Saturday, February 21, 2004

THE VALUE BETTING COLUMN EVERY SATURDAY

NEWCASTLE, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2004

BP = 20/1 Coral Eurobet, Blue Square, Ladbrokes & Stanleybet

2) -42P Maximize Martin Pipe 10-11-05 Rodi Greene
Formerly a very useful performer but no real encouragement on three starts for Martin Pipe this season. Has had a break and may run better when fresh.

BP = 20/1 Ladbrokes, Tote, Stanleybet, Bet 365 & William Hill

3) 4344 Ardent Scout Sue Smith 12-11-04 J R Ryan (7)
Goes well in this type of event and has generally been running OK this season. One to consider, especially with claimer taking valuable weight off his back but may still be a bit high in the handicap.

BP = 16/1 Coral Eurobet

4) 1222 Fasgo Paul Nicholls 9-11-02 Joe Tizzard
Just keeps getting touched off in long distance chases and entitled to be thereabouts again here, although he continues to climb up the handicap and is not great value. Last ran on January 1.

BP = 13/2 Coral Eurobet

5) 113P What Odds Tucker Geraghty 8-11-01 Ross Geraghty (3)
Irish hunter chaser who looked a bit slow when third in valuable chase at Warwick before subsequently pulling-up at Punchestown. Lightly-raced enough to improve further but odds are not great.

BP = 12/1 except Tote

6) 0-U2 Lord Jack Nicky Richards 8-11-00t Brian Harding
Useful novice last season but unproven at this trip. He was running on at the death last time out at Ayr but this is much tougher.

BP = 18/1 Bet365

7) 11-2 Only Once Len Lungo 9-11-00 Tony Dobbin
Former Irish pointer who has won two of his three starts under rules and looks a thorough stayer in the making. Open to more improvement and could well be the joker in the pack but a short-price for one so inexperienced and he had a prep race over hurdles only seven days ago.

BP = 7/1 Ladbrokes & Bet365

8) P-64 Carryonharry Martin Pipe 10-10-13v Gerry Supple (3)
Quirky but talented on his day and has looked at times as though an extreme distance would suit. This may be the occasion as he does not want the ground too soft.

BP = 25/1 Coral Eurobet, Tote,Bet365 & William Hill

9) 1112 Magical Bailiwick Martin Pipe 8-10-11 Jamie Moore (3)
Has been in great form this season and not disgraced by his second place behind Tyneandthyneagain at Doncaster last time. Has looked as if he will stay well and one to consider though he has had plenty of hard races as well as having crept up in the weights.

BP = 8/1 Tote

10) F514 Luzcadou Ferdy Murphy 11-10-08v Anthony Ross
Fortunate winner at Ayr on penultimate appearance and hard to fancy on the balance of form this season and seems best over shorter distances.

BP = 33/1 Blue Square & Bet365

11) -UP3 Granit D’Estruval Ferdy Murphy 10-10-08 Alan Dempsey
Showed a little more sparkle last time and could run a big race over a trip which will suit him.

BP = 28/1 Coral Eurobet, Ladbrokes & Tote

12) -410 Dark Room Jonjo O’Neill 7-10-08 Conor O’Dwyer
Won over 2m 6f over the Grand National fences in November before finishing down the field in competitive contest at Leopardstown. Has not really looked as though he is a true stayer in the past.

BP = 14/1 Coral Eurobet

13) 3435 Robbo Mary Reveley 10-10-4 F King (5)
Quirky old performer who is best left alone.

BP = 25/1 Tote

14) 2211 Tipsy Mouse Sue Smith 8-10-00 Warren Marston
Progressive performer this year who should stay this trip well judged on his gutsy effort at Haydock last time out. Leading contender but still has something to prove.

BP = 6/1 Ladbrokes

15) 2-21Harlov Andrew Parker 9-10-00p Richard McGrath
Just held on over 3m 6f at Catterick last time and he is a chaser going the right way. He stays well but the big question is whether his price is any value.

BP = 13/2 Coral Eurobet & William Hill

16) -P4P Dionn Righ Howard Johnson 9-10-00tp Graham Lee
Generally poor form over the past two seasons and easy to oppose off 4lb out of the handicap.

BP = 50/1 Blue Square

17) -556 River Bug Jamie Poulton 10-10-00b Colin Bolger (5)
Stays this distance and has an outsider’s chance even though he is 7lb out of the handicap.

BP = 66/1 Tote

18) PB44 Nativetrial Charlie Mann 9-10-00tb David Crosse (3)
Another who will get the trip but simply too slow to win from 12lb out of the handicap.

BP = 40/1 Blue Square, Tote & William Hill

19) 4171 Briar Rose N M L Ewart 9-10-00 Barry Keniry
Stays well and acts on this course but hard to enthuse about from 24lb out of the handicap.

BP = 66/1 generally

20) 5432 Shining Tyne Bob Johnson 10-10-00tb Kenny Johnson
Stable has been in good form this year but hard to enthuse about this one from 2st 4lb out the handicap.

BP=150/1 generally

SUMMARY
This an open race but the best value appears to be with CARRYONHARRY so get on each-way.

GOOD FIELD IN PROSPECT FOR RED SQUARE VODKA GOLD CUP

The famous 3m 4f 110yds handicap chase has proved an excellent pointer to the Martell Cognac Grand National and the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Arctic Jack, trained by Sue Smith, won Haydock’s Peter Marsh Chase in January when staying on well to beat Kingscliff by 13 lengths and has been aimed at the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup since that victory. He will then go for the Cheltenham Gold Cup or the Grand National.

Kingsmark would be the first runner for Martin Todhunter in the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup and the trainer also has Just In Debt entered. Kingsmark has a fine record at Haydock where he has won three Edward Hanmer Memorial Chases (2000, 2001 and 2002).

Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of Bindaree, the 2002 Martell Grand National winner, also has Shardam in the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup which he won with Frantic Tan in 2001.

Lord Noelie was successful in a Cheltenham handicap chase on New Year’s Eve to give Bridget Nicholls her first training success and is on target for the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup.

Paul Nicholls, successful with Shotgun Willy last year in the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup, has two possibles in Exit To Wave and Fasgo. The former has been third on three of his four starts this season including in a handicap chase at Sandown earlier this month. Fasgo has reaped the benefits of a breathing operation over the summer, finishing in the first two on all four outings this term including a five-length victory on his seasonal bow at Newton Abbot in November.

Champion trainer Martin Pipe, who won this very valuable event in 1998 with Dom Samourai, has nine entries to choose from. Stormez is ultra-consistent, having been in the first three on 17 of his last 19 starts including when runner-up in both lasts season’s Scottish Grand National and attheraces Gold Cup, Jurancon II was second to Southern Star in the Tote Classic Chase at Warwick last month, while Akarus was runner-up in last year’s Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter. Pipe’s contingent is completed by You’re Agoodun, Maximize , Dark Stranger, Carryonharry, Magical Bailiwick and Imperial De Thaix..

Bear On Board, winner of his last three starts for trainer Alan King, Jonjo O’Neill’s foursome of Clan Royal, Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup Joss Naylor, Native Emperor and World Wide Web, Richard Guest’s Red Striker, the 2002 winner of Haydock’s Peter Marsh Chase, former leading Irish hunter chaser Joe Blake and the Noel Meade-trained Coq Hardi Diamond, winner of the Grand National Trial at Punchestown on February 1, are among other possible runners.

The five-day confirmation stage for the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup is on Monday (February 23).

Adam Waterworth, Haydock’s Managing Director, commented today: “The Red Square Vodka Gold Cup is Haydock’s top jump race of the season and we are looking forward to an excellent contest in a week’s time.”

THE RED SQUARE VODKA GOLD CUP

Form Horse Age/Wt Owner Trainer
14P52/F- WHAT'S UP BOYS (IRE) 10-11-12 Mrs J F Deithrick Philip Hobbs
24/13-36 KINGSMARK (IRE) 11-11-11 Sir Robert Ogden Martin Todhunter
PU3/-131 ARCTIC JACK (FR) 8-11-11 Trevor Hemmings Sue Smith
06-F216 BINDAREE (IRE) 10-11-07 Raymond Mould Nigel Twiston-Davies
1222-233 STORMEZ (FR) 7-11-06 David Johnson Martin Pipe
U0P-541 LORD NOELIE (IRE) 11-11-05 Executive Racing Bridget Nicholls
5/1110-2 JOSS NAYLOR (IRE) 9-11-00 Darren Mercer Jonjo O'Neill
12-U11P0 SHARDAM (IRE) 7-11-00 Howard Parker Nigel Twiston-Davies
1P20U-3 YOU'RE AGOODUN 12-10-12 Jeff Lammiman Martin Pipe
P/5022U- RED STRIKER 10-10-11 Norman Mason Richard Guest
0/-22P210 TYNEANDTHYNEAGAIN 9-10-11 Norman Mason Richard Guest
3P-2212 NATIVE EMPEROR 8-10-10 J C, J R and S R Hitchins Jonjo O'Neill
13-1452 JURANCON II (FR) 7-10-10 David Johnson Martin Pipe
3122035 JUST IN DEBT (IRE) 8-10-08 J W Hazeldean Martin Todhunter
6P02-FP AKARUS (FR) 9-10-07 A J White Martin Pipe
51411-1 CLAN ROYAL (FR) 9-10-07 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
UP-3533 EXIT TO WAVE (FR) 8-10-07 Malcolm Pearce & Gerry Mizel II Paul Nicholls
41F/31-12 JOE BLAKE (IRE) 9-10-06 Ronnie Bartlett Len Lungo
12-P111 BEAR ON BOARD (IRE) 9-10-04 J E Brown Alan King
2/24-322 WAIN MOUNTAIN 8-10-04 Bill Smith and Mick Dudley Jim Old
04F-42P MAXIMIZE (IRE) 10-10-04 David Johnson Martin Pipe
600032/- DARK STRANGER (FR) 13-10-03 Terry Neill Martin Pipe
11-30U05 SKYCAB (IRE) 12-10-03 P H Betts (Holdings) Ltd Nick Gifford
35-1222 FASGO (IRE) 9-10-01 F A Smith Paul Nicholls
P1-113P WHAT ODDS (IRE) 8-10-00 Dee Racing Syndicate Tucker Geraghty IRE
110-121 WORLD WIDE WEB (IRE) 8-10-00 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
4-31P4P EBONY LIGHT (IRE) 8-10-00 Roger Bellamy Ginger McCain
1-1PP10 BALLYBROPHY (IRE) 9-9-13 Keith Berry Simon Sherwood
145F35 MERCHANTS FRIEND (IRE) 9-9-13 Magic Moments Charlie Mann
P46P-64 CARRYONHARRY (IRE) 10-9-12 Drs' David Silk, J Castro, M Gillard, P Walker Martin Pipe
F11112 MAGICAL BAILIWICK (IRE) 8-9-10 Islands Racing Connection Martin Pipe
P6/1-1P16 COURSING RUN (IRE) 8-9-10 The Hon Mrs A E Heber-Percy Henry Daly
F41-001 COQ HARDI DIAMOND (IRE) 10-9-09 Catherine Howard Noel Meade IRE
425P21 MULTI TALENTED (IRE) 8-9-03 David Cox Lawrence Wells
P-00220 IMPERIAL DE THAIX (FR) 8-9-02 Jeff Lammiman Martin Pipe
131-P2P TOULOUSE-LAUTREC (IRE) 8-8-07 John French Tom George

36 entries
2 Irish-trained

BREAKDOWN OF TRAINERS WITH ENTRIES IN THE RED SQUARE VODKA GOLD CUP WITH PAST SUCCESSES

HISTORY

This prestigious extended three and a half mile handicap, supported by Red Square Vodka for the second time in 2004, always attracts some of the top chasers and is the ideal stepping stone for the Martell Cognac Grand National. It was first run in 1968 and the distance raced over was three miles up to and including the 1990 renewal.

Red Rum ran at Haydock before all of his five Grand Nationals and, more recently, Party Politics (1992) and Earth Summit (1998) have used the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup before going on to victory at Aintree.

The Paul Nicholls-trained Shotgun Willy won the 2003 Red Square Vodka Gold Cup in a thrilling finish, beating the Martin Pipe-trained duo of You're Agoodun and Iris Bleu with his half-brother, Welsh National winner Mini Sensation, Martell Cognac Grand National victor Bindaree and Take Control, the 2002 Scottish Grand National hero, all behind him.

Frantic Tan enjoyed a runaway success when winning for trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies in 2001, while The Last Fling completed a memorable treble when he won the chase in 2000, having already landed the Edward Hanmer Memorial Chase and Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock.

The Peter Beaumont-trained Young Kenny jumped to the front and never looked likely to relinquish his lead when he scored in 1999. The Ardross gelding went on to justify favouritism in that year's Scottish Grand National by nine lengths. Champion trainer Martin Pipe has also had a winner as some bold jumping from Dom Samourai earned a well-deserved victory in 1998.

Suny Bay produced a near-faultless display of jumping to triumph in 1997 and was well-backed for the Grand National at Aintree, where he finished the 25-length runner-up to Lord Gyllene. He filled the same position at Liverpool the following season, this time 11 lengths adrift of Earth Summit.

In 1993 the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup was won by top weight Party Politics, who had taken previous year's Grand National by two and a half lengths from Romany King.

Not just a pointer towards Grand Nationals, the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup also bodes well for future Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup winners. Adrian Maguire rode Cool Ground to victory at Haydock in 1992 and was again in the saddle when defeating The Fellow by a short-head at Prestbury Park in the Cheltenham Gold Cup less than a month later.

The 1988 Red Square Vodka Gold Cup winner Yahoo was narrowly beaten by Desert Orchid at Cheltenham in 1989, while both Earls Brig (1985) and Sunset Cristo (1981) won at Haydock before finishing third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The Peter Easterby-trained Alverton, the 1979 Haydock victor, followed up in that year's Gold Cup when he justified joint-favouritism at Cheltenham under a fine ride from Jonjo O'Neill to defeat Royal Mail by 25 lengths.

Three years earlier Royal Frolic also achieved this magnificent big race double for owner Sir Edward Hanmer. He ran on well in the Gold Cup to beat Brown Lad by five lengths in an 11-strong field which also consisted of Glanford Brigg (the 1974 Red Square Vodka Gold Cup hero) in fifth and beaten favourite Bula one place further back.

Bregawn was hampered two out when the length second behind Scot Lane in the 1982 renewal of the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup. The following year he went on to triumph in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham, where he rewarded favourite backers when five lengths too powerful for Captain John.

THE RED SQUARE VODKA GOLD CUP ROLL OF HONOUR (1968-2003)

ORDER OF RUNNING - RED SQUARE VODKA GOLD CUP DAY
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2004

FACTS AND FIGURES FOR THE RED SQUARE VODKA GOLD CUP

- Four jockeys have won this contest twice. The first was Tommy Stack, victorious on Half Awake in 1968 and Young Ash Leaf in 1972, followed by the now leading trainer Jonjo O'Neill, who won with Rambling Artist in 1978 and Alverton the following year. Chris Grant was successful on Sunset Cristo in 1981 and Midnight Love in 1984 while the only current jockey to have scored twice is Carl Llewellyn, on Party Politics in 1993 and Frantic Tan in 2001.

- Eight-year-olds have the best record, having won on nine occasions. Next best are nine-year-olds with seven successes followed by both seven-year-olds and10-year-olds on six victories, six-year-olds with two wins while Twin Oaks is the oldest scorer at age 11 in 1991.

- No owner has won the race on more than one occasion.

- Last year the Paul Nicholls-trained Shotgun Willy produced the best weight-carrying effort when shouldering 11st 12lb to victory. At the other end of the weight spectrum, four horses have borne the minimum of 10st to glory - Scot Lane in 1982, Lo Stregone in 1996, Dom Samourai in 1998 and Young Kenny in 1999.

- Favourites have a fair record, having been successful eight times in 31 renewals (25.8%). The longest-priced winner was Party Politics in 1993, when Nick Gaselee's charge was sent off at 16/1.

- The most horses to go to post was 18 in 2001, the year that Nigel Twiston- Davies's Frantic Tan justified favouritism, while 17 ran last year.

- Party Politics, successful in 1993, had won the previous season's Martell Cognac Grand National and he finished second in the Aintree contest again in 1995. In the 1997 Red Square Vodka Gold Cup winner Suny Bay went on to finish runner-up at Aintree and filled the same position again in the following year's renewal of the Martell Cognac Grand National.

- Three Red Square Vodka Gold Cup winners have also prevailed in the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup. The most recent was Cool Ground, who won both great races in 1992. Before that Alverton achieved the same feat in 1979, while Royal Frolic completed the double in 1976.

RECORD OF CURRENT TRAINERS IN THE RED SQUARE VODKA GOLD CUP SINCE 1988

RECORD OF CURRENT JOCKEYS IN THE RED SQUARE VODKA GOLD CUP SINCE 1988

GOING ON RED SQUARE VODKA GOLD CUP DAY

For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink Archive

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