Review of the day

Boy did we need that !

It seems a bit silly really…

As I said this morning, the month has been going really well – but the last couple of days had seen a wobble. Another losing day today, wouldn’t have been great.

And it looked likely – it looked highly likely, approaching the final flight, in the final race at Doncaster.

But Paul Moloney didn’t give in – and Iron Butterfly dug deep into her reserves of stamina and courage and they got up !

Hurray !

That sort of thing rarely happens with TVB tips (as you all know only too well !).

We are normally on the one that gets nailed – or the one that doesn’t quite manage to get up.

But not this afternoon – not in the last race of the day, anyhow !!

Ofcourse, the first tip on the day to run – Western Jo – performed far more as we have come accustomed to TVB tips performing…

He came to challenge at the last, but jumped to his left, losing ground and momentum – and couldn’t recover the deficit.

That was a little irritating…

The other tip in the race, Don’t be Late, also ran a fair race. Which was more than the betting suggested would be the case…

I thought 6/1 was quite generous – so a BSP of 14 suggests that someone knew he was going to get home today.

Expect him to be dropped back half a mile next time out…

The other 2 tips running at Doncaster didn’t cover themselves in glory…

Regal Presence travelled OK to half way in the handicap chase - but was soon under pressure and ultimately finished well beaten.

I could see no obvious excuse for his disappointing run.

It was a similar story with Ballyhooley Boy.

He couldn’t muster enough pace to get close to challenge and was ultimately well beaten (and my suspicions were right, Charlie Poste does ride like a bag of potatoes !).

Over at Limerick, Pencilhimin, the remaining tip of the day, gave us a roller coaster of a ride in the handicap hurdle.

I was concerned when he wouldn’t settle early and his jockey, Robbie McNally almost certainly did the right thing by letting him stride on.

However, that just made him a sitting duck for the opposition.

He saved a bit down the back straight, before kicking on again – but he looked in trouble when Zekarya ranged upside approaching the second last.

However, when that one crumpled on landing it looked as if luck was smiling on us.

But no, hard as he tried, Pencilhimin had already given his all and he was worn down from the last by Carrow Queen.

He probably didn’t deserve to lose – but then again, he probably didn’t deserve to win either !

Elsewhere on a crazy afternoon, Hurricane Fly showed that there was still life in the old dog, by quickening away from the field approaching the last.

Jezki was closing as the line approached – but the Hurricane had enough is reserve to hold him off.

They won’t take his crown away without a fight.

In the Topaz chase, Morning Assembly was mugged after the last, by Carlingford Lough.

I was a little disappointed that he lost – but it shouldn’t be forgotten that he is very young and inexperienced.

Once again he jumped beautifully – and I thought Ruby gave him a very considerate ride…

His jumping will be a major asset at Cheltenham – and I am still more than happy with our position on him…

So there ends a very busy post Christmas period.

We are about level over it (I think !) – so its’ not been a disaster.
That said, it has provided a bit of reality check, following on from the golden period that preceded it.

This game is never easy – no matter how I may make it look at times !

I will almost certainly take the next 2 days off.
There is some fair racing tomorrow - and doubtless it will be similar on Tuesday – but I need a brief dose of ‘real life’ !

I’ll be back on new years day whatever – plus Thursday and Friday – though I’m way at the weekend…

Still, that’s all in the future – let’s bask in the glory of Paul Moloney and the Iron Butterfly, for a day or two first J

TVB.