Thursday November 2nd

Review 

It turned out to be a bit of a dull day – in terms of the featured races…

Aside from Volt Face, all of the fancied market leaders were well backed (or very well backed !) – and duly obliged…

At Stratford, having drifted a little this morning, Starchitect was strong come the off and won tidily at 15/8.

I suspect he’ll get back the 3lb that the handicapper dropped him at the end of last season – plus maybe one or two more, for good measure !

I suspect that Mercian Prince was the one to take out of the race.
He was also relatively well backed – and shaped promisingly on his seasonal debut…

In the finale, Play the Ace was very well backed – and also won quite comfortably.
Unlike Starchitect, he was strong in the market this morning – and the support continued right to the off.

There were a couple of NRs – but they didn’t account for his price shortening from 11/4 early, to 6/4.

I think the key was the lack of fancied opposition against him.

I suspect he didn’t achieve a great deal in winning…

At Sedgefield, Volt Face was the one fancied horse on the day, to let down supporters…

In truth, he was under pressure from before the off, with second favourite Crackdeloust, very well backed (in to 2/1).

However he fell at the first which should have made things much easier for Volt Face.

That’s not how it turned out though.

Volt Face would have liked an uncontested lead, but Robbing the Prey harassed him throughout.

Robbing the Prey eventually won their private battle – but he had left himself vulnerable to late finisher, Beggars Wish and that one collared him close home.

Finally, Audacious Plan was backed as if defeat was out of the question and was  eventually sent off at 6/4.

Considering he had 3m5f to travel – and 21 fences to negotiate, that seemed like a crazy price !

In fairness, it didn’t seem quite so crazy approaching the last – and although he was chased all the way to the line by the very game Boric, he held on – with Delusionsofgrandeur back in third…

Just to say, I won’t be posting on the blog tomorrow (or indeed Saturday or Sunday !).

There is a very busy weekend on the horizon - packed full of ‘big’ races, which I need to give myself the maximum amount of time to preview.

Best of luck if you get involved… 

Lunchtime Update

There is precious little to report, in terms of market activity, for todays races of interest…

At Sedgefield, Volt Face and Creckdelout remain first and second favourite - at pretty much the prices they were available at last night.

Maybe there will be some late market activity…

Similarly, in the Durham National, at 3:10, Audacious Plan and Delusionofgrandeur continue to head the market – and at roughly the same prices as yesterday evening.

Smooth Stepper has apparently been backed with the bookmakers – but that’s not really reflected on BF.

Things have been a touch more interesting at Stratford – but only a little…

Starchitect doesn’t seem particularly strong in the 2:45 – with the Geegeez Geegee, the one for money.

Olivers Hill has drifted out to a backable 9/1 – and Whispering Harry is definitely worth a tiny play at 25/1+

Play the Ace has been very strong in the finale – and is now a general 2/1 shot.

Kalifourchon and Until Winning have received some support against him – but probably tipster inspired.

Again, any late money will be far more interesting…

Evening Preview 

There are 3 NH meetings tomorrow: at Clonmel in Ireland; plus Stratford and Sedgefield in the UK – and there are a couple of particularly interesting races at both of the UK meetings…

The handicap chase at Stratford (2:45) is arguably the best race of the day…

The most interesting runner is the David Pipe trained Starchitect.

He was sent off at just 6/1 for a 24 runner handicap, at last seasons Cheltenham festival – and finished a very creditable fifth.

He gets to run off a mark 3lb lower tomorrow – and if connections want, I suspect he will take the beating.

The question is whether connections will want to blow his handicap mark, for a first prize of just £6.5K.
He’s a 7/4 shot this evening – and the betting will likely tell…

In fairness, he does face some credible rivals: with Mercian Prince potentially the most interesting.

At a really big price, I could be tempted by Whispering Harry…

There are doubts over both the ground and the trip – though they may cancel each other out (from a stamina perspective).
He’s certainly well handicapped - and Henry Oliver has been in reasonable form.

At 20/1, he could be worth a small, speculative risk…

The other race of significant interest on the card, is the closing handicap chase (4:20).

Play the Ace is the safe call in this – though he is also favourite…

His fourth place at Market Rasen on his penultimate outing, is good form – and he runs from a mark 2lb lower tomorrow.

He also has James Bowen in the saddle, which adds to the appeal…

He’s an 11/4 shot this evening, which isn’t really an EW price – and that’s a shame, because it’s hard to see him out of the frame…

It’s less hard to see him beaten however, as there are a few potential dangers in the field.

Non of them are solid – but he certainly faces some rivals who could cause issues, if they arrive in top form…

In the opening race at Sedgefield (1:00), Volt Face is very much the one to beat.
He ran really well at Kempton last time and must have every chance of going one better tomorrow, off the same mark – and with Paul O’Brien on top, claiming 5lb…

The danger is, that the unexposed Crackdeloust will have been primed by Brian Ellison, for a race that he sponsors.

The betting will probably guide (Volt Face is 6/4 this evening and Crackdeloust, 7/2).

The Durham National is off at 3:10 – and Audacious Plan looks a worthy favourite.
That said, whether he is worthy enough to warrant backing at 5/2, is a different matter…

Again, the market seems to have it right, with second favourite, Delusionsofgrandeur looking the most likely danger…

At bigger prices, the Sue Smiths apparent second string, Smooth Stepper is of some interest (though Danny Cook does invariably ride the stables main hope).
Whilst Boric also holds a bit of appeal.

He should be better for a recent run and a price of 14/1 this evening, seems fair…