Turf Talk: Tuesday tips
ANOTHER successful week, with two selections from four in our midweek, all weather edition, and then Raya Star landing the money in the big race of the weekend, the Ladbroke Handicap Hurdle.
Connections to follow over the winter are trainer Ian Williams and jockey William Carson. Both have had tremendous years, increasing their profile significantly. They team up on Tuesday with CINCINNATI KID, who runs for the first time in handicap grade at Kempton in a five furlong sprint contest. A well bred filly by Cape Cross, she has been running over extended trips, and has been well held on all starts. The stable is synonymous with getting horses ready for a handicap, and given their recent success, the filly should be well supported and should go close.
The golden girl of racing returns to action on Tuesday and the ‘Head Turner’ looks to have a decent set of rides, the most attractive being OPUS MAXIMUS, who has been a model of consistency in recent weeks. Running over 9 and 10 furlongs, the Connor Dore gelding has ran behind horses such as Greyfriarschorista, Archie Rice and Emerald Wilderness, as well as winning a Wolverhampton claimer. He should be taken advantage of whilst in form, and can hopefully give Hayley Turner the perfect welcome back present.
Trainer Nick Williams has a new stable jockey in the promising James Reveley and, after a luke warm start, things seem to be picking up. They have a promising novice hurdler in SWINCOMBE FLAME. A well supported 2/5 favourite last time out, she duly obliged, winning by an impressive 13 lengths. The mare’s form is working out well, especially her second last run where she finished second behind a decent Phillip Hobbs’ trained horse. The third and fourth have both won as well and the stable look to have another smart novice on their hands.
JP Ferguson, bloodstock agent to Sheikh Mohammed, has taken to training like a duck to water and is making a real name for himself. He has a strike rate of 36% and has struck up a good relationship with useful claimer Jack Quinlan. They team up with MONARCHS WAY in a handicap hurdle at Taunton. Bought after winning a maiden on the flat at Chantilly, the gelded son of King’s Best has shown glimpses of promise in maiden hurdles and looks very much like a work in progress. The stable clearly know how to get a horse ready for a handicap and he should build on his previous form.
Archie Ferguson Race - News
Running over 9 and 10 furlongs, the Connor Dore gelding has ran behind horses such as Greyfriarschorista, Archie Rice and Emerald Wilderness, as well as winning a Wolverhampton claimer. He should be taken advantage of whilst in form, and can hopefully
Archie Rice (2.15) did this column a good turn when landing the nap here last week, is similarly burdened in the opening race, while the consistent Eastward Ho (5.45), bidding to provide new Middleham trainer Jason Ward with his first success,
At 12pm the race started & Bogle wasted no time signalling his intentions as he lead the pack out followed by Jonny Steed Ballymena Runners, Archie McElhinney Sperrin Harriers and Conor Moore Omagh Harriers. Further down the field Nigel Davidson was
The Photos- 2009 Archie Ferguson Willie Goodwin Race
It was a beautiful, but cold day. We had some issues with one of out snogos and we barely made it to Noorvik 10 minutes ahead of the racers. I also, for the first time, froze my camera. Well, actually it was my 18-200mm vr lens that I froze. Itwouldn't auto focus any more and it wouldn't even manual focus at anything past 150mm. So all these photos were manually focused and luckily I still got some decent ones.