/ Geoffrey Riddle / 20 February 2010 /

Geoffrey Riddle reports live from Ascot racecourse with all the latest news, gossip and betting insights on a busy afternoon of racing. Email him your thoughts at: theriddleratbetfair@gmail.com

5.25pm
Day Of A Lifetime goes off at 2-5 in the 5.15pm at Fairyhouse and wins like a good thing. Thanks Mr Paddy Power man. I'm on at 16s for the Bumper. Now I just need trainer Willie Mullins to choose him as his main bumper challenger for Cheltenham and I'm home and hosed. Good night all.

4.55pm result:
1: Sprinter Sacre
2: King Of The Night
3: Sweet Irony
I think my pulse actually started to race there. Barry Geraghty and Ruby Walsh entered the final two furlongs on Sprinter Sacre and King Of The Knight respectively. The in-running players naturally favoured Geraghty's mount, as Sprinter Sacre went off the odds-on favourite. He was travelling superbly, but I couldn't help thinking that at [1.3], he was poor value.

I laid Geraghty's mount as soon as the Irishman started to get busy on his horse inside the final furlong, and on the line my initial thoughts were that I had copped. But Nicky Henderson had already won three races on today's card for a reason and the momentum generated proved the difference. Thrilling stuff.

4.40pm
Nicky Henderson's Sprinter Sacre was attracting support for the lucky last before racing this afternoon, but after a treble on the card, the backers have come in with a flood of money for his bumper horse. Sprinter Sacre was matched at [2.96], and went to odds-on, but no hovers at around the [2.08] mark.

4.20pm result:
1: Panjo Bere
2: I'msingingtheblues
It pays to be patient in this game. The layers were struggling at the outset after two favourites scooted home, but they have roared back later this afternoon.

I'msingingtheblues edged his noseband ahead after the final flight, but jockey Joshua Moore had a trick up his sleeve for Ruby Walsh and battled all the way to the line to grab the spoils. I'msingingtheblues was matched for over £5k on Betfair in-running and almost £20k at under [1.1]. The layers are in the pink.

4.18pm
Inevitably, Jonathan has been crowing on the e-mail. "What price is Dunguib now, eh?", he taunts.

It's a good question Jonathan. The eclipsing of Menorah has made things a lot easier for Dunguib in the Supreme Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham. The high street layers haven't cut the Irish machine by much though, and you can still get [1.84] about the Supreme favourite on Betfair.

Phillip Hobbs didn't seem too disappointed about the defeat of his stable star. He attributed Menorah's loss to the slow pace, and will still aim his five-year-old for the first cae of the Festival.

4.10pm
The smooth-talking Michael Buckley was rather smug in the winners' enclosure afterwards. And Buckley has every reason to be so happy right now because he owns Lush Life and Finians Rainbow, two excellent hurdlers and winners this afternoon.

"Life is absolutely wonderful isn't it?" said Buckley just now. "I've got two nice young horses haven't I?".

Although there are prices flying around about Lush Life for the Neptune Investments at the Festival, they are bogus, because the winner of the 3.45pm here is unlikely to go to Cheltenham.

Buckley explained: "Lush Life has always had bags of ability. He didn't jump in his first race, and Nicky [Henderson] has given him lots of time. He's not entered in the Supreme Novices. He's a chaser in the making and as I've got Finians Rainbow, and some juicy antepost vouchers for the Neptune Investments, he's not going to go to Cheltenham."

When pressed to elaborate on what a 'juicy price' about Finians Rainbow actually meant, Buckley was gracious enough to let on. He said: "He ran in a bumper at the end of March, and just before that I got him at 66-1 for the Neptune. I think he's about 8-1 now."

3.45pm result:
1: Lush Life
2: Menorah
3: Prince Buster
Not a great day for the Phillips Hobbs stable is it? Planet Of Sound crashed out in the Grade Ascot Chase, and then hotpot Menorah gets turned over. The layers must be delirious. There was just over £8k matched on the favourite at [1.04], and in one fell swoop, some of them must have got all their readies back.

As Prince Buster and Menorah came into the straight it looked all the world that the jolly would fight off the challenge of Alan King's gelding. And he did, but as he jumped the last, Ruby Walsh loomed large on the run in and fought bravely in the final furlong to win well.

Nicky Henderson wasn't expecting such a good run, and seemed surprised in the winners' enclosure afterwards. "I always thought that Lush Life was a good horse," said the winning trainer. "He needed to learn to jump and I thought we were teaching two babies a lesson with Menorah in the field, but the penny dropped and he won well."

3.40pm
Another grey scoots home in the Blue Square Gold Cup Chase up at Haydock. Silver By Nature wins with any amount in hand. These greys, eh? Beautiful stuff.

Can anything stop Menorah here at [1.51]? The layers are on their knees at the moment, having seen the two odds-on shots oblige. There was a ray of hope for the layers after Planet Of Sound crashed out in the last race, because it looked like Richard Johnson had hurt himself. But in the paddock now Johnson strode out purposefully and heroically to take the reins.

3.15pm result:
1: Monet's Garden
2: Albertas Run
3: The Sawyer
There is no better sight in jump racing than a dashing grey leaping over the last in splendid isolation. They just look different class. Monet's Garden jumped superbly, and there were several occasions over the last few obstacles when Nicky Richards' grey out-jumped Albertas Run, giving him valuable momentum. The speed with which the 12-year-old took his fences completely put paid to Hercomesthetruth's efforts, too.

We never got to see if Planet Of Sound would have stayed this trip, because he plunged out early on. That is the second time in as many runnings he has made a horrific blunder, and his trainer Phillip Hobbs needs to go back to the drawing board because the eight-year-old is an extremely talented chaser over the right trip.

3pm:
Planet Of Sound vies for favouritism with Herecomesthetruth on Betfair at [3.35] for the Ascot Chase, up next. Part owner of the latter, Paul Barber cannot understand why his horse isn't the market leader. The part-owner of Denman revealed: "It surprises me that Planet Of Sound is favourite, because our guy is in good form and we are ready to run."

I'm on Albertas Run. He's going to gallop them all into the ground.

2.45pm result:
1: Beshabar
2: Tender Falcon
3: Consigliere
4:Chief Yeoman
Layers are on their knees after the third favourite in succession trots in. Beshabar was in the lead a long way, but since this track was re-laid, it has been pretty kind to prominent races. Just looking at him, the winner is a giant of a horse, and it is easy to see why the Nicholls stable reckon he is a chaser in the making. Tender Falcon ran a blinder and rewarded place backers at prices upwards of [6.0].

2.45pm
The prices for Finians Rainbow for the Neptune Investment Management Hurdle (yep, the 2m4 1/2f Novice hurdle, that's the one) at Cheltenham are laughable. Nicky Henderson's favourite won the opener with any amount in hand, but he was the 4-11 jolly! One high street layer cut Finians Rainbow from 10-1 into 7-1. It's ludicrous.

In other news, Burton Port is unlikely to go to the Festival. Henderson nominated Aintree as the destination for the Reynoldstown winner, which was a decision that jockey Barry Geraghty agreed with.

Geraghty admitted Burton Point wasn't the flashiest of winners, but attributed his laboured success over Knockara Beau to being stale.

"It was probably a little soon after his Southwell win," admitted Geraghty. "He probably didn't have the same enthusiasm and zip as last time, but he won well. I was happy enough at all times that I had enough horse. Aintree would suit him real good. He'd be better off going to Aintree as he'll be fresh then."

2.35pm
Jonathan seems to be the only person on the e-mail today. He writes: "Zabeel Palace beat Oldrik last time out and that horse went on to finish fifth on the Totesport Trophy last weekend, a race that was run in a really fast time. He's got to have a massive chance. I've backed him at [8.2]."

I would agree, Jonathan, but if you look at the form through Harry Tricker, there isn't much between El Dancer and Zabeel Palace. El Dancer's weight carrying performance in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham was admirable, finishing sixth and giving weight to all who finished ahead of him bar Medermit. He might not be handicapped the best, nor have the required stamina to win this, but at [5.5] I'd prefer to back El Dancer for a place.

2.30pm
Beshabar was very well backed when taking Erzen to the cleaners earlier this month at Sandown. It is hard to get a real handle on the form, mainly because nothing has come out of the race yet. Beshabar posted a monster Racing Post Ratings figure in that race though, and one that would have been good enough to win this race during the last six years.

The Paul Nicholls-trained favourite has been well backed again today. The eight-year-old was matched for decent money at [4.91] an over, and now trades at [4.4]. When you see that he is owned by Harry Findlay's mum, it all makes sense.

2.15pm result:
1: Burton Port
2: Knockara Beau
Burton Port puts in a fluid success in the Reynoldstown, but it wasn't all plain sailing. He took an age to get past Diablo, especially on the bend into the home straight. In-running layers sensed blood then, and Nicky Henderson's charge drifted right out to [3.0], at which £243 was matched. But Barry Geraghty got his mount into a good rhythm in the straight and once the pair popped the last there was only one winner. Round two to the favourite backers.

2.12pm
I don't quite understand racehorse trainers. Human athletes always try to recreate the conditions that they will face in their chosen contest. For instance, you wouldn't get a 400m runner training over 100m, would you? So why do trainers always run their animals at home over lesser distances than the actual races that they run in?

That aside, Phillip Hobbs hasn't changed the training regime of Planet Of Sound, who bids to win the Betfair Chase this afternoon over three furlongs further than he has been previously successful. I collared Hobbs as he was leaving the paddock, and asked him about his charge's regime.

"I haven't changed how I train him at all," said Hobbs, sporting a nice chapeau. "You just keep them fit. He ran on well in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter in November, and he ran alright here last time over two miles and three furlongs, so you would hope he would stay today's trip."

It's not the most convincing case Phillip. He then went on to discuss Menorah's chances in the 3.45pm.

"Menorah's agility and athleticism are his main attributes," continued Hobbs. "He's got to get through his assignment here today first though. They have just changed the going here [Gd To Sft, Sft in places], so at least things are easier for us."

2.05pm
As far as size is concerned, Knockara Beau and Petitfour make the favourite, Burton Port, look small. Petitfour looked a dodgy jumping proposition on his chasing debut at Cheltenham, and unseated Paddy Brennan at Newbury on the first day of the Hennessy meeting. But both races were run in very slow times and the crawl may have something to do with Petitfour's jumping errors. Ever tried to ride a bike slowly? Try it, it's a lot harder.

Burton Port is by far the shortest of these for the RSA Chase, and on paper, is the best of these. I wasn't convinced there was a 63% (4-7) chance he could take this race, but he's out to [1.77] now which almost tempts me in.

Favourites have an astonishingly good record in the Reynoldstown though. The first or second favourite has won this Grade 1 in eight of the last ten. It also pays to come here in good form, as nine of the last ten won this on the back of a victory. Both point to Burton Port.

1.40pm
1: Finians Rainbow
2: Arkose
3: Spirit Of Adjisa
Distances: 3, 4 ½
Finians Rainbow cruises to the line, making a mockery of this race as a contest. Arkose was hard pushed by Leighton Aspell, but he was simply brushed aside by the Nicky Henderson inmate.

Finians Rainbow was apparently bogged down in the heavy going when finishing third in the Challow Hurdle last time out, but the going was eased just before the off here. It is now Good To Soft, Soft in places. I think that brings in Albertas Run in the Betfair Chase later on.

1.20pm
At current prices, the three odds-on shots on the Ascot card, Finians Rainbow, Burton Port and Menorah are trading at [2.86] for the treble. Finians Rainbow is [1.4] from [1.6], although Burton Port is on the drift, having been slammed early this morning.

But the one that the layers are really looking to get beaten is Menorah. His profile on Betfair's Market Information goes up from left to right, indicating there is serious opposition to the Hobbs hotpot. Perhaps it is Jonathan from earlier...

1.10pm
It is fair to say that Willie Mullins's horses are a standing dish in the Champion Bumper at the Festival. At the last nine festivals, he's had three winners: Cousin Vinny in 2008, Missed That in 2005 and Joe Cullen in 2000.

He's had a fair few shots at it though, as the finishing positions below indicate.
The reason for all of this is that Tony Coleman, the Paddy Power man, has just tipped me off that Mullins has got a bumper horse that has been heavily backed. Day Of A Lifetime was cut from 25 into 12s by the Irish firm, and the five-year-old has been heavily backed this afternoon to win the 5.15pm at Fairyhouse.

There's not a lot of liquidity in the race as yet on Betfair, but almost 90% of the trade has been focussed on the Muine Beag inmate. He was first matched at [2.2], and now trades at an astonishing [1.5]. You can get [16.0] about Day Of A Lifetime in Betfair's antepost market right now.
Willie Mullins's record in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham:
2009: 4, 5,7, 11, 15, 16, 22, 24
2008: 1, 5, 6, 20
2007: 4, 7, 8
2006: 12, 13, 16, 20
2005: 1
2004: 6, 12, 13, 16, RO
2003: 8, 10, 16, 23,
2002: PU
2000 1, 3, 4, 9

12.50pm
Also the non-runners are:
1.40pm Llama Farmer
2.45pm Lough Derg
3.45pm Born Again

The first two are still in the betting on Betfair, but Born Again has been taken out.

12.40pm
Other jockey changes are:
1.40pm:
Wham Bang: Warren Marston for David England
2.45pm:
Mutual Friend: Gerry Supple for Jimmy McCarthy
Ashkazar: Hadden Frost for Gerry Supple
Consigliere: Johnny Farrelly for Hadden Frost

It's interesting that Ashkazar now gets 3lbs taken off his back, because he was looking a lot more in love with the game last time at Sandown when sixth behind Beshabar.

12.30pm
Prepare for a huge jockey merry-go-round. Sam Thomas was supposed to go to Wincanton this afternoon, but because the Kingwell card was called off this morning, Thomas is on his way here. His agent is obviously calling around the yards, because Thomas has already picked up the ride on Russian Flag in the 4.20pm.

Russian Flag has gone up 4lbs for his Sandown win, and Alex Merriam (5), who has ridden the horse 15 times, has been jocked off in favour if Thomas. And everyone feels sorry for Thomas because of the whole Denman thing....

11.55am
Sticking with the Ascot Chase, Little Josh and Lorient Express like to force the pace. So does Herecomesthetruth, which I thought might scupper the chances of the Paul Nicholls eight-year-old. It's probably his only weakness. And yet, if you scour Nicholls's column in the Racing Post, he suggests that Ruby is likely to employ different tactics this time around. If you don't like laying perhaps a little in-running play on Hercomethetruth, if Ruby settles him in midfield, could be a viable option for you?

11.45am
I have grave misgivings on the rare occasion that I oppose Graham Cunningham. The man is one of the best judges of jump racing around. I know this for a fact. I once saw his Sporting Index account when I worked there. Unprofessional, yes. Informative, also yes. But bettors sometimes get it wrong and I truly believe that his stance on Planet Of Sound for the 3.15pm is wrong. I can't have it for toffee. Or even a stick of chewing gum. Or anything in fact.

When Monet's Garden won this Grade 1 contest in 2007, the race was run over 2m3f. Nicky Richard's dashing grey lost the race the following year for two reasons. Firstly, the outstanding chaser of our generation, Kauto Star was in the field, and secondly, the race was upped in distance by two and a half furlongs to 2m5f110y. It's a significant increase, and one which looks to have changed the nature of this race. Last year, King George VI Chase third, Voy Por Ustedes won this, and to underline that you need stamina for this contest, Alan King's popular chaser hasn't won over the minimum distance since 2007. This now a stayers race, which means I'm laying the hell out of Planet Of Sound.

Read the comments about him when he contested the 2m4f Novices Chase at Aintree in April. He blundered the last looking very tired that day.
https://www.racingpost.com/horses/result_home.sd?race_id=477253&r_date=2009-04-02&popup=yes

He also struggled here last time when Albertas Run upped the pace at the seventh, when taking the lead off Monet's Garden. It's no surprise that when things got a little hot, Planet Of Sound clattered the ninth. I think [3.25] is a fair level to be getting involved at, with Albertas Run, Monet's Garden and Herecomesthetruth all holding serious chances.

11.35am
"'A horse which all the world reckons can serve it up to Dunguib at Cheltenham.' Are you mad?", writes in Jonathan. "Dunguib is bombproof. Did you see him last time? He's the banker of the Festival."

Well that's a pretty trenchant view so early on a Saturday. But Graham Cunningham, Betting.betfair's ace tipster reckons Menorah is pretty hot stuff. So do Ladbrokes, who believe that they can get Dunguib beaten. And wait until 3.45pm this afternoon Jonathan before firmly making up your mind about the Cheltenham curtain-raiser.

11.25am
Good morning everyone and welcome to the Betfair Ascot Chase day from a glittering Berkshire. The sun is out, but the covers that protected the track last night from the frost threat are still covering the final furlong, which is in the shade of the mammoth Grandstand.

Layers have had a wonderful time of it recently, what with the high-profile defeats at odds-on of Zaynar and Denman, and the layers have three bites of the cherry this afternoon. In the 1.40pm, Nicky Henderson unleashes Finians Rainbow, second-favourite for the 2m5f race at Cheltenham, and Burton Port in the Grade 1 Reynoldstown at 2.15pm. And then there is Menorah, the much-hyped second-favourite for the Supreme Novices, and a horse which all the world reckons can serve it up to Dunguib at Cheltenham.

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