Month: July 2006

This is becoming a daily update on the exploits of Sir Mark Prescott’s 3 year olds.  He is having so many winners it is hard to keep tabs on them.  After Alambic yesterday afternoon and Warsaw Pact yesterday evening Prince Picasso added to the tally today. 

  

Prince Picasso stayed on well under Seb Sanders and like Alambic, he is another that you could picture going over hurdles.  His one disappointing effort was on rain softened ground so perhaps he needs fast ground.  I have 6 of Prescott’s 3 year olds on the list to follow and they have been amazingly consistent.  Their form figures have been as follows, Phone In 42242, Alambic 621111, El Alamein 136, Prince Picasso 1511, Warsaw 12111, Liberate 4121221. I just think that is an remarkable training performance.

  I have been looking back at some videos of this weeks 2 year old races.  Stagehand made all in the nursery at Lingfield on Wednesday repelling the challenge of Tudor Prince.  Frankie Dettori on the farvourite Tudor Prince looked as though he was just waiting to pounce on the leader but Tudor Prince couldn’t peg back the leader when Dettori asked the questions.  Vital Statistics scored a deserved success today at Newbury after the filly had put up some consistent displays in her 4 earlier starts.  

Our first list horse in action on Saturday is Sindirana in the 2.40 at Newmarket.  This filly won the Lingfield Oaks Trial but the expert opinion is that she wont be good enough here.

  

Our other runner at HQ is High Reach in the 5.30. This sprinter has not found his best form since changing stables in the “close season” but his 5^th to Wyatt Earp last week at York was an improvement on previous efforts.

  

Balthazaar’s Gift (Newbury 2.25) has been running really well without winning.  He just failed to catch Les Arcs at Royal Ascot and of course the winner has franked the form in no uncertain terms since.  Baltic King could be the main danger as he will have the fast ground that he thrives on.  Eisteddfod will be one that is unlikely to be suited by the ground.  Balthazaar’s Gift has just moved from Kevin Ryan to jumps trainer Tom George which is rather a strange one.

  

Mark Johnston’s Drumfire (4.00) won well on his debut at Beverley last month and should go well.  There are good reports about the newcomer Striving Storm.

  

In the 4.35 Khyber Kim has the lowest rating of the 5 runners but showed enough promise in 3 races lasts season to warrant respect.  His form has been with ease in the ground though so it remains to be seen if he handles thee quicker surface.

  

In the 5.10 Coup D’Etat may be close to his winning turn.  He was squeezed for room when 3^rd at Sandown last week.

  

As long as all 8 runners hold their ground I will tip The Italian Job each way in the 6.40 at Haydock.  He was disappointing at Ripon last week when he may not have handled the track.

  

In the 7.10 Fishforcompliments runs for trainer Richard Fahey who has a good record in this race.

  

My main fancy at Lingfield is Kings Bastion in the 6.50.

  

I had Yes Sir on my jumps list to follow in the winter but he was a disappointment. He has rattled off a five timer in the summer jumps races though and with AP McCoy in the saddle he is my tip for the big chase at Market Rasen (3.45)

  

Strangest runner of the day is surely River City who makes his flat handicap debut in the 4.55 at Newmarket.  He won a grade 2 steeplechase in April!  He is fancied at Newmarket and it would not surprise me if he won.

  I will be back tomorrow evening.  Be Lucky.

Continue reading “Diary: July 22 2006” →

Alambic made it 4 in a row up at Hamilton as Sir Mark Prescott continues to milk the 3 year old handicaps.  This big filly was again impressive and I would not rule out a fifth straight win in the next few days.  Raucous was our other list runner this afternoon.  He was 2^nd at Leicester in a race won by the favourite for the ninth time in 11 years.

  

Prescott sends Prince Picasso to Carlisle tomorrow for the 3.15. The stable has a good record at the Cumbrian venue and in fact won this race 2 years ago with Masafi, who actually won 7 times in the July of that season.

  

There is a big field of 2 year olds for the 2.30 at Newbury and a couple of newcomers catch my eye. Monzante trained by Roger Charlton and I related to 6 winners.  Regal Flush is owned by the Cheveley Park Stud and is another bred to win a race at 2.

  

In Full Cry represents the list to follow in the 7.50 at Newmarket.  He is yet to win this season from his 3 starts but has not been running badly and should be on the premises.

  

That will be all for now.  Don’t forget there is a runner from our list to follow tonight; Warsaw Pact in the 8.05 at Wolverhampton. 

 See you tomorrow.

Continue reading “Diary: July 21 2006” →

On a very hot day the Ladbrokes office on the approach to Manchester’s Piccadilly station was an oasis of cool today – I can strongly recommend it. 

 

 

If the weather has been hot of late so has the form of Sir Mark Prescott’s three year olds.  They are doing wonders for the stats on my list to follow with Alambic winning yesterday and Liberate today. Alambic looks the sort that could go jumping like some others from the same yard – No Refuge and Inglis Drever for instance.  Alambic made it a hat trick of wins when accounting for Platinum Charmer at Yarmouth. Platinum Charmer was originally owned by the ill fated Platinum Racing Club and was ridden to victory by the now suspended jockeys Fergal Lynch and Darren Williams.  Liberate was a good thing at Lingfield this afternoon and made all to score by 9 lengths.  He is another big strong sort that may go to a jumping yard in due course. 

 

 

We have 3 runners in action form the list to follow on Thursday and, surprise surprise, two of them are Sir Mark Prescott 3 year olds. Alambic goes for a 4 timer in the 5.00 at Hamilton and looks to have a few pounds in hand of her rivals.  This is her 4th run in 10 days but as long as she is not suffering from that workload she will probably win again. Warsaw Pact is going for his 4^th win of the season in the 8.05 at Wolverhampton.  His performances thus far have stamped as a tough, progressive young stayer and he is sure to start favourite. 

 

 

The third runner from our list to follow is Raucous, trained by Tom Tate who goes in the 2.10 at Leicester.  He was 4^th in both his starts last season and should be up to winning a race this term.  Something to note about this race is that favourites have an excellent record, winning 8 of the last 10 renewals.  In fact the biggest starting price of a winner in the last 10 years is 100/30.  I note that Able Baker Charlie won this in 2002 and went on to finish 2^nd in the Royal Hunt Cup 2 years later. 

 

See you tomorrow.

 

Continue reading “Diary: July 20 2006” →

I am writing these notes prior to the evening racing so I don’t know how Alambic got on.  My main hope for Wednesday is another 3 year old from the Prescott stable, Liberate, in the 4.20 at Lingfield.  Liberate has been consistent all season and the way he stayed on last week at York leads me to think that the longer trip here should be in his favour.

  

Imperial Gain just lost out in a tight finish at Leicester behind Stef Liddiard’s tough 8 year old Certain Justice. He should go well in the 9.20 at Kempton.

  

Our third runner on Wednesday is Henchman in the Lingfield 4.50.  His recent form has not been encouraging unfortunately.

  See you tomorrow.

Continue reading “Diary: July 19 2006” →

Ironically given the heat wave at the moment Cool Customer was a winner for our list to follow at Windsor tonight at 7/1.  This was his 3^rd win of the season.

  

The only runner from the list Tuesday is Sir Mark Prescott’s Alambic who goes for a hat trick in the 8.50 at Yarmouth. This imposing filly has won her last two starts in impressive style and looks likely to add to her tally.  The way she has stayed on in her races this season indicates that she will not be inconvenienced by the extra 2 furlongs here.  It is worth watching her win at Musselburgh on July 10 if you have the Racing Post video link.

  

Talking of the Racing Post I liked their headline, “Fallon ice cold on Alex,” referring to Alexandrova’s win in the Irish Oaks.  It brings back memories of the film and Sylvia Sims in those khaki shorts!  Anyway enough of that, I’m feeling warm enough as it is!

  

We all get a mountain of junk mail these days and I am certainly no exception.  A lot of it is racing related and just recently I have had a couple of interesting brochures.

  

Just before the World Cup I received a brochure form “The All England Racing Club” complete with the red cross of St George on the front.  They advertise “a winning tradition” nice word that tradition, the brochure promises that if I follow their straightforward advice I will be a millionaire by 2010.

  

One punter is quoted as saying, “I have joined many different racing services in the past, some have shown a small profit but most have been useless. Since I joined the All England Club I have consistently won.  I don’t know how you do it but keep it coming.”  They have an office in London.

  

I then got some stuff from Thomas Whitaker.  This chap has “inside contacts” and won £380,000 last year alone.  Mr Whitaker has an office in London. I tend to get one of these invites a month, they usually claim to be a limited offer to the first 500 applicants and they tend to have reduced subscription fees.

  

I always assume these things are bogus but if anyone has any info bout these two or offers like them I would appreciate your comments.

  See you tomorrow.

Continue reading “Diary: July 18 2006” →

Time for one of those “what do you think of ot so far” moments.  

Of the 198 horses on the list to follow 66 have won at least once.  13 have won twice and Warsaw Pact has won 3 times.  Classic Punch has been the best priced winner at 25/1, followed by Blythe Knight at 22/1.  There have been 12 winners at 10/1 or better.  From the small Irish/French list Alexandrova and Shirocco have both won twice.

  

Moving on to Monday’s racing.  Grigorovitch is not the most reliable but I am hoping he will clock up at least one win this season at decent odds to justify his place on the list to follow.  His second last time and the fact that he is a course and distance winner give me reason to hope in the 4.10 at Ayr.

  Down at Windsor in the 6.35 The Jay Factor showed plenty of promise on his debut at Sandown for first year trainer Pat Eddery.  Of the newcomers Pretty Miss looks the pick on pedigree.  

In the 6.55 Cool Customer and Fear to Tread represent out list to follow.  Cool Customer has already won twice but5 there are doubts about the suitability of fast ground.  Fear to Tread on the other hand, a winner at Warwick last time out should handle the ground and is the selection.

  

At Wolverhampton Parks Girl makes some appeal in the 7.40 even though she was last on her debut in a better race.  Bellapais Boy could be the danger.

 

Continue reading “Diary: July 17 2006” →

Friday was a frustrating day for me wth Interpid Jack. Iffraaj and Liberate from the list to follow all coming second.  Our only winner of the day was Sir Mark Presscott’s Warsaw .  In fact Prescott has kept my list in business all week with an amazing run of results.    

Sunday 9 – Prince Picasso won

 

Monday 10 – Alambic won

 

Tuesday 11 – Warsaw Pact won

 

Wenesday 12 – Key Time won (not on my list to follow)

 

Thursday 13 – Alambic won

 

Friday 14 – Warsaw Pact won

  A lot of people place great store by trends in horse racing.  I decided to apply the theory to the 2.00 at Lingfield on Saturday. In the last 7 years the winner has come from stall 1 on 3 occasions.  This time Tom Paris is drawn 1.  During that period Richard Hannon has trained the winner 3 times.  He runs High Style this time.  6 of the last 7 winners have carried 8 stone 12 or more.  Now that excludes the two I have already mentioned but brings in 5 more horses – and there are only 8 runners!  I gave up at that point.  The 3.45 is a fascinating race.  There are two from our list to follow, Elusive Dream and Inchnadamph, as well as Dancing Bay from the Elite Racing Club.  

With Sir Mark Prescott in such fine from you have to give the consistent Elusive Dream every chance.  He stays and has won on the AW. Inchnadamoh won over this trip at Newmarket last season but has not run for 88 days.  There are plenty of contenders, not least Prins Willem and Dorothy’s Friend.  The former runs in the orange colours of the Dutch football team so will be easy to spot if you back him. I can strongly recommend that you use the Racing Post video facility to watch the finish of Prins Willem’s last race where he gets up right on the line.  He is a bit of a specialist in close finishes and dead heated for first in a race a couple of years back.  Dorothy’s Friend has had injury problems and missed all of last season.  A solid 4^th in the Northumberland Plate signalled a return to form last time and this one is certainly a threat. Unleash is a former winner of the Plate but has more recently been running over hurdles and fences.  Freddy is a former classic winner in the Argentine, Odiham can’t be ruled out and Frankie Dettori rides a horse with an Italian name!  Elusive Dream just gets my vote ahead of Prins Willem and Dorothy’s Friend.

  

There are 3 runners from the list to follow in the 4.15.  Cesare and Stronghold were 1^st and 2^nd in the Royal Hunt Cup and that handicap form looks solid as the 4^th and 8^th have both won big races since.  That was handicap form though and this is a Group 3 race.  Echo of Light is our 3^rd runner.  He looked a very difficult ride at times last year but still managed to win twice.  He cost an awful lost of money as a yearling though and could, as the saying goes, be anything.  Tricky race.

   

With the Prescott horses in such fine form I am hopeful about El Alamein (3.25) and Prince Picasso (4.00).

   

In the 8.35 Snark has an each way chance at around 8/1.

  

Mutawaffer has not won since Pontius was a Pilot but he has shown signs of a return to form of late. Not least when a slightly unlucky 2^nd 9 days ago.  He is in with a chance in the 2.10 at York.

  

High Reach (2.45) has been badly out of form since finishing 3^rd to Zowington in April.  Hard to fancy until he shows followers a bit more encouragement.

   I don’t have a great track record in the John Smith’s Cup (3.55) although Far Lane was a winner fro the list to follow in 2003.  We are double handed this year with Star of Light and Public Forum.  Star of Light has surprised me this season running well in all his 4 races.  He should again be to the fore on his favoured ground.  My tip though is the lightly raced Public Forum He has won 3 of his 4 races – but his only failure came when he ran on fast ground so fingers crossed that he acts on the ground here.  Vauquelin looks the form pick in the 4.25.  

Presto Shinko moves into group race class for th first time in the 3.20 at Maisons-Laffitte.

  

Sunday’s qualifiers from the list to follow.

  

Haydock 3.20 Sir Nod

  

Curragh 4.10 (Irish Oaks) – Alexandrova and Scottish Stage.

  

I will be back on Sunday evening.

 

Continue reading “Diary: July 15 & 16 2006” →

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On Thursday we had one short priced winner and 3 seconds.

  Friday’s Newmarket card kicks off with a I mile handicap at 1.30.  There are 3 runners from our list to follow in what looks an open race.  Regal Royale hasn’t won for nearly a year but has tended to meet with traffic problems and deserves to win a race of this sort.  His latest effort was a staying on 5^th at Royal Ascot and on that form he has chances in this.  Giganticus was well down the field in that Ascot race but was badly drawn that day and is better judged on a decent 3^rd at this track over 7 furlongs.  I just have a slight doubt about the trip being ideal for him.  The fourth runner from the list to follow in this race is Superseus who was 8^th in that Ascot handicap behind Sir Gerard.  There seems no good reason why he should reverse the form with Regal Royale.    

My tip here is for Regal Royale.

  

We also have 3 runners in the 2.35.  Zidane would be a topical winner but he has gone up 10 lbs for his last win and does not have a very favourable draw.  Intrepid Jack has not won over this distance so my vote is for Easy Air who finished very strongly in a hot race at Royal Ascot behind Sir Gerard.

  

In the 3.10 Moss Vale, Iffraaj and Balthazaar’s Gift represent the current list to follow, while Quito, Pivotal Point and Gift Horse are from previous year’s lists.  Iffraaj ran quite well last time at Ascot and with the stable showing some signs of form he gets a very tentative each way selection.  He should have his favoured fast ground.

  In the 3.45 Michael Jarvis runs Freedom at Last.  This one may well need the race but on breeding looks an interesting prospect.  Another Michael Jarvis two year old, Ebn Reem should go well in the nursery at 4.20.  I still haven’t given up on Cyclical getting his head in front at a nice price as some stage this season.  He runs in the 8.40 at Chepstow.  

Zomerlust has already won for us earlier in the season.  He runs in the 8.20 at Hamilton but is unlikely to get his favoured ground conditions.

  

Banjo Patterson is the list horse in the 2.55 at Lingfield.  He was last at Pontefract 3 days ago in first time blinkers.  Difficult to fancy on this season’s form.

  

My best bet of the day is Roman Quest in the 3.30.  He has already won for us twice and was really unlucky at Newbury last week when he would have won but for getting boxed in.

  

The recent good run for the list to follow owes much to Sir Mark Prescott who has been turning out winners all over the place.  His Warsaw Pact  seeks to follow up a  win three days ago in the 5.45 at Lingfield.

  

Our list to follow is also represented at Longchamps in the 7.20 with Art Deco and Puerto Rico.  Art Deco was 4^th in the French Derby and goes here with a chance.  He would probably not want the ground too quick.

  

Nidhaal was an encouraging 2^nd at Haydock last time out after coming back from some injury problems.  She should go well in the 2.45 at York.

  We have 3 of the 6 runners in the 4.30.  Cool Customer, Sin City and Liberate.  Sin City was well supported on his seasonal debut but met with trouble in running.  He looks the best of our trio here.

Continue reading “Diary: July 14 2006” →

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Our list to follow is enjoying a successful time of it at the moment and Sant Elena was the latest winner at 12/1 in the 8.24 at Kempton tonight.  It is worth watching the video of this race as the other horse from our list, Greek Renaissance was extremely unlucky.

  

There are 3 runners from our list to follow in the 6 runner Newmarket 1.30.  It looks an open race with Degas Art having the best chance of our runners on the form book. His 4^th in a Group 3 at Royal Ascot puts him in with a good chance in this listed contest.

  

Morghim is held by Degas Art on their running at Ascot while Jadalee needs to find some improvement but that is not out of the question as he is a lightly raced sort.

  

The 2.00 should go to Hoh Mike who was unlucky to lose his unbeaten run in the Norfolk Stakes when he didn’t get a clear run.  Dazed and Amazed has been consistent in a workmanlike fashion and should at least get a place. Narjoo has only run once and could be an improver.  Dubai’s Touch has won his last two starts but has a fair bit to find to get competitive here.

  

Alambic ran away from her field on Monday and as long as she has come out of that race OK a 6 lb penalty seems unlikely to stop her in the Folkestone 4.40.

  

Whispering Death came back to form at Thirsk last time out and he is another that may well be able to shoulder a penalty to victory.  He is my selection in the 4.30 at Warwick.

  

At Wolverhampton I fancy Apollo Five in the 7.10.  He was finishing strongly when he won at Bath and the extra distance here should suit.  Beech Games is an interesting newcomer in this race.

  

I have practically bought Phone In this season. His stable are in cracking form so perhaps he will finally get his head in front in the 7.45.

  

In the 8.15 Mick Channon’s Candyland is my each way suggestion.

  Good luck and see you tomorrow.

Continue reading “Diary: July 13 2006” →