Paul Nicholls: My Boxing Day runners at Wincanton

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Wincanton Placepot: Sunday April 22

Current Event looks up to conceding weight to his rivals on his handicap debut...

Timeform's Matt Gardner heads to Wincanton for Sunday's placepot...

14:10 - Polisky showed useful form when pitched in against some top novices last year and earlier in the season (runner-up behind Sprinter Sacre on British debut and third to Fingal Bay at Cheltenham in November), and he appeals as the most likely winner but, having shown signs of a suspect attitude, he does not look banker material despite winning as he liked in a first-time tongue tie on his most recent start. Victor Leudorum didn't need to improve to get off the mark at Market Rasen last time, but is likely to give his running and could well allow us to double up in the opening leg.

14:40 - One who does appeal as banker material, particularly with the three places currently on offer, is On the Bridge. The seven-year-old is yet to match his hurdling form on both starts over fences, but he shaped better than the result last time on return from seven month absence, and extra emphasis on stamina should suit.

15:10 - A competitive handicap hurdle requires the selection of both Whistling Senator and Natural Spring. The former is continuously progressing, putting up a career-best when winning at Huntingdon last time, and is likely to be suited by this longer trip with the 7 lb rise incurred for that win looking fair. Natural Spring was consistent in bumpers and has shown enough over hurdles to suggest that she can win, including on return at Kempton last month, and she remains capable of better.

15:40 - Banker number two comes in the shape of the Paul Nicholls-trained Current Event, who is unbeaten in his three starts over fences. The suspicion is that those three races have not got to the bottom of the five-year-old, and he looks up to conceding weight to his rivals on his handicap debut.

16:10 - Enroller is nothing like the force of old on the Flat (a Group 3 winner), but he ran his best race yet over hurdles when second at Market Rasen on his handicap bow. He has since been well beaten back on the Flat, but would appear to have sound claims for at least a place now returned to this sphere. Kadoodd was well beaten on his hurdling debut at Huntingdon, but the heavy ground could have been his undoing on that occasion and it is more than possible that today's less testing conditions will suit him better and he could go well for trainer John Ferguson.

16:40 - Not the simplest of races in which to conclude matters, but taking both Amuse Me and Gud Day ought to be enough. The former won at Leicester in December before flopping last time when turned out quickly, but the break should have freshened him up and he can bounce back. Gud Day has finished runner-up on three of his four starts over hurdles and, although he failed to win when dropped in grade last time, the 19 furlongs faced that day probably just stretched his stamina, and he should go well with blinkers tried for the first-time.

Selections:
14:10 - 1, 2
14:40 - 5
15:10 - 6, 13
15:40 - 1
16:10 - 5, 12
16:40 - 3, 9
= 16 lines

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Wincanton

Daily Racing Info / Editor / 05 April 2012 / Leave a Comment

Good to Firm, Firm in places
(GoingStick: Chase 11.0. Hurdle 10.8 on Wednesday at 10:45)

All the early price movements from Betfair's racing markets....

Straight Course: Good to Firm, Firm in places Round Course: Good to Firm, Good in places...

GOOD (GoingStick: N/A (Stick faulty) on Thursday at 10:00)...

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Timeform Radio Racing Tips: Can Bob boss it at Wincanton?

Timeform Radio Tip / Harry Bowles / 08 March 2012 / Leave a Comment

That's Wincanton, that is. Will Gentle Bob land us a winner at the Somerset track?

"Gentle Bob represents the in-form Tom George, and has really got to grips with chasing of late, winning at Ffos Las in January before finding only a fellow improver in Victors Serenade too much back at that track next time."

The quality dial is set low once again in this pre-Cheltenham week, but Harry Bowles is soldiering on regardless with three picks from today's Carlisle and Wincanton fare

It does drag a bit, doesn't it? Pre-Cheltenham week typically sees the lowest quality racing of any seven day period in the whole calendar. It's the turn of Wincanton and Carlisle to put on some largely modest fare this afternoon, whilst it's normal service on the Fibresand at Southwell. Never mind, soldier on we must, and, as ever, there are still some attractive wagers to be had.

The 21 furlong handicap chase at Carlisle (15:15) features a number of horses who arrive in form, Rich Lord and Classical Mist amongst them.

Ballyoliver appeals above and beyond that pair, however, principally on the basis of his fine second to Beau Dandy at Ayr last month. It's possibly the case that his next outing came too soon after that big effort when third at Huntingdon just nine days later, never able to get back on an even keel after a mid-race mistake, but he still looks the sort Venetia Williams will be getting a win out of imminently.

I'm keen to keep Sir Tamburlane on side at a bigger price, too, as it seems most unlikely that he's shown his all after just two starts over fences. He's a big, imposing sort, and this is his first chance in a handicap chase. It's worth noting that his stand-out effort over hurdles last term came on his sole previous visit to Carlisle.

There's another 2m5f handicap chase for novices worth getting involved in, this time down south at Wincanton (16:05), and we don't need to take two in this one.

Gentle Bob may well not be the most inspiring of choices, but that's because his claims are extremely strong, stronger even than his current price would intimate. He represents the in-form Tom George, and has really got to grips with chasing of late, winning at Ffos Las in January before finding only a fellow improver in Victors Serenade too much back at that track next time. He gets to race from the same mark here, and none of his five rivals look to have any pretensions of being ahead of the handicapper in the way that Victors Serenade was.

Recommended Bets
Back Ballyoliver @ [4.4] & Sir Tamburlane @ [19.5] in the 15:15 at Carlisle
Back Gentle Bob @ [3.1] in the 16:05 @ Wincanton

Cards at Catterick, Fontwell and Lingfield do not offer much quality, but Rory Delargy, who joins Gina Bryce on Timeform Radio, can hopefully find a couple of winners. Here are his best bets for Wednesday's racing......

David Cleary heads to Devon as he selects three runners from two Tuesday afternoon races......

Will Hayler pulls no punches in his assessment of Monday's fare. However, our man has managed to identify a couple of promising runners, including one a double figure odds....

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Follow The Money: Monarch to rule Wincanton?

Follow the Money / Follow The Money / 08 March 2012 / Leave a Comment

FTM are backing one runner at Wincanton this afternoon

"Monarchs Way has been backed in from [5.6] to [4.5] and will be looking to make it two on the bounce... "

Welcome to Follow The Money on Thursday 8th March. Today's selections are from the cards at Southwell and Wincanton.

We start at the 14:20 at Southwell where Maslak has been positive on the exchange, shortening to [5.1] from [6.4]. As a course and distance winner in the past, and with two wins on the polytrack this year, a return to winning ways could be on the cards, even though he concedes some weight against his rivals.

In the 15:00 at Wincanton John Ferguson's Monarchs Way looks to get the stable back on track after a quiet couple of weeks. The five-year-old gelding has been backed in from [5.6] to [4.5] and will be looking to make it two on the bounce having responded well to a visor last time out at Market Rasen. Connections will looking for further progress today and the exchange this morning agrees.

In the 15:55 at Southwell, Lithograph - a three-year-old trained by Mark Johnston - has been on the drift from [2.96] out to [3.5]. This will be her first run since switching from the Al Zarooni yard. However, her previous two runs were less than inspiring and the market suggests that this race could also be a tricky test.

Recommended Bets
http://sports.betfair.com/Index.do?mi=105067891&ex=1&origin=MRL&rfr=3013
http://sports.betfair.com/Index.do?mi=105081131&ex=1&origin=MRL&rfr=3013
http://sports.betfair.com/Index.do?mi=105067897&ex=1&origin=MRL&rfr=3013

Today's Follow The Money comes from the meetings at Lingfield and Fontwell....

Today's Follow The Money movers come from Southwell......

Today's Follow The Money movers come from the cards at Hereford and Lingfield....

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Paul Nicholls: Kauto Star will gallop at Wincanton on Friday

Latest News / Paul Nicholls / 06 March 2012 / Leave a Comment

Kauto will gallop at Wincanton after racing this Friday

"Why the change of plan? Kauto had a racecourse gallop before he won the Betfair Chase and I thought it a better idea to give him a spin, and a good workout, on the grass away from home."

More good news from Ditcheat, as Paul Nicholls announces a change of plan for Kauto Star this Friday. He also explains why it's important not to get too excited just yet...

We upped Kauto Star's work again today.

He had his now regular morning physio and an hour on the walker - we should bring out an exercise video, as that routine is getting so much publicity - and then we gave him his most testing workout since his schooling fall.

We gave him two strong canters up the hill alongside my Fred Winter hopeful Ulck Du Lin.

And again I have to report that he came through it fine and I'm happy with him at the moment.

What particularly pleased me that, aside from looking great, he came back from the work and had a good roll in his box, always a good sign with him. He looks happy in himself and Clifford is smiling.

But I can reveal here that we have had a change of plan over the so-called 'D Day" home gallop on Saturday.

He will now gallop after racing at Wincanton on Friday instead.

Why the change of plan?

Well, he had a racecourse gallop before he won the Betfair Chase and I thought it a better idea to give him a spin, and a good workout, on the grass away from home. Ruby will ride and he will work with Mon Parrain.

Everyone can make their own minds up as to how he looks and works.

And if he does come through that ok, we will look to school him on Monday morning.

But I must stress that it is one step at a time, and it is important that people don't get carried away.

We aren't, just yet.

But we are heading in the right direction quickly, it seems.

--------------------------------

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Paul Nicholls provides an update on the fitness of Kauto Star following the fall he sustained in schooling......

The Star's comeback continues at Ditcheat......

A bit of Kauto's swagger has started to return.

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Kingwell Hurdle Result: Binocular on song in Wincanton feature

News / Timeform / 18 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Binocular was the winner of the 2010 Champion Hurlde

"He (Bincoular) showed he could yet be a big rival to last year's Champion hero Hurricane Fly when easily disposing of Celestial Halo, who had taken the five runners along in his usual pace-making manner..."

Binocular warmed up for a bid to reclaim his Champion Hurdle crown when proving to be a super-sub at Wincanton...

The 2010 Cheltenham title-holder was only handed a place in the Bathwick Tyres Kingwell Hurdle after his Nicky Henderson-trained stablemate Grandouet was forced to miss the race.

But he showed he could yet be a big rival to last year's Champion hero Hurricane Fly when easily disposing of Celestial Halo, who had taken the five runners along in his usual pace-making manner.

Try as he might, he had no answer to the finishing kick of Binocular after Tony McCoy asked his mount to win the race at the second-last.

J P McManus' eight-year-old bounded clear to score by eight lengths from Celestial Halo with Starluck third.

McCoy told Racing UK: "He's been cantering away and jumping well. He was going to work at Newbury last night but when Grandouet got injured we decided to run him here.

"I wanted him to have a race here. He could have won on the bridle but I actually wanted him to have a blow as well and he quickened away nicely from the last.

"His jumping is always pretty good. I was very happy with him and he showed was in good form.

"Hurricane Fly is going to be very hard to beat at Cheltenham, but I was able to do what I wanted to do on him.

"I knew turning him I'd be able to make a decision and give him a squeeze and make him have a blow. From that point of view I felt confident."

Binocular is now as low as ([8.8]) for the Champion Hurdle, with Hurricane Fly available to back at ([1.97])

...........
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Giles Cross put up a tremendously game performance when leading from to pillar to post in the Grand National Trial over three and a half miles......

Riverside Theatre made the perfect return to action as he landed back-to-back runnings of the Betfair Ascot Chase......

Rubi Light made all the running to win the Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park for the second successive year.......

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Wincanton

Going Report / Editor / 21 April 2011 / Leave a Comment

Racecourse: Wincanton
First Race Time: 14:10
Going: Good to Firm (watered)
Other Information: Dry overnight, sunny and warm today.

Racecourse: Folkestone First Race Time: 14:00 Going: Good to Firm, Firm in places (watered) Other Information: Dry overnight, warm and sunny today...

Racecourse: Ludlow First Race Time: 14:20 Going: Good Other Information: Dry overnight, 2 inches of water applied to the course since last Wednesday. Warm and sunny today....

Racecourse Kempton First Race Time 18:20 Going Standard...

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