Tatty's Racing Thoughts - Tuesday 10th January 2012

Well after Monday’s glorious Barley Curley winner Sommersturm, it’s now time again to search the weird and wonderful and see what snippets we can dig up for Tuesday’s entertainment. Again there are only 2 cards on the menu, this time both in the English East Midlands, at Leicester over the jumps and Southwell on the fibresand (flat).

When it comes to Leicester over the sticks, Nicky Henderson’s charges have an excellent record, as do Brendan Powell’s and Kim Bailey’s. The mare I like the look of is trained by the latter of the three and comes in the last race of the day at 3.40

Into the home straight at Leicester

Ruby Crown gives age away to all the rest, but at 10 years old she has lost none of her enthusiasm for the game and connections must be hopeful of another good run. On the downside however, she is currently at an official rating of 105 which is 3lbs higher than any of her lifetime wins, but all the others up against her are in the same boat as it were, so not a major concern. I think she can make the frame at least if not better.

At super Southwell, it’s Brian Ellison and Hughie Morrison’s horses I always have a look at before most of the others and both have a runner I like, running in different races.

Racing at Southwell - note the softness of the sand and the kickback created by the runners.

In the 5 runner, 2 mile handicap at 1.55 Brian Ellison’s Hada Men returns to the scene of his easy victory a week ago, this time with an extra 6lbs lumped on top. I can’t see this penalty making much difference and I confidently expect him to follow up, although I don’t think there will be a lot of value on offer from our bookmaking friends.

2 hours later at 3.55, Hughie Morrison’s sole entry on the card Bianca De Medici reverts back to 7 furlongs, which I would have thought is more suitable than the mile she tackled last time out when finding little in the latter stages. The fitting of blinkers a couple of runs ago seem to have helped her concentrate on the job in hand and I don't expect her to be far away from the front here.

• HADA MEN - Southwell 1.55
• RUBY CROWN – Leicester 3.40
• BIANCA DE MEDICI – Southwell 3.55

As ever, good luck with your punting!

Decisions, Decisions!

Hiya

I do like it when a plan comes together. LA ESTRELLA won the 2.00 at Southwell well. I was quietly confident that it would be so. He came to the race with a 100% record on the Southwell Fibresand and didn't disappoint. A workmanlike performance, but returning after a 2 year break, it was always a case of if fit enough, then by how far. In the end it was only a length, but a good return nonetheless.

Wednesday gives us the delights of Leicester, Newcastle, Lingfield (AW), KKempton (twilight AW) and over the pond at Down Royal. Plenty then for me to get my gnashers into, so here we go....

At Lingfield, I like ANJOMARBA in the 1.40 Back down to selling company and returning to a 6 furlong trip, everything looks positive for this 4 year old filly.

I picked a winner at Kempton a day or so ago, so it's in for a penny, in for a pound and let's have another go. At 4.50 RAMBO WILL drops to 5 furlongs which I think will be the ideal trip for him as he seems to struggle late on in 6 furlong encounters.

Lastly, it may be worth having a look at MIC'S DELIGHT in the 2.00 at Leicester. Ran well on New Years Day at Exeter and yard currently  in terrific form.

 ANJOMARBA Lingfield Park 1.40 unplaced

MIC'S DELIGHT Leicester 2.00 won @ 9/4

RAMBO WILL Kempton 4.50 2nd @ 5/1

I am in somewhat of a quandary for tonight. My 2 local non-league teams, Biggleswade Town, are at home to Biggleswade United in the Bedfordshire Senior Cup tonight, but my fave Premier team, WBA are live on Sky at home to Wigan. What to do? What to do? Watch the blog tomorrow to see which game I decided upon.

See you soon

Tatts

The Sun Shines on the Righteous and at Southwell.

Morning all, how ya didlin'?

A pretty cruddy day on the nags yesterday, I'm sure you will agree. KNOCKAVILLA managed 2nd, but was well back and in a 4 horse race even the each way odds don't come into play. SARAH'S ART was poor. Broke badly, kept at the back and was well out of it. At The Races have an award for jockey of the week - can't imagine Adam Kirby will be troubling the judges on this showing somehow.

So now on to today. Jumping at Sedgefield, Leicester and Navan. All- weather flat at sunny Southwell. The best quality race over the sticks is the 2 mile novice chase at Leicester, but with only 4 runners again. After getting my fingers burnt in the similar contest yesterday at Wetherby, I am going to leave it well alone. Sedgefield and Navan do not interest me so its off to the sunshine for today's guesswork.

The 2.50 at Southwell is a decent looking, class 3 contest with one or two in with a shout. Arganil drops back in class and has a liking for Southwell, but he has not been in the best of form so warrants watching for now. Luscivious is out of form and Dandy Nicholls', Sir Geoffrey will fly out of the stalls, but is up against a better class of animal here. Feelin' Foxy got knocked off into 2nd last time after 2 previous wins. I just think that a mark of 85 is more than enough for now.Divertimenti has been away from the all-weather for a good while and has never really looked the part at Southwell anyway. That leaves WAVEBAND, who has always been a bit of a cantankerous madam, but has shown signs of behaving on her first 2 runs for her new stable. I think this will be third time lucky and I take her to just get this.

I like a couple of others at Southwell.  At 1.50 STEED seemed a different horse last time when fitted with cheekpieces. He goes up 4lbs for that win, but can follow up. In the Maiden at 3.50 Eilean Mor seems somewhat exposed, but new stable and running on the Fibresand may just be the making of him. My vote goes to CHRISTMAS ARIA who ran well at Lingfield a week ago. If transferring that form to the softer form of sand, he won't be far away.

STEED Southwell 1.50 1st @ 15/8

WAVEBAND Southwell 2.50 2nd @ 6/4

CHRISTMAS ARIA Southwell 3.50 1st @ 11/10

I'm going to leave it there for this posting. Good luck with your punting and I will write more soon.

Tatty