Month: October 2007

Tinagoodnight gave us a welcome winner over the jumps today.  She travelled nicely on her hurdles debut and may well progress from there, especially if she can brush up on her jumping.

 

Otage de Brion was a non runner while Lennon failed to justify favouritism at Kempton.

 

There are 3 runners from our flat list to follow in action tomorrow. Dig Deep goes in the 3.10 at Pontefract.  He is getting hard to predict and I can’t really drum up much enthusiasm for his chances.  Unlike Dig Deep who has won twice this season, Swinbrook is yet to get off the mark.  He is dropped in grade in the 2.30 at Wolverhampton though and must be in with a fair chance.

 

Furmigadelagiusta carries top weight in the 4.30.  He folded rather tamely at Ayr when last of 9 but that run may have been too bad to be true. 

Bye for now.

Continue reading “Diary; October 22 2007” →

On the face of it the horses on our list to follow had a pretty miserable day of it with only Imperial Commander winning and that at odds on.  In reality though most of them ran well and some were unlucky. At Newmarket Eagle Mountain was a game runner up in the Champion Stakes and had the rest of the field well beaten and Al Qasi was also second after not getting a clear run.  Up at Catterick How’s She Cuttin (3^rd) and Bo McGinty (4^th) ran absolute stormers racing together on the “wrong” side of the track.  Over the jumps Smart Street, Bob Hall and Khasab were all promising 3rds while Private Be was brought down while in contention. 

There is racing a several venues tomorrow.  The ex French Otage de Brion looked a bright prospect when winning at Plumpton in May and looks the likely winner of the 3.00 at Hereford.

 

Another horse that has come over from France is Tinagoodnight.  She won at Clairfontine in July and is the sort that trainer Nicky Henderson normally does well with.  She runs in the 2.20 at Kempton.

 

In the 3.25 at Kempton Ben De Haan puts Classic Gold  out again just 2 days after his defeat at Cheltenham, while in the same race Paul Nicholls run former decent flat handicapper Another Bottle.

 

The 4.00 looks quite competitive but may go to the front running Lennon whose style should be suited by this track.

 

At Wolverhampton Sir Mark Prescott seems to have found a winning opportunity for Tonnante in the 2.40.

 

The only runner from our flat list to follow in Ireland is Attercliffe in the listed race at 4.30.  He is 14/1 in the RP and that about represents his chance.

 

Continue reading “Diary: October 21 2007” →

Highlights of today’s racing for me were the wins from Snap Tie and Short Skirt.  Snap Tie has always looked a nice type and should go on to better things over hurdles.  Short Skirt won at Newmarket in gritty fashion for Godolphin despite having been off the track for a year.

 

I will give the jumpers priority tonight as there is an excellent card at Cheltenham.

 

In the 2.55 I fancy Imperial Commander, a horse whose career I have followed closely after he won a bumper on his debut beating Snap Tie by 8 lengths.

 

Private Be and Bob Hall represent our list to follow in the 3.30.  Private Be won at Aintree on his last start beating Bob Hall by 3 lengths.  He has not always looked the most straightforward of rides but certainly has potential.   Bob Hall rarely runs a bad race and should be in the firing line.

 

In the 4.40 Khasab is a lightly raced sort with scope for improvement.  He runs in a handicap hurdle here but may well go over fences before the season is out.

 

There are 2 runners from our list to follow in the 4.30 at Kelso, Smart Street and Shouldhavehadthat.  Both are scopey individuals that should do well over fences.

 

At Newmarket we have two runners from our list to follow in the 2.05.  Al Qasi is trained by Peter Chapple-Hyam whose horses have not been running well of late while Caldra has not shown enough since returning from injury to warrant much confidence.  Cesare looks the most likely winner.

 

In the Champion Stakes at 3.15 we have 3 runners from our list to follow.  Multidimensional won a Newbury recently after being sideline with a hairline fracture of the pelvis.  He would need to step up on previous form to take a hand here but the trip should suit and he can’t be ruled out.  Eagle Mountain has been running consistently, being placed in both the Epsom and Irish Derbies.  He won his last start and should run well.  Mount Nelson has been off the track for nearly a year after sustaining an injury.  He won 2 of his 3 starts as a juvenile.  The obvious choice would be Creachadoir who looked good when winning the Joel Stakes at Newmarket earlier this month.

 

I have a pretty miserable tipping record in the Cesarawitch so you may want to turn the sound down for a minute or two!

 

I am going to go with Macorville who has put up some sterling efforts this season including a narrow defeat in the Northumberland Plate. Sunley Peace will be suited by this extreme rest while Lightning Strike looks a fair outsider.

 

In the 5.05 Hawridge Prince seeks to follow up his win in the same race last season.  He has had injury problems since and has not shown the same level of form this time around.  He would be in with a shout at his best though.

 

In the 5.40 the first 3 home in the Stewards Cup, Zidane, Borderlescott and Knot in Wood meet again.  Both the latter pair were a bit disappointing on their most recent start so I would be inclined to take Zidane to come out on top again.  Baltic King will not be suited by the ground but Ayr Gold Cup winner Advanced is certainly one for the shortlist.  Advanced and Zidane would be my 2 against the field, although the in form Fullandby could not be ruled out.

 

Staying with the sprinters there are 3 runners from our list to follow in the 3.05 at Catterick.  Bo McGinty runs for the 19^th time this season and with only 1 win from all those starts I suppose he hasn’t been much of a horse to follow.  He has been consistent though with 3 seconds and 4 thirds. He probably needs to come down the weights.  Strike up the Band ran well at Longchamp the other week but is probably better at 6 furlongs.  How’s She Cutting has done well for us winning 3 times.  She returns here after a break but the stable are not in the best of form and she doesn’t have a good draw.  King Orchisios could be interesting form a favourable draw.

 

My best offering at Wolverhampton is Hora in the 7.55.  This one looks a typical Sir Mark Prescott improver.

 

See you tomorrow.

 

Continue reading “Diary: October 20 2007” →

There is some decent rcing under both codes on Friday, but I will start over the jumps with Cheltenham’s  first meeting of the new season.

 

Champion Trainer Paul Nicholls runs his “new signing” Marodima in the novice chase at 2.55. This one showed plenty of ability last season when trained by Oliver Sherwood winning twice over hurdles.  Owned by David Johnson he looks an interesting recruit for Nicholls.

 

Former top jockey Ben De Haan trains a small string at Lambourn and his runners are always worth a close look.  One of his best horses is Classic Gold who won convincingly in May at Huntingdon.  He has been given a break and runs in the 3.30.  As long as the ground doesn’t turn out to be too soft he should go well at a price.

 

The 4.05 looks competitive and you couldn’t rule out any of the 9 runners with any confidence.  Always Waining has the benefit of a recent outing and ran well in 3^rd behind stable companion Iron Man last month at Market Rasen.

 

In the 5.50 Trucker’s Delight represents our list to follow.  He showed somefair form in bumpers when ridden by his owner Barry Connell, winning at Stratford and finishing runner up on two occasions.  I am hoping that he will pay his way as the season progresses but he probably needs further than tomorrow’s trip and will be best suited by handicaps.  The one I really like in this race is Snap Tie.  He had a slightly disappointing campaign last season but has always looked like a horse with plenty of ability. His trainer has always held him in high regard.

 

There are quite a few runners from our list to follow on the flat – so here goes.

 

We are 3 handed in the 3.10 with Blue Ksar, Illustrious Blue and Al Tharib.  Illustrious Blue has a quite remarkable record in that he has raced on ground officially described as “good” on 9 occasions and won 7 of them.  That I suppose has to be a tip in itself!  In fact he has only ever won on good ground.  Of his 6 wins in the UK 5 were at Goodwood.  Al Tharib has won over further and I wonder if he will be ridden positively to make this a test of stamina?  Blue Ksar ran rather disappointingly last time when beaten at Ascot but that was a Group 1 contest and perhaps he just isn’t up to that class.  This race might be more to his liking and he gets my selection.  Incidentally Blythe Knight, from our jumps list to follow contests this but has to give weight away all round.  This will probably be his last run on the flat before he starts his hurdling campaign.

 

Short Skirt is the class act in the 3.45 having finished 3^rd in the Oaks last year.  She has been off the track for 363 days though but if fully would up she would be hard to beat.  Her trainer is quite capable of getting a horse ready after a long layoff. For those interested in such trivia Short Skirts full sister Shorthand also runs in this race.

 

 Cape and Salsa Steps are our runners in the 4.20.  Cape has been a disappointment and I am beginning to lose faith.  Salsa Steps won a maiden last time out on firm ground.  She doesn’t have the form for this contest strictly on the book but she is lightly raced and is a possible surprise package if handling the ground.

 

We also have a couple of runners in the 4.55.  Artimino has put up some very solid performances this season.  He was 4^th of 30 in the ultra competitive Britannia Stakes and ran with credit at Newmarket last time.  As result of his consistent form he is probably high enough in the weights but you couldn’t rule him out.  On this occasion I prefer Kafuu though.  Kafuu has only raced twice and has presumably had some sort of injury problems but he has shown plenty of potential when we have seen him.  He could just be better than a handicapper and off a low weight and with a good draw he looks interesting.

 

Star of Light runs in the 5.30 but would need the ground to dry out to give him a realistic chance I would think.

 

Lastly we have one list runner at Redcar.  Spume is a bit difficult to figure.  He has popped up once this season at 8/1 but hasn’t really looked like troubling the judge on his other starts.  He runs in the 5.40.

 

See you tomorrow night.

 

Continue reading “Diary: October 19 2007” →

It was a slightly frustrating day over the jumps today with 3 of the 4 runners from our list to follow finishing in the runners up spot.  At least Gentle John and Calgary Bay ran as though there will be races to be won with them.

 

The only runners from our list to follow in the UK tomorrow are both on the flat.

 

Wyeth runs in the 4.40 at Nottingham.  He is a half brother to George Washington but to be honest he does not have a great deal else to commend him.

 

Monashee Brave has not shown a lot of form this season but his last run, from a bad draw at Newcastle was an improvement.   He has a good draw in the Nottingham 5.10 and he has slipped down the weights enough to be given an each way chance.

 

Evan Williams won the award for top trainer at Ludlow last season.  He is well represented at the Shropshire track tomorrow where his best chance might be in the bumper at 5.20 with The Hairy Mutt.

 

Over in Ireland in the 2.45 at Punchestown,  Sizing Africa represents our list to follow. He showed good form in bumpers last season with wins at Gowran Park and Fairyhouse.  He is probably my best bet of the day.

 

In the 4.45 Slash And Burn should come on for his recent 4^th at Roscommon and looks each way value.

 

See you tomorrow

 

Continue reading “Diary: October 18 2007” →

At this stage of the season the spotlight starts to focus on the jumps rather than the flat.  Tomorrow is no exception with the most interesting action provided by 3 jumps cards.

 

The runner I am most interested in in the 2.00 at Uttoxeter is Onyorgard from Robert Alner’s yard.  The Dorset based handler is best known for producing chasers such as Sir Rembrandt and The Listener and I am sure that Onyorgard’s long term future will be over fences. He may well find one or two too good for him tomorrow but he is one to keep in mind.  It is worth noting that Jonjo O’Neill has saddled the winner of this race for the last 2 seasons.

 

Don McCain runs dual bumper winner Harry Wood in the 3.00 and this one should be worth a close look.

 

Gentle John represents our list to follow in the 4.05. He seemed to benefit from a change of stable when winning a weak hurdle at Chepstow.  This 5 year old has only had 4 runs in his life, 2 bumpers and two hurdle races.  The fact that his talented trainer Philip Hobbs sends him over fences so early in the gelding’s career would seem to indicate that he has schooled well at home.  That should put the kiss of death on him!  It won’t be easy as he is up against some more experienced horses, including the winner of the race last season, Jeffertiti.  Gentle John is a lightly raced type who may have more scope for improvement than some of his rivals.

 

The second horse from our list to follow is Henrietta Knight’s Calgary Bay.  I was at Ludlow for his debut run when he was just worried out of it close home by a horse of Nicky Henderson’s.  It probably wasn’t the greatest race in the world but Calgary Bay showed promise nonetheless and looked a horse with a future.  He is another that will make a chaser one day I would imagine as, like Onyorgard he is from a yard that very much favours chasers.  This might be quite a competitive race for Uttoxeter as several of the bigger stables are represented.  Rightway Star of Don McCain’s has some experience and that should stand him in good stead but I hope that Calgary Bay shows enough to justify his place on the list.

 

Turning my attention to Wetherby, I see that Howard Johnson runs Fushe Jo in the 2.10.  This one is a half brother to Arcalis and was 2^nd at Perth 3 weeks ago when he raced rather keenly.  Ferdy Murphy runs a newcomer from the flat, Tomorrow’s Dancer.  Murphy doesn’t have many ex-flat horses so perhaps that might be significant.  You would think that the Johnson runner would go well though.

 

Sir Boreus Hawk was pretty impressive last season and has won 3 of his 5 career starts.  He could be something special and it will be interesting to see how he gets on in the 3.15 which is his handicap debut.

 

The 3.45 should be quite a spectacle as there are 4 greys running.  The 12 year old Scot’s Grey does not owe connections anything as he has won 10 races in his career.  I recall seeing him land a Kempton handicap by the narrowest of margins against Hand Inn  Hand a few Christmas’s back.  He is a handsome individual who handles a sound surface.  Although he has top weight here he has shown himself to be a good weight carrier in the past.  Silver Knight is another old favourite and he has shown a rael liking for Wetherby in the past winning 4 times at the Yorkshire track.  He has shown his best form with plenty of cut in the ground though.

 

The 3.15 at Punchestown features 2  from our list to follow, Hide the Evidence and Sizing Europe.  This is a trappy race where none of the runners can be ruled out.  If pushed for a tip I would go with Sizing Europe who should have ground conditions to suit and is ridden by the incomparable Ruby Walsh.

 

See you tomorrow.

 

Continue reading “Diary: October 17 2007” →

Tomorrow’s flat racing has an end of season look with some big field maidens.  In the 3.10 at Leicester Michael Bell introduces Allied Powers who is a half brother to Warsaw Pact who was a multiple winner for Sir Mark Prescott.  Michael Bell doesn’t have too many first time out juvenile winners so this one may need some time.  He is a name to watch out for though.

 

In the 5.10 Prime Exhibit looks the best of those that have run before. Newcomer Plavius was a hugely expensive yearling and will be expected to win.

 

The only runner from our list to follow is Staked a Claim who has a nice symmetrical record having run 4 times and been 4^th on each occasion.  He tries 6 furlongs for the first time having previously run over 5 and 7.

 

Continue reading “Diary: October 16 2007” →