Author: Martin

Selections for Thursday

Newmarket 2.35 Treble Jig

Newmarket 4.20 Fair Trade

Epsom 8.30 Lang Shining

 

The highlight of the Newmarket card tomorrow is a fascinating renewal of the Falmouth Stakes at 3.10. Looking back over the last 10 years the 3 year olds and their elders have shared the honours equally with 5 wins each. Strawberrydiquiri will be a tough opponent but I fancy the younger generation to just have the edge with Lillie Langtry. She looked good when taking the Coronation Stakes at Ascot and can win again here.

The handicaps look difficult to solve. Deacon Blue has won 2 of his 5 starts and although he has gone up in the weights there may be some improvement to come. He is my selection in the 2.00 with Swilly Ferry next best. I will give the 5.30 at miss but in the maiden at 4.20 Mata Keranjan and Nationalism look the pair to concentrate on.

Selections elsewhere. Catterick 3.20 Act of Kalanisi.

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

There is not much of interest on the racing front tomorrow.

The consistent Tropical Paradise has a chance in the Pontefract4.00. He does not have winning form on fast ground though and the trip is an unknown. Probably best watched.

At Southwell the lightly raced Dandarrell has a bit of course form and might be worth considering in the 7.40.

At Wolverhampton Wulfrida could improve for the step up in trip in the 3.15.

We had quite a few winners on Saturday, notably King of Wands at 8/1 stepping up to two miles in a Listed event at Sandown. Apparently he may go jumping with Evan Willaims in due course. I gave a favourable mention to Dangerous Midge who turned the Old Newton Cup into a procession, a performance that will not be lost on the handicapper.

Turning to tomorrow’s action Comedy Act seeks to get back on the winning trail in the Bath 4.00 after having his bid for a hat trick foiled last time out at Bath. He may well be suited by this small field and looks in with a solid chance.

Rainbow Six has been a bit of a bridle horse and difficult to win with. It may be that a change of jockey will do the trick for him tomorrow in the 5.00 at Bath where Neil Callan takes the ride.

Mureb has been a short priced beaten favourite on both his starts but is probably worth another chance in the 9.20 at Ripon.

The big race tomorrow is the Coral Eclipse at Sandown where it may pay to side with Zacinto who showed signs of a return to form on his last start. He is preferred to Mawaatheeq. In the Heritage Handicap at 2.35 last year’s winner Acrostic could go close again. He ran quite well in the Royal Hunt Cup and has actually dropped a couple of pounds in the handicap since.

The unbeaten Decorative has scope for further improvement and is the selection in the 3.40 while in the 4.15 I am banking on King of Wands showing improvement for a step up to 2 miles.

I will take a chance with an outsider in the 4.50 with Haadeeth while there may be more to come from the lightly raced Revered in the final race on the card at 5.25.

The grey Berling was finishing strongly behind Dandino at Ascot last time out and he looks the one to be on at Haydock in the 2.15. The 3.25 is a really competitive handicap where last year’s winner Red Merlin is one for the short list. Dangerous Midge will appreciate the track at Haydock and is another to consider as is Jim Goldie’s recent Hamilton winner Hillview Boy. For my selection though I am going with Hanoverian Baron who has impressed me on both his starts this season and gets in off a low weight.

Bated Breath has done little wrong so far and could still have further improvement in him and can complete the hat trick in the 4.00. Genki has arguably been unlucky on both his last two starts suffering from being badly drawn both times. He can make amends in the 4.35.

Arabian Spirit put in a promising effort at York 3 weeks ago and I fancy him to run well in the 5.45.

Other selections. Leicester 1.55 Kenyon Cat; 4.10 Big Noise. Nottingham 8.40 Mushreq.

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

At the time of penning these notes we have had a couple of winners, hopefully there may be more to come.

Brunston won the Newbury Spring Cup on his first run of the season but has failed to reach that level of form on his two subsequent outings. He runs in the 4.35 at Sandown tomorrow. He will have the ground to suit and his trainer is in good form. He is quite a big price at around 12/1 as on his Newbury from he would have a decent chance. Earlier on the Sandown card I will give a chance to dual course and distance winner Rocket Rob in the 2.20.

Bollin Judith won on her third start last season and comes into the 2.30 at Doncaster on the back of two unsuccessful efforts. She handles the ground and at around 5/1 looks value.

At Haydock High Ransom and Escape Artist make some appeal in the 8.15 while in the 8.50 Cygnet is surely better than he has shown in his two runs thus far in 2010.

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

 

Official Style has failed to live up to the promise he showed last season, due mainly to his inability to settle in his races. He drops back in distance tomorrow in the 4.00 at Haydock where a faster pace may help him. Munsarim was well supported on his seasonal reappearance at Newmarket but didn’t get a clear run in the race. He might be worth another chance in the 4.30.

Dafeef was disappointing in a listed race last time out but had not done much wrong before that. He seeks to get back onto the winning trail in the 7.35 at Newbury. Higgy’s Ragazzo has been virtually unridable at times but there is some ability there somewhere. Ryan Moore rides him for the first time in the 9.10 and just might get the best out of him.

Cross Key won well on her handicap debut at Hamilton. She clearly handles fast ground and she may also benefit from the longer trip in the Redcar 9.20 tomorrow.

My only selection at Yarmouth is the Luca Cumani trained Mistoffelees.

Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Kirsten Harris.

 

Just one selection tomorrow, Rock Relief in the 3.30 at Brighton.

 

Just the one selection for Monday; Boss’s Destination in the 4.30 at Wolverhampton.