Veteran's day

Well it was always going to be difficult to have as good a day as yesterday straight away, and so it proved. But we came pretty close to another decent one, with an 8/1 shot finishing second, well clear of third, but beaten by the gallant veteran Beckermet at the age of 9. The other two selections, while well beaten, at least had an excuse or two.

We had:

TIME COURSE SELECTION 1pt/2pt win Bookmaker(s) / Price(s)

3.40 Brighton Ari Gold 1pt 8/1 Bet365/Hills/VC/Coral

3.50 Ayr Caldermud 1pt 8/1 generally BOG 9/1 VC/Bluesq

6.00 Sandown Bowsers Brave 1pt 5/1 Lads/Bet365/Hills general BOG

Well we certainly got the price with Ari Gold, with Tom Dascombe's 3yo being punted right down to the 3/1 at the off, although as the 8s lasted less than ten minutes we'll mark him as a 7/1 shot for us. He was slowly away because Jim Crowley didn't get the blindfold off quickly, raced too keenly for a while and then was bumped from pillar to post around half a mile from home which seemed to put pay to any chance and Jim allowed him to coast home the rest of the way. Pretty disappointing but pleasing to have the value in no uncertain terms.

Then came our biggest run of the day, with Caldermud putting in a pretty decent display at Ayr, after starting at 8/1. Held up, he came with a decent run, showing a reasonable turn of foot given the ground and wind. Sadly he ran into the 9yo Beckermet, running from an OR of nearly half his peak of three years ago, and with Shane Kelly taking off another seven pounds our selection was never going to get there, beaten around a couple of lengths, but nicely clear of third. A good showing.

There was a great evening's racing at Sandown of course and we were hoping to kick things off nicely with Bowsers Brave, but the heavy rain which came in before the race didn't appear to help at all. Starting at 11/2 he seemed to be going ok until they switched to the straight and he became bogged down in what looked very slushy ground in the middle of the track, and he quickly faded out of contention to be well beaten.

Confirmation of results with prices:

Ari Gold, 5th/7, 7/1 --- 3/1

Caldermud, 2nd/14, 8/1 --- 8/1

Bowsers Brave ,11/12, 5/1 --- 11/2

Roll on tomorrow!