The Brigadier

Some good National Hunt racing on Saturday and here’s my feelings on the 8 ITV races :-
1.50 HAYDOCK
A competitive handicap hurdle whose form will be worth following over the next couple of months. The novices Shakem Up’Arry and On The Wild Side are interesting making their handicap debuts but I’m keen to stick with Anthony Honeyball’s KID COMMANDO who won well at Ascot three weeks ago and will appreciate stepping up from 2m to the 2m3f trip here being a former 3m Irish point winner. The handicapper shunted him up 7lb for Ascot but to these eyes he still looks well treated.
KID COMMANDO 1 point each way 9/2 unibet
2.05 ASCOT
A disappointing turnout with only 4 going to post for a first prize of north of £25k. Real Steel has joined Paul Nicholl’s from Willie Mullins following his non staying 6th in last season’s Cheltenham Gold cup at 50/1. Nicholls also runs Black Corton who likes this track and will more than likely try and force the pace along. But it’s the improving IMPERIAL AURA that takes my eye. Impressive when not only winning the now defunct Novices’ Handicap Chase at the Festival in March but also at Carlisle 3 weeks ago. That should have put him spot on for this and despite the fact he is officially rated 7lb inferior at these weights to both the Nicholls’ horse I can see him winning this for the very much in form Kim Bailey.
IMPERIAL AURA 2 points win @ 15/8 william hill
2.25 HAYDOCK
As mentioned in my ante-post preview earlier in the week this will a real war of attrition over 3m in the Haydock mud.I’ll stick with my original fancy of MAIN FACT who’s on an incredible nine timer for The David Pipe team stepping up in trip. For me he’s never stronger than at the line in all his wins under both codes. Robbie Power riding Relegate for Colm Murphy is a significant jockey booking and in a wide open contest should run well.
MAIN FACT 1 point each way 15/2 bet365
2.40 ASCOT
Again another disappointing turnout of only three. Both Call Me Lord and Song For Someone have to shoulder 6lb penalties here and that may be too much against LAURINA who can also claim a 7lb mares allowance so effectively receiving a hefty 13lb from the boys. She’s another Jared Sullivan horse to have left Willie Mullins to join Paul Nicholls’ yard down in Somerset and like a lot of Nicholls’ has been given a wind operation. She’s immensely talented (4th in the Champion Hurdle in 2019) but it just didn’t work out for her over fences last season. At these weights she doesn’t even need to be within 10lb of her best form to beat the boys and I expect her to win.
LAURINA 2 points win @ 6/4 unibet
3.00 HAYDOCK
Bristol De Mai is a standing dish here with course figures of 1112 having won this in 2017 and 2018. He found LOSTINTRANSLATION just too good last season and it may well be the same case here again. I’m a big fan of Colin Tizzard’s chaser and although last season he had had a run I still expect him to come out on top. He’s scant value at around 6/5 but I can’t understand how he’s currently 14/1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup next March. Tizzard’s horses all ran below par at the meeting for whatever reason with the exception of Lostintranslation who ran a stormer to be beaten a neck and 1¼ lengths behind Al Boum Photo and Santini who’s  current Gold Cup odds are 5/1 and 6/1 respectively. If he wins this that 14/1 will be a distant memory. I cant have the two rank outsiders despite this afternoons money for Bellshill but obviously Paul Nicholls’ Clan Des Obeaux is a big player.
LOSTINTRANSLATION 2 points win @ 11/8 william hill
LOSTINTRANSLATION 1 point each way @ 14/1 Cheltenham Gold Cup paddy power
3.17 ASCOT
The ground is the key to this race. If the ground is genuinely soft (the times were slow this afternoon) then I expect Kim Bailey’s FIRST FLOW to take plenty of beating. Bailey loves this horse but has stated on several occasions that very soft is essential for his mudlark. His mark of 148 looks very workable. On the other hand Henry De Bromhead’s Abbey Magic is a very talented who the trainer says is a good ground mare. Magic Saint won at Cheltenham last Saturday but is up 7lb here in a deep race whilst his stable mate Capeland bolted up in this last year and is only 7lb higher (that wouldn’t have stopped him then for sure). I’ll take a chance that there enough juice in the ground for First Flow.
FIRST FLOW 1 point win @ 5/1 william hill
3.35 HAYDOCK
I previewed this in the week and as expected the ante-post favourite Cloudy Glen failed to declare. I will stick with ALMINAR down the bottom of the weights for Devon trainer Nigel Hawke and stable jockey David Noonan who will love this test of stamina. He’s also had his wind done since he last ran which may squeeze out a bit more improvement. It looks wide open mind with plenty of dangers.
ALMINAR 1 point each way @ 12/1 bet365 (advised @ 16/1 in week)
3.50 ASCOT
A hard race to assess with 10 of the 13 yet to see a racecourse of any description. This will go to a newcomer with debutants from the big yards of Pauling, Nicholls, Tizzard, Twiston-Davies and Henderson. I can pass on a good word for the Nicky Henderson newcomer WRAYSFORD and he would be a tentative selection to small stakes.
WRAYSFORD ½ point win @ 4/1 william hill
 
 

He’s 10/3 now. Apart from the main festivals I don’t usually bother with Grade A races, unless I can see a good bet, and this represents a good bet I reckon. The forecast rain hasn’t arrived like they said it would, but it’s still soft. Other than this race I’m not sure where else they can aim the horse. Clearly not a Kempton horse, and although has run well at Cheltenham , he’s never going to win the gold cup, not now anyway. They will be throwing the kitchen sink at this one. So will LIT but he’s got bigger things to go at. 

Took 3/1 on Bristol De Mai 

1.50 hay- Le Ligerien 20/1 4places
2.25 hay- Ask Dillion 25/1 5places
3.35 hay-  Pobbles Bay  13/2  4places
Boylesports 3 e/w singles  3 e/w doubles  & 1 e/w treb

Saturday's selection in the 1.23 at Huntingdon. ROCK ON ROCCO. Only 6yo, ran 34 days ago.

Lots of action and selections for me on Saturday . 
 
Haydock 12.40, Newtide 11/2
Haydock 1.15, Dashel Drasher 3/1
Haydock 1.50, Kid Commando 4/1/ Flash The Steel 10/1 e/w. Kid Commando top rated, but really like the look of Flash The Steel who is second best rated. Money back on first selection if finishes 2nd, 3rd, 4th. 
 
Haydock 2.25, Third Wind 13/2 e/w, Kalashnikov 14/1, e/w, paying 6 places.
Ascot 3.17, Abbey Magic 5/1

Don’t bother with grade 1s unless it’s the big festivals. Might be tempted with Bristol De Mai, though. Now 5/2 and in my eyes the one to beat. Just cannot see Clan Des Obeaux winning. Usually needs the run and not sure this track and test of stamina will suit even though he’s won at Haydock before but in much calmer waters. Lostintranslation will be sure to give it a good go, and is probably  the best horse overall in the race, but hasn’t had a prep run this year and I can see Bristol De Mai being a tougher nut to crack this year.  I’ll be backing Clan for King George, would consider backing  LIT for the gold cup again, but reckon it’s Bristol De Mais day tomorrow. 

All the best !

Indeed ,Good luck all 

Nice one

Good luck, guys.

Welcome all! Support to the staff and forum! ??

Ascot stage an enthralling card on Friday and here are my early thought’s :-
12.20
A no play race from a punting perspective but it’s the chase debut of Nicky Henderson’s Chantry House who has schooled excellently and despite the fact he is rated a 3lb officially inferior horse to danger Pic D’Orhy his stable will be very disappointed if he doesn’t win this. A race not to miss.
12.55
It could be Nicky Henderson’s day at the Berkshire track with TIME FLIES BY the most likely winner. A Cheltenham bumper winner he ran twice over hurdles last season with his trainer stating in a recent Racing Post stable file that he ‘does everything right and should go far’ He’ll do for me here. Paul Nicholls’ Danny Kirwan has undoubted ability and apparently needed his season re-appearance when 3rd at Aintree but he’s seven now and has yet to win a race. Kim Bailey’s The Edgar Wallace is an interesting hurdles debutant , the trainer has been in top form this season and this is the most expensive young horse he’s ever bought winning a bumper for him last season and by all accounts he jumps well.  Time Flies By is a confident selection on a day that may be dominated by the master of Seven Barrows Nicky Henderson. 
TIME FLIES BY 2 points win @ 4/5 bet365
1.30
An intriguing contest with four potentially smart lightly raced horses. Nicky Henderson called his French recruit GIPSY DE CHOISEL very nice in a recent Racing Post stable file and now in the double green colours of Messr’s Munir & Souede could be the one. Harry Fry unleashes Metier who impressed when winning at Newton Abbot 3 weeks ago whilst Paul Nicholls saddles the JP owned Nimix De Juilley, another ex French horse but without a run for 792 days (never mentioned in his recent RP stable tour) with the biggest danger to Henderson’s coming from the Tizzard horse Amarillo Sky, an expensive purchase from the Irish pointing field and a highly promising fourth to Henderson’s Dusart at Newbury when the Tizzard horses weren’t really firing. The vibes are good for Henderson’s and he’s the bet.
 
GIPSY DE CHOISEL 1 point win @ 2/1 william hill
2.05
Espoir De Guye has had a wind op since we last saw him following a lack lustre effort at the Festival last season in the Novices’ Handicap Chase. A 255 day absence doesn’t usually bother a Venetia Williams trained horse and despite racing here off of a 14lb higher mark than when winning at the course last December he should run well.
Deauville Dancer starts out for the first time for Olly Murphy having previously been trained by David Dennis and although you could arguably classify that as a trainer upgrade the Murphy yard are not really firing at the moment (despite a nice bumper winner on Tuesday). An outsider I think is worth backing is the Paul Henderson trained 11 year old DOITFORTHEVILLAGE who has tumbled down the handicap to a very low mark. Forget his latest run when his trainer stated afterwards the ground wasn’t soft enough for him, surprisingly he was dopped 6lb for that run. Rated as high as 140 only four runs ago he races here off of 129 and could be value despite been the oldest member of the 9 strong field
DOITFORTHEVILLAGE ½ point ew 16/1 bet365
2.40
BUZZ stands out here and will take some beating. Nicky Henderson’s six year old was a highly credible third in the Welsh Champion Hurdle last time at Ffos Las with Ecco some 28 lengths behind him that day and only 1lb better off here. That form looks very good now with the winner Sceau Royal winning at Wincanton and Ballyandy who placed second that day running the same position in last weekend’s  Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham even  the 5th Mario De Pail has won since. Only a pound higher here he stands out like a sore thumb. I can see him being very well backed. The opposition look weighted upto their ability and Buzz is the days nap bet.
BUZZ  3 point win @ 6/4 bet365
3.15
Dr Newland has had a good Autumn with his small string at his Worcestershire yard and can take this with MR MULDOON who won at Sedgefield on his chasing debut in a 9 runner novice event. Lack of experience is unlikely to be a problem as he has had 6 runs in Irish points and has failed to miss the frame in six outings under rules. The handicapper reacted by rising him 2lb for that run but the step up to 3m is much more to his liking and he holds a strong chance. Paul Nicholls’ Favorito Buck’s won this event two years ago and can race off of a 1lb lower mark so also comes into calculations though his last run was poor. Top weight Wandarin Star has won first time out the last two seasons and has had his wind tinkered with since last season so is another with some potential if fancied for the Kim Bailey yard.
MR MULDOON 1 point win 3/1 william hill
3.45
A tough handicap with the first show being 9/2 the field. The most interesting contender being the top weight Enqarde an ex French 6 year old having his first run for Dr Newland. The market will tell us what’s expected here no doubt.
Apple Rock flopped last time but that may have came too soon following his facile victory at Carlisle 8 days earlier and could be in with a chance despite a rise in the weights. It may be worth a speculative ew bet on Paul Henderson’s HATCHET JACK who may well have needed his well beaten 5th to Metier (runs in 2nd race) at Newton Abbot. He has some good handicap form in better company than this in the past and has dropped to a mark 10lb lower than when he was back then. He’s still a maiden and has obviously been hard to train so we’ll need a big price and small stakes but it’s that type of race!
HATCHET JACK ½ point each way 11/1 bet365
 
 
 
 
 

Good evening everyone!
As most of you will know, it's been a challenging few months for everyone connected with the site and forum after the tragic losses of both Paul "Sir Puntalot" Ross and Graham "BillyHills" Sarson. There is no denying that things will never be the same around here without them.
The process to find someone to help carry on the fine work that both Paul and Graham had done over the past 20 plus years was going to be a near impossible task but a task we were faced with taking on. I am pleased to announce that we have made the decision to appoint three new individuals to the Punters Lounge staff team to cover horse racing.
Steve Simmons aka @The Brigadier will take the lead role of Horse Racing Content Manager covering the horse racing content on the forum and site. He brings a wealth of experience, knowledge, and enthusiasm of the horse racing industry that will no doubt shine through in his content. You can check out his racing tips right here!
Karl Hedley aka @Tumbleweed King has been appointed in the role of Accumulator and Festivals Tipster. You may well be familiar with his work with the Irish Post and Racing Post. He certainly knows his stuff and will be a superb addition to the horse racing team.
Michael Clarke aka @MCLARKE is going to be our new Results and Competitions Manager. He's already been posting around the site and his involvement in the forum will keep things running smoothly and efficiently.
If you haven't already interacted with them across the forum then feel free to say a hello below! It's been a desperately sad time here over the past few months so this is some much-needed positive news to welcome these three on board.
Cheers!
Punters Lounge Staff Team

Best of luck guys. I'm very much "two legs good, four legs bad" when it comes to my punting but I'll keep an eye out for your contributions.

Good news. Welcome guys, look forward to some juicy tips!

Great ? 

too many horses placing at the moment, need some winners

It’s a good yard. The horses last RPR at Ascot was 151, too, so that was a big positive. 

well done Chris - you cant stop Venetia when the muds flying

...... which won ! ...... ?
SP 20/1
well done to the Racing Post tipster !

11.35 Lingfield - Stay Classy - 8/1
I backed this one last time at around 16/1, there was a bit of money around for her that day and she was backed into around 10/1 at one point. That race was over 7f at Wolves, she got a very wide trip under 5lb claimer Angus Villiers and then finished really well into 2nd. Steps back up to a mile here today which looks sure to suit and has Adam Kirby up this time which can only be a positive. Looks a good ew price and would be surprised if she wasn't involved in the finish.

Yeah said to a mate this morning I noticed him at about 12s last night but hadn't looked at the race properly so didn't back him and then saw some decent money for him this morning!

7.15 Newcastle - Be Proud - 8/1
Notable that decent claimer Oli Stammers is on Be Proud for the first time this evening. This gelding is a frequent visitor at Newcastle and often runs well here. His two career victories have come over this course and distance off marks of 54 & 62. His last two runs have been here, over 5f in October when 5th off 69 (only beaten 1 length) and then over 6f a couple of weeks ago also off 69, was beaten a good 4 lengths that day but I wouldn't take too much notice of that as 5f is his trip. He's been dropped another 2lb for that down to 67 and Stammers takes off a further 5lbs so is effectively back on a winning mark. His running style means he will probably need some luck in running but he's well drawn in 12 and should go well in a competitive race where there are plenty of consistent Newcastle performers.

205 ascot
Red risk  288
King of realms 285 
Espoire de guye   282 
Top 2 here look well treated still and should run well hopefully 
Red risk 7pts win 100/30 willh
King of realms 3pts win 9/1 bet365