There are 3 runners from our list to follow entered tomorrow.
Windsor 4.00 Leptis Magna
Wolverhampton 2.50 Ballet Boy
3.50 Geolimali
Month: October 2007
Diary: October 14 2007
There are quite a few meeting tomorrow, with 4 horses catching my eye.
Over at Naas I fancy Big Zeb (4.30) and Kimberlite King (6.00).
Cape hasn’t really lived up to expectations this season but there were some encouraging signs on her last run when 4th at Haydock. She looks to have a good chance in the 5.15 at Goodwood.
Princess Valerina has spoilt her chances this season by racing to keenly. She is the only other runner from our list to follow and she goes in the 3.55 at Lingfield. She has place claims on her best form if she can settle.
Diary: October 13 2007
There are a few runners from our list to follow in action today.
In the 2.20 at Ascot Strategic Mount is a course and distance winner but really need fast ground. Ladies Best has been running well in these races all season and deserves something like this. At around 9/1 he looks worth an each way interest.
Mutajarred revels in soft ground and should also be suited by the trip in the 4.10.
On form both Dig Deep and Bo McGinty would have definite chances in the 4.40. Neither would want the ground too soft however.
Over at York Noisy Silence has a good each way chance in the 2.10.
In the 4.50 the progressive Broomielaw is preferred to Hassaad and Yossi.
Over the jumps I will be looking out for Whiteoak (Bangor 4.35) Washango (Bangor 5.40)Serabad (Chepstow 3.40) Pertinent & Theatrical Moment (Chepstow 4.15) Modicum (Hexham 2.15) Tot O’ Whiskey (Hexham 4.25) Abstinence (Hexham 5.30) Cork All Star (Fairyhouse 2.30)
Diary: October 12 2007
The national hunt season is beginning to get going. Howard Johnson will no doubt have a strong team. He introduces points winner Knockavilla in the bumper at 5.15.
On the flat the vastly expensive Jalil runs in the 4.35 where he takes on Al Khaleej who on the face of it has the superior form.
The 2.10 at York is another intriguing contest. There are 3 runners from our list to follow, Big Timer, Spanish Moon and Sunshine Kid. Best Alibi looks the percentage call on the basis of his 3rd to Dylan Thomas in last year’s Irish Derby. He is a course and distance winner too. Spanish Moon won his only start as a 2 year old but has been off the track for nearly a year. His brother Spanish Sun won the Ribblesdale and he could be anything.
Diary: October 11 2007
Not a bad day with 2 wins and 2 seconds from the 4 horses mentioned last night.
Nothing really catches my eye tomorrow.
Diary: October 10 2007
Just a quick look at Wednesday’s racing.
Forrager returns after a 131 day lay off in the 5.10 at Nottingham. He goes well fresh and likes some cut in the ground so at 6/1 looks to have each way possibilities.
At Kempton Sister Act is fancied for the 6.50. She has shown signs of ability and could well break her duck from a favourable draw.
Albertas Run would be my nap of the day in the 4.30 at Towcester.
Opus Café will probably be going over fences sooner rather than later but stays over hurdles in the 2.50 at Exeter. I think he will be winning races this season.
Diary: October 9 2007
There are just 2 runners from our list to follow entered tomorrow.
Sir Mark Prescott runs Ballet Boy in the 4.30 at Catterick. Ballet Boy won at Windsor earlier in the season but has not been seen for 3 months. He disappointed on his last run but if that could be put down to the heavy ground he could be given a chance tomorrow.
Sugar Ray is stepped up in trip for the 4.10 at Leicester and should go well.
Diary: October 8 2007
I think that in years to come, when I look back at the races that I have watched, this year’s Arc will rank as one of the most dramatic. There was the ultimate irony of Kieren Fallon having to wait an age for the “judges” decision.
Before the race there was talk of Frankie Dettori being in line for sportsperson of the year. Today’s race has almost certainly scuppered that and I don’t somehow think that Kieren Fallon will be in the running for that particular prize.
Whether or not jockey error cost Authorized will no doubt be debated over the coming days and long into the future. In reality though the warnings signs were there before the horse ever went to post. It was always going to be tough from that outside draw, the runs of Dutch Art and Tariq made me a little uneasy and of course not many Epson Derby winners have won the Arc in recent times.
Authorized seemed to me to be pulling bit too hard early on and I wasn’t sure he handled the turns that well. He certainly never really looked like making up th ground and his challenge soon fizzled out. Did he get too much daylight? Maybe. It was a wonderful performance from Dylan Thomas anyway, and it was good to see one of my old football heroes Mick Channon so pleased with the super run from Youmzain.
This was also a triumph for Kieren Fallon who, like the truly great jockeys, makes that crucial difference between success and failure.
Elsewhere at Longchamp Benbaun continued his impressive run this season in the Abbaye. He is a very consistent sprinter. I had rather written him off because of the ground but both he and Dylan Thomas won despite conditions not being in their favour.
Not much that catches my eye about Monday’s racing so I will leave it there for tonight
Diary: October 7 2007
There are three runners from our list to follow in the Prix L’Abbaye at Longchamp at 1.15. Hogmaneigh shouldn’t be quite good enough to win at Group 1 level, although the ground will be in his favour. Strike up the Band handles soft ground and is probably best at 5 furlongs but has not shown much since winning at Chantilly a year ago. Dandy Man deserves to win a big race but really wants faster ground to show his best form. Of the rest Benbaun and Moss Vale have had many a close battle over the last year or two with Benbaun normally coming out on top. Benbaun seems to reserve his best form for The Curragh and is also another that would prefer faster ground. Moss Vale would be my very tentative selection.
Frankie Dettori rides Longchamp as well as anyone and I fancy his chances on Laureldean Gale in the 1.50. This filly was trained by Peter Chapple-Hyam but is now with Godolphin.
Finsceal Beo has been one of the stars on our list to follow landing two classics but ground and trip seem against her in the 3.00.
My heart definitely says Authorized for the Arc but my head has a few doubts. He has to do it from stall 12 and on the tight French track that has historically proved a massive disadvantage. Peter Chapple-Hyam’s two runners today made no show which is another negative point. In addition, Epsom Derby winners have not fared too well in the Arc with only 1 of the 6 that have tried prevailing in the last decade. Dylan Thomas has form figures of 311 at this trip, all in Group 1 races. He should be in the shake up. Mandesha is a course and distance winner with a good draw and should run well but I can’t see Youmzain being quite good enough. I can see Soldier of Fortune putting up a bold show but I am going to let my heart rule my head and side with Authorized to get the better of Dylan Thomas and Soldier of Fortune.
Yeats will be hard to beat in the 4.25 where he seems to tick all the right boxes. It will be interesting to see how Juniper Girl, the winner of the Northumberland Plate gets on.
I haven’t had the chance to put my horses to follow for the 2007/8 jumps season on the site yet. When I do, Abstinence will be on it. He won a Wetherby bumper in impressive style and was promptly snapped up by Howard Johnson for Andrea and Graham Wylie. He should win the Kelso 5.30
Diary: October 6 2007
We have one of the most fascinating weekend’s racing of the whole season ahead of us with the Cambridgeshire and the Arc to look forward to.
I will just concentrate on Saturday’s cards tonight with a further update tomorrow night.
Starting at Newmarket there are 2 runners from our list to follow in the 2.45. Dunelight was only beaten a neck in a Group 3 at Goodwood on his last start and it would be no big surprise if he was placed again. He is a course and distance winner and his chances will improve the more the ground dries out. Caldra has shown his best form with cut in the ground but his supporters can take some consolation from the facts that he holds a Group 2 entry and that 3 year olds have 7 of the last 10 renewals.
Echelon is a horse I have always liked and she has been going from strength to strength this season. She acts on most surfaces but is probably best on good to firm. She looks the percentage call in the 3.20.
At 3.55 we are face with trying to sort out the cavalry charge that is the Cambridgeshire. There are 6 runners from our list to follow so I will start with a look at their chances. I like lightly raced horses in this handicap so Mutajarred, who has only run 5 times fits the bill. His 3 wins have all come with plenty of cut in the ground though so I am not sure how he will handle a faster surface. He has gone up in the weights and has no experience of big fields so I am going to pass him by. Seabow is another that has few miles on the clock. He beat Galactic Star last season at level weights and that horse won a listed race today. He is by no means out of it but there is the suspicion that he might be better with some juice in the ground. Prince of Light is best on fast ground and is a course and distance winner. He is just 2 lbs higher than his highest winning mark. Superseus is another course and distance winner. He goes well fresh and has had a 2 month break.
Monte Alto is yet to be out of the first 3 in his 10 race career and comes here on the back of a win a fortnight ago at Newbury. Johnny Murtagh rides and the horse acts on the ground. He must have a big chance. Escape Route has looked a bit of a tricky customer at times but put his previous stalls problems behind him with a win over this distance at Goodwood last month. His willingness in a large field could be a concern.
Very Wise and Greek Well look other to consider but for my selection I will go with Monte Alto.
The 5.05 is a fascinating race as it features Kafuu, who has only run once, winning at York exactly a year ago. He was impressive that day, albeit in soft ground, and as the saying goes, could be anything. The other runner from our list to follow is Artimino who still has scope for improvement at this trip and acts on fast ground.
Advanced could hardly have been more impressive when storming home in the Ayr Gold Cup and steps up to listed class in the 4.10 at Redcar. Our other runner is course and distance winner Passion Fruit who will run better than her 66/1 would suggest. Advanced would be my selection though.
Wyeth is an interesting runner in the 4.20 at Wolverhampton as he is a half brother to George Washington.
There is a strong British challenge for the 2.25 at Longchamp, including Red Evie and Dutch Art. Red Evie has never been beaten over 7 furlongs and should give a good account while Dutch Art deserves a win after some sterling efforts in defeat this season.
Smart Enough could just be a surprise package in the 3.30. He likes soft ground, is ridden by Kieren Fallon and ran an encouraging race at Haydock recently.
The only runner from our list to follow at Wolverhampton tomorrow night is the rather unreliable Coup D’Etat in the 7.55.
See you tomorrow for a look at the Arc amongst other things.
ahorse 