Month: September 2009

 

I am penning these notes before the evening meetings get under way but at least we have had a few of winners today in Bagber, Mykingdomforahorse and Bint Almatar. Incidentally, Royal Diamond was a non runner.

Starting at Ayr in the 3.30 it is now 8 runs since Woodsley House did our list to follow a favour at 20/1. He has not been able to reproduce that sort of form since and was last on 15 at Hamilton on his most recent start.

Wells Lyrical makes a return top the track after an absence of 3 months in the 4.05. He is a most consistent animal and has not been out of the first 3 on his last 10 starts. He was second in the Northumberland Plate and has shown he can go well fresh in the past. He is best with some cut in the ground and the worry here will be that the ground may be quick enough for him.

Annice Stellato showed a pleasing attitude when winning at Newmarket last time out and has a chance in an open looking contest in the Goodwood 3.55.

Many of the usual suspects line up for the 4.20 at Newmarket. There are 3 from my list to follow; Inxile, Captain Gerrard and Sirens Gift. Inxile looks the most likely and is preferred to Captain Gerrard.

The only other runner from my list is Lucky Dance in the Newmarket 5.30. He is a course and distance winner but has been largely out of form this season. He would probably prefer some ease in the ground.

Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Jo Stockdale.

My only selection today won at 7/2 so could this be the start of a winning run!

Well there are plenty of flat meetings to go at tomorrow although most of the races are not of the highest quality. As usual I will take a look at the prospects of the runners from my list to follow plus a few others that catch my eye.

I will start at my lucky track – Kempton Park. One Good Emperor has shown signs of ability in both his races. He is entitled to improve further and should go well in the 6.50.

Maidens for older horses at this time of year are always likely to be weak affairs and the 8.20 looks no exception. Mubrook is entitled to go close on the form book. He is trained by Luca Cumani and his stablemate Kazbow could be worth considering in the 8.50. He has not shown much in 3 runs but has plenty of stamina in the pedigree and could improve for this step up, in trip on his handicap debut.

Up at Newcastle Trumpstoo runs in the 5.00. He was tipped up as a horse with potential at the start of the season but has done very little to justify those claims. He has dropped over a stone in the handicap since the start of the campaign and that may enable him to be competitive but it is hard to be too enthusiastic about his chances.

At Nottingham Royal Diamond goes for a 4 timer in the 3.25 and with the longer trip likely to be in his favour may take some stopping while in the 4.00 the Godolphin newcomer Bint Almatar could make a winning debut.

Bagber is a genuine sort and got off the mark last time out at Kempton. Ryan Moore is on board again as Bagber looks to follow up in the Salisbury 2.30. He looks to have been found another winning opportunity.

Maverin represents my list to follow in the 3.05. He has changed stables since his last run when he won a Windsor maiden and is now with Tom Dascombe. This looks an open race and Maverin has an each way chance with Triple Dream looking a big threat.

Mykingdomforahorse is a favourite of mine (especially so given the name of this web site.) He has done very well for trainer Mick Channon and with Ryan Moore in the plate can add another win to his tally in the 5.20.

Today’s pictures are courtesy of the artist Katy Sodeau.

 

There is just one runner from my list to follow in action tomorrow.  Invincible Lad runs in the 4.20 at Southwell. At around 8/1 he might be good value as he has a 100% record on all weather tracks and is a course and distance winner.

Not much else to report – roll on the jumps season!

 

Chiberta King is a horse I have been following closely tomorrow and I am hoping that he will prevail in the Ascot 2.05 tomorrow. He is a progressive sort and has good course form having finished 2^nd on both his runs at Ascot.

In the 3.15 my list to follow is represented by Palace Moon and Dream Eater. Both are in with a chance but if pushed for a single selection I would just prefer Dream Eater. Fanunalter has only run 4 times and looks on the upgrade. He could be the answer in the 5.00 with the danger coming from Espiritu. Other runners from my list to follow are Palavicini (2.40) and Electrolyser (4.25).

There is quite a strong UK challenge in the Preis Von Europa at Cologne tomorrow with Jukebox Jury looking the likely winner.

Over the jumps at Market Rasen Tot O’ Whisky goes well fresh and looks a big price in the 4.00.

Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Sally Martin.

Spirit of Dubai was a 20/1 winner from my list to follow this afternoon but sadly I didn’t have the courage to tip her on last night’s preview. As far as tips went my only success was Williams Wishes at 3/1 over the jumps. Oh well, there is always another day.

Ascot is the main meeting tomorrow and the feature race is the QEll Stakes at 4.15. A small field and the likelihood of a tactical race make me wary of this as a betting medium. Rip Van Winkle is in my view the best horse in the field but whether he should be an odds on shot is another matter. Aqlaam is 2 from 4 at Ascot while Delegator had Rip Van Winkle behind him in the 2000 Guineas so the issue is far from cut and dried. Should be a good race to watch!

In the first race on the card at Ascot Applause looks potentially well treated off a mark of 92 and is my idea of the likely winner. Another to consider is Resort, a consistent sort but she has crept up the weights a bit. Still at around 10/1 she could represent each way value.

I liked the way that Sent From Heaven won at Good wood last month and I will stick with her in the 3.05.

In the ultra competitive handicap at 3.40 Redford and Cadre represent my list to follow. The latter is not well drawn and needs to defy a career high mark. He ran well in listed company last time out but does have a lot on his plate here. Redford probably needs rain softened ground to be seen at his best. In the circumstances I will take a chance on Dhaular Dhar who loves these big field Ascot handicaps and gets my each way vote. Tropical Paradise is something of a favourite of mine and I am hoping she can land the 4.50. Penang Princess disappointed last time out but had looked progressive before that and she can land the 5.25.

Although only 5 runners line up for the 3.50 at Chester it remains a tricky puzzle to solve. Mirrored is the obvious choice but he has let me down a few times this season and has been a beaten favourite on his last 3 runs. Goliath’s Boy is not without a chance but for my selection I am opting for Mutamaashi. He was runner up at Lingfield on his last start and the winner of that race has gone in again since. He could be well treated.

There are a couple from my list to follow in the 2.25 at Haydock, Red Kestrel and Mubrook. You could put up a case for both in an open looking contest. Hitchens continues to creep back down the weights and has an each way squeak in the 3.00.

Loden holds a Derby entry and may be better than he has shown in his two starts to date. He runs in the 7.45 at Kempton with K Fallon taking the ride.

There is quite a decent jumps card at Market Rasen. Callisto Moon has been in fine form on the flat and didn’t do too badly last time he ran over hurdles either. He looks the one they all have to worry about in the 2.05. Katie’s Tutor has dropped down the weights a bit and after an operation on his back in the summer may be able to get back to his best form. He is a course and distance winner and is a big price at 25/1.

War of the World won at Stratford 3 weeks ago and can follow up in the 3.15.

Today’s pictures are courtesy of the artist Jo Stockdale (see links)

 

The 2.00 at Ascot tomorrow sees the return of Tryst, a horse I have been waiting for since his 2^nd to Roaring Forte at Newmarket in May. Although he is a 4 year old he has only run 3 times in his life so has clearly had problems. The very fact that Sir Michael Stoute has kept the horse in training is a recommendation in itself however and he is certainly one to watch out for.

It might pay to go with the same trainer in the 3.45 where Sir Michael has the filly Phillipina. She ran no sort of race at Newbury last time but has claims on her best form.

Burma Rock has flattered only to deceive this season but mighjt be worth another chance. His 2 year old form stands up well including a 2^nd to Glass Harmonium. With an apprentice taking weight off he has an each way chance in an open looking race in the 5.05.

Over the jumps at Worcester Williams Wishes (1.50) and Uffa Fox (4.05) are a couple of names to consider.

Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Jane Dunn.

 

Selections for tomorrow; Kempton 6.30 Blue Nymph, 8.30 Stoic, 9.00 Dvinski.

Apart from Blue Nymph and Stoic there are 2 others runners from my list to follow; Gun For Sale (5.30) & Ben’s Dream (9.00).

 

The 3.45 at Goodwood tomorrow looks another winning opportunity for Henry Cec il’s Twice Over. In the 4.20 Plymouth Rock and Mabuya look the pair to concentrate on. Plymouth Rock has only run twice, winning on his debut before failing to justify favouritism when odds on to follow up in a handicap. He is certainly not one to give up on yet but I suppose the safe option would be Mabuya who, apart from his last run, has been consistent.

Earlier on the Goodwood card debutant Life and Soul is related to a number of winners and is one to look out for in the 2.00.

Felsham, a half brother to Oldjoesaid, was 3^rd on his debut at Sandown and gets my vote for the Kempton 6.20. An hour later Union Island, visored first time is a tentative suggestion. He was an excellent 2^nd to Changingoftheguard at York but has been below par since. The visor may bring out the best in him.

Walcott Square, 2^nd at Brighton last time, now qualifies for handicaps and makes his debut in that sphere in the Kempton 8.20. He is in with a chance.

There is jumping action at Perth where Sue Smith has Nirvana Swing in the 4.45. He failed to win a race last season but showed plenty of ability the season before. He might be worth following in the months ahead.

Today’s picture is by king permission of the artist Sarah Aspinall.

 

Tomorrow Silverglas is my main hope. He went into my notebook when 2^nd on his handicap debut at Goodwood and I am hoping he can go one better in the Folkestone 4.50. I tipped Ruthie Babe when she won at Ffos Las recently and I will stick with her in the Folkestone 2.20.

There is a jumps card at Stratford where William’s Wishes ahs a chance in the 2.10. He has shown promise in all 3 of his starts over hurdles. In the 4.40 I fancy course and distance winner War of the World to give trainer Tim Vaughan a winner.

Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Julie Whitwham.

 

Prescription looked a good thing at Wolverhampton on his last start but was turned over by Jaconet when favourite. She is worth another chance in the 2.40 at Hamilton.

Woodsley House was a 20/1 winner earlier in the season and has now come back down to a mark that should enable him to be competitive. He runs in the 3.40.

Blue Nymph has been runner up in all 3 runs this season but has a good chance of getting off the mark in the 4.30 at Kempton.