The sport’s guiding lights (irony intended) aren’t just shooting themselves in the foot, they’re blowing their legs off with a shotgun! What on earth is going on today? No flat (fair enough) but 3 NH fixtures, including another one at Fontwell where there are 32 runners for a seven race card. I live less than two miles from the course but haven’t been for nearly 3 years. Today is a pretty extreme example of why. I don’t mind some lower class racing but they’re taking it to new lows when there aren’t even enough runners to have an ew bet in five of the races. As Leo says, some of the facilities are in need of attention and the housing developers are circling; almost literally in this case as new houses are currently going up on two of the three course boundaries (the fourth is occupied by the A27). It’s all a bit depressing I’m afraid.

As for the very small matter of today’s selection, it’s Norley in the 15.45 at Bangor-on-Dee.

LukeH

Aug 23, 2022

Replying to

You'd think Fontwell would be doing their best to attract people like you Pebbles, but I agree it's a woeful card. As someone said the other day, a local to their track - I wouldn't go even if they paid the taxi fare!

Pebbles

Aug 23, 2022

Replying to

The real irony is that, from a punting perspective, I’m more successful when the racing is lower quality! Today I backed 4 horses and 3 won. The let down?, you guessed it, my nap on this forum, Norley!

GazP

Aug 23, 2022

Cardboard gangster 1.30W, although the 3/1 I got before work has long gone.

LukeH

Aug 23, 2022

Imperial Sachin's 1.45 Bang Nap

Wow, average of less than 5 runners a race for Fontwell card, what a banger!!

GForce

Aug 23, 2022

Leo is spot on.

Nap (!!!) Fontwell 1730 Vin Rouge

who seems pretty useless but if you do that rating thing he's won off 62 is now 72 on the flat and by running off 77 here is about 2 st in. But then I suppose plenty fail in the same boat. Real reason is because it rekindled a happy memory of Osborne's Red Wine landing the November Hcp about 20 years ago.

jakebuckfast

Aug 23, 2022

Seaborough 3.45 Bangor-ON-Dee is the nap,well done yesterdays winners.

Leo

Aug 23, 2022

Joe, I napped a winner yesterday: Blaze A Trail (6.20 Stratford 11/4f).

It's August & there isn't a single flat meeting in Ireland or the UK today. Who is in charge of the programme? Chris Grayling?

Nap - Bangor 3.15 Northern Bound

Dilton

Aug 23, 2022

Replying to

There was an agreement to give the flat lads and lasses a day off today.

Not that 1 day not going racing will do them any good.

So 3 NH fixtures were scheduled, 2 fairly close in mileage terms but no one had the sense to cancel at least 2 of them due to the prevailing shortage of NH horses to fill them on this current ground.

A salary of over 320k plus benefits doesnt buy you any brains or common sense at the top.

Leo

Aug 23, 2022

Replying to

Thanks for the clarification Dilton. The horse population vis a vis the number of meetings clearly needs looking at. However, I visited Fontwell in May & the place has serious issues. Along with the small fields, one stand stood derelict, the others needed a lick/bucket of paint and there was a pervasive sense of despondency (not from me - I backed 3 winners and had 2 lines in the placepot).

While there should be a reduction in the number of meetings, the managers/owners of these summer jumping tracks should also have a look at places like Ballinrobe & Downpatrick.