Category: Racing diary

 

Our only selection today was a winner with Aljamaheer making an impressive debut at Yarmouth.

Looking ahead to tomorrow at Fontwell Escort’men has the scope to do well over fences and is the one to beat in the 2.50.

At Worcester in the 2.10 Kentford Grey Lady, a bumper winner at Taunton last season is the selection.

At Newmarket I considered Fury and Inler in the 4.10 while at Kempton Rigoletto could run well at a big price for Mick Channon in the 8.50. Staying with Kempton it could pay to go with Byrony who has won 3 from for starts at the track.

Today’s picture of Champion Hurdler Hurricane Fly is courtesy of the artist Lisa Miller (see links)

 

With the flat season drawing to a close and the firm ground not ideal for the national hunt horses there is not much to comment on tomorrow.

Aljamaaheer was touted as one of Roger Varian’s better juveniles at the start of the season. He makes a rather belated debut in the Yarmouth 2.50 and his absence from the track may indicate he has had some sort of problem. He remains an interesting runner though.

 

At least we had a couple of big race winners yesterday thanks to Deacon Blues and Balthazar King while Snow Fairy justified her each way selection.

There is quite an Anglo Irish challenge at Woodbine in Canada today. Among those with chances are Bated Breath (7.59), Strawberrydaiquiri and Sea of Heartbreak (9.35) and Redwood (10.42).

There have been some famous winners of the International Stakes (10.42) – notably Secretariat in 1973 and Dahlia the following year ridden by Lester Piggott. In 1975 the winner was Snow Knight who was following up his success in the Epsom Derby.

 

Deacon Blues has won 4 on the bounce and still looks to be improving. He is a course and distance winner at Ascot and should go well in the 2.25 although the hoing is probably not ideal..

The 3.35 isn’t a betting proposition but all eyes will be on the unbeaten Frankel. He is impossible to oppose but will be long odds on.

The 4.10 looks the pick of the Ascot card. Midday has only been out of the first 2 4 times in a 21 race career and has to be respected. So You Think has already landed 3 Group 1 races this season and was 4^th in the Arc from a bad draw. Nathaniel has never been out of the first 2 in his career and has won both his starts at Ascot. He could just find this trip on the short side though. The unbeaten Dubai Prince is an unknown quantity but 3 year olds have a good record in this race. Snow Fairy has already been runner up to So You Think and Midday this season and comes here on the back of a 3^rd in the Arc.

I do have concerns over the trip but I am going to go for Nathaniel who has had quite a light campaign and comes here fresher than most. Snow Fairy looks over priced and is worth an each way saver.

The 4.45 looks an impossible handicap. Striking Spirit is due a win and his last run was quite encouraging. The Confessor looks to have a leading chance, while others to consider include Noble Citizen who likes the track and the tough Dubai Dynamo. In these sprints I tend to go for one drawn high and one with a low draw. Confessor and Noble Spirit.

Over the jumps at Cheltenham Paul Nicholls saddles Tonic Mellysse, a winner at the Ayr Scottish Grand National meeting in the 3.15 while in the 3.50 Balthazar King will appreciate the ground. He is not very big but jumps well.

At Catterick Courageous is a tentative selection in the 2.55. When he won at Chester last month he was breaking a 25 run losing sequence. Now he has got the hang of winning he might be able to follow up.

At Kelso the 2.10 is an interesting little race. Lively Baron looks the pick with Vosges the main danger.

Lastly, at Wolverhampton Twisted is fancied to repeat his winning performance in the same race last season.

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

 

A number of Graham Greene’s novels have been made into films. Brighton Rock starred Richard Attenbrough as “Pinkie” and had a racing connection as some of the action took place at the Sussex track. For me though the best film was The Third Man where Holly Martins (Joseph Cotten) seeks out his old friend Harry Lime (Orsen Welles) in post war Vienna. No racing connection there but both Holly Martins and Harry Lime, the racehorses that is, ran at Lingfield on Wednesday. Sadly a win double would not have paid out. Holly Martins was aptly enough 3^rd but Harry Lime, never one to rely on, was well down the field.

Jumping takes centre stage tomorrow with the first meeting of the season at Cheltenham. One to note in the opener at 2.10 is Peckhamecho . A bumper winner at Wincanton last season he tended to pull to hard in subsequent races. If he settles better he should win races over hurdles.

Ian Williams saddles For Non Stop in the novice chase at 2.45. A consistent sort over hurdles he is expected to do well over fences a he is a former point to point winner.

Our Island was 7^th in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham last season and before that won at Ffos Las and Newbury. He is a former points winner and his future lies over fences but he is in with a shout in the 3.20. Richard Johnson won on him on the only occasion he has ridden him before. Another that will be tackling fences this season is Paint the Clouds. He reverts to hurdles here and he could go well as he will love the ground and AP McCoy is 4 from 4 on him. The newspaper tipsters seem to agree with me about this race as 7 choose Paint the Clouds and 3 go for Our Island.

Next to the 3.55 where Creevytennant returns to the track where he recorded a victory in May. He may be better going right handed but comes here with a chance on ground that will suit.

Meganisi was formerly trained on the flat by Marco Botti. A winner in Rome he then suffered a foot problem. He looks the type to do well over hurdles. AP McCoy rides him here for Pembrokeshire trainer Rebecca Curtis in the 4.30.

Dammam won a hunter chase at Cheltenham in May. He will handle the ground in the 5.05 and is one to note. His trainer is a former assistant to Nigel Twiston-Davies.

Rock of Deauville has been put up 4 lbs by the handicapper despite falling at Ascot on his last run but could still be favourably treated in the 5.40.

Not much doing on the flat. At Haydock Lion Court (5.20) and Defence of Duress (5.55) have possibilities while at Redcar a win double on Visions of Johanna (1.30) and Dylan’s Dream (2.35) might appeal to Bob’s fans.

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

Bye for now

 

Samarkand may not have been suited by the track when disappointing last time and is worth another chance in the 8.20 at Kempton.

The best bets at Punchestown look to be Steps to Freedom (2.45) and Shinrock Paddy (3.45).

 

At Wetherby tomorrow Blenheim Brook should win the 5.00 although I don’t like backing odds on in a novice chase.

Meet the Critics impressed when winning at Newbury in March and with AP McCoy in the saddle looks a fair bet in the 3.55.

Sumbe has come down to a winnable mark and looks interesting in the Kempton 5.40.

 

Leicester 4.10 Zoowraa

Newcastle 4.30 Electioneer

 

Inler won at this time last season and wears a first time visor in the Salisbury 4.30.

Loxton Lad looks to have more potential than some of his rivals and is the selection in the 5.40 at Windsor.

At Yarmouth Bassett Road looks over priced in the 3.45.

 

Havingotascoobydo progressed over hurdles last season winning twice at Ludlow despite a tendency to pull. He is a former point to point winner and should be suited by fences where he may settle better.  He runs in the 2.50 at Ffos Las.