Month: September 2010

 

There was nothing very remarkable about today’s racing apart from perhaps the fact that Captain Scooby (4/1) won at Hamilton and Scooby Dee (25/1) won at Leicester! Did you have the double?

There is not much doing today. The conditions sprint at Beverley (3.30) is the most interesting race of the day. Last year’s winner Captain Dunne lines up again while Our Jonathon and Anglezarke both seek to recapture last season’s form. Tax Free is probably the percentage call. He was second last time out at The Curragh and the winner has since gone in again. As long as the going isn’t too soft he looks the likely winner. For the more adventurous spirits among you Anglezarke and Our Jonathon would have chances on 2009 form.

We had quite a successful weekend from a punting prospective. Forte Dei Marmi collected his 3^rd big handicap prize of the season at Newbury although his backers were given a few anxious moments as Kieren Fallon had to extricate the horse from the deepest of pockets. Luca Cumani’s charge looks likely to contest a listed or group 3 race next time.

Paul Hannigan had a successful week at Ayr as he closes in on the jockey’s title. He ended the week with a well judged front running ride on Cosmic Sun. Another horse to make all the running was Spoken at Newmarket who was also winning for the 3^rd time this season.

We also had a profitable time of it this afternoon thanks to Royal Trooper. His win at Hamilton was his 3^rd career success and they have all been gained off a handicap mark of 70.

Turning to tomorrow’s racing Knot in Wood has plenty going for him in the 2.40. He won the race in 2008 and has won 4 times in total at the track. He ran in the Ayr Gold Cup yesterday just as he had done in 2008 so being turned out again so quickly is not a negative.

At Leicester the well regarded Dean Swift can make a winning debut in the 2.20. I have been following Walvis Bay this season. He runs in the Leicester 3.20 but he may just be a little high in the weights so I am going to bypass him this time.

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

Sunday selections

Hamilton 3.40 Bullet Man

4.10 Royal Trooper (ew)

Cheverton gave us an 11/1 winner in the Ayr Bronze Cup from a high draw which may well be a pointer for the Gold and Silver versions tomorrow.

The Ayr Gold Cup 3.20 looks particularly tricky but I will run through a few of the horses that I fancy. Evens and Odds did us a favour in the Stewards Cup and although he has gone up 6 lbs for that win he has what could be a favourable high draw. Jonny Mudball was just pipped on the line at Goodwood in the Stewards and is handicapped to again finish close to Evens and Odds. He is another with a good draw in stall 25. Poet’s Place has a 5 lbs penalty for his impressive win in the Portland handicap. He is clearly on the upgrade and may well be ahead of the handicapper.

Victoire de Lyphar has the potential to be a group horse and could be the best of the Dandy Nicholls runners. He is drawn 24. Hawkeyethenoo has already won 3 times this season and could still be improving. If the draw bias turns out to favour those drawn low then Johannes could be worth considering. He is not on a bad mark if he can recapture his early season form.

If pushed to narrow it down I would choose Victoire de Lyphar and Hawkeyethenoo.

In the Silver Cup at 2.15 Hogmaneigh would be my pick of those drawn low. Definightly and Something are worth considering from the middle draws and of those drawn high Tiddlywinks would be my main fancy.

My two against the field in the 5.00 are Tamaathul and Our Joe Mac. Other selections at Ayr are Sweetie Time (2.45) and Cosmic Sun (5.35).

At Newbury I would keep an eye on Red Lover who has been the subject of some favourable reports. His trainer does not have many first time out winners so we might need to be patient with this one but he is one for the notebook.

In the 2.30 Temple Meads would have a good chance if he gets the trip and looks the value bet.

The progressive Forte Dei Marmi has already landed a couple of big handicaps and should go close in the 3.05 for Kieren Fallon.

The Group 3 sprint at 3.40 looks tricky. Triple Aspect should run well for his in form trainer despite having to carry a 3 lbs penalty while Total Gallery would be a player on his best form.

In the 4.15 Tazeez is the likely winner but his price is very short and it may be that Fair Trade could represent a bit of value should the favourite fail.

Fury comes from a winning family and represents William Haggas in the 4.50. The trainer has his share of debut winners and this one could well oblige.

The 5.25 is ultra competitive but sprint king Dandy Nicholls may have the answer with Xilerator a winner last time out who is less exposed than some of his rivals.

Rigidity looked good when winning at Chester last week and is preferred to Sour Mash and Spoken in the 4.40 at Newmarket. Others to look out for at Newmarket are the Andrew Balding pair of Simenon (3.30) and Cool Strike (4.05).

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

 

I have been putting forward Oldjoesaid, Cheveton and Roker Park for various sprint handicaps all season with a marked lack of success. All 3 line up for the Ayr Bronze Cup tomorrow (4.30). Of the trio Cheveton probably has the best chance and I will put him up as my selection. Both of the other two are well handicapped if they can run to something approaching their best form.

The 2009 2,000 Guineas runner up Delegator returns to the track in the 2.35 at Newbury after a lengthy absence. He should get his season off to a winning start. Mon Cadeaux could run well at a big price with a first time visor fitted.

The 3.10 is an Arc trial in name only but is a fascination contest nonetheless. Monitor Closely would be a big threat on his best form while Dangerous Midge steps up from handicap company. Rainbow Peak is an interesting runner. He was only beaten a neck at York last time and the winner has since franked the form when coming a close 2^nd in a Group 1 race at Longchamp. Rainbow Peak would appear to have a strong chance with Monitor Closely the danger.

Munsarim has come down the weights a little and has an each way chance in the 4.55.

Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Katy Sodeau.

 

We had a couple of winners today although my “cert” of the day was beaten at Kempton. It was a mixed day really as another of my selections Revered was also disappointing and was well beaten by High Office, a horse I have been following this season but deserted on this occasion.

There is plenty of rain about and there should be some ease in the ground at Ayr tomorrow. Antoniola handles most types of ground and ran well when 2^nd at Carlisle last time. A distance winner that is reasonably handicapped he should give us a run for our money in the 3.50.

Antoniola is trained by Tim Easterby as is my selection in the 4.20, Mirrored. This son of Dansili is better than his form figures suggest as he has been denied a clear run on both his last two starts. He is well handicapped on his best form.

Recent Redcar winner Bollin Judith is another Tim Easyterby runner with solid claims. She runs in the 5.50 where another I like is Lombok.

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

In an otherwise disappointing day Lang Shining gave me a 5/1 winner this afternoon, Lang Shining was rated over 100 when he was with Sir Michael Stoute and although he won the Newbury Spring Cup he never really lived up to early expectations. Now with Jamie Osborne he has struck up a successful partnership with his jockey Sophie Doyle and the pairing have won 4 times this season.

Looking forward to tomorrow Sir Mark Prescott has his horses in good form and his Allanah Abu goes for a four timer in the 4.20 at Beverley.

Dvinski has 16 career wins to his credit with 7 of them notched up at Kempton. He is at his favourite track again tomorrow for the 5.40. He runs off the same mark as his last Kempton success and he will be ridden by a very able apprentice who takes off 5 lbs.

Another Sir Mark Prescott runner to watch out for is Aestival in the Sandown 5.10. He has won 3 of his 5 starts over this distance of 10 furlongs.

At Yarmouth Ted Durcan could be a significant jockey booking on Kenyan Cat in the 3.20. In the 3.55 I like the look of Mujdeya and Nouriya while in the 4.30 there could be more to come from the lightly raced Revered.

Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Sue Malkin.  See link below to the artist’s web site.

Sue Malkin

The 4.30 at Haydock looks a tricky handicap. Molon Labe is still a maiden but his best run so far was at Nottingham on soft ground so with rain about he could just come in at a big price. Green Lightning was most disappointing on his last start and I see he will be wearing a visa for the first time. Another with possibilities is Pevensey who represents pretty canny connections. A difficult race on a generally tricky day.

In the 5.00 Red Fama is another that will appreciate give in the ground.

At Yarmouth Dafeef is the selection in the 4.10 with Tamintoul Singer one that could go well at a bigger price.

At Lingfield Lang Shining can continue his successful run in the 3.20, Wulfrida looks the pick in an open looking 3.50 while Engulf surely has to win sometime and perhaps Richard Hughes can do the trick in the 4.20.

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

 

I should be pleased with a 50% strike rate from my selections today but it should have been better. The one that got away was Harlestone Times, a horse I have been waiting for who came in at 10/1 but slipped under my radar. He is a horse to keep on the right side however as he will stay further than the 10 furlongs of today’s race at Goodwood and looks to be on an upward curve. He met with traffic problems today and Ted Durcan did a pretty good steering job to get him up close home.

Nothing much to comment on in tomorrow’s cards. Yankee Bright was well backed last time but ran disappointingly. He might be worth a small each way interest at Redcar in the 4.10.

Selections for Sunday

Curragh – 3.15 Steinbeck; 3.45 Aviate

Goodwood – 2.00 Zahoo; 3.45 Veroon; 4.55 Regal Park; 5.30 Primaeval

Longchamp – 2.40 Midday; 3.45 Daryakana