Category: Horse racing

Ruth Carr is having a tremendous season and claimed another winner this afternoon courtesy of Ninth House. This was the 7 year olds 12 career win and the 8^th at Wolverhampton.

Tomorrow sees the start of York’s Ebor meeting where the main event will be the appearance of Sea the Stars in the Juddmonte International at 3.25. With Tartan Bearer a likely absentee only Mastercraftsman stands in the way of another Group 1 win for the John Oxx colt. It is hard to envisage Sea the Stars being beaten as he has looked a real superstar and 10 furlongs is his optimum trip.

The meeting starts with a hard to solve sprint handicap at 1.45. The Dandy Nicholls pair of Buachaill Dona and Fol Hollow are my selections in this.

Poet’s Voice won well at Newmarket last month and with both trainer and jockey in great form he looks the one to beat in the 2.15. At a bigger price the Mark Johnston runner Sea Lord who won in game fashion at Ascot looks a lively outsider.

The 2.50 is a decent renewal of this Group 2 contest and may well give some pointers to the season’s final classic at Doncaster. Father Time won the King Edward at Ascot and is a lightly raced sort with possible improvement in him. He is giving weight away to all bar one of his rivals. Alwaary sets a very high standard based on his last two runs against older horses of the highest class. Harbinger has done nothing wrong but faces his biggest test to date. Jukebox Jury made a belated start to the season when winning a Group 3 at Haydock and should be suited by the extra distance here. The consistent Monitor Closely has earned his right to take his place this but has a bit to find with the best of his rivals. This is a very competitive affair and will take some winning. My selection is Alwaary with Harbinger next best.

My only other selection is Venture Capitalist in the Brighton 4.20.

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

After a poor day on the tipping front on Saturday things went much better this afternoon with 5 winners spread across 3 countries! Tomorrow is a quiet day ahead of the big Ebor meeting at York.

Resort was 3^rd to Invisible Man who franked the form with a win at Pontefract. Resort goes in the 7.05 at Windsor and looks to hold a good chance.

Stoic was 5^th in a Newmarket maiden on his only run last season. He looked one to follow on the basis of that encouraging start to his career but has not appeared since so has presumably had a problem. He is an interesting runner in the 7.35.

Braveheart Move gave us a winner at Pontefract this afternoon and I am hopeful about Speed Dating from the same stable in the 8.05.

At Wolverhampton I am hoping that Nbhan can get off the mark in the 2.15 after a series of placed efforts. His trainer has a good record at the track.

I am going to tip another Sir Mark Prescott runner in the 3.15. Prescription was an impressive winner at Lingfield last week and a 6 lbs penalty seems unlikely to stop him following up.

In the 4.15 it might be worth taking on the hot favourite with Logos Astra.

Nothing much to go at on the Yarmouth card. Gun For Sale represents my list to follow in the 6.50. A slight each way chance at best.

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

Brian Meehan’s 2 year olds usually come on for their first run and his Pin Cushion should benefit from the experience of his run at Windsor a couple of weeks ago in the Newbury 1.30. Of the newcomers Michael Jarvis runs Dylanesque a half sister to the high class Alexandra Volta and this is one to keep an eye on.

Kite Wood got back on the winning trail at Newmarket last month and with his stable in form could be the answer in the 2.35. In the 3.10 I fancy the lightly raced pair of Palace Moon and Border Patrol. With the ground possibly against the latter Palace Moon gets the nod.

I have sort of adopted Mykingdomforahorse as my web site mascot given his name. Mick Channon has done really well with him and he comes into the 4.55 on the back of a win at Yarmouth. He would be in with a chance of following up but probably wouldn’t want the ground too quick.

Richard Fahey sends Sioux Rising down to Newmarket for the 3.25. After a couple of wins at Pontefract the 3 year old appeared not to stay an extra furlong at Ascot and is back at the shorter trip tomorrow. He is not without a chance.

In the 4.35 it might pay to take a chance on Alcalde from the Mark Johnston yard. He won both his starts last season but may have been found out by a lack of race fitness when down the field at Doncaster at the start of the month.

I was expecting great things from Cascata this season but she has not shown much on her two starts. I am still hopeful that she is better than she has shown and will stick with her in the Ripon 2.45.

In the big sprint at 3.55 I am hoping for a big run from Judge ‘n Jury who has been in good form of late. He acts on any ground but a bit of rain would probably help his cause. Hitchens could run well at a big price. Quick ground suits him.

Moving on to Sunday Bourne might be worth considering in the 3.00 at Bath. After an encouraging debut run he was last of 11 on his most recent outing and it looked as though there might have been a problem of some sort. Worth another chance.

At the Curragh Casual Conquest looks the form horse in the 2.45. He has good course form and quite a bit in hand on the ratings. Curtain Call could be the one to give him most to do with the ground likely to be in his favour. Benbaun (pictured below) absolutely loves it at The Curragh having won there 7 times. He will be the one to beat in the 4.15 with Vocalised looking the main threat.

There are a whole host of runners from my list to follow in action at Pontefract on Sunday. Not all have an obvious chance but anyway, here goes! The lightly raced Braveheart Move ran a shocker at Goodwood last time but may not have been suited by the track. He had looked highly progressive before and could come good again in the 2.40. You can’t really fancy his stable companion Casual Garcia in the 3.10 as his form this season has been abysmal. He has been dropped a few pounds since his last run but not enough to give him a chance on the book.

Adorn is another horse that is badly out of form having only beaten one home in her last two starts. At her best she would have a chance in the 3.40 but would have to improve on recent showings.

Invisible Man has already won twice this season and there may be more to come from him. He goes in the 4.10. Park Lane caught a tartar last time in Spendorinthegarass but will not meet anything of that standard in the 5.10 and may well be able to get off the mark at last.

The big race at Deauville on Sunday is the Group 1 with the very long name which I will just call the 3.25. Goldikova is the obvious choice here and will probably win. Aqlaam and Virtual could be battling for the places.

I was sorry to hear that New Seeker (pictured below) had to be put down on Wednesday after having sustained an injury. Trained by Clive Cox and Paul Cole his total career earnings exceeded £390,000 by the time of his retirement in 2008.

He was a favourite with many thanks to his front running style, a tactic memorably deployed with a solo effort along the far rail to take the Britannia Stakes. New Seeker tasted further success at the Royal meeting two years later, in the Royal Hunt Cup, with other career highlights including twice winning the valuable Tote International Stakes and three Listed races.

I have quite a few acknowledgements to make tonight.  The 3 paintings featured are, starting from the top of the page, by courtesy of the artists LIsa Miller, Katy Sodeau and Karen Davies. My thanks also to Kate Tann for the photo of New Seeker.

Starting at Newbury tomorrow Walcott Square should benefit from his initial run when he was 6^th of 14. He could go well at a nice price in the 1.20.

There were some promising reports about Kona Coast a while back but when he finally made his racecourse debut he was wearing blinkers and did not look straightforward. He clearly has some ability though and is an interesting runner in the 1.50.

Again looking for value Spirit of Dubai looks a big price for a horse that ran in the Italian Oaks and finished 4^th to Midday at Lingfield. She runs in the 4.35.

Trip the Light runs in the 5.45 at Catterick, the opening race on their evening card. He won 3 times last season and has already equalled that tally this season. He is clearly a tough customer and he escapes a penalty for his most recent win. He should go well.

Queen Eleanor won on her handicap debut at Lingfield and looks to follow up in an open looking filly’s handicap at Nottingham (3.45).

For those who like a bit of racing trivia Veronicas’ Boy who runs in the 4.45 at Nottingham. He has been 4^th in his last 7 races.

Today’s picture of Fantastic Light, sire of Trip the Light, is reproduced by kind permission of the artist Lisa Miller.

Just a quick glance at the chances of the horses from our lit to follow entered tomorrow.

Starting at Hamilton we have Prince Rhyddarch in the 8.05. He is a course and distance winner and the stable are in fair form. The 4/1 quoted in the RP looks a bit short to me and although he si mot without a chance that price does not look value in an open looking contest.

At Salisbury the Windsor maiden winner Block Party looks in with a good chance in the 3.35 while the quick ground may enable Splashdown to pick up the winning thread again in the 4.05.

Sandown next and the speedily bred Felsham is one to watch in the 5.30 although he may need this debut run to put him straight. London Bridge would have an each way chance in the 7.45 if back to his best form.

Moresco put in an improved effort at Newmarket on his last start and with a step up in trip likely to suit he comes into the 85.15 with a decent chance.

Finally, in the 5.00 at Yarmouth Venture Capitalist could be the one to benefit should hot favourite Point of Light slip up.

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

 

Dig Deep hasn’t run over 7 furlongs since December 2006 which is a bit surprising as he is 3 wins from 7 at that distance. He is well handicapped but has been running quite poorly over sprint distances. If the return to further does the trick he would have a good chance tomorrow in the Musselburgh 8.10. A more obvious selection would be Birkside in the 6.10. He is a winner of 14 races during his career although yet to get off the mark for his present trainer. This looks a fair opportunity for him although he will be a short price.

At Nottingham the race that interests me is the 6.25. With only 5 runners over a staying trip it could develop into a tactical affair. Red Kestrel and Hada Men look the pair to concentrate on. Red Kestrel is creeping down the weights but I just favour Hada Men ridden by William Buick who rode him to victory a couple of runs ago.

 

After a disappointing Saturday when my only winner was Jukebox Jury (6/1) things improved this afternoon with a first (4/1) and a 2^nd (8/1) from 2 selections.

There are 4 flat meetings on tomorrow but not a lot of quality. Kensington Oval, a full brother to the high class Ask, has let his supporters down a few times. Sir Michael Stoute wouldn’t have kept him in training as a 4 year old unless there were races to be won with him though and he may come good in the Southwell 3.15.

I see that Dark Lane has changed stables and is now with Richard Fahey. After winning at Haydock on his first start of the season he has rather lost his way but a change of scenery sometimes rejuvenates a horse so I wouldn’t rule him out at Thirsk tomorrow in the 8.30.

Today’s picture is by kind permission of the artist Ruth Buchanan.

Tomorrow’s main meeting is the Shergar Cup which is not to everyone’s taste but at least the entire card is on terrestrial TV – Unfortunately BBC TV!

In the first race, the 1.10, Judge n’ Jury has quite a bit going for him. He comes into the race on the back of a win, he is a course and distance winner and is ridden by one of the “home” jockeys who will be familiar with the track. Buachaill Dona was tipped by his trainer for the Stewards Cup last week on the Morning Line but finished down th field. He didn’t’ have th best of the draw at Goodwood though and may pose the greatest threat to my selection.

It is probably worth taking on the favourite in some of these Shergar Cup races as the jockeys will usually be riding horses they have never sat on before and some surprise results may well follow. Mark Johnston has 3 runners in the 1.45 and the best of them could be Alanbrooke with Daryll Holland on board. He has actually ridden the horse before and with horse, trainer and jockey all in decent form seems worth considering. It is difficult to know what to make of Braveheart Move. He won impressively at Chester in May before putting in a miserable performance at Goodwood last week. He may just have needed that Goodwood run although in truth he went well enough fresh at Chester as it was his first run of the season. Chiberta King did my list to follow a favour earlier in the season with a win at 20/1. It may be that the handicapper has caught up with him now though. Mabuya has been most consistent all season. He tries 12 furlongs for the first time tomorrow and may well be OK for stamina as his dam won over that trip. The other one to consider is Holyrood who won a Yarmouth maiden earlier in the season and would come into the reckoning if we ignore his most recent start.

Both Alanbrooke’s wins have come over further but on the assumption that he will be ridden positively he just gets my vote.

Run for the Hills seems to find trouble in running in his races. He is relatively unexposed and with Neil Callan riding he will hopefully avoid too many traffic problems in the 4.05. He is my selection although I will be worried about Proclaim. Tropical Paradise might be worth a small each way saver.

Up at Haydock the two I like in the 2.40 are Staying On and Jukebox Jury. At the prices both could be backed to small stakes but if pushed for a single selection I would go for the latter as he seemed to be going the right way when 6^th in The Eclipse on his last start after missing the early part of the season.

My short list for the 3.15 consists of Nanton, Libel Law and Dancourt. Dancourt gets in here off a light weight and could well be pattern class anyway. Libel Law represents a stable with a tremendous record at the track while Nanton looks a big price at around 20/1. It’s Dancourt for me but it would not surprise me to see the other two run well.

At Lingfield Hillside Lad, a winner at Salisbury a couple of runs ago might be worth another chance in the 6.10 as things didn’t go his way at Bath last time while Ataash has each way claims for Mick Channon in the 7.40.

At Newmarket Scuffle represents my list to follow in the 2.25 but there do seem to be others in the race with better claims so I will give him a miss this time.

In the 3.00 Chachamaidee and Sent From Heaven are the pair that interest me most. Barry Hills has won this race in 4 of the last 8 runnings which just tips the scales in favour of Sent From Heaven.

I am going to pick 2 in the 3.35, Splendorinthegrass and Al Khaleej. Both are lightly raced types, Tom Dascombe has been in the news this week as a result of his new venture with Michael Owen. Dascombe does really well with his 2 year olds and there are some good reports about his runner in the 4.10, Ruler of my Heart.

Ebiayn has a nice symmetrical record as he has run 3 times and finished 3^rd in each of his races. He has been racing over a mile but steps up to 12 furlongs in the 4.40 tomorrow, a trip that should suit him.

Emirates Sports was a beaten favourite over 7 furlongs on his last start and a return to a mile at Redcar in the 2.35 tomorrow will be to his benefit. Motafarred will be a danger.

I keep supporting Cooks Endeavour but he is proving expensive to follow. I will stick with him tomorrow in the 3.10 at Redcar.

There are a couple of runners on Sunday at Redcar that I am interested in. The well bred Siyaadah who makes his debut for Godolphin in the 2.10 and Northside Prince in the 4.40. The latter was brought down in that pile up at Ayr on his last start when favourite and holding very chance at the time of his mishap.

Today’s pictures are by kind permission of the artist Karen Davies.

Good luck

 

There are just three of qualifiers from my list to follow tomorrow.

Dannios runs in the Brighton 4.30 while Goliath’s Boy is entered in the Haydock 8.00 and Native Ruler goes in 7.50 at Newmarket.

 

Brighton 3.30 – Fleeting Star is well handicapped and trainer has a good record at the track.

Brighton 4.00 – Halfway House likes fast ground and is on a hat trick.

Sandown 5.40 – Ruthie Babe could go well on her racecourse debut.