Tweet

racing news / tanya's blog /

Tanya's Blog - Friday 26th October

I'm gutted that Fantastic Moon is not among the final seven for the Racing Post Trophy. I thought it could offer a chance for redemption after finding himself in all sorts of bother on the Rowley Mile course. However his defection shouldn’t detract from what looks an awesome line-up and although the concentration of money is for Kingsbarns, with Aidan O’Brien trying to rack up his seventh win in the race, I now am leaning towards First Cornerstone and Trading Leather. Time to put that to one side until tomorrow.

I've now got my full concentration on the final 24 of Betting Shop Manager of the Year, who are tentatively making their way to Doncaster. I love hearing the stories of how all their customers and colleagues are wishing them all the best, plus all the observations they want to pass on to me. It also opens the eyes to exactly how racing is perceived, flourishing or not in the whole competitive world of their daily turnover.

I’ve avoided the Flat as I believe the cards at Doncaster and Newbury are best to keep for future reference as there will be plenty of stars of the future. So the focus has been National Hunt.

Tom O’Brien has created a great rapport with Marodima, having ridden him 11 times, and the pair have managed five wins, two seconds and three thirds. His style of front-running will be suited to Fakenham and I can’t believe he hasn't run at the course before! He should seize the initiative from the off.

Pentiffic ran some blinding races in December/January last season, including in a big handicap at Cheltenham. Venetia Williams is in good form, unusually early in the season, and it is best to make the most of it. Pentiffic shows a determination and will which could be good to take advantage of early at this stage of the season.

Today's tips:

3.05 Fakenham Marodima

3.40 Fakenham Pentiffic

Tanya's Pointers:

Mark Johnston has won Doncaster’s 4.25 three times from his last five runners

William Buick shows a healthy level-stake profit on his rides at Doncaster

Ryan Moore hasn’t ridden a two-year-old winner for Jeremy Noseda this season in five attempts

Ryan Moore has a 40% strike rate at Wolverhampton this season

Frankie Dettori has ridden the winner of Doncaster’s 2.10 three times in the last eight years

Advanced has had 14 runs at Doncaster without winning, while

Thunderball has run 16 times at the course with nothing to show for it.

Nicky Henderson has had five winners from his last eight runners at Fakenham, however in 2010-2011 he didn’t have a winner at the course! But prior to that he was a winner factory.

So no surprise then that Barry Geraghty has had seven winners from his last 12 rides at Fakenham

Ruby Walsh is yet to win on There’s No Panic