Category Archives: horse racing

Perth 23rd & 24th September

Two horses owned by Jo Tracey are Street Entertainer (pictured above) and Impulsive American.
Two horses owned by Jo Tracey are Street Entertainer (pictured above) and Impulsive American.

First day of Autumn and the start of the Perth two-dayer. Both sure signs that the main 2015/16 National Hunt campaign is fast approaching.

Plenty of the northern yards are well represented and a few like Kim Bailey and David Pipe are prepared to send their horses from further away.

The owner of Pipe’s first two runners is Mrs Jo Tracey, who is based in Scotland. Both are the early favourites.

Perth is a great meeting with good prize money and the chance to meet up with old acquaintances.

Get ready for the new season. See my website for details: http://www.slh.co.uk

What About Carlo?

Newbury 2.50 Dubai Duty Free Handicap

What About Carlo was on my noted horses shortlist last year and has done us some favours in the past. Started the season well when fourth in The Lincoln, but then had a series of disappointing outings until returning to form at Epsom last time. Steps up in class from that victory.

Two of his four career successes have come in more testing ground and he carried the same weight in both races as he does today.  The heavy rain that swept over Newbury during the week has brought his more suited conditions.

The softer the going the better and providing the ground doesn’t dry out too much the double figure odds available would have some appeal.

What About Carlo
What About Carlo

Saturday Preview

2014 Ayr Gold Cup winner Louis The Pious
2014 Ayr Gold Cup winner Louis The Pious

From tomorrow onwards I will be analysing at least one of the Saturday feature races.

Plenty of prize money on offer at Ayr tomorrow with the Ayr Gold Cup being the highlight.

Newbury Stage two Group 3 races and the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes.

Channel 4 are showing eight races from Ayr and Newbury starting with the Arc Trial at 1.45.

If you want to follow my work, we have a range of options to suit. Just go to www.slh.co.uk.

2015/16 Jumps Season

Presently meeting with contacts before going on to Doncaster. All part of my preparations for the forthcoming main jumps campaign through to the end of April 2016.

Goldan Jess
Goldan Jess: 10/1 winner for us at Cartmel on August bank holiday Monday

We have enjoyed a great deal of success this summer on both the flat and jumps, with latest winners at 10/1, 10/1, 5/1, 5/1 and 11/4.

We finished the last jump season in very good form and I am very confident of another great season ahead.

All memberships taken now will include September free of charge. Discover more about true professional betting and apply for your free information pack at: www.slh.co.uk

Cheltenham Gold Cup

Preview extracts for the premier event of the festival…

Many Clouds participation last year was abruptly ended when he was brought down in the RSA Chase. His improvement has been marked this year culminating with his Betbright Cup victory.

Whilst Coneygree  is inexperienced, his natural jumping ability could see him be crowned as the third successive 8 y.o. to lift the major crown of the meeting.

Djakadam is one of the most exciting horses in the Gold Cup line up, and he could run a massive race.  Willie Mullins’ gelding was travelling really well in the JLT Chase at last year’s Festival when he came down at the fourth last fence.

There is every chance that Djakadam will improve again between the Thyestes and Cheltenham, and as Long Run proved four years ago that it is possible in the modern era for a six-year-old to win the Gold Cup.

And on to the statistics…

Gold Cup – 10 Year Trends

Age 7 to 9 – 9 out of 10

All finished in the first 6 last time out

All were Grade 1 winners

First three in betting – 9 out of 10

Run in King George/Lexus chase – 9 out of 10 (exception won the Henessy)

Two to five runs in the season – 9 out of 10

No Irish Hennessy winner

None had won at the third attempt

Trends here would rule out favourite Silviniaco Conti, Carlingford Lough, Holywell, while virtually ruling out Many Clouds and  Djakadam, but they did run in the Hennessy. This leaves Road to Riches who has been one of the surprise packages of the season and an impressive winner of his last two. He’s been kept fresh for this and looks sure to go well.

A final mention has to be for last year’s winner Lord Windermere. If he was with Mullins, Nicholls or Henderson he would probably be half his odds. He has been prepared the same way as last year and you could argue he has ran better. It’s a horse with proven festival form and must rate a serious danger to all.

Cheltenham 3.20 World Hurdle

A look at some of the extracts from the preview…

20/1 for Reve De Sivola is a big price when you consider how closely his most recent form ties in with the Paul Nicholls’ market leaders: Saphir Du Rheu and Zarkandar.

He is a sound stayer and soft ground will certainly bring this experienced Cheltenham campaigner into contention.

Lieutenant Colonel is a little bit of a forgotten horse here.  He was a good novice hurdler last season and ran well for a long way in the Neptune Hurdle before fading late on. But his late and much lamented trainer Dessie Hughes always said that he would benefit from another season jumping hurdles. Still just a six-year-old, it is reasonable to expect further improvement from the Gigginstown House gelding.

From a statistical viewpoint…

World Hurdle – 10 Year Trends

All aged 6 to 9

Top two finish last time – 9 out of 10

All has won in last two runs

All from the first four in the betting

Two to four runs that season

Trends here would rule out third favourite Rock on Ruby, along with other fancied horses: Un Temps Pour Tout, Whisper, Blue Fashion and Monksland. Question marks still surround Zarkander staying the distance and Saphir De Reu after an aborted chasing campaign.

Lieutenant Colonel could be the value bet here.  He’s been running well this season and a guaranteed stayer up the Cheltenham hill.