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Analysis
& Selections by THE ROOK - Whether
it be "the race of the day" or a small prize round the gaffs,
we will attempt to use our knowledge of the formbook to highlight the
fancied horses participating each day and their characteristics and
requirements. Hopefully this 'second opinion' provides you with a winner
or two each day, or even reinforces your own view on a particular
may even convince you to back some of those horses which we feel are the
"ones to fear", or have decent eachway claims. whichever is
the case, we hope the information is of use to you.
SELECTIONS
- For each race,
we have given you who, in our view, are the likeliest
winners; (¹
NØ.1 CHOICE ),
as well as any runners who could run well at eachway odds; (²E/W
ALTERNATIVE ) .
Any runner from our features are shown before each race's analysis.
DOWN ROYAL
Saturday 10th November
1:15 A.Bartlett & Sons (Airdrie) Ltd Maiden Hurdle
¥:±:±:±:±:¥ THE FURLONG POLE ¥:±:±:±:±:¥
[T.H.E. R.O.O.K]:-:-->Spirit Leader, Sabrinsky, John James, Mr Wong, Dowdstown Star, Kings Glen, Ciel D'Or, Emperor Dante, and Lancero, appeal in the opener. Sabrinsky is a horse that i thought would do well over hurdles, however this former Criquette Head-Maarek inmate has flattered only to deceive on several occasions. He's good enough to take this however Spirit Leader is preferred having shown form in bumpers last term before her promising second to Yeoman's Point over hurdles at Gowran last month. Mr Wong has run creditably on both starts this term is the eachway alternative
[¹NØ.1 CHOICE]:-:-->Spirit Leader,
[²E/W ALTERNATIVE]:-:--> Mr Wong
1:45 Eastwood Bookmakers H'cap Hurdle
¥:±:±:±:±:¥ THE FURLONG POLE ¥:±:±:±:±:¥
[T.H.E. R.O.O.K]:-:-->Samasakhan, Corehill Countess, Millamolong, Creidim, Sweep The Peach, Emotional Moment, Jons Gale, Native Tash, Seeking Destiny, Cluain Rua, Petit Roilelet, Serpentine Way, and The Three M'S, all have chances of sorts in an open handicap hurdle. Millamolong catches the eye having run well in his last two starts in novice company and is the tentative selection over topweight Samasakhan,
[¹NØ.1 CHOICE]:-:--> Millamolong
[²E/W ALTERNATIVE]:-:--> Emotional Moment,
2:15 Bannville House Hotel H'cap Hurdle
¥:±:±:±:±:¥ THE FURLONG POLE ¥:±:±:±:±:¥
[ANY RUNNERS FROM OUR N.H. HORSES-TO-FOLLOW FEATURE?]:-:--> Janidou
[T.H.E. R.O.O.K]:-:-->Whistling Dixie, Janidou, Adamant Approach, Lawz, Blue, Fearsome Factor, Magic Combination, The Culdee, Ansari, Didifon, and Discerning Air, have claims in the third. Whistling Dixie, and Magic Combination have strong claims on their form on this side of the irish sea, howevr the 'home team' appear to have a stronger hand of keeping the prize in the shape of Adamant Approach, an easy winner of a Fairyhouse maiden hurdle on his latest start, Blue - a useful handicapper when trained by Amanda Perrett, who is just beginning to find that sort of form over hurdles, and Janidou - a full brother to Majadou, trained by Arthur Moore. Janidou is the most interesting of these and looks the best long term prospect, however today may be Blue's day
[¹NØ.1 CHOICE]:-:-->Blue
[²E/W ALTERNATIVE]:-:-->Janidou
2:45 James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Steeple-Chase
¥:±:±:±:±:¥ THE FURLONG POLE ¥:±:±:±:±:¥
[ANY RUNNERS FROM OUR N.H. HORSES-TO-FOLLOW FEATURE?]:-:-->Hindiana
[T.H.E. R.O.O.K]:-:-->Florida Pearl, Foxchapel King, Moscow Express, and Hindiana, are the horses to concentrate on the big race of the day. Florida Pearl, hopefully will be sharper than when appearing in this event twelve months ago. On that occasion he looked completely out of sorts, and took very little interest in proceedings. eventually finishing well behind Looks Like Trouble. Of course he did improve of that, and does appear to be one t0 beat on paper, and if he's in the form that saw him take the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown, then he'll be hard to beat here. He is vulnerable though, as Moscow Express proved on his their most recent meeting at Fairyhouse in April, and there may not be much between them this time around. Certainly Moscow Express has the fitness advantage having run creditably twice at the Galway Festival, and behind Puget Blue, at Gowran Park in October. I'm expecting a big effort from Hindiana though, and take him to beat both of these.
He is very interesting as he has virtually crept here without really grabbing the public's attention, yet this former top class chaser in France has all the necessary credentials to go close here. He possess plenty of scope, and handled the complexities of Auteuil which should enable him to handle the more simply-laid-out courses used on this side of the water. I actually think he has a lot going him. He has far more scope than Sleeping Night does, and will definitely get the trip - he's been crying out for 3miles+
If you simply judged him on what he did last year, then he'd be hard to fancy, however scratch the surface a little, and his form doesn't look too bad. I thought his destruction of the previously unbeaten Europa, is as good an indicator, as you'd want of his potential - overlooked because of his last two runs at Aintree where he got bogged down in the mud, and at Ayr - where he was trying to give a lot of weight to a potentially very useful horse in Majed. His connections did the right thing by racing in over hurdles last term, when he was rated 151 over fences before he come from Francois Doumen. most encouragingly he's reportedly improved physically during the summer, and has taken (so far) to British fences. I am very sweet on him this year, and expect him to do well. I am very confident about him winning a decent chase this season, and he may be able to achieve this at the first time of asking, at the very least I expect a bold bid if he gets round ... here's hoping!!!
[¹NØ.1 CHOICE]:-:-->Hindiana
[²E/W ALTERNATIVE]:-:-->
3:15 Killultagh Properties Ltd Steeple-Chase
¥:±:±:±:±:¥ THE FURLONG POLE ¥:±:±:±:±:¥
[T.H.E. R.O.O.K]:-:-->Last season's top novice Knife Edge appears to have a straightforward chance if he's anywhere near his best in the first. This horse was unbeaten against his peers last term, and lost nothing in defeat when coming second to Moscow Express in the Paddy & Helen Cox Memorial Newlands Chase (Grade 2) at Naas in February. A recent pipe-opener on the flat will have set him up for this and he should land the spoils if he jumps round
[¹NØ.1 CHOICE]:-:-->Knife Edge (USA)
[²E/W ALTERNATIVE]:-:-->
3:45 Hannan Meats I.N.H. Flat Race
¥:±:±:±:±:¥ THE FURLONG POLE ¥:±:±:±:±:¥
[ANY RUNNERS FROM OUR N.H. HORSES-TO-FOLLOW FEATURE?]:-:-->
[T.H.E. R.O.O.K]:-:-->Both of Jeremy Maxwell's runners Indiscreet, and Maswaly catch the eye as horses to not for the future however Old Nosey, who showed promise on his debut gets the vote here
[¹NØ.1 CHOICE]:-:--> Old Nosey
[²E/W ALTERNATIVE]:-:--> Maswaly (FR)
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