Gentle Ellen is a FUN (follow up nap) selection for division one of a Novice Stakes over five furlongs of ‘good to soft’ Beverley today when David Barron’s charge fits my median requirement and ticks more than enough boxes for a strong ‘investment!’
Following an encouraging debut over a similar distance at Carlisle, where she was beaten a head by Wee Loch Lass in brutal finish on a demanding surface, Gentle Ellen was upped in trip at Pontefract three weeks later and napped.
Throughout this Bungle Inthejungle filly travelled comfortably, ‘breezed’ into contention approaching the final furlong and then weakened into a two lengths fourth when Connor Beasley applied pressure; did Gentle Ellen fail to stay or were effects of a tough ‘first day at school’ a reason?
Actually Gentle Ellen improved her time-handicap mark!
Barron is arguably the best trainer I’ve ever known and though old, like so many of us, continues to plunder successfully with the right horses and though there are ‘form’ dangers I’m confident Connor will deliver the ‘Gentle touch!’
Later consistent, hitherto luckless 70-rated Vandad looks a ‘special’ for the Median Auction Stakes over five furlongs of ‘good to soft’ Brighton, absolutely ‘cert’ on my figures but he has been before and so, will it be EIGHTEENTH time lucky?
Following horses over a cliff seldom pays but I’m a patient, tolerant chap!
Running in tandem is ‘summer-jumping’ and Chance A Tune is one of only three capable of landing the Novices’ Hurdle over two miles of ‘good’ ground Southwell tonight; prolific veteran trainer Nigel Twiston Davies’ son, top flight jockey Sam, has decided to overlook the 117-rated six-year-old stable companion and side with last time course winner Olympic Conqueror.
Realistically it’s not a surprise because Sam can’t ride both and I’m always mystified when two runners are pitted against each other, even though usually they race in different colours; consistent Byzantium Empire could well upset them both!
In such circumstances, and most importantly, if all ‘decs’ go to post, my selection is a ‘nailed on’ each-way betting proposition, part of our daily patent which often wins provided they make the frame; on Sunday for instance Sed Maarib (13/2) and Tribal Chief (4/1) finished second and with Waleyfa a non-runner we supplied a 6/1 each-way double, plus.
To be honest July is proving disappointing but the buck stops at me; never make excuses, it’s pointless and negative, which I’m not; Italy proved it!
Incidentally given the inexplicability of Gareth Southgate’s ‘penalty’ decisions Sunday night he should resign immediately as England manager instead of insisting he’ll ‘see this through’, obviously because of his ludicrously high wage structure. He doesn’t fool me!
Selections, Beverley, 2.15 Gentle Ellen (nap-e.w); Southwell, 7.15 Chance a Tune (e.w); Brighton, 5.35 Vandad (e.w).
Jeffrey Ross, horse-racing correspondent for WMN since 1983 when winning the most prestigious racing journalist award, Sporting Life Naps Table, before winning it a record number of six times collectively in the Racing Post, the current ‘trade’ paper, including 2019