Author: Martin

Royal Ascot gets underway with a tremendous clash of champions in the 2.30 with Paco Boy, Rip Van Winkle and Goldikova all truly top class. Rip Van Winkle would appear to hold Paco Boy on their running together last season. He is however having his first run of the season so peak fitness could be an issue. Goldikova is a winner of 8 Group 1 races, has already proved her well being with a winning run this season and handles any ground. She does seem the likely winner.

Our old friend Borderlescott runs in the King’s Stand at 3.05 and is such a consistent performer he certainly can’t be ruled out. Amour Propre has been a little disappointing since winning the Palace House Stakes last May although there have been feasible excuses for some of his defeats. He would have a chance if returning to his best and the same could be said of Total Gallery. Mister Manannan does not look quiet up to Group 1 class having been beaten when running at a lower level recently. The one I fancy here though is Kingsgate Native who put in a power packed display when winning at Haydock last month. If he turns up at Ascot in that sort of form he will be hard to beat.

Canford Cliffs impressed me when winning the Irish 2,000 guineas and I fancy his to get the better of his conqueror in the English Guineas, Makfi, this time. I would also suggest a saver on Steinbeck who has only had 3 career runs and could be open to plenty of improvement.

The 4.25 looks a strong race with 6 of the 13 runners unbeaten. Strong Suit has been my preference for this race since his win at Newbury in May and I am happy to stick with him.

I don’t have a particularly strong view on the final 2 races but Junior (5.00) and Metropolitan Man (5.35) looks to have fair chances .

My only selection away from Ascot is Luck of the Draw in the Brighton 8.00.

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

Just the one selection tomorrow.

Carlisle 4.45 Rock Relief

The big race at Salisbury tomorrow is the listed Cathedral Stakes at 3.40. The ground should suit both Palace Moon and Jimmy Styles. Palace Moon has run at Salisbury 3 times and is yet to finish out of the first 2 so he will do for me.

Hughie Morrison, trainer of Palace Moon can also land the 2.30 with Present Alchemy, a lightly raced sort that has run well at the track before.

There is a competitive sprint handicap up at Doncaster at 3.30. Johnny Mudball is one to consider. He showed plenty of promise when finishing well when runner up at Goodwood last month. Invincible Force would be a factor with some give in the ground while the lightly raced Poet’s Place is the other on my short list. Although a 5 year old he has only had two starts winning both at Southwell on the all weather and could be ahead of the handicapper. Jonny Mudball and Poet’s Place are my two against the field.

My selections at Chantilly are Rosanara (3.04) and Border Patrol (ew) in the 3.50.

 

The main meetings tomorrow are at York and Sandown. I will start tonight’s preview at the Knavesmire and the 2.40. Distant Memories has only had 8 career starts and has only been out of the first 2 twice. He was second on his seasonal reappearance in a race at Pontefract that has worked out quite well . He wouldn’t want the ground too quick but the unsettled weather this week should ensure that it is not too firm. My only real concern would be the form of the stable as they have not had a winner for a while. He has to be the selection though.

I do not have a strong view on the big handicap at 3.15. I am inclined to go for Midnight Martini who ticks the right boxes. She is a course and distance winner, acts on any ground, rarely runs a bad race and comes from a stable that had a winner today. Outsiders of interest are Side Glance and Tamintoul Singer.

The 3.50 looks an open race and half the field could be given a live chance. Rebel Soldier, the Newmarket challenger won on his only start last season but made no impact on his reappearance at Newbury in April. He runs over a longer trip here and could be a well handicapped horse. Frankie Dettori rides which is a plus. Solicitor is having his first run of the season and is another with what looks a reasonable handicap mark. Ejteyaaz was a strong finishing runner up at Newcastle last month and based on past form will be best with some give in the ground.

There is a distinctly nautical flavour to the 5.25 with Venture Cove, Bosun Breese, Sea Rover and Atlantic Beach in the line up. Atlantic Beach has been running well and comes from a stable that is in fine form at present. He looks the one most likely to land the spoils.

Revered won a back end maiden at HQ last season and looked a decent prospect. With further improvement likely she should go well in the 1.45 at Sandown. Muwakaba holds a Group 1 entry and on that basis should be competitive in the handicap at 2.20 off a mark of 87.

Racy has run well in a couple of handicaps at Newmarket this season and is dropped in class in the 6.30 at Leicester where he looks weighted to win.

Today’s pictures are courtesy of the artist Katy Sodeau.

 

Another successful day with 4 winners across the various meetings. Nouriya and Mujdeya both won at Newbury in convincing fashion while Decorative was probably something of a handicap snip and looks good enough to do well at a higher grade. Uncle Keef recouped previous losses under a stylish ride from George Baker at Yarmouth.

There is an evening meeting at Chepstow tomorrow where the highlight is an interesting filly’s race at 8.05. There are some nice types in this, notably Desert Sage, while Miss Miracle is interesting entered again after finishing 3^rd this afternoon. With the trainer and jockey in such sparkling form I quite fancy the lightly raced Ship’s Biscuit who will appreciate this step up in trip.

Mureb was an expensive purchase and is related to any number of winners. He is fancied to give Godolphin a winner in the 6.45 at Goodwood. Treble Jig was a disappointing beaten favourite on his seasonal reappearance but can make amends in the 7.55. Rule of Nature and London Gold look the pair to concentre on in the 8.35. Rule of Nature has been beaten by the same improving horse on both his starts this season and with that rival absent here he should have a good chance of recoding his first win of the season.

At Sandown Veroon has an each way chance in the 4.25.

Arabian Spirit could run well at a big price in the York 2.520 while Hawk Mountain and Royal Trooper are my two against the field in the 3.25.

Today’s picture is by kind permission of the artist Sarah Aspinall.

“They’ve got a name for the winners in the world

I want a name when I lose

They call Alabama the Crimson Tide

Call me Deacon Blues^..”

My only winner on an otherwise dismal days tipping was Deacon Blues, named after the Steely Dan song. Another music related winner was Tangerine Trees whose win at Hamilton was his third in his last 4 starts.

Turning to tomorrow we can continue the musical theme as Sandy Shaw, named after the 60s singer, runs in the 5.40 at Nottingham. Given that the original Sandy Shaw used to sing barefoot and had rather high cheekbones the horse is aptly named being by Footstepsinthesand out of Susi Wong – quite clever really. Sandy Shaw has an each way chance in this race but I slightly prefer Skyrider who should be suited by the trip on this, her first effort in handicap company. Elsewhere on the Nottingham card the once raced Decorative could be well handicapped in the 4.00 while the Sir Michael Stoute runner Mushteq is my selection in the 5.10.

The same trainer may hold the key to the Newbury 3.40. Nouriya was 3^rd over course and distance back in April in a race that has worked out quite well. In the 3.05 I am inclined to oppose the favourite. Deirdre has possibilities but for my selection I am going with the once race Kithonia for trainer Henry Cecil who does so well with this type of horse.

My two against the field in the 4.15 are Miss Miracle and Mujdeya with a slight preference for the latter.

Uncle Keef has been something of a flop so far this season. He did look promising last term though and on the basis that first time blinkers may prove efficacious he gets my tentative selection in Yarmouth’s 4.25.

I am on a good run at the moment with 3 winners and a second from the last 4 selections.

There are plenty of meetings to go at tomorrow with the following my main fancies.

Beverly 4.30 – Escape Artist

Hamilton 8.05 – Jedi (danger Mr Freddy)

Haydock 3.20 – Walvis Bay

3.50 Spoken (danger Towbaat)

Kempton 7.20 – Dungannon

7.50 – Magnetic Force

Yarmouth 4.10 – Deacon Blues

We had two winners and a second from three selections today which was a welcome return to form.

My best bet tomorrow is Sea of Heartbreak in the Salisbury 4.30. Roger Charlton’s 2 year old has plenty going for him. He won over course and distance on his last start, the second horse that day has won since thereby franking the form and Sea of Heartbreak has shown that he acts on fast ground.

Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Lisa Miller.

 

 

Planet red reverts to sprint distances and a trip he won over as a juvenile in the Folkestone 2.15 tomorrow. He did show some promise last season and could be worth a small interest tomorrow.

Bated Breath looked pretty good when winning over course and distance back in April and could take some beating in the Pontefract 7.45.

At Windsor the recent Ffos Las winner Kingsgate Choice could well follow up in the 8.00.

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

Having been away in the Scottish Highlands for a week I will spend tonight’s bulletin looking back at the racing highlights of the past 7 days.

Saturday May 29

Despite drifting in the market Business as Usual outbattled the favourite to win at Newmarket and could go on to contests some of the better handicaps. In the same Munsarim didn’t really get a clear run and might be worth another chance as his jockey was not hard on him once his chance had gone. High Standing registered an 8^th career success when landing the listed sprint at Haydock for in form trainer William Haggas.

Sunday May 30

A good day on the tipping front with wins for both Man of Action and Swiss Dream. Contredanse (9/4) confirmed herself a fast improving filly by winning the Italian Oaks under a strong ride from Kieren Fallon.

Monday May 31

The big handicap on bank holiday Monday was the Zetland Gold Cup at Redcar where Forte Dei Marmi got the better of another highly progressive sort in Sweet Lightning. London Gold won at Leicester for Henry Candy. He looks the sort that could win again so is one to keep tabs on. I was pleased to see Tropical Paradise, something of an old favourite, win at Goodwood at the rather generous odds at 25/1.

Tuesday June 1

This is usually a good time of year for trainer Sir Mark Prescott and he landed an across the card double thanks to Comedy Act at Leicester and Aestival at Yarmouth. Both were following up wins from a few days earlier in true Prescott fashion.

Friday June 4

Aestival duly landed the hat trick making light of a 12 lbs penalty and it will be interesting to see where he goes next.

I had quite a “hot tip” for Bea Remembered at The Curragh but couldn’t pass it on – no Internet Access in the Hebridean Islands! Anyway she won quite nicely and could be one to stay with. Another worth keeping an eye on is Exelabration a two year old trained by Marco Botti. He won over 6 furlongs at Doncaster and could win again, possibly over 7 furlongs. Staying at Doncaster Ruth Carr had a winner with Ninth House. She has her horses in good form at present and this one looks well handicapped.

For me the best performance of the day came from Fame and Glory who beat Sariska in a strong renewal of the Coronation Cup. Fame and Glory looks aptly named and with no Sea the Stars to contend with this season he should go on to land some more of the major middle distance prizes.

Saturday June 5

What a performance by Workforce. You could of course crab the form with the 100/1 pacemaker in runner up spot but you can’t argue with the record time and winning distance. The true test for Workforce will, of course, come when he takes on the older horses later in the year.

The Elite Racing Club are enjoying a successful period and Dandino gave them a nice winner on Derby Day quickening away well under Paul Mulrennan in the opener. Up at Musselburgh Hamish McGonigall continued his rich vein of form winning the Scottish Sprint Cup.

Just one tip for later on tonight. We’ll Deal Again didn’t get the clearest of runs when 3^rd at Ripon last month and looks good value in the 9.05 at Newcastle. The Unbeaten Cape Blanco can give Aiden O’Brien a first win in the French Derby tomorrow.