Category: Racing diary

On a very hot day the Ladbrokes office on the approach to Manchester’s Piccadilly station was an oasis of cool today – I can strongly recommend it. 

 

 

If the weather has been hot of late so has the form of Sir Mark Prescott’s three year olds.  They are doing wonders for the stats on my list to follow with Alambic winning yesterday and Liberate today. Alambic looks the sort that could go jumping like some others from the same yard – No Refuge and Inglis Drever for instance.  Alambic made it a hat trick of wins when accounting for Platinum Charmer at Yarmouth. Platinum Charmer was originally owned by the ill fated Platinum Racing Club and was ridden to victory by the now suspended jockeys Fergal Lynch and Darren Williams.  Liberate was a good thing at Lingfield this afternoon and made all to score by 9 lengths.  He is another big strong sort that may go to a jumping yard in due course. 

 

 

We have 3 runners in action form the list to follow on Thursday and, surprise surprise, two of them are Sir Mark Prescott 3 year olds. Alambic goes for a 4 timer in the 5.00 at Hamilton and looks to have a few pounds in hand of her rivals.  This is her 4th run in 10 days but as long as she is not suffering from that workload she will probably win again. Warsaw Pact is going for his 4^th win of the season in the 8.05 at Wolverhampton.  His performances thus far have stamped as a tough, progressive young stayer and he is sure to start favourite. 

 

 

The third runner from our list to follow is Raucous, trained by Tom Tate who goes in the 2.10 at Leicester.  He was 4^th in both his starts last season and should be up to winning a race this term.  Something to note about this race is that favourites have an excellent record, winning 8 of the last 10 renewals.  In fact the biggest starting price of a winner in the last 10 years is 100/30.  I note that Able Baker Charlie won this in 2002 and went on to finish 2^nd in the Royal Hunt Cup 2 years later. 

 

See you tomorrow.

 

Continue reading “Diary: July 20 2006” →

I am writing these notes prior to the evening racing so I don’t know how Alambic got on.  My main hope for Wednesday is another 3 year old from the Prescott stable, Liberate, in the 4.20 at Lingfield.  Liberate has been consistent all season and the way he stayed on last week at York leads me to think that the longer trip here should be in his favour.

  

Imperial Gain just lost out in a tight finish at Leicester behind Stef Liddiard’s tough 8 year old Certain Justice. He should go well in the 9.20 at Kempton.

  

Our third runner on Wednesday is Henchman in the Lingfield 4.50.  His recent form has not been encouraging unfortunately.

  See you tomorrow.

Continue reading “Diary: July 19 2006” →

Ironically given the heat wave at the moment Cool Customer was a winner for our list to follow at Windsor tonight at 7/1.  This was his 3^rd win of the season.

  

The only runner from the list Tuesday is Sir Mark Prescott’s Alambic who goes for a hat trick in the 8.50 at Yarmouth. This imposing filly has won her last two starts in impressive style and looks likely to add to her tally.  The way she has stayed on in her races this season indicates that she will not be inconvenienced by the extra 2 furlongs here.  It is worth watching her win at Musselburgh on July 10 if you have the Racing Post video link.

  

Talking of the Racing Post I liked their headline, “Fallon ice cold on Alex,” referring to Alexandrova’s win in the Irish Oaks.  It brings back memories of the film and Sylvia Sims in those khaki shorts!  Anyway enough of that, I’m feeling warm enough as it is!

  

We all get a mountain of junk mail these days and I am certainly no exception.  A lot of it is racing related and just recently I have had a couple of interesting brochures.

  

Just before the World Cup I received a brochure form “The All England Racing Club” complete with the red cross of St George on the front.  They advertise “a winning tradition” nice word that tradition, the brochure promises that if I follow their straightforward advice I will be a millionaire by 2010.

  

One punter is quoted as saying, “I have joined many different racing services in the past, some have shown a small profit but most have been useless. Since I joined the All England Club I have consistently won.  I don’t know how you do it but keep it coming.”  They have an office in London.

  

I then got some stuff from Thomas Whitaker.  This chap has “inside contacts” and won £380,000 last year alone.  Mr Whitaker has an office in London. I tend to get one of these invites a month, they usually claim to be a limited offer to the first 500 applicants and they tend to have reduced subscription fees.

  

I always assume these things are bogus but if anyone has any info bout these two or offers like them I would appreciate your comments.

  See you tomorrow.

Continue reading “Diary: July 18 2006” →

Time for one of those “what do you think of ot so far” moments.  

Of the 198 horses on the list to follow 66 have won at least once.  13 have won twice and Warsaw Pact has won 3 times.  Classic Punch has been the best priced winner at 25/1, followed by Blythe Knight at 22/1.  There have been 12 winners at 10/1 or better.  From the small Irish/French list Alexandrova and Shirocco have both won twice.

  

Moving on to Monday’s racing.  Grigorovitch is not the most reliable but I am hoping he will clock up at least one win this season at decent odds to justify his place on the list to follow.  His second last time and the fact that he is a course and distance winner give me reason to hope in the 4.10 at Ayr.

  Down at Windsor in the 6.35 The Jay Factor showed plenty of promise on his debut at Sandown for first year trainer Pat Eddery.  Of the newcomers Pretty Miss looks the pick on pedigree.  

In the 6.55 Cool Customer and Fear to Tread represent out list to follow.  Cool Customer has already won twice but5 there are doubts about the suitability of fast ground.  Fear to Tread on the other hand, a winner at Warwick last time out should handle the ground and is the selection.

  

At Wolverhampton Parks Girl makes some appeal in the 7.40 even though she was last on her debut in a better race.  Bellapais Boy could be the danger.

 

Continue reading “Diary: July 17 2006” →

Friday was a frustrating day for me wth Interpid Jack. Iffraaj and Liberate from the list to follow all coming second.  Our only winner of the day was Sir Mark Presscott’s Warsaw .  In fact Prescott has kept my list in business all week with an amazing run of results.    

Sunday 9 – Prince Picasso won

 

Monday 10 – Alambic won

 

Tuesday 11 – Warsaw Pact won

 

Wenesday 12 – Key Time won (not on my list to follow)

 

Thursday 13 – Alambic won

 

Friday 14 – Warsaw Pact won

  A lot of people place great store by trends in horse racing.  I decided to apply the theory to the 2.00 at Lingfield on Saturday. In the last 7 years the winner has come from stall 1 on 3 occasions.  This time Tom Paris is drawn 1.  During that period Richard Hannon has trained the winner 3 times.  He runs High Style this time.  6 of the last 7 winners have carried 8 stone 12 or more.  Now that excludes the two I have already mentioned but brings in 5 more horses – and there are only 8 runners!  I gave up at that point.  The 3.45 is a fascinating race.  There are two from our list to follow, Elusive Dream and Inchnadamph, as well as Dancing Bay from the Elite Racing Club.  

With Sir Mark Prescott in such fine from you have to give the consistent Elusive Dream every chance.  He stays and has won on the AW. Inchnadamoh won over this trip at Newmarket last season but has not run for 88 days.  There are plenty of contenders, not least Prins Willem and Dorothy’s Friend.  The former runs in the orange colours of the Dutch football team so will be easy to spot if you back him. I can strongly recommend that you use the Racing Post video facility to watch the finish of Prins Willem’s last race where he gets up right on the line.  He is a bit of a specialist in close finishes and dead heated for first in a race a couple of years back.  Dorothy’s Friend has had injury problems and missed all of last season.  A solid 4^th in the Northumberland Plate signalled a return to form last time and this one is certainly a threat. Unleash is a former winner of the Plate but has more recently been running over hurdles and fences.  Freddy is a former classic winner in the Argentine, Odiham can’t be ruled out and Frankie Dettori rides a horse with an Italian name!  Elusive Dream just gets my vote ahead of Prins Willem and Dorothy’s Friend.

  

There are 3 runners from the list to follow in the 4.15.  Cesare and Stronghold were 1^st and 2^nd in the Royal Hunt Cup and that handicap form looks solid as the 4^th and 8^th have both won big races since.  That was handicap form though and this is a Group 3 race.  Echo of Light is our 3^rd runner.  He looked a very difficult ride at times last year but still managed to win twice.  He cost an awful lost of money as a yearling though and could, as the saying goes, be anything.  Tricky race.

   

With the Prescott horses in such fine form I am hopeful about El Alamein (3.25) and Prince Picasso (4.00).

   

In the 8.35 Snark has an each way chance at around 8/1.

  

Mutawaffer has not won since Pontius was a Pilot but he has shown signs of a return to form of late. Not least when a slightly unlucky 2^nd 9 days ago.  He is in with a chance in the 2.10 at York.

  

High Reach (2.45) has been badly out of form since finishing 3^rd to Zowington in April.  Hard to fancy until he shows followers a bit more encouragement.

   I don’t have a great track record in the John Smith’s Cup (3.55) although Far Lane was a winner fro the list to follow in 2003.  We are double handed this year with Star of Light and Public Forum.  Star of Light has surprised me this season running well in all his 4 races.  He should again be to the fore on his favoured ground.  My tip though is the lightly raced Public Forum He has won 3 of his 4 races – but his only failure came when he ran on fast ground so fingers crossed that he acts on the ground here.  Vauquelin looks the form pick in the 4.25.  

Presto Shinko moves into group race class for th first time in the 3.20 at Maisons-Laffitte.

  

Sunday’s qualifiers from the list to follow.

  

Haydock 3.20 Sir Nod

  

Curragh 4.10 (Irish Oaks) – Alexandrova and Scottish Stage.

  

I will be back on Sunday evening.

 

Continue reading “Diary: July 15 & 16 2006” →

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On Thursday we had one short priced winner and 3 seconds.

  Friday’s Newmarket card kicks off with a I mile handicap at 1.30.  There are 3 runners from our list to follow in what looks an open race.  Regal Royale hasn’t won for nearly a year but has tended to meet with traffic problems and deserves to win a race of this sort.  His latest effort was a staying on 5^th at Royal Ascot and on that form he has chances in this.  Giganticus was well down the field in that Ascot race but was badly drawn that day and is better judged on a decent 3^rd at this track over 7 furlongs.  I just have a slight doubt about the trip being ideal for him.  The fourth runner from the list to follow in this race is Superseus who was 8^th in that Ascot handicap behind Sir Gerard.  There seems no good reason why he should reverse the form with Regal Royale.    

My tip here is for Regal Royale.

  

We also have 3 runners in the 2.35.  Zidane would be a topical winner but he has gone up 10 lbs for his last win and does not have a very favourable draw.  Intrepid Jack has not won over this distance so my vote is for Easy Air who finished very strongly in a hot race at Royal Ascot behind Sir Gerard.

  

In the 3.10 Moss Vale, Iffraaj and Balthazaar’s Gift represent the current list to follow, while Quito, Pivotal Point and Gift Horse are from previous year’s lists.  Iffraaj ran quite well last time at Ascot and with the stable showing some signs of form he gets a very tentative each way selection.  He should have his favoured fast ground.

  In the 3.45 Michael Jarvis runs Freedom at Last.  This one may well need the race but on breeding looks an interesting prospect.  Another Michael Jarvis two year old, Ebn Reem should go well in the nursery at 4.20.  I still haven’t given up on Cyclical getting his head in front at a nice price as some stage this season.  He runs in the 8.40 at Chepstow.  

Zomerlust has already won for us earlier in the season.  He runs in the 8.20 at Hamilton but is unlikely to get his favoured ground conditions.

  

Banjo Patterson is the list horse in the 2.55 at Lingfield.  He was last at Pontefract 3 days ago in first time blinkers.  Difficult to fancy on this season’s form.

  

My best bet of the day is Roman Quest in the 3.30.  He has already won for us twice and was really unlucky at Newbury last week when he would have won but for getting boxed in.

  

The recent good run for the list to follow owes much to Sir Mark Prescott who has been turning out winners all over the place.  His Warsaw Pact  seeks to follow up a  win three days ago in the 5.45 at Lingfield.

  

Our list to follow is also represented at Longchamps in the 7.20 with Art Deco and Puerto Rico.  Art Deco was 4^th in the French Derby and goes here with a chance.  He would probably not want the ground too quick.

  

Nidhaal was an encouraging 2^nd at Haydock last time out after coming back from some injury problems.  She should go well in the 2.45 at York.

  We have 3 of the 6 runners in the 4.30.  Cool Customer, Sin City and Liberate.  Sin City was well supported on his seasonal debut but met with trouble in running.  He looks the best of our trio here.

Continue reading “Diary: July 14 2006” →

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Our list to follow is enjoying a successful time of it at the moment and Sant Elena was the latest winner at 12/1 in the 8.24 at Kempton tonight.  It is worth watching the video of this race as the other horse from our list, Greek Renaissance was extremely unlucky.

  

There are 3 runners from our list to follow in the 6 runner Newmarket 1.30.  It looks an open race with Degas Art having the best chance of our runners on the form book. His 4^th in a Group 3 at Royal Ascot puts him in with a good chance in this listed contest.

  

Morghim is held by Degas Art on their running at Ascot while Jadalee needs to find some improvement but that is not out of the question as he is a lightly raced sort.

  

The 2.00 should go to Hoh Mike who was unlucky to lose his unbeaten run in the Norfolk Stakes when he didn’t get a clear run.  Dazed and Amazed has been consistent in a workmanlike fashion and should at least get a place. Narjoo has only run once and could be an improver.  Dubai’s Touch has won his last two starts but has a fair bit to find to get competitive here.

  

Alambic ran away from her field on Monday and as long as she has come out of that race OK a 6 lb penalty seems unlikely to stop her in the Folkestone 4.40.

  

Whispering Death came back to form at Thirsk last time out and he is another that may well be able to shoulder a penalty to victory.  He is my selection in the 4.30 at Warwick.

  

At Wolverhampton I fancy Apollo Five in the 7.10.  He was finishing strongly when he won at Bath and the extra distance here should suit.  Beech Games is an interesting newcomer in this race.

  

I have practically bought Phone In this season. His stable are in cracking form so perhaps he will finally get his head in front in the 7.45.

  

In the 8.15 Mick Channon’s Candyland is my each way suggestion.

  Good luck and see you tomorrow.

Continue reading “Diary: July 13 2006” →

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There is no doubting which is the big race of the day on Wednesday, with a real vintage renewal of the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket (3.10).

  

Soviet Song, bidding to win this for the 3^rd year in a row is likely to start favourite. She showed her well being by landing a Group 2 at Ascot on her last run.  She has 5 Group 1 successes to her name and is likely to be very hard to beat here.

  

Peeress has beaten Soviet Song on two occasions and clearly cannot be ignored.  She was unlucky when 4^th in the Queen Anne when nothing went right for her. Nannina represents the younger generation.  She stormed clear of a high class field to land the Coronation Stakes and should get her favoured fast ground.  There is not much in it between these 3 and I think we have to be conscious of the fact that the younger filly, Nannina may still be improving.  Three year olds have won 6 of the last 10 runnings of this race and I am going to side with Nannina.  It is an intriguing race though and one not to be missed.

  There are some likely looking newcomers in the 3.45.  Gerard Butler’s Jafaru is related to a number of winners and should have no trouble stamina wise over this 7 furlong trip. Henry Cecil has won this race a couple of times in the last 10 years and he saddles Many Volumes. This colt is out of an Oaks winner and is certainly bred for the job.  The other on that takes my eye on breeding is Ed Dunlop’s Maslak who is a half brother to Nidhaal, a smart two year old from last season who won twice including first time out.   In the 7.56 Pineapple Poll is the day’s biggest certainty to achieve a career best run.  So far she has been last of 12 in both her races and this time there are only 11 runners!  

There are two from the list to follow in the 8.24. Sant Elena has been very disappointing and folded very tamely last time out.  Greek Renaissance if preferred after winning a Wolverhampton maiden on her latest outing.

  

The only other runner from the list to follow on Wednesday is Spectral Star in the Lingfield 5.15.

  Good luck

Continue reading “Diary: July 12 2006” →

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I am writing these notes before the evening racing but I see that Alambic was a winner for the list to follow this afternoon.  

There are a couple of runners from the list in the 3.45 at Pontefract.  This is quite an appropriate race for this site as it is the Richard lll Handicap – “a horse, a horse” and all that.  Banjo Patterson has failed to find his form this season and may simply be a little too high in the weights.  Ice Planet has a more obvious chance.  He hasn’t been far away in any of his races this season and will be suited by the fast ground.

  At Wolverhampton we have Wawsaw Pact who is a typical Sir Mark Prescott 3 year old handicapper. We have had a couple of winners from this source over the last 2 days and Warsaw Pact should go close here.

Continue reading “Diary: July 11 2006” →

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The only runner from our list to follow on Sunday was Prince Picasso who won at evens.  I wonder if he looked a picture in the paddock?  

I will start Monday’s preview at Bath where Star Strider is of interest in the 2.15. He went into my notebook as a likely future winner when 4^th last time at this track.  This is his third run in maidens and after this run he will be one to watch out for in nursery handicaps.

  

The 2.45 is a juvenile seller.  Suzieblue, wearing cheekpieces for the first time broke her duck in a similar contest at Chepstow and could well be involved in the finish here.  Fly Time is both owned and trained by Mick Channon.  She is dropped in class but it can sometimes be dangerous to support this type of horse in sellers.  Looks a race to be careful of.

  

Our list to follow has struck a bit of a purple patch in the last few days.  We are represented by Ceredig in the 4.15 but he has not given much cause for optimism so far this term and was last at Sandown on his most recent outing.  You would have to be backing the listers blindly to support him at the moment.

  

There is racing in Scotland at Musselburgh where the 3.00 is an auction maiden.  Sophie’s Dream ran with promise on her initial run at Redcar but failed to build on that start at Carlisle.  There is nothing else in this race that really catches my eye.

  

We have had some success with Sir Mark Prescott’s 3year olds this season, the latest winner coming today via Prince Picasso.  Prescott sends Alambic north for the 3.30.  He was 2^nd here last time out and is weighted to go close.  Might need an extra furlong or two though.

  

The 6.35 at Windsor should be a winning opportunity for Jo’burg who was 5^th in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.  Of those with previous runs Cheap Street was a bit unlucky last time and Eager Ivor will probably come on for his debut run.  Hughie Morrison saddles a likely newcomer in Sakhee’s Secret, whose half brother Marker won this a few years back.  Jo’burg should be too good though.

  

Conkering was an early season winner for our list to follow back in April but has been sidelined with an injury since.  That win was on soft ground but as long as he can handle a faster surface and has fully recovered from the injury he should go close in the 8.05.

  

I have been reminded that I have not given the answers to a couple of quiz questions I posed last week.  The connection between Just One Look and Green Tambourine is that they were both 60s song titles and Alf Tupper’s nickname was “The tough of the track.”

  See you tomorrow.

Continue reading “Diary: July 10 2006” →