TONY CALVIN: SATURDAY’s stats and info – and a bet

2.40pm Kempton – 6/1 La Pinsonniere still has each-way appeal

Moon Mission is a NR as at 1.52am (lame).

The only bet I have had today is La Pinsonniere each-way at 7s in this 2m5f handicap hurdle, and she still rates a decent enough wager at her current 6s (available in four places) and 11/2 , with an extra place generally available (currently 7.6 on the exchange).

She had been as 8s and 15/2 too, but I missed that.

And I haven’t gone mad here whatsoever.

Like many of these running this weekend, she got balloted out of her intended Cheltenham target this week (in her case the MGM Cup – and connections were also considering the mares’ hurdle for her, too) , so this may be something of an afterthought for her (and others).

But her stable had a great week, with three Festival winners and plenty placed, and she has a lot to recommend her herself. Nicky Henderson won this race with Aston Martini last season, for what it is worth.

And he says he is “rather hopeful” today.

Certainly, she shaped far better than the bare form suggested in a Listed race on heavy ground on her return at Warwick – she travelled well into that race for a long way and she wasn’t given a hard time at all – and the return to a better surface is a big plus.

She was a model of consistency last season , rounding off her campaign with a good, improved second in Listed company at Cheltenham in April, and conditions look ideal for her.

She is 12lb higher than when beaten at Newbury in March, but she was only chinned by 1/2 length there in a very competitive race (her only handicap to date) and there should be more to come from her as a 6yo.

Given she is the only horse I have backed today so far, she is the only one I can honestly stick up. I’d still back her each way at 6s.

When is it acceptable to pour yourself a large one after a long week?

Good luck today – I think I have deserved my first drink in about a fortnight today (it really is astounding how no alcohol enhances your energy levels, but all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy).

What time is it acceptable to have the opener then?

Good luck today. I may be back if I see anything else once Uttoxeter report in (there was standing water in places there on Friday morning – and I am always wary of betting there with the ground as it is, or as reported…).

Ill update the stats below anyway when the courses do.

BET

La Pinsonniere each-way at 6/1 and 11/2 in 2.4opm at Kempton

SATURDAY DETAILS

UTTOXETER

GOING – Soft

65.1% Soil Moisture

GOING STICK – Chase : 3.4; Hurdle: 4.2 (Saturday 7.15am)

Rails: All Bends divided Running on most inner line

Saturday morning course update: 19.8mm rain Thursday night 0.2mm rain overnight Light grass frost this morning Forecast: Dry and bright throughout the day, small chance of a light shower late afternoon, 9C.

WEATHER (yr.no latest, 7.24am Saturday):  Dry and sunny

KEMPTON 

GOING – Good, good to soft in places

Going Ratio: 80:20. The entire track was de-compacted and over seeded since our last fixture.

Going Stick – Chase: 7.4; Hurdle: 7.1; (Saturday 6.30am)

Rails: The Chase Course rail was moved out 3 yards and the Hurdle Course rail was moved 2 yards since our last fixture, with the effect on distances added to race distance details.

• 1:33pm:Race distance is now +11y to 2m 11y
• 2:08pm:Race distance is now +23y to 2m 2f 23y
• 2:40pm:Race distance is now +16y to 2m 5f 16y
• 3:18pm:Race distance is now +23y to 2m 4f 133y
• 3:53pm:Race distance is now +16y to 2m 5f 16y
• 4:28pm:Race distance is now +30y to 3m 30y
• 5:03pm:Race distance is now +11y to 2m 11y

Saturday morning course update: Partly Cloudy. Dry overnight with a grass frost this morning. Forecast: Bright and sunny but cold.

WEATHER (yr.no latest, 7.24am):  Dry and sunny

BALLOTED OUT (get your money back)

2.25pm Uttoxeter: A Perfect Day,  Minella Missile, Bollin Thou, Ramo, Gwennie May Star

FIRST-TIME HEADGEAR STATS

Chester Williams cheekpieces; Firestream, 1.50pm Uttoxeter; 1-1 (Haas Boy at 6-1)

Paul Nicholls cheekpieces 23-88 (2016);  Blueking D’Oroux, 3.18pm Kempton

Neil Mulholland cheekpieces 8-116 (2016);  Elysian Knight, 3.35pm Uttoxeter NON-RUNNER

PACE MAPS (manually assessed) and NRs

1.50pm Uttoxeter: Wellington Arch, Firestream?, Kasino Des Mottes, West To The Bridge, Warriors Destiny?, Sixty Plus, It’s Top

2.08pm Kempton: Chuggy, Rightsotom, Tapley

2.25pm Uttoxeter: Thank You Ma’am, Just Golden (Idem NR)

2.40pm Kempton: The Four Sixes, Marsiac, Nardaran, Turndlightsdownlow (prom), Le Tiep’s Sacre

3pm Uttoxeter: Rock My Way (prom), My Immortal, Deafening Silence (prom), Collectors Item, Isaac Des Obeaux (prom), Jupiter Allen (prom), J’Arrive De L’Est (prom), Minella Blueway, Catch Catchfire – Sporting Ace is a NR as at 9.05am (knocked joint)

3.18pm Kempton: Etalon, Blueking D’Oroux

3.35pm Uttoxeter: Saint Davy, Golden Point – Elysian Knight is a NR as at 7.36am (going)

TRAINERFORM (manually assessed)

Good: Nicky Richards (another double on Friday – flying), Chester Williams (small sample), Dan Skelton, Alan King (winner on Friday), David Pipe, Mrs C Williams (Evan – sample of two), James Owen, Ben Pauling, Russell and Scudamore, Neil King (another winner on Friday – flying), Nicky Henderson, Bailey and Nicholls, Robbie Llewellyn (two winners from four runners), Ian Williams (winner on Friday)

Fair: Jonjo and AJ O’Neill (two Cheltenham winners, so you could easily say good form) Fergal O’Brien, Tom Lacey, Hobbs and White, Jeremy Scott, Jamie Snowden (Friday Cheltenham winner), Venetia Williams, Emmet Mullins, Donald McCain (winner on Friday), Neil Mulholland, Chris Gordon, Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies, Gary and Josh Moore

Moderate: Joe Tizzard, Paul Nicholls (fair/moderate – but a winner at Doncaster on Friday), Olly Murphy (fair/moderate), Emma Lavelle, Georgina Nicholls, John McConnell, Harry Derham, Martin Keighley, PJ Rothwell

Don’t know: Ben Clarke,  Oliver Signy, Thomas Mullins, Barry Connell, Nick Gifford, Suzy Smith