Author: Martin

This evening I will concentrate on the chances of the runners from my list to follow.

Starting at Kempton in the 3.40 we are represented by Cloudy Start, a winner at Epsom last time out over 7 furlongs. He looks a progressive sort and the extra furlong tomorrow should help him but he has a fair bit to find on official ratings in this conditions event. He has an each way chance.

Hillside Las has only won once from 8 starts and that was a Lingfield maiden. He has generally run his race though and with a first time visor and conditions largely in his favour he comes into the 4.10 with a sound chance.

Like Hillside Lad, Penang Princess is trained by Ralph Beckett and is probably my best chance of a winner tomorrow. She goes in the 4.40 and comes into the race on the 00back of a win at Sandown last month where she beat today’s Salisbury victor King Of Wands.

Free Falling runs in the 5.40 but has been largely disappointing and is best watched at present.

At Warwick Ralph Beckett saddles Bennelong in the 3.20. He has been fairly consistent and should finish in the first 3.

My other runners at Warwick are Honest Quality (3.50) and Choral Service (4.20). The latter, making his handicap debut is perhaps the more interesting of the pair.

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

 

The Carlisle Bell Handicap (3.35) is a typically tight looking affair.  I have been following Sir Royal all  season and I think I will stick with him here to convert his recent seconds into a win. The stable won the race a few season’s back with Hartshead.

 

Dig Deep is well handicapped on his best form and looked to be coming back to form when 4th at Pontefract last time.  He is my selection in the 5.15.

Down at Salisbury the card opens with a four runner staying handicap where they all look to have chances.  I narrowly prefer Darley Sun to King of Wands.

Keep an eye on Forest Crown in the 2.10.  She is a half sister to Crowded House.  Mabuya has been doing enough to suggest he can win a modest contest and he should go close in the 3.15.

My thanks to Jane Ince for the excellent photo of Carlisle racecourse.

 

 

There are certain publications that are essential reading for anyone that follows the sport of Kings. One book that I buy every year is Steve Taplin’s excellent publication that gives an informed insight into the prospects of the latest crop of 2 year olds. His selections are well worth following, not just in their juvenile season, but also in subsequent years. Art Connoisseur who won the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Ascot yesterday featured in Mr Taplin’s book last year as one of his 50 to follow.

The recession is bound to hit the racing industry and one recent high profile victim is the Scottish trainer Len Lungo who has announced his retirement. Always a good trainer to follow around the northern tracks Lungo trained the likes of Brooklyn Breeze, Crazy Horse, Full Irish, Villon, Monolith, Rehearsal, Skipper’s Brig, Rasharrow and Wild Cane Ridge (pictured below).

One of my favourite Lungo trained horses was The Bajan Bandit who won 15 times in his career with 9 of those coming at Ayr. Len Lungo will certainly be missed.

As usual I will cover both Monday and Tuesday in tonight’s preview. There are plenty of meetings to go at and I will endeavour to find something of interest at each one.

The Tatling (pictured below) is a 12 year old now and has had a splendid career winning 14 times including 2 Group 2s and a couple of Group 3s. He runs in a much lower grade these days claiming races these days and runs in a claimer in the Chepstow 6.50 tomorrow. He ran poorly at Bath last time out but is weighted to win tomorrow if he can put that disappointing effort behind him.

Guesswork and Virginia Hall both went into my notebook as possible juveniles to follow based on pedigree. Guesswork has finished 4^th in both her starts and I see that she is dropped back to the minimum trip for the Lingfield 2.15 tomorrow. Virginia Hall was last of 9 on her debut run but like Guesswork she has shown some early speed. I wouldn’t write off either of these fillies just yet.

Billberry was finishing strongly when 3^rd at Lingfield over a mile on his first run of the season. That run should put him spot on and he returns to Lingfield for the 2.45 tomorrow. He is a course and distance winner.

Lochstar has won two of his four starts on the all weather and should go well for Andrew Balding and William Buick in the 3.15.

Seeking the Buck is my selection for the 3.45. Hr is on a hat trick and looks well weighted.

You wouldn’t envy the task of the course commentator at Windsor in the last race tomorrow evening. Googoobarabajagal runs in the 9.10 and I bet the commentator is praying the horse isn’t involved in the finish!

Masafi won an amazing 7 times in the 2004 season when trained by Sir Mark Prescott and has since been hurdling for Howard Johnson. He hasn’t won since January 2006 but should go close in the seller at Wolverhampton tomorrow (2.30). His main rival might be Aureate another horse that has come down in the world since the day he won a Chester handicap by 19 lengths for Mark Johnston. Masafi is also entered in the 2.45 at Beverley on Wednesday.

Caribbean Coral was useful in his time, winning the Vodaphone Dash at Epsom in 2004. He runs in selling company these days and won in that grade at Bath last week. He looks the one to beat in the 3.30. He is a course and distance winner on the strength of a success at the seaside track on only the second race of his career back in 2001. The main danger my come from a more prolific course and distance winner in Landucci who has won 6 times at Brighton, in fact he has never won on turf anywhere else.

At Newbury on Tuesday Richard Hannon gives a debut to the well named Sabatini who is out of a mare called Two Sets to Love. She runs in the 6.50. Hannon is mob handed in the 7.25 with 4 runners. Two of them are by first season sire Motivator, these are Love Action and Pollenator. John Dunlop has a good record in this race and it would be worth considering his newcomer Clarietta.

There are a number of illustrations in tonight’s preview. My thanks to Sarah Clegg (photo of Wild Cane Ridge), Lisa Miller (The Tatling and Newbury parade ring) and Katy Sodeau (Windsor).

 

There are two runners from my list to follow in action at Pontefract tomorrow; Bullet Man (3.10) and Shemoli (4.40).

We are back at Ascot again tomorrow where my selections have mainly failed to cover themselves in glory during the week.

I was hopeful that Tajaaweed would have a good season for Sir Michael Stoute. The former Dee Stakes winner began his campaign at Longchamps where he was 8^th in Group 1 behind Vision D’Etat. Fast ground may not be ideal for him though and I see that Ryan Moore has elected to ride another Chester winner, Doctor Freemantle in the 3.05.

Crackentorp was 2^nd at Goodwood at the end of May. He is a lightly raced sort and should be suited by a good gallop as he appears to have plenty of stamina. He is my main hope in the 5.00.

The marathon trip of the 5.35 will take some getting so proven stamina is a key requisite for any selection. Tyrrells Wood is a dual hurdles winner and won on the flat at Pontefract over 2 miles one in a truly run race. Tasheba is another winning hurdler that comes into this race with a sound chance. He won on the flat over 17 furlongs for Peter Chapple-Hyam and scored over hurdles at Ascot and Cheltenham.

Siren’s Gift doesn’t always look the most straightforward and has gone off the boil a bit since finishing a close up 3^rd to Look Busy at Bath. Although she doesn’t have a great strike rate I can’t help thinking that she has a nice race in her at some point this season. She runs in the Ayr 2.55 but might find the track and going not quite to her liking. Keep an eye on her for the future though on fast ground and a sharp track.

Red Kestrel started the season on a mark of 95 which seemed rather harsh. Two defeats have seen that rating reduce to 88 which should enable him to be more competitive in the Ayr 3.25 where the step up in distance will also be a plus factor.

Seafield Towers is on a losing run of 35 which must put him up there with the least successful flat horses. His last win came at Ayr back in 2005 and he returns to the scene of that triumph for the 4.35. His 3 career wins have come at 4/1, 33/1 and 20/1 – he is 33/1 in the RP for tomorrow’s race. Are we in for another big price win from 9 year old? I probably wouldn’t bet on it – at least not with very much money!

Invincible Lad has been in fine form lately but has risen to a career high mark as a result. He still comes into the reckoning in the 5.10 though.

There are a couple of runners at Newmarket that are worth a close look. I liked the way that Bravo Echo ran when 3^rd at Sandown and he is my selection in the 2.10. In the 4.55 I like the look of the Godolphin newcomer In Footlights, on paper at least.

At Haydock there are a couple of runners from my list to follow in the 9.05. Hey Up Dad is yet to find his form this season so I will go with Mr Freddy from the in form stable of Richard Fahey.

Today’s pictures are by courtesy of the artist Katie Scorgie.

Good luck

I had my worst day of the week so far at Ascot today where nothing really went right. Things can only get better!

Black Bear Island failed to do himself justice in the Derby but looks likely to start favourite in the 3.05 tomorrow and is the one they all have to beat. Of the home challenge Native Ruler has bags of potential while Nehaam could well run into a place.

There are excuses that could be put forward for both Rainbow View’s defeats this season and I am inclined to stick with her in the 3.45 tomorrow. At 7/1 she looks over priced.

In the 4.20 I am hopeful of a big run from the giant Stone of Scone. He is a lightly raced colt and looks the type to improve with time.

The 4.55 has an open look about it and I am going for an outsider each way. Clowance House ran as though needing further when 3^rd to Chiberta King at Newmarket and the form of that race looks solid.

My short list for the 5.30 consists of the following; Redford, Dhaular Dhar, Something and Musaalem. I am not sure what Redford’s best trip is but he has won over 7 furlongs and with the stable in good heart he comes into the race as one to respect. It is possible that the fast ground will go against him however. Something was an unlucky loser at Epsom last time, looks well handicapped and has won 4 times over tomorrow’s trip. Dhaular Dhar has a phenomenal record in these big Ascot handicaps and will be hard to keep out of the frame. Musaalem won his first 3 career starts and showed signs of a return to form when 5^th on his reappearance last month.

I am going to burden Something with my tip although I am having an each way saver of Dhaular Dhar who looks great value at 20/1.

Up at Ayr Woodsley House runs in the 8.50. This one did us a favour at 20/1 on his last start and has only gone up 3 lbs for the win. At odds of 8/1 he looks each way value here.

At Goodwood Jachol should go close in the 6.20. He stepped up on previous form when 2^nd at Salisbury and has more potential than most of his rivals.

Blue Nymph caught the eye when finishing well in 5^th at Nottingham on her only run as a two year old. She is my selection in the 6.50.

Expensive purchase Fleeting Star won a maiden at Lingfield on her second start last season and it is reasonable to assume she can improve again. She runs in the 7.55.

Bye for now.

Today’s picture is by kind permission of the artist Jane Dunn.

Day 3 at Royal Ascot starts with the Norfolk Stakes at 2.30. Richard Hannon trained the winner in 2002 and this time has one of the leading contenders in the unbeaten Monsieur Chevalier. He has plenty of pace but stays the 5 furlongs really well and would certainly get an extra furlong.

Sir Michael Stoute trains both of my fancies for the Ribblesdale Stakes at 3.05. July Jasmine was second to Midday at Lingfield and of course Henry Cecil’s filly went on to run Sariska mighty close in the Oaks. July Jasmine will be having only her third career run, she won a Leicester maiden as a juvenile, and as she didn’t handle the track too well at Epsom further improvement is likely. Leocarno is another to have only run twice. She won a Doncaster maiden as a 2 year old and hacked up in a Sandown handicap off a mark of 78. Both Annice Stellato and Mooakada come here on the back of slightly disappointing runs but both won their only starts at 2 year olds and they could well bounce back here. Ryan Moore has chosen to ride Leocorno and I will presumably he had the pick of the stable’s 2 runners. It is a tough call but Leocorno is the selection.

Yeats attempts to win the Gold Cup for a 4^th time in the 3.45 but at the age of 8 he might find the years catching up on him and is worth taking on. Gordieland doesn’t always find much off the bridle and I prefer Patkai and Veracity. Patkai is 2 from 2 at Ascot while Veracity ran well enough when 3^rd in the Yorkshire Cup and should be suited by the extra distance tomorrow.

The 4.20 with its 30 runner field is obviously difficult to sort out, but let’s have a look at some of the contenders. Desert Creek has won his last 3 starts and looks potentially better than handicap class. He seems to handle any ground and will take some beating. Roman Republic is another going the right way and he won on his seasonal reappearance at Doncaster. He is another that handles any surface and with only 3 runs behind him there is every chance that he is still improving. Espiritu, Invisible Man and Mirrored all come here on the back of a win and cannot be ruled out. Hyades and Mutamaashi were 2^nd and 3^rd in a Newmarket handicap last month and that form does not look quite good enough to take this competitive event while Mishrif has yet to find his form this season, albeit he has been running in good company.

All in all Desert Creek seems to have the right credentials.

The Hampton Court Stakes is also a bit of a maze! On Our Way won twice last season but could only finish 4^th of 5 behind Redwood at Newmarket in mid April. On last season’s from he would come into the picture and of course the stable are in good from. Four Winds finished runner up to High Heeled at Newbury earlier in the season and that horse went on to finish 3^rd in the Oaks. Palavicini was 4th at Newbury and both horses have won since. Four Winds is better off with Palavicini at the weights and on a strict interpretation of the form should finish in front of him again.

Freemantle, Monitor Closely and Glass Harmonium were 2^nd, 4^th and 6^th respectively in the Dante at York although the winner of that race let the form down when only 10^th of 12 in the Derby. Spring of Fame was running on near the end of the race over a mile when 3^rd to Border Patrol at Sandown and the extra couple of furlongs here should help him. We probably haven’t seen the best of Glass Harmonium and he could go well at a decent price but the two I fancy most are Freemantle and Four Winds.

We have another big field handicap at 5.30 and again there are plenty in with a chance. Opinion Poll won in heavy ground at Haydock and might not produce his best on a quicker surface. One that will handle the ground is Goodwood winner Brunston. He has risen 8 lbs in the weights since his success at the Sussex venue but may have further improvement in him and cannot be written off. Chiberta King has won both his starts this season and is obviously going the right way. He is very tough and both ground and trip look ideal. He is very much one for the short list. London Bridge won a Newmarket maiden before finishing 7^th of 17 on his handicap bow at Epsom over 10 furlongs. He has a chance I feel.

Johann Zoffany has won his last two starts, a maiden at Naas and a handicap at Leopardstown. He will be suited by the trip tomorrow and with the trainer’s son taking off 7 lbs he could be a serious threat. Nottingham winner Polly’s Mark is another worth a mention. Brunston and Chiberta King may be the best of the home team but Irish challenger Johann Zoffany could be too good for them.

Simple Rhythm looks to have a good chance of following up his recent Southwell win in the 9.00 at Musselburgh, while Alanbrooke has been a bit unlucky on his 2 starts this season and can make amends in the Ripon 5.10.

At Ffos las the Nicky Henderson runner Fsos las Diamond would be a very appropriate winner and looks to have a really good chance. I am sure that AP McCoy would love to go into the record books for riding the first ever winner at the track.

The pictures today are by kind permission of the artist Margaret Barrett.

Good luck

Well, we had a couple of winners at Royal Ascot today plus a second in Cesare from 5 selections, so not a bad day really.

I don’t have a strong view on the Jersey Stakes (2.330) tomorrow although I did wonder about Nasri. He may not have been suited by the track at Epsom last time and if we put a line through that run he would have a chance tomorrow.

Lush Lashes appeals as the likely winner of the 3.05 and would have to be my selection. At a bigger price Spacious should have benefitted from her recent run at Epsom and she comes from a stable that won this race with Soviet Song (pictured below).

Virtual has posted some excellent efforts this season but with doubts about his ability to handle fast ground I am going to look elsewhere for the winner of the 3.45. Twice Over should be involved in the finish but I fancy that Tartan Bearer may have too much quality for his rivals. His form is hard to fault.

I drew up a short list of 3 for the Royal Hunt Cup consisting of 4.20, Forgotten Voice, Nanton and Cadre. I will stick with those 3 with Nanton looking particularly good value at 25/1.

Finally at Royal Ascot I will go for Don’t Tell Mary in the 4.55 and Say No Now each way in the 5.30.

Just a few suggestions for the other meetings tomorrow. At Kempton I will go with Choral Service (7.10), Fulham Broadway (8.10), Street Power (9.10) and at Ripon Maverin in the 9.20.

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

 

I am on a fairly desperate run with my tips at the moment but hopefully Royal Ascot will bring a change of fortune.

The meeting gets under way with the Queen Anne Stakes at 2.30. Main Aim earned his place in the line up by winning a competitive handicap at Newbury in impressive style and followed up by taking Haydock’s John of Gaunt Stakes, a Group 3. He is upped in trip to a mile here but that should be within his scope. The talented but fragile Aqlaam won both his starts last season but disappointed in the Lockinge. It is possible that the fast ground will suit him better here but he does have something to prove. Dream Eater finished one place in front of Aqlaam in the Lockinge but the ground was probably against him and he is likely to put up a better show this time. Paco Boy has done most of his winning at 7 furlongs but beat Dream Eater when winning at Sandown in April and is now better off at the weights. Only 4^th in the Lockinge there remains the suspicion that he may be better over 7 furlongs than a mile. The one I fancy for this is Cesare who has won 4 times over course and distance and goes well fresh.

In the King’s Stand at 3.05 Amour Propre, Fleeting Spirit and Borderlescott represent a strong home team but the prize may go once again to Australia in the shape of Scenic Blast.

The 2,000 Guineas could hold the key to the St James’s Palace Stakes at 3.45. Delegator, Mastercraftsman and Evasive were 2^nd, 5^th and 6^th respectively at Newmarket and all 3 line up again here. Since then of course Mastercraftsman has romped home in the Irish Guineas with Delegator trailing in a disappointing 8^th of 9. Evasive had had an interrupted preparation coming into the race at Newmarket and may just have the scope to improve past the other two. He gets the selection.

Aiden O’Brien is represented by Air Chief Marshall in the Coventry Stakes at 4.20. A son of Danehill Dancer Air Chief Marshall won at Gowran Park on his second start before being beaten into 3^rd at The Curragh over 5 furlongs. Both those races were on heavy ground so the form is a bit difficult to evaluate. I am inclined to look elsewhere for the winner and two that seem to have the right credentials are Canford Cliffs and No Hubris. Both have one race one win records in races that have worked out well. They would be my two against the field.

They also race at Thirsk where Danehillsundance is well handicapped in the 3.25. He last won off a mark of 89 and has now dropped to a rating of just 73. Jamie Kyne takes off a further 5 lbs and although the horse has given his supporters little reason for encouragement for quite a while the handicapper might just be starting to take liberties with his rating.

One with a more obvious chance is Atlantic Beach in the 5.10. He has been running consistently and was only narrowly beaten by Tangerine Trees at Hamilton last time. He wears a first time visor tomorrow and looks worth considering.

Today’s picture is by courtesy of the artist Jo Stockdale, see links.

Hukba found one too good at Ripon last time but has a good chance of going one better in the 4.05 at Doncaster tomorrow, while Twisted is a tentative suggestion in the 4.35.

There are 3 runners from my list to follow in action at Salisbury and all have some sort of chance. Palace Moon runs in the 3.40, a race won by his half brother a couple of years ago. Palace Moon is a course and distance winner and looked good when landing a Doncaster handicap at the end of March. Silk Trail has done enough in her two races so far to suggest that she can be competitive in the 3.05 while Jachol could be a bit of a dark horse in the 4.45. His 3 runs as a juvenile were over inadequate trips and he should improve when tackling a mile tomorrow off a low rating.

On the continent Fantasia is the English hope in the Prix de Diane at Chantilly.

Moving on to Monday at Warwick, Virginia Hall is related to Silca’s Gift and Violette who were both multiple juvenile winners. She runs in the 7.10.

In the 7.30 at Windsor Carleton is well handicapped if things fall right for him. Richard Hughes rides him for the first time.

Plymouth Rock makes his debut in the 8.00. This one was entered for the Derby so is presumably well thought of at home. He is a half brother to the David Pipe trained hurdler Big Eared Fran. Watch your bets in this race at Golden Rock is also in the field.

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