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A busy day of flat racing on Friday, and if I'm being honest, I'm getting sick and tired of the number of meetings that are on. There's simply too much, and the BHA isn't doing anything about reducing it. It's over-saturated. I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks there's too much racing going on.
Doncaster 1:00
Trainer: Mark Loughnane
Jockey: James Doyle
Form: -43438
A couple of horses arrive in better form, but TRIGGERED is beginning to look well handicapped on old pieces of form. I think he was in need of his first run at Leicester, as the market suggested, going off at odds of 25/1 and having an apprentice booked. To my eye, he looked quite chunky and would've stripped a lot fitter for that run.
The jockey booking of James Doyle is an interesting booking as he is 2/5 when riding for Mark Loughnane, with a further 2 places. They are trying a new combination of headgear, which could liven him up a bit more now he's a 6yo and might be losing interest during his races.
He's run well at this course before, with a couple of placed efforts in competitive handicaps, so it's a track where he can run a big race. The sliding handicap mark is an obvious plus, with him winning off 75 & 80 in the past, with his most recent win last summer off 75. He is currently rated 73, so despite his age, he should be going close today. The ground should be fine for him, unless there is more rain than expected, but going off the current forecast I'd imagine the ground shouldn't get any slower than Good by the time of the first race.
Doncaster 2:10
Trainer: Scott Dixon
Jockey: Jonathan Fisher (5)
Form: 060-45
Here we have another 6yo, but if EBURY doesn't win this then I don't know when the next time he'll win a race as this looks like a golden opportunity to find himself in the winner's enclosure for just the 3rd time in his career.
His strike rate of 2 wins from 24 races is off-putting and does concern me a little but he is far too well handicapped to not go for. He runs Doncaster and York extremely well, and I'd like to say they are fairly similar tracks, both having long straights and being flat. The run at Doncaster on seasonal reappearance was a good effort, where he finished 4th. The form looks okay for the grade, but he probably needed the run that day and then his 5th placed finish at York in a very competitive Class 3 was a brilliant run. If you get a chance to watch it back, watch how it looks like his race is over, he gets pinched between horses but then finds a second wind and stays on powerfully. That was over 7f, and I believe he is better over a mile, so the extra furlong he has today looks sure to suit. He dropped 2lbs for that run, and now has a 5lb claimer on board, so is running off a mark of 63, which is 21lbs lower than his 2nd place finish in a York Class 2 handicap last summer.
Today is a big drop in grade and it would be disappointing if he wasn't winning this.
Doncaster 2:45
Trainer: Owen Burrows
Jockey: Jim Crowley
Form: 31-4
Based on this season you'd have to say that Nietzsche's Star is the correct market favourite. That horse is 2/2 this flat turf season and has looked progressive since stepping into handicap company. He's done his winning in a lower class and has been raised 6lbs for his recent win, and though I think he will be a tough nut to crack, I think he might be bumping into a well-handicapped horse in BAYRAQ.
It wasn't all about his seasonal reappearance as that race was always going to be very tough to win with the front two being decent horses. The winner went on to win the German 2000 Guineas, and the runner-up finished in the places at Royal Ascot in a handicap. Bayraq was very keen in that race and looked an awkward ride for Jim Crowley who eventually gave up on him and didn't push him out and looked after him. It was clear as day that it wasn't an important race for him and one for the experience and fitness. He's been given a mark of 84 for his handicap debut, which looks fair enough based on his three efforts to date. His form from his win looks good and the debut run has worked out nicely as well.
I'm hoping the first-time hood will do the trick and help him settle, as if he does then he could take some stopping in this. But, it's a big if, as lto he looked a totally different horse, but I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Curragh 7:18
Trainer: Christopher David Timmons
Jockey: Sean Bird (7)
Form: 313523
The Apprentice Derby is always a competitive handicap and this year's renewal is no different but one I like and have liked for some time is RAZDAN. This horse is due a big win and probably should've won a couple more this season if it wasn't for a few hard-luck stories.
The jockey booking is an interesting one and one that a lot of you wouldn't have heard of. His record of 1 win from 132 rides doesn't fill you with confidence, but I can assure you he is much better than that record suggests. He has ridden a fair bit for Ger Lyons over the years, and that speaks volumes as Ger wouldn't have used him if he wasn't a decent rider, he's just not had the breaks that some of the other apprentices have had, and this game can be brutal and outside yards tend to use the ‘hot' apprentices who are in good form and are in the limelight. It would be a fitting win if Sean could guide Razdan to victory in this prestigious race, and I think the 7lb claim he carries will be of big use to this horse today.
Razdan is better than a handicap mark of 77 I am sure. He is a horse who is normally held up from off the pace, which generates problems like Georgia Dobbie found out the last two times she rode him. The run of last time at Leopardstown was visually impressive to see the ground he made up to finish 3rd and closing with every yard. I think with a clear run he would've gotten extremely close to winning that day, and the RPRs suggest that as well as he ran to a mark of 82. He is rated 77, but is effectively running off 70 with Sean's claim, and that puts him bang there in this race. I think he is a cracking EW price, but we might need luck in running. With a clear run, he'll go close.
Newcastle 8:20
Trainer: Geoffrey Harker
Jockey: Oisin McSweeney (5)
Form: -75655
KEY LOOK is a previous C&D winner, most recently off a mark of 60 which is 1lb higher than today's handicap mark that he sits on. I watched his race at Catterick last time out and he was extremely lucky not to get closer. He is a hold-up horse, so needs luck in running and he didn't get the breaks last time. At a more conventional track like Newcastle with the long straight, it should suit his run style, shown by the fact he has won here before.
Oisin takes off 5lbs so he is running off 54 and that makes him dangerous to overlook. I don't think this is a particularly strong race, with the market focusing on the 3yo's. They might have the progression over Key Look but at the odds, I think he is worth a small bet considering he likes the track and is on a good handicap mark.
In December 2020 we sadly 
Franny norton to land a four fold this evening at Chester 💰💰🤑🤑🤞
RIZZEL HOW CAN A TIPSTER SAY THERE ARE TWO MANY MEETINGS, THE MORE MEETINGS THE BIGGER THE CHOICE, THE OPPTIONS ARE BETTER, YOU CAN LEAVE THE MICKY MOUSE RACES ALONE AND CONCENTRATE ON THE TYPE OF RACES THAT SUIT YOU, LACK OF MEETINGS MEANS LESS CHOICE, THERE MAY BE 6 MEETINGS TODAY BUT THAT DID NOT MEAN YOU HAD TO PICK OUT 5 TIPS, THAT CHOICE IS YOURS,THERES AN OLD SAYING A POOR WORK MAN ALWAYS BLAMES HIS TOOLS, THERES PLENTY OF DECET RACES MAKE THE BEST OF IT.
Who said I had to pick out five selections because of the meetings? I definitely didn’t and if you’ve paid attention, five selections is a rarity these days.
To say I’m blaming the amount of meetings for my recent poor form is another wild judgment. They don’t even correlate with each other. This is a racing thread, and like I’ve said on other occasions when I state certain things in the top part of the thread it’s to generate discussion. Too much racing has been in the racing press a lot recently and I wanted to bring it up again, but you’ve decided to have a pop 🤣
I’m as open as anyone and I know when I’m doing bad and when I’m doing good, I don’t need to make excuses.
I think your caps lock is stuck on your keyboard, you might want to get a new one.
Rizzle is right there are too many meetings. It’s not about looking for winners It’s about protecting the sport.
Too many meetings leads to smaller fields (look at some of the field sizes at Chester and donny today) and that becomes less attractive to racegoers and ultimately the sponsors.
Less meetings would lead to more competitive fields which leads to more people attending which leads to sponsors fighting over deals and would lead to greater prize money.
A lot of ‘Leads’ there but you get my meaning.
It’s even worse in the NH scene in the UK.
You only have to look at how we do it over here. We have less meetings, bigger fields and bigger prize money and where do owners send their best horses too.
If nothing is done to address this similar will happen in the Flat.
Database do you have all your email address and passwords wrote down in a diary for all these accounts?
Scary amount of free time you have on your hands.
If you’ve followed racing for as long as you make out given your recent comments over the years surely you understand it’s a sport of opinion.
I agree with Rizz that the racing cards are filled with muck as of late and trying to study and pick the bones out of 60/70 races whilst juggle work and everything else is hard.
On the other hand I’ve a spare keyboard on top of my wardrobe if you want it, that cap lock problem you have must be a nightmare.
Forward me your address by any one
of your 600 emails to the page and I’ll fire it over your way free of charge!
Good luck
6.08 Ice Cold in Alex 7/1 ew 5 places
7.18 Tudor City 8/1 ew 4 places
7.53 Level Pitch 13/2 ew 6 places
8.28 Dalton Highway 14/1 ew 5 places
BOL
Still trying to throw a double six here to get my week started, blank days Tues, Wed & Thursday. 🙁
5:20 Cartmel – Battle of Toro
6.00 Newcastle – Tanasoq
6:50 Chester – Sir Oliver
8:28 Curragh – Kazakdaria *Decent each way punt on this one* 😉
7-53 Star of Cashel 16/1 EW
redzone 1.00 ew
Port au Prince 2-25 San cloud 🇫🇷
16-1 ew extra 7 places
Any one fancy William Buick to go t
3rd 🇫🇷🏇
Afternoon All
CARTMEL
15.40 . .Mah Mate Bob. .11/4
16.15. . Well Cliche. .11/2
16.47. .Tommydan. .11/1 . . With bet365 .. 9/1 with most .. each way
GL ALL
Sorry Elvis a slip of the finger , meant to say any one fancy William Buick to go through the card tonight ,a lot of fancied mounts .Newmarket
🇺🇸
Belmont -R1..Mrs Broomer. 10/3. Bet365.
Shorter with others and favourite like it should b for me so 10/3 will do me.
GL rest of day
Battle of Toro 5-20 cartmel 11-8…
sandy creek 5.35 ew well done all winners today
beautiful colour 5.50
ARAUCARIAS 6-50 dax 🇫🇷 7-2 bet365.
Best price elsewhere 2-1 🤷♂️
Star of cashel 28/1 placed nice drift
Brutal week for me 🥺