There is a lot of talk at the moment about Patrick Veitch after the release of his book “Enemy Number 1″ and recent interviews on Channel 4 and Racing UK.

Anyway, Hitchens today catches my eye for a number of reasons. Firstly, he was supplemented for the race today at a signficant cost which connections will be looking to get back. Secondly, and perhaps more interesting, is that at the October Horses in Training Sales the horse was bought for 40k by Stuart Williams and sent to David Barron.

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Along with a couple of friends I have Silmi running tomorrow in the 2m3f handicap hurdle at Newton Abbot. He hasnt run since disappointing at Chepstow when he wasnt quite right after getting gelded in the summer. However, we have given him a chance to recover from this and stomach ulcers and he is ready to resume his racing career tomorrow. He has been off the track for a while but will be fit enough for his last run over hurdles before he starts Novice chasing, possibly at Cartmel at the end of May.

The early tissue prices are based on his last 3 runs (atrocious) but excuses can be found for them with stomach ulcers, a leg injury and a quick run all blamed for his poor performances. However, if he gets back to the form of his run at Cheltenham in October/Hereford in spring then he will prove to be very competitive.

It is a good race tomorrow with it being worth 10k with the top 5 getting in the money. and I would be disappointed if he didnt get in the money. 

All of the top yards are represented in the race and it is just upsetting that Evan Williams has a runner so Paul Moloney cant ride Silmi. Paul has done the majority of work on Silmi at home and more than anybody else has helped him regain his form. Paddy Brennan has ridden for the yard once before and won so fingers crossed that continues tomorrow.

The step up in trip should suit and we are confident that he has returned to the form in the Autumn of 07 and February 08. Fingers crossed he returns sound and if he does I would be very disappointed if he does not finish close to the places.

Here are my views on the opposition

Royal Rationale (David Pipe) – Not seen since 6^th at Aintree. Very highly regarded on the flat and cost 78k at the sales. On the form book of our better runs we are better than him with him finishing behind Summer of Love and Hibiki. However, is becoming increasingly consistent having won or been placed in 10 of his 14 runs.

Stellino (Nicky Henderson) – Had only had 5 runs over hurdles. However, been running in some big races and only had 5 runs. Seems quite highly handicapped for his runs.

French Saulaie (Philip Hobbs) – Last 6 runs all been over fences. Still rated 125 and been dropped 14lb since his last run over hurdles. Has finished 3^rd in a County Hurdle and runner up in a Scottish Champion Hurdle. Best performances on ground with some give – should run a big race.

Mister Benedictine – One of the most exposed runners having had nearly 50 runs in all codes. Not won over hurdles since 2007 although did run a good race last time out. Another horse who has been running over hurdles and fences over late.

Gold Reef (Alan King) – Only had 9 runs and 5 of them over hurdles. Not run since Feb when turned over at Evens. Could be anything.

Classic Swain (Paul Nicholls) – They initially thought it would be a Triumph Hurdle horse. However, disappointed and only when wearing blinkers for the first time did he show anything when hacking up last time out. First time in a handicap and should take all the beating.

Olympian – First run over hurdles. I would suggest that they are also preparing for a run over fences soon as he has already ran over fences once in France. Has performed better with some give in the ground and over 2m.

Go Free – Not been seen since the same day as us! Only had one run over hurdles November 2007 so could be using this as a race to get a blow into him.

Freddys Star – Had 8 runs since we last ran! Seems to be improving but going up the weights and Unseated rider on his last run.

Tayarat – Had his first run over hurdles in September and went on to run behind Walkon at Chepstow! Ran twice in two days at the start of April and does go well on quicker ground. Rated 79 on the flat and could run well.

Swainson – First run since second in March. Has begun to show some form over hurdles since meeting a better ground. Has gone up 4lbs since his last run and with only having 6 runs is relatively unexposed.

The biggest race on Friday is the Irish Champion Hurdle and the WBX.COM Fighting Fifth Hurdle, run at Wetherby in December, could be the most informative form guide.

Punjabi, winner of the WBX.COM Fighting Fifth Hurdle and the Champion Hurdle last season goes for another victory in the race and Sublimity, runner up at Wetherby seeks revenge after a below par run at Cheltenham in March. A problem with the breathing has since been dealt with and on the faster ground he could run a very big race. However, he will have it all to do with Pubjabi, who is rumoured to be in even better form than Cheltenham.

The Racing Post spotlight for this race says that he hasnt been seen since November. They are right. Kind of. However, whatever Mr Ian Williams has been doing with him since has certainly worked, as he won hard held the last time I saw him on a Racecourse.

A lot of people havent remembered his last run but it was at Aintree on National day. Mith Hill hacked up in the Peoples Race when getting to the front and not stopping. Yes that was a different type of race but he is currently 60 on WBX.COM which is far too big for a small play.

I have been told that the Peter Bowen trained and Dai Walters owned Serabad has died after an accident on the gallops.

Serabad was a very nice and improving 5yo and after defeating Lough Derg at Ascot in February could have gone on and developed into a top class hurdler.

After a fantastic season, due to the success of Snoopy Loopy in the early part of the season, it does cloud the season somewhat.

After the success of Walkon, purchased at Royal Ascot last June, Max McNeill has bought Mille Chief in an attempt to go one better in the 2010 Triumph Hurdle than Walkon managed this year.

It is very difficult to say or predict anything at this stage but he is about to be gelded and then turned out in a field for the summer. He comes from the same trainer as Walkon and like most of Max’s horses has been bought by Anthony Bromley from Highflyer Bloodstock.

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A lot of people have latched on to what was said about Walkon and the Arkle after his win at Aintree and started presuming that he will head for The Arkle next season.

Having spoken with Max today, I can tell you all that nothing is decided. He will start over hurdles and it is our feeling at the moment that he will stick to hurdles AS LONG AS he proves himself to be top class. He still has a stone to find on Hurdles form to be considered at Champion Hurdle horse but that could be possible.

So for all those people bothered about Ante Post bets now please hold fire on Walkon. If you are desperate to bet him for something then I think he is more likely to run in the Champion than The Arkle. Another reason for this is that I think the Novice Chase divisions next season are going to be very very strong and finally by holding fire by at least a year it will give Master Minded another chance to get a older before Walkon has to tackle him (touch wood!)!

Why is it that everyone wants to back the winner of this race? Why is it that everyone wants a tip for this race? I have never been so popular with text messages and facebook messages for tips in the National.

A 10/1 at Chepstow this afternoon pays the same as a 10/1 at Aintree in The Grand National!Read the rest of this entry »

This is the feature race of the meeting for me and it is all about one horse, one trainer and one owner with his band of merry men!

In a time when many people make Cheltenham the be all and end all, John Queally and Michael Ryan have made this race their own over three of the last four years. On top of the Anniversary Hurdle they won as a 4yo Al Eile really is an Aintree Legend and it is a shame his achievements are never covered properly as all the column inches are targetted towards the National.

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The Aintree equivalent of the Arkle Chase and this has a strong look to it with the Arkle Favourite, Tatenen lining up against the eventual runner up Kalahari King.

In opposition are a couple of horses who have avoided Cheltenham to line up today as fresh horses and they have to be of interest to some at the prices available.

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