Cue Card is one of the most durable talents jump racing has produced and is a good bet to become the oldest winner of the Charlie Hall Chase since 2004Age is not an issue for runners in only the Cheltenham Gold Cup. The Charlie Hall Chase has also tended, in recent years, to favour youngsters and Cue Card (3.20) will be the oldest winner since 2004 if he comes home in front at Wetherby today.There is no question that the King George winner has the best form on offer and he has also tended to run well when fresh, as when landing this race last year. He has coped well with a sound surface. He is reported in excellent shape...
Charismatic Man (2.25) returns to turf and takes on older rivals from a very manageable mark at NewmarketSpeaking of JP McManus, as I was doing in the paper this morning, the numbers involved in his operation are astonishing. His tally of runners in Ireland, in particular, has been climbing steeply over the last decade, taking him to 914 in the last season. Related: Horse racing tips: Friday 28 October Continue reading...
Dutch Connection evidently owes his presence in the Mile field to the persistence of Britain’s top handicapperYesterday, I learned what a stramash has to be gone through before your horse gets a run in the Breeders’ Cup, assuming you want him to run in one of the over-subscribed races. An international panel of handicappers has to sort all the entries into order and, boy, do they make a meal of it. Continue reading...
A clash between two enormously talented, front-running chasers might only be two months away. And there’s Nottingham!All right, fine. I shall join you all in your Thistlecrack Camp. He was much more impressive yesterday than I thought he could be at the first attempt over fences, albeit against modest opposition. Well done Tom, Colin, Joe and all the others. Continue reading...
Backing chasing debutants at odds of 1-7 does not appeal. Saddlers Encore is a better priceHere’s a horse who’s done well over hurdles. Pick him up and have a look; he has a fine, barrel chest, four powerful legs and a big, long head like a canoe. Is he going to do as well over fences? Continue reading...