The word “Abandoned”, was writ large on the television screens of armchair punters yesterday as the UK is held tightly within the clenched fist of this cold period. Turf racing stands little or no chance of escaping the elements, but the barometer of just how chilly things have become was seen with the cancellation of racing at Wolverhampton. Yes, good old gritty Dunstall Park even succumbed to the freezing conditions and while I will hardly shed a tear for the eight races never to be run, I have a sneaking suspicion that they will have some similar replacements very soon.

The Donkey’s hand therefore was called and with it, selected a meagre three horses out of a possible seven races, at not so Leafy Lingfield. Two were readily beaten, but the third selected, the Tony Newcombe trained Majehar duly confounded the 8/13 on offer and won as he pleased. Last off the mark in October ‘07 when racing of a rating of 58, this son of Marju was not winning out of turn, but it speaks volumes for the quality of his rivals that he was able to win so readily off a mark of 59 when he had patently failed off 60 and 61 of late.

There is not really much to say other than with further abandonments logged for today and tomorrow, it might be an idea to have a look at some of the ante-post markets and see if you can find any value for a bet to lay. Big Zeb in the Champion Chase jumps at me and if anything were to befall the short priced, Master Minded well then matters would develop an altogether different complexion.

Time to consolidate.

Best of luck,

Don

There was a haunting icy shadow cast over yesterday’s proceedings and with it the sense of inertia. It’s hard to get worked up over the mundanity of an all weather card that has no underlying narrative and looks so similar to so many other races, run of late. There are those who welcome the all weather with open arms, saying that its fantastic to have any racing at all during these cold spells. I like many others take quite the opposing view, I would rather this standard of racing did not exist and we had a “dark day”, a day of rest and abstinence from the assembly line of similarity. My feelings are shared across the industry as borne out by the betting turnover figures on Saturday, when in the UK, it was the worst day for an eternity.

However, rant over and back to the good stuff, there was a beacon of light amidst the prevailing greyness and that took place at the particularly grey Naas. The Willie Mullins bandwagon continued and within his treble was the outstanding Mikael D’Haguenet. Racing in the Grade 2, Slaney Hurdle, the 1/3 jolly oozed class in defying a penalty and a woefully pedestrain earlier pace, to give some decent opposition an absolute pasting. Whether, he will be at the Festival come March is an entirely different proposition but as Ruby Walsh said yesterday, he is a machine.

His price was clipped as suggested yesterday for the Ballymore as he won in good style and maybe the back to lay suggestion could be a good idea in running at the Deloitte and La Touche on Hennessy day at Leopardstown.

Best of luck today,

Don