Some quiet days coming up with not too much to enthuse about.
If you are a follower of Sir Mark Prescott’s 3 year olds then Astrodome could be of interest in the Brighton 4.00 tomorrow. In the 7.50 at Ripon Shanafarahan represents our list to follow but in truth he has not shown much in his 3 runs this season. A list runner with a better chance is the Mick Easterby trained Hurlingham in the Ripon 8.50.
The next update will be Tuesday evening.
With only one horse rated as high as 120 this year’s Eclipse is by no means the strongest renewal. It still presents quite a puzzle for the punter for all that.
Literato is the highest rated but he has not shown his best form this year and may not get his preferred underfoot conditions. Frankie Dettori has chosen to ride Campanologist rather than Literato. This colt won the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, beating Conduit who was having his first run out of handicap company. Aiden O’Brien seems to be capturing most of the major prizes this season and he relies on Mount Nelson here. Mount Nelson does not have too many miles on the clock but hasn’t won since his 2 year old days. The 7 year old Maraahel has yet to win at Group 1 level although he rarely runs a bad race and has each way claims.. The runners with the best recent form are Phoenix Tower and Pipedreamer, who were 2nd and 3rd respectively in the Prince of Wales Stakes at Royal Ascot. Phoenix Tower had earlier been runner up in the Lockinge which gives the form a solid look. Yet to be out of the first 2 in his career Phoenix Tower is my selection, with Pipedreamer the one to chase him home.
Rowe Park has been well beaten on both his starts this season. If he can recapture the form that saw him win a Group 3 at Newbury last year he would have an each way chance in the 2.10 at Sandown.
Celtic Sultan and Lang Shining represent our list to follow in the 2.40. Front runner Celtic Sultan, a winner at Chester in May, ran well enough at Royal Ascot and is likely to try and win from the front here. Lang Shining failed to overcome a bad draw in the Royal Hunt Cup and can perhaps be given another chance. He would be my tentative suggestion here. The 9 year old Unshakable likes Sandown and comes to the race on the back of a decent performance at Epsom. He has an each way chance.
In the 3.55 Melodramatic has been running consistently and should go well.
The big handicap at Haydock is the Old Newton Cup at 3.35. John Quinn has Solent and Pevensey in this. They fought out the finish in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot last season with Pevensey getting home by a head. Pevensey is 4 lbs better off now but is probably seen to best advantage on soft ground. Luca Cumani has a good record in this race and saddles Mad Rush this year. Mad Rush has run two absolute crackers in defeat this season, but gone up the weights as a result. Although he has only won once in 6 starts he has never been out of the first two and has to be a major contender here. Another to consider is Dansili Dancer who likes fast ground and has form figures of 113 when running at Haydock. If we get some rain and there is an “S” in the going description then I would add Pippa Greene to my short list. I think I will go with Mad Rush with an each way saver on last season’s winner Dansili Dancer if the ground is riding fast.
There are 3 runners from my list to follow in the 2.25 at Haydock. Planetarium has been given a long break since trailing in last of 3 when an odds on favourite at Catterick in April. Before that he had split Twice Over and Stubbs Art at Newmarket as a juvenile and anything like that sort of form would see him home here. You have to respect the chance of Full Speed though. He won a handicap at York where the 2nd and 3rd have since franked the form. Tighnabruaich was 4th to Allied Powers at Chester in May but he now meets that rival on 3 lbs better terms, and both these horses come into the equation. If Planetarium can reproduce his 2 year old form he would be the selection but I like Full Speed and he can take advantage if the Johnston horse has not trained on.
I have rather a long short list for the Lancashire Oaks at 3.00. I looked at Anna Pavlova, Turbo Linn, Arthur’s Girl and Samira Gold. Arthur’s Gold has done little wrong this season and at around 7/1 is my each way choice.
Knot in Wood ran really well to finish 4th in the Wokingham but is danger of falling into the no man’s land between the decent handicaps and pattern company. He runs in the 4.10 and although he should run well he might just find a few too good for him. Reverence has won on both his previous visits to Haydock and as long as the ground is not too firm he would have a chance.
Other runners in action from my list to follow are Moheeb (Carlisle 8.35), Rossini’s Dancer (Carlisle 9.05) and Charles Parnell (Haydock 5.20).
My main fancy at Leicester is Gift Horse in the 3.45 while at Nottingham in the 7.50 Jargelle should be able to build on a promising debut 3rd behind Cecily.
If you read my preview of yesterday’s racing you can imagine that I was chuffed to see Pawan win in fine style for Ann Stokell at Warwick. Another old favourite from the Stokell yard, Legal Set, returns to the fray at Ayr on Sunday. He has won 11 races in his career but the last of these was over 3 years ago. A 12 year old now, he is a year younger than one of his rivals in this race Strensall who has 9 career wins to his credit. Incidentally, Strensall is a half brother to Baybshambles who has done so well for this column recently. In fact there are all sorts of interesting old timers in this amateur riders handicap as another old friend, Seafield Towers, is also in the line up. Although he has only won 3 times in a many race career the wins have come at 4/1, 20/1 and 33/1.
Earlier at Ayr, in the 2.20, Fantasy Fighter could run well at a decent price.
Good luck
Pictures are by kind permission of Lisa Miller
There are only 2 runners from my list to follow in action on Friday. Moheeb is entered in the Beverley 7.45 but will only run if the ground is suitable, while Trip the Light runs in the 8.50.
I will start tonight’s preview with the Haydock 2.40 where there are a couple of runners from our list to follow, Tudor Prince and Kashimin. Tudor Prince has not been a prolific winner but I have the feeling that he will go in at a good price when everything falls right for him. He has 10 stone to carry tomorrow but he is a sturdy sort and might be the type to win off a big weight. Some ease in the ground should suit him. Kashimin won is only start as a juvenile but has done nothing in his 2 runs this season. I can’t help thinking that he might need further than 6 furlongs.
Ateesh was last of the 6 runners on his debut at York missing the break and never getting into the race. He is well thought of by connections and should be capable of better in time. He runs in the 4.10.
Yossi was expensive to follow last season. He was gelded in the winter and ran well for some way on his reappearance at Doncaster. I have always thought he had ability and he held a Derby entry at one time. He runs in the 4.40.
There is an evening meeting at Newbury where there are a couple of runners from our list to follow in the handicap at 6.50. On what they have achieved so far there is not much between the lightly raced pair of First Avenue and West With The Wind. In fact the handicapper seems to agree with me as he has them both on a mark of 82. Michael Jarvis has his horses in tip top form at present and that just persuades me to go for First Avenue. Ruff Diamond could run into a place at big odds.
I will be hoping for a good run from Eisteddfod in the 7.55 as I am a member of the Elite Racing Club. He has been a grand servant for the club winning 11 times and he certainly doesn’t owe anybody anything. He wouldn’t want the ground to firm though and I rather fancy Mick Channon’s Atlantic Sport for this. He has only raced twice and could be an improver.
Dancer in Demand has some pretty smart relatives and didn’t get his own career off to a bad start when 3rd at Newbury in May. He is upped in trip tomorrow when returning to the Berkshire track for the 9.00 which given his pedigree should suit him. Backing Sir Michael Stoute maidens in this type of race isn’t going to make our fortunes but I will put him forward as my tip anyway.
Life has been no joke for Inspector Clouseau this season as he has found one too good for him on both his starts. He is a horse I like and he should go well in the 7.45 at Redcar. The other one I like in this race is Sky Dive. He has been placed in his last two races, both over a mile at great Leighs. He tackles 10 furlongs tomorrow and he should stay the extra distance OK. These would be my two against the field.
Pawan is on a 32 race losing streak, but that doesn’t tell the whole story as he has been beaten a head or less on several occasions during his losing run. He was desperately unlucky when caught on the line by Geojimali at Newcastle on Saturday. He is always ridden by his trainer Ann Stokell and you have to wonder if a professional jockey might have converted some of his placed efforts into wins. Having said full marks to Ann Stokell for taking on the professionals and both horse and jockey are a great credit to the sport. Pawan will try to break his losing sequence in the Warwick 7.35, both Pawan and Miss Stokell deserve a win.
Peruvian Prince looked a sure fire future winner when he was second, beaten a head, at York but has run twice since, finishing 4th both times. He runs in the 8.40 at Warwick in a 6 runner handicap. He is a horse with ability and has shown an impressive turn of foot in the past.
That is all for now, see you tomorrow
Picture by kind permission of artist Jane Dunn
It is always nice to be able to report a winner and Aleatricis ended a bit of a losing run for my selections, albeit by the stubbiest of noses. Although he only just scrambled home off a mark of 45 he might be interesting next time he runs if tried over further. Baybshambles has been a real stalwart for this column and claimed his 3rd win of the season in the last race at Thirsk tonight. Luxuria was a winner at Lingfield and we had a couple of 2nds as well so all in all not a bad day.
The 3.00 at Catterick tomorrow is likely to see Shyrl start at long odds on as she ran 2nd in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot on her last outing. Impressible is another interesting runner. She is related to a number of winners including the top class sprinter Reverence. Also at Catterick Tawzeea, who runs in the 4.30, has only been out of the first 3 once in 7 starts and has an each way chance.
At Chepstow in the 6.40 Mick Channon gives a debut to Conakry who comers from a winning family. He is a half brother to Ajigolo.
The Fifth Member has a race in him somewhere this season. He was 3rd at Leicester last month and doesn’t look badly handicapped in the Kempton 7.50. At around 10/1 he has each way possibilities.
Dvinski has won 3 times at Kempton and his form figures for his last 3 visits to the track read 12322. He has to come into the reckoning for the 9.20.
Picture by kind permission of Lisa Miller
I had hopes for Hawk Mountain today but he finished 3rd at 14/1. Hopefully you backed him each way!
There is not a lot of quality about Tuesday’s racing but I will try and find something of interest. Fujin Dancer went in my notebook when 4th to subsequent Royal Ascot winner Collection at York, but then ran unaccountably poorly when 7th of 8 at Redcar. This was puzzling because the Redcar race was won by Indian Days who had been runner up in Collection’s York race. You are following this aren’t you? Fujin Dancer may be worth another chance in the 3.45 at Hamilton.
In previous seasons I have had a good deal of success following Sir Mark Prescott’s 3 year olds. The system has not worked too well so far this season though as most of the Prescott runners on my list to follow have disappointed. Aleatricis runs tomorrow in the 4.15 at Hamilton. The dam won twice for the stable at 12 furlongs and Aleatricis attempts to uphold the family tradition. He has not shown much ability thus far in his 2 starts as a 3 year old but he runs off a lowly rating and may be good enough in this modest looking event.
Elkhorn is yet to hit form this season but he runs in the 4.45 at Hamilton where he is a course and distance winner. He is currently running off a mark of 74 and his highest winning rating is 72.
Luxuria didn’t impress on her debut at Windsor but her half sister was a smart juvenile winner and I am not going to give up on her yet. She runs in the 6.30 at Lingfield where Ryan Moore has the ride which can only aid the cause.
Reclamation won on her seasonal reappearance and ran creditably under an 8 lbs rise in the weights when runner up at Kempton. She runs over a longer trip tomorrow in the 7.30 at Lingfield. Her pedigree suggests that this extra distance could suit her and with Seb Sanders on board she looks to have a sound chance.
There are some interesting newcomers in the Thirsk 6.50 including Sardan Dansar (picture by courtesy of Ann Duffield Racing) who is a half brother to Monte Alto.
Merrion Tiger has had 3 runs to qualify for handicaps and gets in the 7.50 at Thirsk off a mark of only 60. He is also stepped up in trip which might be in his favour.
Baybshambles has had a tremendous season and goes for a 3rd win of the campaign in the 8.50. He is drawn 16 of 16 but the effect of the draw is tricky to predict as the field is likely to split into 2 groups.
Bye for now
Hawk Mountain has had 3 runs to qualify for a handicap rating. I see that he makes his handicap debut over a much longer trip than he has tackled before and this may bring out some improvement in him. He runs off a mark of only 53 in the 4.15 at Pontefract. Patthepainter has gone up 5 lbs for a win at Beverly where first time blinkers seemed to do the trick while Princess Maria may be a bit better than she has shown previously.
It is difficult to see beyond New Approach and Tartan Bearer at The Curragh tomorrow. New Approach is clearly an exceptional talent but has been the subject of an injury scare. There is also the possibility that Tartan Bearer may be better suited to the track tomorrow than he was at Epsom.
There are two runners from our list to follow in action at Windsor. Amenjena in the 3.40 may be in the grip of the handicapper after an 8/1 win earlier in the season, while French Riviera looks the one to beat in the 5.25.
I am on something of a losing run at the moment so I am looking for a change of fortune over the next couple of days.
He won’t be much of a price but I am hoping that Silvanus can get this preview off to a winning start in the 2.50 at Doncaster tomorrow. Soft ground would dampen his chance though.
We have had a fair amount of success following the progress of Birkside. He has a penalty for his win last weekend but he gets on so well with jockey David Allan that you couldn’t rule out a 13th career win in the Doncaster 4.00.
I have been keeping an eye on Rossini’s Dancer since he was a decent 2nd at Beverley in April. He runs in the 5.05 at Doncaster but might still be a little too high in the ratings to get his head in front.
Brian Ellison has his team in form and he saddles Keisha Kayleigh in the Newcastle 6.55. Good ground will suit this 5 year old who comes here on the back of a creditable 2nd at Ripon.
The sprint handicap at 7.25 looks a trappy affair. Recent course winner Barney McGrew is worth a close look but although he comes from a stable in good form the ground could be against him if riding on the soft side. The veteran River Falcon and Green Park are others to consider but for my selection I have to side with How’s She Cuttin’ who finished strongly in 3rd at Ayr on Saturday. She was visored for the first time then and if she can repeat that form she will take some beating.
At Newmarket’s evening meeting I like the chances of the James Fanshawe trained Game Park in the 6.35. Although still a maiden he is lightly raced and may still be open to improvement.
Hawaass raced twice last season winning his second run at Sandown. He looks the type to be even better as a 3 year old and us taken to win the 8.40.
Regal Step ran disappointingly on her reappearance at Windsor finishing last of 11. She looked a speedy type last season though and if she can recapture her best form she would be of interest in the 9.10.
Turning to Saturday Sir Michael Stoute sends Adversity to Chester where he suffered from a wide draw when 5th there at the May meeting. He has run since when he was a beaten favourite so he is perhaps best watched.
Tudor Prince has been one of the less successful members of my list to follow thus far. He runs in the 7.10 at Doncaster. He is still a couple of pounds higher than when he last won. Iron Cross is looking like another of my less inspired choices. He 0nly beat one home on his seasonal reappearance at Salisbury and I can’t really put him forward in the 6.250 at Lingfield.
Mrs Kipling was Frankie Dettori’s only ride of the meeting when she finished 2nd at Nottingham on her debut. She is clearly well thought of and can go one better in the 7.20.
The 2.10 at Newcastle looks a fascinating contest with Greek Renaissance, Utmost Respect, Reverence, Lady Grace and Zidane all in there with chances. At this range I am finding it6 difficult to come up with a selection as much will depend on the going. Most of these prefer some cut in the ground. Greek Renaissance would be my tentative suggestion with Utmost Respect a possible.
The consistent Valery Borzov looks the one to beat in the Newcastle 2.45 while the booking of Jamie Spencer on Burning Incense looks interesting.
Highland Legacy, who may not have been suited by the track in the Chester Cup, and Bukitt Tinggi a close 4th in the Ascot Stakes are my two against the field in the Northumberland Plate. If the ground were to ride on the soft side then Bollin Derek would come into the equation.
Redford was well fancied for the Brittannia Handicap at Royal Ascot but may have found the ground on the quick side. He is out again quickly in the 3.55 at Newcastle and could be worth another chance.
There are 4 runners from my list to follow entered in the 5.00. Sadlers Kingdom, Toto Skyllachy, Tarkheena Prince and Keisha Kayleigh.
Tourist won at Nottingham 17 days ago and gave the impression that there was more to come from him. He runs in the 5.35.
King of Dixie has done nothing but improve in his 5 race career so far and he may well be up to winning the Criterion Stakes at Newmarket (3.35). Army of Angels would be an obvious danger if the ground is on the soft side.
Beaver Patrol and Knot in Wood were 2nd and 4th respectively in the Wokingham last week and reappear in the Windsor 3.40. Beaver Patrol needs fast ground.
Good luck
Pictures are by courtesy of Dales artist Jo Stockdale
I will start with Great Leighs tomorrow where Rivington Pike could get a place at a big price in the 2.40. He has dropped don the weights and tackles 14 furlongs for the first time.
Another from the same yard that may be over priced is Fantasy Fighter in the 3.40.
If the previous pair were on the dark side I am going for a more obvious selection in the 4.10. Almajd won a Newmarket maiden last season before finishing 5th in the Horris Hill Stakes where Stimulation was runner up. That form should be good enough here.
I went to Scanno last week, a nice sleepy little town in Italy. The horse of the same name runs in the 4.40. He showed a bit of promise on his only run as a two year old, at Beverely, but he has not done a lot this season.
Baybshambles has done our list to follow proud this season with wins at 10/1 and 11/2. I wouldn’t rule him out of the 6.45 at Leicester where the veteran Smokin’ Beau could also go well.
Wood Chorus represents our list to follow in the Newcastle 4.30. A winner at Ripon on soft ground earlier in the month she looks to have too much to do at the weights.
There are two runners from our list to follow in the 5.00, Shanafarahan and La Fortelesa. They both have a bit of an each way chance at around 12/1.
In the 2.50 at Warwick our old friend Caribbean Coral tries to make light of a penalty for his recent win in a claimer at Ripon. This looks a tougher assignment.
Wing Play, a winner at Wolverhampton in November should be fitter for a recent outing and has an each way chance in the Warwick 4.20.
Did you know that Banjo Patterson, who runs in the last race at Warwick is named after the guy that wrote the words to Waltzing Matilda!
I think I had better end on that note. See you tomorrow.
ahorse 