forum.sports-pro.co.uk A discussion forum devoted to people who want to talk about sports and sports betting! People without a sense of humour need not apply!!
Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 11:59 am Post subject: Which Pocket - 7.10 Fontwell @ 12/1 (1st May 2009)
I have followed the aforementioned horse for years, and he has finally got his optimum race conditions again tomorrow.
WHICH POCKET is a horse who relishes good ground, which one would expect with him being sired by Norwich. I was astonished when he won at Chepstow on soft ground last year, but he always goes well on an undulating track.
His form this season may look pretty poor, but if you actually look through some of the form carefully, then there is encouragement that he has another race victory in him.
Newbury Result
14 Jan 2009
« 2:30 » European Operatives Handicap Chase (For the Harwell Trophy)
(Class 3) (0-125, 5yo+) 3m Soft 18 fences
£6,505.00, £1,910.00, £955.00, £477.00
« 1 The Sawyer (BEL) 8/1 9 11-6 R H Buckler 119 130 137 »
ch g Fleetwood (IRE) - Green Land (BEL) (Hero's Honor) W T Kennedy
Led 3rd, ridden and narrowly headed 2 out, stayed challenging last, stayed on gamely under pressure to lead again final 100yds, all out (op 12-1)
« 2 ½ Appleaday (IRE) 7/1 8 11-4 P R Webber 117 128 135 »
gr g Beneficial - Hello Aris (IRE) (Aristocracy) Dominic Elsworth
In touch, tracked leaders 13th, chased winner 3 out, driven to take slight advantage 2 out, ridden last, headed and no extra final 100yds (op 9-1)
« 3 18 Killard Point (IRE) 16/1 10 11-4 Mrs Caroline Bailey 117 112 117 »
b g Old Vic - Chic And Elite (Deep Run) Christian Williams
Chased leaders, went 2nd 12th, ridden 14th, lost 2nd 3 out, weakened next
« 4 2¾ Never So Blue (FR) 6/1F 8 11-3 Miss Venetia Williams 116 109 115 »
gr g April Night (FR) - Etiane Bleue (FR) (Reve Bleu) Sam Thomas
In rear, hit 7th and 11th, headway 14th, chasing leaders when hit 4 out, weakened from next (tchd 11-2)
« 5 5 Which Pocket (IRE) 20/1 11 11-5 tp B G Powell 118 107 112 »
br g Norwich - Toran Pocket (Proverb) Wilson Renwick
Chased leaders, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened after 3 out and hit next (op 28-1 tchd 16-1)
« 6 2¾ Dr Hart (IRE) 20/1 9 11-5 p B G Powell 121 107 112 »
b g Dr Massini (IRE) - Christy's Heart (IRE) (Broken Hearted) S P Jones3
Blundered 1st, in touch, headway 8th, weakened 13th (op 16-1)
« 7 1¼ Marufo (IRE) 14/1 7 11-0 Heather Dalton 113 98 101 »
b g Presenting - Bucks Cregg (IRE) (Buckskin) S J Craine
Took keen hold early, mistake 2nd, and not fluent 4th and 5th, steady headway 14th, ridden 4 out, weakened next
« 8 6 Joyryder 11/1 8 11-0 Carl Llewellyn 113 93 95 »
gr g Cloudings (IRE) - Knight Ryde (Broadsword) T J O'Brien
Chased winner most of way to 9th, stayed front rank, ridden 14th, weakened after 4 out (op 14-1 tchd 16-1)
« PU Not Left Yet (IRE) 10/1 8 11-12 D E Pipe 125 —
b/br g Old Vic - Dalus Dawn (Mandalus) Timmy Murphy
Blundered 6th and behinbd, tailed off when pulled up before 11th (op 7-1)
« PU Keenan's Future (IRE) 16/1 8 11-7 Ian Williams 120 — »
ch g Safety Catch (USA) - The Singer (IRE) (Accordion) Jason Maguire
Behind from 8th, tailed off when pulled up before last
« PU Mort De Rire (FR) 16/1 9 11-4 R H & Mrs S Alner 117 — »
gr g Luchiroverte (IRE) - Fia Rosa (FR) (Royal Charter) Andrew Thornton
In rear 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out (op 25-1)
« PU Night Safe (IRE) 13/2 8 11-2 N A Twiston-Davies 115 — »
b g Safety Catch (USA) - Rock All Night (IRE) (Orchestra) P J Brennan
Led to 3rd, stayed pressing leaders to 13th, weakened next and pulled up before 4 out (op 9-2)
« PU Master Somerville 10/1 7 11-0 b H D Daly 113 — »
b g Alflora (IRE) - Lucy Glitters (Ardross) Richard Johnson
Mid-division, some headway 10th, soon weakened, tailed off 12th, pulled up before 4 out (op 12-1)
« PU High Oscar 33/1 8 10-13 R Rowe 117 — »
b g Oscar (IRE) - Highfrith (Deep Run) Darren O'Dwyer5
Always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 11th
« PU Royal Kicks (FR) 11/1 8 10-5 Miss Suzy Smith 104 — »
b g Garde Royale - Al Kicks (FR) (Al Nasr) Colin Bolger
In rear from 9th, tailed off when pulled up before last (op 12-1)
15 ran TIME 6m 15.84s (slow by 25.84s) Total SP 122%
Subsequent form of race: -
Never So Blue - Class 3 Handicap Chase Winner
Appleady - Class 3 Handicap Chase Winner
The Sawyer – Grade 3 Chase Winner and 2nd in Grade B Handicap Chase at Punchestown
Killard Point – Class 4 Handicap Chase Winner
Marufo – Class 4 Handicap Chase Winner
« 1 Herecomesthetruth (IRE) 6/4F 6 11-5 P F Nicholls 133 133 153 »
ch g Presenting - Beagan Rose (IRE) (Roselier) R Walsh
Made all, jumped well, clear from 3 out, comfortably (op 13-8, tchd 7-4 in places)
« 2 8 Presenting Copper (IRE) 4/1 7 11-7 P J Hobbs 135 127 147 »
b m Presenting - Copper Supreme (IRE) (Supreme Leader) Richard Johnson
Mid-division, headway to chase winner 4th, not fluent 11th, stayed on same pace from 3 out (tchd 9-2)
« 3 6 Rustarix (FR) 4/1 7 10-13 A King 127 112 130 »
b g Housamix (FR) - Star Of Russia (FR) (Soviet Star) Robert Thornton
Held up, headway 7th, hit 11th, soon ridden, outpaced from 4 out (op 9-2 tchd 7-2)
« 4 shd Down The Stretch 25/1 8 10-7 J R Payne 121 106 123 »
b g Rakaposhi King - Si-Gaoith (Strong Gale) Liam Treadwell
Held up, in touch, ridden after 11th, outpaced from next (op 22-1)
« 5 ½ Which Pocket (IRE) 20/1 10 10-6 t B G Powell 120 105 125 »
br g Norwich - Toran Pocket (Proverb) Wilson Renwick
Held up, headway 11th, hit 13th, weakened after next
« 6 16 Moncadou (FR) 16/1 8 10-8 t Jonjo O'Neill 129 97 117 »
b/br g Cadoudal (FR) - Palencia (FR) (Taj Dewan) R P McLernon7
Held up, in rear when hit 4 out, soon weakened (op 12-1)
« 7 2¾ Randwick Roar (IRE) 20/1 9 10-10 G L Moore 124 89 107 »
b g Lord Americo - Le Bavellen (Le Bavard) Philip Hide
Held up, mistake 1st, headway 7th, weakened 12th
« 8 3 Arumun (IRE) 40/1 7 10-4 M J Scudamore 123 85 103 »
b g Posidonas - Adwoa (IRE) (Eurobus) John Kington5
Chased leaders until ridden and weakened approaching 12th (op 33-1)
« 9 24 Mister Quasimodo 16/1 8 11-12 p C L Tizzard 140 75 96 »
b g Busy Flight - Dubacilla (Dubassoff) Joe Tizzard
Behind and ridden 3rd, tailed off from 6th (tchd 18-1)
« F Loulou Nivernais (FR) 66/1 9 10-8 N J Hawke 122 —
b g Lights Out (FR) - Clemence (FR) (Vorias) David Dennis
Chased winner, not fluent 3rd, lost 1 place next, close 3rd when fell 7th
« F Golden Feather 16/1 6 10-4 Evan Williams 121 —
ch g Dr Fong (USA) - Idolize (Polish Precedent) D P Fahy3
In rear when fell 2nd (op 14-1 tchd 12-1)
« PU Warpath (IRE) 40/1 7 11-4 Evan Williams 132 — »
b g Alderbrook - Blake's Fable (IRE) (Lafontaine) Paul Moloney
Chased leaders, blundered 2nd, noit fluent after, lost place 5th, behind from next, tailed off when pulled up before 12th
12 ran TIME 4m 59.60s (slow by 12.60s) Total SP 117%
Subsequent Form of Race: -
Rustarix – Class 3 Handicap Chase Winner
Down The Stretch – 3rd in Class 3 Handicap Chase
Presenting Copper – Widely seen as a Class 2 horse over fences and hurdles
Herecomesthetruth – Graded Winner
He has dropped to a mark of 113, and as the horse has shown that he can carry the weight courtesy of his win at Chepstow off top weight in March 2008, the trainer has shrewdly dropped him to a class 4 handicap 0-115. Although he will be carrying 11 stone 10 lbs, it will be on top of the ground and he has previously won off top weight. Further, Brendon Powell had a horrendous run of stable form during the first 4 months of this year where I don’t think he had a winner. Which Pocket didn’t run between 14 January 2009 – 19 April 2009. Why? I think Brendon knew how well handicapped Which Pocket was over fences and didn’t want to run him during a period when his horses might be suffering from a stable virus. In addition, the weather was atrocious during this period and must have thought it would be best to save the horse for decent spring jumping ground. The reason why he ran him over hurdles around Stratford is a classic prep used by many trainers to merely sharpen up a horse before landing a coup. If anyone saw that race then they will note that Which Pocket travelled well until he was pushed along 3 out. It should be noted that the whip wasn’t raised to him once and it was all hands and heals, some might call it schooling in public, others might call it giving a horse an easy time when there was no chance of winning. The cheekpieces are off today but the tongue tie remains in place.
I explain his early disappointments around Wetherby and Southwell as simply being too high in the handicap (a mark of 130) and he really needed those races judging from what I read about his appearance in the paddock. The reason why he ran a little below par in the Newbury handicap listed above this season can be explained due to the tacky soft ground, especially around Newbury, some horses really don’t act on it, and the trip of 3 miles which I think stretched his stamina. Nonetheless he ran a reasonable race. Regarding the handicap at Chepstow listed above, I think the class of race caught him a little along with the soft ground. His run in the Grand Sefton can best be forgotten, firstly the race was upgraded from a Class 3 handicap to a Class 2 handicap, the rain really went against him as he hated the heavy ground, and thanks to Turpin Green, he was running half a stone out of the handicap proper. He still gave a reasonable account of himself and got around in his own time. I have to admit that I was genuinely disappointed with his effort at Cheltenham earlier this season, he never travelled or jumped like his usual self and was eventually pulled up. As his strength is normally his very accurate and safe jumping, it was a most disappointing effort. It just shows that his form is in the book, as Junctiontwentyfour, a horse he hammered earlier last year finished 2nd again.
Last season he won in two Class 3 Chase Handicaps off marks of 116 and 125 respectively. As previously mentioned, he runs off 113 tomorrow. He ran to marks of 132 three times last season and to 125 in the handicap chase at Chepstow listed above.
Arguably, 2 miles 6 Furlongs may stretch him, I disagree. Provided he runs his race, he will stay the trip and see it out tomorrow. He won around Cheltenham over 2 miles 5 furlongs on tacky ground so I personally have no doubts about him seeing out the trip.
Fontwell is clearly a track that plays to his strength. He has run there on 3 occasions finishing 2nd from 13 runners in a novice hurdle race, 2nd from 4 runners and 1st from 8 runners in chase races.
Fortunately Brendon Powell has had a couple of winners of late and his stable appear to have turned the corner.
My only genuine worry is if he just doesn’t produce his true form for whatever reason tomorrow. He has had a tendency to travel and jump well only to weaken late on this season. I have excused this for various reasons, too high in handicap, soft-tacky ground, trip beyond him, etc. I could well be very wrong and will hold my hands up but I firmly believe that tomorrow is the first time this season that he will have his optimum race conditions and he has dropped right down the handicap whilst waiting for them and is also allegeable to run in this lower class of race.
A little word for the opposition today. Mr Big has done well of late, but has been raised 9 lbs for a win in Class 4 handicap company and has always been found wanting against Class 3 handicap horses. Same rules apply for Ammunition. As I consider Which Pocket a Class 3 handicap chaser I am more than willing to take them both on. I Hear Thunder looks too slow these days and fully exposed but might stay on for a place. Sprosser is the horse highlighted by the Racingpost. He has been thoroughly disappointing this season and run as though there is something physically wrong with him. If he suddenly wins tomorrow then I can only think of two reasons of how this is possible, 1) He has had a wind operation since his last run or 2) He has been stopped all season to get his handicap mark down and his odds up for connections to hammer him for one race. Either way, I'm still siding with Which Pocket. If the money comes for The Venetian then I may have a saver on him as he is still unexposed and open to further improvement. The Alner runners should always be respected in these type of handicap chases but neither make any appeal to me today. I consider the remaining horses much or a muchness. I like the market forecast in the Racingpost, Ammunition if paper favourite at 9/2 in an 11 runner race which suggests an open looking race without a standout horse at the head of the market.
I would watch the market for Which Pocket as I anticipate a huge gamble on the horse, which is why I didn’t back him at all last night on the exchanges as I think that you have to allow the owners and connections to get on first before you do, just to show a little respect otherwise they may pull the carpet from underneath you! If he is well backed then take the hint.
I rarely suggest to anyone to back a horse but if you have some loose change I think Which Pocket is worth a go with optimum conditions to suit today in the 7.10 Fontwell. If doesn't do the business today then I will not be backing him again, as he really ought to win.
Regards
(I appreciate that this should really have gone in the Friday daily thread but I thought firstly, some people may not have seen it if added it in there and secondly, it would have also spoiled that thread as this is so long winded!)
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Join! (free) 
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
