Review of the day

I don’t think we were done any favours by the rain at Musselburgh this afternoon…

Both of todays tips wanted quick ground – but they simply didn’t get it.

In the circumstances, both ran pretty well.

As expected, Australia Day went from the front and kept on running, even when passed; Saint Thomas travelled very nicely into the race, but then faded up the home straight and ultimately finished well beaten. He will doubtless now be put away until the springtime…

The race was won by favourite, Willows Saviour.

As I mentioned this morning, he had hacked up on Saturday at Ascot – but I felt he was worth taking on over todays very different test.
Well, I was wrong ! In fairness, he probably benefited from the rain – but all the same, he showed a lot of ability to be able to go with Australia Day through the race and then forge on up the stright.

He will doubtless be raised again, but I wouldn’t be rushing to oppose him next time out (wherever that might be).

A bit like the tips, the late rain probably did for Monetary Fund.

He ran a game race, but was just held by Artic Court and Capellanus close him.

As I said this morning, he wasn’t particularly well handicapped, so although I did expect to see him well backed, even I was a little surprised to see him touch 6/4 at one point…

Interestingly, he was actually quite weak close to the off (presumably as the fears over the ground were factored into the price) and his SP was almost 11/4 on BF.

This was in sharp contract to Willows Saviour in the previous race.

He was relatively weak in the morning (drifting out beyond 3/1) – but was hammered in the betting near the off and started a very tight 11/8 shot.

The market moves in the 10 minutes before a race begins tend to be frighteningly prophetic…

Elsewhere, there was no joy for the mentions…

Samson Collonges was well backed late on (5/1 into 10/3) – but ran as if he was very much in need of the race.

He might be worth watching again as someone clearly felt he had a big run in him.

In the finale at Hexham, Terry Tibbs ran a fair bit better than he had at Bangor.

Briefly down the back straight second time around, it looked as if he was going to be involved in the finish. But then his stamina gave out and he was eventually pulled up.

I think I will let him run unmentioned, next time…

Another one that will not be mentioned next time, is Torrington Deal…

He raced a little more prominently today – but never threatened to get involved.

He looked like he needs more time – a lot more time…!

Just a quick word on the tipping window, which will be opening up this evening between 5:00 and 6:00…

There is a lot of rain about, which is threatening to play havoc with the ground (as it did this afternoon).

If I have significant doubts about whether any of the horses I fancy can handle the likely going, I won’t be issuing any tips until the morning…

I’ll advise either way, at some point during the window.

TVB.