Email Service - November

Saturday's Email Service selection finished a disappointing sixth. Towards the rear early on, he didn't jump particularly well and, while he held every chance turning for home, there wasn't really a stage during the race when I felt he was going to win. Reported to have worked particularly well beforehand, he failed to reproduce it on the track. Being positioned so far back from the outset is never ideal, especially in a two mile handicap chase on decent ground. The service got off to an excellent start but hasn't ended October too well. At least it has yielded a profit. If you would like to subscribe to the Email Service in November or December, please click on the tab at the top of the page.

I was working at Wetherby on Saturday and thought Zipple Back ran a race full of promise in the two mile novice hurdle. Highly regarded by Alan King, he was bought to stay in the yard following the Potensis dispersal and he now sports the red and green silks of Masterson Holdings. Making his hurdles debut, he lacked the experience of the likes of Ozzie The Oscar and Master Kit and that told during the early stages. However, he was getting the hang of things late on and was only beaten half a dozen lengths by the former. It won't be long before he goes one better.

The Brian Ellison trained Definitly Red made a fine start to his season by winning a competitive two and a half mile handicap hurdle at Carlisle yesterday. A useful novice chaser last term, he took the return to hurdles in his stride by virtually making all to win by three and a quarter lengths from a decent pair in Onefitzall and Walking In The Air. His trainer indicated afterwards that the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle at the end of next month is on his agenda. Having looked a mudlark during the early part of his career, his connections now believe he prefers better ground. As discussed, the Ellison team are in rude health at present.

Talking of Wetherby, Lee Mottershead has written an excellent piece re the West Yorkshire track on page 16 of today's Racing Post. It is well worth a read if you haven't already done so.