Review of the day

Today ended up a very frustrating day: as I felt I got a lot right - but ultimately, was left with nothing to show for it…

To an extent, things weren’t helped by the rain which arrived during the afternoon.
It turned the ground to soft - and also affected both the shape of some of the fields and the way some of the races were run.

The softening of the ground certainly did Christopher Wood no favours.
He was the first tip to run - and would definitely have preferred quicker conditions.

Despite that, he still ran a good race to finish third - but was no match for either Pentland Hills or Fakir D’oudaries (the latter being greatly helped by the rain).

Next it was Bristol de Mai and Balko des Flo - and they also ran well.
However, they really bumped into one in the shape of Kemboy - who simply blew the race apart !

As an unexposed horse, I guess that was always possible - but I honestly didn’t think he had that kind of performance in him.
In fairness, he was the only member of the field who hadn’t been involved in a tough race at Cheltenham - so maybe that proved decisive.

Whatever, he never looked like losing - which was a shame, as Balko des Flo ran a massive race for an unconsidered 33/1 shot - and was a touch unlucky not to at least claim the runner up spot (he ploughed through the last - and was over taken just before the line).

I also put up 2 in the Foxhunters, in the shape of Sir Jack Yeates and Greensalt - and again, they both ran really well.
In fact, they were 2 of 6, still in with a chance jumping the final fence.
However, both ran out of steam on the run in (probably not helped by the soft ground).

That was a real shame - particularly for Greensalt, who I’d put up EW - and who looked sure to at least place, when he mounted his challenge approaching the last…
With Diego du Charmil taken out on account of the ground, we were left with just R’evelyn Pleasure in the Red Rum.
He ran poorly and was never sighted - but the frustration with him, was that he was closely tied on form, to Moon over Germany - the comfortable race winner !

In fact, I only opted for R’evelyn Pleasure because he was twice the price of Moon over Germany, this morning - I guess that can happen when you are a ‘value bettor’ !

The other frustration was that Lady Buttons, who finished second, was comfortably held on form by Diego du Charmil - suggesting that one would have gone very close if he had been able to run.

As least it all suggested I was in the right ball park !

As for the Mentions:

Then, in the circumstances, it was no big surprise to see Kalashnikov get the better of La Bague au Roi, in the opener !
The softer ground probably helped him - and Dickie Johnson maybe didn’t get his fractions quite right on the mare - they are fine lines.

It also wasn’t a great surprise to see Buveur D’air beaten in the feature hurdle race - and by another horse who I’d tipped at Cheltenham !
It would have been hard to support Supasundae again after his disappointing run last time - and I suspect a bit of luck helped him get home in front today (with the leader, Melon, falling at the third last - and hampering Buveur D'air).

Finally, the closing bumper was won by the Glancing Queen, who stayed on well to beat Minella Melody.
Farne ran a great race to finish fourth - but that wouldn’t have been much good, even if I had tipped her each way !

Maybe the ‘luck’ imbalance will even itself out tomorrow…

TVB.