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Tanya's Blog - 6th May 2011

Aidan O’Brien will attempt to make it four from four at Chester with St Nicholas Abbey in the Ormonde Stakes. It’s a quandary for punters, St Nicholas Abbey could have been worshipped like Frankel, indeed he was at two, but since then he has been blighted by various problems. His seasonal debut was an unconvincing third and although he appears in a different class to his rivals, Harris Tweed may use his front running tactics to his advantage, which is why he is priced accordingly.

After damaging results on Wednesday, bookmakers struck back on Thursday. The mood in the betting ring on Thursday was quiet. There was some concern as the crowd numbers seemed down, a couple of bookmakers referred to the fact that in a normal year they would have struck quite a few bets by 1pm, this year it was spot the punter and this all on ladies’ day. Apparently, enterprising bars, bistros and restaurants were offering champagne at a reduced rate outside the racecourse which proved a deterrent enough for an early entry to the course. Plus an odds-on favourite in the first race does nothing to incentivise those coming to the course. When that was turned over, those who were there retreated back to the bars and hospitality and the atmosphere in the betting ring just wasn’t there. Bookmakers did come out on top and it’s 1-1 going into day three.

David Marnane who trained Victoria Cup winner Dandy Boy last year returns to the UK almost exactly a year on with Maundy Money who is heavily backed to win the first race at Chester, obviously he receives the utmost respect from me but I like LUCKY NUMBERS a winner at Ripon last time. Intriguing though that Lowther is in the 1.45 as he is also entered in tomorrow’s Victoria Cup, he’ll be hard to keep out of the first three.

THE PADDYMAN could be the value in the Dee Stakes, the increase in distance is sure to suit in what isn’t the strongest renewal of the race.
Including Punchestown there are eight meetings today and it is hard to keep track of all what is going on. I know he ran badly on the flat last time but it may be worth giving MARKINGTON a second chance in Aintree’s 6.15 this evening all live on Racing UK.

POINTERS

Richard Hughes has ridden four winners from his last ten rides

Richard Hannon has had four winners from his last eight runners

Ryan Moore has had five winners from his last 13 rides and is three from three at Chester for Aidan O’Brien

Aidan O’Brien has had five winners from his last 11 runners and confirming he is three from three at Chester in 2011

1.45
The last eight winners have been aged four or five

David Nicholls has trained three of the last ten winners plus the second in 2006 & 2010

Lucky Numbers has not won in seven attempts at Chester

The last six winners have been drawn five or higher

2:20 DEE STAKES
Barry Hills has won the Dee Stakes 11 times

Only two of the last ten favourites have won

Eight of the last 12 had run three times or more prior to Chester

2:45 ORMONDE STAKES
The biggest starting price of the last ten winners was 7-2

Six of the last ten favourites have won

Five of the last nine winners had run at Newbury in the John Porter Stakes today – Allied Powers

William Haggas has had seven winners from his last 18 Chester runners