Review of the weekend (Jan 29th)

Cheltenham trials day was supported by a fair card from Doncaster - and the result was a good days sport.

As always, the tight/volatile early markets, made getting out bets tricky - but with dual issue times, Best/Matrix bets and a Live thread, I do everything possible to get my thoughts across in an effective manner

In terms of Best bets, then there were a couple on the day - and the first of them ran in the Cheltenham opener.

I could have been very keen on Cormier - but the lack of a hood tempered my enthusiasm a little.
Seeing him backed into 4/1 yesterday evening, tempered it even more - but he was out to 6/1 this morning, and that was a fair enough price…

In the race itself, he was always travelling nicely - tho he could have done without making a mistake at the third last.

Thankfully he shrugged that off, and running to the final flight, he was still in with every chance.

Ultimately, it came down to whether he or Severance came up the hill best - and he did !

It was a nice start to the day…

Galahad Quest was the other Best bet on the day, in the handicap chase.

It was a similar story to Cormier in that he travelled nicely throughout - and coming to the last, still had every chance.

However, that’s where the similarities ended - as Torn and Frayed proved much stronger up the hill, and Galahad Quest could only plug on for a distant second.

Still, I’d take a 50% strike rate for the best bets, every weekend !

It was a bit more of a struggle for the Matrix bets…
Hydroplane was the first of them - supporting Cormier - but he didn’t really run a race.
Next up was Oscar Elite in the novice handicap chase - but he just wasn’t good enough.
Aye Right looked as if he was going to win the Cotswold chase - but Chantry House and Santini were stronger up the Cheltenham hill.
Whilst at Doncaster, Western Victory didn’t run up to expectations in the mares hurdle; and even with 4 picks, I didn’t get close in the Skybet chase.
That was particularly disappointing, as I actually wasn’t as far off as it appeared (the winner, Windsor Avenue, was on my original short list - whilst the runner-up Storm Control, was dismissed from the Matrix because his price crashed).
And so, it came down to North Lodge to try and save the day for the Matrix at Cheltenham.
Neither the Best bets or the Matrix have had much luck this season - but I think North Lodge got a slice of it this afternoon.
Firstly, when Harpers Brook fell at the third, causing Hillcrest to swerve and decant his jockey; and then when North Lodge himself, veered into Balco Coast on the run in, causing that one to lose momentum.
In truth, I couldn’t say that North Lodge wouldn’t have won regardless - but I also couldn’t have said that he would…

So all in all a decent day - though there was one dark point…

Last weekend, Master Tommytucker lost his life at Lingfield; today Midnight Shadow suffered the same fate at Doncaster.
Like Master Tommytucker, Midnight Shadow was a horse I really liked - and he didn’t deserve what happened.
I said it last weekend - but I’ll say it again - it can be a very tough game at times…

TVB.