I’m still slightly reeling – as indeed is The Hon. – at the result of Man City, Real Madrid. We had both been given free £5 bets on the game by Bet365, and both of us had opted for the Draw-Draw in the ½-Time Full-Time Result market, at 6/1. The first half was tense, but tickety boo. Then the entire world’s concepts of time, motion, evolution, and relativity came crashing down, and in some strange parallel quantum universe, Real Madrid won. It was extraordinary and emotionally damaging… both of us may be scarred for life. My skin actually feels scorched so powerful was the blast from the speed of Luck leaving the building.
We didn’t get much emollient from Thursday’s results, where we were 3-4-1-2-2-7. I completely cocked up the 1:30 where I studiously ignored the collateral form of the winner in a race I actually analysed. Mark it down as haircut shock! However, I hope that my summary of the Ormonde Stakes helped you actually select Hamish, who was in the end, the only selection on stats and price. The fact that I so nearly got the winner doesn’t really satisfy me. I was also pleased with our analysis of the Dee Stakes – the big issue has been that, having narrowed it down to three or four I’m suffering from seconditis.
Quite a busy weekend with the last day of Chester, as the US Grand Prix in Miami starts their practice sessions today, while the second day of Badminton dressage sets things up for Saturday’s Cross Country, during which we also have the Lingfield Derby and Oaks trials and The Victoria Cup.
Today, and in the absence of an invitation from Geri Halliwell, (who has just had her first winner at Mollington) to fly to Miami for the F1, we’re off to Badminton, where the following scenarios are all possible.
- The Hon will go shopping, finding the sweetest people who make hanging Carshalton Flakers, made out of recycled flange-weasels, which are only £90 each and we need six; AND/OR
- I meet several former members of the Republic of Ireland eventing team and we drink Guinness in the Members Bar, without the benefit of solids, until a security man asks to leave at midnight, AND/OR
- Both those things happen, but we are also confused by several invitations to go to various Estate Agents’ tents where we can drink warm Pimms, or darling Verity Habitat-Scatter-Cushion’s 1997 Sloe Gin (which is also used for lighting bonfires and fueling the Aga), or we can sip The Kings Ginger, mixed with English Cider Brandy. The latter is only recommended if you can handle Cocoa Puffs, which I recently discovered isn’t what I thought!
I have tried everywhere to give my journey added purpose, but cannot find anyone taking bets on Badminton. Just in case you know of someone, I’d be looking at the following shortlist for glory:
Laura Collett – London 52
Tamie Smith – Mai Baum
Tom Carlile – Zanzibar Villa Rose Z
Tom McEwan – Toledo de Kerser
Nicola Wilson – JL Dublin
Jonelle Price – Classic Moet
I may – or possibly not depending on one’s luck – be back soon.
1:30 CHESTER ICM Stellar Sports Earl Grosvenor Hcap Cl2 (4yo+ 0-105) 7½f 11 run
BOOSALA 3 pts e/w
1:50 MARKET RASEN Unibet Horserace Betting Operator Of The Year Hcap Chs Cl3 (5yo+ 0-130) 3m 7 run
RAILWAY MUICE steps up in class, but has the measure of most of these on past form – anything better than 5/1 is a good price.
RAILWAY MUICE 2 pts Win
2:05 CHESTER Deepbridge Hcap Cl2 (4yo+ 0-105) 1m2½f 8 run
Ian Williams runs CAP FRANCAIS complete with 5lb penalty after winning The Suffolk Handicap at Newmarket last weekend. However I fancy BARYSHNIKOV to lead them all a merry dance home and to be lighter on his feet….
BARYSHNOKOV 3 pts Win
2:40 CHESTER Irish Thoroughbred Marketing IRE-Incentive Scheme Huxley Stks (G2) Cl1 (4yo+) 1m2½f 4 run
AL AASY was one of the talking horses last year but never won above Group 3 and has now been declared a non-runner. That leaves the horse I was going to tip now an odds-on favourite, in a four-runner race. To be fair – this is a race I’d axe having attracted 58 runners in the last ten years and 78 in the twelve years before that.
No Bet
3:15 CHESTER tote+ Chester Cup Hcap Cl2 (4yo+) 2m2½f 15 run
You can eliminate a large number of these on the trend that all 37 runners who last raced on the All Weather did not win. 11/11 also carried 8st 9lbs or more from rating between 93 -104. That just leaves three – CLEVELAND – ARCADIAN SUNRISE and ITS GOOD TO LAUGH. The latter has a win and a second here and while this is a step up in class, he’ll like the ground and has proved he likes the course. Of course Aidan and Ryan pose the threat, but I’ll go with Jenny for this.
ITS GOOD TO LAUGH 2 pts e/w
3:45 CHESTER Boodles Secret Garden Conditions Stks Cl3 (3yo+) 5f 7 run
ACKLAM EXPRESS has been out in Dubai where he got baulked LTO in the G3 Nad Al Sheba Sprint and his race was over almost instantly. Before that he’d been second to Charlie Appleby’s Lazuli in the G2 Blue Point Sprint at Meydan andNigel Tinkler’s charge has not only been earning a decent crust, but has blossomed out there. This is a drop down in Class, and he has potential.
ACKLAM EXPRESS 2 pts e/w