Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Thyestes Chase Gowran Park 20th Jan 2011

Pomme Tiepy is very short for a mare who has had 21 chase starts and who's holdup style is unlikely to suit this race.Agus a Vic also looks a bit exposed but could run into a place.Alpha Ridge jumps to his left and will cover an extra furlong around here.Telenor has no history of going well fresh and there's a suspicion he might be better left-handed over fences.You can expect to see the Midnight Club need this as they surely have an eye on his mark for the National.Whinstone Boy won it last year but might struggle to repeat off no less than a 20lbs higher mark.Bella Mana Mou has some kind of physical problem as her form and her jumping have gone to pot lately- you'd love to buy her cheap and send her to the chiropractor.Stewart's House has to prove to me that he stays 3 miles.Will Jamie Run is an interesting outsider at a huge price- he caught my eye in the Kerry National on ground quicker than he'd have liked but hasn't really gone on from that. He didn't run that badly in the Paddy Power, up in the van for a long way and I'll be looking to back him prerace on Betfair and get my stake back in-running as I can see him going well for a long way- I'm still not sure he stays 3 miles.
This is a poor renewal with a lot of exposed and moderate horses, but one sticks out as being in form, well handicapped and facing ideal conditions. Rocco's Hall was well punted for a 3m5f handicap at Fairyhouse and looke like collecting for a long way, travelling well up with the pace before putting in an extra stride at the last and dislodging Andrew Mac. It was a soft fall and he galloped away fine. There was a suspicion that he might have been coming to the end of his stamina there so the drop back to 3 miles on deep ground could be perfect- his best hurdles form was under those conditions. Raised 2lbs for Fairyhouse he's still 13lbs below his best hurdles mark. Young Mangan takes off 5lbs, he won't be any hindrance having ridden a lovely race on Givemeabuzz at Tramore on New Year's Day.The only other one that interests me is Conor O'Dwyer's Hangover, who's Gowran form figures read 212, including when second in this last year. He didn't show a lot in the Paddy Power but the combination of a return to going right-handed and first time cheekpieces could be enough to spark him back to life.
3 pts win 1 pt place Rocco's Hall 14/1 Boylesports
1 pt each way Hangover 14/1 Coral.
Race postponed, Rocco's Hall eventually balloted out- stakes returned. Hangover unplaced 8/1 loss 2 pts.