Tatty's Nags to Notice - Monday 16th January 2012

Jumping at Plumpton and all-weather racing at Wolverhampton give us our entertainment for the day.

Plumpton has never been one of my faves ever since the day, a few years back, when I had picked 5 placed horses in a placepot and my choice in the last was cruising towards the last fence, about 3 lengths clear of the field. When jumping, it promptly made a complete hash of the fence, sending its jockey sprawling on the the turf. I’ve never been overly keen on the place since.

Plumpton Racecourse back in 1985

3 trainers who have a decent record here are Alan King, Nick Gifford and Caroline Keevil. The latterly mentioned Ms Keevil trains at Motcombe, near Shaftesbury in Dorset and it is well worth having a look at the her stables website at www.carolinekeevilracing.co.uk

The stable has 2 entries on the card with Blue Lovell tackling the 3 ¼ mile h’cap chase and Bobs Present in the Novice Hurdle. Both on the face of it look out of their depth, but they are well worth watching to see if they can spring a surprise.

Alan King has a couple of runners and the one I prefer is HENRY SAN in the 1.10 This will be his 3^rd run over the timber after showing previous promise on the level. He ran well at Folkestone a month ago, but was never able to keep up with Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Double Ross who has since not been disgraced running at class 1 level at Newbury on New Years Eve. 

Tatty’s Nags to Notice

Plumpton

1.10 Henry San

3.40 Sir Winston

Wolverhampton

2.55 Dicky Mint

3.25 Warneford

4.25 Miss Astragal

Tatty's Nags to Notice - Friday 13th January 2012

For Friday, we have a meeting at my local (and possible favourite NH) course, namely Huntingdon. I previously wrote an article extolling the virtues of racing at Huntingdon, please click on the following link to read:

Go Racing at Huntingdon Racecourse

With my fascination for the interesting runner shall we say, I notice that trainer Jeremy Scott, based at Brompton Regis in Somerset, brings just one mare to the course and she runs in the 3.20 event. DREAMBROOK LADY has been running quite well over the last couple of months, just missing the frame at both Hereford and Taunton. Moving up into handicap company for the first time, I believe she has been allocated a fair mark of 87. The yielding ground should not cause her any problems and the stable is in decent form to boot. In my opinion, she is well worth consideration. 

• DREAMBROOK LADY Huntingdon 3.20
  

 Lastly, BEWARE – today is Friday 13^th – BET AT YOUR PERIL!!!

Tatty's Nags to Notice - Thursday 12th January 2012

Jumping at Catterick and Fontwell and all-weather flat fixtures at Southwell and Kempton are the order of the day.

Over the timber at Fontwell, we have an interesting runner in the 3.05 Off the track since March 2010, HONOUR HIGH has shown some decent form in far higher grade events than this and also at this track. Lady Herries doesn’t have too many runners at Fontwell, but she has a reasonably good record when coming here. I’m not saying he will win, but is well worth a look. 

Fontwell Park - Notice the figure of 8 chase course

The stable also has EASTER FAYRE running in the bumper at 4.05 I think she may need the run, but don’t discount her chances totally as she has found the frame in similar events last summer.

The Grandstand at Catterick

Brian Ellison has a decent strike rate when taking National Hunt runners to Catterick and HAKUNA MATATA has his debut run over the timber in the 1.45 When running on the level, he showed some signs of talent, especially when winning in desperate ground at Newcastle. On offer at time of writing at 8’s, it may be worth keeping an eye on the market.

                      Nags to Notice

• HAKUNA MATATA Catterick 1.45
• HONOUR HIGH Fontwell 3.05
• EASTER FAYRE Fontwell 4.05

Tatty's Racing Thoughts - Wednesday 11th January 2012

Because of going to the football last night, today's nags to notice are a little late being posted.

Have a look at these, they make give some entertainment in running.

Doncaster

• 2.50 Arctic Actress
• 3.25 Azulada Bay

Ffos Las

• 3.35 Paradise Expected

Fairyhouse

• 3.10 Storm Breaker

Kempton

• 6.15 Meia Noite

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!

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.