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Tanya's Blog - Saturday 5th January 2013

Brave new world, or should I say new year? Can’t tell you how strange I feel, however the mobile seems glued to my ear at present, and there is a tendency to want to sling it in the bin. 

However, some of the calls were blinders old friends renewing acquaintances, and one of the best calls you could wish for if you were me.  I love my arrers, sat glued to the PDC tournament especially the final.  Well on Thursday imagine the thrill when I was asked if I would like to come and meet MVG!  Game On was my reply, meet Michael Van Gerwin and there is even the possibility of playing him, courtesy of his sponsor Bodugi.com. 

I wonder if MVG is aware of my darting prowess, I can lay claim to playing Keith Deller, Eric Bristow, Wayne Mardle, Dennis Preistly, Peter Manley and Rod Harrington and I’ll have you know I’ve managed to hit the board with at least one of my three darts!  Against Manley I hit a fluke of a treble, live on Sky Sports!  Treble 7, if memory serves at Nottingham greyhound stadium midway through the Select Stakes coverage. 

There’s going to be coaching beforehand obviously for MVG also, but mainly for those willing to take him on, perhaps I’ll hit the board with all three of my darts then he’ll have something to worry about.  All happens early next week, wonder if there’s walk on music? ‘Let’s Play Darts’! 

It's things like the darts that is a massive boost and with plenty of other recognisable racing industry faces, there’s sure to be plenty of heckling and great banter.

Hands up who watched Celebrity Big Brother on Thursday didn’t say you have to like it but bet you caught at least a glimpse of it once you knew Frankie Dettori is in the house!  Mixed feelings all round to his entrance and subsequent task with Rylan from X Factor.  At least it will keep social media buzzing over the next few days.

The rain has relented allowing the courses some respite and although still saturated they can cope and soft is starting to creep back into the going.  The Coral Welsh National sits top of the pile of what’s on offer.  There are a few aggrieved ante-post players, regarding the scenarios and rulings of the re-scheduling and re-opening of entries.  There are grey areas and ‘We never thought of that’ issues and everything is easy in hindsight.  I mirror Jim McGrath’s thoughts and there needs to be a stronger definition in the rulings. 

The precedent which has been set is as big as a concern for the future as it is for the present.  It may cause punters to think again when playing on certain races ante-post and who to bet with.  Not that it’s clever but I very rarely bet ante-post instead wait until my selection gets to the post, thus sacrificing possible screaming value and huge prices.  Though those worried about Master Overseer I hear your plight and sympathise.  

All the disgruntlement aside, the favourite is Teaforthree, who has a win at the Cheltenham Festival on his CV.  He has been campaigned with this race in mind, although some were concerned that he took in the Hennessy en route.  He ran a solid sixth and was travelling well right up until the cross fence.  He needs a gruelling marathon to show his true talents. 

AP McCoy and Rebecca Curtis have enjoyed a strike rate over 30% across the last five seasons.  AP has ridden Teaforthree ten times winning three and finishing second three times and the horse has raced four times at Chepstow never finishing out of the first three, winning twice.  There’ll be massive home support especially as he is Welsh-trained.

Sentiment on many levels hopes for a big run from Giles Cross, Vic Dartnall and all his staff and owners have been through a traumatic time.  Giles Cross has been prevented any race preparation, but he has finished runner-up in the last two runnings of the race so will it be hard to kick him out of the places?

Monbeg Dude has to be acknowledged after his Cheltenham victory and his appreciation for a marathon trip plus with Paul Carberry aboard it looks like the perfect partnership.  However I’ll be supporting Teaforthree.

Loved the way Tim Vaughan’s Swnymor won at Newbury last time, to the extent I think he can win the Finale Hurdle.  In the other Grade 1 at Sandown the 32Red Hurdle, it’s well documented how much John Francome likes Poet, but he faces a tough task against some talented rivals.  I fancy Poet but would only recommend him tentatively.  It is amusing to think that he did give Workforce a scare on the flat up the Sandown hill. 

There are plenty of other horses I like the look of but being so out of form I’ll take a watching brief stick on the recorder and make notes on return for a later date. 

TIPS

1.35 Chepstow Swnymor (3/1 bet365)

3.20 Chepstow Teaforthree (3/1 Stan James)

POINTERS

The last horse older than 9 to win the Coral Welsh National was Riverside Boy in 1993

Only 3 horses since 1997 have carried more than 11 stone to victory in the Welsh National

Seven of the last ten winners of the Coral Welsh National had previously won round Chepstow

Nine of the last ten winners of the Coral Welsh National had run either once or twice in the current season and if they’d only had one start they’d finish no worse than fourth!

Giles Cross has finished no worse than third on eight of his nine starts on heavy and Denis O’Regan today’s jockey has ridden him four times, winning twice and finishing second twice.

The favourite of the Coral Welsh National has only won once in the last ten years

Seven of the last ten winners of the 32Red Novice Hurdle won on their most recent start

All of the last ten winners of the 32Red Novice Hurdle finished no worse than second on their most recent start

Nine of the last ten winners of the 32Red Novice Hurdle were aged five or six

Paul Nicholls has had four winners of the 32Red Novice Hurdle from his last nine runners

Paul Nicholls has won Sandown’s 1.50 three times from his last six runners

Paul Nicholls has failed to win the Chepstow 1.35 from his last nine runners, five of which were favourites