Brian Meehan’s 2 year olds usually come on for their first run and his Pin Cushion should benefit from the experience of his run at Windsor a couple of weeks ago in the Newbury 1.30. Of the newcomers Michael Jarvis runs Dylanesque a half sister to the high class Alexandra Volta and this is one to keep an eye on.
Kite Wood got back on the winning trail at Newmarket last month and with his stable in form could be the answer in the 2.35. In the 3.10 I fancy the lightly raced pair of Palace Moon and Border Patrol. With the ground possibly against the latter Palace Moon gets the nod.
I have sort of adopted Mykingdomforahorse as my web site mascot given his name. Mick Channon has done really well with him and he comes into the 4.55 on the back of a win at Yarmouth. He would be in with a chance of following up but probably wouldn’t want the ground too quick.
Richard Fahey sends Sioux Rising down to Newmarket for the 3.25. After a couple of wins at Pontefract the 3 year old appeared not to stay an extra furlong at Ascot and is back at the shorter trip tomorrow. He is not without a chance.
In the 4.35 it might pay to take a chance on Alcalde from the Mark Johnston yard. He won both his starts last season but may have been found out by a lack of race fitness when down the field at Doncaster at the start of the month.
I was expecting great things from Cascata this season but she has not shown much on her two starts. I am still hopeful that she is better than she has shown and will stick with her in the Ripon 2.45.
In the big sprint at 3.55 I am hoping for a big run from Judge ‘n Jury who has been in good form of late. He acts on any ground but a bit of rain would probably help his cause. Hitchens could run well at a big price. Quick ground suits him.
Moving on to Sunday Bourne might be worth considering in the 3.00 at Bath. After an encouraging debut run he was last of 11 on his most recent outing and it looked as though there might have been a problem of some sort. Worth another chance.
At the Curragh Casual Conquest looks the form horse in the 2.45. He has good course form and quite a bit in hand on the ratings. Curtain Call could be the one to give him most to do with the ground likely to be in his favour. Benbaun (pictured below) absolutely loves it at The Curragh having won there 7 times. He will be the one to beat in the 4.15 with Vocalised looking the main threat.
There are a whole host of runners from my list to follow in action at Pontefract on Sunday. Not all have an obvious chance but anyway, here goes! The lightly raced Braveheart Move ran a shocker at Goodwood last time but may not have been suited by the track. He had looked highly progressive before and could come good again in the 2.40. You can’t really fancy his stable companion Casual Garcia in the 3.10 as his form this season has been abysmal. He has been dropped a few pounds since his last run but not enough to give him a chance on the book.
Adorn is another horse that is badly out of form having only beaten one home in her last two starts. At her best she would have a chance in the 3.40 but would have to improve on recent showings.
Invisible Man has already won twice this season and there may be more to come from him. He goes in the 4.10. Park Lane caught a tartar last time in Spendorinthegarass but will not meet anything of that standard in the 5.10 and may well be able to get off the mark at last.
The big race at Deauville on Sunday is the Group 1 with the very long name which I will just call the 3.25. Goldikova is the obvious choice here and will probably win. Aqlaam and Virtual could be battling for the places.
I was sorry to hear that New Seeker (pictured below) had to be put down on Wednesday after having sustained an injury. Trained by Clive Cox and Paul Cole his total career earnings exceeded £390,000 by the time of his retirement in 2008.
He was a favourite with many thanks to his front running style, a tactic memorably deployed with a solo effort along the far rail to take the Britannia Stakes. New Seeker tasted further success at the Royal meeting two years later, in the Royal Hunt Cup, with other career highlights including twice winning the valuable Tote International Stakes and three Listed races.
I have quite a few acknowledgements to make tonight. The 3 paintings featured are, starting from the top of the page, by courtesy of the artists LIsa Miller, Katy Sodeau and Karen Davies. My thanks also to Kate Tann for the photo of New Seeker.
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