Wetherby - 27/12/08

[WoodyTHFC]

12.15 Teenage Idol 2/1 spo 15 pts Johnson/Reagan combo. have a lot of rides today and could get of to a smart start at the first. Tennage Idol showed good ability in bumpers in different conditions, from an early win on heavy ground to a good fourth on good ground in a traditionally strong bumper on SGN day. I felt he also showed some good ability on his first hurdle start. He was starting of perhaps slightly strangely at a trip of 2m 6f which seemed a challenge for just his first start over hurdles considering he was quick enough to win a bumper over 2m. He showed up quite well and ended up second but never totally convinced he saw out that trip that day, he pulled hard early on as well which didnt help. However the form he showed was still fair enough, the third who he was clear off, notably has won sicne and whilst improving to do so, is offically rated 118 so for teenage idol to be clear of that one reads fairly especially when you consider the top weight here is officially only a 120 horse. Bogside Theatre is also respected but she was below par on debut and she actually might want a trip, Teenage Idol should imo appreciate this drop back in trip and with any improvement should be hard to beat today. 1.20 Crow Wood 4/1 var bog 15 pts Talented hurdler this one, a former grade 2 winner and could be a useful jumper. He has had two runs so far and whilst a look at the form figures doesnt encourage too much with a 6 then a F that doesnt tell the whole story. Fto he simply failed to get home over further having still travelled ok before stamina became an issue. Then he fell at san. but for the majority of that race before that point he looked to still be going pretty well and that was in really good company such as free world and gauvain, before his fall. As long as that hasnt left too much of a mark he should figure today if he gets roudn especially as a couple in here may need further and degas art the talented johnson horse is not the most reliable. One slight worry is Im not sure if the trainer is bang on atm and his solent didnt run that well the other day but possibly too soon to make concrete judgements with his small stable yet. 3.00 Tidal Fury 13/2 var 7.5 pts e.w I certainly feel at some stage this is a plot horse, the problem being its not easy to find out when the plot is going to be. Murphy is a strange trainer to read but his runners run well yesterday including a couple of winners to indicate some sort of return to form. Tidal Fury, formerly a good hurdler, also showed some ability over fences with some wins in his novice season and then was a 140+ horse, now high mid 120s. He does need soft ground and even softer/heavy if possible so should like the soft ground today even if it could be even softer for him ideally. He showed enough in two runs this season on ground not as suitable as this to suggest some form and with conditions beginning to get more to his liking and the trainer possibly getting into some form, he is the selection.