Events / Geoffrey Riddle / 27 November 2009 /

Geoffrey Riddle is at Newbury to witness Punchestowns' chase debut on day two of the Winter Festival. Email him your queries, or share your insights and tips on: theriddleratbetfair@gmail.com

4.05pm
I've set up a price watch for you all as a comparison. Below are the prices to back of the principal runners in tomorrow's Hennessy Gold Cup. We can reference this tomorrow morning to see what has been supported through the night.

Hennessy Gold Cup prices at 4.05pm:
Denman [5.1]
Barbers Shop [7.0]
What A Friend [9.6]
Killyglen [9.4]
Cappa Bleu [10.0]
Ballyfitz [19.5]
State Of Play [21.0]
Gone To Lunch [20.0]
Nenuphar Collonges [24.0]
Snowy Morning [22.0]

Well team. That's it for today. If it wasn't for the plodding determination of Gaelic Flight, I'd be right in the mire. Let's hope we can all do better tomorrow for Hennessy day. All the helicopters have just buzzed off and there's only an hour's more work in the week for you guys. First race tomorrow is at 12.25pm. See you at 11am. Good night.

3.45pm result:
1: Bellvano
2: Prince Buster
3: Tocca Ferro
A total demolition job. Nicky Henderson crowns another famous day at Newbury with a deeply impressive display by Bellvano. Tony McCoy wasn't taking any prisoners, either, and he pushed out the five-year-old to win by ten lengths.

Henry King was making a challenge when he fell spectacularly, but although he was down for a very long time, he got back up again and trotted gingerly back to the stables.

Black Jack Blues traded at as low as [5.5], but simply ran out of steam.

3.40pm
Karl Suntay, long-time chief of Sporting Index's trading floor is here, already larging it up in the Mahiki marquee. He's squandering his massive winnings on Lie Forrit. He had a "pretty large investment" in the gusty little five-year-old. I dread to think what that means. One of his coterie had £12,000, and £1,000 at a 'guaranteed best-price with one accommodating layer." Different world isn't it?

Anyway, Suntay is 'smashing into' the Victor Dartnall runner in the lucky last. Henry King has duelled with Pepe Simo on two occasions, winning once and finishing second at Wincanton last time out. Pepe Simo has gone on to win two races since, and Dartnall has an excellent record around this track. From 20 runners in the last five years he boasts five winners.

Nicky Henderson saddles Bellvano, but he wasn't giving anything away in the paddock after Punchestowns win. For the record, his record in this race in the last decade is not the best. From ten runners, he has sent out six bridesmaids, and only one winner. It's good for place backers, but not so good for those who want to support the heavily-backed favourite at odds-on.

Have a look at Black Jack Blues ' form. He finished ahead of Wolf Moon on his debut, and that horse subsequently went on to win one of the big handicap hurdles at the Paddy Power meeting earlier this month, beating Balthazar King, who in turn ran so well here earlier this afternoon. He races prominently and at [23.0], he looks massive.

Seamus Durack rides Extreme Conviction, by the way as Paul Maloney is still at home with his wife.

3.15pm result:
1: Consigliere
2: Mam Ratagan
3: Gaelic Flight
Consigliere pinged the last and really attacked his fences under jockey Tom Scudamore. He looked a far more polished horse than when he finished third at Cheltenham a fortnight ago and won well. Gaelic Flight plugged on for third to give me a decent place payout, but I think it is fair to say that Nicky Henderson puts me away with Afsoun didn't he? Afsoun hit the deck pretty quickly. I'm sure a lot of you out there are sniggering. With a danger of putting the rest of you away as well, before anyone has an ante-post punt on Punchestowns for the Royal and SunAlliance Chase at the Festival consider the words of Henderson. "I wouldn't be in a rush to race him over three miles," said Lambourn maestro after Punchestowns had galloped away with the 2.40pm. "Although we entered him for the three miler here yesterday, we were never going to run him in it," he continued. "He's not a slogger. I'm not saying that he won't get three miles. As far as where he is going to go next there is the Feltham at Kempton on Boxing Day, but I'm also looking at the 2m5f race at Cheltenham in the new year."

Henderson won the Feltham with Trabolgan, so it is a path that he has trod before. If Punchestowns was a guaranteed stayer, surely he would go straight to Kempton?

2.40pm result:
1: Punchestowns
2: Martys Mission
Punchestowns was heavily backed before the off, so as far as value is concerned, the [1.29] ten minutes before the race started was strictly value. It was the easiest of wins.
Winning trainer Nicky Henderson told the press throng that Afsoun was in sparkling form at home. "I've been really, really pleased with him at home," said Henderson, sporting a wonderful mustard jumper. "He's very well, but the handicapper has been very harsh with him. He's had just two chase starts, and suddenly he's giving weight away on 11st 12lbs."

Henderson was also keen on Pepsyrock's chances. "He did really well last season, and he he got better and better. I think he's got a bit more to offer."

2.30pm
Winning trainer Willie Amos looks really tired. He also looks like he wants to sell you a used Datsun. Doesn't he know it's gentleman's day today? There's a prize for the best-dressed man. He's not in the running. He's probably not even in the running to give out the prize. Still, he's a wonderful trainer.

I quite enjoy betting at odds-on on sport. It often presents value, because a lot of people fear it and layers want to tempt you in. In racing though, I'm one of those who fear it, because it's very difficult to get a real grasp of what the price should be. What price should Punchestowns be for this novice chase? Nicky Henderson's top class hurdler is trading at [1.29] to beat three rivals having never jumped a fence in public. If it was a Flat race, I'd be straight in there, but we have no idea how good a jumper Punchestowns is. I can't do it. Not at [1.29]. Good luck backers. Good luck layers. In the words of Peter Jones, when poaching Paphitis and minging Meaden inevitably club together, "I'm out."

2.05pm result:
1: Lie Forrit
2: Mith Hill
3: Stripe Me Blue
4: Balthazar King
Easy peasy lemon squeezy. Lie Forrit overcame a stray horse, but once he had accounted for Mith Hill in the straight, there was no stopping him. He now qualifies for the Pertemps Final at the Festival and must go there with a real shout. Favourite backers are having a field day here.

How good is jumps racing, eh? I just ate an entire steak and kidney pie during that race. I don't mean one in a metal holder, either. It was on a plate with a knife and fork and everything. And to think, those pesky Australians are thinking of banning national hunt racing. Unbelievable. You can't get a more civilised past-time.

1.55pm
I think there are very few in this Pertemps Handicap hurdle qualifier. Lie Forrit looks rock solid. He will like the going, the trip, and his gutsy win at Cheltenham last time means he will be giving his all to win for you. I like that. You can't really fault a horse if he is giving it his all, can you? Is [1.73] value for a place finish though? Lie Forrit was 9-2 in a place last night with the regular bookies, so you've missed the price.

With the ground drying out every minute Attorney General wouldn't be the worst bet in the world. "That second to Lord Ragnar at Cheltenham was an excellent effort," writes Jeremy from a trading estate outside London. "I wouldn't be worried by the fact that he has shown all his best form at Chelteneham. I think that is a left-handed thing. His record going left-handed is 3/5/19. Going the other way it is 0/0/4."

Very Cool has raced three times around Newbury and has won twice and was placed the other time. David Pipe's seven-year-old has been chasing recently, but showed decent form as a hurdler. He generally made all, or at least raced prominently, so could well trade a hell of a lot shorter than his current price of [30.0] indicates.

1.30pm result:
1: Rivaliste
2: Ikorodu Road
3: Bob's Dream
The Paul Nicholls-Ruby Walsh axis takes the second race on the card. The French gelding wasn't anywhere near foot perfect, crashing through one in the straight and clouting another, but Rivaliste won pretty easily in the end, pursued by Ikorodu Road, Bob's Dream and Silmi all the way to the line.

There was serious money both for the favourite and for Silmi just before the off. The favourite eventually went off at [2.6], while Silmi went right down to [12.0]. I see Rivaliste is owned by Jim Lewis, of Best Mate fame. I don't think this one will ever be anywhere near the class of the three-times Gold Cup winner, and thank the gods, too. Remember the sickening sight of Lewis singing that dreadful Best Mate song? I don't think I could handle a Rivaliste song. What would Lewis put the words to? The Marseillaise?

1.25pm
There's been a jockey change on Silmi. Paul Moloney is holed up at home with his wife and Charlie Poste takes the ride. Is that a good thing? The late money is flooding in for the Rivaliste. He's 13-8 on course. He's [2.8] on Betfair.

Bob's Dream was the best turned out in the paddock, if you taske stock of such things. He did look extremely fearsome. Again, is that a good thing?

1.15pm
Paul Nicholls also has a strong hand in the next race. He has had three runners in this contest in the last decade with two winners and a place. Rivaliste, formerly with Guillaume Macaire, is his representative this time round. The four-year-old made all at Compeigne to win his first chase start, and the placed horses have come out and franked that form. It's difficult to know what to make of that run, and surely Rivaliste's price of [2.94] has a lot to do with his connections.

I like the look of Bob's Dream, though. He's got pretty much everything going for him. He likes the ground, the trip, and jumps well. Silmi is another who looks to have a lot in his favour, although his run last time out at Market Rasen in July was a shocker. Still, at [20.0], there could be significant mileage in backing the gelding as a back-to-lay proposition as he's a presser, and should race prominently.

1pm result:
1: Royal Mix
2: Me Voici
3: Prince Pippin
The sun comes out and favourite backers are in clover from the off. Royal Mix, trained by Paul Nicholls, was bustled along by Prince Pippin for most of the way. Two furlongs out, however, it was Daryl Jacob and Me Voici that became the main challangers. Many in-running traders thought it was curtains for the favourite, and Royal Mix went out to odds-against ([2.2]) before the final flight. Ruby Walsh got serious though, and finished around three lengths to the good.

12.25pm
The helicopters begin to arrive. The Mahiki girls with their bottle blond hair, shiny white teeth and Ugg boots also begin to stroll in the front gates, pursued by hordes of older men determined to crack their one-liners.

The Mahiki experiment has fallen at the first hurdle. A man wearing a Hawaiian shirt was handing out flyers when I walked in earlier. Having looked at it, they boast that Luke Harvey and a certain 'John Francombe' would be giving tips out this afternoon at 12.30pm. I'm not sure the former seven-time champion jockey has taken kindly to having his name spelt incorrectly. A minute ago I got a press release telling me what was going on during the course of the day. "Luke Harvey, racing personality and tipster, will be reviewing the day's racing and providing tips in the Mahiki marquee."

Where's Francome gone? He only lives down the road....

12.20pm
Staying with the 3.15pm, does anyone else out there reckon that Gaelic Flight looks over-priced for a place? Ok, at 11 he's not getting any better, but he won't have to if he can reproduce his admirable run when splitting Poquelin and Hold Em at Cheltenham in October.

Those two horses followed up by finishing second and third in the Paddy Power Gold Cup two weeks ago, giving the form a rock-solid look to it. Gaelic Flight has gone up 4lbs for the pleasure, and may not quite appreciate the short, sharp 2m1f trip, but at almost 7-1 for a place, I'm willing to find out.

12.15pm
Afsoun, who opposes Song of Songs, has not been the most fluent of jumpers in his short chasing career. On past evidence, he could easily struggle over Newbury's fences. That said, after just two starts over the bigger obstacles, he is open to a hell of a lot of improvement. Nicky Henderson has announced to all that Afsoun has pleased him in his schooling and that going left-handed will be right up his street. Afsoun's two chasing starts registered a fall, and a win. The win was over Oh Crick at Warwick, which at the time was considered a negative for his Arkle prospects - bookmakers eased him for that Cheltenham race at the time. But Oh Crick went on to win the Grand Annual, which isn't to be sniffed at.

12.05pm
Matt Williams of the Racing Post has tipped up Song of Songs, the James Fanshawe chase in the 3.15pm. The mount of Tony McCoy has been smashed into on Betfair. The seven-year-old was matched at [14.0] for a few quid, but now trades at almost half that having attracted a quarter of all the race trade. I am huge fan of the Scouser tipster, but this would be one I just can't follow.

Song of Songs looked right out of it at Cheltenham a fortnight ago. He is 13lbs higher than when beating Deep Purple impressively at Sandown last season and could finish only seventh at Prestbury Park behind Consigliere, who finished third, and French Opera, the winner. He fell at Aintree in between those two runs after making several mistakes, and the fences here are unforgiving. He also seems to have trouble going left-handed, having raced five times that way around, and has only once placing to show for it. I can't have it for toffee. Or for anything more than that, either.

11.45am
Good morning folks, and welcome to day two of the Newbury Winter Festival blog. There's nothing more boring in life than someone relating their tedious travel stories, so I won't go there. sorry I'm late. Needless to say, I hate South West Trains. Or whoever runs the Paddington to Reading to Newbury line. Bring back British Rail. At least you knew who was responsible.

Newbury is overcast, so compared to yesterday's sunny brilliance my mood is reflected in the weather. There is a cross headwind blowing up the track towards the stands, which would have dried out the ground somewhat if there hadn't been a smattering of rain. The going remains Soft, Good to Soft in places on the hurdles course and Good to Soft, Soft in places on the chase course.

The big news from here so far is that the Triumph Hurdle favourite, Mille Chief is out of the first race of the day, the Juvenile Novices' Hurdle (1pm). There are few other non-runners. Like A Duke (1.30pm), six Day War (2.05pm), Runningupthathill and Eastern Paramour (3.45pm).

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