Tatty's Racing Thoughts - Monday 9th January 2012

Racing action is a bit thin on the ground today with only meetings at Taunton over the sticks and Wolverhampton on the all-weather flat to get interested in.

On first glance there doesn’t seem to be a great deal going for Dancing Mist in the 3.40 at Taunton, but Victor Dartnall’s 9 year old certainly holds a modicum of ability and this may be his day. He returned to racing last month at Hereford after a long absence, gaining a very distant 3^rd, but the stable has a decent record at Taunton, especially over the larger obstacles.  

Taunton Racecourse Grandstand (taken in 2009)

Meanwhile at Wolverhampton, a trainer and gambler who doesn’t have many runners, especially here at Dunstall Park, is the enigma better known as Barney Curley. 

Not particularly in the best of health in the recent past, Barney has taken the bookmakers for a merry ride over the years with his shrewd investments in the ring and is known as one of the legendary faces of horse racing (not to be confused with Flash Harry from the original St Trinian's movies). 

I remember witnessing him earn a packet at the Western meeting at Ayr a few years back, watching on with awe at the relative ease he seemed to operate.

Barney Curley - or is it Flash Harry?

Whenever there is a Curley runner it is always worth keeping an eye on the market because if the price comes in, you can be assured the old devil is having an extra interest shall we say?.

His German bred 8 year old, Sommersturm runs in the 3.55 with Mickey Fenton taking the ride. On the face of it you would probably draw a line through its chances very swiftly, but he is tumbling in the weights and surely must find his level at some stage. It is also interesting that his speed figure ratings on previous visits to this course hold up very well against the rest of today’s field.

Will this be his day? Just ensure to keep an eye on firstly the market and secondly the illustrious Mr Curley.

Taunton 3.40: Dancing Mist - 3rd 5/2

Wolverhampton 3.55: Sommersturm - won 7/2
was trading at around 7-8/1 a few minutes before the off and a late plunge (I wonder where that came from) took it in to 7/2. 
He's a cunning old devil that Barney Curley.

As ever, good luck with your bets.