Month: June 2009

Having successfully tipped the Oaks winner can we do the double with the Derby tomorrow? After a good deal of deliberation and a few changes of mind I have decided to go for Sea the Stars who has the proven class, if not quite the certain stamina. I will take Gan Amhras and Black Bear Island to complete the 1-2-3.

I started with a short list of 3 for the 1.25. Goliath’s Boy was badly hampered when last of 8 at Chester but was a runaway winner of a Catterick maiden last season before finishing 4^th in a listed race in France. London Bridge was runner up to Monitor Closely on his debut as a 2 year old. He has only had 3 starts and got off the mark at Newmarket on fast ground. He makes his handicap debut here and a mark of 82 may underestimate his ability. Union Island is yet to finish out of the first 3 in his 6 career starts. His most recent effort was when 2^nd in a competitive handicap at York. I have a lot of respect for Union Island who looks sure to run well but my selection has to be London Bridge who could well be better than his current rating.

Spacious only won once last season but was runner up in the 1,000 Guineas and 4^th in the Coronation Stakes. Four year olds have a good recent record in the 2.25 and Spacious has the class to maintain that trend. Sirens Gift and Crimson Fern are my each way suggestions for the “Dash” at 3.00.

The 4.30 is an open race where Red Kestrel is my “sporting” selection. He was 7^th last time over a trip short of his best and has been dropped 3 lbs by the assessor since. The 12 furlongs tomorrow should play more to his strengths.

Dandy Nicholls has a strong hand in the 5.05 with 7 runners. It is never easy to “pick” from a Nicholls mass entry. Cape Vale has a race in him at some stage and it would not surprise me if he came good here but for my selection I am going for Something who won a Kempton handicap in April and may still be ahead of the handicapper.

In the opener at Doncaster I like the look of Errigal Lad who looked a sprinter on the upgrade when 2^nd at Newcastle last week. Mark Johnston’s horses are generally running well and he can land the 2.35 at Doncaster with Roman Republic. This son of Cape Cross has only had 2 runs and is open to plenty of improvement.

We have had plenty of success with the ultra tough Archer’s Road and I am going to stick with Mick Channon’s 2 year old in the 2.20 at Musselburgh. In the 2.50 there are 3 runners from my list to follow and they all have a really good chance. Choosing between Alanbrooke, King’s Destiny and Holyrood is very difficult. King’s Destiny was probably not suited by the track when a beaten favourite at Chester and I am going to give him the narrowest of edges over Alanbrooke who looks the main danger. Holyrood, a rare runner from his stable at this track wears a first time visor and any market support for him would be worth noting.

Hitchens represents my list to follow in the 3.20 but it is not a race I have a strong view on.

There is evening racing at both Lingfield and Newcastle where I will highlight a few unraced 2 year olds to look out for. In the Lingfield 6.50 Pellinore is a sister to the 2,000 Guineas winner Footstepsinthesand, while a daughter of that horse, Chachamaidee is one to look out for in the 7.20.

Opus Dei could run well at a big price in the Newcastle 6.40.

Today’s pictures are by kind permission of the artist Jo Stockdale.

Good luck

Tomorrow is Oaks day where Epsom stage the third of the English classics at 4.05. Commentators have said that this is not a vintage renewal but it is a fascinating contest nonetheless and not an easy puzzle to solve.

Rainbow View started a hot favourite for the 1,000 Guineas bet never looked like justifying her market position. The firm ground was given as the reason for her below par run at Newmarket and if you are prepared to draw a line through that performance then she comes into tomorrow’s race with every chance. She may well bounce back to her brilliant juvenile form and in many ways I hope she does as the sport needs its superstars. She does have question marks though as apart from having to bounce back from her last run she is not guaranteed to stay the Oaks trip. Others to consider include Midday, the Lingfield Trial winner and Sariska who won the Musidora. Both look sure to stay and could make this a stamina test which could find out any floors in Rainbow View’s ability to get the trip.

There has been money for the Sir Michael Stoute filly Phillipina. Although still a maiden she was finishing with some purpose when just failing to get up in the Cheshire Oaks. Rainbow View may well show a blistering turn of foot and make her rivals look one paced but I am going to stick with the guaranteed staying power of Sariska for my selection.

Plum Pudding may start favourite in the 2.10 but I am inclined to oppose him. Of his 7 career wins 6 have come over the Rowley mile while the most recent, at Warwick was in a conditions event and the form may not be reliable. Bencoolen is my selection. Third in the Thirsk Hunt Cup his trainer usually does well at this meeting.

The Coronation Cup at 2.45 looks an intriguing race. Expresso Star the Lincoln winner makes his chance at Group 1 level and it will be interesting to see how he gets on. The most reliable form line though looks to be the 2008 Arc and Youmzain (2^nd) and Ask (6^th) meet again. Youmzain looks the percentage call for all that he doesn’t have the best of strike rates.

I had high hopes for Charm School at the start of the season but he has disappointed thus far. I have decided to look elsewhere for the winner of the 3.25 and I like the look of Seeking The Buck. A winner at Newmarket last month he doesn’t have too many miles on the clock and there may be more improvement in him.

Nasri impressed me when runner up in a listed contest at Newmarket and looks the one they all have to beat in the 4.50. He is the selection but it might also be worth a second look at Mishrif who may have run out of stamina over further at Sandown last time.

Cloudy Start represents my list to follow in the 5.25 but recent form has not been encouraging.

There is a good evening card at Doncaster where I expect Block Party to go well in the 6.05. He makes his handicap bow and is the sort that his trainer excels with.

Turning to the 7.10 Margarita is a full sister to Soviet Song and is one to consider as is Almuktahem who is a half brother to Maraahel.

Danehillsundance is an interesting runner in the 7.40. He races off a mark of 77 and he has won 3 times off higher ratings including 89. He likes fast ground and looks worth considering.

Northside Prince has been steadily improving and should go well in the 8.45.

My only selection at Goodwood is Visite Royale in the 8.25.

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

There is a distinct musical flavour to the 4.40 at Hamilton tomorrow. Tangerine Skies of course comes from the Beatles song;

“Picture yourself in a boat on a river,
With tangerine trees and marmalade skies.
Somebody calls you, you answer quite slowly,
A girl with kaleidoscope eyes.”

Ride a White Swan was the title of a T Rex hit and Mr Lu might well be a relative of Mr Wu who figured in a George Formby classic – “Oh Mr Wu, what shall I do ….” They don’t write songs like that anymore!

Well, For my selection I am going to ignore the musical connection as I quite fancy Atlantic Beach for this. An unexposed sort he was 3^rd at Haydock on his last start and should go close.

Amno Dancer has been the subject of some promising reports ahead of his debut in the Lingfield 2.50. He is not well drawn though so it may be best to adopt a watching brief this time with him.

I have been following Play to Win this season with a total lack of success. I have decided to give him a miss tomorrow in the Lingfield 4.50 – so he will probably win!

The most interesting racing comes from Sandown where the first race is a 2 year old maiden. Classic Colori is one that catches my eye on pedigree and comes from a stable that has first time out winners.

I will go with the in form Invincible Lad in the 6.45 while I give Bravo Echo a chance to redeem himself in the 7.15 after a poor showing on his reappearance at Doncaster when he was well down the field.

Twisted will probably be hard to be beat in the 8.25 where Bourne may be the main danger.

Picture by courtesy of the artist Sally Martin

There are a couple of old favourites in the line up for the sprint handicap at Ayr tomorrow (3.50). Bo McGinty has been a real fun horse for his connections over the years, winning 9 races and finishing in the frame on numerous occasions. He is owned by Paddy McGinty and Bo Turnbull, hence the name. He likes fast ground and has dropped down the weights so is not without a chance. Blazing Heights hasn’t won for ages but is ridiculously well handicapped on his best form and has a useful claimer on board taking some weight off. It might just be his turn to win.

Pedegral remains a maiden after 10 starts so is no world beater but he has shown some signs of ability. I see that he has his first outing for his new stable tomorrow in the 4.50 having moved from Richard Fahey to Jim Goldie. Sometimes a change of scene can revitalise a horse so you never know…

Luca Cumani can do no wrong at the moment and he saddles the ex Godolphin 3 year old Suba in the Nottingham 4.40. This one might be worth considering.

Bennelong was runner up on his last start over a mile at Lingfield. He has been dropped 4 lbs in the handicap which may enable him to go close in the Kempton 8.50.

A quiet day all in all though.