SD's Racing Ramble: Three midweek fancies and the flaws of 'Jumpers to Follow'

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 second edition features comments ahead of midweek cards at Sedgefield, Huntingdon and Ayr — plus some polite advice ahead of the jumps season...

It is fantastic to see Sedgefield racing on Wednesday — a true national hunt enthusiast venue. 

Chemical Warfare has been anything put poisoned this summer, though connections do need to be careful.

Eight runs since the start of the season is not a great look, particularly for a three-mile chaser. In an era where racing is in the societal spotlight, there is common sense in arguing horses in this sphere shouldn't be having so many runs in the space of five months.

Nonetheless, he won last time, but surely Whataboutyeh — only six lengths behind him but better off at the weights — can go closer here. In his first start for a year, that last run was full of promise and he can capitalise in the 2.28pm.

Tilsitt has two entries at Ayr on Thursday but should only be backed if he heads for the opener over ten furlongs.

He was well backed a few weeks ago at Hamilton and there have been ample excuses since, in terms of distance, time between races and class. Ten furlongs around Ayr should be fine though and he can justify each-way support.

Thirteen furlongs is not his trip, so hopefully connections do the sensible thing and run him in the opener. He is a bit of a boy, though and maybe playing very early — hopefully at a double-figure price — can reap dividends.

Not a lot else interested me this week but the bumper at Huntingdon on Tuesday deserves a mention, given the abundance of flat trainers in the race.

Maybe Slack Alice, whose dam won a bumper, is the way to go for lesser-known flat trainer Patrick Owens. The price may be aided with messers Boughey and Balding sending a contingent to Cambridgeshire.

At Redcar last Saturday, there was a notable bias on the straight course for those drawn low and who raced prominently. Indeed the first six home in the Two Year Old Trophy were drawn in the first eight, and Uncle Don was seventh out of 13.

Finishing best of those off the pace, he was palpably weak on the exchanges all day and ran with credit to finish where he did. Compensation awaits on his next start.

Finally, it is the gravy trainers' wet dream at this time of year, with various “jumpers to follow” now in publication.

The concept is fundamentally flawed on a number of levels. The horses involved are invariably a product of a top yard, meaning they are a feral price on their first start, usually in a novice hurdle somewhere and opening up at 1/3 after a “promising effort at Uttoxeter” or similar.

They very often face each other at some point in the season. And perhaps most crucially, no quarter is given to optimum conditions in terms of track, pace, ground or distance.

All told, it is a very easy way to the poor farm. No consideration is given to the form they may have had that season if following them and the entire concept is anarchical.

The way a horse runs depends on its adaptability to a set of circumstances which cannot be predetermined in August or September, when these are written. Such publications should be consigned to the slag heap of betting shop fodder.