move in my opinion.
