All articles by: Darren Chettleburgh

Horse Racing Preview – Chester & Catterick – 11th May 2017

May 11, 2017 by Darren Chettleburgh·Comments Off

Horse Racing Preview – Chester & Catterick – 11th May 2017

With a day off yesterday we come back fresh and ready to go, with three selections for today’s horse racing preview coming from Chester and Catterick.

13.50 Chester – Gately PLC Changing The Legal Landscape Handicap (0-105)

Despite this being over 10f I am still willing to give the advantage to low drawn entries. Sir Michael Stoute has a likeable type here in Khairaat who had a productive juvenile passage notching up wins at Pontefract and Doncaster.

Any horse Dr Marwan Koukash sends to Chester must be respected. Gabrial’s King has run twelve times around Chester recording just the one win two seasons ago when winning the Listed Chester Stakes. Even though now eight, this course brings the best out of him.

Paul Coles Berkshire makes his debut at Chester, the six-year-old missed all of his four year old campaign to injury, but in his early career as a juvenile he was a serious player winning the Royal Lodge and Chesham Stakes, even as a three year old he landed the Darley Stakes.

Sadly, he suffers injuries more times than West Ham’s striker Andy Carroll and though it took him time to find his feet again, he got his reward for consistency when scoring at Windsor last August landing the Listed August Stakes, but he lost his way again and finished off last season with two runs on the all-weather which he never handled.

On the top of his game, he is a useful adversary, whether he can mix it here with some unexposed entries is a question we have to be seen answered.

Khairaat : 2pt win @ 6/4 (BOG)

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16.05 Chester – English Fine Cottons EBF Maiden Stakes (5f)

A sharp 5f around here can catch many out and if you have been unlucky to get a car park draw then your fate is already cooked. Jim Crowley could be on for a good second day when he rides Roger Varian’s Dahik.

The son of Society Rock ran well on debut when just denied at Doncaster twelve days ago when just half a length behind Clive Cox’s Koditime, the fourth place Central City runs in the first race on the card on Wednesday. I expect him to Leave that run well behind him from the plum draw.

Another trainer that seems to thrive around Chester is Tom Dascombe who had Dragon Tail declared in this. A good third on debut at Leicester to Never Back Down, that looked a hot novice stakes and from a good draw can make his presence felt.

Dahik : 2pt win @ SP (BOG)

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14.05 Catterick – Annual Badge Holders Guest Day Fillies Novice Auction Stakes (5f)

A very undulated track that takes some getting over the final furlong, this could benefit Sylvester Kirk’s Three Little Birds who put in a good shift when second on debut on the all-weather at Chelmsford.

Now diverting to the turf, she should be able to produce, being sired by prolific sprinting sire Dandy Man. Any dangers should come from James Given’s Mistress of Venice and Karl Burke’s Capla Dancer.

The latter got off the mark at the first time of asking when winning at Ripon, that form was boosted by the runner up Faithful Promise who won well at Musselburgh recently. She was a shock winner that day at 66/1 and I can’t see her at those odds this afternoon.

Mistress of Venice ran a good fifth on debut at Beverley, the runner up franked that form next time out and runs in the first race on this venue on the Wednesday. Royal Crown was also beaten by Emilia James who franked Mistress of Venice’s form line, she is sure to make her presence felt.

Three Little Birds : 1.5pt win @ SP (BOG)

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Horse Racing Preview – Ayr, Ffos Las & Exeter – 9th May 2017

May 9, 2017 by Darren Chettleburgh·Comments Off

Horse Racing Preview – Ayr, Ffos Las & Exeter – 9th May 2017

Today’s horse racing preview comes from Ayr in Scotland to Ffos Las in Wales ending up all the way down in the West Country at Exeter.

A welcoming winner in Silken Dancer at Windsor last night with the odds doubling from the original tissue price to give us an 8/1 BOG winner.

14.30 Ayr – Weddings At Western House Hotel Maiden Stakes

A tough maiden with Alan Swinbanks gelding at the head of the market with Sketch Book Venue. Ran well when runner up at Redcar on debut beaten just one and a quarter lengths, the winner has run well again despite being beaten over a longer trip, any strong support in the market has to be noted.

Archibelle ran well on his turf debut when second to The Last Debutante at Doncaster. The front pair were five lengths clear of the third who has run well again finishing runner up in a 0-70 handicap. The drop back in trip might not suit him as he looked comfortable over the 12f, but as a stayer, dropping back in trip could play hugely in his favour as will get a good toe into the race off Johnson’s Fiendish.

Fiendish has not run too badly, typical Johnson handicapper that will prefer the step back up in trip after a good third over the index at Chelmsford last month, but this looks weaker than what he took on at Bath just over two weeks ago.

Fiendish : 1.5pt win @ 9/2 (BOG)

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14.50 Ffos Las – Lonetree Ltd Maiden Hurdle (20f)

Listed flat winner Minotaur represents Jonjo O’Neil who looked a nice recruit when finishing second at Aintree on debut for the yard, the horse beaten back in third Banditry ran reasonably well last weekend at Newmarket behind Frontiersman.

The fourth has won a 0-110 hurdle this year, even the fifth was just denied in a 0-120 hurdle last month, good solid form brought to the table, but the alarm bells were on last time out at Cheltenham when failing to show any of the prospect when beaten easily over today’s index in a Listed hurdle. This is obviously a lot easier and a massive drop in class, will have to prove he stays.

As does A Bold Move who has also been beaten which came over course and distance back in November. Trainer dropped him into Novice company over 16f here at Ffos Las and ran a lot better finishing second to the smart Jenkins.

Questions regarding him around maiden company and looks more of a Novice rank., This does look competitive and it looks like Dan Skelton has picked up a nice looking type here in Coroberee.

His sole run came on the flat when a maiden winner for John Gosden. It was quiet a strong maiden, which has seen two of the runners behind him win twice with the most highly profile winner being Scottish Hurdle winner Forth Bridge who beat a horse I like today at Ayr in Warp Factor.

Coroberee : 1.5pt win @ 5/1 (BOG)

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15.00 Ayr – Spring Promotion At Western House Hotel Handicap (0-85)

Irish raider Warp Factor gets the services of Danny Tudhope this afternoon. Ran well around this time last year when second at Hamilton when behind 104 rated Tawdeea.

It took him a few months to get off the mark when eased back into maiden company when winning over 9.6f at Ripon. Two exceptional efforts behind top quality hurdlers at Musselburgh which included Scottish Champion Hurdle winner Forth Bridge.

Has had two runs back this year on the level and looks to be coming to hand slowly again after a good fifth at Limerick last month. 10f is probably stretching his stamina on the flat to the max, but even though Ayr might be tight enough, his best runs have come at Hamilton, however does not look that overly exposed on the flat.

Philip Kirby’s Pullman Brown looks a big danger if building on his fifth at Redcar last month. That was in this company and only went behind by two and a half lengths.

The ex David Marnane trained five-year-old was competing in good handicaps before his move to the new yard, which included a 16K race at Gowran Park where he was given a rating of 93. It’s been twelve starts since his last win eighteen months ago, but it’s only his third run for the Kirby yard and still could be very well handicapped off 75.

Pullman Brown : 1pt each way @ 6/1 (BOG)

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19.15 Exeter – Hevitree Brewery Handicap Chase (0-130)

The NAP of the day goes to Philip Hobbs trained Ink Master who was impressive when landing a 15K handicap chase at Chepstow last month. They seem to think he will be better the further he goes and has been stepped up to 19.2f this evening.

He has run the index before over hurdles when rated 113, the third season chaser seems to thrive in the spring as he showed last year when landing a 0-140 chase at Ludlow, he looks a better chaser and should be hard to beat.

I would not mind to have a small dabble on the forecast here with Gowanauthat who notched up a brace of chase wins this time last year and in fact went on a five timer which came to an end when beaten in this company at Worcester.

Competed in this year’s Topham at Aintree, and was just denied when beaten by Opening Batsman at Fontwell in a small field 0-140 chase. He does have to be given the utmost respect with Harry Bannister in the saddle.

Ink Master : 3pt Win @ 6/4 (BOG)

Reverse Forecast : Ink Master / Gowanauthat – 1pt

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Horse Racing Preview – Ayr & Windsor – 8th May 2017

May 8, 2017 by Darren Chettleburgh·Comments Off

Horse Racing Preview – Ayr & Windsor – 8th May 2017

Today’s horse racing preview features two meetings, from Ayr and Windsor. What a tough Guineas weekend, not a winner which was very disappointing to say the least. Ballydoyle pulled the wool over our eyes in the 1000gns when Winter improved incredibly from his Irish defeat by stablemate Hydrangea.

We turn ourselves back to mid-week racing, but reflect that we have the Dante meeting at York being the highlight of the week, I will be attending the first day on the Wednesday which stages the Musidora Stakes.

Today’s selections come from Ayr and the night meeting at Windsor where I have a NAP running in the finale on the card.

16.30 Ayr – Book Your Celebration At Western House Hotel Handicap (0-95)

David O’Meara and Danny Tudhope team up here with a smart looking prospect in Karbetation who won his sole run as a three-year-old when hacking up by five lengths at Thirsk over 8f.

Three winners have come out of the race since, but nothing to really write home about, the second and third have been beaten off marks of 83 & 55, I do have concerns on this quicker ground being by Dream Ahead. With the yard not firing home the winners at present just 3-65 over the past two weeks is a concern.

Quite a few of these looked really exposed even from last year’s form, on that note I have swung towards a yard that have been winning all winter and spring around both codes in Iain Jardines Hibou who gets the services of Tom Eaves.

He looks ground dependable, despite two runs here at Ayr last year when finishing seventh on both occasions which included behind Nicholas T whom he gives lumps of weight to from that run, however those runs came on heavy and soft ground.

The ex Charlie Appleby inmate who won just a maiden when at the yard has adapted well on his past few runs, winner at Redcar over 10f and failed well when third at York on his last season’s run. I do have some reservations over the trip, even so if he is on the pace with the ground now coming up on the fast side I would expect him on the premises.

Hibou : 1pt each way @ 6/1 (BOG)

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19.20 Windsor – Royal Run Loyalty Card Maiden Stakes (10f)

Unusual to not seeing a Richard Hannon debutante in these type of races, however Charlie Appleby has an interesting newcomer in Silken Dancer. With two Royal Ascot entries (King Edward V11 & Queen Vase) he must be well thought of.

By Dubawi out of the dam Silkwood, the Godolphin runner here is well related to a few middle distance winners, such as Ghostflower and Next Life. This looks a perfect index to take on debut and feel he will be hard to beat if ready to go.

Godolphins other entry Sea Skimmer representing Saeed Bin Suroor looks the main danger to the selection. With the benefit of a run under his belt when fifth on debut at Newbury, the runner up International Law franked the form at Bath at the bank holiday weekend. With a derby entry, they are confident enough he get the step up in trip.

Silken Dancer : 1.5pt win @ 4/1 (BOG)

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20.20 Windsor – Irish Night On 12th June Handicap (0-80)

The NAP comes here in Richard Hannon’s only runner on the Windsor course in Hermann. His only turf run came in debut when finishing third over 10.1f at Doncaster, he quickly progressed when winning on the all-weather at Wolverhampton, the runner up Just For You went on to win next time out.

The trip probably saw him out when coming in way down the field at Lingfield over 12 1f, dropping down to 11.4f this evening should see him land this after his decent second back in January.

Any danger to the NAP would be Jack Of Diamonds who came second over course and distance two weeks ago when just defeated by a neck, has to be respected from Roger Teals yard.

Hermann : 4pt win @ 5/2 (BOG)

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