February 2007 – Page 3

Diary: February 14 2007

February 13, 2007 MartinLeave a comment

Not much to report today. The 4.00 at Musselburgh rather caught my eye, if only for the fact that 2 of the horses from our list to follow are running. In truth, Locksmith and The Dukes Speech have been two of the biggest failures thus far.

Locksmith was a progressive chase for Martin Pipe last season but has changed stables and shown very little this term. The Duke’s Speech was a useful novice last season but his recent efforts have not been encouraging.

The Elite Racing Club have Kadount in this, a useful novice chaser a couple of season’s ago when trained by Alan King. He is with Len Lungo these days. He has not done much in his two runs this term and is one to watch rather than back at present.

There are a few others of interest. St Pirran has come down in the world since his days with Paul Nicholls when he was a classy chaser. Malafi once ran up 7 consecutive wins on the flat and has twice won at this track over hurdles so can’t be ruled out. If pushed for a selection it would have to be John Quinn’s Kings Quay. Good recent form and gets on well with his jockey who can claim 3 lbs.

I apologise if I have not responded to e-mails over the last few days. I am having a few IT problems.

See you tomorrow.

Continue reading “Diary: February 14 2007” →

Diary: February 14 2007

February 13, 2007 MartinLeave a comment

I apologise if I have not responded to e-mails over the last few days. I am having a few IT problems.

See you tomorrow.

Continue reading “Diary: February 14 2007” →

Diary: February 13 2007

February 12, 2007 MartinLeave a comment

There are no runners from our list to follow down to run tomorrow.

Continue reading “Diary: February 13 2007” →

Diary: February 12 2007

February 11, 2007 MartinLeave a comment

Saturday provided the best racing of the jumps season so far.

The day started quietly enough with Denman reinforcing his Cheltenham credentials with an effortless win in the novice chase, his 4th success of the season so far.

The big betting heat of the day, the Totesport Trophy, went to 50/1 shot Heathcoat, tipped in my Friday night preview as the outsider to watch.

Well Chief rewrote the Champion Chase script with a resounding win in the Game Spirit Chase and is clearly the one they all have to beat come March. Kauto Star once again tried to go through, rather than over, the final fence in the AON Chase to put just a little niggling doubt in the minds of even his most loyal supporters.

Best performance of the day though must be reserved for the Irish Hennessey at Leopardstown. The Listener jumped beautifully and appeared to have Beef or Salmon well and truly roasted turning for home. There was Robert Alner’s grey floating along with poor old Beef or Salmon languishing somewhere in the distance. Neither the old Leopardstown specialist nor his jockey Andrew McNamara had given up the cause however.

The Listener still held a commanding advantage over the last but he suddenly emptied and Beef or Salmon found plenty to speed past him to win by 3 parts of a length. Wonderful stuff.

Back to earth with a bit of a bump on Monday when the only jumps meeting is at Plumpton. There are no runners from our list to follow.

Take care.

Continue reading “Diary: February 12 2007” →

Stopping by woods on a Snowy evening

February 10, 2007 MartinLeave a comment

Whose woods these are I think I know,
His house is in the village though.
He will not see me stopping here,
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer,
To stop without a farmhouse near,
Between the woods and frozen lake,
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake,
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep,
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

— Robert Frost

Continue reading “Stopping by woods on a Snowy evening” →

Diary: February 10 & 11

February 9, 2007 MartinLeave a comment

The big betting heat tomorrow is of course the Totesport Trophy at Newbury (3.15). Tarlac is the only runner from our list to follow that is rather due a winner after three placed horses this week.

The ex German flat horse comes from the stable that has won 4 of the last 8 runnings of this competitive handicap. His form this season looks solid, he has a good racing weight and Tony McCoy rides. I will burden him with my selection. Caracciola was on my short list but the ground conditions have gone against him. One that will appreciate the testing ground is the Irish trained Quatre Heures. He travels well in his races and looks the type for this. If you want a big outsider you could try Heathcote. He is trained by Gary Moore who is a bit of a specialist in handicap hurdles. He won on the 13 February last season if you subscribe to that sort of theory.

Denman puts his Cheltenham credentials on the line on the opener at 1.35. The favourite for the Royal and Sunalliance chase will need to be on his metal though as Mr Pointment and Sandin’ Obligation have strong claims themselves. Mr Pointment looks a bright prospect but may just have stamina doubts at this trip. Standin’ Obligation disappointed last time out and may prefer better ground. Denman would have to be the selection but at 1/2 I wouldn’t put my money on it.

If the 1.35 is a race to watch rather than take a financial interest in the same can probably be said of the 2.40. Kauto Star clearly should win and probably will. He isn’t going to be given a really hard race just 4 weeks from the Gold Cup though and does not look like a betting proposition. If anything is going to worry him it will be L’Ami, especially in the testing conditions.

The Game Spirit Chase at 3.50 is a real mouth watering prospect. Well Chief returns to the track after a 22 month absence. He would have to be at his best to take this but who is to say that the Pipe team haven’t got him back to full fitness. Ashley Brook certainly proved his fitness winning convincingly over hurdles recently while Voy Por Ustedes rarely runs a bad race. I have a feeling that this could be decided on jumping. It could be run at a fair old lick and one mistake might be enough to lose the race. Forman and Sporazene are not completely out of it but I am going to narrowly favour Ashley Brook.

The 2.20 at Leopardstown features 3 runners from our list to follow – the entire field bar the favourite in fact! That favourite, Aran Concerto will take all the beating however. This could well turn out to be a tactical affair though and I don’t think that the favourite represents value. I will go for Catch Me who has done little wrong over hurdles, with his only defeat coming at the hands of the highly rated De Valira.

In the 2.55 the unpronounceable O’Muircheartaigh has an each way chance. Vic Venturi is the other runner from our list.

The big race on the card is the 4.00 which sees local hero Beef or Salmon take on the English raider The Listener. At the age of 11 there could be question marks over Beef or Salmon’s ability to beat his younger rival. He has hardly looked a spent force this season though and with his optimum conditions and “home advantage” I will give him the slight edge.

If Warwick goes ahead my nap there would be Paul Nicholls promising novice chaser Opera Mundi in the 2.20. He jumps well and has the stamina to cope with the likely testing ground.

My best bet of the day on Sunday is Hairy Molly in the 2.35 where both track and going should suit.

The meetings at Hereford and Exeter are in doubt. If they do get the all clear the runners from our list to follow are as follows.

Exeter 2.00 Lenny the Blade

4.00 Glasker Mill & Mr Quasimodo

4.30 French Saulaie

Hereford 2.20 Annie’s Answer

Have a good weekend

Continue reading “Diary: February 10 & 11” →

Two year olds 2006 – part 2

February 9, 2007 MartinLeave a comment

Two year olds of 2006 – Part 1

This is the second of 4 sections where I will be highlighting some of the 2 year olds that caught my eye during thye 2006 season. All pictures are by kind permission of the excellent web site www.b2yor.co.uk which is highly recommended.

Adagio (Grand Lodge) Won a 7 furlong maiden at Newmarket. Thrown in at the deep end in the Dewhurst. Reared at the start but made headway to finish 7^th. Should improve over middle distances in 2007. (picture below)

adagio_060919_nmkt1

Al Tharib (Silver Hawk) 3^rd both starts, latest a 7f Newmarket maiden. Extremely well related and may do better over further. Both starts were in September, the second behind Desert Dew (see later)

Authorized (Montjeu) Clearly relished the soft ground when impressive winner of the Racing Post Trophy on 2^nd start. Cost 400,000 gns and looks a high class middle distance prospect for 2007. (picture below – number 4)

authorized_060915_nwby1

Ballet Boy (Saddlers Wells) Ran 3 times in quick succession. The stable often do much better at 3 in handicaps so could be one to watch for in that sphere in 2007.

Benfleet Boy (Fasliyev) Won a maiden on the AW at Kempton on 2^nd and final start. Open to plenty of improvement. Has both speed and stamina in his pedigree. (picture below – number 2) benfleetboy_060906_ktna2

Black Rock (Rock of Gibraltar) Much improved effort when just failing to catch Water Mill in 7F conditions stakes at Kempton on 2^nd start.

blackrock_060902_ktna1

Colorado Rapid (Barathea) stoutly bred type that should improve when asked to tackle middle distances. 2^nd on his only run in a maiden at Chepstow. (picture below)

Composing (Noverre) 3^rd in a Salisbury maiden on only start. Unlikley to stay much beyond a mile. Sire a top-class miler: dam comes from a decent staying family: decent start, sure to build on this.

Denbera Dancer (Danehill) Bred in the purple, 5^th on only start at Pontefract.

Desert Dew (Indian Ridge) Bred for middle distances. An eyecatcher in the paddock on his debut but found trouble in running at Newmarket but returned to HQ to win 7F maiden at the end of September in resounding fashion on soft ground. Stepped up in grade at Newbury and finished 8^th of 10 in the Group 3 Horris Hill on final start.

Duty Free (Rock of Gibraltar) Ran twice at Bath and showed enough to suggest he may be one for handicaps next term.

Kirk Michael (Selkirk) After finishing 4^th on his debut at Leicester was runner up in a Newmarket maiden.

Leptis Magna (Danehill Dancer) Ran three times with his best effort coming in the last of these when 4^th to Odin Dawn at Pontefract.

Manchurian (Singspiel) Won a Wolverhampton maiden with something in hand when stepped up to 7 furlongs. Was then 6^th of 8 in Group 3 company at Ascot. (picture below – number 4)

manchurian_061007_asct1

Measured Tempo (Saddlers Wells) Quickened nicely to win a 20 runner maiden at the end of October and looks a promising prospect for next season.

Metaphoric ( Montjeu) Bred to excel over middle distances at 3. Won at Nottingham over a mile on his only start coming from last to first under a hands and heels ride from Jamie Spencer and should improve next season.

Mia’s Boy (Pivotal) 6/4 favourite in a Newmarket maiden on his only outing. 7^th behind Afadio, not knocked about and can do better. (picture below)

miasboy_060919_nmkt1

Minnis Bay (Royal Academy) Showed fairly useful form. Was doing his best work at the finish when fifth on his debut over 6f at Newmarket, again ran on strongly in the closing stages when only beaten a neck in second at Wolverhampton. Didn’t get the clearest of runs when 4^th of 10 at Lingfield next time, again over 7 furlongs. (picture below – number 7)

minnisbay_060919_nmkt1

Mount Hermon (Golan) A promising 3^rd on his debut at Salisbury behind two subsequent winners. Was then 2^nd at Lingfield and not knocked about when down the field in a valuable sales race at Newmarket. An imposing sort and the type to do better next year.

Murbek (Dansili) Bred to come into his own over middle distances. He made a fine debut when 2^nd at Sandown and was then 4^th of 14 behind Desert Dew at Newmarket. He may do better next season. (picture below)

murbek_060929_nmkt1

Northern Jem (Mark of Esteem) Is interesting being a half brother to Polar Jem, a very tough filly that won 5 times in 2004 and 8 times in all. She won 3 times in listed company over 10 and 12 furlongs. The dam is a half sister to Polar Red who I remember winning a handicap hurdle at Cheltenham in January 2002 in bottomless ground. Northern Jem ran well on his debut when 3^rd at Yarmouth and was then 6^th of 8 over 7 furlongs at Ascot, staying on late. Likely to be best suited by soft ground. (picture below – number 7)

northernjem_061007_asct1

Opera Music (Kirkwall) Confirmed promise of debut when winning a 12 runner maiden at Newbury. Probably improved on that form when 4^th in the Horris Hill stakes in heavy ground at Newbury in October. (picture below – number 9)

operamusic_061021_nwby1

Optical Illusion (Theatrical) Half brother to David Junior. 8^th of 13 on his debut at Leicester. Not knocked about and can do better next season.

Prince Forever (Giant’s Causeway) Was quickly away ands made all on his debut at Newbury over 7F. Raced much too keenly in the Champagne Stakes and spoiled his chance finishing last of 8.

Provost (Danehill Dancer) Bred for speed. Was made hot favourite on his debut at Newcastle but could only finish 5^th of 9. Clearly better was expected and is probably worth another chance.

Sakhees Secret (Sakhee) Bred to stay 12 furlongs and may prefer soft ground. Got anything but a clear run when 3^rd on his debut at Windsor (Cheap Street was 2^nd) and confirmed this promise when winning in fine style at the same track beating Oldjoesaid by 6 lengths over 6 furlongs. Raced too keenly next time at Ascot when 4^th of 8 over a furlong further.

Scantlebury (Mark of Esteem) Ran green when down the field in a Newmarket maiden but half brother to 3 winner5s and may well do better. (picture below)

scantlebury_060919_nmkt1

Spanish Moon (El Prado) Sister to Spanish Sun who I remember winning the Ribblesdale at Ascot over 12 furlongts in 2003. Won a 19 runner back end maiden at Newmarket over 7F in soft ground that possibly didn’t particularly suit him. He won this nicely and should get further next season.

Sunlight (Sinndar) Runner up at Newmarket on her debut neaten by a horse with previous experience. The front 3 pulled well clear of the rest. Confirmed that promise when winning her next outing at Lingfield. Will be suited by middle distances at 3 and looks the type to go on to better things.

Tastahil (Singspiel) After making his debut in listed company he won in workmanlike style on his second outing in a mile maiden at Kempton. He was then a bit disappointing when 6^th of 7 behind Teslin at Newbury, with Authorized 3^rd. The type that might do better at three. (picture below – number 9)

tastahil_060906_ktna2

Teslin (In the Wings) Runner up on his first two starts at Sandown and Chester he then won a conditions event over a mile at Newbury. He was down the field in the Racing Post Trophy when he may not have handled the heavy ground and on his final start he was last of 10 in the Group 1 Criterium International at Saint-Cloud. (picture below – number 7)

teslin_060915_nwby1

Vanquisher (Xaar) Bred to appreciate middle distances. He showed some promise in both his first two starts at Newmarket, finishing 5^th on both occasions. He stayed on stoutly to finish 2^nd at Windsor over an extended mile.

Continue reading “Two year olds 2006 – part 2” →

Diary: February 9 2007

February 9, 2007 MartinLeave a comment

If racing goes ahead at Kempton on Friday there will be two runners from our list to follow.

Wyldello is yet to finish out of the first two in her 6 starts. She contests the novice hurdle at 2.35 and the 9/4 quoted in the RP about represents her chance.

Our other runner is Emma Lavelle’s Supreme Copper making his handicap debut in the 4.15. The stable have been in good from and this one holds an each way chance.

See you tomorrow.

Continue reading “Diary: February 9 2007” →

Diary: February 8 2007

February 7, 2007 MartinLeave a comment

Despite the cold snap Taunton are apparently optimistic that their card will go ahead tomorrow.

There are a couple of runners from our list to follow in the beginners’ chase at 2.50. Molostiep was a shade unlucky to finish 4^th at Hereford recently. He showed enough to indicate that he can win over fences. On this occasion Nobody Tells Me looks to have the better credentials. He was probably not suited by the track at Fontwell when 3^rd over hurdles last time out. He looks a chasing type and will be expected to go well here on his debut over fences.

See you tomorrow.

Continue reading “Diary: February 8 2007” →

As I walked out one evening

February 6, 2007 MartinLeave a comment

As I walked out one evening – W H Auden

As I walked out one evening,
Walking down Bristol Street,
The crowds upon the pavement
Were fields of harvest wheat.

And down by the brimming river
I heard a lover sing
Under an arch of the railway:
'Love has no ending.

'I'll love you, dear, I'll love you
Till China and Africa meet,
And the river jumps over the mountain
And the salmon sing in the street,

'I'll love you till the ocean
Is folded and hung up to dry
And the seven stars go squawking
Like geese about the sky.

'The years shall run like rabbits,
For in my arms I hold
The Flower of the Ages,
And the first love of the world.'

But all the clocks in the city
Began to whirr and chime:
'O let not Time deceive you,
You cannot conquer Time.

'In the burrows of the Nightmare
Where Justice naked is,
Time watches from the shadow
And coughs when you would kiss.

'In headaches and in worry
Vaguely life leaks away,
And Time will have his fancy
To-morrow or to-day.

'Into many a green valley
Drifts the appalling snow;
Time breaks the threaded dances
And the diver's brilliant bow.

'O plunge your hands in water,
Plunge them in up to the wrist;
Stare, stare in the basin
And wonder what you've missed.

'The glacier knocks in the cupboard,
The desert sighs in the bed,
And the crack in the tea-cup opens
A lane to the land of the dead.

'Where the beggars raffle the banknotes
And the Giant is enchanting to Jack,
And the Lily-white Boy is a Roarer,
And Jill goes down on her back.

'O look, look in the mirror?
O look in your distress:
Life remains a blessing
Although you cannot bless.

'O stand, stand at the window
As the tears scald and start;
You shall love your crooked neighbour
With your crooked heart.'

It was late, late in the evening,
The lovers they were gone;
The clocks had ceased their chiming,
And the deep river ran on.

Continue reading “As I walked out one evening” →