A Runner at Southwell!

Thanksforthehelp Runs at Southwell Today!

Today, on the penultimate day of the 2022/23 National Hunt season we have just the one runner at Southwell, Thanksforthehelp.  He runs in the 6.50pm novices hurdle over 2m4f and Jack Tudor rides.  Our six year old was the impressive winner at Chepstow on his penultimate start and was one of the favourites for the Pertemps final at the Festival last month.  He didn’t get a lot of luck in running that day, shaping better than the bear result suggests.  He finished twelfth but was only beaten eight lengths so it was not a bad run at all.  He is very lightly raced and I think there is more to come, especially when he goes over fences next season.  There are only six runners in this novice hurdle which looks fairly competitive on paper but we are the highest rated and best in at the weights so I would like to think he has a great chance.

Bashful Boy unfortunately fell at Warwick yesterday at the fourth last, he was still going well at the time but it was too far out to say what might have happened.  Thankfully he seems none the worse for that fall this morning and Philip is also okay which is the main thing.

Last night at Taunton Kingofthewest ran his best race so far this season. He travelled well in blinkers but maybe just found the trip slightly on the short side on this track. He galloped all the way to the line and it was a good step in the right direction. Dindin ran another solid race. The rain did not really help his chances but he handled the ground fine. Coming from off the pace, he could never quite reach the front pair who lead throughout but he kept on well and it was a good performance.

Yesterday Jack Tudor was in action at Punchestown.  He rode ord Snootie in the 6.00pm handicap hurdle to finish fifth I believe this was his first ride at the track and he didn’t get long to stay in Ireland as he is back to ride at Southwell for us this evening and he teams back up with Kitty’s Light in the Bet365 handicap chase at Sandown on Saturday.

As well as jumping action at Southwell they also race over the sticks at Chepstow and Perth.  They race on the flat at Sandown and Doncaster and it is day four of the Punchestown Festival in Ireland.  State Man is the short priced favourite for the Irish Champion hurdle at 5.25pm and after finishing runner up to Constitution Hill in the Champion hurdle at Cheltenham in March he looks sure to get back to winning ways today.  A Willie Mullins trained trio are at the head of the market in just a six runner race and I would be very surprised should State Man not win.  The following race at 6.00pm is the Champion novices hurdle over two miles and this looks set to go the way of the Closutton stable as well.  Impaire Et Passe won the Supreme novices hurdle impressively last time out and again is a short prices favourite to follow up.   

Dual Grand National winning jockey Derek Fox is out of action for at least six weeks after breaking his collarbone in a fall at Perth on Wednesday. 

On Wednesday evening Man City put up an impressive performance to beat Arsenal 4-1 and the Premiership title is now surely in their hands.  Last night Manchester United drew with Tottenham 2-2.

Why are lawyers buried 12 feet under?  Because deep down they are really good people!  Happy Friday!