ASI re-read my notes before starting this I can quite honestly say this month has aged me.
It started at Cheltenham's April meeting where a couple of the handicaps looked open events and I was keen to chance a few at a price.
Supreme Gift (£10 e/w at 12/1) looked overpriced in the handicap hurdle over 2m 4f as Henry Daly thinks he's a nice horse.
As they bounded up the straight it was clear they all had a chance and they ended up finishing in a heap with my selection a very close fourth.
Loyal readers know I rate Herbiers for Oliver Greenall quite highly and I was surprised he was such a big price (£15 e/w at 17/2) for a relatively weak handicap chase. He too turned into the straight with an obvious chance but found little approaching the last and finished fourth.
The mares didn't treat me much better the following day as Merry Poppins (£5 e/w at 33/1) got touched off by last season's cliff horse Malaita and Noel Williams smart bumper mare Mighty Moth could only finish second despite being backed 22/1 into 10/3.
It was shaping up to be one of those nearly weeks and come mid-Saturday afternoon I was just about resigned to that outcome.
Anna Bunina (£20 e/w at 8/1) ran a big race in the Scottish Champion Hurdle as expected but couldn't reel in the well handicapped Rubaud.
Revich (£10 e/w at 16/1) ran a brave race at Newbury but again could only muster third.
By the time the Scottish National came around my selection Kitty’s Light (£20 e/w at 6/1) had been cut into favoritism due to the withdrawal of another fancied horse. The 40p rule 4 hit my potential winnings hard and after the way the week had gone I was expecting a disappointing result. However, Christian Williams' tough, classy, incredibly well handicapped horse dug deep and showed all of his class to power up the straight to provide his trainer with a second Scottish National in two years.
Denne historien er fra June 2023-utgaven av Racing Ahead.
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Denne historien er fra June 2023-utgaven av Racing Ahead.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Tragedy Hits Racing Family - Nick Townsend reels from shock attack on John Hunt's wife and daughters
Nick Townsend reels from shock attack on John Hunt's wife and daughters. I will be far from alone in recent days in being overcome by emotions ranging from utter disbelief to revulsion upon hearing of the unspeakable acts perpetrated upon John Hunt's family, resulting in the death of his wife Carol and daughters, Hannah and Louise.
AUDIENCE IS ERUPTING
John Anthony reveals the latest top speedsters after another Glorious Goodwood
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IT'S TIME TO TAKE STOCK
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PLAYING TO THE WHISTLE
lan Heitman flies about to keep pace with a rush of two-year-old Flat action
WINNING JOY ON A BUDGET
Richard Eagle takes a trip to Windsor to check out peoples' route into the port of kings
GIFT HORSES AND FRENCH LESSONS
Robert Cooper finds 'retirement' is keeping him busy
FEUD GETS THE PARTY ROLLING
Karl Hedley savours the Galway Festival action and picks out the summer highlights at Ballybrit
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Simon Nott reveals his recent experiences from trips to Brighton and Ascot
FLYING EVE'S BORN TO WIN
Nick Townsend talks to in-form trainer Eve Johnson Houghton