Author: Martin

Johnny Murtagh has chosen Cape Blanco from the 5 O’Brien entries in tomorrow’s Irish Derby and I am inclined to follow his judgement. Jan Vermeer is the obvious danger.

In the 3.50 the in form Hawkeyethenoo is well drawn and should go close while Hitchens could be the danger. He goes particularly well fresh and is having his first run of the season. I will also have a third selection in this race with Oldjoesaid who has not shown his best form for a while but has ability and just might pull off a surprise.

The 2.15 is a tricky race as there are negatives against the two horses that I am most interested in. Course specialist Benbaun (pictured below) was disappointing on his last start and he is getting on a bit at the age of 9. He does have a great record at the Curragh though with form figures of 211221111231 – quite remarkable really. The other one I like is Arctic who is unbeaten at the Curragh having won both his races there. They were both on heavy ground though and his ability to handle the going has to be taken on trust.

There are a couple of real old timers in the Salisbury 3.00 where The Tatling (pictured below) aged 13 and the 10 year old Cape Royal have won 26 races between them. I would give both an each way chance.

Exelabration (4.10) and Mykingdomforahorse (3.35) are others to look out for at the Wiltshire track.

At Windsor Excello looks the one to beat in the 4.00 with Marlinka the likely danger. In the 4.35 The Scorching Wind is potentially well handicapped.

High Heeled impressed when 3^rd to Fame and Glory at Epsom and is my selection in the 2.40 at Saint-Cloud. At Uttoxeter Ballycarney is worth a small each way interest in the 2.40.

The pictures of Benbaun and The Tatling are courtesy of the Artists Karen Davies and Lisa Miller.

 

Since starting my handicap hints list the fab 4 of Harrison George, Hamish Macgonagall, Dubai Dynamo and Hanoverian Baron have really done me proud. I have decided to remove them from the list now as they have effectively done their job and in so doing moved up the handicap! I am going to stay loyal to the following quintet, Striking Spirit, Suruor, Big Noise, Mull of Killough and Webbow but I also want to add a few more. Genki has suffered from a poor draw on his last two runs but has a race in him if things fall right while Sweet Lightning can win if dropped in trip. Riggins, who was a fast finishing 3^rd in the Royal Hunt Cup is the third of my new signings.

None of these will be contesting the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle tomorrow but as always the race has attracted a decent field and presents a tricky problem to solve. Mamlook is a good starting point as he has only gone up 4lbs for his win in the Chester Cup. He is consistent, we know he stays and he has Seb Sanders in the saddle who was successful on another David Pipe runner, Junior, at Royal Ascot. Mamlook was my tip at Chester and he is well worth considering again here as is Halla San who was 3^rd at Chesterc and was runner up in this race in 2008 only beaten a head. He is 6 lbs higher in the ratings than he was that day. Bernie the Bolt was a leading fancy for the Chester race but was poorly drawn on the Roodeye and can be forgiven for his failure there. He has proven stamina though and handles fast ground. His stable companion Chiberta King is another to consider. He is untried at the trip but has won over 14 furlongs and likes fast ground. Mamlook and Halla San are both respected but my two against the field are the Andrew Balding pair of Bernie the Bolt and Chiberta King.

In the Newcastle 2.30 Jonny Mudball has an obvious chance after finishing runner up on his last two starts. Seb Sanders rides him for the first time tomorrow and he looks sure to go close. Poet’s Place is another worth a close look. He is having only his third career starts and there could well be a lot more to come from him. These two look the most likely winners but if you fancy something a little more spicy you could try Roker Park. He is a course and distance winner and 3 of his 4 career wins have come in the month of June.

Tim Easterby’s horses have been in good form but he has not yet been able to get a win out of Antoniola who has disappointed in his 3 starts this year after ending last season with a win at Doncaster. He is slipping down the weights a little and is worth keeping an eye on. I would be tempted to suggest him each way in the 5.20 but there are only 7 runners. His win at Doncaster was with some ease in the ground and there is always the possibility that he needs some cut. All things considered I will keep a watching brief.

Off to Newmarket next where Godolphin introduce Burj Hatta, a well bred juvenile in the 1.45.

The 2.35 at Chester is a tricky looking race to weigh up. Mujdeya looks the safest bet after her win at Newbury a couple of weeks ago. The third horse that day has come out and won since franking the form. Ejteyaaz is yet to find his form since coming over from Ireland but is almost certainly better than he has looked so far and is the danger.

Blissful Moment only has one run as a juvenile finishing 4^th in a maiden that has since thrown up a number of winners. Blissfull Moment runs in the 3.10 and should go close. My other selections at Chester are Layla’s Hero in the 3.45 and course specialist Embsay Craig in the 5.25.

At Doncaster My Single Malt is well regarded by connections and should come on for his run at Haydock in the 6.40.

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

Bye for now

 

We have had 3 winners from the last 8 selections which is a respectable return. Ship’s Biscuit appreciated the step up to 12 furlongs at Goodwood and looks a progressive stayer. He has only had 3 career starts and there should be more to come from him. Mick Channon had an across the card double including the appropriately (during the World Cup) named Alf Raamsey. Not surprisingly Channon has a jumber of horses with football connections, others that spring to mind being Di Stefano and Osgood.

Slip Sliding away was a winner today and we can continue the pop theme tomorrow in several races. Sandy Shaw runs in the Chester 8.50. She is quite well drawn and the sharp track may just suit her. She has a bit of an each way chance. Those wanting to follow the musical theme could latch onto Ride a White Swan in the 9.20. All his wins thus far have come at Wolverhampton but he is another with a bit of an each way squeak. Engulf has been expensive to follow and tomorrow Kieren Fallon becomes the 5^th jockey in 5 starts to try and steer him home. Engulf runs in the 5.05 at Doncaster and should win.

Henry Candy has a good record with his sprinters and runs the lightly arced Flambeau in the 8.05 at Newmarket. Tyrannosaurus Rex likes fast ground and at around 10/1 has an each way chance in the 9.10. A double with Rise a White Swan anyone?

Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Susan Shaw.

Selections for Thursday

Goodwood 2.35 Ship’s Biscuit

Newcastle 3.20 The Osteopath

3.55 Bollin Judith

Warwick 4.05 Seta

 

Selections for Wednesday;

Bath 8.10 Miss Miracle

8.40 Rainbow Six

Kempton 6.20 Uncle Keef

9.20 Solicitor

Salisbury 3.50 Comedy Act

I tipped Liberty Cap on his debut at Nottingham last month and although he finished last in that race I was sorely tempted to stick with him but chickened out. Needless to say he came in at 20/1 at Newmarket today!

They race at Pontefract tomorrow where Theola, a course winner has plenty of stamina and is my fancy for the Pontefract Cup at 4.10.

Dandino gave trainer James Given his first Royal Ascot winner in the week and the trainer can strike again with Yankee Bright in the 4.40.

For me the highlight of tomorrow’s racing is the Wokingham, the Ascot 4.25. 28 runners and a real puzzle to solve. So where do we start? Well, Palace Moon is one with an obvious chance. Although a 5 year old he has only had 10 starts, mostly in group or listed company. He was made favourite for the Cathedral Stakes at Salisbury on his seasonal reappearance and although he finished 5^th he was arguably unlucky as he missed the break and then met trouble in running. He is best on fast ground so there are no worry on that score and he has Kieren Fallon is the plate. The only potential negative is the track. He has only been out of the first 4 twice – and those were his 2 runs at Ascot!

Another interesting runner is Hitchens. He is having his first run of the season but for him this is not a negative as he has won first time out in both 2008 and 2009. Another point about Hitchens is his liking for fast ground. He may be a little high in the weights but he could just come in at a big price. The other David Barron runner, Ingleby Lady is also worth a close look. Five furlongs at Musselburgh last time was no good to her, so she probably did extremely well to make third. She can race off the same mark of 97 and I expect to see her finish thereabouts.

Both Dandy Nicholls and Richard Fahey are well represented as always in these big handicaps. Evens and Odds will like the ground and 6 furlongs is his trip but the trainer’s son Adrian has chosen to ride Striking Spirit instead. Striking Spirit went into my notebook when a neck second to the in form Hamish McGonagall in the Musselburgh race where Ingleby Lady was 3^rd.

Richard Fahey has 4 runners. The admirable Knot in Wood has plenty of weight although his rider can claim 7 lbs. Some ease in the ground would probably suit this one better though. Johannes won well at York 2 runs ago and acts on the ground unlike Valery Borzov who needs cut in the ground. Stable jockey Paul Hanagan rides Kaldoun Kingdom who has winning form in big field handicaps but is another that has shown his best from on easier ground.

Laddies Poker Two is an interesting runner. He has only had 4 career starts and although he has not run since October 2008 he will be difficult for the handicapper to assess and with J Murtagh booked to ride there may well be some stable confidence behind him.

The first 4 home in the Ayr Gold Cup all appear. Knot in Wood and Evens and Odds were 3^rd and 4^th with the first two positions filled by Jimmy Styles and Barney McGrew. Jimmy Styles is on a career high make but does have Frankie Dettori in the saddle. Barney McGrew hasn’t shown much of late but does act on the ground and likes these big field races.

You have to discount some runners in such a big field as this and I am going to knock out Redford (ground) and Sohraab (trip). Genki is one for the short list however. He won the Stewards Cup last season, acts on any ground, has won twice at Ascot before and was an encouraging 4^th at Newmarket on his last start. Genki, Palace Moon, Ingleby Lady and Striking Spirit are my main fancies.

I have the 3.05 down to a short list of 4. I have decided to eliminate Crowded House and Jukebox Jury as both were a bit disappointing on their most recent starts which leaves me with Alainmaar and Harbinger. The former is most progressive and has won his last 4 starts. He takes on much better opposition here than he has encountered before. He may well be up to the task but he will need to step up a fair bit on what he has done so far to beat Harbinger whose form is rock solid. He has won both his starts this season beating quality opposition each time. The 3.50 has an international flavour and I fancy War Artist to be the strongest of the overseas challengers. Of the home side Fleeting Spirit has a good record at Ascot and goes well fresh. Hr looks sure to be on the premises. High Standing won the Wokingham last season over course and distance and comes here on the back of a recent win at Windsor. Showcasing is lightly raced and the nature of his 2^nd at York indicated that there should be plenty of improvement to come. He looks sure to be suited by the track at Ascot. Total Gallery would be an interesting outsider if recapturing his best form while Sayif is another that could pull off a surprise. He is another course and distance winner. Fleeting Spirit ticks all the right boxes and along with Showcasing looks the most likely winner. High Standing and War Artist look the pick of those at bigger prices.

I have a short list of 3 for the 5.00, Dangerous Midge, Shamali and Sweet Lightning. Dangerous Midge was a beaten favourite last time out but judged on his previous run when he won at Doncaster he comes into the equation. Shamali is held in high regard by connections and has a good record at Ascot having won there twice last season. For my selection though I am going for Sweet Lightning who has a progressive profile and probably met a bit of a tartar when beaten at Redcar.

I will have a quick look round at the other meetings on tomorrow. Up at Ayr Cosmic Sun and Cool Strike look the pair to concentrate on in the 3.30.

At Haydock Taste the Victory is my best bet. He runs in the 9.05. Earlier on the card Richard Fahey can supply the answer to the 6.35 with the 4 year old High Office.

Racy has been running well without winning but can get off the mark for the season in the Newmarket 3.35. My only selection at Redcar is San Cassiano in the 4.45.

Today’s pictures are courtesy of the artist Karen Davies.

 

Royal Ascot again takes centre stage tomorrow. I don’t have any strong opinions on the first two races although I wouldn’t be surprised if Bullet Train ran much better in the 3.05 than he did in the Derby where surely something was amiss.

The Coronation Stakes at 3.30 looks quite tricky. Music Show has quite solid form. After winning the Nell Gwynne she ran well in the 1,000 Guineas from a hopeless draw before acquitting herself well in the Irish equivalent where she finished 3^rd. She is a good yardstick in this race and you would imagine that she will be involved in the finish. Lillie Langtry was 5^th in that Irish Guineas finishing well after not getting a clear run. As that was her first run of the season she can be expected to improve although the stable have not been in top form this season. Jacqueline Quest was disqualified in the Guineas and the race awarded to Special Duty who went on to sort of frank the form by winning the French classic, albeit once again the steward’s room. Of the rest Lady of the Desert has not been able to reproduce her form of last year and may find her stamina stretched anyway while Tabassum will have to defy a long absence from the track. This is a tough call but I am inclined to just give the edge to Lillie Langtry.

Course and distance winner Rainbow Peak sets the standard in the 4.25 and is a confident selection.

The well bred Total Command has plenty of stamina in his pedigree and is a tentative selection in the 5.00 although he would possibly want easier ground. That just leaves us with the little matter of a 30 runner handicap at 5.35! Suruor and Webbow have been on my list to follow since their runs at the Chester May meeting. The former is usually best after a recent run and it is 42 days since his last outing. He has also done his winning in smaller fields so I will leave him out on this occasion. Webbow is suited by a big field and although he is probably better at a mile this is a stiff 7 furlongs and he would be on my short list. He likes fast ground as well. Bangalore Gold impressed when winning over a mile at The Curragh in a big field handicap on fast ground and should handle this shorter trip OK. I have been following Dubai Dynamo all season but he has risen in the weights as a result of his successful run and may just be weighted out of it. Run for the Hills has the ability and may well be suited by this trip. He is a possible outsider. Bangalore Gold is the selection with Webbow worth an each way interest at a bigger price.

At Newmarket Man of Action looks the one to be on in the 8.10.

Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Margaret Barrett.

 

It was another good day on the tipping front with winners at Royal Ascot and elsewhere.

Henry Cecil had a winner in Ascot’s last race thgis afternoon with Timepiece and he is well represented in the 3.05 tomorrow with Principal Role. She won a listed race at Newbury on her last start and the 4^th has won since. I think Principal Role could run well here and I would also be tempted to have a small each way saver on Pipette who was second at Goodwood to the subsequent Oaks winner Snow Fairy.

This year’s Gold Cup (3.50) looks a very strong renewal. Another Henry Cecil runner, Manifest, has strong claims after a very impressive win in the Yorkshire Cup. Also fancied are Ask whose last two wins have come at Group 1 level, St Leger runner up Kite Wood and Ces winner Darley Sun. Manifest has been so impressive in his last two starts that he has to be in with a great chance while Ask has the undoubted class. Manifest and Ask look sure to be involved in the finish as long as they stay this marathon trip. One that will definitely not lack for stamina is Kasbah Bliss and he could be worth an each way interest.

My 4 horse short list for the ultra competitive 4.25 consists of two winners last time out, Business as Usual and Balducci and two that were second on their latest start Invincible Soul and Hypnotized. If pushed to narrow it down I would go with Business as Usual and Hypnotized.

The progressive Afsare can land the 5.00 for Luca Cumani and Kieren Fallon while Berling and London Stripe look the pair to concentrate on in the 5.35 where Dandino is another to consider.

At Ripon Fastnet Storm should go close in the 4.00 where Oneofapear is another to consider while in the 5.10 Beat the Rush and Boss’s Destination are the two I like.

At Warwick Lombok is dropped in grade and wears first time headgear and might be worth chancing in the 2.55.

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

Well we got Royal Ascot off to a good start today with 4 winners from the 6 races. Tomorrow looks a little more difficult but hopefully we will be able to dig out a winner or two.

The Jersey Stakes (2.30) has only gone to the market leader once in the last 10 yaers so it may be worth looking for an outsider. Rodrigo de Torres, Mon Cadeaux and Kaptain Kirkup are 3 that could just pull off a surprise. Mon Cadeaux seemed to struggle with the track at Epsom last time and Ascot should suit him better. I will settle for him each way.

Spacious won the Windsor Forest Stakes (3.05) last season at 10/1 and seeks to follow up tomorrow. She has only been out of the first 3 in 4 of her 13 career starts and is no forlorn each way chance. The two obvious contenders though are Strawberrydaiquiri and Antara. The former is an admirable type and seems to keep improving. German import Antara made a good impression on her UK debut winning at Epsom in a Group 3 and should be even better on a more conventional track. This is quite a difficult one to call but I narrowly prefer Antara to the Stoute filly with Spacious to fill the third spot.

The 3.50 has attracted a talented field with perhaps Twice Over, Mawatheeq and Glass Harmonium the pick of the home team. Twice Over and Mawatheeq were first and second in the Champion Stakes last season and Twice Over went on to finish 3^rd at the Breeders Cup so that looks solid form. Glass Harmonium is a course and distance winner and has already won a Group 3 this year. This trio are certainly respected but for my selection I am going for the French challenger Byword. He was only beaten half a length by Goldikova last month and being lightly raced could well be open to further improvement.

The 30 runner Royal Hunt Cup (4.25) always takes some sorting out but I did find the winner last season with Forgotten Voice who attempts to follow up off top weight. He is 12 lbs higher than last season which might just anchor him sufficiently. The consistent Mia’s Boy has been running in pattern class company since finishing 6^th in the Lincoln and is another that is possibly just a little too high in the handicap. There are any number in with a chance but my two against the field would be Mull of Killough and Riggins. The former has been a bit unlucky since finishing 3^rd in the Lincoln and looks to have a nice race in him. Riggins has always been a talented horse but has been difficult to keep sound. He ran well in third on his seasonal debut having joined Andrew Balding from Luca Cumani’s yard.

Maqaasid was an impressive winner at Sandown last month and on that form sets the standard in the 5.00. Swiss Dream and Marlinka could fill the minor placings. In the 5.35 I fancy Safina with the main dangers likely to come from Timepiece and Pollenator.

Selections elsewhere; Hamilton 2.55 – Cross Key: Kempton 7.10 – Buffett; Ripon 9.20 – House Point.

Today’s picture, courtesy of Kate Tann is of Soviet Song, a past winner of the Windsor Forest Stakes.