HOW’S THAT WEATHER?!

The snow is not a friend of mine at present having got stuck in it on Sunday night.
The journey back from work at the Guardian, King’s Cross, took four hours that evening when it usually only takes two hours – and that was at the end of a six-day week so my eyes were struggling. Without doubt the scariest conditions I’ve driven in and I lost control of the car a few times on virgin snow as it was settling. I even stopped at a Travel Lodge halfway to stay the night, but then decided to get back on the road as it was predicted to get worse and I had to get home. And then to follow up there was no racing on Monday…doh!

I see this weekend’s racing is already 50-50 according to the Post which is a great shame as there are eight races in the book – fingers crossed.

At least there was some racing last Saturday before the cold front swept in and here are the performance ratings below to add to the current jumps trends book:

Sandown Handicap Hurdle – Chief Yeoman 69

Challengers’ Novices’ Chase – Herecomesthetruth 73

Tote Handicap Chase – Can’t Buy Time 69

Towton Novices’ Chase – Kornati Kid 73

A quick mention about the next Flat book which I was contacted about last week, I’ve added a further 15 races making a total of 229 and also changed the style of the Winner’s Profile section, making it clearer to follow. I’ve also had time – just – to ‘beef up’ some of the trends stats. They’ll be more info regarding the book post-Cheltenham as most punters mindset currently is understandably in jumps mode. It’s weird for me producing these books as I’m writing in the opposite season to the one we are currently in – try studying the Ebor in mid-January!
Below is the old style from the book compared to the new one – out in mid-March – where I’ve used the early season Cammidge Trophy from Doncaster as an example.

WINNER’S PROFILE Only Les Arcs came here with a prep run as the majority arrived fresh. Four picked up where they left off having last run in a similar event at Doncaster, the Wentworth Stakes - run at Windsor in 2006. Five to seven-year-olds won eight of the last 10 renewals, with just one three-year-old succeeding from nine runners – the other eight were all unplaced.
Trainers Richard Hannon and Barry Hills have both won it twice.

WINNER’S PROFILE
 12 winners arrived having been off the track for three months or longer – only Les Arcs had a recent run. Four picked up where they left off having raced in the Wentworth Stakes at Doncaster – run at Windsor in 2006.
 12 experienced Pattern company – 11 faced Listed rivals where eight made the top three.
 12 were British or Irish-bred – Les Arcs was American.
 12 were four to seven-year-olds – just one three-year-old scored from nine runners – eight were unplaced.
 11 had 11 or more career outings with only two unexposed winners racing less.
 10 scored over 6f – three exceptions were placed.
 7 of the 8 to have experienced Town Moor made the top four, where four scored.
 5 of the last 7 took either a class 2 handicap or Listed race worth at least 14k, compared to 1996-2001 when four winners arrived having won a Group race – two of the overall exceptions took a juvenile novice event.
Trainers Richard Hannon and Barry Hills both won it twice.


TOP OF THE FORM

Yet another non-runner for me in the RFO naps table – I think my chance of making a winning debut is decreasing by the week, so I’ll have to go for some big prices until April.

There were plenty of winners from last week’s chart so I hope some of you made a few quid. It was nice to see Street Power strengthen his Kempton victory where plenty of winners emerged from the top six, and I’m definitely going to give Mr Chocolate Drop another chance as the form of his second in that event is strong for that level of racing. He flopped last time but was without his usual partner Adam Kirby, so the return of him in the saddle back at Kempton where he goes well would be ideal.

Another race worth studying that hasn’t made the chart yet is a 1m4f handicap from Lingfield on 17 January won by Sunset Boulevard –
3 wins from 7 runs.

Here are the updated eyecatchers:

Another Brother
Berry Baby
Castano
Decider
Dragon Eye
Edgeover
Emirates Sports
Everybody Knows
Glamorous Spirit
Golden Pool
L’Homme De Nuit
Leceile
Mistress Cooper
Moorlands Teri
Mr Chocolate Drop
Oberon Moon
Parisian Gift
Perange
Piscean
Royal Envoy
Shaded Edge
Silver Kate
Takeover Bid
The Cayterers
The King Of Angels
Toy Gun