Ratings & TOTF...but no baby!

Don't worry I have no intention of turning this into 'Facespace' or whatever it's called, but my wife - who reads this - has a touch of carpel tunnel in her hands and is four days overdue with our first child. I thought a pic on here of us on honeymoon in Vegas last year may work the oracle.
(By the way, the tans quickly disappeared, along with the whitening of the teeth!)



PERFORMANCE RATINGS

PERSIAN WAR NOVICES’ HURDLE – Hell’s Bay 70

JAMES NICHOLSON CHAMPION CHASE – Kauto Star 83

CHARLIE HALL CHASE – State Of Play 82

WEST YORKSHIRE HURDLE – Pettifour 80

The trends have worked out OK in the jumps book so far, although Ashley Brook was a shocker in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter on Tuesday.

Another shocker was the Melbourne Cup result with Mad Rush appearing not stay.
Kind of sums up my ante-post Flat season, though, being on progressive horses at the right prices but none delivering. I wouldn’t have believed both Prince Kalamoun and Mad Rush could finish out the frame in the Cambridgeshire and Melbourne Cup respectively.

At least I’ve been backing some winners in between and Virtual on Saturday landed a nice touch. I mentioned here last week that I’ve been doing some tipping for a new website called the Daily Dust. There aren’t tips every day, only when I get time, so feel free to check at: http://www.thedailydust.co.uk/


TOP OF THE FORM

Lots of AW entries at present as the jumps form takes time to warm up – almost every jumps winner at the moment last ran in either March or April.

Here are the five-day entries from Wednesday Nov 5 onwards.

Artzola – Two winners have emerged from this handicap on Sep 12 and this mare caught the eye running on into fifth.

Elijah Pepper – Form of Pontefract victory has worked out and trainer David Barron knows how to place progressive sprinters. Could be one for the winter as already boasts a victory on Polytrack.

Game Park - Intabih took a 1m1f at Wolverhampton last month with Beetuna back in fourth, who also won subsequently. In fifth was Game Park, who ran on after a troubled run and he can build on this.

Hazzard County - Stayed on into third at Great Leighs and deserves to land one after some consistent efforts.

Lend A Grand (Saturday) – 1m handicap from Lingfield last month that has produced two winners who scored in a better grade since, including the winner, Prince Of Thebes. Back in fifth was the well-handicapped Lend A Grand, who did some good late work.

Lochstar - Judge 'n Jury's victory at Ascot has worked out well. Back in fifth was the beautifully-bred Lochstar, who has already scored on Polytrack and is one be with if appearing this winter.

Mezzanisi - Southwell handicap over 1m4f won by Merchant Of Dubai, from which the victor and third have both found their way back to the winner’s enclosure. The runner-up, Mezzanisi, was unlucky not to get compensation next time at Leicester under Hayley Turner, who gets a good tune from him, but the pair can find a race soon in this form.

Pass The Port - Staying handicap from Southwell two weeks ago in which both the winner, Keenes Day, and runner-up, Victory Quest, have already obliged. In what was a slowly-run race and the third, Pass The Port, did well from behind. He has dropped to an attractive mark of 75 having won from 78 in May and 1m4f with a strong pace is his game.

Presentandcorrect - A beginners' chase won by Ohana at Fontwell last month was franked by the third and fourth, making runner-up, Presentandcorrect, of interest. Making his debut for Carl Llewellyn here, this dual hurdler winner impressed over fences and can build on this next time.

Sam’s Cross - 1m handicap from Lingfield last month that has produced two winners who scored in a better grade since, including the winner, Prince Of Thebes. Back in fourth was the well-handicapped Sam’s Cross, who did some good late work.


Sarah’s Art – Caught the eye in second at Kempton, where the winner, fourth and fifth have already taken handicaps since. This was the gelding’s second outing since a break and he finished strongly here after fluffing the start. A winner over 6f and 7f off higher marks, he looks ready to rumble beyond 5f.

Spanish Conquest - Staying handicap from Southwell two weeks ago in which both the winner, Keenes Day, and runner-up, Victory Quest, have already obliged. In what was a slowly-run race and the fourth, Spanish Conquest, still looks to have a race in him.