Friday

Francie Barrett

Tipp 7:55 - The Last Indian getting launched into by backers with the booking of Pat Smullen despite having no form whatsoever. I have no clue either, but I can't help but taking on old boy Oor Jock at a huge 33/1. A winner off a a mark of 52 just 6 months ago, it hasn't shown much for new connections, but at a mark of 53 and with the benefit of a 7lb claimer on board, I think there is value a this price to take an ew punt. Quite frankly though, there's several pretty unexposed looking horses in this race that might be some sort of plot job, so only small stakes for me.

Francie Barrett

Tipp 8:30 looking like it'll be a right out ding dong between favourite Ibsen and Wood Breizh. Can't be having Ibsen in a race like this where there's enough decent horses to ensure this will be run at a reasonable given it's been off the track for a year and a half. Wood Breizh on the other hand has been running more than respectable in races against superior opposition to this, so I think it's value even at the 9/4 that's available.

Francie Barrett

Tipp 4:45 - Seanie another plunging down the ratings and running in inferior company than what we've seen it in previously. In terms of class, this is the animal that stands out, and while getting older, it does have some okish looking form in previous claimer, so the 10/1 on offer seems a touch generous.

diomed

This morning I received in the post a book I bought from The Racing Post website - The St Leger, a history of the world's first Classic horserace by Tony Barber.
It cost £75, 523 pages incl index, gilt edged, hardback, page size slightly shorter than A4 (by 3.4") and very slightly wider than A4. It has plenty of photographs, b&W and colour interspersed in the text.

Section 1: racing at Doncaster before the St Leger, origins of the St Leger, six mysteries; horseracing in the early days
Section 2: 1776-1848 the St Leger comes of age; the great carnival of the north; troubled times 1830s and 1840s; the contests
Section 3: 1849-1918 redemption, the coming of the railways; spectacles, sorrows, scandals; the contests
Section 4: 1919-1945 a time of peace and a time of war; the contests
Section 5: 1946-1970 transformation; the contests
Section 6: 1971-2015 a question of identity; identy re-gained; a new beginning

intersting map of Wheatley Common; Sandall Common; the Beat; Cantley Common; Doncaster Common showing where the race was run very close to the present course for the first few years before Doncaster racecourse was set up.
image of a racecard from 1756
an image of the entry in the Racing Calender of the first race (before it was called the St Leger?), six horses none with a name (Ld Rockingham's filly; Mr St Leger's colt; Mr Wentworth's colt; Ld Scarborough's colt; Mr Foljambe's filly; Mt Farrer's colt)
plenty of images of old racing documents, cartoons, drawings, photos, postcards, photos of pubs, houses and other buildings associated with the race.

I recommend it.

http://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/news/st-leger-doncaster-author-s-500-page-book-telling-complete-history-of-classic-race-goes-on-sale-1-8107862

I bought a second copy of the book a minute ago.

longshotvalue

Tipperary 6:55

Easter Lily looked a very good prospect after her first 2 runs and although she wasn’t that great in her last run she appeared to me to go off too quick and will probably be better not running from the front. This is a weaker race than that Group3 and I’m not sure the form of the other horses in this really stacks up any better than hers. 11/1 is far too big.


2 Points win 11/1 hills/VC 10/1 Generally

razorhead

aidankkk wrote: »

Tipperary 6:55

Easter Lily looked a very good prospect after her first 2 runs and although she wasn’t that great in her last run she appeared to me to go off too quick and will probably be better not running from the front. This is a weaker race than that Group3 and I’m not sure the form of the other horses in this really stacks up any better than hers. 11/1 is far too big.


2 Points win 11/1 hills/VC 10/1 Generally

Non runner now Aidan

maximo31

Knights Templar EW for me in the next at Tipp.
Small bet EW on Oor Jack too.
Gold Struck did the Grainnes Dream form no harm in previous race....

djPSB

Seems to be € for Spruce Meadows in the 17.15 at Dundalk.

4/1 with Boyles. 13/2 with PP.

djPSB

djPSB wrote: »

Seems to be € for Spruce Meadows in the 17.15 at Dundalk.

4/1 with Boyles. 13/2 with PP.

Winner. Went off at 4s.