Diamond Kal/Courageous Cleo 1.55 Leopardstown May have enough to get in the places, hard to tell if they'll be big enough to risk Diamond Kal got the 4th, but only around 4 for 4 places. Cleo went off around 13 for 4 places. No bet there, decided Kal was much more likely of the two. But although Cleo was the first one beaten about 3 out, she still kept going. She may be OK in handicaps, and there should be some big odds floating around after this beating. No bet
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Midnight Bella 2.05 Newcastle (unlikely to be big enough) - Snapaudaciashero may be backable if well into the 20s and good ground Shame, Bella nearly made it at 60 the win, just found one too good. Jumped the last a few lengths up looking like it was won, but the winner was coming and had enough. Took 7.8 4 places to cover it, which was nice enough.
Snap was nowhere near a backable price at around 12, left her alone. But she did grab 5th in the end, maybe she needs 3 miles.
-1 for the win, +7.8 for the places
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Hawkseye View 2.35 New (ground dependent, the gooder the better - a rare single figures consideration)
Was hoping for about 6 for Hawkseye and never anywhere near it. Couldn't see much past Hawkseye, Singapore, and the Lacey horse, (no prizes for that, Chaumi!) but none of the reversed forecast combis went much over 10s, which basically made it 3s the winner and second would come from those three. Not big enough. Hawkseye won it pretty easily, the Lacey runner second.
No bet.
But shame about Hawkseye, been waiting for better ground for some time.
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Old Comrades 3.05 (to watch, shouldn't be strong enough yet) NR
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He's Home Again 3.25 Leopardstown (debatable, race needs a deeper look) Decided to have 20 mins kip when this one was only showing around 10s on the exchange. Set the alarm in time for the next Newcastle race. No bet (but did get in the frame at 2.8 3 places)
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Broderick 3.35 Newc (if up around 20) Broderick was only in the 4s. The winner - Whiskey On Ice - I backed last time when just beaten into 2nd in the 30s, certainly wasn't going to take short odds here.
No bet.
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Cowboy Cooper 4.05 (somewhere in the mid teens will make the Cowboy interesting)
Cowboy was a ridiculous 20s half hour before the race. Expected a bit more, but couldn't go with the front three from 2 out.
-1
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Ellistrin Jarla 4.35 (to watch, logically can't handle at least 3 of these first time up)
Ellistrin ran as expected. The Nicky Richards filly was well fancied by the yard - but didn't look likely when dropping right out about half a mile or so out. Rian managed to get her going for an unlikely win. The Skelton mare was bitterly disappointing.
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I did like the look of Lisleigh Lad in the low 20s in the 4.55 Leop. Verily threatened to run away with it at various points over the last 4 or 5 fences, but ultimately just failed to hold off the Emmet Mullins chaser after the last.
-1
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Shadonagh 5.30 Leop (to watch, as above)
Was a few lengths adrift in 6th off the final bend, but stuck on well enough in the straight to grab 4th. Wasn't backable at about 2.3 or 2.4 for that, although with Poetic Twist taken out late on it pretty much opened the door for that 4th place. I'd say he has enough to win a bumper if they have another go, but will probably need it soft.
No bet.
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Mudita 7.00 Wolves A first time out runner in a restricted Wolves Class 4 3YO maiden is likely asking for trouble - let's hope this one doesn't know how to run yet and boots will get filled later on.
#ahIgetitI'msupposedtofinishinfrontofeverythingelse
A disappointingly nice run. Had to take the 80 for the win, and covered it + profit at 14 for 3 places.
Missed the break, had to use a bit to catch up early, but was learning quickly from around 2 out and arguably finished best of all although ultimately nowhere near the first two.
Sadly, that's done any 50+ prices for a while, though Fahey could have a nice handicapper on his hands, might even eventually be up to Class 2.
-1 for the win, +14 for the place
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Riot 7.30 I do think Riot has another race in him. First time back at Wolves since the win last autumn, might well be big enough here to chance it. Wait and see.
22 was just about OK, but no show from the Riot
-1
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8.00 An interesting race. Will be no surprise to see Magician Of Riga win this easily, on his way to running in Class 3 and up races on turf. Or maybe a semi-valuable Newcastle race is on the agenda. But Hamaleel did me a nice favour last time and has similar potential on paper now he knows what winning feels like. Could be Hamaleel has a fitness edge this time. Neither likely to be big enough for a win bet, but the forecast might be in double figures with a potential false favorite (Hardstyle) making the prices.
I have a nagging feeling this forecast might turn out to be the bet of the day.
Went for the forecast 15 one way, 27 the other. But the Magician decided he didn't want to do magic, and I got Hardstyle very wrong.
-2
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8.30 Qaaeadd Should be well up in the 50s+. Probably worth waiting till he's had a couple more runs for Mark Usher, but might be tempted in with a small bet. If the day has gone badly, the heavy suspicion is this one won't be a serious get out of trouble candidate. But, as we've learned, you never quite know where they're coming from till they've come.
50s the win and 7.2 4 places. Was a cold last 2f out but finished well down the centre. Ultimately only a neck off 4th. Mark Usher should find a race for him, but won't be backable for a while.
-2
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Total for the day +12.8
Running total for March +42.8
