After drawing a blank for the first 4 days of the week Friday produced 5 winners from the list to follow.
The Oaks hopeful Scottish Stage had to work hard for her narrow success in the listed race at Newbury. In fairness to her she shaped as though she probably didn’t much like the soft ground. There is no doubt room for improvement though and it will be interesting to see if she does indeed take her place in the line up at Epsom.
You can usually rely on Mark Johnston’s 3 year olds to be difficult to pass and Peppertree Lane was just that, pulling out more and more for Kevin Darley at York.
Another very game winner was Borderlescott who won the sprint at York from the front. I thought he would need the race after quite a lengthy absence but he proved me wrong to notch a 6th consecutive win. There were 5 other horses from our list in the race and they all ran with credit, indicating that their turn will come. Another sprinter from the list that did the business for us was Exmoor. You would not have picked him as a likely winner for much of the way at Newbury as he was ridden from some way out but he certainly finished with some purpose.
It wasn’t just the speedsters that won for us as Alan King’s Shipmaster won with something in hand at Nottingham over 1.75 miles at Nottingham.
A couple of the two year olds that I featured in my preview ran well. Amber Valley and Silca Soprano both came second at 12/1.
The evening racing was a bit frustrating though with both Futun and Ouninpohja finishing in the runners up spot.
The big race at Newbury of Saturday is the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes over a mile at 2.45. There is plenty of interest for me with 3 runners from the list to follow as well as a couple of Elite Racing Club horses.
The key factors in this year’s renewal look like being fitness and the state of the ground. Majors Cast has fitness on his side having won 14 days ago. He is probably the one they all have to beat but he is best on a fast surface and with rain about I am going to look elsewhere.
New Seeker is an admirable animal but lacks the class to win at Group 1 level. Soviet Song is the class act but it is a question of whether she is fit enough. She has done most of her winning on a sound surface but there is evidence in her career record that she can handle some cut in the ground. The 3 from our list to follow are Court Masterpiece, Rob Roy and Peeress. Court Masterpiece won a Group 1 in France last season, is a tough, reliable sort who will handle the ground. His only wins over a mile though have been at Goodwood and that just puts me off him. Rob Roy has already got a win to his name this season and will handle the ground. I am still not quite sure that he picks up quickly enough to get the better of some of these rivals and I just prefer his stable companion Peeress. She has simply not run a bad race yet and seems to handle any underfoot conditions.
I would love to see Soviet Song win this but Peeress gets the selection.
The Newbury card opens with what could be quite an informative 2 year old maiden at 1.35. There are a few worth mentioning in this. My grandfather used to drive a tram in Johannesburg, not that that has much to do with anything, but there are a couple of colts sired by Johannesburg in this.
Amanda Perrett has booked Mick Kinane for Jo’Burg. This is the most expensive runner in the field and comes from an in form stable. Barry Hills saddles Joburg Gold who is related to some sprint winners. His pedigree suggests he might be best on a sound surface. There is a bit of a whisper for the Richard Hannon trained Major Cadeaux and it would be no surprise if this one went close on his debut. The other newcomer that interests me is Tudor Prince who is entered in next season’s Derby.
For my selection though I am going with Conquest who was a promising 2nd on his debut. He runs in the same colours as last years Derby winner Motivator.
In the 3.20 Sir Michael Stoute’s Pearly King goes for a hat trick, ridden by K Fallon. I have tipped him to win twice and will stick with him here.
Glistening could give us a winner in the 3.25. He has changed stables since last season. A lightly raced type bred along stamina lines. He might be best on a sound surface.
The list to follow is represented in the 4.55 by Greek Renaissance, who is a full brother to the sprinter Machinist. I would have thought that 6 furlongs might suit him better than this 7 but we will see.
We just have two runners at Nottingham. Tim Easterby’s Ryedale Ovation (3.00) has been 3rd in both his races so far this term. I think that the grounds will suit him in this race and he has a fair chanced.
Henchman is something of a speculative choice for the list to follow and is likely to start at around 16/1 in the 4.40. I think that this well bred gelding will pop up at a decent price at some stage this season.
I feel that the 2.35 at Thirsk may go to one of the unraced horses. Mick Channon sends Fly Time north for this. The dam is a half sister to smart sprinter Acclamation. Moonlight Applause is another I like but Mick Channon’s charge is more likely to be ready first time up.
Hopefully we will get the long awaited flat debut of Alfie Flits in the 3.10. Part owned by footballer Gary Flitcroft, Alfie Flits has some smart bumper form to his name.
I have not had much success following Willie Haggas so far this term so I will not give Heaven Knows too strong a write up for the 3.45 at Thirsk. He did show plenty of promise last season though and the opposition does not look that strong.
King Orchiosis does not seem to stay a mile and reverts to sprint distances for the 4.50. Her is held in high regard by his trainer and can make the most of a favourable draw here.
On Sunday at Ripon I like the look of Prince Golan in the 2.40. This one made an encouraging debut 11 days ago.
That is about it for the weekend preview. I hope you find a winner or two.
ahorse 