Category: Horse racing

 

I am penning these notes on Tuesday morning as I am off to watch Macclesfield Town’s latest pre season friendly tonight. My selections didn’t fare too well yesterday. Northside Prince was brought down in the horrific pile up at Ayr, one of the worst accidents I have ever seen in a flat race. Thankfully all the horses appeared to come through unscathed and only Joe Fanning suffered a significant injury of the human fallers. Plymouth Rock was a big disappointment last night although his jockey did lose an iron early in the race.

After recent failures it might seem as though I need divine intervention to tip a winner. What better then than to try Sent from Heaven in the Kempton 7.20. This filly, by 2,000 Guineas winner Footstepsinthesand is related to several winners and apparently well thought of by her trainer.

Later on the Kempton card Miss Eze runs in the 8.20. She comes from family that I have followed over the years. They are all named after locations in the South of France. Miss Eze is now with Michael Bell as her trainer from last year, Geoff Wragg has retired. In truth Miss Eze has disappointed in her last couple of runs but she showed some ability last season and Michael Bell has his horses in good form.

Casual Garcia is the only runner at Lingfield to really catch my eye. He has a most unlikely career record. He looked a bit of a donkey after 6 runs finishing last or next to last on 5 of his 6 races. He then romped home in a Lingfield seller. He improved again when upped in distance winning at Nottingham and Folkestone. On his reappearance at Ascot this year he was last appearing to spit his dummy out. He is worth another chance in the 3.20 where he may be able to dictate the pace from the front.

Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Ruth Buchanan.

 

As usual I will concentrate on the chances of the runners from my list to follow.

Starting at Ayr tomorrow we have Northside Prince in the 3.00 at Ayr. He has shown enough in his races to date to suggest that he can win a race. He is dropped in trip tomorrow which surprises me slightly given his pedigree. He is not without a chance but I just think that the 4/1 in the RP looks a little stingy.

I had hopes for Trumpstoo at the start of the season but he has only beaten 2 home in his 2 races so far. His win last season came on heavy ground so he may be worth supporting next time he gets plenty of cut.

In the 5.30 Alicante looks the sort that Sir Mark Prescott excels with. She is a half sister to the multiple winner Aleatricis.

I tipped Plymouth Rock to win on his racecourse debut at Windsor and I see no reason to desert him back at the same track tomorrow in the 9.00.

My selections for Tuesday are

Daneshillsundance (Beverley 4.45)

Blue Nymph (Southwell 6.40)

Charles Parnell & Northern Bolt (Southwell 9.10)

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

 

There was very little between Sariska and Midday in the Epsom classic.  Midday was having her 7th race while Sariska had only raced 3 times before so perhaps you could argue that she has the more scope for improvement at The Curragh tomorrow.  I will go with Sariska to confirm the form but the main threat to the front two likely to come from Beauty O’Gwaune, especially if we get significant rain.

There are 3 runners from my list to follow in the 1.50 at Ascot. Espiritu ran a blinder when 4^th in the Britannia Stakes and subsequent results indicate that was strong form. He wore a first time visor on that occasion and there is always the chance that it will not have quite the same effect a second time. There is also a suspicion that he may be best on fast ground but those reservations apart he comes into the race on good form.

Invisible Man could only finish 13^th in the Britannia after winning a Newmarket maiden while Siouix Rising has won both her starts this season, both at Pontefract and is trained by Richard Fahey who can do no wrong at the moment. She tackles an extra furlong tomorrow and on pedigree this seems likely to suit. Both Espiritu and Sioux Rising come into the race with good chances.

Shamali showed enough when 3^rd at Sandown last time to convince me that he is worth supporting in the 2.20.

In the 2.50 course specialist Cesare looks the one to beat while Aqlaam with very few miles on the clock is my idea of the main danger. Wigan Lane appeared in my article on 2 year olds o follow and he has already won once. He makes his handicap debut in the nursery at 3.25 and has an each way shout at 7/1.

There are 2 from my list to follow in the 4.35. Both Judge N’ Jury and Lochstar have been rather disappointing so far. Both would have to improve on recent from to take a hand in the finish.

At Chester Balthazaar’s Gift looks the percentage call from the inside berth in the 2.25 while Borderlescott is also well drawn in the 3.30.

The form of the Richard Fahey yard has been mentioned elsewhere and I am keen on another one of his runners, Atlantic Beach in the 7.40 at Hamilton.

Shemoli got off the mark at Pontefract last month and will seek to follow up in the 3.55 at Nottingham. He runs over a mile and three quarters tomorrow for the first time. I am not sure about this one so I will be donning the watching briefs.

There are few better when it comes to placing their handicappers than Luca Cumani and I am interested in his Dannios in the 5.05. He only beat one home at Chepstow last time but he may be better than that and looks worth another chance.

Hillside Lad (6.50) and Bagber (8.30) represent my list to follow at Salisbury with the latter holding the better chance of the pair.

Osteopathic Remedy and The Osteopath, both owned by Kevin Kirkup are two to consider in the 2.35 at York as is top weight Lang Shining who ran as a pace maker in the Eclipse last week.

The Magnet Cup at 3.10 looks as competitive as ever. I will give you a short list of 3. It is possible that the lightly raced Riggins is better than a handicapper. Although not over impressive when winning at Goodwood last time he should be suited by the strong pace he is likely to get tomorrow. Nanton runs well in these big handicaps. He was runner up in the Cambridgeshire last season and this term her has finished 2^nd in the Zetland Gold Cup and 4^th in the Royal Hunt Cup. Seeking The Buck just failed to complete the hat trick when 2^nd at Lingfield last month and is certainly in solid form.

Finally, in the 3.45 Warringah should appreciate the trip as he looked to have plenty of stamina when winning at Windsor last time and he can defy a hike in the weights.

The picture of York racecourse is by courtesy of David Hebb.

The Godolphin team had winners at Newmarket this afternoon and they seem to be flying at present. The stable form may be a factor in the Newmarket 1.30 tomorrow where Newmarket maiden winner Sovereign Remedy is my each way suggestion. He was a beaten favourite on his last start but a drop back to a mile may suit him.

The track is likely to play to the strengths of the Irish raider Emperor Claudius in the 2.00 and I take him to reverse the Royal Ascot form with Big Audio.

Redford was far from disgraced when 3^rd in the Buckingham Palace Stakes and he surely has a big race win in him. The easier ground at Newmarket tomorrow will be in his favour and he is one to consider in the Bunbury Cup at 2.35. Captain Brilliance was returning from an absence from the track spanning nearly 2 years when winning over course and distance last month. He has only had 3 starts in his career and is the other one I fancy in this race.

Paco Boy, Fleeting Spirit and Main Aim should all go well in the July Cup but they may have to give best to the Australian Scenic Blast who was so impressive over 5 furlongs at Ascot. He seems to handle any ground and is as effective over 6 furlongs. I have a lot of respect for Paco Boy dropping back in trip but at the odds I would suggest a small each way saver on Fleeting Spirit at around 10/1.

There are two runners from my list to follow in action at Ascot. Both Alanbrooke (3.00) and Street Power (4.10) have good chances while my each way selection in the 2.25 is Satwa Son.

Sir Mark Prescott’s 2 year old Virginia Hall got off the mark at Windsor recently but has some way to go to match her half sister Violette who won 4 times. Virginia Hall can close the gap on her relation in the 7.00 at Chepstow though.

Kammaan broke her duck at the 5^th time of asking when winning at Newcastle. She is well drawn tomorrow at Chester in the 6.40 and if handling the quicker ground would be worth considering.

The booking of Ryan Moore to ride handicap debutant Burma Rock looks interesting in the Newbury 7.25.

There are three runners from my list to follow entered at York. The admirable Look Busy has won 10 times, but those victories have all come at the minimum trip. She runs over 6 furlongs in the 2.45 tomorrow and has to give weight away to all her rivals so it looks a stiff task.

Red Kestrel has been a bit too high in the weights but has been dropped 4 lbs and has a 5 lbs claimer on board in the 3.55. He still has to step up on recent efforts though but you couldn’t rule him out.

Lastly, Northern Bolt is the selection in the 5.05.

My thanks to Peter Crane for the photo of the Newmarket July course.  The painting “Unsaddling at York” is courtesy of the artist Katy Sodeau.

The main interest in the 1.30 at Newmarket tomorrow will be the performance of Kite Wood. Godolphin are having a lean time of things at the highest level and Kite Wood is the latest expensive purchase that has failed to cut the mustard. Dropped in class to a group 3 contest here he should win and the majority of the newspaper pundits are tipping him. At 6/4 though I would be inclined to pull on the old watching briefs.

Moving on to the 2.00 there are grounds for supporting Arcano. He won on his debut at Newbury in a race where the runner up, the 5^th and the 6^th have all since won. Trainer Brian Meehan is not known for his first tiem out winners and there is every reason to hope that Arcano will come on plenty for his first run.

The 2.35 looks a very competitive handicap. Firebet comes into the race with very strong claims. He has won his last 2 starts and the form of his latest success at Ayr has worked our particularly well. Roman Republic was given too much to do when 6^th at Sandown last week and was doing all his best work at the finish. He looked to be crying out for tomorrow’s longer trip and is one for any short list. The other one I considered is Union Island who has twice been a close second this season and deserves a change of fortune. My two against the field would be Firebet and Roman Republic.

Alwaary represents my list to follow in the 3.10. He does need to step up on his previous efforts to take a hand here however and I could not support him with confidence.

Cloudy Start comes into the 4.20 on a hat trick and I fancy him to go well. The trip and ground should both suit him. Spring of Fame didn’t stay last time at Ascot but his 3^rd to Border Patrol at Sandown before that reads well enough and he looks the danger.

At Warwick Dig Deep looks well handicapped at the moment but then I seem to have been saying that for a while. He runs in the 2.55.

In the 5.15 De Soto has his first ever run on the flat at the age of 8. He was runner up in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham back in 2005 and he ran in a handicap chase at Worcester last month! Earlier on the Warwick card Secret Ploy is another runner better known for his exploits in the winter game. Three of his career wins came in bumpers and he once beat Barbers Shop in a novice hurdle.

Today’s pictures are courtesy of Katy Sodeau (see links)

Have a good day.

Time is short tonight and there are a lot of meetings. Newmarket’s July festival gets under way tomorrow and I will start there.

Sir Michael Stoute’s filly Resort may not have liked the track at Chester where she was very nearly a last resort. She had previously won a Newmarket maiden and with only 3 career starts behind her she may have scope to improve. At 12/1 she would be my tentative each way selection in the 1.30.

I thought about Dark Lane for the 2.00. Both his wins have come over this trip of 6 furlongs but the stable have not really been firing so I decided to look elsewhere. Run For the Hills is also a distance winner and although he was only 7^th of 9 in a listed race at Newbury last time behind Border Patrol the form of that race has worked out quite well. At around 9/1 Run for the Hills will do for me.

Mark Johnston won the 2.35 with Attraction and he has a chance of taking the prize again with Capercaillie. James Fanshawe has saddled the winner of the Falmouth Stakes 3 times in the last 6 years, twice with Soviet Song (pictured below).

Tomorrow he is represented by Spacious who bounced back to form when winning at Royal Ascot. She should be there or thereabouts. Goldikova and Rainbow View are obvious dangers.

Last Few Minutes and Dancourt look the pair to concentrate on in the 5.30.

Elsewhere Bel Cantor looks well handicapped in the Kempton 9.20.

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

We have the big Newmarket meeting coming up later in the week but in the meantime there is not a lot of quality on show on Monday and Tuesday.

I will however take a quick look at 3 horses that I have been following this season. Venture Capitalist has not paid anything to those investing in him thus far and he remains a maiden after 6 career starts. He ran his best race a couple of starts ago at Leicester when 2^nd there in May but then only beat one home last month at Yarmouth. His half brother ran well in both English and Irish Derbies but Venture Capitalist is clearly not in that sort of class. He runs in the Brighton 4.30 tomorrow where Jamie Spencer has the ride for the first time. If reproducing the Leicester form he would have a chance.

Lochstar is yet to win on turf but comes from a stable in excellent form and cannot be ruled out in the Windsor 7.30.

There is just one runner from my list to follow on Tuesday and that is Hey Up Dad in the Pontefract 5.30. He won a maiden at Ayr on heavy ground as a 2 year old but has given his supporters little encouragement in 4 starts this term. He was too keen in first time blinkers on his last start at Haydock and the headgear has been left off this time. He has come down in the weights but would need to show some form before I will back him.

All in all I can’t get too excited about the chances of this trio with perhaps Lochstar presenting the most promise, particularly with Andrew Balding’s horses going so well.

My thanks to David Hebb for the photograph of Pontefract racecourse.

There is just one runner from my list to follow entered tomorrow. Pedregal runs in the 2.10 at Ayr and as he is still a maiden after 12 runs I can’t get too carried away with his chances. This is a weak race though and the trip probably suits him so he is likely to be on the premises.

Mick Channon sends Attash up to Scotland for the 2.40 and the step up to 7 furlongs should be in his favour. He has an each way chance.

I had a particularly poor day today with some of my selections running shockers, notably July Jasmine. In fact Sea the Stars was my only winning tip. At a lower level I was pleased to see Baybshambles win at Beverley for Kelly Harrison. This was the horse’s 6^th career win and he is a real flag bearer for his small yard.

The main focus tomorrow will be at Sandown where Sea the Stars will be looking to add another Group 1 to his tally. Having won the 2,000 Guineas over a mile and the Derby over 12 furlongs tomorrow’s trip of a mile and a quarter looks to be ideal for him. He had Rip Van Winkle behind him at both Newmarket and Epsom while his other main rival Conduit will probably find this trip just a little too sharp for him. Sea the Stars does not have any obvious chinks in his armour and will take all the beating.

There have of course been many famous winners of the Eclipse. In 1984 the race went to Sadler’s Wells (pictured below) who went on to gain even greater fame and glory at stud.

Triple Aspect has won 4 of his 5 career starts with the sole defeat coming against subsequent winner Border Patrol. He will do for me in the Sandown 2.05. An added bonus is the current good form of his trainer William Haggas. The other runner from my list to follow in this race is Captain Gerrard who is yet to find his form this season.

The pair that head the weights in the 2.40 Smokey Oakey and Blythe Knight are both former winners of the Lincoln Handicap while Alfathaa, 5^th in the Royal Hunt Cup and We’ll Come the recent Salisbury winner are others to consider. The stats favour older horses such as this quartet as only one 3 year old has won this handicap in the last 10 years. For my selections I am going to live dangerously and ignore the trend as my two against the field are both 3 year olds, Mirrored and Roman Republic. Mirrored, twice a winner this season ran a cracker when 3^rd in the Britannia Stakes while Roman Republic, despite a a modest effort in the Britannia had a progressive profile prior to that run and his trainer is in good form.

The other runners from my list to follow in the later races at Sandown, Say No Now (3.45) and Wells Lyrical, who was runner up in the Northumberland Plate last week, (4.20).

Finally at Sandown I narrowed the 5.30 down to a short list of 3 consisting of Raaeidd, Tiger Flash and Nbhan. I have been impressed with Raaeidd who seems to have a nice balance between speed and stamina and I will just give him the edge over Nbhan.

Haydock next where the feature is the Lancashire Oaks at 2.55. Flame of Gibraltar and High Heeled will be the market leaders I would imagine so in search of a bit of value I will look elsewhere. Sir Michael Stoute won this race 3 years ago with Allegretto and saddles July Jasmine this time. Very lightly raced she was runner up to Midday in the Lingfield Oaks Trial and comes here with an each way chance.

Earlier, Brunstonn represents my list to follow in the 2.20. A winner twice this season it may well be that the handicapper now has his measure. He is a big strong type though and it is possible that tomorrow’s longer trip might bring out some further improvement. He is not a forlorn hope.

The Old Newton Cup at 3.30 has been won by a 4 year old in 7 of the last 10 renewals. I have gone for a couple in that age group with Falcativ and Hevelius. Falcativ looked a progressive sort until a poor run last time and he can pick up the thread here for a trainer with a good record in the race. Hevelius is unexposed after only 3 runs and does not look on a bad mark.

My list horse in the 4.35 is Dark Mischief who won off a mark of 86 at Newmarket at the start of the season. He has been beaten on his last two starts and is now racing off a mark of 92 so I am not too confident about his chance.

One day last season a friend of mine gave me an absolute certainty in a race at Kempton but sadly the horse went the way of so many ACs in the past. That horse was Tyrannosaurus Rex and although he failed to land a monster gamble that day he has struck form this year with 4 wins. The first two came at Wolverhampton and subsequently at Nottingham and Chester on fast ground. He runs in the 5.10 and although on an all time high mark he is progressive and in with a shout. Look out for a couple of veterans in this race trained by Milton Bradley, The Tatling aged 12 (pictured below) and the 9 year old course and distance winner Cape Royal.

Block Party represents my list to follow in the 5.45. A beaten favourite on his handicap bow he was not disgraced in 4^th that day and I fancy him to at least make the frame.

Next stop is Leicester and the fillies handicap at 3.35. Visite Royale is respected but I like the chances of the lightly raced Mrs Beeton who is a half sister to Stotsfold, also trained by Walter Swinburn.

Danehillsundance is on an 18 run losing sequence with the last success coming off a mark of 89. Now racing off a rating of 71 he is obviously well treated on his best form. If he could recapture that form in the 8.20 at Nottingham he would be a bit of a snip at a big price. Rather a large if though I suppose!

Today’s pictures are by kind permission of the artist Lisa Miller.

Good luck