Review of the day

It was nice to bag another winner this afternoon - just to keep things ticking over...

And if you’d asked me this morning, which of the days tips was most likely to collect, then I would certainly have nominated Oldgrangewood.
However, half way through his race, I thought he had absolutely no chance !

Simply, he didn’t look good enough to go with the strong gallop set by O O Seven.
By contrast, Kalashnikov, was just lobbing in behind the leader - looking completely different class to his rivals.

My only hope was that things might change in the home straight - when the effects of the frantic gallop started to kick in - and thankfully that’s precisely what happened.

Kalashnikov took up the running after jumping the third last - but he soon wasn’t going quite so easily - and it looked as if Glen Forsa might have his measure.
Kalashnikov did manage to fend him off - but all the time, Oldgrangewood was closing on the pair of them.

Approaching the last, Harry Skelton had got him into third place - though he was still at least 10 lengths behind the duelling leaders.

Then he switched on his turbo - and started gaining ground hand over fist.
When the line arrived , I thought he was still an inch short - but I was wrong !
Joyous news :)

Kalashnikov comes out of the race with just as much credit - and Glen Forsa, only a little less.
As for San Benedito - don’t be dropping him from that eye catcher list just yet, Chris ;)

Deyrann de Carjac was the next tip to run - and for a while I thought he was going to bring up a notable double.

He’s such a quick jumper of a fence - and has clearly improved massively for the switch from hurdles.

He tracked the front running Black Op (who was done a big favour, when Dashel Drashel fell at the first) - and continually fenced much quicker than Champ.

Tom Cannon pressed the button approaching the second last - and as Deyrann quickened - Champ seemed to hit a flat spot.

That was the moment I thought he had it won - but he slightly misjudged the second last and lost a bit of momentum.

Black Op and Champ are serious horses - and they took the opportunity to battle back - and by the last it was clear Deyrann wasn’t going to win.
He still ran a massive race to finish third - trading at 1.4 in running.

Don’t under-estimate him wherever he next runs - I think Sandown would be the ideal track for him…

Black Buble was the final tip to run - and whilst he was well beaten, I still thought he ran well.

The race wasn’t run to suit - with him sat at the back in a slowly run affair.

As a consequence he was never able to mount a challenge.

He’ll be dropped another pound for the run - and will have to be of great interest again next time…

The days two Mentions both finished second - which is exactly where Mentions are supposed to finish (ie. go close - but not quite win !).

Sully D’Oc AA ran a blinder in the novice handicap chase - but just bumped into one.
I would have been totally gutted if I’d tipped him - because there was no way of knowing how good Fanion D’estruval was.
He was making his UK debut for Venetia - and it turns out he is very good - very good indeed !
He laughed at Sully - who himself had the rest of the field well beaten.
It would have been a tough one to take.

Less tough would have been the defeat of Thistlecrack.
He ran almost exactly the race I expected - pushing Paisley Park close - but ultimately not being quite good enough.
The fire clearly still burns bright - and I could see him running a massive race in the King George (assuming he makes the line up)

TVB.