We have kicked off December in a very cautious mode, making sure we are all keeping in profit. We are still hitting a 33% strike rate, which is more than exceptable. Without the three seconds we would be enjoying a greater profitability and return on investment.
We have a big weekend looming where I shall be attending Cheltenham as I have a real nice bet lined up.
I have put my order in for Andy Bell’s book as it should be a great read and an excellent doorstop. He has certainly had a life that many would enjoy and many envy. I can tell you it is a great life on the road visiting all the courses but I can personally confirm it’s not all enjoyment, there is an awful lot of hard work and sometimes all the travelling is soul destroying.
I would like to thank all my new December signups as I know this is a very difficult time of year and I shall try my utmost to make it pay for all of us.
Do not lose faith with Birch Hill who was pulled up 3 out at Huntingdon on Sunday after being heavily backed in the morning by the right faces, he is held in very high regard at Seven Barrows where he jumps a lot better than he showed here.
Jamie Osborne’s 2yo Little was a nice winner for us on Monday (9/4) at Lingfield only small filly but as game as a pebble she could well turn out again quickly in a small race.
Johns Spirit has been backed this week (7/1 from 9/1) for the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup (Handicap) a big run looks on the card’s.
The Godolphin trained Portamento was the easy winner in record time of the £20 Risk-Free Bet At Unibet Conditions Stakes (6.45pm) over five furlongs on Tapeta at Wolverhampton last Saturday and is now a Fast-Track Qualifier for the new Three-Year-Old Sprint category on All-Weather Championships Finals Day.
The winner, owned by Godolphin, trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden by Adam Kirby, now heads for the £150,000 Unibet All-Weather Championships Three-Year-Old Sprint Final over the same distance at Lingfield Park on Good Friday, April 3, 2015.
Appleby commented: “I was delighted with Portamento’s performance.”
“We were very confident beforehand and he won like he should have done on form.”
“I have been pleased with the way he has been training. He has progressed and done well physically.”
“He is going to have a winter break now as he has been on the go since early in the year, though his races have been well spaced out.”
“He is unlikely to race again before Finals Day. It is good to have horses for the All-Weather, keeping the momentum going, and there are some good prizes on offer.”
Kirby was pleased with the run of the two-year-old Shamardal colt, a 2/9 chance, who won by a length and three quarters under a hands and heels ride from 4/1 shot Apache Storm in a new record time for a juvenile over Wolverhampton’s five furlongs on Tapeta of 1m 0.50s.
Portamento broke well and settled a close third of the five runners. He moved up to second and then led entering the straight, running on well to succeed without being pressed.
The jockey said: “All his homework has been very good and he came here for a day out.”
“The yard is in great form – they are all running well and fit and healthy.”
This was Portamento’s fourth success of 2014.
Appleby achieved his third Fast-Track Qualifier victory of this season’s All-Weather Championships with Portamento.
The Newmarket trainer had already won All-Weather Championships Fast-Track Qualifiers with Tearless and Four Seasons.
Horses qualify for the seven championship contests on the £1.1-million All-Weather Championships Finals Day (Good Friday, April 3, 2015) by winning a specified “Fast Track Qualifier” or running in a minimum of three races at Britain’s five All-Weather tracks, Lingfield Park, Southwell and Wolverhampton, owned by ARC, The Jockey Club’s Kempton Park and Chelmsford City, between October 30 and March 30.
Dodging Bullets (9/1) landed the £150,000 Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown on Saturday for Paul Nicholls beating the vetron Somerby in a driving finish.
Good to see Ryan Moore having seven winners in two-days on his first visit to Chukyo racecourse in Japan.
News hit the press room this week that the BBC are tempted to come back into racing about time too with CH4 looking more like tots TV each week bring it on beeb.
Back next Thursday.
Kevan Minter – The Colonel
http://go.betfan.com/1000/315
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