Guest Blog
Marshall's Blog, December 15
The no vacancies sign may be needed on the Newbury stable yard as this afternoon’s meeting has attracted 122 entries on the eight race card featuring the rearranged Peterborough Chase from Huntingdon. Out of the main contenders only Riverside Theatre is missing, Twist Magic is far too short and I would still rather play this horse in running than take the risk of him starting, not available in the days of Vodkatini. A couple of years ago Zaynar beat Walkon in the opening juvenile and was promoted to Triumph hurdle favouritism, an impressive win by one of the well regarded newcomers could see their price shorten for the big race in March. A rare Richard Hannon recruit from the flat, Captain Cool, makes his hurdling debut in this. There ought to be plenty of horses for the notebook in this, aswell as the other two novice hurdles on the card, the maiden featuring a couple of decent staying flat handicappers in Cotillion and Red Merlin. Keith Reveley landed a treble at nearer to home Catterick yesterday, he sends a couple of raiders,recent recruit Kaolak in the novice hurdle, and Eyre Square who takes a rise in class in the staying handicap chase but is a real progressive sort for owner John Wade, you could imagine him turning up for the Eider in future years.
There is also a decent card at Bangor where Robert Thornton travels for thee rides for his guvnor Alan King. All with good chances, plus Incentivise in the long distance handicap chase. Quite what Alan King’s former inmate Pennek has done to deserve top weight in this handicap chase beggars belief, in the colours of Young Kenny before he was purchased by Trevor Hemmings, the handicapper needs to show him some leniency surely.
Across the water there is a real quality card which will hopefully finally take place at Fairyhouse this afternoon, numerous pointers for the future, though with the bad weather that’s been around fitness may well be at a premium, and taking a short price on some of the stars may not be the way to go.
