18th November - Race reviews

Today’s 3 tips shared one characteristic: they all handled the obstacles put in front of them very inefficiently.
As a rule of thumb, if you don’t jump with alacrity – you won’t win many NH races…!


Horse: Fiendish Flame
Price Advised: 16/1
ISP: 28/1
BSP: 40
Position: Unplaced

Fiendish Flame set the trend with one of the most alarming exhibition of hurdling I’ve seen in a long while, diving sharply to the right at most of the obstacles !
To be fair to the horse, he has done similar in the past: I knew that in advanced, but hoped it had been sorted out (otherwise why run him left handed ?)
Ultimately, he ran a tremendous race to only be beaten around 20lengths, as he must have forfeited far more than that with his erratic jumping.
He could only possibly be of interest if returned to a right handed track…


Horse: Doctor David
Price Advised: 7/1
ISP: 11/4
BSP: 3.51
Position: 2nd

Doctor David’s jumping display wasn’t anywhere near as shocking – but for a horse who was very fluent over his obstacles, it was still extremly disappointing.
He was hesitant at many of the fences and whilst he looked like becoming a fortuitous winner when Toubab fell at the second last, his lack of hard conditioning after his long absence, ultimately found him out.
I would be inclined to just watch him next time…


Horse: The Rainbow Hunter
Price Advised: 10/1
ISP: 7/1
BSP: 10.35
Position: Fell

Despite his fall, The Rainbow Hunter did at least manage to jump some of the obstacles cleanly. However, he was hesitant at just as many…
Ultimately, he paid the price for his ponderous jumping, when he was put under pressure.
His second successive failure to complete the course could well see him put back over hurdles next time for a confidence booster…