Month: April 2009

Yesterday proved another successful day for me with the jumpers although the flat season has got of to a frustrating start for me.

I was particularly pleased with my tip for Noble Alan in the Scottish Champion Hurdle. He goes well fresh and he also had his ground and ran out a comfortable winner. He looks a nice prospect for fences next season.

I gave Auroras Encore an encouraging write up and he duly landed his 3^rd win of the season at 17/2, the same price as Noble Alan. The Polomoche was another winner for my list to follow although I didn’t have the courage to tip him. He will be another going chasing next season one would imagine.

On the flat Border Patrol was a winner for the Elite Racing Club and looks to have a future while Vocalised gave me a winner in the Greenham. Sariska ran better than her finishing position would suggest. The trip was always likely to be on the sharp side for her and she missed the break and was hampered when trying to make a run. She finished well and is one for the notebook.;

As we enter the final week of the jumps season there is racing at Hexham and Kempton Park. Best race of the day at Hexham looks to be the 3.00 which features a couple of promising types in Glencree and Touch of Irish. The latter a facile winner at Kelso on his hurdles debut is just preferred to the Howard Johnson trained Glencree. Both will be sent novice chasing next season.

At Kempton the drying ground will suit Uffa Fox in the 4.25. He won a bumper at Ascot of good to firm and looks at though he has been saved for the better ground as he has not run since December. Snark is an interesting hurdles debutant form the flat.

In the 5.00 the trip should suit Buffalo Bob as he appeared not to stay when 4th over 2 furlongs further last time. He has also come down a couple of pounds in the weights.

Fantasy Explorer could be a sprinter to follow this season. He makes his seasonal reappearance at Pontefract tomorrow in the 3.10 where he runs off a mark of 88. He likes good to firm ground although Pontefract may not be the ideal track for him.

Michael Jarvis and Philip Robinson are a tried and tested combination to follow on the flat and they have Libel Law in the Windsor 7.20. Once raced as a juvenile where he showed some promise in a back end Newmarket maiden he is one to consider.

In the 7.50 Penang Princess and Chiburta King look possible. Both are making their handicap debuts and should appreciate the step up in trip.

I liked the way that Hillside Lad won his maiden at Lingfield just after Christmas and he gets my vote in the 4.50 at Wolverhampton.

Selections for Sunday;

Leopardstown 3.55 – Mourayan

Lingfield 2.40 – Kammaan

3.10 Park Lane

Stratford 2.30 – The Nightingale

3.00 Hold ‘Em (danger Cheating Chance)

5.00 Nearby

I have had a stuttering start to the new flat season but thankfully the jumpers are still doing it for me with Bensaalem, Gauvain and Tazbar obliging at Cheltenham this evening.

The main flat meeting tomorrow is at Newbury and I will kick off there.

The two I will put forward for the 1.30 are Ebiayn and Border Patrol who both finished 3^rd on their only start as juveniles. Both look the type to improve at 3.

I have not been having much luck when tipping Henry Cecil runners this week but I am going to try another one with Walking Talking each way in the 2.05. He is a lightly raced sort that has plenty to find on the ratings but I don’t think his trainer would enter him here if he didn’t have a chance and he has more scope to improve than some of his rivals.

Charm School was one of my fancies for the Lincoln but he didn’t have the best of the draw and finished 8^th. I am still convinced that he has a nice handicap in him and he is the selection in the 2.35. I would also be interested in Lucky Dance at 33/1. A winner at Newmarket over a mile last season the mount of Seb Sanders looks over priced.

Sariska, a half sister to Gull Wing won on her only start last season, a maiden at Newmarket and she is one to watch in the 3.10. At the moment though Michael Bell’s horses do not seem to be quite firing so that would be a concern. Regardless of the result in this race another one to keep an eye on, possibly over sprint distances, is Purissima.

Elnawin, Finjaan, Nasri, Vocalised and War Native all warrant respect in the Greenham at 3.45. The trip looks ideal for Finjaan and he gets the nod just ahead of the Irish challenger Vocalised.

In the 4.15 I will go with the Ralph Beckett runner Bennelong who is expected to make a nice 3 year old after a couple of placed efforts last season.

At Ayr it is Scottish National day with the big race at 3.25. Nine de Sivola was 2^nd in the race two years ago and is an obvious contender despite still looking for his first win over fences. We know that he stays though and the same can be said of Eider Chase winner Merigo who is another one with a big chance. Others I like are Coe, who was 2^nd to Rambling Minster at Haydock a couple of runs ago and West End Rocker who has been running very consistently all season. Merigo jumps and stays and at 12/1 is my each way suggestion although he is unproven on the ground. Nine de Sivola should also go close.

There are 3 runners from my list to follow in the Ayr 2.20. I prefer I’msingingtheblues to Raysrock and Tot O’ Whisky.

I have been trying to finds something to beat the favourite in the 2.50. Takeroc is a possible but the trio I ended up with are Blue Bajan, Snap Tie and Noble Alan who will all like the ground. With the stable in form and the horse fresh I will take a chance with Noble Alan each way.

The Polomoche and Middleton Dene represent my list to follow in the 4.00. Both have some sort of chance but I don’t have enough confidence in them to burden either with my selection.

Kilmackilloge runs very well fresh and he returns to the track in the 4.35 after a break of 143 days so he gets the nod over Beggars Cap. In the 5.05 Auroras Encore looks better than his price of 14/1.

At Bangor I like the Or D’Oudaires in the 3.15 and Cava Bien in the 4.25 where Jaunty Times and Nirvana Swing are others to consider.

At Doncaster Dark Lane has his favoured fast ground and this progressive sort is the selection in the 5.40 while in the 6.15 the lightly raced King of Dixie may well be capable of much better than we have seen from his so far.

Shemoli still looked a bit green when 2^nd at Leicester the other day and can go one better with the benefit of that experience in the 7.55.

At Nottingham my only selection is Bagber in the 7.10.

At Thirsk all 4 runners in the 3.35 have realistic chances. Hitchens is the one that interests me most. This Acclamation colt won first time out last season and is well thought of by connections.

Woodsley House could well be a horse to follow this season. From an unfashionable stable he notched 3 wins last season and I feel that there may be more to come. He runs in the 4.45 at Thirsk but I will bypass him on this occasion as his form is on soft ground. He is one to keep an eye on though.

The 3 pictures featured today, in the order that they appear, are the parade ring at Newbury by Lisa Miller, former Scottish National winner Paris Pike, by Jenny Lupton and the parade ring at Thirsk by Ruth Buchanan.  My thanks to all 3 artists for allowing me to use their work.

Good luck

The main flat action tomorrow comes from Newbury so I will begin tonight’s preview at the Berkshire track.

My selection for the 2.10 is Henry Cecil’s Cloudy Start who got off the mark at the 4^th time of asking last season but had shown promise on his earlier runs.

Crimson Fern is one of the runners in the 2.40 with the benefit of a recent outing. A winner of 6 races last year she is one for the short list. Chief Editor is another I like. Trained by Michael Jarvis he impressed when winning at Haydock last September and could well be better than a handicapper. Despite having to carry top weight this one should go well. These would be my two against the field with the main danger possibly coming from Oldjoesaid who is back to a fair mark and his trainer had a winner in a sprint yesterday.

The 3.15 looks competitive. The press keep telling me that Henry Cecil is in great form but I haven’t noticed as whenever I tip one of his horses they seem to get turned over! He has Father Time in this, a full brother to Passage of Time. Father Time won his maiden at Great Leighs and the runner up has already won this season. Four Winds won a maiden at Sandown as a juvenile and also finished 3^rd behind both Delegator and Kite Wood. He holds a Derby entry. Palavicini was 2^nd in that race won by Delegator and he went on to score in a decent Newbury maiden. The other one that I like in this is the once raced Your Old Pal who won his Newbury maiden by 6 lengths. That win was gained on very soft ground however. All these 4 look very promising and it should be an informative race. I would marginally favour Four Winds if pushed for a selection.

Moving on to the 4.25 the favourite is likely to be another Henry Cecil runner Hyades. This half brother to Light Shift showed a pleasing attitude when runner up on his only start at two which was over the Rowley Mile. Roger Charlton’s Clowance House had a couple of runs as a 2 year old finishing third to Your Old Pal in the second of them. He ran well that day on unsuitable ground and is one to keep an eye on this season. Saptapadi is related to some top class types such as Islington. He dead heated for second in a Wolverhampton maiden at the end of November and looks capable of improvement. This time I am going to go with Henry Cecil and Hyades.

My short list for the 4.55 consists of Hukba , Phillipina and Piquante. Again if I had to pick one I would go with Phillipina although Sir Michael Stoute’s runners have tended to need their initial outing.

Over the jumps at Ayr Raysrock represents my list to follow in the 2.50. His only win this season came in a race where he was the only finisher and although he is not without a chance here I could not support him with confidence.

Turning to the 4.00 Daldini has done these pages a couple of favours this season and after being pulled up at Aintree he has come down to a mark where he might be able to get competitive. Mister McGoldrick is almost certainly not the force of old but he has put in some decent efforts this season and there may have been excuses for some of his failures. At around 10/1 he gets my each way vote.

There is an evening meeting at Cheltenham where Bensalem looks to have an outstanding chance in the 5.35. He had to miss Cheltenham but his second to Diamond Harry reads well and he will take the beating.

Chapoturgeon will be odds on to win the 6.10 but he has fallen twice in his last 4 starts and I will oppose him with Gauvain who had a confidence boosting win at Plumpton recently and both his trainer and jockey are in great form.

Blazing Bailey has a good record at Cheltenham and may well return to form in the 6.45 but his recent efforts have not been encouraging. I suppose the same must be said of both Franchoek and Tazbar in what looks a trappy contest. I fully expected Tazbar to have a successful campaign but he really hasn’t shown much at all. I will stick with him one last time though.

In the last race on the card at 7.50 I will select Simply Blue who is the mount of AP McCoy which could be significant. Rockiteer also has possibilities.

Striking Article represents my list to follow in the 5.55 at Sedgefield which has the look of a two horse race. Role On is his chief rival in a race that does not look much of a betting proposition.

Today’s picture is of Redwood who gave Barry Hills his 300^th Newmarket winner yesterday. The picture is by kind permission of British 2YO Racing.

For my preview of Thursday’s action I will start with the jumpers. Although we are in the last few days of the national hunt season there are still some decent prizes to be won and Cheltenham have a card with plenty of quality.

Gold Award, trained by Nicky Henderson, was a dual bumper winner last season and came 9^th behind Cousin Vinny at Cheltenham. He won on his hurdling debut but was then beaten into second at Warwick last time. At around 12/1 I think he is worth a small each way interest in the 2.10.

Nicky Henderson’s runner in the 3.20 is Hora. This mare won over 2 miles on the flat and has plenty of stamina as shown when she won over an extended 3 miles over hurdles at Aintree. She has always been consistent and will certainly have no problem seeing out this shorter trip. Alan King’s Over Sixty looks quite well treated on her 4^th behind the runaway winner Quevega at Cheltenham in the mare’s race at the Festival. How’s Business won at Exeter off a mark of 113 on New Year’s Day and is on a mark of 127 now. She did run well in that race won by Quevega though. The grey Argento Luna has not finished out of the first 2 this season. She is not an easy ride but possesses a turn of foot and something like Hora could set this up for her. One of the keys to this horse may be the ground as she has a particularly good record on decent ground and has won on good to firm. For my selection I will side with Argento Luna.

In races such as the 3.55 I like to try and find a bit of an outsider and there are 4 runners that I have looked at. Heathcliff won 3 times earlier in the season but unseated when beaten in the Pertemps Final at the Festival. He is a chaser in the making but I wouldn’t rule him out here. Ringaroses was 11^th in that Cheltenham race and has in truth been disappointing. He acts on good ground though and has been given a chance by the handicapper. In addition Tom Scudamore rides and he was second on her on the only other occasion he has ridden the horse.

The Old Pretender has finished 2^nd on all 3 starts this season. He doesn’t look badly off at the weights and Tony McCoy rides for the first time. The other one I like is Sarde. Kim Bailey had a winner the other day with Max Bygraves and he saddles Sarde in this. At around 20/1 I will go with Ringaroses each way.

The Newmarket card opens with the Wood Ditton Stakes at 1.50 which is always a bit of a lottery as it is for horses that have not run before. There are good reports about Harbinger and he would be my token selection.

In the 3.00 I see that Redford has been dropped back to 6 furlongs. I wouldn’t rule him out in a strongly run race but I see that his usual jockey, Jamie Spencer rides Zidane. In the Craven Stakes at 3.35 my short list consists of Delegator, Sans Frontieres and Glass Harmonium. Delegator warrants plenty of respect but at evens he looks too short a price. Glass Harmonium represents a viable alternative at a better price while, if 8 runners go to post I like the look of Sans Frontieres of Jeremy Noseda’s with the eyecatching jockey booking of J Murtagh.

Twice Over and Virtual both come from stables that are bang in form and they look the pair most likely in the 4.10. For the last two races on the card I am going to follow Sir Michael Stoute with Resort (4.45) and Imposing (5.20).

Up at Ripon the most interesting race of the day looks to be the 3.45 where there are a number of potentially smart 3 year olds in opposition. Mutamaashi only had to be pushed out to score on his debut at Lingfield in February. He gets in here on a mark of 85 which could just be on the lenient side. Roman Republic was a disappointing beaten favourite on his racecourse debut last season but made amends next time up winning at Doncaster. Trumpstoo represents Richard Fahey and the trainer speaks very highly of this strapping colt. Finally Cook’s Endeavour has some useful looking 2 year old form and is another for the shortlist. Mutamaashi gets the nod for me with Roman Republic next best.

Cascata holds an Oaks entry and looks the one to be on in the Wolverhampton 7.15.

Today’s pictures are by courtesy of the artist Lisa Miller.

The racing schedule tomorrow will be a lot busier than usual for a Wednesday with action from the headquarters of both codes.

Starting with Cheltenham and the 2.10 there are a couple of runners on retrieval missions. Balzaccio made a good start to his career in the UK after coming over from France winning at Haydock before finishing 4^th to Starluck at Kempton over Christmas. He made no show in the Fred Winter at the Festival but if back to his best would figure in this. He has a bit to find on the official ratings with the David Pipe runner Torpichen, twice a winner over hurdles before finishing 9^th to Go Native in the Supreme Novices. That form probably sets the standard here and he is my selection.

The 2.45 looks a tricky puzzle to solve. Seymar Lad is a fragile sort but started this season in fine style with a win at Chepstow but failed to reproduce that form on his two subsequent runs. He is probably best fresh and he should benefit from his break as he last ran at the end of December. He runs off a mark of 121 now which is 6 lbs higher than his best winning mark. He likes genuine good ground so will most probably be suited by conditions. He jumps well and is one for the shortlist. At the other end of the handicap Trigger the Light is worth considering. He won both his races last season but has found things tougher this time around. He was however a strong finishing runner up at Sandown on his latest start and is probably capable of winning off his current mark. Island Flyer was one of my main fancies for the John Smith’s handicap chase at Aintree but he was pulled up. If he could recover the form that saw him narrowly beaten in the Badger Ales Chase at Wincanton earlier in the season he would go close. Trigger the Light has often been let down by his jumping but if he can put in a reasonably error free round I would fancy his chance and he is the somewhat tentative selection.

If the 2.45 was tricky the handicap hurdle at 3.20 doesn’t look much easier! Nicky Henderson saddles the two top weights in Dave’s Dream, the winner of the Imperial Cup, and The Polomoche. Dave’s Dream ran better than his finishing position of 6^th indicates behind American Trilogy at Cheltenham last time out but he is now running off a much higher mark. The Polomoche was a beaten favourite when he could only finish 10^th in the Coral Cup and was subsequently pulled up at Aintree where perhaps something was amiss. He is a horse I have always liked and whilst I wouldn’t rule him out he does have something to prove after his last two runs.

Naiad du Misselot has not done as well as expected over fences this season and reverts to hurdles here off a mark 6 lbs higher than when winning the Coral Cup in 2008. Trainer Ferdy Murphy traditionally does well at this time of year and Naiad du Misselot might find life a little easier over the smaller obstacles and gets the selection. At a big price Callisto Moon could be an interesting outsider. He has been given a chance by the handicapper and could run well especially if the ground is on the fast side.

Ouzbeck has let me down a few times this season but with first time blinkers and the ground in his favour I will give him another chance in the 3.55.

I have tipped Quaddick Lake successfully on his last two runs and I will stick with this progressive sort in the 4.30. The Paul Nicholls trained Picture This is another I like in this race. He was an expensive purchase and makes his handicap bow tomorrow.

Lodge Lane was runner up to Russian Around at Lingfield and the winner has since gone in again to frank the form. The Victor Dartnall runner can regain the winning thread in the 5.05. Buck the Legend looks the danger.

The flat season steps up a gear tomorrow with the Craven meeting at Newmarket. In the opener at 1.50 Henry Cecil introduces the newcomer Native Ruler who is out of an Oaks winner and holds a Derby entry.

There are three that I considered for the 3.00. Classically was gaining g on the front pair approaching the line when 3^rd on his seasonal reappearance at Doncaster and that run should bring him on as he didn’t look fully would up in the paddock. He is certainly a contender. Nehaam won his only race as a juvenile. That was over 7 furlongs in a Newmarket maiden and he is bred to appreciate the extra distance tomorrow. Sumbe was 6^th here on his only run last season and that race has worked out particularly well.

In search of some value in the 3.35 I looked at Courageous and Rose Diamond. The former, trained by Bryan Smart was 5^th behind Crowded House in the Racing Post Trophy last season and has the stamina to see out this 7 furlongs well as he should stay further. He would not want really fast ground. Rose Diamond acquitted herself well last season and although she may need the run she does look quite well handicapped.

Fantasia sets the standard in the Nell Gwynne Stakes at 4.10 and is my selection with the Mick Channon filly Dunes Queen the main danger.

On Our Way didn’t do much wrong last season and was placed on all of his 5 starts winning twice. He seems to handle any ground and is my suggestion in the 4.45.

I have a short list of 3 for the 5.20. Espititu looked arther green in both his races last season but is a talented sort and his 4^th behind Kite Wood at Doncaster last September reads well. Formula finished runner up on his latest two starts, both on the all weather at Lingfield but is well regarded by connections and could be a fair bit better than the bare form suggests. Invisible Man was a beaten odds on favourite at Great Leighs on his debut but is a half brother to 5 winners and clearly well thought of at home. If pushed to nominate one I would narrowly favour Espiritu.

Dark Mischief is a lightly raced 3 year old and looks quite well handicapped in the 5.55.

Down at Kempton Antinori ran well in maidens last season and should go close in the 7.20. Whatever he does here over a mile he is worth keeping an eye on as the season unfolds as he is bred to stay further.

Dancer in Demand, Favours Brave and Khan Tengri all have chances in the 8.20. At the odds I will narrowly go for Favours Brave who comes from a stable in form.

I don’t have much to saya bout the Beverley card. Perhaps More than Many each way in the 4.55.

Today’s pictures are by kind permission of the artist Lisa Miller.

Good luck.

I nominated 3 selections for today’s Irish National, Wichita Lineman and Drumconvis both lost their lives in fatal falls which rather caste a shadow over the win at 33/1 by my other fancy, Niche Market.

There is plenty to look forward to later this week with top flat meetings at Newmarket and Newbury plus the Scottish National at Ayr. For now though I will concentrate on the more mundane fare on offer tomorrow.

Luca Cumani is one of my favourite flat trainers and he has just one runner at Yarmouth tomorrow. Bullet Man won on the all weather at Lingfield in December and is a lightly raced type with scope for improvement. He is my selection in the 4.50.

I thought about Vodka Brook in the 2.40 at Exeter but his price does look a little short seeing that the stable are not in great form. David Pipe’s Quarry Town has been pulled up on his last two starts but does have ability and with the stable in good form it would not surprise me if he won the 3.10.

At Market Rasen Wind Instrument looks the form pick in the 4.00.

Today’s picture is by kind permission of the artist Sally Martin (see links)

Just got back from a trip to Barcelona so this will be a short update as I am knackered!

Our old friend the expensive to follow Fistral Beach looks like starting odds on favourite in the Chepstow 1.55 tomorrow. He should win but following Paul Nicholls trained odds on shots this season would have set you on the road to penury. Ffos Las Diamond, himself a beaten favourite last time out, might be a viable alternative.

Mark The Book’s form figures at Chepstow reads 122 and he should again be on the premises in the novice chase at 3.35.

After falling at the first at Wincanton Kingscape but up a promising effort at Stratford last time out but I see he has gone up a couple of pounds for finishing 4^th which seems a bit harsh. He has an each way squeak in the 4.10.

Gauvain was pulled up on his most recent run at Aintree but his form in beating Cornas a couple of runs before that impressed me. He looks the one to beat in the Plumpton 4.15.

On the flat at Redcar I was interested to see that High Office runs in a maiden at 4.20. This horse showed some promise last season and I expected to see him in handicaps this term as he looks to have potential to improve over 10 – 12 furlongs. High Officer is owned by the trainer who I am sure has mapped out a campaign for this horse carefully. Any market support should perhaps be noted.

Staying with Richard Fahey Pedregal runs in the 5.30. He is certainly no world beater but has slipped right down the weights and acts on the ground. 20/1 in the racing post looks value.

My each way fancy in the Warwick 5.50 is John Quinn’s Surprise Pension although the form of the stable tempers my enthusiasm a little.

In the opener at Yarmouth (2.15) the once raced pair of Dream Win and Tiger Flash make most appeal, while my 2 against the field in the 3.25 are Maverin and Putra One.

Holyrood showed promise in his runs last season and can make a winning start to the new campaign in the 2.10.

If Wichita Lineman and Drumconvis have recovered from their Cheltenham exertions they would be my main fancies in the Irish National while at a really big price Niche Market could go well.

Earlier on the card at Fairyhouse Psycho can land the 2.40 with Big Zeb the danger. River Liane has a big chance in the 3.10 if he can recover the form he showed when 3^rd to Brave Inca at Leopardstown in January.

Just quickly looking back at the races since I have been away there were wins for some horses that I have been going on about all season, notably Pterodactyl, Max Bygraves, Shirley Casper and the unpronounceable Uimhiraceathair. Max Bygraves is by Midnight Legend out of Smokey Diva so is quite aptly named I suppose.

Today’s pictures are by courtesy of the artist Katy Sodeau (see links).

See you tomorrow.

I will be taking a break for a few days and the next update will be either the 12^th or 13 April.

I have had a look at the declarations for the next few days and the following may be worth your consideration.

April 8

Nottingham

2.00 Archer’s Road; 3.30 Daraahem; 4.30 Cool Hand Jake

Brighton

2.20 Maverin & Brunston; 4.20 All About You

Kempton Park

7.50 War of the Roses; 8.20 Park Lane

Hereford

2.10 The Pious Prince; 4.40 Ffas Las Diamond

April 9

Ludlow

3.30 Gee Dee Nen (also entered at Plumpton in the 3.00 on 12^th)

Wincanton

2.50 Quaddick Lake; 3.20 Very Cool

Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Jane Dunn