Review of the day

I had a feeling this morning, that today might be a bit of a struggle…

It was very difficult to find anything solid to suggest – and whilst I did end up with 3 tips on the day, non of them managed to deliver…

The first one to run, was Wait for Me in the Betfair hurdle.

I’m not sure his jumping was the issue (though it wasn’t brilliant) – he simply wasn’t in the same class as the 2 unexposed novices who dominated the finish.

It was a little irritating to see Song Light take 4^th place – particularly as 16 runners did go to post.
That said, his price never went above 14/1 – even though a BSP of 25 suggested that it maybe should have done !

Kayf Blanco ran a fine race to finish just behind him in fifth – though this might prevent him from being any kind of a price in an average race...

The next tip to run was Starkie – and I did fancy him.
However, rather surprisingly he was never really put in the race.
He generally likes to race prominently and whilst I wouldn’t necessarily have expected him to lead – I would have expected him to sit handy.
Instead he was dropped out in last place – and whilst he did look to have a small chance turning in, he had been left with too much to do.

His effort petered out after the second last – and he eventually came home in fourth place.

Mustmeetalady was the final tip to run.
I didn’t like his pre-race market weakness – and although he ran a fair race, I was left with the impression that it was more about another day…

Three of the days official mentions ran at Warwick – and they managed a first and 2 seconds between them.

Rons Dream was a game winner of the mares hurdle (jockey Sean Bowen subsequently completed his double at Newbury); but Ginos Trail lost out to a rejuvenated Flying Angel. That one had a big chance on old form – and a market move from 10/1 this morning to 7/2 at the off, suggested he was back to his best.

Templehills got the run of the race from the front in the following race – though Vibrato Voltat ran like a horse who you don’t want to be taking a short price on !

Scotchtown was the other mention running on the day.
He had run Tobefair close at Warwick last time – but finished miles behind him this afternoon.

In the other 2 big races on the Newbury card: Native River showed himself a very live Gold Cup candidate.

It was a bit of a shame that Bristol de Mai wasn’t ridden more aggressively, as Le Mercurey demonstrated that he would have been more than capable of taking advantage, if the 2 principals had got into a battle.

Finally, Altior put in a near flawless round to win the Game Spirit as he pleased.

Based on this run, the Arkle is a formality – and it will all be about next season and a potential showdown with Douvan…

TVB.