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The Colonel

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Nicky Henderson announced on Sunday that Sprinter Sacre, winner of the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase in 2013 and 2016, has been retired.

The 10-year-old, owned by Caroline Mould, will parade at Cheltenham before the Shloer Chase, victory in which last year marked his comeback from illness.

Henderson, who trained Sprinter Sacre throughout his 24-race career, said: “He worked on Tuesday and everything was grand. We were just a bit worried on Wednesday night – he was a bit warm in one leg. We have scanned the leg, and it gave us the news we dreaded. I think knowing at his age, and where we’ve been, that you can’t come back for another session at 11 rising 12. I spoke to Caroline [Mould] yesterday, who is going to be here today, and I said I’m afraid we’ve got to say the journey’s over.”

Sprinter Sacre took a bumper at Ascot on his racecourse debut in February 2010, and in all won 18 races. He was third in the Stan James Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at The Festival in 2011, and went chasing the following season.

The French-bred gelding was unbeaten in 10 consecutive outings over fences – including the Racing Post Arkle in 2012, where he beat Cue Card by seven lengths, the 2013 Queen Mother Champion Chase, the Tingle Creek Chase, the Victor Chandler Chase, the Melling Chase and the Champion Chase at Punchestown, all at Grade One level.

But after being pulled up at Kempton in December 2013, it was discovered that Sprinter Sacre was suffering from an irregular heartbeat. He recovered from that, but was beaten twice and pulled up once in the 2015 season.

However, he made a triumphant comeback at Cheltenham in the Shloer Chase in 2015, and went on to win the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton before storming home in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase before an ecstatic crowd at The Festival in March this year.

Henderson said: “Sprinter is going to parade before the Shloer and say farewell. If anyone wants him somewhere, to remind us of what he was like, he’s going to be able to come to these sort of dos.”

“We’re going to miss him. It’s been a great journey. I’ve got one very very sad lad up there. Sarwah Mohammed lives with him day and night; the horse bites him all day and all night and he laughs about it.”

“Life goes on without him, but it’s been an emotional time over five or six years, and we’ve loved every minute of it.”

“You wouldn’t know which leg it is – you can’t tell except on a scan. But it wouldn’t hold up in the short term and you can’t go for the long term, so we have had to bite the bullet.”

“I should think he will be going off to Shropshire at some stage [to David and Juliet Minton’s Mill House Stud to spend his retirement] but we’ll have to borrow him back quite a few times when he’s wanted for days like this.”

“I think the saddest thing will be him in the paddock today – he thinks he’s going to go and have a right good spin round there this afternoon. He thinks he’s here for a completely different reason. He’ll want to race.”

“He’s been a great part of my life. It’s been an extraordinary journey. If we’d finished it after Kempton [when he was pulled up in the Desert Orchid Chase in December 2013] then he would have just been the most fantastically good racehorse and you would have been able to leave it alone. But what happened last year is something that will never be repeated, in terms of emotions anyway – it took us all to the brink.”

“Ability and charisma went together with him – very often they don’t. You go to the sales and buy a beautiful horse and nine times out of 10 they are rubbish – just very pretty. He was the epitome of the horse who looks the part, moves the part, and it has worked.”

“I think he looks as well as he ever has. He is in staggeringly good form – there’s the sadness. We all said, if he didn’t want to do it, he’d be telling us in his work. He’s giving us all the right signs and is in fantastic form. It’s three weeks until the Tingle Creek and he would have worked yesterday.”

“We’ve been very lucky over the years, and I’m going on so there is room for more. For a long time I protected See You Then as my best horse, but those two years when Sprinter Sacre was unbeatable… He never disappointed, not until it went wrong – he was peerless.”

“There was probably no bigger day than today last year. It wasn’t his final hour – he improved all year afterwards, and to me he was nearly a better horse at Sandown than he was at Cheltenham. This day, when it really had to happen, was the most crucial day. We knew that if it didn’t work that day, that would have been it – there’d be no more. It was a vital day. The amazing thing was the crowd that November afternoon was a March crowd. I think the horse knew it, and I have to thank everyone on his behalf. He adores the whole thing, and no one is going to enjoy this afternoon more than Sprinter Sacre himself. He’s alive and kicking – we’re not at his funeral, we’re at a celebration of his life.”

“It would have been sad if it had gone the other way and Douvan had come along and smashed him, we’d have thought we should have drawn stumps – not that we were going to be that negative; we were going to beat Douvan! Good luck Willie – look out, Altior is on the horizon, so get on with it quick…”

“Last March when he won was probably the biggest day of my career. You couldn’t fail to be moved by it, and it was very special. The support he has makes us know it is worthwhile. It’s like playing a home game – the crowd’s behind you. One of the greatest days was when we took him to Ireland, which we always promised we’d do. Their welcome to him, and that whole day at Punchestown, was one of the very special ones.”

Cue Card will go very close in the Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday.

Yours In Sport!

The Colonel

The Colonel

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The highly regarded Nicky Richards trained Simply Ned is set for a third tilt at the £75,000 Grade Two Shloer Chase at Cheltenham on the third and final day of The Open, Sunday, November 13.

The consistent nine-year-old has lined up in the two-mile contest for the last couple of years, finishing second to Uxizandre in 2014 and fourth to the great Sprinter Sacre last year.

Trained by Nicky Richards in Cumbria, Simply Ned has been placed three times in G1 chases during his career including when runner-up to Flemenstar at Leopardstown’s Christmas festival last year.

He made a pleasing comeback this season when a neck second under top-weight in handicap chase at Kelso on October 1, a race he won in both 2014 and 2015.

Richards said today: “The plan is for Simply Ned to go to Cheltenham for the Shloer Chase again.”

“He is in great form at the moment so hopefully we can get him there in one piece and run a nice race.”

“I know he got beat at Kelso this year but I thought he put up a tremendous performance against an improving, race-fit horse [Theflyingportrait].”

“We gave him lumps of weight [25lb] and in another two or three strides we would have won it.”

“We will probably go back to Leopardstown at Christmas again. Then we might give him a break until the spring just to change it up a bit.”

“He is one of those rare horses in that you don’t worry about the ground too much. I have always believed he wants a bit of nice ground but he has run really well on heavy.”

Simply Ned’s rivals could include dual Festival scorer Simonsig (Nicky Henderson) who was third in the two-mile Boylesports Champion Chase at the Punchestown Festival in April.

Sceau Royal will be at warm order to lift the Stan James Elite Hurdle at Wincanton on Saturday.

Yours In Sport!

The Colonel

Howard Davis-Shaw

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It’s now a week since the Cheltenham Festival but what a superb weeks racing we all witnessed. There were many highlights that stay in the memory including Anne Power in the Champion hurdle, Don Cossack in the Gold Cup and the supreme riding of Ruby Walsh. However the biggest cheer for me must go to Sprinter Sacre when winning the Queen Mother Chase.

This is a horse who at one time was said to be the best since Arkle but has been dogged by serious health issues yet despite all his problems Nicky Henderson nursed this wonderful horse back to peak fitness to totally outclass a very high class field including a Willie Mullins hot pot.

The roar that greeted this star chaser on his return to the winners enclosure was the loudest I have ever heard perhaps even louder than when Desert Orchid won his Gold Cup.

Anyway with Cheltenham done and dusted we start to think of the Grand National and I believe I have spotted a couple of potential eye-catchers for the big race.

My best performing service over the Festival week was Betting Opportunity with Altior 4/1, Sprinter Sacre 11/2 and Ivanovich Gorbatov 13/2 plus I advised the latter in a 60/1 winning double with Smalljohn who won up at Wolverhampton.

You see unlike some blinkered tipsters who just concentrate on the big meetings I am always looking for profitable opportunities. Plus regular readers will remember I pointed you in the direction of Don Cossack after he fell in the King George on Boxing Day.

We now have a smashing days racing lined up at Lingfield on Good Friday for the all weather championship finals and Howies Hottie goes in the 3.15 which is the one mile final. The tip is Sovereign Debt who was very unlucky in this last year when denied a clear run.

The gelding is a very classy horse and I do have a soft spot for him as he is a son of a mare I once owned called Kelsey Rose. He is the highest rated in the field and with a clear run he must go close.

HOT HANDICAPPERS

FLAT

Secret Look trainer E.McMahon – Showed more enthusiasm last week and is now stones under his winning form from a few years ago.

Gabriels Kaka trainer R.Fahey – Ran a cracker in the Irish Lincoln on Sunday and is another who now runs off a very lenient mark. At his best on soft ground.

JUMPERS

Next Sensation trainer M.Scudamore – Front runner who is at his best when getting an easy lead.

Eastlake trainer J.O’Neil – He has dropped in the weight and didn’t run badly at Cheltenham as hampered twice.

The Giant Bolster trainer D.Bridgwater – He has been placed in previous Gold Cups and still has the ability to pick up a race before the end of the jumps season.

Back next Wednesday be lucky.

Howard Davis-Shaw.

CLICK HERE For Howard’s Eye-Catchers!

The Colonel

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A great day for my horse racing members on Tuesday with both Star Fire 8/1 and Willoughby Court 5/2 doing the business for the troops. This followed a nice double on Sunday for us with Baron Alco (9/4) and Garde La Victoire (10/11) both given solid rides by there jockeys, Jamie Moore and Richard Johnson.

CLICK HERE to get all my horse racing tips until the end of the year for just £9.97! That’s a cracking deal with over 40 days of my best bets for less than a tenner!

My greyhound Blackrosecolonel ran out of his skin the other night at Henlow to finish a close second on his first race. Members of my service Trap2Line will be kept up to speed with his chances and I have just bought another pup from Ireland who is with Eric Cantillon not named yet so it’s exciting times ahead.

Nicky Henderson’s stable star Sprinter Sacre (15/8 f) bounced back to somewhere near his very best when running out the commanding winner of the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham on Sunday to a packed stand.

Sprinter Sacre is reported to be back to form by his trainer and further improvement is predicted at Seven Barrows over the next few weeks. His Champion Chase odds have been trimmed down to best price 9/2 with Betaway with Un De Sceaux the 13/8 market leader.

The 15/8 favourite travelled and jumped sweetly under jockey Nico De Boinville and cruised into the lead as the field came down the hill. His rivals had no answer to this acceleration and the nine-year-old bounded away to record a 14 length success over runner-up Somersby.

The winner was welcomed back into the winners’ enclosure to a reception usually reserved for a winner at The Festival and the racing public were clearly delighted that one of National Hunt racing’s stars was back in the winning groove.

Trainer Nicky Henderson looked relieved after the race and admitted that the nine-year-old had to win today if he was to repay the faith that his entire yard had in his ability to win again.

“If he was ever going to do it again, today had to be the day,” said the trainer.

“We’re getting there with him. We have been happy with him and he just looks so different from last year. His whole demeanour has changed. His jumping was so good. I said to Nico that if he takes you to the front, you have to let him do it. Nico probably didn’t want to get to the front so early but you just have to let him get on with it.”

“You know what he’s like – you’ve seen him do it before and he wanted to do it today. He’s taken us to some amazing places over the years and probably today was one of the toughest ones. It had to happen today otherwise people would stop believing. He’s had his doubters – even I’ve been one at times – but he’s nearly back to where we want him.”

“We were hopeful today and he enjoyed himself. He’s entitled to come on for it but we were just desperate to get that run into him as he was ready to run. I don’t think he’s ever frightened me as much as he did today though.”

“Everybody has worked very hard on him. We’ve had problems with him obviously but a lot of people have worked hard to get him to where he is today. Caroline (Mould – owner) has been brilliant and sadly Raymond (Caroline Mould’s late husband) isn’t with us today but hopefully he would have approved of today’s performance. We all miss him.”

“I’m not sure where we’ll see him next – we’ll have to see how he comes out of this. The Tingle Creek could well be an option.”

At Haydock Park on Saturday the classy Silvinaco Conti has to be respected in the Betfair Chase with the yard in such rude form.

Before you go CLICK HERE and get all my tips until the end of the Year for just £9.97!

Yours in sport.

Back Next Thursday.

Kevan Minter – The Colonel.

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Simonsig Returns To The Track At Aintree

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Aintree can be the best and one of the worst racecourses in the world depending on the meeting and the time of the year. The Grand National meeting in April is now a world class sporting event with an infrastructure to match. Racing at Aintree on the first Saturday in November takes place in front of empty stands and a handful of real racing fans. At least Liverpool or Everton are not playing at home.

Anyone who turns up though will be in for a treat with the scheduled reappearance of Simonsig in the Betfred Hurdle. The shiny suits, pointy shoes and moustaches worn by the girls will witness the first run for over two years of one of the best horses in training when fit and at his best. Irving and Top Notch were amongst the leading hurdlers last season so Simonsig will not have his own way when running in a hurdle race for the first time since April 2012.

The horse trained by Nicky Henderson last raced at the 2013 Cheltenham Festival. In fact Simonsig has only run nine times under rules and is one of a small group of horses to have won championship hurdle races and chases races at Cheltenham. He was beaten by Fingal Bay in 2011 and that horse has since franked the form. Thirty months is a massive absence from the track after many niggling injuries. His first race for over two years will not be a formality against more track fit horses.

Henderson is hoping Simonsig, Sprinter Sacre and Bobs Worth are back in form as he tries to get his chase record back on track after a poor return last season. The trainer was quoted by the Racing Post at his annual open day. Henderson said: “Last year didn’t really work out for these three and the dream would be to get them all back to their best. They are three of the best horses in the country and they have done wonders for us, but we’ve got to try to get one, two or three back.”

Simonsig possibly has the most to prove as he has not raced since winning the Arkle in 2013. There has not been one major injury that has kept him off the track but a series of minor complaints. At the time plans for the horse were fluid and Henderson has decided to go down the hurdles route. The trainer enthused; “He’s quite racy and fresh at the moment, but when he’s working well it really is exciting stuff.”

Bobs Worth has not won since the Lexus Chase last year. He has won three different races at the Cheltenham Festival but has lost all his sparkle and form. He could also run in the Betfred Hurdle on Saturday as a prep for the Hennessey Gold Cup later this month. Sprinter Sacre ran with credit last season but about a stone below his best. Only if the trainer gets positive vibes will he run Sprinter Sacre again in chases over two miles. He has shown himself to be one of the best horses since Arkle in his prime.

Simonsig is the favourite for the Betfred Hurdle ahead or Irving in the betting. The latter ran a poor race at Cheltenham last year, finishing ninth behind Vantour in the first race of the festival, beaten over 11 lengths. On reflection that is not the worst piece of form but things did not pan out too well during the most recent campaign. Irving is looking to get his career back on track but Simonsig will need to be just about at his best to beat him.

Top Notch was second to Peace And Co in last season’s Triumph Hurdle on the last day of the festival. He had won his only other three races in his juvenile and first season. The form is solid but horses at the end of their year as a four year old tend to disappoint when they are raced against older and more experienced horses. Winners of the Triumph Hurdle have a poor record in the Champion Hurdle twelve months later. Top Notch may find this assignment at a higher level too tough.

Henderson won the trainer’s championship in 2012-13 for the first time since 1987. He has finished second behind Paul Nicholls in the last two seasons and needs his big three to be winning prestigious chases to contend this time. Simonsig gets the ball rolling at Aintree on Saturday but not many thousands will be in attendance to see how he performs.

The Gambling Don

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Andy Bell won the Cheltenham Challenge which made an excellent profit for everyone who bought it. So it gave you all a great Festival.

Cheltenham Review

Apart from the horrible, horrible final day which ensures the Don and Penny and all our friends will never attend Gold Cup day again (ask anyone who had the misfortune to attend) it was a fantastic Festival of Racing with the first three days full of genuine race fans all there to watch the racing.

Tuesday nearly began with a flyer as our 40/1 shot Sizing John finished third to Douvan ensuring a solid each way pay out. But Douvan was to be the beginning of the most extraordinary day in Cheltenham history as the Mullins bandwagon began to roll and Bookmakers began to perspire.

I cannot tell you the amounts they saved when Annie Power fell after jumping like a little cat all the way round but I spoke in the ring to a senior trader before that Annie Power race and he used the word. Meltdown and he looked terrified. Accas on Cheltenham faves are suicide or at least they have been but Mullins has assembled Racings equivalent of Real Madrid and to be honest I thought fave backers were going to do it because she was the certainty of the lot.

The Bookmakers have a dreadful habit of getting out of the shit and here they played their ultimate joker but Mullins accumulators at Festivals will be around for a few years and they may just be a punters revenge day on the horizon. Which ever side you were on Layer or player or merely observer it was one of the greatest gambling stories in history.

Day 2. And we said farewell surely to two great Champions in Sprinter Sacre and Sire de Grugy. Remember last week I told you to be wary of preview evening talk. Henderson and Geraghty had been saying Sprinter Sacre was back to his old self and that proved to be utter tosh, he was a great horse let’s remember him from his wins not this performance.

Don Poli looked every inch a future Gold Cup and National horse in the Sun Alliance and grabbed hold of that hill like he could have gone round again.

Day 3. And we said hello to Vatour who I will be frank is the most impressive young Chaser I’ve seen since I stood at Newbury and watched a young Kauto Star yes this one is that good. For a Novice he treated the fences almost with contempt and drew gasps from the stands. Walsh feels no other horse at this stage has given him this feel. List to yourself the horses this guy has ridden at Nicholls yard never mind Mullins and then whatever you do make sure you go and see Vatour run.

Day 4. Horrible off track but Coneygree beating my fancy Road to Riches and Djakadam was fabulous theatre. Showing the little yards can still bloody the noses of the big boys given the right horse.

The last race AP’s final race at Cheltenham was spoilt by Davy Russell’s ride on Eastlake where he seemed to be desperate to stay behind McCoy in the same colours only to get going too late and finish second to New Sensation with AP further back. I must have misread the idea of racing, all very odd.

AP was given a standing ovation and he hadn’t even won the race. Who else would get that.

It was simply the greatest Festival ever and in Vatour just maybe a view of a truly great horse

See you all next year.

Today I’ll be backing Chavoy to win in the 4.05 at Carlisle.

Now get your breath back. And always trust in the Don!

Back next Sunday.

The Gambling Don
http://go.betfan.com/1000/119

Kevan Minter – The Colonel

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After an average February for tipping it was a good tonic to start March off with a nice double 7/2 and evens with my other selection finishing second after taking it up jumping the last only to be beat by a very smart young horse who had plenty in hand close home and could be anything. It is good to be in the top performers table with a over 55% strike rate and I am just hoping I can stay there.

The Lambourn wizard Nicky Henderson (8/1 with Paddy Power to be 2015 Festival top trainer) hosted a media visit at his Seven Barrows yard just to the north of Lambourn in Berkshire last week.

The most successful trainer ever at The Festival, with 51 successes, talked of his hopes for the four-day Cheltenham meeting next week.

His highest-profile runner is superb two-mile chaser, Sprinter Sacre (3/1), who is continuing a comeback in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase on Wednesday, March 11.

Sprinter Sacre won the Grade One chase in 2013 in great style but missed out last year after recuperating from an irregular heartbeat.

The nine-year-old had his first run since December, 2013 at Ascot last month, finishing a promising second in the Grade One Sodexho Clarence House Chase to Dodging Bullets.

Henderson said: “We are as good as we have been for a very, very long time with Sprinter Sacre. He is right there – spot on. We have had our run and he has done plenty of work since and he does not need to go to a racecourse (for a gallop).”

“We will probably go to Mandown (part of The Jockey Club’s Lambourn gallops) on Wednesday. He worked on Saturday (Feb 21) and schooled on Friday (Feb 20). As always the better the ground, the better for him. He travelled well at Ascot – like the best horse in the race – and just got tired at the second last.”

“We knew he had to have a run and it was there or nowhere. The ground was not bad and I cannot make that an excuse. They went a right good gallop and set out to test him so it could have been a kinder race for him. He seems in good shape and since Ascot has been great.”

“We have been waiting for that spark which wasn’t there last year – you cannot force it to happen and have to wait. He was absolutely, ridiculously unbeatable a couple of years ago – I am not saying we are totally unbeatable next month, but he is in seriously good shape. He has done everything we have asked him to do. It will be a great race (Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase). Sire De Grugy has a crown we want back. I think we have a good chance – I am not confident but pretty hopeful.”

The trainer is looking forward to L’Ami Serge running in the opening Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on Tuesday, March 10, Josses Hill in the next race, the Racing Post Arkle Chase and Vaniteaux in the Stan James Champion Hurdle on the same day, with Ma Filleule in the Ryanair Chase on Thursday, March 12.

Then on the last day, Friday, March 13, he is pleased with his three runners in the JCB Triumph Hurdle, Peace And Co, Top Notch and Hargam, while Bobs Worth goes for a second Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup success following on from his 2013 victory.

Henderson said: “Ma Filleule came to herself in the spring of last year and she is back there – it was a good run at Ascot the other day (when second in the Grade One Betfair Ascot Chase). We have reason to believe she can find a length or two on that.”

“Luckily, I don’t have to split my three in the JCB Triumph Hurdle. I would be hopeful with one of them and I have got three shots. They are three lovely horses, they are all entitled to go there and are good enough to go there. They compare well with the horses we have had in the past for the race.”

“Bob’s Worth has only had the one run in the Lexus this season but that was always the plan. He has one more bit of work to do and the plan is to go to Newbury on Sunday if the ground is not too bad. He is fresh and well. Barry (Geraghty) was pleased with him in Ireland where the ground was desperate. He wants better ground.”

“In normal circumstances, I would be pretty keen on L’Ami Serge. He was very impressive in the Tolworth – he quickened well, is classy and experienced. Soft ground won’t worry him.”

“They will go quick in the Arkle and Barry says that will suit Josses Hill. It will be easier for the horse to jump well if they go a good gallop.”

“I still think Vaniteux is a very good horse and he is very, very well. Good ground would be important to him and he has not had it this season.”

Danny Cook is looking at a lengthy ban after testing positive for Cocaine, the 31 year old jockey will miss Cheltenham in a act of foolishness, he said last Friday in the Racing Post.

Former Newmarket trainer Gerry Blum died last week at the age of 90 and Bruce Raymond, who rode many winners for Blum said ”He was a great man and we had a lot of winners together in sellers and claimers at places like Yarmouth and Warwick.”

I fancy L’Ami Serge (4/1 with hills) to get us off to a good start to the Cheltenham Festival on the Tuesday in the Sky Bet Supreme Novice Hurdle. The New One is my bet for the Champion Hurdle on the first day 3/1 with all the firms. The banker bet of the week has to be Un De Sceaux (4/6 with Betway) on the Tuesday in the Racing Post Arkle Chase.

Bidourey is my advice for the Imperial Cup Handicap at Sandown on Saturday.

Back next Thursday.

Yours In Sport.

Kevan Minter – Colonel
http://go.betfan.com/1000/315

The Gambling Don

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My loyal members were rewarded by 5 winners in a row this week which saw the profits surge up.

Great to reward their loyalty, many have been with me since the start of course you get the stragglers who join every new shiny toy but many come back. Long term profits and genuine info, no magic systems just a knowledge of form and how trainers work means you should always Trust in the Don!

Speaking of how trainers work I arrived at Ascot yesterday as fascinated as anyone to see the return of Sprinter Sacre. I’m lucky enough to have seen this horse at his most devastating and my first port of call was the paddock. He looked well but not gleaming and of course has aged (haven’t we all). I’ve no proof but he looked lighter to me.

I hadn’t seen enough to make me lay him or back him and I get very good info from several people close to the yard and they were all saying people close to the horse disagreed about his work. What happened during the race divided opinion at the track and I feel it was a huge disappointment despite the claims after.

Dodging Bullets is a good horse he could do no more than win a sub standard Tingle Creek recently but he is not within twenty lengths of Sprinter Acre. That means Sprinter Sacre has seriously deteriorated, of course he is still a wonderful horse but do we really want to see him go to Cheltenham and finish fourth. He jumped ok but where were the huge extravagant leaps we were used to seeing.

I hope he is retired just my opinion but he was such a brilliant horse and so dominant I wouldn’t like to see what happened to Istabraq who went to Cheltenham once too often and pulled up. I’m afraid on this showing he isn’t winning at the big one and I strongly suspect won’t be there.

Today the weather has hit us hard so we go to Leopardstown for our bet. 2.50 is a tough handicap hurdle and Paddy Power are paying 5 places. We need to be on the Mullins trained Lucky Bridle with Power @ 20/1. He won last time and though up in grade looks progressive and has a very good claimer on board.

Remember if you want to put your betting on a professional footing then Trust in the Don

The Dons Notebook

Aso – Venetia Williams

Landed a touch yesterday on bad ground and like all from this yard is super fit. He might be better than that though and at the Festivals on better ground will be overpriced.

Back next Sunday.

The Gambling Don
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The Gambling Don

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Lets start this week with the bad bit… wasn’t Bobs Worth dreadful in Ireland last Sunday?

I will be surprised if we even see him in the Gold Cup now and protestations about the ground didn’t ring true.

Sprinter Sacre the Henderson Stable Star was schooling round Kempton Park the other day ahead of his comeback. The Don isn’t surprised there are such small fields around if racecourses are loaning themselves out for horses to have a jog round. I thought that’s why Trainers have gallops and schooling grounds?

Racecourses are for racing and betting and this is a practice that should be stopped pronto.

Sandown yesterday was ran on very deep ground and the first thing to write is that anything that ran here will need a break as some of the finishers really did stagger over the line. Long distance races on horrible ground like this are not always the greatest of spectacles.

I was particularly keen to get to the paddock to see my private service Max Bet Aurore D’Estruval and she looked very well. There was a feeling on course that she would be vulnerable on the ground but her action suggested she would love to me. I thought 11/10 we had in the morning was more than fair so you can imagine my amazement to see 13/8 popping up on the rails. The Don waded in and her sp of 6/4 was a cracker for us and yet another gaffe by the layers and Betfair lemmings.

2014 was a big year of profits for my private clients 384 points of clear profit and 2015 has started well with already a good profit showing. The Don did however have a bad run at the end of the year causing a few to seek pastures new. If I was joining a service for 2015 I would look at a proven service in my case over 1000 points of clear profit since being live. There have been several with big fanfares who have not cut the mustard when live and you need to be with a genuine on course pro who mixes info with form reading in my opinion. The grass isn’t always greener and the majority of my members who follow my staking plan TO THE LETTER are protected from inevitable bad runs.

The Bookmakers can be beaten and I know how to do it so if somebody else beats me over three months and arrives with a fanfare then you have a choice to make. Logic tells me you would be better off Trusting the Don but it’s all about opinions.

Join me, lets make significant long term profits in 2015 that are realistic and transparent at achievable prices.

Today I’m off to Plumpton, one of my very favourite tracks for their big day of the year. This is a very well run track who looks after its punters. Much bigger tracks could learn from this place believe me and if you’re near come along for a great day out.

Our Sunday Special is from the Oliver Sherwood yard in the 1.50 and is called Kilgeel Hill. I was present when he won last time and think there’s plenty of improvement to come. Take the 2/1 with Bet365 and back him to win.

From the Notebook

Brick Red – Venetia Williams

Beaten by Mr Mole yesterday he made two howlers at the jumps and if he is made more use of and sent on bad ground he has a big two mile handicap in him. Events conspired against him here yesterday stick with him.

So make the right decision and Trust in the Don for 2015!

Back next Sunday.

The Gambling Don
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Wednesday Eyecatchers

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It’s Christmas and Chelsea are top of the pile and one has to say it’s well deserved. Man City look the only logical challengers but they will have to keep their full squad fit if they are to run the Pensioners close.

I suppose you could class John Terry as a pensioner in footballing terms but he is playing out of his skin. He is the type of guy you would want in the trenches next to you as he will run through a brick wall and at the same time you will know he is not round your house chatting up your wife.

We have no racing until Boxing Day but then a couple of days of superb jumping at Kempton with the highlight the King George.

I’m going to be backing Cue Card from the Tizzard yard. He ran an honourable 2nd last year behind Silvinianco Conti but I believe he might be able to reverse the placings this year.

After Kempton we can start counting down the days to Cheltenham in March. The one thing I’m really hoping for on the jumping scene is that come the big festival that both Sprinter Sacre and Sire De Grugy both get to run in the Queen Mother Chase as it will in my opinion be the best jumping event since Arkle took on Mill House many years ago.

EYECATCHERS

We had another winner last week with The Young Master although he didnt take a lot of finding.

ARTIFICIAL SURFACES

Keep Kicking trainer S.Dow – Just found one too good in Planetoid at Lingfield and he can pick up a staying race on the polytrack.

Opera Buff trainer J.Santos – Ran in the same race as the above leading into the straight and a drop in trip seems sensible.

Planetoid trainer J.Best – He is on a winning streak and there is no reason it can’t continue.

Baine trainer J.Eustace – He made a slow start which is something you can’t get away with at Southwell and with a better break next time he should go close.

JUMPERS

La Reve trainer Lucy Wadham – Ran a super race behind The Young Master only receiving a few pounds and I’m sure he can frank the form.

Back next Wednesday but in the mean time I wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas.

Howard Davis-Shaw
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