Morning folks
Poor! A very, very, very rare losing ‘Festival’!
I traditionally love Aintree but must admit, the Final nail with the idiotic protestors, ruined the 3 day meeting for me, I simply DID NOT enjoy one moment of it!
Something must be done to provide accurate going descriptions. I hate making excuses, a rare bad meeting doesn’t undo 20 years of profit, but you remember the now more than the past. I wasn’t the only pro to struggle either and I am honest and feel this Sport/results more than anyone!
I picked for softer conditions on the Thursday, only to see the likes of The Last Day & Hasankey undone by quicker ground hence the result, a weight carrying stat destroyer by the way! see him reverse form from last year, all because he raced prominent.
Then they watered and the rain came so I had chosen to revert back to better ground performers and they were walking home in some races and the likes of A Different Kind simply had no chance coming from behind. Hurricane Bay is always prominent and the only one not involved from the River Don form, unusually held up on the outside and no chance.
National fence form also is a must usually for the Topham but Gesskille had no chance.
Then yesterday I thought the ground would be soft having watched the final race of Friday but it was NOWHERE near.
Notlongtillmay was taken out due to quicker ground, our very well punted handicap hurdlers in the 2nd, who had strong market confidence/consensus of opinion behind them ran poorly needing more cut. So did the two handicap chasers.
The final bad feeling was FULLY well knowing before the off we had NO chance with our proven soft ground performers and my heart sank when Corach won and Longhouse Poet, who I very strongly fancied, had a soft fall at one of the easier fences on the course. He was in a lovely rhythm and position, travelling smooth and although it was too far out to say for certain, he MUST have gone close. Maybe not have beaten the winner but I am certain as can be had he stood up he would have placed at the very least. Then to save points I missed the winner and the 4th in the lucky last!
Still, that’s racing as they say, this sport tames lions at times, but no excuses as I say, just disappointment in the moment but track record is what I need to hold dear and these things happen!
On we must go and back to the bread and butter of the service but it is Newmarket’s 3 Day Craven meeting this week, commencing Tuesday, and a good weekend ahead. At this early stage of the season, 2 & 3 year old stakes races are not my bag (even at the best of times) so a watching brief will be mostly the order of the day at this stage of the Flat season.
There are a smattering of handicap’s on the 3 day card which I will ALWAYS target and a cautious approach will be taken I feel given first time out seasonal form but I will judge as I go along.
Mail’s will be issued from Monday onwards for the action with an update/any selections for the following day’s racing so I will back Tomorrow re the above.
On we go !