Category: Horse racing

There was a time when you would be pretty reluctant to back a horse that had been off the track for a long time. Improvements in training facilities have largely changed all that and this has been amply demonstrate this week. First Pekan Star won at Nottingham on Thursday having not run since August 28 2009 and then this afternoon Modeyra won the listed race at Newmarket having his first run since 23 October 2009.

It has been a reasonably successful week for me. One of my winning tips was Byrony who has done really well for these pages with 4 wins this season. She is by the sire Byron who won 3 races back in 2003 & 2004 and I tipped him each time!

Tomorrow we have racing at the HQ of both codes with action at Newmarket and Cheltenham. I will start at Newmarket where it is Champions Day and one of the best cards of the whole season.

Delegator will take some beating in the 1.50 where High Standing and Cat Junior have each way claims.

The Dewhurst at 2.25 looks one of the strongest renewals for many years. Frankel has been most impressive in his two wins so far but at 4/6 his price looks skinny and I am inclined to take him on with Dream Ahead who looks better value.

The Champion Stakes at 3.00 is maybe not the strongest renewal. It may pay to side with Vision D’Etat who has proven form at this level with 4 Group 1 wins on his CV. In addition French trained horses have a good record in the race in recent years.

The Cesarewitch at 3.40 is as competitive as ever. Precision Break comes here on the back of a win in the Mallard Stakes at York but there may be slight stamina doubts. He does have a favourable draw however. Hawk Mountain does not have too many miles on the clock and is another that comes into the race on the back of a win at York. He may have further improvement in him and appeals as one that might stay. Royal Trooper has won his last two racing from the front. If the same tactics are used he will at least avoid traffic problems in this big field. Act of Kalanisi is another last time out winner his success coming at, you’ve guessed it, York. That was over 2.25 miles and he looks certain to get the trip. Cosmic Sun won at Ayr last month and the runner up has franked the form by winning since.

Red Cadeaux proved his stamina when runner up in the trial for this race last month and is one for the short list. Dayia was 4^th last year and although higher in the weights she will relish the stamina test. For my selection I am going to with Hawk Mountain at 25/1 but I will also have a little each way saver on Jim Old’s Gala Evening who has been running well this season, should be OK for stamina and looks as though he has been saved for this race.

Rumoush and High Heeled are my two against the field in the 4.50 while Patkai can defy a long absence from the track and prove my point made earlier in the Jockey Club Cup at 5.25.

The jumps season steps up a gear with the first meeting of the season at Cheltenham. Aiteen Thirtythree went into last season with quite a lofty home reputation but failed to win a race. He should be able to atone for that in the 2.05 when he will be ridden by Ruby Walsh in a race to promote that jockey’s autobiography.

Wayward Prince enjoyed a successful season over hurdles in 2009/10 culminating in his success in the Grade 1 Sefton Novices. He looks the type to make a decent staying chaser and can get off the mark in that sphere in the 3.50.

Scampi Boy should give us a run for our money in the 4.25 while Captive Audience for up and coming trainer Rebecca Curtis should go well in the 5.00.

At Catterick Johannes is potentially well treated in the 3.25 and is also a course winner. Star Rover and Our Jonathon are others to consider. My selection in the 5.45 is Captain Macarry.

Today’s pictures are courtesy of the artist Lisa Miller.

The last few days have gone pretty well for us with a nice little batch of winners.

Selections for tomorrow;

Newmarket 1.45 Desert Law

3.30 Distant Memories

4.05 Timepiece danger Modeyra)

4.40 Wake Up Call

5.15 Leviathan (danger Webbow)

5.50 Chiberta King

 

Selections for Thursday

Kempton 5.20 Trecase

Nottingham 2.10 Defence of Duress

3.40 Pekan Star

4.10 Plaisterer

Punchestown 4.15 Loosen My Load

 

Byrony has won 2 of her 3 starts at Kempton and is ridden by Richard Hughes who needs winners in his pursuit of the jockey’s title. At 11/4 she seems fair value in the Kempton 7.40.

Loden ran with plenty of promise when 3^rd at Kempton last time out and will have the benefit of K Fallon in the saddle in the 8.10 tomorrow. With few miles on the clock the colt looks capable of improvement.

King’s Realm showed nothing on his last run but that was his first race for a year. He should have come on for the run and is worth another chance in the Lingfield 5.15. Azaday has been the model of consistency but is still without a win. George Baker rides for him the first time tomorrow in the 5.45 and the combination should go close.

Over the jumps at Uttoxeter Miss Miracle is an interesting runner in the 2.10. A winner on the flat she is a half sister to Champion Hurdle winner Katchit (pictured below).

My best bet at Wetherby is Ballybriggan while at Puchestown First Lieutenant should appreciate the extra half mile here after being 4th at Navan over 2 miles last month.

Picture courtesy of the artist Lisa Miller.

 

I am going to start with a real outsider tonight. Glan Y Mor runs in the 2.40 at Leicester and has a better chance than his 50/1 price would suggest.

Staying with the outsiders theme Muffraaj is my pick in the 3.10. He is well bred, his trainer is in good form and he will have benefitted from his initial run at Haydock last month.

A little less fanciful is Decorative in the 4.40. Very highly rated after winning his first two starts he disappointed badly on his third run when last of 6 at Sandown. That may have been a blip and it would not surprise me if he came back to form tomorrow.

Swincombe Rock won on his chase debut at Perth and should be able to follow up in the 3.50 at Huntingdon.

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

 

Low key racing on Monday. The Andrew Balding pair of Balducci (4.00) and Final Victory (5.20) might be worth considering.

Our old friend Higgy’s Ragazzo goes in the 4.10 at Windsor where he is a course and distance winner. He has an each way chance.

Today’s picture is by kind permission of the artist Katy Sodeau (see links for further details of this artist’s work)

 

We Have a Dream looks to have conditions in his favour in the Goodwood 2.35.

Sunday selections;

Bath 3.00 Inimitable Romanee

5.20 Raktiman

Ffos Las 3.20 Bens Moor

Goodwood 3.10 Sleeping Wolf

 

The well regarded Masked Marvel impressed when winning on his debut at Sandown. He looked capable of going on to better things and hopefully he can take a step in that direction tomorrow in the 4.15 at Ascot.

When Brick Red won at Ascot last month he had the subsequent Cambridgeshire winner Credit Swap back in third. The form looks solid and Brick Red will handle the ground at York where he looks to hold every chance in the 2.15.

I am going to take a chance with Bollin Judith at a big price in the 2.45. Although her wins have come on quick ground she does handle some cut and connections wouldn’t be running her over this marathon trip if they didn’t think she would stay.

The 3.55 is an open race. Poet’s Place had looked a most progressive horse until being beaten in the Ayr Gold Cup where he was not favoured by the draw. Much the same could be said of Hawkeyethenoo and this is another one for the short list. Trainer Richard Fahey has a good record in this race and his stable jockey Paul Hannigan has chosen to ride Irish Heartbeat who will be at home on the ground. One that could go well at a much bigger price than the other two is Gramercy. If pushed for selections I would choose Poet’s Place and Hawkeyethenoo.

There are 3 horses in the 4.30 that I had on my list to follow at the start of the season, Layla’s Dancer, Ejteyaaz and Think It’s All Over. It is hard to fancy any of the trio here though.

In the 5.05 Beat the Rush looks a bit over priced at 12/1.

There is some decent jumps racing at Bangor where Tara Royal (5.15) and Fiddlededee(5.50) look the pick. At Chepstow Olofi looks well treated in the 4.00. The bumper that rounds off the Chepstow card at 5.45 could go to Merehead trained by Paul Nicholls.

I am hoping we have to wait a long time for our final winner of the day. Honoured should do the honours in the 9.10 at Wolverhampton.

My selection in the 5.00 at San Siro is Sajjhaa.

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

The main meeting tomorrow is at York where 20 runners will line up for the 7 furlong handicap at 3.20. Kaptain Kirkup, owned by osteopath Kevin Kirkup won on his last visit to York. He is 6 lbs higher in the ratings now but has a chance for in form trainer Michael Dods. Another to look out for is Mastership who is partly owned by racing journalist Marten Julian. Mastership is a bit of a tricky customer but is well handicapped on his best form and ran well on his last start when 3^rd to the in form Cheverton.

There is also a big field for the 4.30. Both Walvis Bay and Oldjoesaid run in this and my regulars will know that I have been following this pair all season (with limited success!). Oldjoesaid is very well handicapped and has been threatening to win one of these for a while. In the 5.00 Red Jade will be suited by trip and going.

There is jumping at Carlisle where Recession Proof can make a winning debut over hurdles. He won 4 times on the flat for Simon Callaghan. The other runner to note in this is Ebony River who was 3^rd in a Carlisle bumper last season and is the mount of AP McCoy.

Rock’N Royal is my each way selection in the 5.10 at Musselburgh.

Today’s picture is courtesy of Katy Sodeau.