Juliette's jw_eekty
Cleaned out of every penny and not even one of those useful nonrunners to cushion the blow. Just punishment no doubt for spending Saturday on my backside with only the television for company when could have been screaming encouragement on the race track. But really Newcastle and Haydock are a bit beyond my means (this racing service had no selections at Windsor). especially now that that inscrutable autocratic body, the Jockey Club, has seen fit to withdraw my press badge.
This weekend the North is once again big news though I can't see myself showing up at Doncaster either. The National Hunt course there was constructed immediately after the last war and since 1948 they've had a top-class steeplechase, the Great Yorkshire, now sponsored by John Smiths, the local brewery. The Dikler towers over the handicap for Saturday's race — 11lb above his nearest rival, Spanish Stens — but even with 12.7 he is asked to do no more than Pendil was in the Massey Ferguson; less if you consider his heftier build. If the winner is to come from further down the list it looks like a straight toss-up between Midnight Fury and Bruslee who have both won their three starts this season. The former was acclaimed for his 'Mandarin' victory, while the latter has been a hot press property since his unfortunate elimination from the Wills Final. Presumine Bruslee to have been trained with last Sa turday's race in mind, it seems reasonable to suppose he'll turn up fit to run for his life at the first suitable opportunity — that being the Great Yorkshire though the following Saturday's Stone's Ginger Wine race is also a possibility. If Michael Scudamore's protege " is to remain among the Gold Cup contenders, he's honour bound to beat The Dikler at a difference of 271b.
I don't know whether they intend putting it on the market, but Brooke Bond Oxo have been concocting a fortifying mixture of vodka and Oxo, known to Canadian lumberjacks as 'bullshot'. Hip flasks of this potent brew will be presented to all jockeys riding in their 'National' at Warwick on Saturday. After 4 miles, 1 furlong, I don't suppose the horses would object to a swig themselves, though Straight Vulgan should manage the trip without any additional incentive.
Seeing that personally I'm unlikely to stagger further than Kempton, an interest there is essential. Ziguenor won two of his five hunter 'chases last year including the Grand Military Gold Cup over the course and distance of Saturday's Walter Hyde 'Chase. Alternatively ridden by his present owner, Major Chesney and his previous owner, Mr Herdman, this season he is unbeaten against experienced horses and jockeys.
Assets: £76.45. Outlay: £3 to win Bruslee (alt. Midnight Fury), Straight Vulgan and Ziguenor.
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