SD's Racing Ramble: Hexham hopes and a message for Peter Savill
Having amassed a loyal following on our Races Now YouTube channel thanks to a combination of outstanding tipping and forthright opinions, the unimitable 'SD' has now signed up for a weekly column right here on OddsNow.com!
Today's first edition includes insight ahead of a weekend card at SD's favourite venue...
One way to get an edge is try and look at races others don’t look at as much. The more eyes on a race then ergo the correlation in price and chance of winning.
You may disagree, but a 7/1 winner pays the same at Kelso or Hexham, rather than the Arc, which will now have had its inside leg measurements taken on multiple occasions.
Indeed, whilst we become all continental and try to pretend for the day to be Charles De Gaulle, the highest rated horse in the North of England heads to Kelso this Sunday. His trainer has a better strike rate than Nicky Henderson since April 2020.
Whilst Nicky, complete with obligatory Unibet gilet, endlessly pontificates about utopia in turf, Ann Hamilton just gets on with the job — to much success, too.
Nicky’s 20% strike rate, funded by expensive purchases and facilities the envy of his peers, is still very good but a double take was required for Ann’s astonishingly high 27%. Ably assisted by husband Ian, they are a hugely impressive 39 from 147 in the last five years.
What is more remarkable is this Sunday’s feature at Kelso worth £40,000 has been won by Ann four years of the last six. How lovely it would be if she would make it five out of seven. She probably will with Tommy’s Oscar.
There are some interesting contests at Britain’s most scenic racecourse on Friday. The first race (2:20pm) in particular is of some interest and it maybe advisable to wager whatever Sean Quinlan rides.
Magical Arthur has fairly flew home on his two races at Worcester and went in my notebook last time when buffeted two out, but staying on to great effect. A 1lb higher mark is not insurmountable, though he also has an entry at Southwell on Thursday.
Ange Endormi takes a bit more explaining, but connections have been patient and there were signs last time at Cartmel that the ability still remains. On his second run after a wind operation, he can go well off a mark 9lbs lower than when fourth two years ago.
It will be fascinating to see which one Sean rides and support is suggested for his choice.
From the same yard as the latter, Sputnik — a previous Hexham winner — looks very favourably treated in the 5:15pm.
Rated as high as 97 in his pomp, a mark of 80 does look tasty. The switch from Jackie Stephen, whose strike rate is moderate to put it mildly, to Lizzie Quinlan might just spark him back into orbit.
Looking further ahead, Banana, who was subject to a crap ride a week last Monday when poorly positioned and a slightly better one last Friday when third, might well reward each-way support in the 7.00pm (race may divide) at Wolverhampton on Saturday.
A 34-race maiden, he is in form and capable of winning one of these if drawn amiably and having the run of the race, ideally from the front.
Away from the track, I will leave you this week with an extract from Peter Savill’s speech in June 2004 at the BHB (as it was known then) AGM.
“When I became BHB Chairman in June 1998, I had 2 basic goals: to put British Racing on a firm financial footing and to modernise the sport.”
Didn’t go very well did it, Peter? So instead of meddling for seemingly the 767th time again two decades on, leave it to someone else.