Tuesday's card featured the first round (3 semi
finals of the Circuit), some Grand Prix trials stakes and some
graded fodder.
Got stuck at the bar as the late
comers came in. Intended to back Scorpio
Branch. No guesses for what happened next. Flying
Fantasy started well and led up. Scorpio
Branch produced his best break to date and ran on and led at the
3rd for a convincing win.
I informed the Racing
Post experts that I thought that "Aero
Vesuvio (AV)" was a runner in the hurdles. I suggested
that, though he jumped up in the air last week, that he was a bit
unlucky, as he was done at the 3rd bend. They all thought I was
clueless, and while many weeks they would have been proved right,
this wasn't one of them. AV turned 2nd behind the leader Ballymacs
Back, took over at the 3rd bend and held on desperately after
dwelling for England. Perhaps he was toying with his rivals? I
think AV is a "performer" at the Stow and find it hard to
forget his coat-in-the-mouth incident. He'll make a very lovely pet
for someone some day.
Coolanga
Flyer and Westmead
Liz broke well together in the Div 3 Grand Prix trial stakes. Westmead
Liz swung round in front and that was that. Coolanga
Flyer kept on for second and none of the others threatened to
land a blow.
The A7 was an instantly forgettable
affair. There were a few leaders and Clonbrin
Sara popped his head in front near the line. Run the race again
and who knows who might have won.
The first heat of
the Circuit went to one of my favourite recent Stow performers in Jazz
Hurricane. She got a charmed run round the first two turns and
will need to step up on this effort to win the final. She led off
the second bend and won comfortably after. She ruined Cobra Striking
one night back in March and will have this one to beat in the final.
Milldean
Flash trapped modestly (as usual) paced up well to the bend, but
ran below par in second. Black
Horse probably should have finished 2nd. He flew down the back
straight and met them at the wrong time.
In the Div
2 Grand Prix trials stakes Smooth
Darika was a fast starter and a trap-to-line winner. A well
known face was screaming the place down all the way round. Now, I
wonder if it could have been Gerry? Westmead
Nicole was a long way from impressive in second.
The
next A7 saw Sparkys
Stag turn round in front. Genesis
Outlaw turned handy behind and there was only ever going to be
one result. Genesis
Outlaw took it up at the 3rd. Sparkys
Stag faded at the 3rd bend and still managed 2nd, albeit 5L
behind the winner.
Top W'stow pro punter Gerry,
landed a nice double as Legal
Major cracked out and made all in the second Circuit heat. Hes
On Fire stayed on well for second. Milldean
Buster and Astute
Gift were bitterly disappointing in behind. Astute
Gift didn't run the bends well and Milldean
Buster was poor from the 3rd bend.
Butterbridge
Ali was modestly away, but was quickly into his stride in the
Div 1 Grand Prix trials stakes. He led between the first two bends
and pulled right away. There was little competition for him here. At
this point, the Grand Prix looks to be between Butterbridge
Ali and Fear
Robben. Where are the rest of the contenders? The Circuit final
and the start of the Grand Prix look to be too close for Jazz
Hurricane to compete in the GP.
Too
Risky paced up very well in the 3rd Circuit heat and the
prolific Cobra
Striking still managed to get to the front. Too
Risky was not at all fluent at any of the bends and Cobra
Striking didn't face any real challengers after leading. Too
Risky still managed to finish 2nd. Ronnies
Earner got tired from the 3rd bend.
Blackmagic
Rose broke best in the A5, but as he moved towards the rails
nearing the bend, he came together with Blackmagic
Rose. This allowed Hillcross
Silk to hit the front running into the bend, but he was turned
sideways by Blue
Screamer at the bend. Journey
East started slowly, but was the only one to get a clear run
(other than the very slow starting Headleys
Cross) and he took it up from half way. He powered right away
from the field. Blue
Screamer plugged on for second.
Dysert
Cara made all in the A4. There was plenty of trouble behind. The
eye catching one in the race was Directors
Choice, who showed plenty of pace down the back straight after
suffering a right hammering at the first bend. Paid
In Cash didn't run the bends fluently, but kept on for second.