Juliette's Weekly Frolic
This is the time of year when all good racing correspondents roam around the stables with a practised eye and well-thumbed formbook before bouncing up with twelve gilt-edged horses to carry them triumphantly over the jumps. November's flights of fancy can all too easily turn sour by the Spring, so as a compromise measure I propose setting aside £20 of my flat season profit to be risked — £1 to win a time — on six horses, whenever and wherever they run, until either this 'bank ' reaches £100, or, alternatively, runs dry. The select sextet being: Official, rated superior to stablemate Salviati last year and unlucky to miss the Triumph Hurdle;' Old Smokey, who could easily win it next year The Chisler, to quote A. Dickinson "is one of the best jumpers I have ever trained "; The Ghost, five out of seven 'chases since turning 'professional;' Tudor Dance, neglected by the press, but successful six times last season; and bringing up the rear, Canasta Lad, whom I shall never forgive for winning at an absurdly gen
erous 4-1 on Saturday.
The selective powers can quickly be put to the test in Cheltenham's 'Wills Qualifier' this Friday, when The Chisler meets Balinese and Coral Diver. The following day Fred Rimell seeks his fifth successive Mackeson Gold Cup, but neither Chatham (the 1970 hero) nor Choral Wonder are likely to bother Spanish Steps, who'd be on anybody's ' list ' were it not for the fact that top 'chasers rarely beat the handicapper more than twice in a season. Allotted 12.7 for the ' Hennessy ' in a fortnight's time, Saturday's 11.12 is likely to be his most lenient weighting for many months. The price will no doubt be terrible, but I've let greed rule my judgment for long enough.
Other bright ideas for Cheltenham: Ashville to beat Rouge Autumn in Friday's 2.30 and Something's Missing to step up on his promising fifth to Canasta Lad, in the ' last ' on Saturday.
Assets £110.38 (after deducting £20). £3 to win Spanish Steps, Ashville & Something's Missing.
Previous page
