BEST of the BETS

Ger Lyons:

We head into Navan racecourse today with only the one runner and ERICH BLOCH runs in the first race which will allow us to get home early and watch the Ryder Cup!
This lad ran a cracker the last day when just beaten by the very much hyped O’Brien trained Old Glory. We drop down in trip as he showed plenty of early speed at Naas and being by Dandy Man it wouldn’t be unusual to see him win over this sharper trip of just under 6f. We are having a very quite and frustrating September with winners but the horses that I’m running are running their races and have just not been good enough. As always this will sort itself out and I take it as a compliment to hear folk question our form as it means they expect us to be having regular winners which as I say is very complimentary.
Here’s hoping Erich can live up to his name and show some of his name sakes fighting qualities and get us all back to winning ways.

6/4 fav, 9 run.

Nigel Twison Davies

Three go to Market Rasen today.

2.50 - One Forty Seven made his chasing debut at Bangor in May finishing mid-division of 9 over 3m on good ground. Dropping back to 2m 3f on similar ground here, he’s also down four pounds to 111 and with improvement to come, looks capable of getting in the frame. Sam Twiston-Davies rides and the pair look to have solid each way prospects.

4.35 - Double Court hasn’t won for 12 outings, since August ‘16, when on a mark of 82. Raised 11lbs for that, he’s shown signs of returning to form as his mark has fallen, particularly when 3rd of 15 at Worcester last time over 2m 4f. He now finds himself on that winning mark again and though needing to find a little more, looks to have a fine chance of doing so. A good run expected, Sam rides.

5.10 - Earlofthecotswolds has had just the one bumper run, third of eight at Fakenham in April, running well though green and needing the experience. A nice sort, he should go well, returns in good order and looks likely to take a hand here. Sam aboard. :cool:

NTD:

ASCOT
1.15 - Corzeam didn’t put his best foot forward last term but a third at Haydock in February on his last appearance showed that he has ability. The break has done him good and the step up to 2m 3+f will suit him. Jack Savage rides and the pair can go on from that last run and make their presence felt.

3.35 - Go Conquer won this event last year when trained by Jonjo O’Neill and makes his debut for us here. He went up 9lbs to 151 for that but that seemed to anchor him in three subsequent outings. Back to 147 here he returns fresh, in good order and must have a really good chance of repeating last years run. Sam Twiston-Davies rides and a good run expected.

WETHERBY
3.50 - Supakalanistic meets just two rivals but this still looks a very competitive heat. A winner over a furlong longer than today’s 2m 3+f last term from 111, he went up a huge 11lbs but back to a more reasonable 117 today should see him in much better light, especially after a break. Should go very well, Jamie Bargary aboard.

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P.Kirby:

W'by 2.05: It appears on the formbook that (Lady) Buttons has local mare, ‘Irish Roe’ to beat, although there are others not without chances in this Listed event. Crowned the TBA Leading Chase Mare of 2017, Buttons posted consistently high marks throughout all last season and although the form book may say her best races are on soft ground, she actually bounces off a quicker surface and loved it at Aintree on the good ground there. She is quick over her hurdles and we are nervously excited about the race this afternoon. Adam tells me she feels ‘brilliant ‘ and the schooling session went 100% to plan on Thursday. Best of luck to Keith & Jayne with their wonderful mare. Owners of her half brother ‘Robin Des Chapp’ will be eagerly watching too! Here are both her half brothers in the paddock yesterday – 2 year old Stanley by Presenting is watching over his giant sibling, Robin. How do they know they are related? They are in a field of other horses but stick together like glue.

Nautical Nitwit takes his biggest step up yet when our grand little warrior walks in to the paddock this afternoon for the Bet 365 Grade 2 West Yorkshire Hurdle (3.15). It’ll be the first time he’s ran in a ‘weight for age’ since his novice days, and at the age of 9 he is running off a career high of 143. Phil purchased him cheaply at Ascot in 2015 and who would have thought that 3 years later he would be mixing it with stayers Hurdle horses. 15.1hh if he’s lucky, Nitwit possesses neither size or looks, but he’s athletic and has got one of the biggest hearts of a horse we’ve trained – our Team and his Owners will be justly proud of him today as he sets off on his lofty mission. Tommy Dowson gets the leg up, he was 2nd here on him last time out, just pipped on the line.

Pullman Brown kicks off proceedings for us in the 2mile Novice Hurdle, and he’s a big price on his second start over obstacles. He’ll travel within himself as he has a high cruising speed but it’s very likely he’ll need Novice handicaps before he’s going to be properly competitive. He’s had his problems so a safe trip round and learning more about the jumping game is his first mission, if he can get involved it’s a bonus. N/R

In the handicap hurdle (3.50) to round off the card we are double handed with Wemyss Point and Zig Zag, the latter being fit from the flat but Wemyss having winning course form. His summer form can have a line put straight through it, he’s a winter horse and will remain so in future. We’d find it hard to split the pair of them and there’ll be some competitive rivalry between Tommy & Adam as they take both the rides. Wemyss has a good number of his Owners attending this afternoon – and Zig Zag will also be well supported, Gary & Kate have been long standing Owners for us and we wish them lots of luck on this exciting afternoon of Grade 1 Jumps action. (These two are 2nd and 3rd favs in a field now reduced to 3)


Once the Wetherby action is complete we turn our eyes to the flat at Newcastle under the lights. What a contrast! We have course winner ‘Man of Verve’ returning after a break in the 6 o’clock race and he is capable on his day, springing a 80-1 suprise here back in the Spring. He’s had a nice break and this is a good place to make a start, a fair galloping track and he likes the surface. Good luck to his small group of Owners, one of whom is legendary trainer Jeremy Glover – famous for his several Cambridgeshire Handicap wins amongst a highly successful career – and Jerry also was a top NH jockey who was placed in the Grand National. It’s an honour to be training horses for such an experienced horseman.

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David Pipe:

There are seven races from Ascot over the sticks with some pretty handy prize money on offer. Indeed, they offer £268,000 across their seven race card which is in contrast to Newcastle who offer just £52,000 for their eight race fixture. David runs Ramses de Teillee (pictured above) in the Sodexo Gold Cup handicap chase at 3.35pm (Ascot). It is a three mile handicap chase with £56,000 added prize money and as you would expect it is very competitive. Ramses looked good in winning a couple of heavy ground chases at Chepstow last season and has had wind surgery since - if the better ground brings about any improvement he would have each way claims under Tom Scudamore.

Good stuff with Buttons. Most of these type of thing specialise in saying nothing but that one read well

Yes, Kirby had 2 out of 2 at 7/2 and 15/2 when Nautical Nitwit also went in. One race to go from the jumps for him, then the one on the a/w.

3 races out of 3 now for Kirby, Wemyss Point slams 'em.

Yes but to be fair you would have done well to back them based on what they told you...