Author: Martin

 

At Goodwood tomorrow Liberty Cap, blinkered first time, looks a reasonable each way choice in the nursery at 3.10.

Longliner has been expensive to follow but may well come good in the 4.20. His price does look a tad skinny however.

At Lingfield Sleeping Wolf is dropped in class in the 2.10. In the 4.20 Hajjaan is an interesting runner. He made a promising debut in a back end maiden last October and if fully would up after a 10 month absence would be the form pick. Traffic Sister, a full sister to Traffic Guard, showed some promise on her debut at Newbury and could go well at a big price in the 5.40.

Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Maura Clarke

 

I was going to put up Cityscape for the 2.00 at Haydock but his participation is in doubt because of the going. He is best with some ease in the ground but with a dry day forecast in Lancashire he may miss the race. In the circumstances I will bring on Desert Myth as my sub.  He ran well at Goodwood last time I thought and there may be more to come.

It does look a tricky day all round from a betting aspect and the 2.30 is a wide open affair. Anglezarke showed signs of a return to form last time and is one possibility while Archers Road is a tough sort and has a good draw.

Starspangledbanner should win the 3.35. His main rival looks to be Regal Parade but the drying ground won’t help his cause. If there is to be a surprise Lady of the Desert or perhaps Our Jonathon might supply it.

The consistent Tuscan Gold can get back to winning ways in the 4.20 at Kempton while Primeaval is only 3 lbs higher than when winning over course and distance earlier in the season and could go well at a price in the 5.25.

At Thirsk the track could suit the front running style of Green Lightning in the Hambleton Cup at 2.55. In the 4.05 I see that stable jockey Paul Hannigan rides Aquarian Spirit for the first time for over a year which might be significant.

At Leopardstown Music Show has the form in the 2.40 but at a bigger price Spacious could be worth an interest. In the 3.45 I fancy Rip Van Winkle to confirm the Juddmonte form with Twice Over.

My only selection at Wolverhampton is Kenyan Cat in the 9.20.

At York on Sunday Jo’burg is dropped in class in the 3.10. Mistoffelees looks to be on an upward curve and the handicapper may not have caught up with him yet. He is my selection in the 5.20 where Royal Trooper could be the danger.

Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Ruth Buchanan.

 

Well, we had mixed fortunes today but we did manage a winner thanks to Bollin Judith who hacked up at Redcar where she is becoming something of a course specialist.  La De Two only went down by a head and is one to keep on the right side while Inimitable Romanee put in a performance full of promise at Salisbury and should be winning soon.  Don’t be surprised to see this one running over a mile next.

Tomorrow I am hoping that Lombok can get his head in front in the 8.45 at Kempton after a couple of second place efforts.

Although neither of today’s selections managed to win both Azaday and Bramshaw ran well and are worth keeping in mind next time they run.

In the 1.30 at Redcar tomorrow Bollin Judith seems to have quite a lot in her favour. She is a course and distance winner, acts on the ground, is racing over what looks to be her optimum trip, she has come down the weights a little and she ran with some promise on her last start.

Loden is an interesting runner in the 1.40 at Salisbury. He didn’t show a great deal as a 2 year old but is the type to do better at 3. He runs over a mile tomorrow which may be on the sharp side given his pedigree. He is one to keep tabs on though.

Inimitable Romance makes her racecourse debut in the 2.40. There have been some god reports about this filly and she certainly has possibilities on pedigree. She may want a bit further than this in time. Keep an eye on her though.

My nap of the day is La De Two in the 5.30. He was second to Kite Wood with Monitor Closely 3^rd on his debut as a juvenile and he has continued to show a progressive profile winning both his starts since then.

Today’s picture is by kind permission of the artist Susan Shaw.

 

 

Just a couple of suggestions for tomorrow’s racing.

At Brighton in the 4.30 Chris Wall’s 3 year old Azaday has been knocking on the door and should go close.

At Kempton in the 8.20 Bramshaw, a winner of his only start so far is very well thought of by his trainer and could be something special.

 

Starting at Leicester tomorrow Sleeping Wolf should be all the better for his debut run at Salisbury and could be a threat in the 2.10. Of the newcomers Dumbarton is interesting on breeding.

House Point represents a capable but unfashionable trainer in the 3.10. He has shown some promise in maidens and could be value.

Star Rover has been running well enough but is just too high in the handicap. The conditions race at 3.40 could be an opportunity for him.

Miss Villefranche comes from a winning family. If all 8 stand their ground in the 4.10 she could be a value each way bet.

My only selection at Ripon is Fastnet Storm in the 3.30. I note that the stable had a winner today with My Single Malt.

Lastly, there were good reports about Tiberius Claudius earlier in the season although he made no show when unfancied on his debut. He runs in the 6.25 at Folkestone tomorrow and any market support should be noted.

Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Sally Martin

I have often extolled the virtues of Steve Taplin’s annual publication detailing the latest crop of 2 year olds. His annual includes a list of 50 to follow which are well worth keeping an eye on during their juvenile season and beyond. Today was a case in point as both Tropical Paradise and Swiss Diva, from the 2008 “fifty” were winners. Tropical Paradise won the Group 3 at Goodwood where another from Mr Taplin’s class of 2008 Himalya was 3^rd. Tropical Paradise is becoming something of a Goodwood specialist as this was her 3^rd win at the Sussex track this season. Swiss Diva’s win at Deauville was her second at the French course.

There is the usual plethora of bank holiday race meetings tomorrow but in the main not a lot of quality.

Oldjoesaid continues to slip down the handicap. He runs in the 3.10 at Epsom tomorrow where first time blinkers may have the desired effect.

Cosmic Sun and Cool Strike are my two against the field in the amateur riders race at 4.20.

Things have to drop right for Webbow but I still believe he has a big field handicap in him. He has the ideal partner tomorrow in the Ripon 4.10 where Kieren Fallon rides him for the first time. In the same race San Cassiano cannot be ruled out despite having risen in the weights.

In the 4.30 at Warwick Act of Kalanisi is narrowly preferred to Mykingdomforahorse.

There will be a big crowd at Cartmel races tomorrow.  I wonder if they will be treated to another dog on the racecourse?  My thanks to Dan Maudsley for the photo.

 

Uncle Keef 5.30 at Yarmouth

 

With the news that Bated Breath has had an injury scare his price in the listed race at Newmarket now looks short enough.  This is quite a tough race to predict but with doubts over Bated Breath,  Dafeef and Mon Cadeaux are the pair I would probably go with.  It is a shame that Mon Cadeaux is the Pricewise selection as that will shorten the odds.

I will stand by my other selections from last night’s preview.

Enjoy the day.  I am off to the Moss Rose hoping to see Macclesfield Town gain their first league win of the season.