Review of the day

It felt like today epitomised this season…

For the first time in weeks, there was some decent racing to have a crack at - and I responded by issuing tips in 5 races (far more than on recent Saturdays).

They may all have been relatively big prices – but I felt each one had a fair chance.

And I think they did – yet somehow, non of them managed to win…

It was the first one to run, Flintham, who got the closest – and he got very close indeed !

Despite being hassled for the lead throughout – and continually jumping to his left, he seemed to have the race won, when he cleared the last 3 lengths clear.

He was tired, having given his all, but he still looked likely to hang on.

However, it wasn’t to be and he was collared in the shadow of the post.

It was a sickener…

The defeat of Joe Farrell, later on the Ascot card, was in theory not quite so bad (he only traded at 1.34 in running, as opposed to Flinthams 1.06 !) – however, if anything, it felt worse…

What was so galling, was the fact that he beat all of the fancied horses – but couldn’t hold off a JP McManus/Jonjo horse which had shown nothing for ages and was pulled up on its most recent run.

Simply, you could never pick or back that kind of horse. It’s like landing on green when you are playing roulette !

Yet, for the second time this season, a horse with that profile has pipped a tip at Ascot (the other occasion was when Regal Encore beat Minella Daddy).

In fairness, the days other tips didn’t go as close – but they all still came with a story !

At Wincanton, McKenzie’s Friend was incredibly well backed.

He was a general 11/1 shot when I tipped him this morning – and even with a couple of non runners, that equated to around 8/1.

Yet the money for him was relentless – and he was sent off a 5/2 shot !

Horses who attract that kind of market support usually win (think Court Frontier) – but McKenzie’s Friend had clearly not read the script, as he ran disappointingly to finish fifth.

I’m pretty sure he was trying though !

Over at Haydock, Wuff wasn’t quite so well backed – but he still nearly halved in price from the early 5/1.

As with McKenzies Friend though, he performed poorly and is running out of excuses…

The final tips ran in the Grand National trial at Haydock, and whilst I have no issue with the run of Warrantor (who just wasn’t good enough), I found the ride given to Wakanda a little bizarre…

He’s a horse who tends to race prominently – and whilst he was always going to struggle to lead, I didn’t expect him to be dropped in, nearly last.

Suffice the say the horse took little interest in the race and was eventually pulled up.

When you consider the form he had with Blaklion, you have to think he should have done better (that one finished runner up).

There wasn’t as much to say about the Mentions.

O’Faolains Boy did look like he needed the run at Ascot (which is what the betting suggested); whilst Templeross seemed to find the trip a little too short (he is unlikely to get a big enough weight rise on the back of todays run, to get into the Martin Pipe race). In the same race, Man of Plenty was baulked rounding the home turn, though he appeared to be struggling at the time.

Call to Order looked a little rusty at Haydock; whilst Astre de la Cour was again unlucky to bump into one at Wincanton.

Finally, eye catcher Ballyarthur ran a decent race at Haydock – but faded late on to finish third.

I know I don’t need to tell you all, but it can be a very tough game at times…

TVB.