Horse Racing

[Hun]

More racing news:

HARCHIBALD, off the track since running fifth in the ACC Bank Champion Hurdle at Punchestown in April, could return to action at Tipperary on Sunday.

The enigmatic eight-year-old, runner-up in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2005, is oneof 11 entries for the Grade 2 Killerk Construction Tipperary Hurdle.

Harchibald won this race two years ago when it was sponsored by JP McManus but in three other attempts in the last four years has been out of luck.

His participation on Sunday isnot certain according to champion jumps trainer Noel Meade, who also has recent Cork winner Definate Spectacle in the race.

He said on Tuesday: "Harchibald is on track again but I'm not sure whether he's ready enough to win on Sunday but he is ready to return. We brought him to Roscommon for a piece of work after racing on Monday and it went pretty well.

"We'll decide later in the week but he wouldn't run on very quick or if it was a bog neither would run. Definate Spectacle will definitely run if the ground is good or better."

Accordion Etoile who had just one run last season over fences since winning the Grade 1 Swordlestown Cup at Punchestown in 2006 is also among the entries. His last outing over hurdles came in the 2005 Galway Hurdle when eighth behind More Rainbows, the same year he finished fourth to Hardy Eustace in the Champion Hurdle.
Trainer Paul Nolan will not decide until the eight-year-old, who has encountered leg trouble in the past, works on Wednesday morning.

He said: "He'll do some work on Thursday and we'll make a decision but he's probably still a bit rusty. If I'm not happy with him he won't run. He wasn't himself at Fairyhouse and he's had an operation since but he seems to be doing okay."

Michael Halford will "most likely" run Tipperary All Star in the race and also intends running Athasi Stakes winner Eastern Appeal in the Group 3 Concorde Stakes.

Jim Bolger confirmed last year's winner Moderooch will be joined by Anna's Rock in the Concorde, while Eddie Lynam intends running Park Stakes runner-up Duff.


>>Macs Joy, narrowly defeated by Silent Oscar in the ACC Bank Champion Hurdle, is set for his return on the Flat at Navan next Wednesday according to Jessica Harrington. She said: "He seems very well, touch wood, and all being well the plan is to start him back in the two-mile maiden on Wednesday week at Navan.”

I love Harchibald, but I hate betting on the bastard. Watch the 2005 Champion Hurdle to find out why.

[Hun]

Sweet Kiss looks amazingly over-priced in the second at Nottingham.

2 unit win for me.

[Sir John Fashanu]

Tax Free is too good and should win the 4.20 at Newmarket for 4.1 on betfair.

So I've heard.

[Hun]

Well, just ignore that, TWOSHOW.

AUTO STAR has been installed 11-8 favourite by Coral's for a repeat success in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Last season's Gold Cup winner will be again chasing the Betfair Million bonus this campaign with trainer Paul Nicholls targeting his superstar at Kempton before heading to Cheltenham in March.

Coral have also quoted Kauto Star, who recorded six wins from as many starts last season, at 5-1 to repeat the bonus treble of the Betfair Chase at Haydock, the King George, and the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Dual Cheltenham winner, My Way De Solzen, is the 4-1 second favourite in the opening show for the Boxing Day feature. The Grade 1 chase is set to be the seven-year-old's first run over fences since he was last seen winning the Arkle Trophy at the Festival.
Last season's Kempton and Cheltenham runner-up, Exotic Dancer, is quoted at 6-1 to win this year's renewal.

Barry Simpson, racing manager to owner Sir Robert Ogden, confirmed the Jonjo O'Neill-trained seven-year-old to be on course for a similar campaign to last season.

He said: "He's the second-best chaser in Europe and so why not go for the King George?

"Depending on all the usual factors we're looking at either the Charlie Hall, the Old Roan or the Betfair Chase before heading to Kempton. We're not gearing our campaign around anyone else - you can't keep avoiding horses of this calibre as no one seems to go for handicaps anymore."

11/8 for the King George at this stage of the season? It is a lay? Surely a lay just now, even though it's a guarantee he runs if fit.

[Sir John Fashanu]

Yeah ignore that one. 3rd, I did get a winner though yesterday, not allowed to brag.

Hun investiage the Newmarket 2.05 today. Gone Fast is raising some questions of shenaniganary. Why is it so big? 200 for the win on betfair, 28 for a place. Might get on the place one. Big step up in class of course, but it's only 2 year old fillies ffs and has won the distance before.

[Hun]

Why is it so big? Gubbed by 7l+ and 5l+ in Group 3 company in her last two runs. Looks like Fanshawe fancies his other horse more, with the booking of Frank Spencer. Form of the first Group 3 she was gubbed in is awful. Looks exposed now.

I think that about sums her chances up. So she'll now win pulling away by 10l.

[Hun]

Boy on Betfair Radio has tipped up Just Intersky at a fancy price in the 2:20 at Musselburgh. Says he has links to the stable or some other rot. Reckons it's well in off this weight.

[Sir John Fashanu]

I was on Terry's Tip to place there because it sounded like Terry Tibbs. 4th for big odds. Top 3 paid out. Fuckers.

[Hun]

Strike the Deal 3:15 1.5 unit win, 2 unit place.

2 from 2 at Newmarket, so I thought it was time to share my first loser with you all.

[Hun]

Bah! Should have had the forecast! Torn between the two and I thought Strike the Deal had the better of him this time.

[Hun]

Crime Scene win and place in the 3:50 @ Newmarket.

[Sir John Fashanu]

This week, the Daily Star traders who I mentioned last week mostly fancy.

Guy on a 100/1 - 33/1 EW hatrick says River Tiber for a place in the 3.55 Cambridgeshire. 26 for the win, 6.2 for one of 4 places. Don't fancy that race much though. Total clusterfuck.

Harshead in the 3.00 is one I do like that they mentioned. 29 for a win, 6.2 for the place again.

Also King of Argos to win the 2.45 at 16.

There's your 3 long shot no hopers of the day.

[Hun]

Right, I'll put myself in the firing line now. Sat at work with a copy of the RP and this is what I've picked out today. Won't go into the reasoning behind them all.

FONTWELL:

3:25 Armenian Boy

LONGCHAMP:

2:25 US Ranger
3:30 Echo of Light (NAP)

NEWMARKET:

2:10 Joffe's Run
2:45 Jumbajukiba (Win and place)
3:20 Simply Perfect
4:30 Presybtarian Nun

REDCAR:

2:25 LAY Aromatherapy OR BACK Tathkaar

4:10 Caradak (NB)

[Sir John Fashanu]

On US Ranger too, tempted by Red Evie so that'll win now.

[Sir John Fashanu]

US Ranger nowhere in a race won by a 100/1 German. What can you do?

[Hun]

And Jumbajakiba drifted like the proverbial and finished last. THEY knew.

[Sir John Fashanu]

What an AIDStacular day that was.

[Hun]

Tell me about it. Fucking joke.

Really can't wait for the jumps to start.

Only success was that lay.

Never mind.

I'll now wait for Taff to contribute so much to this thread as he does others.

[Sir John Fashanu]

Sanbuch at 5.4 in the last at Newmarket under Fortune. I put this on first thing before I read through the papers and then forgot about it so I was suprised when I realised I still had a current bet going. Save the day son.

[Scotsman]

Asked Mason for a tip and he said Iroquois Warrior in Fontwell. Little bit short at 11/8 but Mason usually knows his stuff.