racingpost.com/TTF
RACING POST SUNDAY DECEMBER 9th 2012
WEEK MONDAY DECEMBER 3rd to SUNDAY DECEMBER 9th.
EQUUS ZONE
Looking to see how Ralph Topping (William Hill) (Bookmaker's Zone) believes
a balance can be struck between the EQUUS ZONE, the BOOKMAKERS ZONE and the PUNTERS ZONE? Although it is noted that Topping does not include his BOOKMAKER'S ZONE only choosing to looking at this between two parties The Equus Zone and the Punters Zone.
Looking to see how Ralph Topping (William Hill) (Bookmaker's Zone) believes
a balance can be struck between the EQUUS ZONE, the BOOKMAKERS ZONE and the PUNTERS ZONE? Although it is noted that Topping does not include his BOOKMAKER'S ZONE only choosing to looking at this between two parties The Equus Zone and the Punters Zone.
PREVIEW TODAY'S CARDS
http://www.racingpost.com/horses2/cards/home.sd
THERE'S LIFE AFTER KAUTO AND FRANKEL
WE'VE GOT A NEW SUPERSTAR
SPRINTER SACRE sets Sandown Park alight with a flawless display
in the Tingle Creek Chase.
Full reports, plus Alastair Down big-race verdict.
THERE'S LIFE AFTER KAUTO AND FRANKEL
WE'VE GOT A NEW SUPERSTAR
SPRINTER SACRE sets Sandown Park alight with a flawless display
in the Tingle Creek Chase.
Full reports, plus Alastair Down big-race verdict.
JMC: The
Ch4 cameras yesterday closed in on SPRINTER SACRE in his saddling box at Sandown Park
Those
pictures captured SPRINTER SACRE standing there so quietly, so happily, looking a million dollars, his trust in all the people around him came
shining through within the stance of his persona that all is well within the
life and times of SPRINTER SACRE a
mighty bloodhorse literate compliment to
all those highly skilled horsemen working together within TEAM HENDERSON who care for him each and every day, no
matter what.
DAVID
ASHFORTH
MUSING FROM A RETIRED RACING ENTHUSIAST
"This WEST END ROCKER
show will run and run ...
Another
of David's Saturday 'tales of the unexpected'. With a pic of one very angry
looking Alan King, (trainer of West End Rocker) looks like Alan is considering giving a certain someone a punch on the nose
....
"
NO KNICKERS and no stockings, either. She's that sort of woman Some weeks she throws them out of the top
flat window and some weeks she doesn't This week she didn't. It was too cold to
open the window. I suppose. Maybe
there'll be two lots next week.
"In
the meantime, there's WEST END ROCKER to consider for today's Betfred Becher
Chase. WEST END ROCKER and I go back quite along way, to a day at Newbury
(December 15, 2010) when, after a year off, Alan King's promising staying
chaser jumped as a potential Grand National winner should - bold yet clever -
to win the Coolmation Chase over three and a quarter miles. Jolly excited, I
dashed towards the winner's enclosure in order to beg King to go for the
National.
"It's
important to give trainers the benefit of your advice because they often forget
to ask for it, and if you don't tell them what they should be doing, how are
they to know?
"King
wasn't fulsome in his gratitude for my advice but, be fair, it was a busy moment, otherwise I'm
sure he would have been and have urged me to make sure I gave him my opinion
whenever I felt it was required.
"Most
trainers, I think you'll find, need a lot of advice, as do most jockey's and
owners. It's a duty, really, to avail them of it.
"Anyway,
King obviously took heed because he not only entered WEST END ROCKER for the
2011 Grand National but ran him in it, too.
"My
confidence in WEST END ROCKER, grossly overpriced at 33.1, was undiminished until the sixth fence, better known as
Becher's, where he was brought down.
"At
that point my confidence plummeted . He would, of course have won easily and,
although I felt sure he would win in 2012 instead, it was a long time to wait.
Maybe they should have two Grand Nationals each year, one for the horses who
didn't get round the first time.
"Subsequently
winning the 2011 Becher Chase by more than 20 lengths augured well, although
the reaction of the handicapper augured less well, as did the less-testing
going on National day, 2012. Nevertheless, victory was assured, at 16-1, until,
uncharacteristically, WEST END ROCKER, fell at the second fence. Once again, he
would have won easily.
"For
several days I sat clutching my mobile phone and lying next to it in bed,
waited for the inevitable call from King. Unfortunately for him he must have
rung the wrong number, so was at a complete loss as to what to do next.
Unsurprisingly, things have since gone slightly awry with WEST END ROCKER, who
is now a ten-year-old. If only King had asked my advice. If he goes on like
this, WEST END ROCKER will soon be an 11 year-old.
"YOU
may have heard the expression, if the mountain won't come to Muhammad, Muhammed
must go to the mountain. Put another way, since King hasn't approached me for
advice, I suppose I'll have to take the initiative myself.
"The
first thing to do, obviously, is to back WEST END ROCKER for the Grand National
at 40-1 before he wins today's Becher Chase. Winning shouldn't be too
difficult, especially if the ground's soft and Robert Thornton doesn't make a
complete balls-up of it. My instructions, when King asks for them, will be
clear and simple: "don't get brought down, don't fall, do win, but not by
too far."
"It's
important not to upset the handicapper. If you do, you are likely to upset
the
applecart as well " (applecarts have a long history of being upset. They
are easily offended)
"Once
the Becher has been won (By about 2.30pm),
we can move on to the post-Becher, pre- National phase' WEST END ROCKER is
entered for the Coral Welsh National but that race is an awful long way and
liable to be jolly tiring and it may be best to give it a miss. The main thing
to do what is known as ' freshen him up' for Aintree. This will involve putting
WEST END ROCKER on light duties, walking him through areas of outstanding
natural beauty, making sure he washes properly and uses a deodorant , and
giving him just one run, two at the most, before the big day.
"When
that arrives (April 6) WEST END ROCKER should ideally be either on the small
side (about the size of RED RUM or
SEAGRAM) or on the large side (about the size of PARTY POLITICS or LORD
GYLLENE)
"He
should be springy on his feet, without being overly bouncy; eager and alert,
yet not over excited and wild- eyed. It's difficult to get it just right
but, luckily for connections, I'm ready
and waiting to offer more advice in order to ensure victory."
WOW, David your "tale here of the unexpected " leaves one speechless.'
On a lighter note
Wondering if David is going to do his "Grab a Grand for Christmas 2012?"
On a lighter note
Wondering if David is going to do his "Grab a Grand for Christmas 2012?"
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