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.

Tito's Troubles at Taunton

Good evening,

It was a reasonably average day on Thursday in truth. BUAITEOIR did an impressive impersonation of a Formula 1 car in the last furlong, charging through to win well.

DAHAAM couldn’t follow suit at Wolverhampton where Jamie Spencer left the challenge too late. Poor old TITO BUSTILLO, who could be classed as a Taunton expert, didn’t have a good day and was outpaced and outclassed by 2 rivals.

Still a 4/1 winner from 3 selections at level stakes is a profit, so quite pleasing on the whole really

Grandstand at Taunton racecourse

As for Friday, we have 4 meetings at such marvelous locations as Catterick Bridge, Chepstow, Lingfield Park (AW) and yet again a twilight twirl at wild and wooly Wolves (AW)

The best card of the 4 is the one up in Yorkshire at Catterick, where there are a couple of class 3 handicaps (one chase and 1 hurdle) on offer.

 In the chase at 2.20 Henry Daly’s WESSEX KING unseated his rider at Aintree back in October, but previously had been running very well and if staying on his feet and keeping Mr Tinkler in the saddle should do well.

At 2.55 in the hurdle, I like Altan Khan and was impressed with his win at Musselburgh in November. I can’t help think that up 8lbs for that is a little steep so I’ll go for Mickey Hammond’s AMIR PASHA. The stable is firing on all cylinders at the moment with 3 winners and 2 placed from 5 runners in the last few days, including 2 winners at Catterick. He is also rising in the weights but usually runs well here.

When it comes to all-weather, flat racing, in a race where all 6 could be given a chance, I like the look of SILVER TURN in the 6.35 at Wolverhampton. The 3 year old filly won well at Southwell 17 days ago and if transferring that form to the Polytrack, will do well.
RESULT: SILVER TURN did not want to go into the stalls initially, but complied eventually. She didn't break too well and was outpaced early on in proceedings. Made up some ground at the end, but I get the feeling she will continue to be better on the Fibresand at Southwell. 

Just one word of warning, there is an inspection in the morning at Catterick, so fingers crossed it gets the go ahead. Update: Meeting abandoned due to frost.

WESSEX KING Catterick 2.20 Meeting abandoned

AMIR PASHA Catterick 2.55 Meeting abandoned

SILVER TURN Wolverhampton 6.35 unplaced

That’s all for tonight, speak soon

Chairman Tatts