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Wednesday they watered and then the rain came so some horses had their minds changed about running.
That was not the case in the Baring Bingham where Sir Gerhard had winning in mind and that was what he did although he had to fight at the end to hold off Three Stripe Life. Journey With Me looked all set to challenge too but he made a mistake at the last an pitched Racheal Blackmore over his head. Don't know about the horse – presume he's OK and Racheal is one tough cookie and was back riding later in the program.
Bravemansgame was one of the scratched brigade so that left the Novices' Chase at the mercy of L'Homme Presse who wasn't that pressed and won from Ahoy Senor and Gaillard du Mesnil with Capodanno managed to finish 4th with his rider still on board.
We have sacked the pin and in the market for a newer and sharper model, preferably one that would have found us Commander of Fleet 50/1 in the Coral Cup! Half the field got pulled up including favourite Saint Felicien and fancied Unexpected Party. Those that finished included Fastorslow on 18/1 who came second and Ashdale Bob third at 14/1.
Well it is history now that Shishkin hated the going in the Queen Mum and Energumene didn't winning another for Mullins-Townend. Funamble Sivola was anything but a sleepwalker coming second on 40/1 and our old friend Envoi Allen third on 10/1.
Tiger Roll rans his 12yo heart out but in the end had to settle for second to the younger legs of Delta Work but was still over 8 lengths ahead of the next horse in the Glenfarclas.
Thursday is St Paddy's Day so will the luck of the Irish come to the fore? And which Irish? There are two top Irish contenders in the Golden Miller Novices' Chase which has only got 4 runners in it so it looks a bit of a match race between Bob Olinger from the de Bromhead corner and Galopin des Champs from the Mullins corner.
The Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle Gr 3 has 24 runners so the new pin is needed here. At present the market has Winter Fog on 5/1, former double winner of this Sire Du Berlais on 6/1 with his jockey, presumable an amateur described as "Mr" R. Jones. When are the Brits going to catch up with the 20th Century let alone the 21st? Similar sentiments when a woman trainer is described as "Mrs John Smith" and not by her own name. Alaphilippe is 7/1 and we like him, and Dunbayne 15/2.
The Ryanair Chase has 9 runners with Allaho odds-on for Mullins-Townened. Let's see how good the pin is as it has landed on Melon 16/1 and Saint Calvados 22/1. The latter had a burst blood vessel last time out so there is a bit of a cloud over him but nothing that a good swig of Calvados can't disperse.
The Stayers Hurdle Gr 1 has 10 runners and here Gavin Cromwell's Flooring Porter is on 3/1 just ahead of the Mullins-Townend Klassical Dream with Thyme Hill on 4/1.
The Irish Whiskey Co. Plate Handicap Chase is Gr 3 with 22 runners headed by Celebre d'Allen on 9/2, the Glancing Queen on 5/1 and Imperial Alcazar on 11/2, all worth contenders. If they fail to help the finances we recommend some of the sponsor's product to help the pain.
