Tweet

racing news / tanya's blog /

Tanya's Blog - 3rd February 2011

A huge sigh of relief just after 4pm yesterday as Manele Bay pulled me out of the abyss of no returns. She ran a blinder, Andrew Thornton rode a thoughtful race to claim a place but the morning 25-1 had evaporated, 16-1 was her starting price. Four Jacks managed to maintain a perfect set of now four seconds and the others well there is still a search party out for them, apologies to you all for that, any consolation my pocket is suffering with loneliness and emptiness. That sort of form knocks the confidence and then you look at today’s racing and there’s little or no hope of picking a winner!

At the time of writing I’m distracted as out the corner of my eye I can see Pakistan bowling against New Zealand. How can Pakistan be 20-1 to win the World Cup in 15 days time? For me there are only three possible winners, India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. That’s in 15 days time on to today.

Don’t forget the Phoenix Open starts today and my selections were Anthony Kim (each-way top 5), Pat Perez (each-way top 10), Phil Mickelson (win only) yesterday and to own up I have also had a sneaky saver on Rickie Fowler (each-way top 5).

All yesterday’s hard graft in the office was scuppered with the withdrawal of Peddlers Cross, but surely even had Peddlers Cross appeared, surely a long hard look must be taken re the scheduling of the Champion Hurdle Trials. We are not blessed with an abundance with Champion Hurdle protagonists to afford such luxuries of so many trials and had the swathe of runners been Irish, what would have run in these events. I ask you, we love seeing Hurricane Fly and Solwhit but when does the novelty of the former beating the latter wear off. Connections must crave alternative opposition. At 1.55 on Saturday Binocular will, like last year, only have to stroll round – where’s the fun in that? Sandown’s remaining card looks something special, fingers crossed for the entries to be kind.

Here it goes, Towcester I’m going to put my faith in a couple of course specialists DEVILS RIVER at 2.10, has run three bad races recently but cast your minds back to April and there was victory at the course. He’s had a seven week break and could well be better for being fresher. Then a massive gamble in Towcester’s 3.10 I am going to dabble a little each-way on the two outsiders of the field VICTORY GUNNER and WOODLANDS GENPOWER. Richard Lee won the race Manele Bay placed third in yesterday, the stable is in form and Tom my colleague on Channel 4 sent an upbeat text to me yesterday evening. Woodlands Genpower seems to run nowhere else and goes well at this time of the year at the venue.

FREDO has finished second on all four chasing starts and I’m hoping he final gets a bit of luck as the opposition he has been coming against include Hidden Keel and Master Of The Hall. None of that calibre I’m hoping here.

POINTERS

Greg Fairley has won on four of his last five rides for Mark Johnston, on the remaining horse Realisation he finished third

Victor Dartnall has had three winners from his last four runners, Denis O’Regan was aboard all of them

Donald McCain has had four winners and three seconds from his last seven runners

Philip Hobbs has had five winners, a second and two thirds from his last eleven winners

Phillip Makin and Kevin Ryan has teamed up for four winners and two seconds from their last eight runners