GBR Fantasy Jumps Series 2014-2015

The Coral Welsh Grand National at Chepstow was another lucrative source of points for our leading stable.

Big Saturday races on heavy ground are trainer Venetia Williams' speciality and she proved this again with Emperor's Choice (9/1) giving her a second success in the Welsh Grand National. The seven-year-old rallied in after the final fence to beat Benvolio (11/1) by a short head.

Emperor's Choice and Benvolio were our two selections in the race but, with regard to earning points, it would have been better if the placings had been reversed. Nevertheless, we still earned over 300 points on the race in total. Combined with the 294 points (Silviniaco Conti (15/8f), Al Ferof (7/1)) we took from the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day and have moved to around 150th place in the leaderboard.

There is now the option to make a few changes to the stable jockeys and trainers before the next race in the series at Sandown on 3 January 2015.

GBR Fantasy Jumps Series 2014-2015

Reve de Sivola (13/2) battled to victory for a third time in the JLT Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday, defeating Paul Nicholls' Zarkandar (4/6f) in the process.

Our leading stable picked up 125 points in the race and has leapt inside the top 650 stables, which is our best performance to date in any of the fantasy racing games.

But it could all change - for the better or worse - in the busy Christmas and New Year racing programme. December still has the King George VI Chase (Kempton Park) on Boxing Day and the Coral Welsh National (Chepstow) the day after to come. Only then can changes be made to our stables to prepare them for the busy January programme which starts at Sandown Park on 3 January 2015 with the HBLB Handicap Chase.

Let's hope we haven't peaked too soon - the Grand National is a long way off!

GBR Fantasy Jumps Series 2014-2015

Our leading stable earned 375 points on Saturday, taking the total past 1,000 points and the combination strategy worked a treat, although it was not the Nicholls-Twiston-Davies partnership that did the business this time.

Instead Venetia Williams and Niceonefrankie (16/1) won 236 points for victory in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham. Unfortunately, jockey Aidan Coleman is not in our stable to complete the trio.

Later on the card The New One (4/7f) was not a hard selection to make in the Stan James International Hurdle but still contributed almost 60 points in partnership with Sam Twiston-Davies.

GBR Fantasy Jumps Series 2014-2015

The "combinations" strategy is working well for us in the fantasy jumps game. Very simply, if a trainer-jockey combination has a runner in the race, that is the selection because if it wins you really rack up the points.

Of course, it also helps that the Paul Nicholls-Sam Twiston-Davies partnership has been so successful in the early part of the season.

In last weekend's Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown Park the trio of Dodging Bullets (9/1), Nicholls and Twiston-Davies earned 159 points. Out leading stable is just outside the top 1,000 with more than 600 points earned already.

Let's see how we get on at Cheltenham this weekend.

Top 10 horse races by betting turnover - July to September 2014

The top ten races by betting turnover in the period July to September 2014 were as follows:

1. Ladbrokes St Leger Stakes
2. Betfred Cambridgeshire
3. King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes
4. Coral Eclipse
5. 32Red Cup (Stewards' Cup)
6. William Hill Ayr Gold Cup
7. Betfred Sprint Cup
8. Betfred Ebor
9. Darley July Cup
10. Connolly's Red Mills Cheveley Park Stakes


Source: HBLB

GBR Fantasy Jumps Series 2014-2015

The Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham was the first race in the new GBR Fantasy Jumps Series for 2014/2015.

The series ends next April with the Crabbies' Grand National at Aintree.

We got off to a good start by picking Caid Du Berlais (10/1) in one of our stables, earning 100 points. So after one race we are just outside the top 1,000 - could be the highest position we achieve throughout the entire season!

But we're already beginning to worry that we should have included Sam Twiston-Davies in one of our two stables. He is in group A, however, meaning you have to choose between the likes of AP McCoy, Barry Geraghty, Richard Johnson et al. It is not an easy decision. Use of stable transfers could be very important at different times during the season.

British champions series: fantasy racing 2014

It was a case of "Mission accomplished" for our two fantasy stables on the British Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday.

With five races to tackle and double points on offer, this one meeting can really salvage the entire performance of the stable.

We put most of our eggs in the Lady Cecil/Noble Mission partnership in the QIPCO Champions Stakes and the gamble paid off, although Al Kazeem threatened to spoil it.

The horse-trainer combination earned 430 points for the returned price of 7/1 and the second selection of Free Eagle (third at 5/2) added a further 90 points with Dermot Weld also in our leading stable.

Our first stable earned over 1,200 points on the day and leapt up into the the top 3,000, finishing just inside 2,900th place with a total of almost 3,600 points.

The second stable earned 898 points on British Champions Day and finished back around 8,000th place.

It looks like the winning stables were up around the 5,000 points mark for the competition overall, so there is improvement needed for next year.

Jockeys and the temptation to cheat

An informative article from Robin Oakley on the potential earnings of the majority of jockeys and why the temptation might exist to take money to influence a horse's performance in a race. By no means a new risk to racing's integrity but still one that needs tackling.

http://www.spectator.co.uk/life/the-turf/9315642/the-economics-for-a-jockey-are-grim/

Horse racing in the Midlands - BBC video

The BBC has been running a series of short videos on different aspects of horseracing over the last week. The final video is an interesting piece on the state of horseracing in the Midlands and the varying fortunes of tracks like Cheltenham, Worcester, Hereford and Wolverhampton.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/horse-racing/29572053

Revamp for Scoop6 as rollover continues

Saturday's Scoop6 win and bonus fund will likely be more than GB£ 2.5 million after it went without a winner last weekend.

The game has enjoyed a surge in popularity in 2014 after a number of particularly large rollover jackpots. Now Betfred's Tote wants to capitalise on this by making changes to the way the pools are generated.

A new starting fund pool will be created to ensure there is a "rollover" prize to play for each week, regardless of whether or not the win fund is claimed.

Totepool MD Phil Siers explained: "The addition of a starting fund will mean there will always be a rollover for customers to aim at, regardless of whether the win fund is won the week before. We think this addition will prove popular with players as they will be able to look forward to big-money rollovers every Saturday."

The cost of playing will remain at GB£ 2 but the way that money is split will change:

35% to the win fund
17.5% to the place fund
12.5% to the bonus fund
5% to the new starting fund
30% in deductions to the operator

The Tote will begin the starting fund with GB£ 250,000 of its own.

Top 10 horse races by betting turnover - January to June 2014

The top ten races by betting turnover in the first six months of 2014 were as follows:

1. Crabbie's Grand National
2. Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup
3. Investec Derby
4. Ladbrokes World Hurdle
5. Stan James Champion Hurdle
6. Coral Scottish Grand National
7. Qipco 2000 Guineas
8. Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle
9. BetVictor Queen Mother Champion Chase
10. Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle


Source: HBLB

British champions series: fantasy racing 2014

In an effort to move up the leaderboard we were trying to use our stable changes to get more horse-jockey-trainer combinations as our winning selections to earn the most points we could at York and beyond.

The plan worked beautifully in the Darley Yorkshire Oaks on Thursday when Tapestry won (90 points), ridden by Ryan More (29 points) and trained by Aidan O'Brien (34 points). One of our stables had all three selected, earning over 150 points.

Richard Hughes was a good source of points too - earning over 60 points in combination with The Grey Gatsby for coming second to Australia in the Juddmonte International Stakes and 77 points for winning the Nunthorpe Stakes aboard Sole Power.

Our leading stable has now earned more than 2,000 points, whilst the other is approaching 1,800. But large leaps up the leaderboard are still eluding us.

Europe's sprint programme shaken up

The European Pattern Committee (EPC) has revealed details of substantial changes to the European sprint race programme from 2015.

The aim seems to be to create a high-class, competitive sprint dedicated sprint programme for younger horses to help them compete with their international rivals.

Part of the changes will include the running of a new Group 1 race over six furlongs for three-year-olds only at Royal Ascot.

 Chairman of the EPC Brian Kavanagh explained:

“The strategic objective in reviewing the sprint programme was to implement measures that will have a long-term, positive impact, delivering meaningful benefits both for European racing and for the European horse population.

“For horses performing at every distance other than sprinting, the European Pattern provides a three-year-old only programme until mid summer ... there is a definite lack of top class European three-year-old sprinters."

"... we have introduced a limited number of Pattern races restricted to three-year-olds in the first half of the European season, culminating in a new Group 1 race at Royal Ascot, and secondly, we have sought to deliver a more balanced overall sprint programme, providing better opportunities and greater incentives to run high class sprinters in Europe." 

“We acknowledge the steps we have taken are bold, some may consider them radical. However, the Committee believes they are warranted and that they will be of considerable benefit to European horseracing and breeding.”

Handicappers' view of Glorious Goodwood

The BHA handicappers have given their assessment of last month's Glorious Goodwood festival.

Their thoughts can be found here: http://www.britishhorseracing.com/gosdens-goodwood/

Some of the comments are below:

QIPCO Sussex Stakes

"Whilst Kingman was undoubtedly the star of the show in asserting his superiority over Toronado in the QIPCO Sussex Stakes the slow gallop and subsequent bunched finish prevented the star milers from running close to their lofty pre-race marks." 


Nassau Stakes

"The race itself was rather difficult to get a handle on. Firstly, there was quite a spread of opinion from the International Handicappers on the runner-up Narniyn’s level of ability for all she was rated 112 at home in France, and then Venus de Milo compounded matters by failing to run her race."


Lennox Stakes

"The 7f Group 2 Bet365 Lennox Stakes on Tuesday was a slowly-run affair and this played into the hands of Es Que Love who had been showing plenty of foot in 6f Group races this season.

I have Es Que Love running to 113, which is higher than Garswood (111) last year and Chachamaidee (112) in 2012, but some way below Finjaan (117) in 2009. This is a career high and despite having plenty of miles on the clock he seems on an upward curve since joining Clive Cox this year."


Artemis Goodwood Cup

"To the Group 2 Artemis Goodwood Cup and it was nice to see Cavalryman register another success, not least because he was the highest rated on BHA figures. It was a good race for Godolphin too, with Ahzeemah completing a one-two for the organisation and trainer Saeed bin Suroor."

Racing review: Saturday 16 August

20:20 Vision

Horses priced at 20/1 played a large part in my betting fortunes on Saturday. Unfortunately, they were not always in my favour.

In the opener at Ripon (2.15) Marsh Pride (20/1) beat my selection Fast Dancer (13/2), who had held the lead for a large part of the race but was not in front when it mattered.

Then a few minutes later at Newmarket in the handicap for grey horses (2.20) my choice of Baby Strange (7/1) was out battled by Moonspring (20/1).

Both winners had me searching back through the racecard again to make sure they were actually there because I hadn't given either of them a second glance beforehand.

Moonspring also ripped up a lot of tickets in the Scoop 6, which went unclaimed for another week.

But later in the afternoon Confessional (20/1) helped salvage matters a little bit by claiming third place (and some each-way winnings) in the Great St Wilfrid Handicap (Ripon 3.30).



Go Far gives Lynch first winner

Go Far (12/1) gave jockey Fergal Lynch his first winner since being granted his licence again to ride in the UK.

Alan Bailey's four-year-old won the five furlong sprint at Doncaster on Saturday afternoon (4.50).

Doped - a bookie sets the record straight

Last month I wrote a review of Jamie Reid's book Doped about the doping of racehorses in the 1960s. In the review I said the book would have benefited from more references and notes because some of the details would only have been known to the participants. Now the retired rails bookmakers Michael Wallis has written an article in the July/August 2014 edition of BOS magazine to set the record straight about some of the facts in the book.

Wallis is in a good position to express his opinion because he was a rails bookmaker in the 1950s and 60s when the events were taking place.

He points out that Reid accuses various bookmakers of being in the know about the doping "without a shred of evidence". Also, if a bookmaker tried to offer "over the odds" about a horse that was subsequently found to have been got at, then that bookmaker "would have been a marked man" in the betting ring.

Wallis says, "we racecourse bookmakers were at the sharp end of the market i.e. at the receiving end of hot money for horses backed to beat the ones that had been doped. It was in our interests for the dopers to be found out .."

The article also highlights that Bill Roper was a 'runner' for bookmakers at the racecourse rather than a bookmaker in his own right and that he was never known as "Mr Racing".


BOS magazine - if you are interested in the history of bookmaking in the UK and the various firms and bookmaking dynasties of previous decades then BOS magazine is a must read.

There are fascinating articles about the characters of the betting industry - past and present, the lost racecourses, as well as interviews with current independent bookmakers.

At The Races feature on Timeform operation

An interesting video taking the viewer inside the Timeform operation in Halifax.

Top 10 horse races by betting turnover - April to June 2014

Top 10 races by betting turnover in Q2 2014, according to HBLB data:

1. Crabbie's Grand National
2. Investec Derby
3. Coral Scottish Grand National
4. Qipco 2000 Guineas
5. Investec Oaks
6. Ascot Gold Cup (Royal Ascot)
7. Prince of Wales's Stakes (Royal Ascot)
8. Qipco 1000 Guineas
9. St James's Palace Stakes (Royal Ascot)
10. Diamond Jubilee Stakes (Royal Ascot)

Top 10 horse races by betting turnover - January to March 2014

The Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) has published the top 10 races by betting turnover in Q1 2014, using data provided on a confidential basis by the leading bookmakers. Not surprisingly all 10 are from a few days in March at the Cheltenham Festival.

1. Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup
2. Ladbrokes World Hurdle
3. Stan James Champion Hurdle
4. Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle
5. BetVictor Queen Mother Champion Chase
6. Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle
7.Grand Annual Chase
8. JCB Triumph Hurdle
9. NIM Novices' Hurdle
10. Ryanair Chase

British champions series: fantasy racing 2014

There is now the chance to make two changes to jockeys and/or trainers in the stable before the next British Champions Series (BCS) race, the Juddmonte International Stakes at York on 20 August.

So it is useful to look at performances so far this season and see who could be a useful addition to the stable and who is not cutting the racing mustard.

Jockeys

There are 14 jockeys who have scored more than 100 points so far, with Kieren Fallon (group B) leading the way with 380 points.

Not unexpectedly, 10 out of the 14 jockeys come from groups A (4) and B (6). Maxime Guyon (E) is the best performing jockey from the other groups and has earned 175 points thanks to Miss France in the QIPCO 1000 Guineas.

At the other end of the board, 13 jockeys have scored fewer than 50 points and 7/13 come from groups D and E.

Jockeys in group B - Dettori, Doyle, Hanagan, Atzeni, Fallon, Crowley, Soumillon - seem to have been the key to success so far. Fallon (380) and Hanagan (233) are in first and second on the leaderboard and have won 5 races between them.

But getting any points from the lower groups D and E is a big bonus. Five jockeys have scored no points at all, having had no rides, and 4/5 were from groups D and E.

Trainers

Trainers in group A have won 15 out of 22 races in the BCS so far in 2014. Richard Hannon and John Gosden account for 9 of these wins between them.

But with only one trainer allowed per group, a stable can only have a portion of group A's overall success.

Again, the lower groups are low scoring and anything your stable can pick up is a bonus. 9/15 of the trainers with fewer than 50 points are from groups D and E.

Mark Johnston (330 points) is clear at the top of the table thanks to Somewhat (100/1) holding on for third place in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown.

Overall, only 8 trainers have earned more than 100 points and the remainder are quite close together.

There is much to ponder before the York meeting and inevitably whoever you switch out of your stable will then pop up with a 25/1 winner in the very next race!

British champions series: fantasy racing 2014

We managed to find the winner of all three of the BCS races at the Glorious Goodwood festival last week but unfortunately they were split over our two stables, so neither stable made giant strides up the leaderboard. Nevertheless, one stable has now accumulated more than 1,750 points and sits in around 4,500th place.

This stable earned more than 100 points from the Nassau Stakes on Saturday by selecting Sultanina (11/2) and Narniyn (7/4). Earlier in the week it also earned 62 points from the QIPCO Sussex Stakes, won by the impressive Kingman and over 50 points in the Artemis Goodwood Cup mainly thanks to Richard Kingscote riding Brown Panther (11/4) into third place.

Our other stable had its best result in the Goodwood Cup earning almost 140 points through a combination of Cavalryman (5/1), Ahzeemah (12/1) and Richard Fahey.

We really need to use our trainer and jockey changes wisely to get more points from them in the remaining races.

At The Races celebrates 10 years on air

ATR has put together a video of the high and low-lights of its first 10 years on air.

A moderately entertaining watch.

Racing review: Saturday 26 July 2014

Taghrooda topples Telescope in King George

The 2014 running of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes went to John Gosden’s filly Taghrooda (7/2), who remains unbeaten in four races.

It was a strongly run race, with a good pace set by Leitir Mor and Taghrooda was at the back of the field for much of the contest. But she made good progress through the field in the home straight under Paul Hanagan, who is having a dream season.

As a three-year-old filly, Taghrooda received a substantial weight allowance from several of her older, male rivals and this could have made all the difference. The favourite Telescope (5/2f) carried 9-7 to the filly’s 8-6 and the winning distance was three lengths at the post.

Haggas fires in the winners

Trainer William Haggas had winners across the country on Saturday an added five victories to his tally for the season.

Zaraee (5/2jf) kicked things off at Newcastle (2.30), then Mange All (10/1) won the one-mile handicap at Ascot (2.40). These wins were followed by the impressive Muthmir (4/1f) and Valley Of Fire (9/2) at York (3.30 & 4.05).

Daydreamer (7/4f) rounded off a successful day in the in 8.05 at Lingfield. Before the race Daydreamer was the only horse in Haggas’ stable rated below 70. The eight-length win will likely take the gelding above that mark.

Mark Johnston was not far behind with three winners around the UK, including Heavy Metal (33/1) in the valuable Longines International Stakes at Ascot. It bodes well for Glorious Goodwood next week.

BHA unveils new website

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has unveiled its new website and logo.

http://www.britishhorseracing.com/

In a press release the BHA says the highlights of the new website are:

• A cleaner design with a more logical navigation
• Improvements to the user experience, especially in the more coherent linking of data such as non-runners, going and weather reports with racecards, and data such as photo finishes and Stewards reports with results. Users can now reach all of this essential racing data in a much more logical, accessible and user-friendly manner
• New content areas including race entries and horse, jockey and trainer databases
• Fully responsive design for mobile devices
• A new ‘Ask BHA’ section with FAQs on a range of topics
• A streamlined Resource Centre offering a range of information tools for the sport’s participants

Racing review: Saturday 19 July 2014

Fillies to the fore
There were some impressive performances by fillies on Saturday afternoon.

Tiggy Wiggy (5/2f) was a class apart in the Weatherbys Super Sprint at Newbury. Richard Hannon’s filly was carrying top weight but that was no hindrance as she stormed clear under jockey Richard Hughes to win by six lengths from Haxby (Roger Varian, Andrea Atzeni, 10/1).

She holds an entry in the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York at the end of August.

Mark Johnston’s Kosika (8/1) made it three wins inside a month with victory in the one mile fillies’ handicap (2.05 Newbury). The four-year-old was always at the front and her rivals let her go for home unchallenged.

At Newmarket Shelley Birkett rode Noble Protector (12/1) to success in the Aphrodite Stakes, a listed race for fillies. The 3/1f Criteria was well held, 5 lengths back in second place.

Doom Bar Stakes, Newbury 2.40

Al Kazeem could not make it a winning return to the racecourse after a spell at stud. Roger Charlton’s six-year-old was backed in from 15/8 to 11/10 but ‘match fitness’ seemed to count as he faded in the final furlong.

Horse to note: Vancouverite, having his first run since the Dubai World Cup in March, just beaten a short head, drifted from 7/1 to 10/1.

Sweet on Candy

Henry Candy has had a couple of fine winners in recent days in the shape of Music Master (Hackwood Stakes, Newbury) and the unbeaten Limato (Rose Bowl Stakes, Newbury).

British champions series: fantasy racing 2014

Another fairly good return from the latest round of races in the British Champions Series at the July Meeting, Newmarket.

Admittedly, the favourites won the two races - the QIPCO Falmouth Stakes and the Darley July Cup - in the form of Integral and Slade Power. They earned a combined total of around 120 points but we couldn't add much to that with the additional trainer and jockey points.

Our second stable picked up some bits and pieces with Rizeena (28 points)and Ryan Moore (10 points) in the Falmouth Stakes and Frankie Dettori (10 points) aboard Undrafted in the July Cup.

Ascot and Goodwood are next up towards the end of July.

British Champions Series: fantasy racing 2014

Royal Ascot and the Coral Eclipse have produced quite reasonable returns for both of our stables and each has now comfortably passed 1,200 points - admittedly still some way off the leaders.

One stable picked out Mukhadram as the winner of the Coral Eclipse at Sandown, earning 120 points, whilst the other accumulated nearly 400 points in the one race thanks to Mark Johnston's Somewhat clinging on for third place at 100/1!

Some stable highlights from Royal Ascot a few weeks back are:

• Earning over 100 points for picking out The Fugue (77.5) and Magician (32) as the first two home in the Prince of Wales's Stakes
• Sole Power and Richard Hughes earned a combined 95 points in winning the King's Stand Stakes
• 90 points earned by Leading Light (54.5) and Estimate (36) as the first two finishers in the Gold Cup

The next chance to continue the good run comes with a couple of races at Newmarket's July meeting next week in the Falmouth Stakes and July Cup.

Book review: Doped

I have just finished reading Doped (Jamie Reid, Racing Post Books, 2013), winner of the 2013 William Hill Sports Book of the Year.

A very enjoyable but head-shaking read. Some of the exploits were so brazen I had to remind myself it was a true story and not the fantastical plot of a Dick Francis novel.

The book would have benefited from more references and notes. Some of the details would only have been known to the participants but there is not an extensive bibliography or appendix giving the source of certain details.

In summary, for a period in the 1960s a gang of dopers wandered into racing stables across the country and doped horses at will and profited from the horses' subsequent poor runs (as did selected bookmakers and criminals).

It was a very risky business with high stakes that went beyond the financial. The dopers started on Flat horses, including several runners in Classics and high profile races, but also expanded into National Hunt runners too. 

In jumps races, the risk of a doped horse falling and killing its jockey was higher than in Flat races. If the dopers were caught they could be charged with murder, which in 1960s UK could still carry the death penalty. But it didn't seem to act as a deterrent.

The dopers were not always successful. Sometimes they over-doped the horse which caused it to be withdrawn from the race. Other times they were out-foxed.

Trainer Fred Rimell became suspicious after some of the gang paid a visit to the yard under the pretext of wanting to have horses in training with him. 

He suspected they were interested in getting at his Grand National hope Nicolaus Silver so he switched the grey and placed another grey horse in his stable. The dopers did indeed return and unwittingly doped the wrong horse.

Nicolaus Silver went on to win the 1961 Grand National and was returned at 28/1 because of rumours he had been doped and could not win!

Quite early on in the book the author really gets to the heart of the matter as to why what happened was able to happen:

"There was no whining about 'transparency' or 'accountability' as there would be today. Geoffrey Hamlyn [SP compiler for the Sporting Life] took the view that in matters of sin on the racecourse it was about a 50-50 split between the bookmakers on the one side and trainers and jockeys on the other."

Charlie Maskey of Victor Chandler recalled "We all knew they [trainers and jockeys] were at it and they all knew we knew."

It is easy to take a romantic view of past crimes with colourful characters, such as are recalled in Doped. But the gang's actions ruined horse's lives, deprived jockeys and trainers of victories with their leading horses and defrauded the betting public who placed wagers on runners that could not possibly win.

Given that these scandalous events occurred in the early days of legalised off-course betting, it's amazing that betting on horseracing has survived at all.

The end of the book felt a bit disappointing because of the lack of known details about what exactly happened to the main protagonists in later decades. But, overall, it was a well compiled account of an extraordinary period in the Turf's history. 

British Champions Series: fantasy racing 2014

It has been a case of "slowly away" so far in our two stables' performance in the 2014 Qipco British Champions Series fantasy racing game.

Not making selections in the Yorkshire Cup and JLT Lockinge Stakes did not help matters. But our first stable's jockeys and trainers still scored a total of 120.5 points in the Yorkshire Cup.

We picked up almost 100 points in the Betfred Temple Stakes at Haydock on Saturday with Hot Streak (61.25), Kingsgate Native (26) and jockey Ryan Moore (8), which is not a bad return given the prices of the placed horses.

Attention now turns to the Epsom Downs for the Derby meeting in a little over a week.

Scoop 6 finally gives up its millions

The Scoop 6 was finally conquered after 12 weeks of rollovers on Saturday (24 May 2014).

Chatez was the horse that won the sixth and final leg at Haydock, making 8 ticket holders millionaires, each scooping GB£ 1.3 million and a shot at the GB£ 5 million bonus fund race this Saturday.

It some ways it was quite a relief for it to be won because it was getting very expensive chasing the dream week after week!

Also goes to show how difficult picking winners can be when no-one in the country could manage six in a row for three months, even with all the syndicate permutations. I will enjoy each single winner all the more from now on.

Seven million pound Scoop6

The Tote Scoop6 was not won last weekend and Saturday 10 May will see punters seek to find the six winners that could make them a millionaire.

Scoop 6 races Saturday 10 May:

Leg 1: 1.50 Haydock
Leg 2: 2.20 Lingfield
Leg 3: 2.40 Ascot
Leg 4: 2.45 Nottingham
Leg 5: 3.30 Haydock
Leg 6: 3.50 Ascot

The rollovers continue but the races get no easier.

Saturday's Scoop6 is a mix of jumping and Flat races. Leg 1 is a handicap hurdle at Haydock with 14 runners that is 11/2 the field. Then there is the Oaks trial at Lingfield.

The fourth leg is a Class 5 (0-75) 17 runner sprint at Nottingham (2.45), 6/1 the field.

And if you're still alive by the final leg, it is just the small matter of the Victoria Cup at Ascot (3.50). 29 runners from which to choose, 11/1 the field.

But as the prize pool gets bigger, it becomes of more interest to the big syndicate bettors and it is 4/6 that the Scoop6 will be won; 5/4 it won't.

Turf notes: 9 May 2014

Two winners at Chester's May festival have given a strong boost to Mecca's Angel's recent good win at Thirsk.

In Friday's five furlong sprint (3.15) Blithe Spirit (11/4) made all the running to win by 2 3/4 lengths from Viva Verglas.

On Thursday The Hooded Claw (6/1) took the six furlong handicap (4.25).

Both horses had finished behind Mecca's Angel in the five furlong sprint (5.10) on Thirsk's card on 12 April.

Turf notes: 5 May 2014

A previous edition of Turf Notes highlighted Mecca's Angel as an impressive winner at Thirsk last month.

Michael Dods' sprinter won again on Sunday 4 May at Hamilton, coming home eight lengths ahead of Eccleston in the 5f conditions stakes (3.00). Although the price of 10/11 was not one to make you rich.

No winners for Scoop 6

The afternoon kicked off with a 10/1 winner in leg 1 and things got tougher from there for Scoop 6 punters.

Leg 4, the 3.30 at Goodwood, went to the 40/1 shot Pandar and by the final leg, the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, there was just a single ticket holder left. They were on the Spanish contender Noozhoh Canarias (22/1) but its was the even bigger priced Night Of Thunder (40/1) who was the victor, knocking out the last chance of a winner.

So it all rolls over until next week. But it gets no easier with the likely Scoop 6 races being those at Haydock and Ascot.

It just goes to show how hard it is to find a winner and even just a single winner should be celebrated.

Race Day Betting: Qipco 2000 Guineas

Kingman remains solid at the head of the betting for the 2014 Qipco 2000 Guineas. The favourite had been as big as 2/1 with William Hill but has shortened again to 7/4 (which was the overnight price).

War Command has come in to 7/1 from 8/1 and overtakes Toormore in the market (8/1 from 13/2).

The selection is for Richard Hannon's Toormore (each way at 8/1; 1/4 odds first 3).

Writing on his website, the trainer said: "The Craven definitely knocked the rust off Toormore, and he will be a lot sharper this time. He will never be as spectacular as Canford Cliffs or Toronado, but he is a very good galloper with no complications, and the Rowley Mile brings out the best in him."

Tote Scoop 6 - Saturday 3 May

The Scoop 6 total prize pool has breached the GB£ 6 million mark with GB£3.68 million in the win fund and a bonus fund of GB£ 2.8 million.

Today's selections:

Leg 1: 5 Bold Sniper
Leg 2: 7 Pearl Secret
Leg 3: 6 Trade Secret
Leg 4: 8 Pal Of The Cat
Leg 5: 15 Anderiego
Leg 6: 13 Toormore

Racing Preview: Qipco 2000 Guineas

The Qipco 2000 Guineas is the first Classic race in the British Flat season. It is run in early May over a distance of a mile (8 furlongs) at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile course. The race is open to three-year olds, both colts and fillies. The race title is derived from the approximate value of all the entry fees for the first running of the race.

The race has been won by the favourite for the last three years and John Gosden will try to continue that trend with his unbeaten colt Kingman (7/4f).

2000 Guineas: Leading Contenders

Kingman: three wins from three runs, including two Group 3 victories in the Solario Stakes last season and a good win in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury in April. The Greenham victory was impressive and the colt showed the ability to quicken and had good speed in the closing stages.

Australia: Sired by Galileo and trained by Aidan O’Brien. Not seen on the racetrack since last September when winning over 8 furlongs at Leopardstown. O'Brien has said he could be the best he has trained.

Toormore: Unbeaten after four races, including a course and distance win in the Craven Stakes last month. The highest rated horse in the race on official ratings

War Command: a second entry for Aidan O’Brien and the winner of the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes at the end of last season at Newmarket. Not seen since then and will be ridden by Ryan Moore.

Scoop 6: £5 million prize fund

Saturday's (3 May) Scoop 6 total prize fund could reach GB£ 5 million after weeks without a winner.

It is estimated there will be a win fund of around GB£ 3 million and a further GB£ 2 million in the bonus fund.

The Scoop 6 takes in three races from Newmarket, two from Thirsk and one from Goodwood. The final leg is the Qipco 2000 Guineas Stakes (3.50).

Scoop 6 races Saturday 3 May:

Leg 1: 2.05 Newmarket
Leg 2: 2.40 Newmarket
Leg 3: 3.00 Thirsk
Leg 4: 3.30 Goodwood
Leg 5: 3.40 Thirsk
Leg 6: 3.50 Newmarket

Tote Scoop 6 Bonanza

There is a possible GB£ 3 million up for grabs in the Scoop 6 this Saturday.

All you have to do is pick the six winners of the selected races at Haydock and Kempton this weekend and then find the winner of the bonus race next weekend and the GB£ 1.63 million win fund and GB£ 1.95 million bonus fund could be yours.

But the races look tricky from the very outset. The first leg (2.05 at Haydock) is no easy affair and later on there is the 19 runner in the handicap chase (3.15) to sort out.

Good luck!

UPDATE:

The Scoop 6 went without a winner again (19 April), not surprising when the opening two legs went to a 16/1 shot and an 11/2 winner. They were followed by 9/1, 18/1, 5/1, 13/2 winners.

If you could find all those six horses then you probably deserve more than GB£ 3 million!

The win fund will rollover to next weekend.    

British Champions Series: fantasy racing 2014

The British Champions Series 2014 begins with the QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday 3 May 2014 and concludes at Ascot on British Champions Day in mid-October.

So there are just over two weeks to pick you stable of trainers and jockeys for the new season's fantasy racing game:

https://fantasyracing.telegraph.co.uk/

Jockey George Baker topped the leaderboard in 2013 with his sole victory aboard Seal Of Approval in the QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot on British Champions Day at 16/1, when double points were scored.

Robert Cowell trained Jwala (40/1) to win the Nunthorpe Stakes at York and, coupled with Kingsgate Native (16/1) winning the Temple Stakes at Haydock, put him top of the trainers' list. Sadly, Jwala was killed when racing in Hong Kong later in the season.

But the key to success in the game is clearly a few big-priced winners rather than more short-priced winners. Richard Hughes rode five winners but amassed only 279 points to Baker's 760 points. Similarly, Aidan O'Brien's five wins earned 365 points to Cowell's 1,010.

And winning on British Champions Day itself, when points count double, also helps!

Turf notes: 13 April 2014

The grey filly Mecca's Angel made a winning start to the season with a decisive victory in the five furlong sprint at Thirsk on Saturday (5.10).

Michael Dods'  three-year-old was very consistent last season and is now 3/6 in wins over five furlongs.

She was twice second in Listed races last season and had no problem giving weight to her rivals back in a handicap on Saturday, coming clear by 4 1/2 lengths.

The filly has no future entries at the time of writing.

Handicapper's view of the Cheltenham Gold Cup 2014

BHA head of handicapping Phil Smith has published his views of last week's Betfred Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival.

He writes:

"Definitely one of the most exciting but perhaps not one of the most outstanding [Gold Cups]."

"It seemed a very straightforward race to rate. You can set your clock by The Giant Bolster at Cheltenham in March. He is always placed. In both 2012 and 2013 I had him performing to 164 and have assessed him at that level again this year."

"As a result Lord Windermere improves from 153 to 165. Time was that observers criticised the RSA Chase claiming that its winners didn't go on but Bobs Worth, Albertas Run, Denman, Trabolgan and now Lord Windermere in the last nine years have shown that winning it is no barrier to success the following year." 

Read the handicapper's full thoughts here:

http://www.britishhorseracing.com/goracing/blogs/head_of_handicapping.asp

Cheltenham Festival Telegraph Fantasy Racing

Our leading stable finished with a creditable total of just over 1,100 points after the four days of the Cheltenham Festival 2014.

The stable picked up 328 points on Gold Cup day, despite Ruby Walsh not taking several of his rides after an injury.

Lac Fontana won 110 points in the County Handicap Hurdle and Davy Russell's fantastic day in the saddle contributed 160 points.

Roll on next year.

Cheltenham Festival 2014: Day Four Selections

JCB Triumph Hurdle
Broughton

County Handicap Hurdle
Lac Fontana

Albert Bartlett
Kings Palace

Betfred Gold Cup
Bobs Worth

Foxhunter Chase
Ganbei

Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle
Vieux Lion Rouge

Grand Annual Chase
Ned Buntline

Cheltenham Festival Telegraph Fantasy Racing

Our leading stable has slipped down the leaderboard to around 3,000th after a mediocre second day of the Cheltenham Festival.

40 points each were picked up by Ruby Walsh (Faugheen), Rebecca Curtis (O'Faolians Boy) and Nicky Henderson (Nicky Henderson). But apart from that it was very slim pickings.

Maybe Thursday's Festival fortunes will be better.

Cheltenham Festival 2014: Day Two Selections

NIM Novices's Hurdle
Red Sherlock

RSA Chase
Morning Assembly

Coral Cup
Vendor

BetVictor Queen Mother Champion Chase
Arvika Ligeonniere

Glenfarclas Handicap Chase
Star Neuville

Fred Winter Hurdle
Ballyglasheen

Weatherbys Champion Bumper
Modus

Cheltenham Festival: Telegraph Fantasy Racing

One of our stables had a creditable first day and finished in around 1,100th position.

Jockeys Ruby Walsh (Vautour, Quevega) and Tom Scudamore (Western Warhorse) were both winners on the opening day of the Festival and winning selections in the form of Jezki (9/1) and Midnight Prayer (8/1) helped contribute some good points.

Our other stables did not perform quite so well and were well down the field after day one of the Cheltenham Festival.

Cheltenham Festival 2014: Day One Selections

The selections for the first day of the Cheltenham Festival 2014:

Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle:
Wicklow Brave, Gilgamboa

Racing Post Arkle Chase:
Rock On Ruby

Baylis & Harding Handicap Chase:
Wrong Turn

Stan James Champion Hurdle:
Our Conor

OLBG Mares' Hurdle:
L'unique (each-way)

Terry Biddlecombe National Hunt Chase:
Shotgun Paddy

Rewards4Racing Novices' Handicap Chase:
Art of Logistics

This is the battle plan before the action begins. But other last minute, spur of the moment bets are a guarantee!

Telegraph Cheltenham Fantasy Racing 2014

Been busy these last couple of days trying to select the jockeys and trainers for the Telegraph's fantasy racing game ahead of the 2014 Cheltenham Festival next week.

Some difficult decisions to be made in getting the combinations right, especially as riding plans and entries have not been finalised.

https://fantasyracing.telegraph.co.uk/

Festival race preview: Betfred Gold Cup

Bobs Worth (7/4) will seek to defend his Gold Cup crown for Nicky Henderson. He was last seen beating First Lieutenant (14/1) in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown in December.

Much debate centres around what the result would have been in last year’s race had Silviniaco Conti (3/1) not fallen. Paul Nicholls’ gelding is back again to take on Bobs Worth after beating Cue Card in the King George VI Chase at Kempton.

The withdrawal of Cue Card with injury and former champion Long Run’s likely run in the Grand National means that the 2014 running of the Betfred Gold Cup does not have some of the strength in depth of recent years.

Festival race preview: Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle

David Pipe’s Kings Palace (3/1) was the long time favourite for this race with three wins from three runs this season. This included a victory in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in December when he beat Masters Hill (40/1) by 14 lengths.

But Willie Mullins’ Briar Hill (9/4) has replaced Kings Palace at the head of the market. The six-year-old is also unbeaten and won the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at the Festival last year at 25/1.

Beyond the first two, the betting is very open: Captain Cutter 8/1; Faugheen 10/1; Deputy Dan 16/1.

Festival race preview: JCB Triumph Hurdle

This year’s protagonists will find it difficult to match Our Conor’s impressive performance in this race last year.

The betting is very open with only two horses at single figure odds with Ladbrokes: Calipto (5/1) and Le Rocher (6/1).

Calipto is unbeaten in two stats over hurdles for Paul Nicholls, both at Newbury. Le Rocher (Nick Williams) is also unbeaten, including a 10 length victory in the JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial at Cheltenham in January.

Royal Irish Hussar (14/1) also won a JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial at Cheltenham in November 2013, when Guitar Pete (10/1) was second. But a month later Royal Irish Hussar was beaten 16 lengths in third at Doncaster, behind Fox Norton and Broughton (10/1).

Festival race preview: Ladbrokes World Hurdle

The announcement by Willie Mullins last weekend that his unbeaten mare Annie Power (7/4) will take her chance in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Festival has added extra spice to the event.

Four-time winner Big Buck’s (7/4) is aiming to return to reclaim his crown and the sponsors cannot split the two in the betting.

Big Buck’s’ record at Cheltenham is not in question but at 11 years old, is age catching up with him? Annie Power is six years old and the last six-year-old to win this race was… Big Buck’s.

At Fishers Cross (5/1) posted a much better effort in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham back in January when finishing a narrow runner-up to Knockara Beau (Big Buck’s was in third on his comeback from injury).

After an excellent season in 2012/2013, Rebecca Curtis’ gelding had not been able to recapture that form at the start of this season.

Festival race preview: Ryanair Chase

Two greys head the market for the Ryanair Chase in the form of David Pipe’s Dynaste (4/1) and Paul Nicholls’ Al Ferof (9/2).

Both contested the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton in December and both finished someway behind Silviniaco Conti.

Dynaste finished second to Benefficient (5/1) in the Jewson Novices’ Chase at last year’s Festival and Tony Martin’s gelding is 5/1 for this year’s Ryanair Chase.

Martin explained his plans for Benefficient: "I'm happy with him and am very keen to go to the Ryanair, I don't really want to come down in trip with him. Two-miles-five round Cheltenham is ideal. He'd want three miles on an easy track and I'd rather go for the race that suits him."

Festival race preview: JLT Novices’ Chase

Paul Nicholls’ Wonderful Charm (6/1) was beaten by Oscar Whisky  (7/1) by half a length at Cheltenham in December when giving Nicky Henderson’s runner 8 lbs. But now racing on level weights Wonderful Charm is the favourite for the JLT Novices’ Chase.

The two are split in the betting by Willie Mullins’ Felix Younger (6/1).

Festival race preview: Weatherbys Champion Bumper

With winning SPs of 25/1, 16/1, 14/1 and 40/1 in recent years, you get rewarded handsomely if you can pick the winner of the Champion Bumper.

As such, if might be a waste of time looking at the runners at the head of the betting – Black Hercules (Willie Mullins), Shaneshill (Willie Mullins) and Vigil (Dermot Weld).

Trainer Willie Mullins has won the race for the last two years (with Briar Hill and Champagne Fever). Mullins also trained the last favourite to win this competitive race in the form of Missed That in 2005.

Festival race preview: Queen Mother Champion Chase

The betting for the 2014 Queen Mother Champion Chase was shaken up with the news at the end of February that defending Champion Sprinter Sacre would miss the Festival.

As a result, Gary Moore’s eight-year-old Sire De Grugy is the 2/1 favourite. In two races round the Cheltenham course Sire De Grugy has finished second on both occasions, first to Captain Conan (6/1) and then to Kid Cassidy (10/1).

But the eight-year-old got revenge over Captain Conan in the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown last December (Somersby (20/1) was second).

Trainer Nicky Henderson has won this race for the last two years and, while there might be nothing of the quality of Sprinter Sacre in 2014, Captain Conan and Kid Cassidy could see him land the prize again.

Festival race preview: RSA Chase

Another race at the 2014 Festival for which the betting is currently headed by a Willie Mullins-trained runner.

Ballycasey’s (5/1) sole defeat came when third behind Morning Assembly (8/1) at Punchestown last April.

It was reported last week that jockey Davy Russell could be in line for the ride on Morning Assembly because the Ruby Walsh, the usual partner for Pat Fahy’s gelding, is likely to be aboard Ballycasey.

Fahy explained the situation: "We've booked Davy to ride the horse on the understanding that if Ruby became available, which I know looks slim at this stage, then things could change. We're leaving the door open for Ruby as he has ridden him all season and knows the horse well, but if Davy rides, we'll be 100 per cent happy.”

Alan King opted to close his stable for a period earlier this season when his horses were not performing but that break could have a silver lining as the season reaches its climax. King’s horses may have inadvertently benefited from their lack of racing during the poor weather when the ground was heavy. They could be all the fresher for it.

King’s Smad Place (7/1) is second favourite and won a three mile novices’ chase at Newbury in February, beating Sam Winner (12/1) by two lengths, who in turn was 31 lengths ahead of Mendip Express.

Festival race preview: Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle

Willie Mullins’ Faugheen (5/2) holds three entries at the Festival, of which this race is one. The six-year-old is unbeaten in three starts over hurdles and has been heavily odds-on on each occasion.

Also unbeaten is Red Sherlock (5/1), and David Pipe’s five-year-old has won twice round Cheltenham too.

In January he beat Rathvinden (16/1) by two and a half lengths on heavy ground in the race of the same name and the first two were well clear of Aubusson (29 lengths back in third).

Pipe is also represented by Un Temps Pour Tout (14/1), winner of another Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle in February, this time at Ascot. Again, the ground was heavy and the five-year-old gave a heavy beating to his rivals – 16 lengths, and 28 lengths between the first three home.

Several contenders hold multiple entries at the Festival, so the picture will become clearer as plans are finalised.

Festival race preview: Stan James Champion Hurdle

It is a case of experience (and age!) versus youth in the 2014 Stan James Champion Hurdle.

Hurricane Fly is the defending champion (as well as winning it in 2011 and being third in 2012) and is 3/1 with the sponsors to defend his title at the age of 10.

His main rivals are considerably younger, in the form of The New One (six years old; 3/1), My Tent Or Yours (seven; 9/2) and Our Conor (five; 9/2).

Hurricane Fly is unbeaten in nine races since the Festival last March and has beaten Our Conor and Jezki (10/1) on a couple of occasions this season.

Willie Mullins’ eventual Festival plans for the unbeaten mare Annie Power (8/1) could well shake up the betting. She is entered in the Champion Hurdle but it seems likely that she will be kept apart from stablemate Hurricane Fly.

UPDATE: Willie Mullins told At The Races on Sunday 2 March that Annie Power will take on Big Buck's in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle.

Festival race preview: Racing Post Arkle

The 2014 Arkle is a more open betting heat than it has been in the last couple of years, which have both been landed by odds-on favourites (2013: Simonsig 8/15f, 2012: Sprinter Sacre 8/11f).

Willie Mullins’ Champagne Fever (3/1) heads the betting and is 2/2 in wins/runs at the Cheltenham Festival.

But not far behind – all at 5/1 – are Trifolium (Charles Byrnes), Dodging Bullets (Paul Nicholls) and Rock On Ruby (Harry Fry).

Trainer Alan King won this race two years running with Voy Por Ustedes (2006) and My Way De Solzen (2007) and Valdez (9/1) should not be dismissed in 2014.

Cheltenham Festival Preview Nights

If I had to attend just one preview event before the Cheltenham Festival (and I lived in the west of Ireland), I think it would be the one organised by John Mulholland bookmakers.

It boasts a stellar line up:

Tom Segal, Pricewise of the Racing Post
Barney Curley, gambler
Patrick Mullins, son of trainer Willie Mullins
Danny Mullins, jockey, Our Conor

Details:

Monday 3 March 2014, 8pm
Salthill Hotel, Galway
Tickets: EUR 20

https://www.facebook.com/events/616288565087528/?ref=5

Sprinter Sacre will miss Cheltenham Festival

Sprinter Sacre will not line up at Cheltenham to defend his Queen Mother Champion Chase title at the Festival in March 2014 after failing to show he was back to his best in a piece of training work over the weekend.

Nicky Henderson's stable star was pulled up in his last race at Kempton over Christmas and was found to be suffering from an irregular heartbeat. His appearance at the Festival was always uncertain after that and Henderson decided it would not be fair to ask Sprinter Sacre to compete.

Sprinter Sacre will miss the rest of the season and his connections are looking to the Tingle Creek at Sandown in December.

Festival race preview: Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle

Paul Nicholls’ Irving joined Vautour (Willie Mullins) at the head of the betting for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle with some bookmakers after his five-length win in the Sky Bet Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle at Kempton on Saturday (22 February).

Jockey Nick Scholfield said afterwards that Irving would be “much better on better ground” (it was soft at Kempton).

First Mohican (Alan King) had looked good in a novices’ hurdle event at Doncaster earlier this month but finished 13 lengths behind Irving in the Dovecote. He didn’t build upon his performance at Doncaster and did not jump fluently.

Vautour is unbeaten in three races this season and was last seen winning the Deloitte Novices’ Hurdle at Leopardstown at the start of February. He beat The Tullow Tank that day by three lengths but the Deloitte runner-up seems unlikely to take part in the Cheltenham Festival opener.

Another of Mullins’ entries is Wicklow Brave, who has won both of his starts over hurdles. His most recent win was in a listed novices’ hurdle at Punchestown (2 February). The runner-up that day was Lieutenant Colonel (4.25 lengths), who was also beaten by Vautour (5.5 lengths) at Navan last December.

Favourites do not have a good recent record in the race. The last favourite to win was Brave Inca (7/2) in 2004 and last year’s winner Champagne Fever (5/1) was the shortest-priced SP winner since Brave Inca.

Crabbie’s Grand National 2014 weights

The weights were announced for the 2014 Crabbie's Grand National this week.

The race takes place at Aintree on Saturday 5 April 2014 and will be a GB£ 1 million race for the first time (total prize money).

Paul Nicholls’ 13-year-old Tidal Bay has been allocated the top weight of 11st 10 lbs, one pound ahead of former Gold Cup winner Long Run (Nicky Henderson).

Last year’s winner Auroras Encore has been retired through injury so cannot defend his crown. But last year’s beaten favourite Sea Bass is entered with a weight of 11st 2 lbs. Teaforthree (third in 2013) is also back with a weight of 10 st 12lbs.

If the race were being run this weekend, given the UK’s current weather, one imagines Tidal Bay (16/1), There’s No Panic (40/1), Storm Survivor (50/1) and Tranquil Sea (100/1) would all be popular for their names.

Full list of weights on the BBC Sports website:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/horse-racing/26135845

Turf notes: 7 February 2014

Trainer Nicky Henderson said Vaniteux was “one for the future” after the five-year-old won the novice hurdle race (1.50) at Doncaster by a comfortable 12 lengths on Thursday.

Vaniteux has two wins from three starts and, whilst he holds and entry for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, his trainer said he is unlikely to line up there in 2014:

Reported on sportinglife.com Henderson said: "I don't think we'll go to Cheltenham this year, the two-and-half-miler at Aintree might be more his cup of tea. He's one for the future and hopefully he'll be at Cheltenham one day."

On the same card First Mohican (Alan King) was having his first run over hurdles after a career on the Flat with Sir Henry and Lady Cecil. Sired by Tobougg, First Mohican had a winning start for Sir Henry back in 2010 and repeated the feat with a debut win over hurdles for Alan King (7/2).

The trainer was pleased with the horse’s performance:

"He really stuck his neck out on the run-in, his hurdling has been very good at home and physically he has been doing very well.”

“For a novice first time out that was as good a round of jumping as you could get.”

“He'll go to the Dovecote (Novices’ Hurdle, 2 miles, Kempton Park, 22 February) now, that has always been the plan. I'd love to get another run into him as I imagine he'll take it all very well.”

Racing review: Cheltenham Festival trials

The Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle has been the source of several Festival winners in recent years and it would be a surprise if one of the first two in 2014’s running did not add to that record. Red Sherlock (9/4) and Rathvinden (6/4f) finished well clear of the useful Aubusson (7/1) on Saturday.

Red Sherlock remains unbeaten and has been priced at around 7/1 for the race of the same name at the Festival. His trainer David Pipe said afterwards: “He stays well and might get further so I'd imagine he'll have entries over two-five and three miles at the Festival.”

Saturday’s going at Cheltenham (heavy, soft in places) does add a complication to assessing likely Festival performance, when the going is usually better (although, given the UK weather in recent times, it could be anything).

A combination of the ground, age and lengthy absence from the racetrack accounted for Big Buck’s’ defeat in the Cleeve Hurdle. The 11-year-old led the field quite a long way from the finish and was only overtaken by Knockara Beau (66/1) and At Fishers Cross (5/1) in the final 75 yards of the three mile race.

Big Buck’s remains the favourite for the World Hurdle and will no doubt improve on better ground and with Saturday’s run. But he will have to improve to win the World Hurdle if Annie Power runs in the race. Willie Mullins’ mare won easily at Doncaster on Saturday (1/6f) and would receive a mare’s allowance in the World Hurdle. But her plans have not yet been confirmed for the Festival.

At Fishers Cross put in a much improved performance to finish second but it does not look like Festival winning form to finish behind an 11-year-old in Knockara Beau and less than a length ahead of Big Buck’s, who was giving him 4lbs.

The picture for the Cheltenham Gold Cup was made clearer in the sense that several contenders had poor performances on Saturday and look unlikely to win the main event in March.

The current ante-post prices for the Gold Cup tell the story of Saturday's runners: Boston Bob 25/1, The Giant Bolster 33/1, Rocky Creek 40/1, Harry Topper 50/1, Houblon Des Obeaux 100/1.

Le Rocher (Nick Williams) was a good winner of the JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial but the gelding could have been one to benefit from the heavy going on Saturday. He has won twice now on heavy ground. If he runs at the Festival he will have to act on what will presumably be better ground.

There is much to ponder on over the next month or so.

If you’ve got it, flaunt it

I haven’t bought the Racing Post on a Saturday for a little while but got a copy today because it was a busy day of racing and I had time to watch it.

Reading through it, the classified pages made me chuckle.

Trainer Sophie Leech had taken an advert in the “trainers” section (I don’t know if it had appeared in previous weeks, not having bought the paper).

She was the trainer of Seven Summits, which was one of the four horses involved in Wednesday’s brilliantly audacious betting coup. Seven Summits’ last win was in 2010 and hadn’t raced since last June but was a game winner at Catterick last week.

The advert in the Racing Post was headed “proven record of rejuvenating horses who have lost their form”!

It listed several winners in her yard but not Seven Summits. I wonder when the deadline was for submitting the copy?

It would surely have given the gamble away to the newspaper’s copy editor  if a winner was included in the advert that had yet to win the race! People talk about “after timing”….

Still smiling at the bravado of the advert I turned the page and saw… an advert for an integrity analyst at the British Horseracing Authority.

Turf notes: 24 January 2014

Pearl Castle (17/2) was an eye-catching winner of the Sky Vegas App Novices' Hurdle (2m 110y) at Doncaster on Friday.

The four-year-old ran home 16 lengths ahead of his nearest rival on just his second start over hurdles after a career on the Flat.

Now trained by John Quinn, Pearl Castle seemed at home in a large field and showed an excellent turn of foot in the final furlong (perhaps remembering his Flat racing days).

He looked a little awkward at some of his hurdles, particularly early on in the race, taking some of them at an angle to the flight rather than head on. But he took a couple of hurdles at good speed in the home straight and jumped the final hurdle fluently.

No doubt his jumping will improve further with experience. One to watch if he is entered at Cheltenham.

Eyes open for Festival clues

In seven weeks the Gold Cup will have been run and the Cheltenham Festival will be over for another year. The racing that takes place this weekend could provide a very useful guide as to the likely 2014 Festival winners.

Big Buck’s returns to action in the Cleeve Hurdle (3.35 Cheltenham). Paul Nicholls’ gelding is now 11 years old and was last seen on the track in December 2012. Ruby Walsh has been in the saddle for Big Buck’s’ last eight wins, so Sam Twiston-Davies has a lot to live up to.

At Fishers Cross is also in the race, looking to get his season going after unseating Tony McCoy last time in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot. The winner that day, Reve de Sivola, lines up for trainer Nick Williams. Willie Mullins sends over Boston Bob, who fell at the last fence in the RSA Chase at last year’s Cheltenham Festival.

The Argento Chase (2.25 Cheltenham) is another hotly anticipated race on the Cheltenham card. The runner up in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury, Rocky Creek (Paul Nicholls), is the favourite and faces Houblon Des Obeaux (6th in the Hennessy but with two other wins this season) and Charlie Hall Chase winner Harry Topper.

At Doncaster the card features the Sky Bet Chase and the Grade 2 River Don Novices’ Hurdle.

Paul Nicholls’ Unioniste heads the betting for the Sky Bet Chase and carries top weight. But there could be some threats lower down the weights, such as Niceonefrankie (Venetia Williams) and Night In Milan (Keith Reveley).
 

Turf notes: 22 January 2014

A quiet afternoon of mid-week racing on Wednesday was galvanised by a series of winners that could prove very costly for the bookmakers.

First was jockey Frankie Dettori’s return to the track after injury. He is still a favourite of the betting shop customers and he was victorious on his first two rides back in the saddle at Lingfield. Eco Warrior (8/1) won the opening maiden stakes race (1.00) and Gone With The Wind (7/4f) took the maiden stakes contest an hour later, giving Dettori-backers a near 24/1 double.

But, elsewhere, someone clearly had an expensive Christmas that they needed to pay for with reports of a betting coup involving four horses across the cards at Lingfield, Catterick and Kempton Park. Maybe Dettori’s return helped divert attention from their plans?

Many of the horses involved have links to the fearless gambler Barney Curley. Several share a similar profile of a long absence from the track and more zeros next to their name than an England batsman.

Eye Of The Tiger (1.30 Lingfield) WON 1/1f
Seven Summits (1.40 Catterick) WON 9/4f
Indus Valley (4.25 Kempton) WON 4/6f
Low Key (6.25 Kempton) WON 4/7f

All the horses were cut sharply by the bookmakers. Eye Of The Tiger was available at 10/1 last night, 4/1 this morning and returned the even money favourite.

Indus Valley had not run for 700 days and had a form profile of 830000 and yet at one point in the afternoon was 2/5 favourite for the first race at Kempton (4.25), having been 20/1, 8/1, and 2/1.

A similar coup occurred in May 2010 when three horses linked to Curley won at Brighton, Wolverhampton and Towcester – Agapanthus, Savaranola and Jeu De Roseau. A fourth horse – Sommersturm – was beaten but the odds of the other three (11/2, 4/1 and 25/1) was enough to earn winnings of almost GB£ 4 million.

Turf notes: 10 January 2014

Trainer Brian Ellison had a good day at Catterick on Thursday (9 January) with three winners on the seven-race card.

Yorkist (5/2) was a confident winner in the two-mile novices’ hurdle race (14.05). The winning margin of 12 lengths was a bit flattering because the gelding’s nearest rival, El Massivo (also trained by Ellison), fell at the last hurdle and then hampered Dark Dune (15/8f).

But, nevertheless, Yorkist, was still galloping at the line and now has a record of two wins (both at Catterick) from four runs for Ellison.

The trainer said, “When you consider [jockey] Nathan [Moscrop] said he hated the ground [heavy, soft in places], it was a good performance. We'll look forward to running him on a bit of better ground and he'll go novice chasing eventually. We've already schooled him and he jumps very well."

Turf notes: 2 January 2014

Trainer Harry Fry has had a couple of notable winners in the first two days of 2014.

Mendip Express (7/1) was a ready winner of the Foundation Developments Ltd Handicap Chase (3m 2f 110y) in difficult conditions at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.

The King’s Theatre gelding now has three wins from four runs and has been climbing the classes in the quality of races he has contested.

At Huntingdon on Thursday (2 January) Bitofapuzzle (5/2) led for every yard in the Listed mares’ NH Flat Race (2m 110y) and barely saw a rival in the final furlongs.

That was the second NH Flat race she has won from the front and in strong galloping fashion.