Author: Martin

 

The big race at York tomorrow is the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at 3.40.

Hoof It with 4 wins from his last 5 races is the likely favourite. Having won the Stewards’ Cup off a big weight he needs to transfer that form in Group 1 company. He has won at York 3 times and has plenty of winning from in big fields. Prohibit won the Group 1 Kings Stand at Ascot and should be suited by the strong pace. Bated Breath is progressive and was a good second in the Group 1 July Cup at Newmarket. Hoof It makes plenty of appeal but 3/1 looks a skinny price about him. Prohibit at around 8/1 has a decent each way chance. Should the ground ride on the soft side then Wizz Kid would come into the equation.

Elsewhere Dysios has an each way chance in the 3.50 at Sandown.

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

 

Just a short preview tonight as I have been listening to Hereford v Macc Town and am still in shock!!!

The first race at York looks wide open. Ritual is lightly raced and progressive if we forgive his last run. He will do for me.

Barry Hills is about to retire from the training ranks. One of his last runners will be Balty Boys in the 2.30. He won well at Newbury last month and at 12/1 looks each way value.

The 3.05 is a tough one for me as it includes 6 horses that I have followed this season, mostly with some success. The one that is yet to pay off for me is Seville but with three seconds in top company he is probably the form horse. At 11/10 he is perhaps a bit short with Sea Moon and Namibian live contenders. This is not a race I would bet on.

Await the Dawn will be hard to beat in the 3.40 but at very cramped odds I am inclined to take on the favourite with the consistent Midday who has a fine record at York.

Our Joe Mac has been running well without winning. With conditions that should suit him Ok he looks a sporting bet in the 4.50.

Selections elsewhere – Folkestone 7.00 Sluggsy Morant; Nottingham 3.30 Midsummer Sun.

My thanks to the artist Katy Sodeau for todays picture.

 

My only selection today is Manoori in the Kempton 9.20.  Manoori comes into the race in fine fettle having won her last two races.  She has form on the track and her jockey has form figures of 1211 when riding her.  Her wins have come at 5 furlongs but her pedigree suggests that this extra furlong may bring out further improvement.  That’s the theory!

 

Selections for Monday;

Kempton Junket ew 4.00; Lion Court 5.30.

 

 

A better day at the races saw an end to our losing sequence thanks to Secret Witness (9/1), Nordic Sky (5/2) and Census (4/1).

My main hope tomorrow is the improving Fire Fighter in the 3.00 at Pontefract.

Jade could be interesting in the 4.00. He is ridden by Kieren Fallon and the only other time that Fallon rode this horse it was a winner.

 

A couple of seconds today but the losing run continues.

One of my main hopes tomorrow is at Newmarket where recent Pontefract winner looks to hold a strong chance in the 4.30. After only 2 races he is open to plenty of improvement.

Kieren Fallon rides Nordic Sky and he has another interesting ride earlier on the card with Dimension in the 3.20. Dimension is well drawn and the drop back to 6 furlongs could well be just what he needs after a couple of second place efforts. The consistent King Ferdinand is a possible each way alternative.

My best bet at Newbury is the well bred recent Windsor winner Dumbarton in the 5.20.

My other Newbury selections are;

Bravo Echo in the 2.00 and Census in the 3.05.

I don’t really have a view on the big sprint up at Ripon. Striking Spirit is due a big run but his form has been on a sound surface and he looks unlikely to get his favoured ground.

One that might be better suited by the ground is Korngold in the 5.45 as his win at Chepstow came on soft going.

At Doncaster I will go for a split stake on a couple of outsider, Secret Witness and Courageous.

 

Selections for Friday:

Newbury 4.20 Farlow

4.55 Whispered

8.10 Newmarket Avon Lady

 

I am trying to break a losing run tomorrow.

I am going to be bold with my first selection. In the 2.20 at Newmarket Alhira is well thought of by the trainer and hopefully will give us a run for our money at a big price.

Seal Rock has gone off the boil of late after a couple of early season wins. He tries an extra furlong in the 4.35 which may suit.

 

Windsor 6.40 Secret Witness.

 

My only selection today was a non runner so at least we broke even!

Nothing much catches my eye at Ascot tomorrow although Desert Law has run a couple of good races this season and at his best would go close in the 3.35.

The Newmarket 2.05 looks to be between Pekan Star, Kirthill and Taqleed. The latter is a course and distance winner but his recent form has been disappointing and I am going to give him a miss. I am going to take the view that something was amiss with Pekan Star when he flopped on his last start and give him another chance here.

Junket should give us a run for our money in the 5.20.

Osteopathic Remedy recorded his 9^th career success the other day when winning up at Thirsk at 20/1. He has only started favourite once in those 9 wins and other victories have come at 40/1 and 18/1. The Osteopath, in the same ownership runs tomorrow in the Redcar. He is a course and distance winner and could be worth a small interest.