Richard Fahey to land the Brocklesby again?
The flat season starts in earnest this Saturday with the Brocklesby Stakes – notable as the traditional opening two-year-old race of the British Flat racing – kicking off the card at Doncaster.
It’s very disappointing this race, with a huge following and its cult-like status is not being broadcast live on ITV. They do broadcast three later races live but we are going to have to make do with a recording – or watch the action on Sky Sports Racing.
My personal favourite amongst the list of previous winners is Provideo who won the 1984 Brockelsby by four lengths. In something inconceivable by modern standards he ran another 23 times during his two-year-old season winning another 15 times, finishing second six times and was third once.
Every year punters are betting blind on the Brocklesby with no public form to go on. But Mark Johnson is sure to have a stable full of two-year-olds and the most forward of those is probably his entry Love De Vega. Given he won this race in 2015 and 2016, this horse must be taken very seriously.
However, I’m going for Vintage Clarets who represents Richard Fahey and Paul Hannigan. This pair teamed-up to win this race in 2007, 2010 and 2019 so they clearly have an affinity for the Brocklesby and it would be no surprise if Vintage Clarets were to fire out of the stalls like a cork from a champagne bottle.
Recommended Brocklesby Stakes Betting Tip:
Vintage Clarets (1.25pm Doncaster, Saturday 27th March)
A huge raceday sponsored by @Unibet
Put it in your calendar so you do not forget!
The Lincoln Handicap is steeped in history
And this Saturday afternoon we’ll solve the mystery
Eastern World, Brentford Hope, Haqeeqy…
Who will the 2021 Lincoln Handicap winner be?#WorldPoetryDay pic.twitter.com/0EUMIhT20B— Doncaster Racecourse (@DoncasterRaces) March 21, 2021
Grand National Tip: Discorama Could Spoil the Party
The Irish domination at the Festival initially led me to look for an Irish-trained ‘sleeper’ who has been laid out for the National.
This led me to the eight-year-old Discorama (33/1 with bet365*) who has finished second twice at the Cheltenham Festival and then third when last raced there in 2020’s Ultima Handicap Chase.
That’s classy form and allied to a runner-up spot in a Grade 1 Chase at the Punchestown Festival its clear Discorama might just run a huge race off 10st 6lb in the Grand National.
I did say ‘initially led me’ because you must consider the British horses did not win a hurdle race at Cheltenham which means all five domestic winners came in chase races. Will we be the ones with the well-weighted Grand National contenders? Only time will tell.
Recommended Grand National 2021 Tip:
Discorama at 33/1 with bet365* (2021 Grand National, April 10th)
Why did the Irish do so well at Cheltenham?
Ireland 23, the UK 5.
That was the story of Cheltenham 2021 and no sooner had Colreevy led home an Irish 1-2-3-4-5 in the concluding race of the Festival the autopsy had doubtlessly begun in the corridors of the BHA (British Horseracing Authority).
For me the answer is simple: Irish yards have all of the big spending owners. Claims that the reasoning for this is down to prize-money levels is total nonsense. We are in an age when a debutant wins an Irish point-to-point is sold off for a minimum £250,000 (often in a bidding war). It is a sum 99+ percent of jumps horses will never recoup in prize-money.
Owners know this and accept it, so any suggestions the best horses are staying in Ireland because a novice hurdle there is worth €5,900 instead of the £3,750 it brings in the UK is nonsensical.
Maybe the best thing to do is to ask one of these owners why they have their jumps horses in Ireland. The Cheveley Park Stud, owned by David and Patricia Thompson would be a good starting point. Their colours were carried to victory by Allaho and Quilixios at this year’s Festival. And where do they live? At the Cheveley Park Stud in Newmarket which is described as home to British horse racing!
* Betting odds correct at the time of writing. All odds are subject to change.
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