Tweet

racing news / tanya's blog /

Tanya's Blog - 1st March 2012

Another horrendous day for traffic and getting to the office, yet at least it’s a beautiful sunny day in Middlesex. Sky Sports News is rolling on the plasmas at present, with the boys yet to be convinced by the new look England side. Despair from me as I learn Jesse Ryder incurs a one match ban for extra curricular activities!

Frenetic activity again with Festival feature editors all converging on Teddington, so much going on, so much noise! Last night I had the enviable task of writing this Saturday’s Festival Fix my first draft consisted of 468 words, by 11pm I'd managed to hone it down to 204. Now all it’s got to do is make sense.

It’s nice to get a break from all the hard graft by looking through today’s races.

BATHWICK BRAVE may carry top weight, and he may well be a maiden but it is not going to put me off in Taunton’s 4.10. Playing closer attention to his last two runs, on his penultimate start he was only 12 lengths behind Ted Spread, now a leading contender for the Cheltenham Festival. Last time out over 3 furlongs further it was another solid effort to be sixth to Off The Ground. Visually he was in contention to the last flight and he seemed to get tired in the soft ground. On a sounder surface he can be a major player.

Earlier on the card at 2.40 there is another top weight I like in FORGOTTEN GOLD, I can forgive him his last run at Cheltenham as he may have set too quick a tempo against Batonnier. On the penultimate start under a steadier pace he kept Batonnier and Barbatos at bay until the last and then kept on exceptionally well.

RACKHAM LEROUGE’s form went to pot over the bigger obstacles, he did manage to win at Towcester in January 2011. The fact Nicky Henderson is persevering with him is significant enough and I sense a big run from him in Ludlow’s 4:00.

POINTERS

Donald McCain has had nine winners from his last 23 runners

Jason Maguire has had four winners from his last 9 rides

Venetia Williams has had four winners from her last 8 runners

Tom George has had four winners, two seconds and a third from his last ten runners

Adam Kirby has had five winners and two seconds from his last nine rides

Hayley Turner has had three winners from her last four rides

Jimmy Fortune has a perfect record at Southwell this year, with three wins from three rides

Theatre Diva has won five from seven at Ludlow and tries to maintain the record at 4.00