09/01/2012
0
On January 9, 2012
We backed Carrickmines from the excellent Richard Newland stable. Carrickmines was nicely backed; 4-1 into 11-4 fav and pleasingly got the job done by winning the race.
The race did not play to the horse’s strengths as Carrickmines needs a strong gallop. The horse gets caught flat footed if the pace suddenly quickens like it did yesterday.
At three out we looked to be in a spot of bother as Richard Johnson was at work with the leaders quickening. Carrickmines is not an easy ride by any means but the horse is very genuine and will give 100% every time, once Richard Johnson got Carrickmines wound up he started motoring two out.
Richard Johnson switched to the outside and gave the horse a great ride; throwing everything but the kitchen sink at the horse. Jumping the last, and still around 4 lengths down, the horse stuck his head out and managed to get up where it mattered, right on the line.
Carrickmines has been in the yard a long time and is a grand servant at 10 years of age, it’s likely that he’ll return to fences now.
06/12/2011
0
On December 6, 2011
Two bets today and again more seconds.
If both horses were beaten on merit then we would have no complaints but, as of late, we’ve once again been incredibly unlucky. I am beginning to think that somebody has a cursed us.
First up was Brackloon High who was advised at 7/4 or 13/8. The horse was backed heavily into 5/4 favourite.
From very early in the race, when the selection was jumping the 3rd, Richard Johnson just had to niggle Brackloon High who I thought was racing lazily. Brackloon High did respond and made ground up, seemingly going very well. At four out, for whatever reason, the horse lost its position whilst Richard Johnson made no effort to encourage the horse along further. We soon found ourselves 20 lengths behind and it looked as if the race was over with the jockey making zero effort.
Approaching the 3rd fence, the leader was the Nicky Henderson horse who looked to have the race in the bag but then the horse took a crashing fall. All of a sudden we found ourselves in 3rd place, although still 25 lengths behind.
Richard Johnson sees the faller and wakes up. He starts getting stuck into Brackloon High who immediately responds and starts making ground up hand over fist (why was he not doing this before?). At two-out we were flying whilst still a good ten lengths down.
Approaching the last, the eventual winner Real Treasure was going backwards and we’ve made a good 15 lengths up on him. Unfortunately Johnson made a total mess of the last; hitting it hard. He was now throwing the lot at Brackloon High who was catching all the way up to the line. We eventually got beaten by half-a-length. We were two strides in front after the line. We must have made up at least 25 lengths once Johnson started riding the horse properly.
This was nothing short of a disgusting ride from Richard Johnson and he knew it, the TV camera zoomed in on him after the line where it was clear to lip read a curse word.
Jockeys are told they must ride out to gain the best possible position but Johnson gave-up, thinking he could not win the race until the Henderson horse fell. If he kept plugging away we would have won the race comfortably. I don’t like seeing horses fall but if Johnson did what he is paid to do, a selection would have finally gone-in for us.
More time should be spent by the BHA on ensuring jockeys aren’t giving horses horrible rides day after day rather than the whole whip debate going off at the moment. This is their full time job, if we made these mistakes on a daily basis would be sacked.
Next up was Mottley Crewe who we backed E/W at 7/2 but returned 4/1 SP. This horse must make all, his speed surpasses the majority of runners. Things went wrong from the off; we missed the break and were a good 6 lengths off the lead. Jockey Martin Harley rode the horse into 4th place but was still stuck behind horses.
Mottley Crewe was on the bridle, fighting for his head but was boxed in and not able to get out. Inside the final furlong we finally got the gap and made up ground hitting the lead around 50 yards before the winning post. Sleepy Blue Ocean also got moving and ended up beating us in a photo after we traded at 1/70 in-play.
This was another one that got away. I’m as certain as can be that if we jumped the break Mottley Crewe would have won.
The horse should have got the whole field at it gone few lengths clear and held on but missing the break cost us six lengths and the jockey could not ride the horse to his ideal racing requirements.
Today two seconds, one beat in a photo after missing the break and the other beaten by half a length after a horrible ride. This so easily could have been two nice winners.
We’re definitely backing the right horses. The information is spot on but we can’t do anything about fallers or the final execution of the bet. May be we’ll have a bit more luck in-running next time.
09/10/2011
0
On October 9, 2011
Yesterday we backed Minella For Party, advised at 5pts win. I was asked not to send out the bet until early morning so that the owners could back the horse. They got on at all prices from 11/8 down, we backed at even money. Minella For Party turned into a huge gamble, backed into to 4/7 from 11/8. Evidently a significant amount of money was down.
At home the horse has worked with Jimbill, who won by 8 lengths during the week at 8/11, but we could not back at those odds. Minella For Party beats Jimbill without coming off-the-bit at home. He also goes with Sprit Of Adjisa; a group one horse and won the Irish Champion Hurdle in May.
From the off we were in trouble as Minella For Party took a keen hold and would not settle for Richard Johnson. The horse was fighting for his head as soon as the race started and the jockey was struggling to hold him. This was all happening as two horses bid to make all and get away. Unfortunately this left us in No Man’s Land as Johnson had no choice but to bury Minella For Party behind the main pack and try to get him to settle. It did not work.
At two out the leaders were going away and Johnson had to go after them but had a good 7 lengths to make up. Minella For Party did make up the ground and got within a couple of lengths but was never going to have anything left for the finish. We finished 3rd, beaten by a couple of lengths.
There were not happy scenes after the race and lots of questions were being asked including why Johnson did not go with the two leaders as Tim informed him to ride the horse prominently. He thought that if he gave Minella For Party any amount of reign the horse would have bolted and ultimately been pulled up.
On reflection it was the horse’s debut. He’s always settled well at home and showed no evidence that he would not do so today. Minella For Party is held in high regard and Tim is a very good judge of a horse. He knows a good one when he sees it. When the horse learns to settle you will see his true ablity.
06/10/2011
0
On October 6, 2011
We placed a 3pts win bet on Truckers Benefit from the Tim Vaughan yard. The horse opened up at 11/8 at ten minutes before the off; that was the price that we took.
Truckers Benefit was smashed up in the betting and retuned an SP of 6/5. Unfortunately the horse ran a complete stinker and was pulled up.
From the off Truckers Benefit raced with his head down, swishing his tail and showing a complete dislike to everything around him. Jockey Richard Johnson never looked happy at any stage, and so it proved, with the horse falling back out of site from 4 out. The jockey reported after the race that the horse felt different to his two bumper performances where he finished second when running well over a trip that was far too short. The horse will be scoped at the track but Richard thinks he had a terrible attitude and did not want to race.
It may have been the hurdles that the horse took a dislike to or, more likely, he’s not ready which would explain why he has only placed each time out. Either way, it was a horrific performance. Tim is great at improving horses from other trainers but we think that he has his work cut out with this one. What’s more frustrating is that Tim has won three other races today.
Below are comments from Charlie Longsden when interviewed:
Getmeoutofthedoldrums represents the in-form Charlie Longsdon in the 2.10, and he said:
“He is what he is, and shouldn’t be good enough to beat the Tim Vaughan horse [Truckers Benefit] but we will see.”
By David Baxter, live from Worcester (2 hours ago)
We were informed this morning that the Longsden horse was not fancied and the above would confirm this. Akbabend won in what was a three horse race. The other danger was second, but not fancied. Our bet did not show up and ran a stinker.
26/07/2011
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On July 26, 2011
Quick review of our account bet. We backed Present Your Case 3pts win at 6/4. We’re pleased to say the horse won as it liked by 5 lengths hard held; jockey Richard Johnson never moved a muscle. Good stuff from the Vaughan stable lets hope for plenty more in the coming weeks.
