Search results

Thanks all :) If nothing else, I think I have finally shaken that Hill Station silks carrying monkey off my back, which feels better than I would like to admit! I appreciate nobody mentioning the £98 trifecta. It is good that we all remember that I am not a tipster :) MUSSELBURGH - 2nd...

Hi Dessie, The BHA used to do direct translations, which would be reasonable with older horses, but grossly unfair for those earning their ratings as juveniles. I have tried to figure this out for myself, but have not reached any definitive conclusions. Using a sample of 131 juveniles with...

Unless stated, all figures relate to British and Irish juvenile hurdlers since 2004/05 For context, the average strike rate across all juveniles is 9.51%, winner-runner 19.37%, improvement rate 37.08% Race History/Stats * Ran each year since at least 2004 (18 runnings) * Average winning RPR...

Indeed, it was really cool to have a chat with Mr Cunningham and the exposure certainly did no harm :) To any new readers. A brief welcome and thank you very much for your curiosity. I research and write about juvenile hurdlers because it is a most underappreciated area of the sport...

I have also thrown something together for the junior NH hurdle https://juvenilehurdlers.wordpress.com/2022/10/27/wetherby-junior-hurdle-28th-october-diatribe-preview-notes/

The Wensleydale Juvenile Hurdle is an integral feature of the early season juvenile calendar, although its history is best described as “varied”. This defining feature has been omnipresent since its inception in 1986 when it superseded the Thorp Arch Novices’ Hurdle; a juvenile event which was...

Up until 1996, Kempton’s first juvenile hurdle of the season had been known as the Riverdale – a name which survived from the sixties and predated the Ferry Boat Chase, Charisma Gold Cup and Captain Quist Hurdles. Though a contest with more ordinary renewals than good, it did launch the jumps...

Thanks Colin :) The "top prospects" have been doing miserably this season so am not sure how much of a handle I have on this year's bunch. I think the seconds are doing alright but I haven't really had a look. Would be happier if more was going as expected but for however dumb I can feel from...

Apologies for dropping off the radar. Rather annoyingly, work and general life are not bedfellows of exhaustive research projects. The past few races have also been fairly bobbins but that's by the by. Nevertheless, tomorrow's contest at Wetherby was well worth a three-quarter-arsed essay :)...

The juvenile hurdle on Market Rasen’s ‘Prelude’ card was, in 2003, a selling race. That contest was won by Quick who was bought-in for 3,600 guineas ahead of a career which saw him place at the Cheltenham festival. With the exception of 2005, it has since been a Class 2 contest and carries a...

Ten or fifteen years ago, I was quite up on my jockeys. I had a fair understanding of which jockeys had particular strengths. McCoy could ride the bollocks off the laziest mule. Carberry had balls of steel and could kid a dodgepot to lead right at the line. Johnson was able to kick a ponderous...

At least the "strong prospect" beat the opening show again :D Once again, a solid reminder that I AM NOT A TIPSTER. I am a writer/researcher/previewer/pseud. Provided that the result can make sense in hindsight according to whatever I write beforehand, I am satisfied with the previews...

Last year, in the corresponding piece for this corresponding race, I opened with some rather pompous waffle about the subject of tradition. Though the recycling of words can sometimes stunt creativity and make perspectives stale, it is also a useful time saving exercise. Plus, recent events have...

FONTWELL - 4th SEPTEMBER Seventeen days ago, Fontwell’s juvenile season opened with a maiden hurdle and the three-year-olds are set to return in what is a traditionally stronger contest. Though lacking the star power of Goshen, Blazing Bailey and Mr Thriller, who had all contested later events...

A couple of days after the south lakes hosted their sole juvenile hurdle of the season at Cartmel, Lake Worcester is set to host its own solitary juvenile hurdle. Though the race is generally contested by ordinary sorts, Cliffs Of Dover and Chief Justice, winners in 2016 and 2018 respectively...

If one were to look up the word "idiosyncratic" in the dictionary, you will find a dry description of the word "idiosyncratic". Nevertheless, if horse racing were to ever release an illustrated dictionary of the turf, a picture of Cartmel racecourse will likely accompany the definition. Set in...

You would think so... Although there won't be as many juveniles as bad as that one... Tomorrow's race probably won't be competitive, but it does feature the return of the Queen of the Summer... STRATFORD - 22nd August - Preview Stratford’s juvenile hurdles, the majority of which take place...

Went as low as 2.9 in running but jumped woefully. Form in the book the deciding factor in the end.

Always amusing to see that happen! No real movement at the moment, very quiet market. Can see the McCain horse going off favourite but that's about it. Could be that it being an evening race will see less activity but it is a trappy contest in any case. I imagine if there is any serious...

Thank you Barjon and thank you edgt. When I get a chance, I will do a profile for your boy; although I may keep him off the main list for now in case I accidentally ruin his price when he emulates Duffle Coat! Anyways, from the sublime to whatever this race is... Following a break of eighteen...