Month: June 2010

 

Royal Ascot again takes centre stage tomorrow. I don’t have any strong opinions on the first two races although I wouldn’t be surprised if Bullet Train ran much better in the 3.05 than he did in the Derby where surely something was amiss.

The Coronation Stakes at 3.30 looks quite tricky. Music Show has quite solid form. After winning the Nell Gwynne she ran well in the 1,000 Guineas from a hopeless draw before acquitting herself well in the Irish equivalent where she finished 3^rd. She is a good yardstick in this race and you would imagine that she will be involved in the finish. Lillie Langtry was 5^th in that Irish Guineas finishing well after not getting a clear run. As that was her first run of the season she can be expected to improve although the stable have not been in top form this season. Jacqueline Quest was disqualified in the Guineas and the race awarded to Special Duty who went on to sort of frank the form by winning the French classic, albeit once again the steward’s room. Of the rest Lady of the Desert has not been able to reproduce her form of last year and may find her stamina stretched anyway while Tabassum will have to defy a long absence from the track. This is a tough call but I am inclined to just give the edge to Lillie Langtry.

Course and distance winner Rainbow Peak sets the standard in the 4.25 and is a confident selection.

The well bred Total Command has plenty of stamina in his pedigree and is a tentative selection in the 5.00 although he would possibly want easier ground. That just leaves us with the little matter of a 30 runner handicap at 5.35! Suruor and Webbow have been on my list to follow since their runs at the Chester May meeting. The former is usually best after a recent run and it is 42 days since his last outing. He has also done his winning in smaller fields so I will leave him out on this occasion. Webbow is suited by a big field and although he is probably better at a mile this is a stiff 7 furlongs and he would be on my short list. He likes fast ground as well. Bangalore Gold impressed when winning over a mile at The Curragh in a big field handicap on fast ground and should handle this shorter trip OK. I have been following Dubai Dynamo all season but he has risen in the weights as a result of his successful run and may just be weighted out of it. Run for the Hills has the ability and may well be suited by this trip. He is a possible outsider. Bangalore Gold is the selection with Webbow worth an each way interest at a bigger price.

At Newmarket Man of Action looks the one to be on in the 8.10.

Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Margaret Barrett.

 

It was another good day on the tipping front with winners at Royal Ascot and elsewhere.

Henry Cecil had a winner in Ascot’s last race thgis afternoon with Timepiece and he is well represented in the 3.05 tomorrow with Principal Role. She won a listed race at Newbury on her last start and the 4^th has won since. I think Principal Role could run well here and I would also be tempted to have a small each way saver on Pipette who was second at Goodwood to the subsequent Oaks winner Snow Fairy.

This year’s Gold Cup (3.50) looks a very strong renewal. Another Henry Cecil runner, Manifest, has strong claims after a very impressive win in the Yorkshire Cup. Also fancied are Ask whose last two wins have come at Group 1 level, St Leger runner up Kite Wood and Ces winner Darley Sun. Manifest has been so impressive in his last two starts that he has to be in with a great chance while Ask has the undoubted class. Manifest and Ask look sure to be involved in the finish as long as they stay this marathon trip. One that will definitely not lack for stamina is Kasbah Bliss and he could be worth an each way interest.

My 4 horse short list for the ultra competitive 4.25 consists of two winners last time out, Business as Usual and Balducci and two that were second on their latest start Invincible Soul and Hypnotized. If pushed to narrow it down I would go with Business as Usual and Hypnotized.

The progressive Afsare can land the 5.00 for Luca Cumani and Kieren Fallon while Berling and London Stripe look the pair to concentrate on in the 5.35 where Dandino is another to consider.

At Ripon Fastnet Storm should go close in the 4.00 where Oneofapear is another to consider while in the 5.10 Beat the Rush and Boss’s Destination are the two I like.

At Warwick Lombok is dropped in grade and wears first time headgear and might be worth chancing in the 2.55.

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

Well we got Royal Ascot off to a good start today with 4 winners from the 6 races. Tomorrow looks a little more difficult but hopefully we will be able to dig out a winner or two.

The Jersey Stakes (2.30) has only gone to the market leader once in the last 10 yaers so it may be worth looking for an outsider. Rodrigo de Torres, Mon Cadeaux and Kaptain Kirkup are 3 that could just pull off a surprise. Mon Cadeaux seemed to struggle with the track at Epsom last time and Ascot should suit him better. I will settle for him each way.

Spacious won the Windsor Forest Stakes (3.05) last season at 10/1 and seeks to follow up tomorrow. She has only been out of the first 3 in 4 of her 13 career starts and is no forlorn each way chance. The two obvious contenders though are Strawberrydaiquiri and Antara. The former is an admirable type and seems to keep improving. German import Antara made a good impression on her UK debut winning at Epsom in a Group 3 and should be even better on a more conventional track. This is quite a difficult one to call but I narrowly prefer Antara to the Stoute filly with Spacious to fill the third spot.

The 3.50 has attracted a talented field with perhaps Twice Over, Mawatheeq and Glass Harmonium the pick of the home team. Twice Over and Mawatheeq were first and second in the Champion Stakes last season and Twice Over went on to finish 3^rd at the Breeders Cup so that looks solid form. Glass Harmonium is a course and distance winner and has already won a Group 3 this year. This trio are certainly respected but for my selection I am going for the French challenger Byword. He was only beaten half a length by Goldikova last month and being lightly raced could well be open to further improvement.

The 30 runner Royal Hunt Cup (4.25) always takes some sorting out but I did find the winner last season with Forgotten Voice who attempts to follow up off top weight. He is 12 lbs higher than last season which might just anchor him sufficiently. The consistent Mia’s Boy has been running in pattern class company since finishing 6^th in the Lincoln and is another that is possibly just a little too high in the handicap. There are any number in with a chance but my two against the field would be Mull of Killough and Riggins. The former has been a bit unlucky since finishing 3^rd in the Lincoln and looks to have a nice race in him. Riggins has always been a talented horse but has been difficult to keep sound. He ran well in third on his seasonal debut having joined Andrew Balding from Luca Cumani’s yard.

Maqaasid was an impressive winner at Sandown last month and on that form sets the standard in the 5.00. Swiss Dream and Marlinka could fill the minor placings. In the 5.35 I fancy Safina with the main dangers likely to come from Timepiece and Pollenator.

Selections elsewhere; Hamilton 2.55 – Cross Key: Kempton 7.10 – Buffett; Ripon 9.20 – House Point.

Today’s picture, courtesy of Kate Tann is of Soviet Song, a past winner of the Windsor Forest Stakes.

Royal Ascot gets underway with a tremendous clash of champions in the 2.30 with Paco Boy, Rip Van Winkle and Goldikova all truly top class. Rip Van Winkle would appear to hold Paco Boy on their running together last season. He is however having his first run of the season so peak fitness could be an issue. Goldikova is a winner of 8 Group 1 races, has already proved her well being with a winning run this season and handles any ground. She does seem the likely winner.

Our old friend Borderlescott runs in the King’s Stand at 3.05 and is such a consistent performer he certainly can’t be ruled out. Amour Propre has been a little disappointing since winning the Palace House Stakes last May although there have been feasible excuses for some of his defeats. He would have a chance if returning to his best and the same could be said of Total Gallery. Mister Manannan does not look quiet up to Group 1 class having been beaten when running at a lower level recently. The one I fancy here though is Kingsgate Native who put in a power packed display when winning at Haydock last month. If he turns up at Ascot in that sort of form he will be hard to beat.

Canford Cliffs impressed me when winning the Irish 2,000 guineas and I fancy his to get the better of his conqueror in the English Guineas, Makfi, this time. I would also suggest a saver on Steinbeck who has only had 3 career runs and could be open to plenty of improvement.

The 4.25 looks a strong race with 6 of the 13 runners unbeaten. Strong Suit has been my preference for this race since his win at Newbury in May and I am happy to stick with him.

I don’t have a particularly strong view on the final 2 races but Junior (5.00) and Metropolitan Man (5.35) looks to have fair chances .

My only selection away from Ascot is Luck of the Draw in the Brighton 8.00.

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

Just the one selection tomorrow.

Carlisle 4.45 Rock Relief

The big race at Salisbury tomorrow is the listed Cathedral Stakes at 3.40. The ground should suit both Palace Moon and Jimmy Styles. Palace Moon has run at Salisbury 3 times and is yet to finish out of the first 2 so he will do for me.

Hughie Morrison, trainer of Palace Moon can also land the 2.30 with Present Alchemy, a lightly raced sort that has run well at the track before.

There is a competitive sprint handicap up at Doncaster at 3.30. Johnny Mudball is one to consider. He showed plenty of promise when finishing well when runner up at Goodwood last month. Invincible Force would be a factor with some give in the ground while the lightly raced Poet’s Place is the other on my short list. Although a 5 year old he has only had two starts winning both at Southwell on the all weather and could be ahead of the handicapper. Jonny Mudball and Poet’s Place are my two against the field.

My selections at Chantilly are Rosanara (3.04) and Border Patrol (ew) in the 3.50.

 

The main meetings tomorrow are at York and Sandown. I will start tonight’s preview at the Knavesmire and the 2.40. Distant Memories has only had 8 career starts and has only been out of the first 2 twice. He was second on his seasonal reappearance in a race at Pontefract that has worked out quite well . He wouldn’t want the ground too quick but the unsettled weather this week should ensure that it is not too firm. My only real concern would be the form of the stable as they have not had a winner for a while. He has to be the selection though.

I do not have a strong view on the big handicap at 3.15. I am inclined to go for Midnight Martini who ticks the right boxes. She is a course and distance winner, acts on any ground, rarely runs a bad race and comes from a stable that had a winner today. Outsiders of interest are Side Glance and Tamintoul Singer.

The 3.50 looks an open race and half the field could be given a live chance. Rebel Soldier, the Newmarket challenger won on his only start last season but made no impact on his reappearance at Newbury in April. He runs over a longer trip here and could be a well handicapped horse. Frankie Dettori rides which is a plus. Solicitor is having his first run of the season and is another with what looks a reasonable handicap mark. Ejteyaaz was a strong finishing runner up at Newcastle last month and based on past form will be best with some give in the ground.

There is a distinctly nautical flavour to the 5.25 with Venture Cove, Bosun Breese, Sea Rover and Atlantic Beach in the line up. Atlantic Beach has been running well and comes from a stable that is in fine form at present. He looks the one most likely to land the spoils.

Revered won a back end maiden at HQ last season and looked a decent prospect. With further improvement likely she should go well in the 1.45 at Sandown. Muwakaba holds a Group 1 entry and on that basis should be competitive in the handicap at 2.20 off a mark of 87.

Racy has run well in a couple of handicaps at Newmarket this season and is dropped in class in the 6.30 at Leicester where he looks weighted to win.

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

 

Another successful day with 4 winners across the various meetings. Nouriya and Mujdeya both won at Newbury in convincing fashion while Decorative was probably something of a handicap snip and looks good enough to do well at a higher grade. Uncle Keef recouped previous losses under a stylish ride from George Baker at Yarmouth.

There is an evening meeting at Chepstow tomorrow where the highlight is an interesting filly’s race at 8.05. There are some nice types in this, notably Desert Sage, while Miss Miracle is interesting entered again after finishing 3^rd this afternoon. With the trainer and jockey in such sparkling form I quite fancy the lightly raced Ship’s Biscuit who will appreciate this step up in trip.

Mureb was an expensive purchase and is related to any number of winners. He is fancied to give Godolphin a winner in the 6.45 at Goodwood. Treble Jig was a disappointing beaten favourite on his seasonal reappearance but can make amends in the 7.55. Rule of Nature and London Gold look the pair to concentre on in the 8.35. Rule of Nature has been beaten by the same improving horse on both his starts this season and with that rival absent here he should have a good chance of recoding his first win of the season.

At Sandown Veroon has an each way chance in the 4.25.

Arabian Spirit could run well at a big price in the York 2.520 while Hawk Mountain and Royal Trooper are my two against the field in the 3.25.

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

“They’ve got a name for the winners in the world

I want a name when I lose

They call Alabama the Crimson Tide

Call me Deacon Blues^..”

My only winner on an otherwise dismal days tipping was Deacon Blues, named after the Steely Dan song. Another music related winner was Tangerine Trees whose win at Hamilton was his third in his last 4 starts.

Turning to tomorrow we can continue the musical theme as Sandy Shaw, named after the 60s singer, runs in the 5.40 at Nottingham. Given that the original Sandy Shaw used to sing barefoot and had rather high cheekbones the horse is aptly named being by Footstepsinthesand out of Susi Wong – quite clever really. Sandy Shaw has an each way chance in this race but I slightly prefer Skyrider who should be suited by the trip on this, her first effort in handicap company. Elsewhere on the Nottingham card the once raced Decorative could be well handicapped in the 4.00 while the Sir Michael Stoute runner Mushteq is my selection in the 5.10.

The same trainer may hold the key to the Newbury 3.40. Nouriya was 3^rd over course and distance back in April in a race that has worked out quite well. In the 3.05 I am inclined to oppose the favourite. Deirdre has possibilities but for my selection I am going with the once race Kithonia for trainer Henry Cecil who does so well with this type of horse.

My two against the field in the 4.15 are Miss Miracle and Mujdeya with a slight preference for the latter.

Uncle Keef has been something of a flop so far this season. He did look promising last term though and on the basis that first time blinkers may prove efficacious he gets my tentative selection in Yarmouth’s 4.25.

I am on a good run at the moment with 3 winners and a second from the last 4 selections.

There are plenty of meetings to go at tomorrow with the following my main fancies.

Beverly 4.30 – Escape Artist

Hamilton 8.05 – Jedi (danger Mr Freddy)

Haydock 3.20 – Walvis Bay

3.50 Spoken (danger Towbaat)

Kempton 7.20 – Dungannon

7.50 – Magnetic Force

Yarmouth 4.10 – Deacon Blues