Spring

 Any anti-climax after the Grand National is quickly dissipated by the discovery of a free CD with our Daily Telegraph, music for the Royal Wedding, marvellous, what could be better, the journey today to Morpeth will fly by as I rejoice in anticipation of the big day..... what will they think of next. The big race itself, a wonderful result, high drama but much sadness with apparently distressed horses due to the heat and two horses killed, this is always difficult to take but it's part of it I'm afraid and two were killed on the flat yesterday as well - difficult as I say.

Some pics from 3rd lot yesterday at Kinneston...

Big Day

Glorious spring weather today and after arriving back late from Aintree last night it was straight back to work with 30 plus horses fed by 6.30 and lots going on on the all weather and schooling ground throughout the morning.  It's unfortunate that it looks like we will have to run our two Lanark winners (almost Blue and Commercial Express) against each other tomorrow at the Morpeth, it will be a fascinating clash and the gamesmanship has already begun! Noir et Vert will run in the Mens Open and Minimo will make her debut for the Billinges in the Maiden, Lucy also looks like having a couple of other rides.
It's a big day for the area with Lucinda having a horse with such a good chance in the National, a wet week would have improved that chance but it's stamina that really counts and SBN has that in abundance, it's an unbelievably competitive race but granted luck in running I think he will go very close which would be a wonderful achievement  for a home-bred horse trained in Kinross-shire, fingers crossed, I'll be willing him over every fence for the whole team and most particularly his rider who is such a help to us here.
Fabby has been allowed out of his box once more, here are his tips for today..

1.45: Spirit Son (99), Cue Card (93), Rock on Ruby (90)

2.15: Finian's Rainbow (100), Ghizao (94), Starluck (89)
2.50: Peddlers Cross (97), Oscar Whisky (92), Celestial Halo (89)
3.25: Great Endeavour (87), Invisible Man (82), Prince de Beauchene (82)
4.15: Silver by Nature (93), What a Friend (91), Quinz (80), Skippers Brig (63)
5.00: Total Excitement (85), Ultimate (83), Plan A (82)
5.35: Montbazon (92), Persian Snow (88), Steps to Freedom (84)

Good Luck!

Make the trend your friend...

Trendy Wendy- the trendiest tips in town!


Hi, my name is Trendy Wendy and I have a Grand National tipping system which uses 28 key trends from past winners to find the winner of the race. For each trend that a horse does not comply with, I penalise them 5 points- the horse with the lowest score is my idea of the winner! All of the past 8 winners have scored 20 points or less, but 4 of the last 5 winners have scored 15 or less.

Horses scoring 20 or less

Vic Venturi (10)

Character Building (15)

Silver By Nature (15)

Oscar Time (15)

The Midnight Club (15)

Backstage (20)

Majestic Concorde (20)

Verdict

Vic Venturi is the horse who fits the most trends, and although he has a big weight for winning the Becher Chase, he is great each way value at 75/1.

Character Building is also great value at 33/1. He ran very well last year, coming from miles back to look like being placed jumping the last, before tiring. He had a disrupted preparation last year and with some luck in running I think he should at least be placed off a light weight.

Silver by Nature looks to have a great chance. Although he may like the ground a bit softer, the likes of Silver Birch, Hedgehunter and Numbersixvalverde all came into the race with similar concerns having only ever won on soft or heavy, and all won on good or good to soft ground.

Oscar Time looks like an ideal National horse. He jumps well, he stays and he was second in the Irish National, so I think Sam Waley-Cohen has a great chance of doing the double.

The Midnight Club fits most of the trends and has the massive bonus of Ruby Walsh in the saddle, but his odds reflect that.

Backstage was my tip last year at 33/1 and he was travelling very well when brought down by a loose horse. Unfortunately he is only 12/1 this year and those odds don’t look quite as attractive.

Majestic Concorde could run well at a big price but is untried beyond three miles which is a worry.

Betting Advice (all prices from Betfair)

£5 Each Way Oscar Time at 15/1

£5 Each Way Vic Venturi at 75/1

£5 Each Way Character Building at 33/1

£5 Each Way Silver By Nature at 15.5/1



Good luck, and remember to trust Trendy!

Aintree

Splendid first day's racing yesterday with some top class performances the only disappointment being Denman who never looked up for it and was off the bridle on the way to the start, back at home the horses worked mainly on the grass, all the grass gallops are due to be rolled soon and will then be "put to bed" for the summer, hopefully the riverbank sand gallop will then be used to complement the all-weather.

Here are Fabby's tips for today........

2.00: Brampour (91), Perfect Smile (86), Sire de Grugy (86)


2.30: Wayward Prince (97), Quito de la Rouge (94), Radium (92)

3.05: Master Minded (94), Somersby (91), Albertas Run (89)

3.40: Isn't That Lucky (85), Mon Parrain (70), Dev (62)

4.15: Sparky May (92), Mossley (88), Court in Motion (85)

4.50: Kilcrea Kim (88), Cloudy Spirit (84), Whodoyouthink (82)

5.25: Baby Shine (93), Tante Sissi (92), Tempest River (92)

- got Placepot day one with first two horses in each race

- 4 winners from 7 races

And so...

.. to Aintree.  An amazingly wet and foul day here yesterday but we worked the weekend runners and Little Glenshee & Playing Footsie schooled over the hurdles again.  Some of us are heading for a brief trip to Aintree today and I am pleased that Fabby has given us the benefit of his wisdom...........

2.00: Big Buck's (98), Grands Crus (93), Khyber Kim (85)


2.30: Zarkandar (97), Grandouet (94), Third Intention (92)

3.05: Denman (100), Carole's Legacy (91), Nacarat (89)

3.40: Baby Run (96), Turko (93), Ice Tea (86)

4.15: Leo's Lucky Star (96), Oiseau De Nuit (93), Woolcombe Folly (85)

4.50: Wishfull Thinking (100-NAP), Medermit (96), Royal Charm (90)

5.25: Ski Sunday (85), Bothy (85), Pateese (84)

Playing Footsie

Bloggo, bloggo, bloggo..

.. oh where does the time go, Wednesday morning and this is the first update of the week, oh dear, well,  satisfactory runs from the two Novice Hurdlers at Kelso on Monday, the presence of the Princess Royal added a little atmosphere to the meeting and I was most impressed by her ability to speak for 10 minutes about her Charity for Carers eloquently and without any notes.  Pre-occupied by crucial Isla Pearl Fisher xray taking place back at the yard and relieved by cautiously optimisitc verdict that has allowed him to resume exercise on the horsewalker.  Yesterday Northern Flame and Forcefield worked at Lucinda's, Minimo & Commercial Express schooled over fences and Little Glenshee & Playing Footsie over hurdles.  Lots working today with all the pointers entered for Morpeth on Sunday and Seeking Powwer, Amulree and Playing Footsie in at Hexham on Monday.  Before that we have the wonderful Aintree meeting to enjoy, we will have two guest tipster, firstly Fabby Frank will be giving his system tips and then the once a year specialist Treny Wendy will be dusting off her laptop and telling us what will win the big race... ha ha!

Isla Pearl Fisher getting the better of More Equity, an easy course and distance winner this week....

Bingo! (& stable update)

Daasij

I was delighted when Daasij gave us our 3rd winner of the week at Newcastle on Friday, it appears that stepping up to 3 miles did the trick and hopefully he can progress from here - it was an excellent result his loyal owners, Messrs Liddle, Philipps, Robinson & Stanistreet.  All three winners are looked after by Emma Dick who having now completed the hat-trick will be going for the four-timer when Four Fiddlers makes his hurdling debut at Kelso tomorrow in the 4pm, Lucy rides, 15 run and the ground will be good to soft.  He schools nicely at home and should be able to step up on his bumper form, particularly when upped in trip; I expect a good run tomorrow but its a hot race and anywhere in the first 8 could represent a decent effort.  Isla Patriot runs in the second division of the Novice Hurdle at 6pm, Peter Buchanan rides, this is the weaker of the two divisions and I have been pleased with his last two efforts so hopefully he can progress a little again.  This afternoon Lucy rides Black Apache for Donald McCain in the 2.30 at Market Rasen

Daasij at Home

One or two people have been asking me about the progress and plans for the various horses in the yard so I thought I would do a quick summary for those that are interested...(Mrs A perhaps - any others!!??)

Isla Patriot & Four Fiddlers run tomorrow. Isla Pearl Fisher is due to be x-rayed tomorrow to check on the progress of the operation on his pastern, a favourable outcome would see a return to light exercise this week.  Forcefield is being trained for two possible targets at the Scottish National meeting at Ayr.  Papamoa was due to run at Kelso tomorrow but unfortunately slipped on the road yesterday and has a few grazes that will take a day or two to sort out.  Northern Flame has been checked over and we think we have identified a problem that we can hopefully rectify, he is scheduled to re-appear at Perth later in the month.  4yo Alflora ex Minora has been making excellent progress, minor setback this week but will be named soon and will hopefully run at the end of the month.  Twelve Paces appears disenchanted with racing and might have one more run or head for a slightly easier life point-to-pointing.  Amulree has a very appealing looking handicap mark and is being aimed for a race at Hexham on Monday 11th.  Little Glenshee has been given plenty of time after her promising racecourse debut and will hopefully run over hurdles in a few weeks.  Buffalo Ballet has fully recovered from his colic and had his first proper piece of work since yesterday.  Seeking Power is in tremendous form and will be entered for the same race as Amulree next week & will run instead of her if it is heavy.  Native Coll is finding his old legs can't keep up with the younger ones, he might have another try at three miles or switch to point-to-pointing next year.  Playing Footsie will be entered over hurdles and in a bumper at Hexham next Monday, we will see how the schooling goes.  We will look for a another staying handicap hurdle for Daasij in three weeks time.  The Paddy Premium has settled in well and I think will head to the Perth Festival.  Minimo will be entered for the Maiden at the Morpeth Point-to-point next Sunday.  Commercial Express, Almost Blue and Noir et Vert will all also be entered there as might Skipping Chapel who is recovering from a foot abscess which I suspect has been troubling him for a few weeks and might explain his poor runs... must stop saying hopefully, have I missed anyone out?