Month: May 2011

 

The lightly raced Manoori is my only selection tomorrow.  She runs in the 2.40 at Nottingham.

Trainer Henry Candy has a good record with his 2 year olds when making their debuts and his Avon Pearl that runs at Leicester in the 4.15 is well thought of.

 

 

I was quite impressed with Sluggsy Morant’s win at Salisbury and I will stick with him in the Leicester 2.40 tomorrow.

At Redcar Well Sharp is the selection in the 3.35.

 

I’ll begin tonight’s preview at Haydock where Ashbrittle is my selection for the 2.05. A lightly raced and progressive 4 year old who could be ahead of the handicapper. There are a couple of doubts so stakes should be kept to a modest level. He is untested on quick ground and his last win was when visored for the first time and he runs without the visor tomorrow.

Western Aristocrat won a back end maiden on his only start last season. He looked a nice prospect and is the selection in the 4.10.

At Newmarket my two against the field in the 2.20 are Dubai Queen and Dimension. Both come here on the back of a win and there is not a lot to choose on the form. My slight preference would be for Dubai Queen.

Namibian ran well last time out v but appeared to fade a bit in the last furlong. He is dropped in distance by a furlong tomorrow in the 2.50 and at 6/1 looks value.

I like the chances of the course and distance winner Desert Law in the 3.25. In the same race Jack Smudge is one to keep an eye on. I think he will be winning before the season is out but may just need to drop a few pounds in the handicap.

Swiss Spirit and Sovereign Debt are interesting runners in the 4.35 El Wasmi was all at sea on the tight Chester track last time and Newmarket may be more to his liking in the 5.10.

My thanks to Jane Dunn for today’s picture (see links).

 

We are on a run of decent results with the 14/1 winner today being the highlight.

At Haydock tomorrow the very well bred Voodoo Prince should go well in the 7.40. Suhhaili raced too keenly last time and didn’t have enough puff left at the business end of his race. If he settles better he could be good enough in the 8.15 at the Lancashire track.

Trainer Sir Mark Prescott is a master at placing his horses and his Invent should be respected in the 3.55 at Newcastle.

At Newmarket Maqaraat is likely to start favourite for the 3.30 having finished runner up in the Dee Stakes at Chester. The main danger looks likely to come from the once raced Hunter’s Light. In the 4.05 I am going each way on a big outsider in Bravo Echo who has yet to find his from this season but has slipped down the weights a few pounds. The 4.40 looks to be between Audacious and Danadana who both won their maiden races with some ease. Picking from the two is guesswork but if I had to I would just favour Audacious.

Nothing much catches my eye at Pontefract. Tasfeya in the 8.05 may improve on recent efforts.

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

 

Selections for Thursday

Ayr 3.20 Captain Kolo

Newcastle 6.55 Xilerator

9.10 Samarkand

Sandown 7.05 Caucus

7.40 Workforce

8.15 Fury

8.45 Brick Red and Leviathan (both each way)

 

Motivado in the 3.10 at Ripon is tomorrow’s selection.

 

Although there are 4 flat meetings tomorrow most of the races make little appeal from a betting angle.

No Heretic should be up to winning the Leicester 5.15 although there are a couple of unraced Henry Cecil horses to worry about.

Fieldgunner Kirkup ended last season with a win at Pontefract and looks the type that will continue to progress. He is worth a close look in the 7.30 at Thirsk. In the same race Captain Kolo is an interesting runner. He looked a promising sort last season but is yet to find his form in the current campaign. It may well be that he needs some ease in the ground as he won on soft going at Catterick last season.

At Windsor I like the chances of Bated Breath in the 7.40 where he is likely to handle the going better than Horseradish.

My thanks to the artist Ruth Buchanan for today’s picture.

 

My first offering tomorrow is King Ferdinand in the Chester 2.25 where I am hoping he can beat an odds on favourite. He has the benefit of a run already this season where he finished 3^rd over 7 furlongs and there is every chance the shorter trip tomorrow will suit. The stable are in good form and I just hope that his very able jockey can overcome the poor outside draw.

Harlestone Times proved a useful horse to follow last season and looks to be in with a sound chance at Goodwood in the 2.45 where I feel that the track should sit him.

Forte Dei Marmi was a progressive horse last season and showed signs of a return to his best form on his most recent start. He should go well in the 3.20. Well suited by fast ground he is a course winner and jockey Kieren Fallon has a 40% strike rate when partnering him. Another to consider in this race is Sea of Heartbreak who is particularly well suited by fast ground.

At Haydock Wayward Glance and Whiplash Willie are my two against the field in the 2.00. Slight preference is for Wayward Glance who was 4^th at Newbury last time in a race where the 2^nd, 3^rd and 5^th have all since won.

The 2.30 looks a tricky handicap. Sagramor has not been out of the first two in his last 4 races and should give us a run for our money. Mariachi Man looks next best.

Prohibit is a tough and consistent sprinter and is my each way selection in the 3.00.

Finally I am going for n outsider in the 3.40 at York where Beat the Bell looks over priced at 20/1.

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

Good luck

 

Man of God, by the late great sire Sadler’s Wells should make a winning return to the track in the Haydock 2.30.

I have been following another Citizen this season with scant reward. He runs in the 4.00 where he is on the same handicap mark as for his last two defeats so it seems best to adopt a watching brief until he drops a few pounds in the ratings.

Mijhaar and Mafeteng look a couple of nice 3 year old prospects in the 5.00. Mijhaar is the selection but with Mafeteng looking overpriced at 20/1 a small each way saver on the John Dunlop runner would not go amiss.

The picture of Sadlers Wells is by kind permission of the artist Lisa Miller.