Month: August 2008

 

At the time of penning these notes we have had a couple of near things from last night’s preview. The ultra consistent Birkside (9/1 at Pontefract) and Charles Parnell (10/1 at Newcastle)

Although there are plenty of meetings up and down the country over the next two days the standard isn’t up to much. The following are a few runners that caught my eye for one reason or another.

I have been following a horse called Hurlingham, trained by Mick Easterby this season, but without much financial reward! He won a couple of races on the all weather last January but has not managed to get his head in front since. I was hopeful when he ran at Ripon last month thinking that first time blinkers might do the trick but he only finished 5^th of 10. He clearly does have some ability and he is slipping down the weights but he looks a bit of a tricky individual. He carries top weight tomorrow in the 4.40 at Haydock and he just may be the type that is best giving weight away to inferior horses. He seems to go on any ground.

There is an evening card at Sandown where the action starts at 5.45 with a maiden for 2 year old fillies. Sir Mark Prescott has an interesting runner in this in Florentia. She is a half sister to no fewer than 8 winners, most of them winners at 2. The in form J-P Guillembert has the ride.

I tipped Ascot Lime when he ran at Sandown last month but he came second. He has gone up 4 lbs for that defeat which makes me a bit wary about him back at the Esher track tomorrow for the 7.55. He is getting a bit expensive to follow.

On Friday there is an evening meeting at Newmarket where the opening race at 5.50 is a maiden with 19 unraced 2 year olds. David Elsworth has Highland River in this. He trained both the sire and the dam so should know something about the family!

By Command was an impressive winner of a Windsor maiden on his first start this season but then finished last of the 5 runners when upped in class at Lingfield in the Derby Trial there. His win at Windsor was on good to soft so the fast ground at Lingfield may not have been ideal. He has not run since 10 May so may have had a bit of a problem. He won first time out this season though so goes well fresh. He runs in the Newmarket 7.50 on Friday.

Today’s picture is by kind permission of the artist Ruth Harris.

The next update will be on Friday evening.

 

General Tufto showed some promise as a 2 year old when trained by Roger Charlton. On the last of his 3 runs as a juvenile he finished 5^th in a race won by Tajaweed, who has since gone on to better things, winning the Dee Stakes. He has since changed stables and to be honest has been pretty disappointing but he runs in a seller tomorrow in the Catterick 3.00 where he must have a chance in a race that might not take much winning.

I put Fantasy Fighter on my list to follow this year but he hasn’t done much yet to reward my interest in him! He wore a first time visor on his last run at Ayr but lost his chance when slowly away from the stalls. He is back up to 7 furlongs tomorrow in the Catterick 5.00, and although he was last on the only other occasion he tackled that distance it may be he does need that sort of trip. He attracted a bit of market support on his last run and he may have a little race in him somewhere.

Moving forward to Wednesday I see that Mr Crystal is entered in the 3.20 at Newcastle. He ran well earlier in the season, including a win over course and distance back in May. That was off a mark of 59 and he now runs off 67 so will need a career best effort to get his head in front. The key to him may be the ground as all his 4 career wins have come on good to firm.

I have been putting Charles Parnell up as a selection regularly this season but has hasn’t come up trumps yet although he has put in some encouraging efforts. When he won at Ayr in September 2007 he was raised to a mark of 74 and although he has since run 9 times without winning he remains on that same mark. It does seem as though he may need the handicapper to relent a bit to enable him to get his head in front. Having said that the talented apprentice Jamie Moriaty replaces his usual pilot Fergal Lynch and Moriarty takes 3 lbs off. With the horse likely to get his preferred ground of good to soft he may be involved in the shake up in the Newcastle 3.50.

Birkside has done well for me this season winning 3 times, in fact he has won 13 races since May 30 last year. He is back in action again on Wednesday in the Pontefract 3.40 where, if his busy campaign is not beginning to catch up with him, he could again run well.

Baybshambles is another runner from my list to follow to have notched up 3 wins this season. He is in action on Wednesday in the 4.10 at Pontefract. He has gone up a couple of pounds since his last win at Thirsk but he has been in fine fettle and couldn’t be ruled out.

Sheer Bluff and Rossini’s Dancer represent my list to follow in the Pontefract 5.10. Sheer Bluff has been running at distances between a mile and 10 furlongs, but he is a free going sort and this drop down to 6 furlongs could be to his advantage. I see that the handicapper has dropped him 3 lbs as well. Rossini’s Dancer, like Sheer Bluff, is still a maiden. He has been a beaten favourite on 3 of his last 5 runs so is probably one to be a bit wary of. He tackles 6 furlongs for the first time and I note that the stable has won the race for the last 2 years.

Local trainer Christine Dunnett has a good record in the Yarmouth 7.05 having saddled the winner on 3 of the last 4 runnings. She is double handed this year with last season’s winner Gone ‘N Dunnett, and another that has done the stable proud over the years, Norcroft, who won the race in 2006.. Gone ‘N Dunnett has chalked up 13 career wins in all. Although a lot of these have been on the all weather he has won 4 times at Yarmouth from 26 starts at the track. Both are well handicapped on their best form.

Today’s pictures are courtesy of the artist Jane Dunn.

Next update Wednesday evening.

 

I had a few winners over the weekend, with Sortita and Astrodome obliging on Saturday. The latter battled on well up at Hamilton as he was headed inside the final furlong but fought back to win. He is a half brother to a prolific winner from the same yard called Alambic. I see that Astrodome is entered a number of times in the next week and it will be interesting to see if his trainer tries to follow up under a penalty.

Things went quite well for me at Chester this afternoon with wins for Proclaim and Green Manalishi. Proclaim made all from his inside draw. He is a half brother to Dhaular Dhar, who also likes it at Chester.

Green Manalishi was also well drawn and was winning the Queens Ferry Stakes for the second year running. J-P Guillambert was on board both Astrodome and Proclaim and gave them both a good ride from the front.

There are a few interesting runners at Carlisle and Windsor tomorrow. My main hope at the Cumbrian track is David Barker’s Dendor, who makes his first appearance of the season in the 8.15. David Barker does well with his sprinters and the likes of Sierra Vista and Celtic Mill have done him proud in recent seasons. Dendor looks capable of following in their footsteps based on his win at Ayr last season. He has scope for improvement and looks a horse to follow. Barker’s horses have been running well of late so Dendor looks in with a fair chance.

Another with possibilities at Carlisle is Kashimin in the 7.45. A winner at Pontefract as a 2 year old on good ground he ran his best race of the season at Haydock at the beginning of July when runner up in a 17 runner handicap again on good ground. He then ran poorly back at Haydock last time but that was on heavy ground so perhaps we can forgive him that run.

The only other runner from my list to follow at Carlisle is Piverina in the 6.45. She has not managed to reach the frame in her 6 starts this season so is hard to fancy.

At Windsor I see that Wyeth runs in the 6.00, which is an amateur riders race. Wyeth is a half brother to George Washington, but sadly does not seem to have much of his illustrious relative’s ability. Wyeth is a 4 year old but is yet to win a race.

Old Cape Royal was not winning out of turn when he made all from a good draw at Nottingham, to break a 24 race losing sequence. He runs in the Windsor where he is again favourably drawn. He has blistering early pace and he may well be difficult to peg back again in the 7.00.

Formation does not lack for talent but he has looked a pretty difficult ride. He won at Pontefract a couple of runs ago when ridden by Jamie Spencer. The partnership are back together again in the 7.30 and Spencer may well be able to cajole this tricky customer along once again.

There are a few nice types in the 8.00. I was impressed with Duncan on his debut when he was second at Newmarket over a mile. He is bred to appreciate the extra 2 furlongs tomorrow and I note that the 3^rd horse in that Newmarket race has won since. Island Vista made a pleasing debut over 7 furlongs at Kempton last season but then suffered a minor setback and hasn’t run since. She is another that will appreciate the longer trip; in fact she may well want even further.

Acknowledgements: My thanks to Jane Ince for the photo of Carlisle racecourse, and to artists Lisa Miller (top) and Katy Sodeau for allowing me to use their pictures.

That is it for tonight.

 

There are some old favourites in action in the Doncaster 3.25 including Pawan and Somnus. Pawan has been in fine form for trainer/jockey Ann Stokell and thoroughly deserved his success at Warwick recently. Somnus was a great servant for Tim Easterby, winning 3 times at Group 1 level. He has his first run for his new trainer John Quinn tomorrow. He has been off the track for 280 days so will probably need the run. His best form has been with cut in the ground. My selection for this race is Floristry who ended her 2 year old campaign with a hat trick of wins. This course and distance winner has been off the track for 280 days as well but comes from a stable that can get one ready first time up, and as a 3 year old has more scope for improvement than some of her older rivals.

Peruvian Prince has a good handicap in him somewhere. He is just creeping down the weights a little and I would give him a reasonable chance in the 4.00.

Sortita was a beaten favourite on her last run when 3^rd behind Savarain in a Goodwood maiden. The form of that race has worked out quite well and Sortita can record her first win in the 5.10.

Stow was a winner for my list to follow at Bath back in May and has since run well in third from an unfavourable draw at Sandown. He has only had 6 runs in his life and could be open to further improvement. He has gone up a further 3 pounds for finishing 3^rd at Sandown but could still be competitive off his new mark. He looks each way value at around 8/1 in the 2.05 at Goodwood.

Alfathaa and Atlantic Sport represent my list to follow in the 2.40 and both have something to prove. Alfathaa was quite highly tried after winning a Newbury maiden. He was well down the field in the 2,000 Guineas and then wore blinkers on his next couple of starts, finishing runner up in a conditions race at Newmarket on the second of these. He has tended to race a bit keenly but if he is able to settle he would be in with a chance. Atlantic Sport is held in very high regard by his trainer Mick Channon. He started the season well enough with a win at Newbury over 7 furlongs but he was then a costly failure when returning to the Berkshire track. After travelling well he found little in the finish. He is upped in trip to a mile tomorrow and he should have no problem as far as stamina goes. I am prepared to give him another chance and he is the selection.

In the 3.15 the 3 year olds Muthabara and Cape Amber will both need some rain to give them a chance. Passage of Time came back to form when beating Bankable last time out and she would be my choice as long as the ground is no firmer than good. On fast ground the Irish raider Lush Lashes would be interesting.

The draw is likely to play an important part in the Stewards Cup at 3.50. The sprint handicap today was won from stall 13. The top 6 finishers were from stalls 13, 21, 10, 20, 19 & 16. It does seem sensible to ignore those drawn in single figures so I have reduced the field to a short list of 5, Buachaill Dona, Bentong, Northern Fling, Knot in Wood and Barney McGrew. Buachaill Dona is in good from as he comes here on the back of a win at Newcastle. He has done most of his winning over the minimum trip which I suppose is a negative. Bentong is not badly handicapped and his stable has been showing signs of a return to form recently. Six furlongs on firm ground is probably his ideal. Northern Fling has not been at his best since winning on soft ground at Doncaster in April. He was running on over 5 furlongs at Ascot last time out though, he handles any ground and he is a course and distance winner. Knot in Wood has a 3 lbs penalty for his win at Hamilton last month when he just edged out Baby Strange, who ran so well today. He is on a career high mark but is a talented individual and I wouldn’t rule him out. Lastly, Barney McGrew has been one of my fancies for this since he finished and eye catching 4^th in the Hamilton race won by Knot in Wood despite the handicap of a bad draw.

Up at Hamilton first time blinkers may do the trick for Astrodome in the 7.35.

The only runner from my list to follow at Newmarket is Fearless Warrior in the 5.45. He has shown bits of form and has been slowly coming down the weights. He has an each way chance.

Up at Thirsk Mike Channon introduces Straight Sets in the maiden at 4.15. This filly is a half sister to the useful Championship Point from the same stable.

There are some decent meetings on Sunday. At Chester Mark Johnston runs Proclaim in the 2.20. He is a half brother to Dhaular Dhar, himself a winner 3 times round the Roodeye. Proclaim should strip fitter for this, his second racecourse appearance and is well drawn.

Impressible is a half sister to the top class sprinter Reverence. She makes her handicap debut in the nursery at 2.50. She will be ridden by David Allan, himself no mean sprinter as he recently won the jockey’s “dash” showing a fair old turn of foot to win easing down!

Reverence himself runs in the 3.25, but is badly drawn and the same can be said of Aahayson. The latter has not run since finishing 5^th in a listed race on dirt in Sweden. Last years winner Green Manalishi comes out of stall 2 and looks the one they all have to beat.

The only other runner from my list to follow is Hereford Boy in the Newbury 3.50.

My thanks to Lisa Miller for use of her picture "the final bend" and to Paul Myers-Bennett for the photo of Chester racecourse.

That is about it for tonight, I hope that you find a winner or two over the weekend.