There are 3 runners from our list to follow tomorrow.
Sandown 3.15 Art Investor
4.25 Imperial Gain
Yarmouth 4.35 Goodricke
Not much else to report.
Continue reading “Diary: September 12 2006”
Category: Racing diary
Diary: September 11 2006
The weekend proved fairly productive for our list to follow with 5 winners.
Tax Free is coming good after a slightly stuttering start and recorded his second win in a week on Saturday. He lowered the course record at Leicester in midweek and his win in a listed race at Goodwood confirmed that he is going very much the right way.
I have often bemoaned my lack of success in following Sir Michael Stoute runners so I was glad that Rohaani bucked the trend on Saturday. Our other two winners on Saturday were Iffraaj and Echo of Light both ridden by Frankie Dettori.
I am not sure that the Prix Foy on Sunday gave us much of a clue to the likely winner of the Arc. A slowly run race became a sprint to the line in the straight and Shirrocco held off stable companion Hurricane Run.
My best offering for Monday is Emaara in the 2.10 at Redcar. She is a half sister to numerous winners and her 3rd at Newmarket is looking good as the 2nd and 4th have both won since.
Centenary has been running consistently and sets the standard in the 3.10.
Miss Thailand has not been one of our more successful horses to follow. She has a chance to get off the mark in the 4.10 which looks a pretty ordinary race.
See you tomorrow.
Continue reading “Diary: September 11 2006”
Diary: September 10 2006
Qualifiers from the list to follow on Sunday.
Goodwood 3.45 Primary & Degas Art.
Kempton 4.35 High Reach
Longchamp 2.20 Shirrocco & Hurricane Run
3.20 Dragon Dancer
3.50 Tournedos
Continue reading “Diary: September 10 2006”
Diary: September 9 2006
A couple of things served as reminders that the jumps season is not too far off. Paul Nicholl’s excellent chaser Azertyuiop has failed to recover from injury and has been retired. I also see that Dr Thong and Celtic Mill have won on the flat in the last few days. They were both winners on the all weather last winter.
Our list to follow has not generated any winners for a few days so hopefully we will get a change of luck over the weekend. I wasn’t too far away with my 2 year old predictions today. I thought that Oldjoesaid won particularly nicely at Sandown.
I will just look at Saturday’s racing tonight, starting with Bath.
Vaunt has had his chances without winning but is dropped in class in the 2.15 and that might just be enough for him to get his head in front.
Four horses from our list to follow contest the 3.50. Three Thieves has changed stables since I put him on the list and has been off the track for 328 days. In Full Cry has yet to win this season but has put in a few fair efforts and is not out of it. Kyoto Summit has already won for us once. He is dropped in class and his stable has a good record at this track. Lastly we have the ultra consistent Safqa who deserves a change of fortune having finished 2nd on 4 of his 6 career starts. Safqa gets my selection.
I think that Mesbaah has an each way chance in the 2.50 at Goodwood.
Kamanda Laugh has been frustrating this season. Kevin Ryan may have hit on the answer by trying him over 9 furlongs in the 3.25. This just could be his ideal trip.
Tax Free came back to form to win at Leicester in the week and I fancy him to follow that up in the 4.30.
The Group 1 race at Leopardstown (2.40) has 4 runners from our list to follow. Peeress has been running well in top company and has every chance. Mick Channon reports Flashy Wings to be in top form at home but both this filly, and Race for the Stars are held by Nannina on their running in the Coronation Stakes. Nannina is the one for me but Peeress is very much respected.
King Orchisios and Indian Trail represent our list to follow in the 2.05 at York. There are both likely to start at around 14/1. King Orchisios has an each way chance I would say.
Prince Forever won his only start thus far and I will take a chance with him in the 2.35.
The drying ground will suit Iffraaj in the 3.10. The in form Quito is clearly the danger.
We have 2 list runners in the St Leger. Jadalee is our best chance and at 8/1 is each way value. Our other runner is Irish raider Fire and Rain.
We have 3 runners in the 4.25. Nakheel is likely to need the race after a long lay off. I quite like the chance of Olympian Odyssey who ran 3rd in the 2,000 Guineas. That form puts him in with a sporting chance here. Our third runner is Echo of Light who is likely to start favourite. At his best he will be hard to beat.
There was much to like about English Ballet’s win at HQ last time and she is my selection in the 5.00.
Rohaani and Mutawaffer are our runners in the 5.30. Both have been underachievers this season so far and could not be tipped with any confidence here.
See you tomorrow night for a look at Sunday.
Diary: September 8 2006
The highlight today has to be Quito’s win at Haydock, the 20th of his career. He has been a super horse and is as god as ever at the age of 9. It has been suggested that Haydock name a race after him.
There is flat racing at Sandown and York tomorrow.
The Sandown card opens with a 5 furlong maiden where Oldjoesaid and Castano have the best form on show.
Our list to follow is represented by Scotch Pancake in the 4.15. She was 2nd of 17 only beaten a short head on her only start last season. I am hopeful as long as she can overcome an absence of nearly a year.
York stages the Flying Childers Group 2 at 2.05 where Hoh Mike and Bahama Mama would be my 2 against the field.
Allegretto hasn’t done too much wrong this season and the step up in trip in the 2.40 should suit her. I have a particularly poor record when following horses from this stable so fingers crossed.
Tungsten Strike has already won or us this season and has put in a few other decent efforts. Should again give a good account in the 3.15.
Diary: September 7 2006
Sir Nod and Sant Elena both finished second today so I am afraid we drew a blank from the list to follow. Both were given each way though.
I enjoyed a bit more success with my preview of the 2 year old races as both Tastahil and Benfleet Boy won at Kempton. The well bred Tastahil looked good and is one to keep in mind for the rest of the season and beyond. He held on well up the long Kempton Straight, something plenty of horses fail to do. Benfleet Boy looks the type that should improve with time as well.
I will start tonight’s bulletin with the Chepstow 2.00 where Alittlebitleft and Leptis Magna can be expected to come on for their debut outings. The well bred Colorado Rapid is an interesting newcomer.
In the 2.30 Beech Games has the most experience and may well make it count judged on a good second at Beverley last time out from an indifferent draw. Petara Bay was an expensive purchase and is related to some useful types including Echoes in Eternity.
There is an old adage that you should stick with in form sprinters. On that basis you have to give Meikle Barfil a chance to follow up on his first ever win at Salisbury last week in the 5.10.
Halla San has been a good servant to this column in the past. He handles soft ground well and should run a big race in the Haydock 2.20.
We have a couple of list horses in the 3.55. Ordnance Row has done his job for me having won a handicap at Chester at 20/1. He handles soft ground but has plenty to find with some of his rivals here. Goodricke has been off the track for a long time but has the quality to win this if he is straight after his absence. Our old friend Quito is the one they all have to beat though after his super run on Saturday behind Reverence.
In the 5.00 Conkering will certainly handle the ground as his only win so far came in the soft at Ripon. He has an each way chance I would say.
Bazroy has put in some good performances in better company and looks the one to be on in the 2.10 at Southwell. Miss Haversham is no forlorn hope at 66/1.
Godolphin have 3 of the 6 runners in the 3.45. I will stick with Into the Dark from our list to follow.
Finally, Cardinal Venture is an autumn type and should go well in the 4.50.
Diary: September 6 2006
Well, Tax Free kept things going for the list to follow this afternoon while Hotel Du Cap made a pleasing return after nearly a year of the track.
On the juvenile front Lady Lily was dropped in class to win the opening maiden up at Catterick and may be able to find another race before the end of the season. Elsewhere Al Tharib and Kirk Michael made promising debuts in the last race at Leicester.
My regulars will know that I have a particular affection for certain horses, often sprinters when it comes to flat racing. Trojan Flight is one such and he managed to get his head in front today after a long losing sequence. He needs to be held up and is not the easiest horse to win with. Not surprisingly given his style of running hsin success today was gained by the shortest of short heads.
Wednesday’s racing is pretty ordinary stuff. There are 3 runners from our list to follow.
Sant Elena returns to Kempton for the 3.10 having won at the track in a fast time over 6 furlongs the run before last. She has since run well in third at Lingfield but is creeping up the weights. She races over 7 furlongs tomorrow which I am not sure will suit her. She has an each way chance at 15/2.
Sir Mark Prescott’s 3 year olds kept my list to follow in business in mid summer but there wins have rather tended to dry up of late. Prince Picasso has been consistent and has registered 3 wins and while you wouldn’t want to rule him out the stable rate not in quite the form of earlier in the season.
Our third runner is Sir Nod in the 4.50. He is yet to win this season but there have been excuses. Lightly raced and apparently well thought of by connections. Rather like the other two you could drum up at each way chance for him.
The 2.10 at Kempton looks tricky. The well bred Tastahil should be better for a debut outing.
In the 2.40 Benfleet Boy has an obvious chance. He shaped well in 4th on his debut and the runner up that day has since won. Of the newcomers Norman Tradition is one to watch out for.
At Southwell Dance of Dreams should improve on his debut 7th in the 1.50.
Diary: September 5 2006
We had a couple of winners from our list to follow today with both Kerriemuir Lass and Compromiznotension both scoring for the first time in their careers. I don’t think the form of either race amounts to much but both won with some authority (and it makes my stats look a bit healthier!)
There were a couple of two yaer old races that caught my eye. I gave a mention to Slate in last night’s preview and he turned over the hot favourite at Warwick to win at 25/1. On the basis that Jamie Osborne’s 2 year olds normally need their first run there should be more to come from Slate.
In the nursery The Illies, trained by Barry Hills was broke her duck at 11/1. He had shown little glimmers of form in his 3 earlier races and is a half brother to 3 winners.
Hotel du Cap represents the list to follow in the 3.40 at Leicester. I fancied this one as a bit of a dark horse after he showed some promise in 3 runs last season. He has been off the course for nearly a year though which would seem to indicate that he may have had a problem.
I didn’t think I would still eb waiting for Tax Free’s first win of the season at this stage of the proceedings. He should really be good enough to get off the mark for the season in the 4.10.
In the 4.40 El Dececy is the only one in the field with a Group 1 entry and at 7/1 looks interesting.
In the 5.10 Al Tharib is related to good winners in Japan and the USA. There are also good reports about Henry Candy’s Kirk Michael.
Mount Hermon, 3rd on his debut sets the standard in the Lingfield 1.50. View from the Top and Malt or Mash could be the pick of the remainder.
Star Strider was my fancy for the 3.20 until I saw the draw.
See you tomorrow
Continue reading “Diary: September 5 2006”
Diary: September 4 2006
It was a day for the mudlarks on Saturday and I thought there were some noteworthy performances. Reverence and Peppertree Lane have done well for my list to follow and both notched their 4th wins of the current campaign.
Reverence probably only just stayed the 6 furlongs in the bottomless ground at Haydock and the old warrior Quito was flying at him over the last 100 yards. The point with Quito is that he stays 7 furlongs and in that testing ground he was always likely to be staying on when others had packed it in.
Peppertree Lane is another who likes the soft ground. He was expertly ridden by Kevin Darley to shake off the challenge of the persistent Quizzene.
A couple of ex Russellform horses to follow also enjoyed the conditions. Cape Royal has bags of speed and shot out of the stalls to make every yard under Jamie Spencer. Spencer was also on board Zero Tolerance who also won his arce using front running atctics. This was his 8th career won and nost have been on soft or heavy ground. Kenmore, who finished fast behind Cape Royal looks one for the notebook.
There was a decent maiden at Kempton where the 3 horses named in my preview finished 1st, 2nd and 4th. Water Mill, Black Rock and Ideally all look worth following.
As we move into the autumn period of the flat season it seems an opportune time to look at the performance of the horses on our list to follow.
If we judge by number of wins than Alambic is way out on front with 6. The “chasing pack” are made up like this.
4 wins – Liberate, Warsaw Pact, Reverence & Peppertree Lane
3 wins – Alexandrova, Cool Customer, Moss Vale and Prince Picasso.
If we measure by starting price the best prices have been as follows.
Classic Punch 25/1: Blythe Knight 22/1: Ordnance Row 20/1.
These have all won at 16/1 – Consular, Meikle Barfil, Zomerlust.
14/1 – Cesare
12/1 – Borderlescott (also 10s), Celtic Carisma, Fear to Tread, Sant Elena, Warsaw Pact.
There are a smattering of runners from our list in action at Monday’s various meetings.
Kerriemuir Lass deserves to get her head in front. She seems genuine enough but keeps finding o0ne too good for her. She runs in the 4.10 at Bath.
Kerriemuir Lass has been runner up 4 times this season, but Phone In beats that with 5 2nds. He has changed stables since the start of the season and does not look one to trust. He goes in the 4.40.
The going up at Newcastle looks likely to be soft at best and that will no doubt influence the results.
Mark Johnston’s Love Dubai looks like being a short priced favourite. Captain Jacksparra might be the likely threat.
Compromiznotension looked promising in his first couple of starts but then seemed to go backwards. Has changed stables since and a change of scene may have put him back on course. He runs in the 4.30.
In the Warwick 2.20 Radical Views and Master of Destiny should both have come on for their debut runs while Ballet Boy is a Sadler’s Wells colt and half brother to a German 1,000 guineas winner.
Thabaat showed plenty of promise on his debut at Newbury and looks the one to beat in the 2.50. The unraced Slate is by Rock of Gibraltar and comes from a winning line on the dam’s side.
In the 3.50 Alambic goes for her 7th win of the season. The way she galloped her rivals into the ground 4 days ago you wouldn’t bet against her.
Diary: September 2 & 3
Yesterday’s bulletin could hardly have worked out better. Fullandby won at Haydock for the list to follow. He travelled well throughout for Paul Mulrennan to record his second win of the season.
The well backed Monzante won comfortably at Kempton while Eau Good chased home a hot favourite who had the benefit of previous experience and looks a sure winner in the future. The winner’s stablemate, Coeur de Lionne put in an eyecatching run after a slow start.
I will cover Saturday and Sunday in this bulletin starting at Haydock.
The going at the Lancashire track is likely to be soft or worse and that should suit Kenmore in the 1.10 at Haydock. He has failed to land a win since moving to Dandy Nicholl’s stable but did show some promising signs a couple of runs ago when running on in 5th place.
In the 1.45 top weight Frank Sonata will appreciate the ground. He is a course winner and comes into the race after a break. He won first time out this season so can run well fresh. Peppertree Lane, already a winner 3 times this season represents the list to follow and is another that is likely to relish the condistions.
We have 2 runners inn the Group 1 sprint at 2.15. There were a few raised eyebrows when Balthazaar’s Gift went to the mainly jumping yard of Tom George. Before that he had put is a fantastic performance to finish 2nd to Les Arcs at Ascot. Jamie Spencer has been booked to ride and the horse acts with give in the ground. Our other runner is Reverence who has already won 3 times including the Temple Stakes and the Nunthorpe. This is over 6 furlongs rather than 5 but I am pretty hopeful nonetheless. There are plenty of old favourites in the line up including Quito and Somnus.
In the 2.45 Zero Tolerance, Tanzanite and St Andrews should all appreciate the ground. St Andrews is the selection.
Striving Storm has been placed in decent company in two starts to date and is tipped to open his account in the 3.50.
4.15 Kempton Black Rock ran a promising race behind La Presse at York and looks the pick of those with experience. Of the unraced horses Water Mill is the subject of some very good reports, while Ideally is another worth a close look.
El Alamein represents the list to follow in the 5.25. He was beaten by Desert Sea last time out but has a pull in the weights with that rival here and is entitled to go close.
Well bred newcomer Swiss Act is one to watch in the Thirsk 2.50.
Linda Green who runs in the 5.35 is partly owned by Jimmy Tarbuck.
SUNDAY
My 3 against the field in the Lingfield 2.10 would be Daring You, Revisionist and Maid of Ale. Maid of Ale is well drawn and just gets my vote.
3.10 Odin Dawn and Rotation are both likely to benefit from the run but are worth watching for future reference.
3.40 Obe Brave and Zidane run from our list to follow. Zidane has already won twice this season and come from a family that normally improve with age.
ahorse 