Hello Friend,

I've some musings for this afternoon's meeting at Worcester down below, but before that, something of potential interest for any golfers out there.

This weekend, we're holding our first ever RTP Syndicate Golf Day...

We have booked 12 spaces but two have recently become available, details below...

• Sat 17th/Sun 18th September

• Whittlebury Park, Towcester (very plush, Spa hotel)

• Twin room, 1 round of golf (Sat, 1.50pm start), 3 course dinner, bed/breakfast

• Comps/prizes

• £179.99 per person (cost)

I'm aware it's short notice but if you'd like to attend, do email me back ASAP and I'll be in touch with more details. We've got a decent group going, all enthusiastic amateurs, and it promises to be a fun weekend.

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To Worcester...

One of my Members is off racing and asked for a 'through the card' - usually I'd add some notes, to help form your own opinion, or at least say something useful even if they all tail off! However, I've run out of time, so its just a list of horses today... but as always some method to my madness. Hopefully at least two winners mentioned down below...

Worcester ‘through the card’

As of 10.22am…

1.00 – Red Maple 10/3

1.30 – Aviewtosea 4/1 (‘tip)

2.05 -Not Available 13/2

2.40 – Glen Cannel 2/1

3.10 – Bahtiyar 14/1

3.40 – Oscar Montel 4/1

4.10 – Simply Red 4/1

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Tip...

There's a C3+ , 3m+ chase on the card also and I've ended up officially tipping one...

#1 – 1.30 Worc – Aviewtosea – 1 point win – 4/1 (gen)

Aviewtosea – an interesting little novice handicap chase and as always you’re generally dealing with unexposed chasers who could take big leaps forward from one run to the next. They're not races I like playing in too often, however I thought the O’Brien horse was the overpriced one in here as he hasn’t done much wrong over fences and looks progressive.

Last time at Bangor he bolted up, stuffing Henderson’s in the process, and provided he runs his race, I wasn’t sure why that form is overturned. Yes the latter should just improve for chase experience but so should the selection. He is usually patiently ridden and there should be a solid pace to aim at here. He’s generally a good jumper and his form looks reasonable. He’s twice won comfortably, with a decent 2nd in between those two efforts – that run wasn’t bad, chasing home Tedham who was on a going day, previously rated in the 130s over hurdles. Those two were clear of the rest. The horse is fit, knows how to win (4/12,6p in career) and should keep going, setting a decent standard over fences in the context of this race.

Fergal does well with LTO winners and the trainer-jockey combo is 9/37, 17p +14 in the last year. Kielan Woods knows the horse and rides the track well, 8/34, 16p +24 in the last year around Worcester.

Of the others… well they may all be chasing Skatman home but his form is so so for me and it’s hard to know what he achieved on his chase debut, a 3 runner race, soon reduced to 2, with his main rival then falling 2 out. He did look to be going well but they dawdled around, his jumping ok, but then he did get outpaced leaving the back, before snapping back onto the bridle. I’m not convinced on him as yet, not at 13/8. He’s had 94 days off for some reason – unless Paul is targeting the odd better race from now on, having decided not much to aim at over the summer/not wanting to ruin his mark – but this drop in trip may not be ideal either. Still, he is the one to beat I think and there should be more to come. I just thought Fergal’s shouldn’t be as big as he is and the fav was a bit too short/worth opposing. We’ll soon see if I’m right or not.

Farouk D C was well held by the selection last time as noted, for all that was his chase debut. However if running the same race I’d expect the form to be upheld.

Puncsutawney Phil has his supporters and is being smashed in – at the price I suppose I didn’t like the combo of going up in class and moving up in distance, with stamina an unknown/to prove. Of course he could improve for it but he does need more and for me needs more than one horse to underperform, which isn’t impossible of course. I was happy to leave him but a LTO winner having only his 4th chase start and he should be thereabouts if staying.

Taste The Fear makes chase debut, having spent a long time over hurdles and having never run in points, and I’d like to see some jumping evidence before wading in, even at his odds. The other niggle is the Dr Newland yard form, 0/25, 1p in the last 30 days, 32% rivals beaten, most finishing nearer last than first. There could be nothing in that of course. The horse’s form on recent starts hasn’t been that great either, but maybe fences will wake him up. Still, happy to leave today and if he beats me, so be it. He had some ok hurdle form at his best, if repeated over fences, could make him dangerous enough. Maybe.

Pace… the selection may be anchored out the back but hold up horses do ok over this CD and it is a small field, so shouldn’t have traffic problems. The Nicholls and Henderson horses may go forward, other two slotting in. There should be no excuses on that front, provided Kielan gets after him in good time, as he will stay on.

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That's all for today, and don't forget, if you'd like to join us for our inaugural RTP Syndicate Golf Weekend, do give me a shout (I promise not to try and sell you any shares! :))

All the best,

Josh