Not, a Good Friday at all, a just about okay Friday but one that fell apart from the opening race of the card with Amitayz and Rainbow Dreamer involved in a messy spat, leading to both our single and both doubles tumbling after race one.
Exalted Angel was chinned on the line in the 15:10, Mighty Gurkha couldn’t hold on in the 15:45 again finishing second, however, in the last Lord of the Lodge provided us with some respite winning from the front at 8/1.
Some shocking rides yesterday as well, none more so than by Martin Harley on Rainbow Dreamer and Exalted Angel and if you watched any of the racing over at Newcastle, jockeys getting humiliated by a 16 year old over there.
A weird day, let us hope it is back truly with a bang next year with better prize money and a full on crowd.
So, if that wasn’t enough for you to give up on it all, let’s see if we can score today, with Aintree on the horizon at the end of the week.
Haydock
13:00 – no bet in this race.
13:30 – no bet (all the rage will be for the fav Fivestar Getaway)
14:05 – Vision Du Puy for the Skelton yard, currently at around 30% strike rate with Harry taking the ride (now fav for the jump jockey title at 1/2 in a place), down at the bottom of the weights , he should take the beating today
Vision Du Puy 11/4 3pts ew
14:40 – Inisfree lad at 20/1, proven at distance and last time out and setting quite the pace in class 3 company when placing at both Sandown and Carlisle. If the ground is not to detrimental those performances on heavy and again on soft could take a further leap today.
Inisfree Lad 20/1 1pt ew
15:15 – In the champion stayers hurdle, Small Present is the selection for the Sue Smith yard, seeking the hat-trick but arguably still not quite in the grip of the handicapper, the in-form Ryan Mania takes the ride.
Small Present 9/2 2pt ew
15:50 – Rose of Aghaboe is the only horse in the field who truly likes the surface and the distance, the others all failing combined to place on this surface over 50% of the time. At the very bottom of the weights and at a big price plenty to like.
Rose of Aghaboe 9/1 1.5pt ew
Musselburgh
The first flat meeting of the year not to be held at Doncaster, the season is truly upon us, although not really, Aintree next week and not long before the Craven at Newmarket.
13:50 – Stone Soldier and Marshall Dan stand out, one is 7/2 the other 9/2 , the latter carried more weight when setting good fractions at Haydock in September, if ready to go today should be in the frame.
Marshall Dan 9/2 2pt ew
14:25 – Heights of Abraham last year looked of interest when performing well at Doncaster in October, down in weight today and proven over course and distance, he is fancied to go in.
Heights of Abraham 5/1 2pt ew
15:00 – Just Another Bottle for the in-form Kevin Ryan yard (20%) , carried heavier weight when at Catterick in October, he should come on this season and can hit the frame at a good price.
Just Another Bottle 10/1 1.5pt ew
15:35 – no bet
Carlisle
15:23 – no bet
15:58 – Storm Nelson wins but at evens no bet.
Newton Abbot
16:52 – no bet
17:25 – no bet
Good luck!
Horse Racing Selections 