Review of the day

Early on, I got the feeling that it was going to be one of those days…

Uno Valerso was the first tip to run - and simply, he wasn’t up to the task.

Considering a few of the fancied horses in the race under-performed, I would have expected him to be right in the mix - but that didn’t happen.

Instead, the race was won by 20/1 shot, Kauto Riko.

I tipped him the last time he ran (when he was also a big price) - but he was pulled up after making a mistake at the very first fence.

Not the best of starts to the day, then…

Next it was Magic Saint.

He ran OK - but was no match for the 2 other market leaders: Hells Kitchen and Janika.

I suspected they had the ability to win - but thought Magic Saint was the more solid option.

Maybe he was: but they came good - and he was well beaten by them both.

Hmmm….

Then things got really bad !

I went for 2 in the Long Walk: Agrapart and Sam Spinner.

The theory was that they would both be suited by the soft ground - and that Sam Spinner would provide a nice lead for Agrapart.

Up the straight he would then either lengthen away - or Agrapart would run him down…

Instead, Sam Spinner ballooned the first hurdle - and then decanted his jockey at the second !

If that wasn’t bad enough, it meant that Agrapart was left with no lead and was just a sitting duck for the rest of the field.

The really frustrating thing, was that with the 3 Henderson horses running pretty much as expected, the race was there to be won.

However, it was Paisley Park who coped with the ground and took advantage of the way things panned out…

By this point, I was feeling in need of a break - and Daklondike looked briefly as if he might provide one.

Certainly when he jumped into the lead at the third last, I was feeling quietly confident.

A strong stayer up against a couple of more doubtful stayers, I didn’t think he would get beaten.

And then some how, Ballyarthur began to pull away from him - and jumping the last, it was clear that Daklondike was going to be another addition to the list of odds on in-running losers.

Some days, things just won’t go your way…

But then - something weird happened: Daklondike rallied and Ballyarthur began to falter - and for once (and I do mean once !), a TVB tip grasped victory from the jaws of the defeat - rather than the other way round.

What a bizarre feeling !!

I then became hopeful that a day which threatened to deliver so little, might deliver quite a lot !

Theos Charm was the biggest bet of the day - and I was absolutely sure he would run well.

In truth, I wasn’t absolutely sure he would win - and ultimately that’s how it panned out.

He ran a fair race to finish third - but was no match for the winner, The Hollow Ginge (who I didn’t fancy - but the market did !).

Flying Tiger was the final tip to run on what was turning into a bit of a roller coaster of a day - and he ran really well.

The trouble with him, is that he refuses to settle - and even in a 21 runner handicap, run at a strong pace, that was the case.

He was still going strongly turning in - but his earlier exertions then began to tell and after jumping the penultimate hurdle in second place, he faded.

It was a good effort - and I’ve no real complaints.

Maybe he would have benefited from stronger handling, rather than a 7lb claim…

There was just the one Mention on the day - and Flying Angel ran a fair race without looking likely to win.

In truth, nothing bar the winner, ever looked likely to win - which would have been less unusual, if the winner hadn’t been a 9 year old, making his UK debut - and sent off a 70 on BF !

His name was Valtor - but they way he took apart a strong field, looked more like a performance from the late, great Vautour !

All in all, an interesting day..!

TVB