17th September 2012

The weekend has well and truly come to an end, and what a weekend it's been. With top class racing from Doncaster, Paris and Toronto, this weekend has shown how truly global this great sport is and how much of an impact it actually does make. The only problem is that it means the next few days are a bit thin on the ground in terms of real quality racing. We don't have the pleasure of a festival this week to fill time until the weekend, but tips and previews of any races that catch the eye will continue to be posted on here until we get to Saturday again.

16.10 Musselburgh

5 furlong races are hard to call, nevermind the fact that this is a nursery. However the going helps to narrow this down slightly and it looks as if the Fahey horses are those to concentrate on. Of the two, preference is for BISPHAM GREEN over Done Dreaming, who arrives in good form with very respectable runs against much better opposition in his last few starts. The form behind The Taj also gives us a link back to the form that worked out so well over the weekend. The 4 pound rise in this company may not be enough to stop him getting to the line first, especially with the 5 pound claimer he receives. 3/1

16.05 Listowel

With only four runners in the field, this could be a real tactical affair, and in those instances it's great to have an experienced jockey to call upon in Ruby Walsh on top of SWEET MY LORD. Similar to the previous race, the ground is going to be crucial here, and Ruby's mount will certainly handle the give underfoot and appreciate the step back up to 2m4. Carlito Brigante on the other hand, although an extremely classy animal, will find the conditions tough, and is avoided. Ballyadam Brook is another who should enjoy the soft ground, but his defeat of Cavite Beta took a knock yesterday when the runner up went off favourite at Listowel and didn't perform. Pride of the Arctic comes here in great form racking up a couple of victories, but the form has had a varying mix of support since and conceding weight to Sweet My Lord should make this difficult for him. Evens

16.35 Listowel

A novice hurdle with such patchy form from the runners will often spring a surprise. Chiltern Hills connections warrant respect, but his form is not sufficiently strong enough to follow. Instead TROPICAL THREE is fancied to make a winning start under rules, especially with the eyecatching booking of Barry Geraghty. The other horses in the race look either exposed or likely to struggling conceding weight to this horse, who could be anything. Current price unavailable, but at 5.8 on Betfair. Market support will be particularly indicative of a big run.

Good luck!

The Horse Whisperer