NTF 1 to follow from the weekend: Bureaucrat to rule soon…
It was fantastic to have some National Hunt action to tuck into yesterday after the jumping game returned from it’s second small summer break. It was also great to see Team Twister stick a winner on the board from the 2 runners they sent to the track. Even better was the fact it was the loveable rogue PIGEON ISLAND who romped to victory in the Class 3 Handicap Chase – TWISTER SEASON in full effect!
Depending on what the handicapper does it is certainly conceivable that PIGEON ISLAND can win again soon, he won with plenty up his sleeve and still has a bit to work with on official ratings and old form.
As tempting as it was to make the Twiston-Davies grey my ‘1 to follow from the weekend’ pick he didn’t exactly skip under the radar with his performance.
I do, however, stick with the Uttoxeter card for my ‘to follow’ runner –
BUREAUCRAT (John Mackie) – Sunday 4.10 Uttoxeter – Faller in the 2m4f Handicap Hurdle
The 10yo has not won since picking up a brace of Selling/Claiming Hurdles back in November 2009 (15 runs ago) but he has dropped to a very handy mark (104) and was running a huge race here before taking an unfortunate fall a few yards after the 3rd last flight. He was showing a real zest for his hurdles here, jumping quickly and efficiently throughout the contest, and although jockey Richie McGrath had started to ask the gelding a couple of small questions he still looked for all money like taking part at the business end of this handicap. He jumped the 3rd last in a share of the lead then either stumbled on the flat or took a bump from one of the leaders (or both) and came down a few yards after the flight. This has to be deemed as an unlucky ‘fall’ and compensation surely awaits in the near future.
Despite dropping down the weights recently this run does suggest there is still ability there. In his pomp he was rated as high as 137 and has won from a mark as high as 128 in the past. His current mark of 104 makes him an attractive betting proposition, even more so after this eye-catching performance.
6 of his 7 wins have come on ground that was described as Good or Good to Firm (other win was on heavy although that was a lowly claiming contest were he simply outclassed the others) and if connections can find suitable underfoot conditions in the near future then he looks ripe to strike and find the winners enclosure again.
It is also worthy of noting that yesterday was his first run for 108 days and he has shown in the past that he usually comes on for his first run after a break –
Runs after a break of 90 days + – F-7-F-4-8-5-6-3
All 7 National Hunt wins have come after a break of 70 days or less with 6 wins coming after a break of 35 days or less.
Providing there are no ill effects from his fall yesterday and they can get him back on the track within (ideally) the next 35 days on Good or better ground then I can see him running a big race and hopefully finding himself back to winning ways.
Interestingly he has an excellent record in the month of November – 1-1-1-1-2 – so keep an eye out for any entries during that period.
BUREAUCRAT ideal conditions – Good or better ground | running within 70 days of last start (ideally 35 days) | Class 3 or less
Now it’s your turn –
Who were the runners that caught your attention and went in your own notebook as ones to follow from the weekend?
Who posted the most impressive performance of the weekend and is regarded by you as ‘1 to follow’?
Were there any runners that you think skipped under the radar and could be profitable to follow in the coming weeks?
Drop me a comment below and share your runners to follow from the weekend (Flat or Jumps) with the NTF community.
Happy punting guys!
p.s. Now the National Hunt action is back in the swing I will be updating all ‘RETURN TO THE TRACK’ qualifiers on a daily basis here on the Blog (when there is National Hunt cards on the day)
p.p.s The full 14 page ‘TWISTER SEASON’ guide is still FREE to download for everyone. Just pop your details in the form below and you will gain FREE access to this stat packed NTF guide –
Ben – (NTF)
p.s. My good friend over at Chancellor of the Form Checker has just released the 2nd version of his Juvenile Hurdle Project e-book. Worth a look I say – http://www.chancelloroftheformchecker.co.uk/juvenile.html
Although not really the weekend Berties Dream caught my eye yesterday. He needs his first run of the season and altho he might not be a superstar I feel he might have a handicap in him, especially if his mark drops from the current 137.