Raajih - Newton Abbot

[Posts: 728Joined: 09 Jan 2011, 14:48]

I've seen some cynical plots but this must take high rank amongst the lot.

Forecasted to go off at around the 7/2, 4/1 mark but is backed into 4/7. Official explanation for the disappointing effort last time was the soft underfoot conditions yet tonight's ground was just as tacky. Yet the jockey change was a real corker given it was a ladies race. The anonymous 7lb claimer was taken off at the last possible opportunity for the most accomplished Katie Walsh. Are we to believe that super sub Katie Walsh just so happened to be in Newton Abbot of all places during a low key Tuesday evening card? Even when there was a jumps meeting at Ballinrobe? One could have gotten away with it if Tony McCoy, after having had a couple of earlier rides, was able to deputise for some poor stable lad who stubbed his toe in the car park. But this requires a gargantuan suspension of belief.

I don't gamble so as a neutral, the affair was somewhat amusing if nothing else. Although I do feel slightly sorry for people who placed bets on the race prior to half eight as they'd have a right to feel cheated.

[Posts: 7355Joined: 31 May 2004, 16:52Location: Ubiquitous]

The anonymous 7lb claimer

...is not at all anonymous to any followers of the East Anglia Area Pointing scene, being Annie Bowles, daughter of Jeffrey Bowles, clerk of the course at Higham.

More significantly, Annie Bowles is also the fiancee of Gordon Elliott.

There is a precedent for Miss Bowles to take on the odd one or two of Elliott's horses and improve or revive them for a temporary change of scenery and discipline. Those present at Ampton in January may remember Kells Castle winning a club conditions race for Bowles, who had taken the gelding on and sent him eventing for a short period before his British Pointing debut, a move which successfully combatted the sourness and disinterest he was increasingly showing in his work at home for Elliott.

It's not 100% certain that a similar, recuperative diversion to Bowles's Suffolk base has been undertaken by Raajih in the 60 days since previously seen, and even if it has neither the late jockey change nor the improved performance on the same sort of surface as he stiffed on last time won't sit at all right with everyone.

Regardless, the clues that this was one to be piled into more rabidly than the projected tissue price inferred were there even before that jockey change, if one knew enough about the background of all concerned.

gc

[Posts: 4716Joined: 25 May 2005, 15:57Location: Co. Meath, Ireland]

Marcus Reeder (part-owner) obviously wasn't laying this one then

http://www.britishhorseracing.com/insid ... tem=083803

[Posts: 4716Joined: 25 May 2005, 15:57Location: Co. Meath, Ireland]

Gordon says that Weatherbys told him to say nought about the jockey change until the money was dow ... eh I mean because the declarations were already made!

http://betting.betfair.ie/gordon-elliot ... 12-14.html

[Posts: 1531Joined: 31 May 2004, 16:59Location: Warwick]

Marcus Reeder (part-owner) obviously wasn't laying this one then

http://www.britishhorseracing.com/insid ... tem=083803

Interesting...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/sep/04/marcus-reeder-ebor

Mike

[Posts: 1507Joined: 05 Nov 2007, 21:58Location: Stratford-upon-Avon]

I was at Worcester today where Raajih narrowly failed to land the double in less than 24hrs. I was told connections said he hated the ground at Newton Abbot and won despite it.

[Posts: 1Joined: 30 Jun 2012, 09:07]

I was advised in the morning and got 11/8. I was told there would be a late jockey change and it would be katie walsh.
I was told by a JA who had a J in the race.

If KW didn't ride it would not have won in my opinion.