Month: September 2009

 

Tomorrow sees the start of the St Leger meeting at Doncaster. The classy Twice Over is yet to win this season and has been a shade disappointing but looks to have been found a winning opportunity in the 3.10. Chock A Block won a soft ground maiden at Longchamp last year but finished last of 5 pretty well tailed off at Goodwood in May. He may well be better than that but Twice Over remains the most likely victor.

Bryan Smart’s Captain Gerrard has been in and out this season – in fact to be honest he has been mainly out. He has had his good days though, not least when chasing home Borderlescott at Chester. At his best he would play a part in the 3.45. He has shown in best from with give in the ground but has won on a quick surface. Siren’s Gift bounced back to form the other day showing blistering early pace under David Probert at Epsom and can’t be ruled out on that performance. Dandy Nicholls is without doubt the sprint king and he has the consistent Inxile in this. He has only been out of the first 3 once in his career and looks sure to run well. He is my selection.

Invincible Lad is useful when things drop right for him and he won’t lack for help from the saddle tomorrow in the 5.25 with K Fallon in the plate.

At Epsom our list to follow is represented by Halfway House and Alicante in the 3.20. The latter was most disappointing when seeking a hat trick at Thirsk last time but previous form would see her in with a good chance. Halfway House does seem to be in the grip of the handicapper after a couple of wins earlier in the season.

Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Jane Dunn (see links)

 

After a poor day on Saturday things took a turn for the better this afternoon with all the horses mentioned in the Sunday preview performing well.

I will cover both Monday and Tuesday with tonight’s bulletin as the racing is mainly low key.

There are two runners from my list to follow in action at Bath. Blue Nymph has an obvious chance in the 4.10 after a run of seconds. Hillside Las goes in the seller at 3.10. He was last of 11 in a similar contest the other day so a bet is not recommended!

Hooligan Sean showed some promise on his racecourse debut at Newbury. He should learn from the experience and has an each way chance in the 2.50 at Folkestone.

Northside Prince remains a maiden after 8 starts but has not always had the rub of the green. He deserves to win a race and hopefully will break his duck in the 4.00 at Newcastle.

On Tuesday Aattash should be there or thereabouts in the Goodwood nursery at 3.10.

The weather has a distinct autumn feel to it at the moment and as a reminder that winter is just around the corner today’s picture is of Goodwood racecourse in the snow. My thanks to Mark Hackett for use of his excellent photo.

 

Not much to comment on tomorrow, although I see that Tom Tate introduces Walvis Bay, a half brother to 7 winners, in the 2.35 at York.

I wouldn’t rule out Virtual and Aqlaam in the Prix Du Moulin de Longchamp over in France.

 

Three year olds have supplied 5 out of the last 8 winners of the Haydock 2.55 tomorrow so it seems to be sensible to concentrate on that age band. Alanbrooke comes from a stable that has done well in this race in the past, he stays well and has won on soft ground. He is 10 lbs higher than his best winning mark however. King’s Destiny is untried at this trip but has looked progressive in winning twice this season and acts on soft ground. Chiberta King is another consistent sort whose only disappointing effort when not handling the track at Goodwood. His winning form is on quick ground though which a concern is. Alanbrooke and King’s Destiny are my 2 against the field.

My short list for the 3.30 consists of Finjaan, Corrybrough and Main Aim. Main Aim was disappointing on his latest start but previous form puts him bang in there and he is the selection.

Curtain Call was far from disgraced when 2nd to Casual Conquest at the Curragh and can gain compensation in the 2.40 at Kempton. Quadrille was an impressive winner at Newbury on his debut and looks set to follow up in the 3.45.

Up at Thirsk Invisible Man looks the one to beat in the 3.05. He has done nothing but improve and goes for a hat trick here.

In the 4.40 Woodsley House is well handicapped if he can finds his best form.

Today’s picture is courtesy of Ruth Buchanan.

 

I have hit a better run on the tipping front these last few days. Raine’s Cross was a successful tip, today and with the consistent Tropical Paradise coming in later on the card at rain lashed Salisbury trainer Peter Winkworth had a good day as well. I always think that Winkworth, who trains at Chiddingfold in Surrey, is an underrated trainer and one well worth following.

Northern Bolt hasn’t won for nearly 2 years but there are several factors that point to him having a chance in the Catterick 4.00 tomorrow. He will have his favoured ground for one thing and that has not often been the case recently. He has also come down a little in the weights, wears a first time visor and his last few runs have shown some encouraging signs.

At Chepstow Hillside Lad should be in the frame at least in the seller 2.40.

I will have to tip one of Mr Fallon’s rides on his return to the fold. He rides Wigan Lane in the 6.20 and this filly should benefit from this return to 6 furlongs.

My fancy in the 7.20 is Brian Meehan’s Pin Cushion. By Pivotal out of Frizzante she is certainly bred for the job and she ran well in third on her last stay at Newbury where the fast ground may not have been to her liking.

Charm School has failed to live up to expectations. He was a leading fancy for the Lincoln at the start of the campaign but has under achieved in his 4 outings. He is tried over a longer trip tomorrow in the 8.50 which probably makes sense as he has been staying on late in his races over shorter distances.

Street Power has been in fine form and goes for a 4 timer in the 3.50 at Lingfield. Despite going up in the weights he will be hard to beat.

Mutamaashi is only lightly raced and ran with plenty of promise when 3^rd at Newmarket last time. He is the selection in the 4.50.

As a reminder that the jumps season is not far away I have featured Emily Russell’s picture of Master Minded today.

 

We had a couple of winners yesterday, notably Distant Memories who scored his second successive win at Ripon.

Kona Coast looks the form pick in the Brighton 2.30 tomorrow but has not looked the most straightforward in his two outings so far. Walcott Square may have more to offer than he has shown in his first couple of runs and is put forward as an alternative.

In the 1.50 at Lingfield both Cherish the Moment and Spirit of Dubai have claims.

Moving on to Thursday at Epsom the consistent Air Maze should give a good account in the 4.35. Amno Dancer was 3^rd at Yarmouth in a race that has worked out quite well and may be worth considering in the Redcar 2.30.

Raine’s Cross has been running with credit in decent company and should go well in the 2.10 at Salisbury.

Ruthie Babe has not lived up to early expectations but may be worth another chance in the Wolverhampton 6.20 while in the 7.50 Classically takes a considerable drop in class.

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

 

 

I was quite taken with the performance of Markazzi when second at Newbury on his debut and he should be able to go one better in the 2.20 at Leicester.

Dream of Gerontis has some ability and 20/1 about him in the seller at 2.35 is probably on the generous side if the first time blinkers do the trick.

There are two runners from my list to follow in action at Ripon, Hey Up Dad (2.30) and Distant Memories (3.30).