Tomorrow’s racing looks tricky. PekanThree was disappointing last time but may not have liked the track at Chester. Worth another chance in the Lingfield 2.25.
Pipette made no show in the 1,000 Guineas but that race was a bit of a nonsense and on previous form she would have a chance in the 2.35 at Goodwood. In the same race Deirdre may improve for a step up in trip. My other selections at Goodwood are Hypnotized in the 3.10 and Simenon in the 3.45.
The steady trickle of winners continued today with Haatheq and Dungannon. One that I annoyingly missed over the weekend was Green Lightning at Newmarket. Mark Johnston’s three year old looked a different proposition with blinkers on for the first time as he kept up a decent gallop under Joe Fanning. The front running tactics were typical of runners from that stable that can be very difficult to pass once they set sail for home. He may improve again especially if he gets his favoured soft ground.
A few brief thoughts on tomorrow. I fancy High Office up at Carlisle in the 7.30.
Marco Botti has a couple of interesting runners at Nottingham. Rainbow Six (2.00) and Excelebration (2.30) are worth considering. In the latter race Liberty Cap is another I like on pedigree. Wuldreda and Yankee Bright catch the eye in the 4.00. The latter could be well handicapped.
Since I started the handicap hints list at the start of the season the results have been rather pleasing. Harrison George went on the list after running well in the Lincoln and promptly won next time out at 11/2. Hanoverian Baron and Dubai Destination added further successes this week at odds of 7/1 and 4/1 respectively while Dubai Destination was narrowly denied a second win this afternoon.
The current list comprises Roker Park, Big Noise, Webbow, Halla San, Shamali and Suruor. Watch this space.
Looking forward to the racing tomorrow the Hannon 2 year old Byrony should have benefitted from her debut run at Windsor and can collect in the 2.00 at Bath. Dungannon could be the value in the 2.30.
At Leicester Haatheq has only gone up 6 lbs for a course and distance win and can go in again for veteran trainer John Dunlop in the 6.00. The 6.30 is interesting as there are positive reports about both Mujrayaat and Silver Shine. The former may be the answer as he comes from a stable that has been successful with its 2 year olds already this season. Gay Mirage looks the form pick in the 8.30.
At Windsor Skyrider should be all the better for her run in 4th at Kempton last month. She showed promise as a 2 year old last season and is the selection in the 8.10.
Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Katy Sodeau.
In search of an outsider to tip in the London Gold Cup (Newbury 2.30) I looked at Doctor Zhivago, Bonfire Knight and Aquarian Spirit. Bonfire Knight at around 16/1 looks decent value.
Zacinto is very much a horse to follow this year and makes his seasonal debut in the Lockinge at 3.05. Over a mile and without the benefit of a recent run he may have to give best to Paco Boy but whatever the outcome I am sure he will be winning races sooner rather than later.
In the 3.40 I am quite keen on the chances of Striking Spirit and Arthur’s Edge. Striking Spirit has the better draw and the stable are in form so I will give him the nod.
Engulf is the form pick in the 4.50 but the stable have been a bit quiet lately but did have a winner the other day. J Murtagh rides which can’t be bad but the horse may be better with a bit of give. At 7/4 his price looks a tad skinny. He is one to follow as the season unfolds though. Flambeau is my selection in the 5.25.
At Newmarket Gala Evening and Gordonsville are favourite stayers of mine and along with the consistent Chiberta King form my short list, while, given the name of this site Mykingdomforahorse would be an apt winner! Jim Goldie’s horses are going well at the moment and he had a winner with Hillview Boy today. This trip may just be on the short side for Gordonsville however so I will give it to Chiberta King by the narrowest of margins.
Luca Cumani is very shrewd when it comes to placing his horses in handicaps and his 4 year old Mistoffelees looks on a decent mark in the 6.00 at Doncaster. Another horse that could be leniently treated is Tim Easterby’s Antoniola in the 6.30. He is a course winner, the trip will suit and the stable are going well.
Royal Swain is held in high regard by connections and will take some beating in the Thirsk 2.40. Bubber is one to watch on his handicap debut in the 3.15 while Cape Quarter is a potential improver in the 3.50.
Picture courtesy of the artist Lisa Miller.
We have had a smattering of winners this week not least Sour Mash at 25/1 today.
The main meeting tomorrow is again at York. I will ignore the listed contest that starts off the card and move on to the handicap at 2.10. Dangerous Midge was a winning tip for me when he landed a Doncaster handicap last month. He has been raised 11 lbs for that win but there should be more to come from him as he is lightly raced and the step up to 12 furlongs should also be in his favour. Cool Strike is another to consider for this race. He is very much at home on quick ground, has won over this trip twice and comes here on the back of a decent effort when runner up at Bath. The third horse on my list for this race is Hanoverian Baron who ran a blinder when 2nd at Epsom last time out despite not being suited by the track. York should be more to his liking but ideally he would prefer some give in the ground. Dangerous Midge is the selection with Cool Strike next best.
Manifest put in a pleasing effort when 2nd to Harbinger at Newbury and the winner has since gone in again. If he handles the quick ground he could be the one to be on in the Yorkshire Cup at 2.40.
Trainer Michael Jarvis and jockey Philip Robinson are in red hot form at the moment and can take the 3.10 with Decorative who was an impressive winner of a Yarmouth maiden last season. The main danger could come from another in form trainer, Sir Michael Stoute who saddles Muwakaba winner of a Kempton maiden last September.
It is a while since Oldjoesaid showed his best form but he has slipped down the weights and is worth considering from a decent draw in the 4.20. Finally at York I was impressed with Beat the Rush when he won at Pontefract and he can follow up in the 4.55.
Inler was a leading fancy for the 2,000 Guineas but ruined his chance when pulling much too hard. If he settles better he would be in with a shout at Newbury in the 2.20.
The 2.55 is an interesting contest. Pollenator was down the field in the 1,000 Guineas but should be much better suited by the faster ground at Newbury. Principal Role is another that may benefit from quicker ground. The once raced Desert Sage is well regarded by connection, will get the trip with no bother and will relish the ground. As a bit of an outsider she has possibilities. Face the Problem is bred to win at 2 and is my tentative selection for the 3.25.
Trainer Richard Hannon has a good record in the 4.00 and can again supply the answer with Strong Suit while in the 4.35 I am going to go for an outsider, also trained by Richard Hannon, Higgy’s Ragazzo.
At Newmarket Sweetie Time is said to be a sharp sort and could go well in the 2.00. Burghley ran well in 3rd at Chester last time and is my selection in the 3.00.
There are two evening meetings. Up at Newcastle course and distance winner The Osteopath comes from a stable in good dorm and should run well. I also like the chance of Ruth Carr’s runner Dubai Dynamo.
In the 8.00 at Hamilton Trip the Light is a consistent sort but is on a career high mark. Hillview Boy made a very promising seasonal reappearance at Newmarket when 4th to the progressive Tinaar. Tinaar only has a 3 lbs penalty for that win and may be able to confirm the placings.
The picture today is courtesy of the artist Jo Stockdale.
The 1.40 at York looks a tricky handicap. Rebel Duke is well fancied but may want more give in the ground. Johannes is yet to win at 5 furlongs but will appreciate the fast ground and is worth considering. Judge ‘N Jury likes these big field handicaps and is always likely to come in at a decent price if things drop right for him.
The 2.10 is a fascinating clash between old rivals Midday and Sariska. The latter should win at the weights but this is more a race to watch and enjoy rather than a betting proposition.
Chabal has obvious claims in the 2.40 but I will side with Workforce from a stable that can do no wrong at present.
I have been waiting for Mull of Killough since his unlucky last run and I will stick with him as my selection in the 3.10. The unbeaten Rainbow Peak is an obvious threat.
I am hoping that Tamintoul Singer can bounce back from a slightly disappointing seasonal reappearance in the 3.45 where Ejteyaaz could run well at a big price. In the 4.20 there is a good word for the newcomer Alzaam. In the 4.55 my each way selection is Royal Trooper.
At Salisbury I would like to find one to take on the favourite. Zahoo, Contredanse and Addahab were the trio that I originally picked out. At odds of 14/1 in the RP Zahoo, a bit unlucky at Sandown last time, looks the value. My other selections at the Wiltshire track are Mi Regalo (2.30) and Mujdeya (4.10).
There is an evening meeting at Newmarket where the once raced Sour Mash is one to look out for in the 6.50. The same stable have Cygnet in the 7.25. His last run was surely too bad to be true and he is worth another chance here. In the 8.00 I am going for another outsider in the shape of Mufarrh for trainer John Dunlop.
Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Lisa Miller.
Luca Cumani and Kieren Fallon narrowly failed to land the Victoria Cup with a well fancied runner on Saturday but can rectify that with Forte Dei Marmi in the 1.40 at York tomorrow. He is a lightly arced sort with only 6 starts to his name and was an impressive winner at Newbury on his latest run.
Michael Dods has had 4 winners this month after making a slow start to the season. He runs Kaptain Kirkup in the 2.10. The step up to 7 furlongs will suit him but he will not want the ground too firm. Light showers are forecast and they have been watering so Kaptain Kirkup is worth considering at 10/1. Business as Usual comes from a stable in very good form. He won on his debut last season and then disappointed at Lingfield where the track may not have suited him. York should play to his strengths and he is a contender. The third horse I like in this is Rock ‘N Royal who won at Pontefract on his only start as a juvenile.
Aviate is a sister to Wingwalker who died from a heart attack as a 2 year old. She has shown a taking turn of foot when winning both her starts thus far. She is not guaranteed to stay this 10 furlongs but if she does he would be hard to beat.
In the 3.10 Showcasing and Anglezarke make most appeal. If pushed for a single selection I would go for course and distance winner Showcasing.
I have narrowed the 4.55 down to a short list of 4. Official Style, Think it’s all Over, Rigidity and Boss’s Destination. I could make a case for all 4 but at odds of 20/1 I see Boss’s Destination as fair value given that he is tackling a distance that suits his pedigree for the first time.
Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Katy Sodeau.
Good luck.
Just one selection today. House Point in the 4.10 at Warwick.
There some interesting 2 year olds making their debuts in the 5.40 at Windsor tomorrow. The Richard Hannon pair of Byrony and Brandy Snap look potentially sharp sorts and market confidence behind either would be noteworthy. The well related Swiss Dream with Ryan Moore on board is another to consider.
At Redcar the 10 year old Raccoon likes fast ground and should go close in the 2.50 while Azaday looks well handicapped in the 5.20.
The big handicap at Ascot tomorrow is the Victoria Cup at 3.25. There are a few that I fancy. Starting with Dhaular Dhar who was 3rd last season. He has often run well at Ascot and likes these big field handicaps. He has not shown his best form for a while but if back to something like his best he is definitely on a winnable mark. Prime Exhibit was runner up in the Lincoln and although he has gone up in the weights as a result he is a lightly raced sort that may have further improvement in him. Mabait has won his last four races but has gone up sharply in the weights since his last success. The runner up has since come out and won at Newmarket so the form looks really solid. Course and distance winner Castles in the Air is another progressive sort and given his favoured fast ground he would be one for the shortlist. Prolific all weather winner Street Power is another to consider. He is a course winner and may be well drawn. It is a wide open race with Mabait, Castles in the Air and Prime Exhibit the obvious ones to consider. Dhaular Dhar and Street Power look the pick of the outsiders.
In the 4.35 Lombok, a half brother to Asian Heights should appreciate the step up to 2 miles and is my main hope from the Ascot card.
Timepiece was not disgraced when 4th at Newmarket last time (the 3rd horse has won since) and will be more at home over this longer trip in the oaks Trail at Lingfield. Ceilidh House has only run once, winning in very impressive style in a Nottingham maiden last October. It is impossible to tell just how good Ralph Beckett’s filly is so the percentage call must be for Timepiece. Apparently Ceilidh House needs some give in the ground so any rain would improve her chance.
In the Derby Trial at 3.10 Bullet Train, Captain James Cook and Desert Myth look the trio most likely to win. Bullet Train was runner up on his reappearance in a race where the 4th Rasmy ran well enough at Chester today. He probably sets the standard and with the O’Brien horses generally running a bit below par Desert Myth could represent the main danger.
The progressive Alainmaar made a big impression when winning at Epsom recently and he is my selection in the 3.45. In the 4.55 I fancy San Cassiano although given the pedigree I am slightly afraid that the trip may be on the sharp side.
Three of the horses I have been waiting for all appear in the Nottingham 2.55 which makes the selection process a tricky one! Walvis Bay ran well in his races as a juvenile last season winning at the third attempt over this trip at York. London Gold had one less run that Walvis Bay but also won at the third time of asking, this time at Doncaster. Like the other pair Deacon Blues has one win under his belt but he also has the benefit of a run this season when he was a promising 3rd and the runner up has won twice since. Deacon Blues may have the edge on fitness and he is the selection. Some ease in the ground would help his cause. Both Walvis Bay and London Gold are respected.
At Thirsk Veroon has an each way chance in the 7.05 while the track should suit Taste the Victory in the 8.05.
Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Ruth Buchanan.
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