Month: May 2011

 

Selections

Haydock 1.50 The Caped Crusader and Silvery Moon

4.00 Our Joe Mac

4.55 Midsummer Sun

Sandown 6.55 Levitate

 

Although there are only 5 runners in the Goodwood 4.20 a case could be made for all of them. Both Picture Editor and Namibian have probably found the going a bit quick for them so far this season. They could step up on previous efforts tomorrow; Picture Editor would be my slight preference.

 

We had our share of winners today but I did miss out on Communicator who was a bit of an open goal.

The big race tomorrow is at Newbury where a quality field lines up for the Lockingge Stakes at 3.45. The Richard Hannon pair of Canford Cliffs and Dick Turpin are well fancied to fight out the finish and they have excellent form claims. My slight preference is for Canford Cliffs but it might just be worth looking beyond the pair for better value. Cityscape at 14/1 looks over priced to me and may be worth an each way interest, especially if the ground is not too quick.

The first race on the card at 1.30 mayu go to No Heretic, a well bred sort who was third to Fury on his debut and that horse has franked the form since.

The ground is not ideal for my selection in the 2.35 as Mac’s Power would ideally want good to good to soft. I will stick with him though as he is an improving horse and in with a good chance if coping with conditions.

The 3.10 is a tricky looking race. Al Kazeem has some useful looking form and if handling the ground has strong claims. Dominant was a tad unlucky when 2^nd at Sandown. The winner had beaten Census last season and that horse won yesterday. The form looks OK. Fulgur won at this track last season but didn’t do himself justice when last of 7 on his seasonal reappearance. He may well be capable of better. Labarinto won at Warwick last season and should come on for his run at Newmarket last month. Al Kazeem and Dominant would be my main fancies. At current odds of 6/1 Al Kazeem looks the better value.

In the 5.30 Tonerre and Mijhaar make most appeal. Mijhaar is the selection.

Brick Red has a race in him but is not suited by the ground conditions at present. He runs in the 1.45 at Newmarket but would only be a selection with an “S” in the going description.

Codemaster had a consistent 2 year old season and looks a value bet at 7/1 in the 2.15.

Despite being the oldest horse in the race Nanton stands a good chance in the 2.50 where he will be suited by the ground.

Of the newspaper tipsters only The Sun go for Whiplash Willy in the 3.25, something to do with the name perhaps? He should appreciate this step up in distance though and he has decent form to commend him.

I have a couple of selections at Doncaster’s evening meeting. Firstly Another Citizen in the 6.35 and Falmouth Bay in the 8.40. I also have two at Thirsk, Xilerator in the 1.35 and Beat the Bell in the 4.25.

Looking forward to Sunday Jade should give us a run for our money in the 3.10 at Ripon while at Longchamp Helleborine (2.08), Prohibit (2.45) and Wootton Bassett (3.25) are my selections.

Today’s photo is courtesy of the artist Sue Malkin.

Good luck

 

The 4.10 at York tomorrow looks a tricky puzzle to solve. Hoof It won 3 times in May last season and although most of his form is over 5 furlongs he should be respected here. Docofthebay was a good third at Newmarket earlier this month and the booking of Tom Queally looks interesting. The other one on my short list is Horseradish who has been in good form of late. If pushed for a single selection I would just favour Horseradish.

Lover’s Causeway was disappointing at York 2 days ago. He runs again tomorrow in the 2.00. It can be significant when horses are turned out again so quickly – but then again sometimes it isn’t!

Chris Wall does well with his 3 year olds and his Manoori has a sporting chance in the 3.35.

Census won at Bath last season despite suffering a few mishaps en route. He is my best bet at Newbury where he runs in the 3.10. Izzi Top should give us a run for our money in the 2.10.

At Newmarket Korngold looks the type to thrive in handicap company. He runs in the 2.20. Seal Rock has already won for us and I will stay with him in the 4.00.

My only selection at Hamilton is Fox Hunt in the 6.55.

My thanks to the artist Sue Malkin for today’s picture.

 

Johannes won the 1.30 at York last season and off the same mark must be respected this time as well. He is a short enough price though and I prefer to look for better value. Courageous should be all the better for his run at Newbury last season and although he hasn’t actually won for nearly 3 years he is the sort of horse that his new trainer does well with. At around 14/1 he is worth a small interest.

In the 2.00 it is hard to fault the form of Midday and she is preferred to Music Show.

The Dante Stakes at 2.30 is usually a good pointer to the Derby and this year looks a decent renewal. World Domination won impressively on his racecourse debut and is a serious challenger for Henry Cecil. Carlton House is owned by The Queen and won a maiden at Newbury last October. The one with the best form on show is Seville from the in form Aiden O’Brien stable and he is narrowly preferred to the other two in a race that is largely guesswork.

Newbury Spring Cup winner Light from Mars is in good form and has an each way chance in the 3.00.

My best bet at Newmarket is Lyric Street in the 7.25. He showed enough promise on his only start last season to suggest that he can win a race of this nature.

I am going to try to get a couple at decent prices at Salisbury with Sluggsy Morant (3.45) and Mafeteng (4.20).

My thanks to Karen Davies for today’s picture.

 

York is the main meeting tomorrow and things get under way at 1.20 with a tricky 10 furlong handicap. Taqleed was pre race favourite for the Lincoln but was withdrawn on the morning of the race as the ground was too firm. He runs over what is probably his optimum trip here and commands respect. Treble Jig made a disappointing return to the track at Sandown last month but is probably better than he looked that day and is one for the short list. Pekan Star is a 4 year old but has only raced twice, winning last October at Nottingham over this trip. I am going to give you two selections here. Taqleed comes from a stable bang in form and holds a Group 2 entry. Pekan Star is a half brother to a French Derby winner and being so lightly raced is open to any amount of improvement.

Trainer Henry Cecil has supplied the winner of the 2.30 twice in the last 4 years and I fancy Arizona Jewel to add to that tally.

Lover’s Causeway gave us a 12/1 winner last week and I am inclined to stick with him in the 3.35 while Inler is my each way selection in the 3.00.

In the 4.45 which closes the days racing it could pay to side with Raucous Behaviour who should benefit from a step up to 10 furlongs after some consistent efforts last season over shorter distances.

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

 

I haven’t had much time to study the form for tomorrow’s meeting so I have just picked out a couple of races where we may be able to make a profit.

At Yarmouth Piano looks a good bet in the filly’s handicap at 4.20. A winner twice on the all weather she was finishing well in 4^th place on her seasonal reappearance.

The race that interests me at Warwick is the 3.40. The consistent Tasfeya is one to consider. His trainer does well with this type of horse. Sagramor is the other one I like in this. He improved steadily in his races as a 2 year old and he tackles a longer distance for the first time here which should bring out further improvement. Sagramor is my selection but I do fear Tasfeya.

Today’s picture is by the artist Katy Sodeau.

 

Redcar 3.20 Spinatrix

Windsor 7.40 Alkimos

 

We have enjoyed a profitable week at Chester and elsewhere culminating with 3 wins from 4 selections today including Lovers Causeway at 12/1.

The big handicap of the day at Ascot tomorrow is the Victoria Cup at 3.25. Horseradish has won 2 of his 3 outings at 7 furlongs and has a good draw. He might need the ground to ease a bit but there are heavy showers forecast. Bravo Echo won twice on the all weather at the start of the year and looks over priced at 33/1 for a horse with winning from over 7 furlongs. These would be my two against the field in a very tricky race.

In the 5.10 I quite like the trio at the top of the weights. Deacon Blues could be well handicapped off his current marl of 95. Secret Witness is very consistent and deserves to land a decent prize. He has come down 5 lbs in the ratings since his last run. Striking Spirit is a course and distance winner who relishes fast ground. Striking Spirit is well drawn and as long as the rain stays away he is the selection. I like the other pair though, especially with a little ease in the ground.

Up at Haydock Bated Breath and Victoire de Lyphar look the pair to concentrate on in the 4.10.Bated Breath got no sort of run at Doncaster last time and with the benefit of q run I would be inclined to give him the edge. Bourne looks to have a winning chance in the 5.20. I once backed the dam to win at 11/2 at Chepstow. She preferred soft ground so perhaps a drop of rain would aid Bourne’s chances.

At Lingfield John Gosden’s Field of Miracles will take some beating on the evidence of her win at Kempton last month. Always the lady has each way claims at a bigger price.

My thanks to the artist Jane Dunn for today’s picture.

Be lucky!

 

Selections for Friday

Chester 2.20 Glen’s Diamond

2.55 Harris Tweed

5.10 Lover’s Causeway

Ascot 5.20 Samurai Sword