Category: Racing diary

A losing run has developed over the last few days so let’s see if we can break it.

At Catterick tomorrow Escape Artist is in with a chance in the 4.30. He won at Beverley on fast ground but given his pedigree he should handle some cut OK. The lightly raced Royal Swain has a similar chance in the 5.30.

My bet of the day is in the Leicester 3.40 where a 6 lbs penalty seems unlikely to stop the fast improving Harlestone Times. Another John Dunlop runner in with a live chance is Hajjaan in the 4.10. He has only had 2 runs in his life and is open to bags of improvement. In the 5.10 my selection is Lordship who gets on well with his apprentice rider.

Godolphin traditionally does well at this time of year and are also adept at getting a horse fit after a lengthy absence. The unbeaten Sahara Kingdom looks likely to continue his winning sequence in the 2.50. Star Rover has an each way chance in the 4.50.

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

 

After the heroics of Workforce in Paris we are back with more mundane action tomorrow.

At Pontefract Darley Sun is dropped in class in the 3.40 and should win although the starting price is likely to be short.

Palawi put up an encouraging performance when 3^rd at Hamilton last month after a lengthy lay off and is worth considering in the 4.40.

There are good reports about Glass Mountain who runs in the Warwick 2.50. He has a staying pedigree so this 6 furlongs may well prove too sharp but I will be watching his progress with interest. Lordship will appreciate the ground in the 4.20 and I am hoping that Affinity, a half sister to top class Soviet Song (pictured below) and follow up her recent Wolverhampton success in the 5.20.

The picture of Soviet Song is courtesy of the artist Lisa Miller.

Well tomorrow is Arc day at Longchamp and although not the strongest renewal of the race it presents quite a puzzle for punters. I am inclined to side with the British and Irish challenge rather than the home team. Cape Blanco has had quite a busy season and there are perhaps just slight doubts over his stamina. Workforce was so impressive in the Derby but then beat only the pacemaker home in the King George so is difficult to weigh up. Perhaps the safest bet is Fame and Glory with 4 Group 1 wins on his CV.

Elsewhere on the card Kasbah Bliss looks the one to beat in the 12.05. He was only beaten a short head in this last season.

In the 12.35 Planet Five looks over priced. Both the trip and the going will suit him. Prohibit and Arctic are others that look attractively priced while at shorter odds last year’s winner Total Gallery and the in form filly Lady of the Desert command respect.

There are some doubts about Goldikova’s ability to handle really soft ground and if she does not show her best from then Mudlark Regal Parade could pull off a surprise in the 2.20.

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

I will start tonight’s bulletin with a look at The Cambridgeshire at Newmarket (3.40).

Brunston will not have the ground in his favour and the same can also be said of The Cayterers, who is also just a pound or two higher in the handicap that would be ideal. Mirrored would have a chance on his best form but it is some time since he has shown that. He has seemed a bit unlucky on more than one occasion this season but has also tended to run too freely. The likely strong gallop should suit him and he is one that could pop up at a big price. Sweet Lightning has done well for me this season with a couple of wins. He should again run well but perhaps the handicapper knows too much about him at this stage of the season.

I have whittled the field down to 5. Ransom Note has won big handicaps at Ascot and York. He could be better than a handicapper and he is proven in big fields. Steel Tango is a Group 3 winner over course and distance and looks over priced. Elliptical is well handicapped and is a winner at this trip. His second last time out to Forte Dei Marmi was highly commendable. He has winning form on soft ground. Start Right has won twice this season and ran really well from a poor draw at The Curragh last time. High Twelve is a recent winner on the all weather and could be well in here under a 4 lbs penalty.

If pushed to narrow things down further I would go for Start Right and Ransom Note.

The first race is at 1.55 where Musharakaat, third in the May Hill, has an each way chance at around 10/1.

On a day of big fields 27 line up for the 2.25. Fury won for us first time up and I am inclined to stick with him here.

The Group 1 race at 2.00 is quite tricky. Spacious will run her race as usual and should be thereabouts as should Strwaberrydaiquiri. Music Show has possibly the best form on show but it is possible that Seta has more to offer than she has shown so far and there does seem to be some stable confidence behind her.

In the 4.50 I will take a chance on Medicean Man who will handle the ground and is blinkered first time. The stable are going well at present.

At Epsom I would suggest a small interest in Kithonia and Aestival while in the 4.25 Guest Book could be of interest dropped back in trip.

In the valuable 2 year old race at Redcar (3.20) I quite like the chance of Codemaster who was a winner at Newmarket in August. The 4.35 is an interesting listed race. Stewards Cup hero Evens and Odds steps up from handicap company and has a chance at a big price. Inler has changed stables and could improve on a couple of disappointing efforts this season but for my selection I will go for Kingsfort for Godolphin who have won 3 of the last 6 runnings of the race.

Dispol Kylie hasn’t won for a long time but she ran with promise last time out and Paul Hannigan has the ride which must be a plus in the 5.45, while Zaplamation could go well at decent odds in the 6.15.

At Longchamp Distant Memories will relish the ground in the 3.50.  Another English challenger that will appreciate the going is High Heeled in the 3.15.

Today’s pictures are courtesy of the artist Sue Malkin (see link below for more details on this artist).

Sue Malkin

Bye for now.

 

Lang Shining was quite a high profile horse at Sir Michael Stoute’s yard at one time but never quite fulfilled his early promise there. A change of stable and a drop in class has led to a very successful campaign for him in 2010. His win at Kempton yesterday was his 6^th of the season. Sophie Doyle has partnered him on 5 of those wins.

There have been a few racehorses with names connected to the “Fab Four” – Lennon was a decent 2 mile chaser, McCartney was a winner of 3 races on the flat while Harrison George has been running well this season winning 3 races already. Staying with the Beatles theme Tangerine Trees has had a tremendous season and would have been a seriously profitable horse to follow. He won today at Newmarket making it 5 wins for the season. His winning odds have been 13/2, 6/1, 7/4, 33/1 and 9/1 today.

A couple of other winners that caught my eye today were Royal Trooper and Kenyan Cat. The former followed up his success at Hamilton with an all the way win at Warwick where he was given a canny ride by Paul Mullholland. The jockey was given every assistance from the horse who is a really gutsy performer. Kenyan Cat was another Warwick winner and he has now also won 2 on the bounce. Once again full marks to the jockey, this time Simon Walker who had to weave a way through when the horse was squeezed for room.

At Newmarket tomorrow I had the 1.55 down to a short list of Cityscape, Fair Trade and Tamaathul. I was impressed with Cityscape when he won at Haydock earlier in the month and he gets my selection.

In the 2.30 I will go with Hooray who appears to have the best form on show. If you forgive Maqaasid her last run she could well provide the main danger.

I have supported Temple Meads this season and he has rewarded me with a couple of wins so I will tick with him in the 3.05. Strong Suit could be the danger.

Desert Sage could prove the answer to the Challenge Whip at 5.25.

Sir Mark Prescott could be the man to follow at Lingfield where both Honoured (5.15) and King’s Realm (5.50) look to have winning chances. At Wolverhampton Veroon has an each way chance in the 9.15.

There is jumping at Hexham where Cape Tribulation makes his chase debut in the 2.40.  Another one to look out for is Moon Indigo in the 3.15.

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

Selections for Thursday

Ayr 4.05 Captain Macarry

4.40 Cheyenne Red

5.15 Cosmic Sun

Newmarket 2.35 Buthelezi

3.10 Ship’s Biscuit

5.30 Botanist

Kempton 7.00 Wulfrida

9.00 Primaeval

Warwick 3.55 Cadore

5.05 Bollin Judith

 

September has been quite a fruitful month for us and last night’s preview yielded a couple more winners thanks to Harlestone Times and Regal Park.

Tomorrow’s racing looks difficult. Housepoint is related to several winners and is dropped back in trip to 7 furlongs after finishing well behind over a mile and a half last time. She did show a modicum of form on her first run last season. I wouldn’t rule her out in the Newcastle 3.50.

Zaplamation will appreciate the ground in the 5.30 while in the same race Baraconti has his first run for trainer Ruth Carr.

In the 3.25 at Nottingham my two against the field are Medicinal Compound and Lucky Windmill.

Red Lover is well thought of at home and should be all the better for a course and distance run at Newbury 10 days ago when he contests the 3.10 at the Berkshire track tomorrow.

Towbaat is a bit better than his form figures suggest and would have a chance in the 3.45 if the ground dries out.

Sadafiya has been in good form and goes for a hat trick of wins in the 4.20.

In the 4.55 I quite like the chances of the Hughie Morrison pair Present Alchemy and Sohraab. Regal Park comes into the 6.00 on the back of a decent win at Goodwood and with Richard Hughes on board still chasing the jockey’s title the pair should go well.

At Brighton my best bet is Harlestone Times in the 3.20. He won somewhat cosily at Goodwood and can defy a rise in the weights over this longer trip.

Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Susan Shaw.

Good luck.

I had Golden Blaze in my notebook as one to back next time. His entry in the 2.25 at Ascot seems quite a strange one though as I expected him to appear at a Northern track and in a race over further. The trainer must believe the horse has a chance in this though and I am tempted to have a little 10p each way.

Andrew Balding is double handed in the 3.00 with Chiberta King and Final Victory. The former started his campaign really well with a win at Newmarket but his three subsequent runs have been disappointing. Final Victory has gone up in the weights for a win at Goodwood in May but has not come down again despite a couple of defeats. He does handle ease on the ground though and at 14/1 is probably each way value.

Monitor Closely is yet to recapture his form of 2009 but if he can find that level of form he would be in with a major chance in the 4.10.

 

I had a short list of 3 for the 4.45. Lady of the Desert and last year’s winner Sayif would probably be better suited by a sound surface so I will go for Dalghar for my selection.

Brick Red is my selection in the 5.20.

At Musselburgh Hamloola may be able to bounce back from a defeat at Kempton where she was badly drawn. She runs in the 4.00. In the 4.35 Red Jade will act on the ground and has title chasing Paul Hannigan in the saddle.

 

Just a couple of thoughts on the Haydock 2.35.  Sunny Game is a horse I have been waiting for.  He was 3rd in a race at Chester that has worked out well and has had a break so comes to Haydock a fresh horse.  The other one to think about is the confirmed mud lover Bollin Felix.

Good luck this afternoon.