An
ultra game performance from Wakanda meant that it was another winning day for
the tips…
If
I’m honest, that was a relief, as doubts regarding the state of the ground had left me anything but
confident about todays racing.
For
what it’s worth:
the ground was riding a bit quicker at Haydock than I expected (and a lot
quicker at Tuanton - though I ducked that meeting completely, because of the
uncertainty !), so it was
therefore very surprising to see Daklondike sent off a short priced favourite
for the Tommy Whittle chase - though less of a surprise to see him struggling
from an early stage, and then falling.
As
I said this morning, Wakanda doesn’t have a marked ground preference - but he does have a
rare desire to win.
All
the way up the home straight, at least one of his rivals seemed to be going
better than him.
First
it was Captain Redbeard; then it was Ballyarthur and finally, it was
Robinsfristh.
But
non of them possess Wakandas appetite for a scrap - and one by one he saw them
off, before surging away in the final 50 yards.
It
really was stirring stuff !
I
was cautiously optimistic that Vendor might double up for connections in the
next race on the Haydock card - but alas that wasn’t to be…
He
ran a fair race and was still in with a chance entering the home
straight.
However,
he couldn’t go on
from there and ultimately finished a well beaten fourth.
If
I’m honest, I
think he looks to be in decline - and I my tendency will be to just watch him in
the short term…
My
tendency will also be to just watch Rock on Rocky next time.
He’s run nearly 50 times
over obstacles in his career - and prior to today, had never
fallen.
He walked
through a fence at Warwick last week and was lucky to stand up.
He
walked through the first at Ascot today - and wasn’t so fortunate
!
It
really was a bizarre thing to watch - almost as if he didn’t see the
fence.
Maybe
his eye sight is going in his old age (I’m sure a few of us can relate to that
!).
Muratello
was the only other tip on the day - and he ran really well.
He
was an extremly speculative selection - but when I saw he had been supported in
from 16/1 early to 8/1 at the off, my hopes were raised.
And
sure enough, he ran a very good race: Travelling nicely into the straight and
looking as if he had a real chance jumping the second last.
However,
I suspect his lack of experience caught him out at that point - and the front 2
quickened away from him.
He
did stay on, late in the day and I suspect he will turn out to be a very useful
novice…
As
for the days Mentions:
Then
I guess it could be argued that Global Citizen was one that got away…
He
was probably the strongest of the Mentions - but I just didn’t feel that tipping at
a short price, with the uncertainty over the ground, was a good
idea.
Suffice
to say, he made me pay for that decision - and won well…
Over
at Ascot, both If You Say Run and Culture de Sivola ran disappointingly in the
mares hurdle - though that’s to take nothing away from the winner, Magic of Light,
who looked just as good over hurdles as she has done over
fences.
Better
Getalong was beaten much further by Ballymoy than he had been last time at
Haydock - despite being better off at the weights.
The
winner looked very useful and a step up to graded company probably awaits…
A
step up to graded company is almost guaranteed for
Cyrname, as he put in one of the most impressive performances in a handicap,
that I have seen in quite some time….
He
jumped the first in the lead - and then proceeded to draw further and further
away from his rivals.
Benatar
probably paid the penalty for trying to chase him - and he ultimately finished
well beaten.
The next
time we see Cyrname, it is likely to be in Grade 1 company.
Finally,
Altior recorded his 17th consecutive
win - as expected – but without being at his brilliant best.
That
said, the mark of a true champion is being able to win when things aren’t going too well - and
there can be little doubt that Altior is a true champion.
TVB.
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