Category: Horse racing

This weekend is not one of my favourites on the racing calendar. I can’t say that the Super Sprint or the Summer Plate really appeal but there are plenty of meeting round and about so we will endeavour to dig out a winner or two.

High Standing could get us off to a good start in the 2.15 at Newbury. The race he won at Haydock has worked out quite well and he seems to act on any ground. I will have to come up with a selection in the Super Sprint I suppose. This is not a particularly original selection but Temple Meads looks as god as anything. He impressed when winning on his only start to date and he could be well drawn.

In the 3.55 Distant Memories is one to consider. Well thought of by his trainer he won a handicap at York in the middle of June and has been very consistent in his career so far. The secret to him may well be the ground as he probably doesn’t want it too quick. He is certainly one for any short list. Kingdom of Fife has some very solid form. He was third in a listed race at Ascot behind a very useful sort in Rainbow Peak. The runner up in that race has since been beaten a short head in the Magnet Cup so Kingdom of Fife is another to put a tick beside. Stimulation is the other one I like. He is yet to win at this trip but ran well enough in 4^th in Group 1 company at Ascot on his latest start. I think that the winner will come from these 3. Softer ground would suit Distant Memories while Stimulation might not want too much give.

Looking for some value in the 4.30 I wonder if either Dafeef or Rodrigo de Torres could upset the more fancied pair. Dafeef has scope to improve and should be suited by the slightly easier ground. He is a tentative choice.

Ryan Moore sides Mykingdomforahorse in the 5.05. He won on the only other occasion he partnered the horse and the combination should again go well.

My only selection at Newmarket is Flambeau in the 3.30.

Bollin Judith has not yet shown her form of last season but she is worth persevering with. Paul Hannigan rides her tomorrow and with the stable going well she has an each way chance in the Haydock 7.40.

I was impressed with Kaptain Kirkup when he won at York earlier in the season. He is a course winner at Haydock and seems to handle any ground. He looks worth a punt in the 8.10

Think it’s All Over is one of my favourite horses – mainly because of the clever name – he is by the sire Tiznow! Anyway he shapes as though 10 furlongs could be right for him and he comes into the 9.10 with a chance.

At Lingfield I am going for a bit of an outsider in the 7.20. Tullius is by Le Vie Dei Colori, a tough miler in Italy and the Uk who sadly died quite soon after starting his stud career. Tullius is related to a number of winners and I always think his trainer is underrated.

Mushreq is a winner last time out and is ridden by a useful claimer in the Ripon 3.25. In the 4.00 I like the course and distance winner Beat the Rush while in the 4.35 I wonder if a chance of stable will help San Cassiano. Lastly, I note that Jukebox Jury runs at Hamburg in the Group 1 over 12 furlongs there. He won on his only previous visit to Germany.

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

Our god run continues with two winners and a couple of seconds from yesterday’s 4 selections.

The big race at Hamilton tomorrow night is the sprint handicap at 7.45. Hawkeyethenoo is my main fancy for this. He has been in splendid form all season winning twice and finishing in the frame on his other two starts. He does look sure to start favourite and if you want something at a bigger price you could consider the Kevin Ryan pair of Redford and Oldjoesaid. The enigmatic Redford gets little respite from the assessor but should at least get his favoured ground while Oldjoesaid is potentially well handicapped and is another that will handle the going.

At Haydock Walvis Bay has an each way chance in the 3.30 where ground conditions should be right for him. He has also come down a couple of pounds in the weights since his last run. Others worth considering at Haydock are Comedy Act (4.05) and Arabian Spirit (4.40).

At Newbury the unraced Sadafiya is one to note. She is bred to win as a 2 year old and the stable have had a couple of recent juvenile winners.

At Newmarket Sour Mash looks interesting in the 7.55. He is the selection but there is some doubt about his participation. If he is missing my money will go on Munsarim. My other selection at Newmarket is Warm Memories in the 8.30.

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

 

Results went well for me today with 3 winners from 4 selections, including a couple at my lucky course Kempton at odds of 4/1 and 14/1.

There is plenty of racing up and down the country tomorrow. Starting at Bath Spoken has an each way chance in the 7.55 where the fast ground is likely to suit her.

At Doncaster Clinical certainly comes from a family of winners and is worth considering in the 7.00. On the basis that Solicitor’s run at Kempton was too bad to be true I will stick with him one more time in the 7.45 at Epsom.

Desert Myth won on his debut but was found wanting when running in more exalted company on his second start. He has his sights lowered a little in the 3.50 at Leicester and may be able to return to winning ways.

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

Allannah Abu was 2nmd at Brighton last time out and should go close in the Catterick 4.20. Paul Hannigan has the ride for trainer Sir Mark Prescott.

At Kempton Byrony showed he handles the all weather surface when 4^th over course and distance last time and has a leading chance in the nursery at 6.50. In the 7.20 there are good reports about the unraced Musharakaat.

My best bet of the day is Apace in the 4.00 at Lingfield. She looked a promising sort when 4^th on her debut at Newbury.

I don’t have too many words of wisdom to offer on tomorrow’s racing. The consistent Royal Trooper has an each way chance in the Beverley 3.30. While at Yarmouth the veteran Caribbean Coral is ridden by Jamie Spencer in the 7.30 and may be worth considering.

Course and distance winner Tarkheena Prince has a chance in the Group 3 at Hamburg. He was a winner 4 times in the UK when he was trained by Alan Swinbank.

At Ayr tomorrow Layla’s Dancer might be worth considering in the 4.00.He was 4^th at Doncaster last time out in a race that has worked out quite well. His only win to date was on soft ground so the predicted rain would be a help.

A change of jockey and quite possibly a change of tactics may help Cool Strike in the 3.50 at Ffos Las.

 

The big handicap today is the John Smith’s “Magnet” Cup at York. Wigmore Hall is perhaps the obvious choice as he is 7 lbs “well in” at the weights – 10 lbs if you include his rider’s claim. He is the Pricewise selection which means that the value has probably disappeared now. Forte Dei Marmi and Sweet Lightning were 1 and 2 in the Zetland Gold Cup and are worth considering, especially the latter who probably didn’t quite stay last time out over 12 furlongs but remains progressive. The ground will probably be riding a bit too quick for course winner Distant Memories and the same is true of Hillview Boy, although both look up to winning races before the season is out. Imposing, a fast finishing runner up in a big Royal Ascot handicap and Demolition, who beat all bar the runaway winner at Haydock are others to consider. At the current prices I would go for Demolition and Sweet Lightning who are both on offer at around 16/1.

In the 2.00 at York Harlech Castle is well handicapped but the fast ground is a concern so my tentative vote goes to Tiddliwinks. Webbow is difficult to win with as he needs to be held up and tends to run into traffic problems. He should be finishing well in the 2.30 where he has an each way chance.

Drunken Sailor, the Northumberland Plate winner is unlikely to be suited by the ground in the 3.40 and I am inclined to go with one of the beaten horses at Newcastle, Chiberta King, who will be suited by this drop back to 14 furlongs.

Looking for some value at Ascot I fancy Side Glance in the 1.45 while the lightly raced recent Salisbury winner Present Alchemy should go well in the 4.40. He is open to further improvement and will like the fast ground.

Veroon ran well to be 4^th in the Carlisle Bell and he could be in with a shout in the Chester 2.45 where he is a course and distance winner. In the 3.20, the City Wall Stakes, it is tempting to go with Star Rover and Hamish Macgonigall who are both course and distance winners. The classy Borderlescott also comes into that category though and looks the most likely winner, albeit at a skinny price. At Salisbury look out for Higgy’s Ragazzo (8.25) and in particular Field Day in the 8.55.

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

Good luck!

 

The Newmarket July meeting has not been a happy one for me thus far but at least Lang Shining ended something of a losing run for me when winning tonight at Epsom.

I will start tonight’s preview with a look at the Newmarket 2.35 which now has a silly name but always used to be called the Bunbury Cup. There are a few of our old favourites in this including Dubai Dynamo who has done well for us this season already. His 3 wins this season have probably put him a little too high in the handicap now though and it may pay to look elsewhere. There are a couple of runners from my list to follow, namely Palace Moon and Suruor. The latter was an excellent 3^rd to a handicap good thing in the Wokingham. The 6^th horse in that race has won since and the form looks rock solid. Tomorrow’s race is over an additional furlong but this should not be a problem and with K Fallon in the saddle he has a good chance. He is suited by fast ground. Suruor hasn’t run since the Chester May meeting when he was 3^rd in a mile handicap. He may need the race and I am more interested in Signor Peltro who has been a bit unlucky in his last couple of races and has course and distance from. Signor Peltro is the selection with Palace Moon the danger.

Starspangledbanner should win the July Cup with Fleeting Spirit the main danger. Those looking for something at a bigger price could take a look at Society Rock who looks as though he may have more improvement in him.

In the nursery at 4.20 I will go with John Gosden’s course and distance winner Liberty Cap.

Mistoffelees won nicely at Yarmough last week and clearly gets on well with his apprentice rider. I fancy him to follow up in the 5.20 at Ascot.

My best bet at York is La De Two, an unexposed type in the 3.55

Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Karen Davies.

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.