Thursday 2nd January 2024.

[yorick]

On the face of it, there should be no question in me backing Whistle Stop Tour (2.15 Ayr). After all he won last time out and is one of my horses to follow in the comp. However, watching him win didn't really impress me, if I'm honest and todays even money price just seems too short for my liking.

I do think that top weight Gold Cup Bailly is much better value. I seem to be very much in the minority, it seems, since the horse has drifted alarmingly to stand at 16/1 as I write. Although breeding seems an issue over this 3m, he has won over the c/d (a good time, too), in heavy ground.

The big issue in this race is who will truly stay the trip.

The favourite is not bred to at all, in my opinion, and it's difficult to see much 3m breeding in the entire race, to be honest. However, Jet Legs is considered to be a potential marathon stayer by his trainer. Although on the book , he has something to find with Special Rate on their run a year ago, he still might might offer a threat, given his November running behind Val Dancer at Carlisle. It is this race, though, that throws up Wasdell Dundalk. This was travelling nicely enough when 'falling' at the second last. He more lost his undercarriage after jumping the fence perfectly well. But for that, I think he'd have finished in front of Jet Legs. On identical terms here, I see that their prices are wildly different on account, no doubt, of WD's being PU the last twice.

So, a trappy race, albeit with only the five runners.

From what I can see, the value must lie in the two outsiders and I'll back them both for little ew's.

 

[yorick]

Well, I wasn't far off there. WD ran a great race and but for an almost catastrophic mistake down the far side, GCB would have gone close.
On the two Ew's, no damage done and a wee profit.

I Must mention the winner, my Whistle Stop Tour, who won under the penalty and won by nearly 4L, pushed out. An improved performance. This will raise him to around 140 and Cl2 handicaps. We shall see how much improvement there is still to come.

is a really progressive 7yo and Derek (Fox) was really positive about him after his Kelso win. He has plenty of options open to him. There's the 3m6f novice handicap chase at Cheltenham, there's a nice race at Uttoxeter soon after or there's always the Scottish National back here. Our dream though would be the 2026 Grand National. Sean Tracey - joint owner talking to Racing TV.

So, no fears stamina-wise from connections, it would seem. How wrong could I be? To be honest, I would never expect a Saddex to produce staying stock but hey-ho. I'm supposing that 'nice race' mentioned might be the midlands National?

 

[Jayhawk]

Well, I wasn't far off there. WD ran a great race and but for an almost catastrophic mistake down the far side, GCB would have gone close.
On the two Ew's, no damage done and a wee profit.

I Must mention the winner, my Whistle Stop Tour, who won under the penalty and won by nearly 4L, pushed out. An improved performance. This will raise him to around 140 and Cl2 handicaps. We shall see how much improvement there is still to come.

I made a note of Dan Skelton's Snipe as a likely winner this season following a second place finish to Wasdell Dundalk at Carlisle in mid October. I'm still waiting as it managed another second at Carlisle on 3 November - to Val Dancer, over three and a quarter miles -and hasn't raced since with no future entries. Now rated 128. A possible for something like the Fulke Walwyn/ Kim Muir at the Festival?

 

[yorick]

He's a curious one, Snipe. Those two runs have raised the mark without wining and I wonder where improvement will come form. I did think that a feature of his races is the late headway, staying on and that he could improve for further. However, he was tried over 3m 4f at Haydock with no show. That was off 124 so I'm thinking he may need to come down in the weights or class to be of interest. Also, his breeding doesn't scream marathon to me.