Review of the day

The sheer volume - and the nature - of todays racing, meant it was a slightly odd day.

Despite previewing 14 races, I was only able to find 4 tips - and that reduced to 3, when For There was declared a non runner.

In truth, there were quite a lot of late changes: with the ground at both Leopardstown and Mussleburgh, riding quicker than I expected - something which resulted in a few key non runners at the former track…

One of those was Fakir D’Oudaries.
He was one of the favourites in the race in which I tipped Melon - but he was a late defector due to the ground.

I’m not sure whether the ground was also an issue for Melon - but for whatever reason, he ran a lifeless race.
On form, he should have comfortably beaten Gallent John Joe - but whilst that one ran on into a credible third place, Melon was left struggling behind.

I guess they are not machines - but it was still a disappointing effort.

Le Rocher was the second tip to run - and he did much better.
Though his ended up, a slightly frustrating race !

I narrowed it down to 5 - and they filled the first 5 places.
Unfortunately however, Le Rocher only managed to take the third of those places, with the race won by Diese Aba (who I nominated as the main danger - provided he took to the Sandown course).

Embittered was the final tip to run - and he also ran well, though not quite well enough.
Always in the front half dozen, he just lacked the tactical speed to maintain his potion, when the pace quickened.

He was staying on again, at the end - and ultimately was only beaten 4 lengths into sixth…

It was a bit of a mixed day for the Mentions.
They only had one winner - courtesy of Greaneteen - though I did think he represented their best chance.
The trouble is, he was never available at any bigger than 7/4 - and in a 10 runner handicap, that leaves no margin for error.
He did it well though - and is definitely one to consider for the Grand Annual, at the Cheltenham festival.
Two of the Sandown Mentions, First Flow and Ask Dillon, managed to finish second.
Both ran good races - but weren’t quite up to the task.
The rest of the Mentions didn’t do quite so well, however…
Visions de Flos weakened out of things quite quickly at Sandown. I was expecting better - but his connections weren’t and they were right !
With A Plus Tard withdrawn on the account of the ground, Chacan Pour Soi had Min to beat in the Dublin chase - and he did just that.
It looks as if the Queen Mother champion chase could be the race of the Cheltenham festival.
The 2 remaining Mentions at Leopardstown both ran disappointingly.
Sharjah ran no kind of a race behind Honeysuckle; whilst Snugsborough Benny could never get into it, having been given an exaggerated hold up ride.
Novices/second season novices filled the places in his race - as I half suspected might be the case.
Finally, Bob Mahler led home a 1,2,3 for the good ground lovers at Musselburgh.
The going looked much quicker than I expected - though apparently significant rain arrived just after the race had finished.
That kind of situation, never makes tipping easy !

TVB.