Tuesday, November 20, 2007

In a nutshell...

Following his fourth consecutive win in Cheltenham's Cross Country Chase, and his seventh overall, fourteen year old Spot Thedifference looks like making a determined bid to become the most popular chaser in training.

The Paul Nicholls' stable endured a Saturday from hell, losing Willyanwoody and Granit Jack. First choice jockey Ruby Walsh is sidelined until Christmas with a dislocated shoulder after the fall from Willyandwoody. Perhaps now's the time to consider Christmas cards from the Injured Jockeys Fund.

On Sunday the weather in the Cotswolds turned nasty, big time; the concluding bumper was cancelled. I was slightly annoyed to have missed What A Buzz who ran into a place at 80/1. I've seen this horse, built like the proverbial brick outhouse, run at Towcester on heavy ground. His trainer looked to be flying high at Cheltenham, but the conditions suited to a tee and at that price the horse would have been worth a small interest.

Kauto Star goes for the Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday, that race being the first leg in the Betfair Million. The new 'Northwest Racing Masters' meetings take place at Haydock on Saturday and Aintree on Sunday. In addition this weekend there is the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon to look forward to, as well as a decent card at Ascot.

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