Colin Tizzard accepts it was a mistake to ask Cue Card’s jockey to press on so early but did that cause defeat?How interesting to read that Colin Tizzard has assumed responsibility for the aggressive tactics used on Cue Card on Saturday, when the popular veteran finished a tired third at Wetherby after pushing into the lead with most of a circuit left to run. The trainer and his son, Joe, “felt strongly it was the right thing to do and now we wish we hadn’t,” according to quotes in today’s Racing Post. Continue reading...
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...
One of the jump season’s many highlights is getting a good push from the marketing folk, plus, alas, Harzand retiresThere’s nothing like a bit of confidence and Newcastle are certainly showing some of that in their promotion of next month’s Fighting Fifth Hurdle. Judging by this page on their website, track staff believe the race counts as “the highlight of the jumps season”. Continue reading...