Category: Racing diary

 

Southwell

7.05 Fennell Bay

Wolverhampton

5.05 Lost Highway

5.40 Ukrainian

 

Pontefract

4.15 Intense Pink is one to keep an eye on. He has shown some ability in his 2 runs and this step up to a mile might bring out further improvement.

Windsor

6.25 Tidal Way acts on the ground and the stable are in decent form.

7.25 Opinion is a big price for a horse from his stable and may be better than he has shown so far.

Ffos Las selection

6.15 The Disengager

 

Stratford

3.30 Josh’s Dreamway

4.30 Tarn Hows

Wincanton

3.40 Current Event

 

Ayr

2.15 Pacha du Polder jumps well despite his fall last time and looks the likely winner while Pauline Robson’s Rival D’Estruval is not out of it. This is not a race that I would want a monetary interest in.

2.50 Raya Star has some solid handicap form and looks well treated.

3.25 Knockara Beau is a consistent sort that looks well handicapped on the basis of his 6^th in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Mostly Bob has jumping issues but his win at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day puts him in with a shout. Lastly I have to put Portrait King on my short list after his win in the long distance Eider Chase at Newcastle.

4.00 Nicky Henderson’s runners have to be respected in these handicap hurdles and Cucumber Run looks interesting reverting to hurdles. I also like the look of the Jim Goldie pair Arctic Court and Wyse Hill Teabags. At the prices I would back both the Goldie runners.

Bangor selections

1.50 Curtain Razer

2.25 Kauto Relko

Newbury

1.30 It is tempting to go for Noble Mission who is Frankel’s brother. Of the rest Captain Cat made a pleasing debut when 5^th at Newbury last October while the newcomer Essell has apparently shown encouraging signs at home.

3.45 My two against the field are Dubawi Sound and Labarinto

Nottingham

8.00 The well related Lost Highway could just be a blot on the handicap.

Thirsk

2.40 Gowanharry was making late headway on his debut at Catterick and is probably better than his finishing position suggested. He has a real sprinting pedigree and at 16/1 looks each way value.

4.25 Course and distance winner O’Gorman is the selection.

5.35 Secret City each way.

Picture courtesy of the artist Ruth Buchanan.

 

Newbury

1.35 Desert Law is on my list to follow for the season and he may well get off the mark here but he really wants fast ground which just puts me off putting him up as a selection.

2.40 The well bred Aljamaaheer won at Yarmouth on his only start lasts season and looks a good prospect. At a bigger price Newnton Lodge will appreciate the give in the ground while Tartiflette is another that likes ease in the ground and looks fairly treated.

3.15 It is largely guesswork in this race for unraced fillies but there is a good word for Lashyn so she is my token selection.

3.50 Gallipot made a promising debut at Newbury last season. There should be more to come.

4.25 Popular is a sister to the high class Midday and ran well when 4^th on her debut at Kempton.

4.55 Halling’s Quest and Wrotham Heath make most appeal. The latter may well be suited by the ground and just gets the nod.

Ayr selections

2.20 Dildar

2.50 Bogside

4.00 Divers

4.35 Vosges

5.05 Florafern

 

Newmarket

2.25 Mawasem looks promising on pedigree and looks worth following but on jockey bookings Tenure looks the stable first string.

3.00 Charles Hills had a winner at Newmarket today and I am inclined to go with his runner in thyis. Ellaal won a back end maiden at HQ on his second outing last season, he looks a big strong sort with the scope to improve and he looks value.

3.35 Sirius Prospect looked just that last season when ending the campaign with 4 wins on the bounce. He disappointed on his seasonal reappearance but is worth another chance.

4.10 Plenty with chances here with Most Improved the obvious choice. He ran 3 times last season all at Newmarket. His best run was the final one when 3^rd in the Dewhurst behind more experienced horses. He should stay a bit further in time. Crius was never out of the first 2 in his 5 starts as a juvenile and won a Group 3 at Newmarket on his last start over 7 furlongs. Miblish and Rayvin Black are interesting sorts at big prices but this race has not tended to go to an outsider in the past.

5.50 Only 8 go to post but it looks competitive. Main Sequence is unbeaten in 2 starts and loosk on a fair mark. Sound Advice represents an up and coming trainer and is well thought of by his connections. The well bred Aazif impressed when winning at Goodwood last season and looks one to follow. Main Sequence and Aazif look the pair to concentrate on.

Ripon selections

3.20 Swilly Ferry

3.55 Zakreet

5.05 Engrossing

Cheltenham selections

2.00 Swincombe Flame

3.10 Tante Sissi

4.20 Sonovic and Global Power (ew)

 

It is quite a decent racing day tomorrow with 4 meetings to go at and interesting runners in all of them.

Newmarket

3.00 There are 3 I quite like in this race. Out Do ran twice last season finishing runner up on the second occasion over course and distance in a race that has worked well. This 6 furlongs should suit this promising horse. Swiss Spirit won once last season and went to be run with credit in good company. He is well related and could turn into a group class performer. Valbcheck was a well backed and comfortable winner of an ordinary contest at Lingfield and is in the could be anything category.

3.35 Redact was second in the Group 2 Mill Reef and is one to consider. Zumbi won his maiden and was then 3^rd in the Group 3 Acomb Stakes at York. There could well be more to come from him.

4.45 Perennial won a Doncaster maiden on his racecourse debut and then finished runner up in a Group 3 at Newmarket where he put in an eye catching effort. This unusual 9 furlong trip could well suit him, although he should stay a bit further in time. I like him. Pembrey won a Newmarket maiden last season on his second run and is another to consider.

5.20 All That Rules was very green when 6^th of 11 at Lingfield on his debut last November and is probably capable of better. Model Pupil looked a nice prospect when 3^rd at Newbury on his only run last season in a race that has worked out well, while Shantaram, a good looking son of Galileo was only beaten a nose on his only start in a Sandown maiden.

5.55 Top Cop looks potentially well treated in this and he is certainly bred for speed.

Beverley

4.30 Gabriel’s Star won his only start last season, on soft ground at Hamilton. His full brother won 4 times last season and Gabriel’s Star looks to be a horse to follow.

5.05 Sir Windsorlot looks potentially well handicapped.

5.40 Tallevu is a gelding that has been held in high regard by connection. This looks his trip and his handicap rating does not look over severe.

Cheltenham selections

2.00 Captain Sunshine

2.35 Ballycarney

3.10 Jetnova

3.45 Divers

4.20 Water Garden

4.55 Frascati Park

5.30 Tonic Mellysse

Kempton selections

8.35 Lady Mandy

9.05 Mezzotint

Picture courtesy of the artist Jane Dunn

 

Kempton

2.50 Moscow Chancer

3.20 The Last Night

4.50 Mister Dillon

Southwell

2.10 Silver Blaze

 

Windsor

3.30 Rosslyn Castle showed promise when 4^th in a Sandown maiden last season and looks the type to progress. The unraced Scottish Vespers is reportedly pretty good as well.

4.00 Man of Plenty is one to keep tabs on. He will qualify for a handicap mark after this run and that is where his future probably lies.

Today’s photo is courtesy of the artist Sodeau.

 

The unbeaten Fourth Estate looks good for the Haydock 4.05 where the trip should suit.

At Kempton Cocozza is interesting in the 2.05. He was well supported for the Lincoln but only beat two home. He is probably better than that and can gain compensation.

There are a couple of 3 year olds at Kempton that are worth a close look. Witnessed (3.45) and Miblish (4.20).