Category: Racing diary

Edaara maintained the good mini run for our flat horses to follow winning as a favourite should without having to be asked a serious question. 

  

The flat racing is at Nottingham where Michael Jarvis saddles Woqoodd in the 3.20.  He faded a bit in the last furlong when 3^rd at Haydock so this drop back to the minimum trip should put him in with a chance.

  

There are 3 runners from our list to follow in the 4.20.  Miss Thailand was a beaten favourite at 1/2 last time and has been most disappointing.  Galactic Star was made favourite on his only start last season and although he didn’t win this son of Galileo looks the type to improve as a 3 year old.  He has not run for nearly a year though so my selection goes to the third of our “team” Seabow who was 2^nd here last week.

  

Our other runner is Conkering in the 4.50.  He has already won once this season but has not shown much in his last two starts.

  

See you tomorrow

 

Continue reading “Diary: October 4 2006” →

We had two winners from our list this afternoon.  The in form Tom Eves rode Compromiznotension to victory at Pontefract and later on the sme card Woolly Bully easily lost his maiden tag under Frankie Dettori.  Oldjoesaid was a winning tip at Windsor.

 

 

Runners from the list to follow on Tuesday are as follows.

 

 

Leicester 4.10 Warsaw Pact; 5.40 Edaara

 

 

Huntingdon 5.00 Grecian Groom

 

 

Bye for now – sorry for the short update tonight.

Continue reading “Diary: October 3 2006” →

The Elite Racing Club has been struggling for winners recently. As a member I get an end of year dividend based on the winnings so I was pleased with Saturday’s results.  New Seeker put in a typical pillar to post performance tom win the listed Guiseborough Stakes at Redcar.  He has recently moved to Paul Cole’s yard and the change has obviously done him good.  He is probably not an easy horse to place as he would nearly be weighted out of handicaps but is not quite up to Group standard.  His run as Reedcar was particularly meritorious as the ground would not have been ideal for him.  Tom Eves has impressed me on a number of occasions this season and gave New Seeker a good ride.  It was trhe first time he had ridden the horse in a race.

  

Soviet Song is not the force she was but she battled on well to get 2^nd behing the surprise runaway winner Spinning Queen in the Sun Chariot Stakes.

  

The horses on our list to follow suffered from seconditis with Rio Riva and Intrepid Jack both finishing in the runners up spot.  Walter Swinburne’s Pinpoint was the highest placed finisher out of our runners in the Cambridgeshire coming 3^rd.

  

Our list horses did not fare much better in Paris where Hurricane Run and Shirocco both failed to fire in the Arc.  Echo of Light won on Saturday desoite veering wildly of course in the final stages and Reveernce and Moss Vale filled the minor placings in the Pric de L’Abbaye.

  

In Japan Benbaun was 5^th in the Sprinters Stakes.

  

There are a few runners from our list tomorrow.  Easy Air and Superseus go in the 3.10.  Easy Air has never won on turf.  His career best effort was when 2nd to Sir Gerard in the Britannia Stakes at Ascot.  Superdeus was back in 8^th that day and is actually 2 lbs worse off.  Superseus has won since though, last time out at Ascot and is clearly in good heart.

  

Compromiznotension won a maiden at Newcastle and was then third on his handicap debut.  Tom eves rides him in the 4.10 where he has an each way chance.

  

 Celtic Carisma has already win for us at 12/1 so does not owe me anything.  He might find the 12 furlongs of the 4.40 a little on the sharp side.

  

In 5.10 Woolly Bully is our list horse.  He has had a long break since just going down by a short head at Leicester.  Frankie Dettori is an eyecatching jockey booking.

  

Vanquisher has shown enough in his 2 starts so far to suggest that he can take a hand in the 3.30 at Windsor.

  

There was plenty to like about Oldjoesaid’s maiden win at Sandown and he makes his nursery in the 4.00.

  

Not long now before the winter jumping gets under way.

 

Continue reading “Diary: October 2 2006” →

I enjoyed the racing from Newmarket today, especially so as we had a couple of winners from the list to follow.

  

Degas Art took the listed race at 3.35 under a top ride from the in form Kerrin McEvoy.  The horse ran on his own down the inside rail which may have suited him as he got upset in the preliminaries and may have benefited from his splendid isolation.

  

Our other winner was the well backed Rampallion in the handicap that closed the days proceedings.  He had not run for a year so this was a good training performance.  He was also carried wide in the closing stages.

  

Indian Ink won the Middle Park, not bad for a filly that was bought for only 25,000 guineas.  She is by Indian Ridge, a stallion that usually produces progeny that act with give in the ground.  Later on the card, Desert Dew won the maiden and he is also by Indian Ridge.

  

There is no shortage of racing over the weekend and I will begin at Newmarket.

  Olympian Odyssey was 3^rd in the 2,000 Guineas and that form has worked out pretty well.  He should therefore go well in the Group 3 Joel Stakes at 2.35.  

The Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes at 3.10 looks a hot race but Peeress will be suited by the ground and has the class to win this. Soviet Song may just not be quite the force of old and mud lover Musicanna could be the main threat.

  

And so to the 36 runner Cambridgeshire.  There is plenty of interest for the Russellform followers as there are a number of runners from the list.  Cesare, Hinterland, Rahaani, Blythe Knight, My Paris, Pinpoint and Kamanda Laugh. Cesare is a doubtful starter so I will leave him out of the equation.  A case can be made for all of these for one reason or another.  Rohaani showed much improved form to win at York last time out and could be well handicapped.  He might need faster ground though so I will pass him by.  Kamanda Laugh is something of a course specialist but his recent form would be a worry. Blythe Knight is at his best on soft ground and is well drawn so he can’t be ruled out, especially as he ran well last time out.  My Paris was 3^rd in this last season but like Kamanda Laugh has not been at his best this season.  Hinterland and Pinpoint are both lightly raced and have good form this season.  Of the two Hinterland has the better draw and I will burden him with my selection.

  

In the 4.55 our runners are Minority Report, Easy Air and Kenmore.  Of the 3 Kenmore is the most likely to have the ground conditions in his favour.

  

Whispering Death (5.30) has won twice for our list this season and is ridden by Kerrin McEvoy who can seemingly do no wrong.  I think that the trip might be on the short side for Whispering Death and in addition his best form has been on fast ground.

  

Up at Redcar Asturias is my each way fancy in the opener at 1.45.  He was noted making late headway on his debut when 5^th of 10 at Kempton.

  

Course and distance winner Rio Riva looks to hold a sound chance in the 2.20 where capable 5 lbs claimer Jamie Moriaty has been booked to ride.

  

In the 2.50 Hoh Mike has the form in the book and is also well drawn.

  

Goodricke would be good enough in the listed race at 3.25 if back to his best.  Prince of Light has each way claims.  It will also be interesting to see how New Seeker goes for his new trainer, although conditions seem unlikely to be in his favour.

  In the Kempton 2.10 my selection is the course and distance winner Monzante.  In the 3.15 Intrepid Jack has possibilities.  He well handicapped and has won on the all weather.  Trip may just be on the short side.  

Our list horse Scottish Pancake is my hopeful selection in the 4.25.  He was well backed last time out on his seasonal reappearance but had no chance when the jockey’s saddle slipped.

  

Our list representative in the 5.00 is Exmoor who won earlier in the season at 8/1 but has done little since.

  

The Godolphin horses are running well at present and Echo of Light can add to their recent tally in the 3.25 at Longchamp.

  

On Sunday one of our list horses Benbaun, is in Japan at Nakayama where he will contest the Group 1 Sprinters Stakes.

  

The highlight at Tipperary on Sunday is the return to action of star hurdler Harchibald while also at Tipperary Cuan Na Grai seeks to extend his unbeaten run in the 4.55.

  

Reverence and Moss Vale represent our list to follow in the 2.15 at Longchamp.  If the ground is riding soft I would fancy Reverence to complete his 5th win of the season.

  

The Group 1 at 2.50 features Alexandrova and Nannina, with preference for the Irish filly.  I don’t have any strong views on the Arc.  Shirocco to beat Hurricane Run perhaps.

  

Have a good weekend.

 

Continue reading “Diary: September 30 & October 1 2006” →

The main meeting tomorrow is again at Newmarket where things get under way with the Somerville Tattersall Stakes, a Group 3 at 1.30.  Like most of the card this race looks very tricky.  I thought Manchurian looked impressive when winning at Wolverhampton, and whilst this represents a big step up he could be value at around 9/1 with Jamie Spencer on board.

  

The 2.00 has gone to the favourite 3 times out of the last 10 years but the last 2 years the winners have been 12/1 and 40/1.  It might be worth looking for some value and I thought about Indian Ink, Silca Chiave and Vital Statistics.  Silca Chiave looks an improver and might be worth a small each way.  At around 20/1 Vital Statistics has place claims at least.

  

The 30 runner 2.35 will take some solving.  Espartano (12/1) and Mount Hermon (25/1) would be tentative each way suggestions.

  

Aiden O’Brien sends Brave Tin Soldier over to contest the 3.10.  He has a fair bit to find to win this but he win nicely enough in listed company at The Curragh last time.  Dutch Art though has rock solid form and will take the beating.

  

There are 4 runners in the 3.45 from our list to follow.  Degas Art was fourth in 1m4f Royal Ascot Group 2 in June and he would have a shout if reproducing that form.  Fire and Rain found the St Leger too far for him last time out and the trip here will be more suitable.  Into the Dark is a keen sort and probably not one to absolutely rely on.  He has a strange set of form, figures, four straight wins followed by 5 times a beaten favourite.  He would be a danger at his best but the percentages call is probably the consistent Khyber Kim.  Lightly race, progressive and acts on any going.

  

The 4.20 looks an interesting maiden.  Al Tharib ran with promise at Leicester when 3^rd on his debut and is respected, while Murbek was another to run well on his debut when 2^nd at Sandown.  There is little to choose between these two.  Desert Dew and the unraced Ardmaddy are others to note.

  

In the 4.55 Kirk Michael has the best form of those with a previous run.

  

I am hoping that our list horse Rampallion can take the 5.30.  He won his only start nearly a year ago but has had problems since.  The stable are quite capable of getting a horse ready after a long absence.

  

The consistent Castano would be my fancy at Lingfield in the 1.50 but he is not well drawn.

  

The nursery at 2.55 looks open.  Suhayl Star was 2^nd at Chester last time and gets the vote.

 

Continue reading “Diary: September 29 2006” →

Barry Hills has his horses in fair form at the moment and is quite capable of getting a two year old ready first time up.  His Tasleem is related to a number of winners and could be the answer to the 2.20 at Newmarket.

  

Staying with Barry Hills, his 3 year old Giganticus has been one of the less successful of our horses to follow.  He has been off the course for 76 days since running last of 14 so is not one I can give a particularly strong write up on in the 2.55.

  

It does seem to be Barry Hills day here tonight.  His 2 year old Palamoun is well bred and should come on for his run when last of 7 on his debut. He goes in the 3.30 where I will also be keeping tabs on Mark Johnston’s Hurricane Thomas, a brother to the smart St Andrews.

  

As a horse to follow Classic Punch has more than done his job by winning at 25/1 earlier in the season.  This half brother to Persian Punch has not really looked like repeating the dose in his subsequent runs.  He runs in the 4.05 where I see that 3 of the newspaper tipsters go for him.

  That is about it for tonight.

Continue reading “Diary: September 28 2006” →

I am short of time tonight so this will be a short update.

  

Tredegar, half brother to Eisteddfod, has changed stables since his debut run when he was 5^th at Haydock.  He should have come on for that and I would expect a decent effort from him in the 2.20 at Lingfield. The newcomer Water Mill is related to several winners and looks interesting.

  

In the 2.50 Adabi is a well related individual and comes from the stable that won this race in 2004.

  

Mark Johnston unleashes Provost for his debut in the 3.10 at Newcastle.  This one has been the subject of some promising reports

  

In the 2.30 at Salisbury Coeur De Lionne looks the one top beat.

  

El Dececy looks the form horse in the 3.00 while Composing looks a likely newcomer.  He is from the same family as Yeats.

  

Furnace is dropped in class in the 3.30 and can get back to winning ways.

  

Resignation has been a bit unlucky of late and should not be far away in the 4.30.

  

There are only 2 runners from our list to follow in action and they both go in the 5.00.  Greek Renaissance looked to be well ahead of the handicapper when storming clear to win at Goodwood last time out. Our other runner is Sant Elana who beat Greek Renaissance when they met in July.  I will go with Greek Renaissance for my selection though.

 

Continue reading “Diary: September 27 2006” →

Bygone Days and Fonthill road fought out the finish in the conditions sprint at Hamilton with the Godolphin horse just getting the better of the argument.  The other winner for our list to follow was Harrison’s Flyer.  His win, at 6/1, came in his 13^th run of the season so at least he has recouped some losses.

  

The other runner from our list was Cool Customer who was second at Hamilton, only beaten a neck.

  

We have just two runners from our list in action tomorrow.

  

At Goodwood Stronghold has a definite chance in the 3.40 and connections seem quite hopeful.  He won a listed race earlier in the season and goes for his first success at Group 3 level here.  Quito must always be respected but he has had a busy season and in addition this undulating track is probably not ideal for him.

  

Our other runner is Seabow in the 3.35 at Nottingham.  The Godolphin colt has been off the track for a year since making a promising debut in a Newmarket maiden.  The stable are in form and I am hopeful.

  

There are a couple of 2 year old races that interest me.  In the 2.00 at Goodwood Spiderback, a half brother to Ruby Rocket has each way claims.  He posted his best effort to date when 3^rd in a nursery last time and the form of that race has worked out quite well.

  

In the 4.30 at Nottingham newcomer Beautiful Dancer is a half sister to numerous winners and looks one to keep an eye on.

  

Bye for now

 

Continue reading “Diary: September 26 2006” →

The star performance of the weekend was clearly George Washington who silenced his critics in the QU II Stakes. Whether he will cope with the stress of a journey across the Atlantic for the Breeders Cup may be open to question.  However, on the evidence of yesterday’s success he must rank with the better milers we have seen in recent times. Supaseus was the other winner from our list to follow on Saturday. The way he won suggests that there may be more success to be had with him before the end of the current campaign. 

“Thommo” gave a favourable mention to our old friend Sierra Vista on the Morning Line yesterday and the mare duly won at 16/1.  She was probably pickable as she had slipped back to a reasonable handicap mark.   Sierra Vista made pretty well all and pulled clear in the closing stages.  It was a good race for the Russellform old boys as the veteran Smokin’ Beau was 3^rd, River Falcon a fast finishing 4^th and Cape Royal 6^th.  The race was called the Lester Piggott start to finish handicap so it was fitting that Sierra Vista made all.

 

This was the mare’s 9^th career win and 6 of those have been at 11/1 or better.

 If I hadn’t been semi comatose on Saturday evening I would have given Just Dust a write up.  He hung on gamely in the nursery at Ascot and avoided being swallowed up by some fast finishers to land the prize at 25/1.  That was his 5^th win from 12 starts and his shortest winning price has been 5/1.  When you consider that the first of those wins was in a seller at Catterick he has done pretty well.  Claimer Marc Halford has ridden him to his last 4 victories.  Incidentally, the dam won 3 times as a juvenile. 

OK, let’s have a look at the 3 meetings on Monday.

  

In the Bath 3.20 Fever, a colt by Dr Fong, should appreciate the trip and could be the one to benefit should the hot favourite fail to produce the goods.

  

Harrison’s Flyer may not have been one of my better choices for the list to follow.  The trouble is that he just runs too often, so if he does fail to win he doesn’t do a lot for the stats.  He has already run 12 times this season and turns out again in the 5.00 at Brighton.  Will it be lucky 13?  Well he is a course and distance winner, but he has been running off a similar mark for a while without winning.

  

The Hamilton 2.40 looks an interesting sprint.  It could be between Elite Racing Club’s Eisteddfod, Bygone Days from our list to follow and the Ayr Gold Cup winner Fonthill Road.  All 3 handle give in the ground.

  In the 3.40 Swiss Act looks the one to beat but is likely to be a short price.  Ed Dunlop’s Cool Customer has been admirably consistent for our list to follow and can notch his fourth win of the season in the 4.40.

Continue reading “Diary: September 25 2006” →

I am suffering from a touch of the “virus” tonight so excuse the short bulletin.

  

Ascot 2.45 Glistening has been really unlucky in some big handicaps but has a fair bit to find now he takes his chance in Group 3 company.

  

3.15 Peppertree Lane has already won 4 times this season and could well make it 5 here.  More rain would help.  Consular is the other runner from our list.

  

3.50 Presto Shinko represents the list to follow and has a decent chance.

  

George Washington and Superseus won for the list to follow today and I was also pleased to see our old friend Sierra Vista once again pop up at a big price.

  Petara Bay, mentioned in last nights preview was also a winner.

Continue reading “September 24 2006” →