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Tanya's Blog - 5th March 2011

A lively Morning Line, and once again I was inundated about comments re my hair, if only, I’d been under contract with one of the big hairdressers or shampoo companies I would have made a fortune for them. It’s freezing in the press room so you can imagine the temperature outdoors at Newbury, so if you are coming along and read this early enough wrap up if you are heading out.

I am still struggling to get my head round the betting for the Newbury 3.00, I was amazed when the early betting came through on Thursday to see Ikorodu Road as favourite and no offence to horse or trainer but I thought it was an April Fool! Then Saphir des Bois as second favourite, what is the world coming to? The exchanges soon brought the race back to reality with Saphir des Bois drifting right out to 16-1 at the time of writing. Ikorodu Road is now a weak favourite as pricewise is Mathui he, Tail Of The Bank, Big Fella Thanks are closing in for the battle to be jolly.

My fancy is BIG FELLA THANKS I thought he was travelling like a dream before clouting the third last and all momentum when Dominic Elsworth had to try and get his foot back in the stirrup. If there is a danger, with me it’s FINE PARCHMENT who ran well behind Hey Big Spender last time. I feel a forecast coming on.

At Doncaster there is the Grimthorpe Chase, which I thought a match between Presenting Forever and Always Right but judging by the betting and the weakness in Presenting Forever don’t be surprised to see Minella Four Star open up as favourite. It hasn’t put me off ALWAYS RIGHT. It is about time John Wade got a winner on the big stage live on terrestrial television, he doesn’t get the recognition he deserves and ALWAYS RIGHT was particularly impressive at Kelso last time.

Other each-way sneaks ARCTIC WINGS in Newbury’s 1.55 and FIVE STAR WILSHAM in Doncaster’s 2.10 both of whom are worth following. Looking ahead to the Festival, Coral report money for Hurricane Fly in the Champion Hurdle. Robinson Collonges 20 into 12 for the Jewson Novices’ Chase.

POINTERS

Paul Nicholls has trained four of the last five winners of Newbury’s 3.00

Caroline Keevil has had three winners from her last four runners and saddles Cornish Sett in Newbury’s 3.00

Arctic Wings has won two of his three Newbury races

Denis O’Regan has had three winners, four seconds and a third from his last 12 rides

Tim Vaughan has had five winners and two seconds from his last 14 runners

Richard Lee’s recent record reads 2nd 2nd 3rd 2nd Won Won 0 Won

Ruby Walsh has had 13 winners from his last 36 Newbury rides and shows a level stake profit of £12.72

Nicky Henderson has had four winners and four seconds from his last 15 runners