Category: Racing diary

Tuesday was a bit frustrating with a number of near misses from the flat list to follow. Degas Art (2^nd 14/1), Obe Brave (2^nd 12/1), Giganticus (3^rd 5/1).  I did feature Speciosa though and the filly won at 9/1.

  

I am trying to cover the two year old races in more depth than last season. There is an interesting newcomer in the 2.00 in Fairfield Princess. Trained by Neville Callaghan this one looks worth keeping an eye on.  Should stay further than this 5 furlongs in time.

  

In the 3 year old maiden at 3.45 Edaara sets the standard.  This filly was placed in both her starts last season and is highly regarded by connections.  The other one I like is Illumise, from Ed Dunlop’s stable, who showed promise on her only run last season.

  

I was impressed with Indian Trail when he won a decent handicap here beating Baltic King last season. He has now moved to sprint king Dandy Nicholls and it will be a surprise if he doesn’t win a race or two this term.  He is 14/1 in the Racing Post for the 4.20.  He is on a career high mark though so will need to find some improvement.

  

The Wood Ditton Stakes is for unraced 3 year olds so is largely guesswork.  It is split into 2 divisions and the first race, at 4.55 features Archiestown, who has been the subject of some good reports.

  

In the 2^nd division at 5.25 I will be watching out for Petrovitch who cost 150,000 gns and is well related.

  

At Beverley we have King’s Gait in the 3.55.  His form last season has a solid look about it and his recent third at Southwell should have put him spot on.  He is not particularly well drawn however and may prefer more cut in the ground.

  

We have a list horse in the 2.55 at Cheltenham with dual course winner Fork Lightning.  He has put in some reasonable efforts this season without winning. The ground should suit and he does not seem unreasonably handicapped.

  

If you try hard enough you can drum up a chance for Cornish Sett in the 3.30.  Monkerhostin has had a very hard season, Our Vic is inconsistent and prone to the odd stinker, Le Roi Miguel failed to get round in the Grand National and all the others are out of the handicap.  A bit tenuous?  Jumps well though, has R Walsh in the saddle and could go close.

  

Alan King trains Fork Lightning and he is also responsible for our list horse in the 4.05.  Penzance has struggled a bit this season as winners of the Triumph Hurdle sometimes do in the following season.  He is stepped up in trip here and it will be interesting to see if that works or not.

  Alderburn and Lough Derg are runners from the list to follow in a tricky looking race at 4.40.  I see that 2 tipsters go for Alderburn and 1 for Lough Derg. Good luck

Continue reading “Diary: April 19 2006” →

Rio River was a 9/1 winner for the flat list to follow on Monday.  

There is some quality racing every day this week on the flat and over jumps.

  

At Newmarket all eyes will be on Pescatorio in the Newmarket 1.30.  This Aiden O’Brien colt is well bred and has been the subject of a fair amount of “hype” leading up to his debut here.  Loyal Royal ran some good races last season for David Elsworth but the Irish colt just could be something special.

  

The 2.35 looks a tight handicap and I will put up three from my list to follow.  Obe Brave lived up to his name when winning in determined fashion at York last season in his only run to date.  Should be capable of improvement. Giganticus is by Giants Causeway who has already had some success at stud with the likes of Footstepsinthesand and Shamardal.  Giganticus had two runs last season winning the second at Haydock.  He is a half brother to 6 winners. Our other runner is Regal Royale who won impressively on his debut but then ran too badly to be true next time out at York.

  

Speciosa is trained by Pam Sly who is better known as a trainer of jumpers.  Speciosa proved to be a serious horse last season and ended the campaign by winning a Group 2 at Newmarket beating the tough filly Violette in the process.  She runs in the Nell Gwyn nStakes at 3.10 and the fact that she has an unfashionable trainer will help the price.

  

The 3.45 is one of those sprints with all the usual suspects taking part.  Presto Shinko represents our list to follow.  He showed fine form last season edging out Fonthill Road in the Ayr Gold Cup.  He gets on particularly well with Richard Hughes and is not without a chance.

  

The 4.20 looks a decent maiden and there are 2 runners from the list to follow.  Degas Art was 2^nd at Newmarket on his last run.  That may not have been a strong race but he looks an interesting type nonetheless.  Slight preference on this occasion is for Sir Michael Stoute’s Galactic Star.  He was only 5^th on his one and only run last season but the 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th that day have all won since.  Sir Michael Stoute’s other runner, Hasayaz is an interesting newcomer.

  

We have one list runner in the 4.55.  Inchnadamph was 3^rd in the Cesarawitch last year.  Down in trip today and may need the run but he looks one to follow as the season progresses.

 

 

Fairyhouse selections. 

 

2.45 Mansony

 

 

3.15 O’Muircheartaigh 

 

 

3.50 Helensburgh or Ursis 

 

 See you tomorrow

Continue reading “Diary: April 18 2006” →

It was not a vintage weekend for the horses on our list to follow but one that did win, and in some style, was Sue Smith’s Undeniable.  Approaching 3 out it looked as though the Elite Racing Club runner, Dungarvakn’s Choice would be a threat as he was travelling easily but he found little in the closing stages and Undeniable skipped clear. Dungarvan’s Choice is trained by Nicky Henderson but Elite use 7 or 8 trainers, not a bad idea if you think about it.  Less chance of your “stable” being put out of action with a virus for example. 

  

One Elite trainer that has impressed me with the placing of her horses is Julie Camacho and she has a couple of runners from our list to follow on Monday, both at Redcar.

  

She runs Sir Nod in the 3.25, a 6 furlong handicap. On his last run Sir Nod was 2^nd on the All Weather behind Fyodor who has since franked the form.  At 8/1 he looks a reasonable each way bet.  There are 3 of our former “listers” in Bo McGinty, Danzig River and Trojan Flight.  The first two are difficult to win with but have ability.  Trojan Flight is more consistent and I will be interested to watch his progress this season.  Now that Lynda Ramsden has retired Trojan Flight has gone to David Chapman who does very well with sprinters.

  

The other Julie Camacho runner is Rio Riva in the 4.00.  This colt by Pivotal has only been out of the first 4 once in 9 starts.  He shapes as though he has further room for improvement and a good season looks on the cards. At 10/1 he looks another value each way bet.

  

Platinum Charmer, something of an old friend runs in the 5.10.  I see that at least one of the newspaper tipsters goes for him.

  

We have one runner in the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse (3.50). Our Ben is a course winner and 7 year olds have quite a good record in the race.  He has top weight however which is not a positive in a race like this.

  

Charlie Egerton runs Hobbs Hill in the 5.25 at Plumpton.  This big horse ran away with a bumper at Kempton but failed to justify favouritism on his hurdles debut at Wincantion when beaten into 2^nd.  He looks a scopey sort and may well have improved for that hurdles bow. 

  

Kevin Ryan gives Springtime Parkes her racecourse debut at Warwick in the 2.10.  This one is related to numerous winners and looks a filly to watch.  Her trainer does not have a great record with his juveniles first time out though.

  

The same trainer has an interesting newcomer in the 2.25 at Yarmouth in Amber Valley. Another for the notebook win or lose here.

  

In the 3.35 Sir Michael Stoute runs the well bred Pearly King.  He didn’t show a lot on his only run last season but may well be better than that.

  

In the 4.10 Sant Elena looks well handicapped and has the scope to be a class above these rivals.  She won nicely at Nottingham last October and was putting in good late work behind Easy Air when 3^rd on her seasonal reappearance.  As long as she handles the potentially fast ground OK I fancy her chances.

  Good luck

Continue reading “Diary: April 17” →

The month of April is always a tricky time to run this sort of web site as there is racing all over the place under both codes and it is easy to miss something.

  

I will cover both Saturday and Sunday tonight, starting with Kempton.  I have a lot of horses from Sir Michael Stoute’s stable on my list to follow so here’s hoping he has a good season. Rohaani showed progressive form last season winning 3 times and losing nothing in defeat when 4^th on his final outing in a race where the form has worked out well.  He makes his first appearance on an all weather surface here but should go well.  He has had a few problems in the starting stalls in the past.  He is a big horse and doesn’t fit in them too well apparently.  He runs in the 3.15.

  

Hiddensee proved a promising stayer last term and the 2 mile trip here should suit him.  A bit like Rohaani really, he will go well if he takes to the surface and the track.  He runs in the 5.25.

  

Howard Johnson has not enjoyed the best of seasons following on from all his successes of last term.  Few of his runners have really lived up to expectations and Julius Caesar is no exception.  After winning first time out his jumping has let him down badly since.  He would have a chance in the 2.30 at Carlisle if he has improved his fencing.  I see that Chopneyev, something of an old friend, runs in this.  He was a good hurdler a few years back until injuries interrupted his career.

  

I have got quite excited about the handicap chase at 3.30!  Sad isn’t it?  Anyway, our runner in this is Undeniable who is a very consistent type.  He has won once this season and last time out he was 3^rd at Cheltenham.  He isn’t the quickest thing on 4 lengths but he jumps well and never seems to run a bad race.  I also have a personal interest in this via Dungarvan’s Choice, an Elite runner. He runs off 128 whereas his best previous winning mark was 123 and he ahs gone up 3 lbs for finishing 2^nd last time.  He will relish the soft ground though and surely Nicky Henderson wouldn’t send him to Carlisle if he didn’t have a fair chance.  Silver Knight has had a successful time this season winning twice.  He is a course and distance winner, jumps well and has a very consistent career record.  Another interesting runner is Grattan Lodge who has been badly out of form this season but has won at this track 6 times.  Nice race – Undeniable has a sound chance.  Just a though.  Miss Matie Ross is pretty well handicapped I feel on her close second to Silver Knight earlier in the season.

  

In the 4.10 at Cork Sher Beau is my selection.  He disappointed last time at Leopoardstown behind The Railway Man but this looks easier.

  

Another from our list to follow, Spot the Difference, runs in the handicap hurdle at 4.40 but this looks like a warm up race before the Punchestown festival.

  

Over at Haydock Oscar Park represents the list to follow in the 2.55.  He has won a couple of novice hurdles this season but is giving weight away to all his rivals here and that may make life difficult for him.

  

We have a couple of listers in the 2,000 guineas trial at Leopardstown at 3.50.  Aiden O’Brien saddles James Joyce.  On the face of it his form does not look anything special but he has shown that he handles this ground and looks the sort that could improve at 3.  Mick Channon sends over Yassood who ran 8 times last season.  He does not look Classic Class but should be campaigned to win a race or two at a lower level.  He did cross the line in first pace in a group 3 at Longchamps last season but was disqualified.

  

Galileo Gallilei runs for Aiden O’Brien in the 5.20.  He did enough on his debut when 3^rd here to suggest he has a future and i9s my selection.  Should be suited by the trip.

  

Moving on to Sunday there is an interesting little maiden at 2.20.  I considered Jack Rackham, Just Dust and Stepaside for this.  Of the three Just Dust has already had a run.  He was slowly away at Bath before staying on into 7^th.  I wouldn’t give up on him yet.  Brian Smart has a poor record with his juveniles first time out so I will keep a watching brief on Jack Rackham.  I will give a tentative vote to Stepaside with Just Dust an each way chance.

  

Gregoravitch represents our list to follow in the 2.50. He is a tough sort that should pay his way this summer. He is a course and distance winner and I would expect a decent run from him.

  Accordello runs in the 4.20.  She is on our jumps, list to follow and his trainer does well with this type of horse on the flat.  Accordello has sound bumper form and has been running in some decent novice hurdles.  Should go well.  

Finger on the Pulse has not been out of th first 3 in his last 5 runs.  He should appreciate the ground in the 4.00 at Cork.  Good each way chance.

  

The big race at Fairyhouse is the Powers Gold Cup at 3.50.  4 of the 9 runners are from our list to follow.  In Compliance is considered a Gold Cup prospect and has a 100% record.  Missed That was 6^th in the Arkle at Cheltenham but had previously run up a hat trick.  Wild Passion was 4^th in the same race while The Railway Man was 7^th in the Royal and Sunalliance.  This is a close call and I think I am going to duck it.  I suppose I would take a chance with In Compliance if pushed.

  Back Sunday evening.

Continue reading “Diary: April 14 & 15” →

We only have one runner from the list to follow on Thursday.  Go For Bust runs in the 3.00 at Ludlow. As a horse to follow he owes us nothing as he has already recorded a win at 18/1.  That was a handicap hurdle however and this is a novice chase.  So far he has not cut much ice over fences but his trainer has always predicted that he would make a chaser so I wouldn't give up on his just yet.

 He has won on both his previous visits to this track.  That is all for tonight and there is no racing on Good Friday.  Happy Easter to all and I will be back on Friday evening with a preview of the weekend.  Take care.

Continue reading “Diary: April 13 2006” →

Not a bad haul on Tuesday.  The two runners from the list to follow were Roman Quest (won 6/1) and Exmoor (6/1 2^nd) while Sardis Road, tipped each way was second at 15/2.

  

The best racing on Wednesday is at Nottingham where Hart of Gold looks good in the 2.10 for in form trainer Mark Wallace.

  

Mannikko from the flat list to follow is my tip in the 2.40.  Geoff Wragg does well at this track and the horse has plenty of speed in the pedigree.

  

Mannikko’s sister Neverletmego runs in the following race at 3.10 so a quick family double is possible.  This one seems to prefer a quick surface howver. Also in this is Green Manalishi named after an excellent Fleetwood Mac song from the Peter Green days. This one has a chance too but my selection is Reverence, another from our list to follow.  There was much to like about his recent 3^rd at Redcar and the drop back to the minimum trip here should suit.

  

Our fourth list horse is Keith Reveley’s Celtic Carisma in the 3.40. Although she is a couple of pounds out of the handicap she showed progressive form last season and is not without a chance.  The ground is a potential negative as her form so far has been on a sound surface.

  

My own horses (the Elite Racing Club) – alright, mine and a few other people’s, have had an indifferent run of late.  Dancing Bay has been a good servant to the club and will appreciate the give in the ground.  He has an each way chance in the 4.10 but there are others with better chances.  Into the Shadows is on our jumps list and comes here on the back of a recent win.  The two I like best though are Crosspeace and Frank Sonata.  Crosspeace gets the vote, he is very consistent should appreciate the going.

  See you tomorrow.

Continue reading “Diary: April 12 2006” →

The horses featured in my preview last night were based largely on pedigree rather than form on the track.  Espartano was entitled to win given that his dam had produced 3 out of 3 thus far.  He did the job in smart style and may do better still on a sound surface.  Summer’s Eve looks a winner waiting to happen after her 2^nd in the 4.30.  She should lose her maiden tag, probably over further.  The well backed favourite Zidane was disappointing in the last race.  I have updated the flat list to follow with a few additional names. I think I will go with the list as it is now.

So far the flat list horses have been running like Wayne Rooney selections but it is still early days.  Less than 3 weeks left in the jumps season now.  Our list to follow has enjoyed plenty of success and the race for that most prestigious of awards, the Russellform horse of the year is as competitive as ever!  There are 4 horses tying for most prolific winner, Star de Mohaison, Neptune Collonge, Brave Inca and Southern Vic.  Best priced winner is shared by Florida Dream and River Alder at 20/1.  

There are 3 meetings to consider on Tuesday.  Starting with Bath I am a bit interested in Just Dust in the 2.10.  Bill Turner is a trainer with a good strike rate with his juveniles.  Just Debt might not win first time up but is certainly a name to keep in mind.  There are 2 runners from the flat list to follow in action.  Roman Quest makes his handicap debut in the 2.50 at Folkestone.  He is probably not a world beater but I hope he will pay his way over the season.   Roger Charlton does well with his sprinters and Exmoor looks one to follow this term.  He does not have the best of draws in the 3.20 but regardless of the outcome today I believe he will do a job for us this season.  

In the 2.40 at Bath Sardis Road has an each way chance.  He did not get a clear run on his debut.

 

Bye for now.

Continue reading “Diary: April 11 2006” →

The Grand National always looked a bit lop sided to me this year.  I found it very hard to get away from the obvious two, Hedgehunter and Clan Royal and found myself scratching around for alternatives. I did fancy Nil Desperandum as an each way chance but allowed myself to be put off by lack of support for Frances Crowley’s runner from the “experts.” In fairness though I would never have picked the winner.

  

There were some interesting stats to come out of the race.  Only one of the finishers carried more than 11 stone and that was Hedgehunter who was actually very well handicapped.  None of the 7 year olds finished and neither did any horse aged older than 12.

  

Stamina played a crucial role. 4 of the 9 finishers had previously finished in the first 6 in a Grand National. The winner had won the Irish National and Joe’s Edge the Scottish equivalent.  Puntal had won a Whitbread Gold Cup over 3 miles 5.5 furlongs while Inca Trail had plenty of stamina in his pedigree.  Between them his brothers have won 3 Cheltenham Gold Cups and finished a close 2^nd in a Scottish National.  The only finisher not to fit the mould was Risk Accessor who had actually failed to finish in the last two Aintree Nationals.  Still, there is always the exception to the rule, and as someone once comments, “horses are only human after all!”

  

Of the runners from our list to follow Clan Royal and Nil Desperandum ran with enormous credit.

  

We did have a couple of “list” winners on Saturday.  Asian Maze ran her opponents ragged in the Aintree Hurdle.  The form looks pretty good as she had Hardy Eustace toiling in her wake.  Manners was our other winner.

  

On Sunday we had 3 wins from 5 runners, River Alder (20/1), Rosie Redman (7/1) and Rebel Rhythym (2/5).

  

Turning to Monday the action is all on the flat and I will concentrate on Windsor.

  

The opener is a 2 year old maiden where Rouen and Carlitos Spirit both have the benefit of previous experience.  Both were beaten favourites in their respective races and should come on for the experience.  Espartano is the most interesting of the newcomers.  All 3 of the dam’s previous offspring have won as two year olds, the stable are in cracking form and Jamie Spencer takes the ride.  I think that this could be between Carlitos Spirit and Espartano.

  

In the 4.30 Summers Eve is one to watch out for.  This grey is a full sister to the Ascot Gold Cup winner Papineau and a half sister to Silver Patriarch who won the St Leger.  This grey should not lack for stamina and it will be interesting to see how she progresses.

  

Lastly, the only runner from our list to follow is Zidane in the 5.00.  This 4 year old is a half brother to Frizzante and Firenze, both of which have featured in these ramblings in the past.  This latest member of the family looks fairly handicapped and I expect a win or two from him this season.

  

That is all for now.  I hope you like the new look web site.

  

Continue reading “Diary: April 10 2006” →

I will review Saturdays's racing tomorrow evening.

There are a few runners from our jumps list to follow in actions on Sunday at Market Rasen and Kelso.  I only have time to list them this evening.

Kelso 4.00 Rosie Redman and Strong Resolve

Kelso 5.00 River Alder

Market Rasen 3.20 Rebel Rhythm and Iron Man

 

 

 

 

Continue reading “Diary: April 9 2006” →

Welcome to the new look web site – hope you like the format.  It is early days and there may be a few teething problems so I will apologise in advance.

  

The horses from our list to follow did pretty well in the main on Friday.  Star de Mohaison and Straw Bear could scarcely have been more impressive in winning their respective races.  Conna Castle, Turpin Green and Fota Island all ran with credit to finish 2^nd in their races.

  

Turning to Saturday’s card we have 3 list runners in the tricky looking handicap hurdle at 1.45.  Dusky Warbler was a close 2^nd in the Imperial Cup and his subsequent failure at Cheltenham might have just come too soon.  He is in with a shout but preference is for the Paul Nicholls trained Monte Cinto who seems to be gradually coming to hand.  Our other runner in this is Lord Henry who was an encouraging 7^th in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham and goes well on good ground.

  

Accordion Etoile fell at Cheltenham.  He is not short of class if he can get his jumping right and he likes decent ground.  The Alan King horse will be a hot favourite though and sets the standard.  Our other runner is Cerium is a course and distance winner but looks to have something to find with the main contenders.

  

We have 3 runners in the 2.50.  Royal Shakespeare is not up to this class but his connections are going for the BHB Order of Merit title so will be happy with some points for a place finish.  Good ground suits him.  Patriarch Express probably represents the best of the home challenge in a race likely to go the way of the Irish. Asian Maze is likely to prove the best of our trio.  I was surprised that connections ran her in the Champion Hurdle.  This longer trip should suit her better.

  

We have Valley Ride and the grey Rimski in the 3.25.  I would give Rimski a bit of an each way chance.  To be honest though he has not lived up to the promise of his early season wins.

  

The Grand National is covered in a separate article.  For the record the following runners are from our list to follow, Clan Royal, Juveigneur, Nil Desperandum, Sir OJ and Lord of Illusion.

  In the bumper at 5.30 Round the Horn runs for the list to follow and Alfie Flits also runs from the flat list to follow. Alfie Flits gets an allowance for a 4 year old and gets my vote.

Continue reading “Diary: April 8 2006” →