ahorse

There is evening racing at Musselburgh tomorrow with the first race at 6.10. The only runners from my list to follow in action at the Scottish track are both in the last race on the card, the 8.40. La Fortalesa has run 5 times but has not really built on the promise he showed as a 2 year old. He has dropped 10 lbs in the handicap since the start of the season but still needs to improve on recent efforts to get in the shake up here. Scanno is also a maiden and like La Fortalesa has dropped down the weights. Neither has really shown enough to warrant much confidence. I would give La Fortalesa a bit of an each way chance at around 12/1.

The Mark Tompkins trained 4 year old Yossi has a poor strike rate with just 1 win from 16 races. He has been 2^nd or 3^rd 7 times and looks a bit of an underachiever. He runs in the 6.55 at Nottingham tomorrow over 14 furlongs, a trip that appeared to suit him when he was 2^nd at Haydock a couple of runs ago. He then disappointed at Nottingham in a novelty race where all the runners were ridden by jump jockeys. He has the ability to win this sort of a race if putting his best foot forward.

Rowe Park ran by far his best race of the season so far at Goodwood at the end of July. If he can carry on where he left off there he would be in with a shout in the 7.55. He would probably be my most promising runner of the day.

There is no shortage of flat meetings on Wednesday. The draw usually plays an important part in the sprints at Beverley. In the 3.15 both Bo McGinty and Pacific Pride have favourable draws. The former is a course and distance winner and should go well.

Keisha Kayleigh has been a real fun horse to follow this season winning twice at rewarding odds and also putting in some placed efforts. She seems to be holding her form well and turns out again on Wednesday in the Hamilton 7.25 where she is a course and distance winner.

You always have to respect anything that Sir Mark Prescott sends up to Hamilton and I note that he has entered Astrodome for the 8.25 tomorrow. He won at the track 11 days ago when sporting first time blinkers and runs over an additional furlong tomorrow. He has gone up 6 lbs for his win but he is a half brother to Alambic who ran up a sequence of wins last season and it would not be a major surprise if he were to win again. Paul Mulrennan has the ride.

Down at Salisbury I am interested in a 2 year old making his debut in the 2.00. Zero Money, trained by Roger Charlton, is a half brother to 5 winners. He is up against a number of rivals that have already had a run but he certainly looks one to keep an eye on. The 2.30 is the second division of the 2 year old maiden. Another newcomer catches my eye in this race in the shape of Countess Zara, a filly trained by Andrew Balding. The dam, Lochridge was a decent sprinter a few years ago winning at the Shergar Cup meeting and also landing a listed race at Pontefract.

There are 2 runners from my list to follow in the 4.05, Cape Amber and Wood Chorus. On her best form Cape Amber would be very interesting. She was runner up to Lush Lashes in the Musidora at York, and had Dar Re Mi and Moonstone behind in 3^rd and 4^th. Unfortunately Cape Amber has not been able to match the subsequent exploits of her 3 rivals that day. She has tended to race too keenly but if she could settle better she would be a major contender. Wood Chorus has shown a liking for soft ground. She won a Ripon Maiden and put up her best performance when 3^rd in a listed race at Newcastle. She has a bit to find with some of the others in this race though.

Sandown stage an evening meeting and the 7.40 includes a couple of runners from my list to follow. Albarouche has already won once, when wearing first time blinkers at Kempton. Her efforts on turf have been pretty ordinary though, both on fast and easy ground. She is a full sister to Dragon Dancer, the Derby runner up of a few years back. Wing Play, a winner at Wolverhampton last November has shown some form in his last two runs and shaped as though this 10 furlongs might be his best trip.

Rock Peak, a stable companion of Wing Play, is another horse I have been following this season. He remains a maiden after 6 starts and will be trying to break his duck in the 8.10. He has been 3^rd on his last two starts so it is a bit difficult to see him winning off a similar mark.

Laureldean Dream looked a sure fire future winner when 3^rd in maiden at Warwick in June, but was then last of 7 in her next race at York. She may not have been suited by the heavy ground that day so may be worth another chance in the Yarmouth 2.50. She is a half sister to the top class miler Ad Valorem.

Dan Chillingworth was making some late headway over 6 furlongs at Southwell on his last start. He moves up to 7 furlongs for the 3.55 at Yarmouth and should go well.

The picture "Deauville" is by kind permission of the artist Karen Davies.

That is about it for tonight.

 

Looking back to Saturday’s racing there was a very topical winner at Haydock in Valery Borzov. Named after the gold medal winning Ukranian sprinter at the Munich Olympics, Dandy Nicholls 4 year old notched his 3^rd win of the season. It was a particularly noteworthy performance as he was running off a mark 10 lbs higher than he had ever won off before. The other runner from my list to follow in the race, Burning Incense was staying on at the finish and came 3^rd.

Another horse to record his third win of the season was Trip the Light up at Redcar. He stayed on stoutly in the 14 furlong handicap. He looks the sort that we might see over hurdles one day. I had another winning tip in Zero Tolerance who kept up his 100% record at Haydock Park. He has visited the Lancashire track 3 times and won the lot. The real key to this fellow is the ground though. His record on soft or heavy going now reads 1211401. The Fifth Member ran another good race to finish 2^nd to Zero Tolerance.

Perks also clearly appreciated the heavy going in the heritage handicap at Haydock. The 3 year old won as he pleased with the rest of the field strung out all over the place, more in the fashion of a steeplechase than a competitive flat handicap.

I am always fascinated by the way that racehorses get their names. Battle of Hastings who won the nursery handicap at Newmarket on Friday evening got his name because he was lot number 1066 in the sales catalogue!

There is racing at Thirsk, Windsor and Wolverhampton tomorrow but nothing that really catches my eye. See you tomorrow.

 

After a few near misses earlier in the week a couple of runners from my list to follow found their way to the winner’s enclosure on Thursday. Hurlingham had been rated as high as 87 but had dropped to 69. He was given a really nice ride by Paul Mulrennan at Haydock yesterday. He was always travelling well on Hurlingham and he had enough horse under him to go through the gaps when they appeared. Hurlingham has a rather high head carriage and I wouldn’t be sure that he could follow up this success, but his 10/1 win does my stats a bit of good.

The other winner from my list to follow was Ascot Lime who showed a determined attitude to win the 10 furlong handicap at Sandown.

The main news of the week in the world of racing concerned the retirement of Mick Fitzgerald. Hopefully we haven’t seen the last of him though as there seems a strong probability that he will take up a TV role. He has had a wonderful career riding many big race winners. In recent seasons one of his favourite horses has been Fondmort, a horse he won on 8 times, including a Paddy Power Gold Cup and a Ryanair Chase. Like Fitzgerald Fondmort (pictured below) had to retire after injury.

There is only one runner from my list to follow in action tomorrow in the Shergar Cup, and that is Highland Legacy in the 2.55. After completing a hat trick of wins in a handicap at Ripon in April Highland Legacy has not really lived up to expectations. He was well fancied for the Chester Cup where he went off a 7/2 favourite. He could only finish 5^th and there was a suggestion that perhaps he didn’t handle the track. He was again made favourite for the Northumberland Plate but his challenge soon petered out and he finished last. He is surely better than he has shown in his last two starts but he does have something to prove now.

The other one that I looked at on the Sandown card was All The Good in the 3.30. He had a successful campaign in 2007 when trained by Gerard Butler but is now with Godolphin. He should be fitter for his seasonal reappearance 4^th at Ascot recently. He is a course and distance winner.

The Fifth Member has done these pages some favours this season, winning twice on the all weather and also putting in some placed efforts on turf. He certainly comes into the 1.25 at Haydock on good form but is on an all time high handicap mark. One runner that is really well handicapped is course and distance winner Zero Tolerance. He hasn’t won for nearly two years and as a result has slipped to a very handy mark. If he retains enough of his old ability he would be very interesting, although he must have soft ground. He has won 8 times in his career with 6 of those wins coming in fields of between 10 and 13 runners. He faces 10 rivals tomorrow!

The Haydock 2.00 features two runners from my list to follow. Valery Borzov is a topical runner as he is named after a former Russian Olympic gold medal winning sprinter. The horse is also a real speedster and has already won a couple of times this season. Although he has shown good early speed in his most recent runs he has not been able to sustain his effort and it may be that he has gone up a bit too high in the weights. Burning Incense is yet to get off the mark this season. He is coming down the weights slowly though and the booking of top jockey Ryan Moore looks significant. Burning Incense is best on easy ground.

Age of Reason has only ever won on the all weather. He did put up a decent effort on turf last time out though when 4^th to Indian Days at Goodwood. He has an each way chance in the 3.10 at Haydock. There are others with chances though. I thought that Perks ran better than the bare form figures suggest last time at Newmarket and given ground on the soft side of good could be in the shake up. Incidentally Perks is owned by a former member of ABBA. The third horse that I would put on my short list for this race is Ezdiyaad, an unexposed sort who was 3^rd in the Magnet Cup at York and looks to be on an upward curve..2.00

Gilded Cove, who runs in the 4.15, lost his right eye some years ago. He has been a grand campaigner despite that winning 13 times. 12 of those wins have come on the all weather; he particularly seems to like Wolverhampton. Because of his sight problem he is best when drawn wide and I notice that he is drawn in stall 1 tomorrow.

Following Sir Marl Prescott 3 year olds can often reap dividends. I put Iron Cross on my list to follow at the start of the season as he looked the type that his trainer excels with . He has not shown a lot so far though. He is upped in trip tackling 14 furlongs for the first time and that may bring about some improvement, but it will need to if he is going to feature in the finish.

At Lingfield’s evening meeting my best offering is Miss Carlotta in the 5.40. She showed some promise over course and distance on her racecourse debut at the end of June.

I had the Ed Vaughan trained juvenile Konka down as a likely winner before she appeared on a racecourse; there were some good reports about her and her dam won at 2. However she didn’t show much on her debut when 12^th of 13. She may be capable of better and runs in the 4.25 at Newmarket.

There are a few runners from my list to follow in action at Newmarket. Tiger Dream (2.40); Celtic Sultan, Presumptive and Tathkaar (3.50); Amaakin and West With the Wind (4.55).

Kashimin has been knocking on the door and was 2^nd at Carlisle in the week. He runs in the 3.00 at Redcar where he is blinkered for the first time and Joe Fanning has been booked tom ride. The winner of the race last season was Passion Fruit who lines up again and is 1 lb lower in the handicap than last year.

Trip the Light has done my list to follow a couple of good turns. He runs in the 5.10 at Redcar where he is a course and distance winner. He has gone up the weights a bit but given fast ground he would be in with a squeak. Trip the Light is by the stallion Fantastic Light, (pictured below) who won 12 races including The Irish Champion Stakes and The Breeders Cup Turf.

Moving on to Sunday’s racing Kiwi Bay runs in the Leicester 3.50. He won at Redcar in June, beating subsequent winner Party in the Park. He acts on fast ground but may just be in the grip of the handicapper now.

Two year old filly Demeanour caught the eye when 4^th on her debut at Newbury last month and is my selection for the 2.10 at Redcar.

Tawzeea has won a couple of times this season, both on good to firm over 6 furlongs. He represents my list to follow in the 3.40 at Redcar on Sunday.

The only other runner from my list to follow on Sunday is Shanafarahan in the Redcar 4.40. This one has failed to reach the frame in 5 starts this season but has dropped in the weights as a result.

That is it for the weekend’s preview but before I go I want to flag up a couple of horses to watch out for in the coming weeks. Swop is a 5 year old but has had injury problems and has very few miles on the clock. A winner of 2 of his first 3 starts he was upped in class on his last run but still performed creditably to finish 2^nd to a more experienced rival. That race was won a Yamal, trained by Mark Johnston. His stable companion William Blake was another to catch my eye when finishing 5^th in a heritage handicap at Goodwood.

All pictures today are by kind permission of the artist Lisa Miller

Anyway, that is about it for now.

 

At the time of penning these notes we have had a couple of near things from last night’s preview. The ultra consistent Birkside (9/1 at Pontefract) and Charles Parnell (10/1 at Newcastle)

Although there are plenty of meetings up and down the country over the next two days the standard isn’t up to much. The following are a few runners that caught my eye for one reason or another.

I have been following a horse called Hurlingham, trained by Mick Easterby this season, but without much financial reward! He won a couple of races on the all weather last January but has not managed to get his head in front since. I was hopeful when he ran at Ripon last month thinking that first time blinkers might do the trick but he only finished 5^th of 10. He clearly does have some ability and he is slipping down the weights but he looks a bit of a tricky individual. He carries top weight tomorrow in the 4.40 at Haydock and he just may be the type that is best giving weight away to inferior horses. He seems to go on any ground.

There is an evening card at Sandown where the action starts at 5.45 with a maiden for 2 year old fillies. Sir Mark Prescott has an interesting runner in this in Florentia. She is a half sister to no fewer than 8 winners, most of them winners at 2. The in form J-P Guillembert has the ride.

I tipped Ascot Lime when he ran at Sandown last month but he came second. He has gone up 4 lbs for that defeat which makes me a bit wary about him back at the Esher track tomorrow for the 7.55. He is getting a bit expensive to follow.

On Friday there is an evening meeting at Newmarket where the opening race at 5.50 is a maiden with 19 unraced 2 year olds. David Elsworth has Highland River in this. He trained both the sire and the dam so should know something about the family!

By Command was an impressive winner of a Windsor maiden on his first start this season but then finished last of the 5 runners when upped in class at Lingfield in the Derby Trial there. His win at Windsor was on good to soft so the fast ground at Lingfield may not have been ideal. He has not run since 10 May so may have had a bit of a problem. He won first time out this season though so goes well fresh. He runs in the Newmarket 7.50 on Friday.

Today’s picture is by kind permission of the artist Ruth Harris.

The next update will be on Friday evening.

 

General Tufto showed some promise as a 2 year old when trained by Roger Charlton. On the last of his 3 runs as a juvenile he finished 5^th in a race won by Tajaweed, who has since gone on to better things, winning the Dee Stakes. He has since changed stables and to be honest has been pretty disappointing but he runs in a seller tomorrow in the Catterick 3.00 where he must have a chance in a race that might not take much winning.

I put Fantasy Fighter on my list to follow this year but he hasn’t done much yet to reward my interest in him! He wore a first time visor on his last run at Ayr but lost his chance when slowly away from the stalls. He is back up to 7 furlongs tomorrow in the Catterick 5.00, and although he was last on the only other occasion he tackled that distance it may be he does need that sort of trip. He attracted a bit of market support on his last run and he may have a little race in him somewhere.

Moving forward to Wednesday I see that Mr Crystal is entered in the 3.20 at Newcastle. He ran well earlier in the season, including a win over course and distance back in May. That was off a mark of 59 and he now runs off 67 so will need a career best effort to get his head in front. The key to him may be the ground as all his 4 career wins have come on good to firm.

I have been putting Charles Parnell up as a selection regularly this season but has hasn’t come up trumps yet although he has put in some encouraging efforts. When he won at Ayr in September 2007 he was raised to a mark of 74 and although he has since run 9 times without winning he remains on that same mark. It does seem as though he may need the handicapper to relent a bit to enable him to get his head in front. Having said that the talented apprentice Jamie Moriaty replaces his usual pilot Fergal Lynch and Moriarty takes 3 lbs off. With the horse likely to get his preferred ground of good to soft he may be involved in the shake up in the Newcastle 3.50.

Birkside has done well for me this season winning 3 times, in fact he has won 13 races since May 30 last year. He is back in action again on Wednesday in the Pontefract 3.40 where, if his busy campaign is not beginning to catch up with him, he could again run well.

Baybshambles is another runner from my list to follow to have notched up 3 wins this season. He is in action on Wednesday in the 4.10 at Pontefract. He has gone up a couple of pounds since his last win at Thirsk but he has been in fine fettle and couldn’t be ruled out.

Sheer Bluff and Rossini’s Dancer represent my list to follow in the Pontefract 5.10. Sheer Bluff has been running at distances between a mile and 10 furlongs, but he is a free going sort and this drop down to 6 furlongs could be to his advantage. I see that the handicapper has dropped him 3 lbs as well. Rossini’s Dancer, like Sheer Bluff, is still a maiden. He has been a beaten favourite on 3 of his last 5 runs so is probably one to be a bit wary of. He tackles 6 furlongs for the first time and I note that the stable has won the race for the last 2 years.

Local trainer Christine Dunnett has a good record in the Yarmouth 7.05 having saddled the winner on 3 of the last 4 runnings. She is double handed this year with last season’s winner Gone ‘N Dunnett, and another that has done the stable proud over the years, Norcroft, who won the race in 2006.. Gone ‘N Dunnett has chalked up 13 career wins in all. Although a lot of these have been on the all weather he has won 4 times at Yarmouth from 26 starts at the track. Both are well handicapped on their best form.

Today’s pictures are courtesy of the artist Jane Dunn.

Next update Wednesday evening.

 

I had a few winners over the weekend, with Sortita and Astrodome obliging on Saturday. The latter battled on well up at Hamilton as he was headed inside the final furlong but fought back to win. He is a half brother to a prolific winner from the same yard called Alambic. I see that Astrodome is entered a number of times in the next week and it will be interesting to see if his trainer tries to follow up under a penalty.

Things went quite well for me at Chester this afternoon with wins for Proclaim and Green Manalishi. Proclaim made all from his inside draw. He is a half brother to Dhaular Dhar, who also likes it at Chester.

Green Manalishi was also well drawn and was winning the Queens Ferry Stakes for the second year running. J-P Guillambert was on board both Astrodome and Proclaim and gave them both a good ride from the front.

There are a few interesting runners at Carlisle and Windsor tomorrow. My main hope at the Cumbrian track is David Barker’s Dendor, who makes his first appearance of the season in the 8.15. David Barker does well with his sprinters and the likes of Sierra Vista and Celtic Mill have done him proud in recent seasons. Dendor looks capable of following in their footsteps based on his win at Ayr last season. He has scope for improvement and looks a horse to follow. Barker’s horses have been running well of late so Dendor looks in with a fair chance.

Another with possibilities at Carlisle is Kashimin in the 7.45. A winner at Pontefract as a 2 year old on good ground he ran his best race of the season at Haydock at the beginning of July when runner up in a 17 runner handicap again on good ground. He then ran poorly back at Haydock last time but that was on heavy ground so perhaps we can forgive him that run.

The only other runner from my list to follow at Carlisle is Piverina in the 6.45. She has not managed to reach the frame in her 6 starts this season so is hard to fancy.

At Windsor I see that Wyeth runs in the 6.00, which is an amateur riders race. Wyeth is a half brother to George Washington, but sadly does not seem to have much of his illustrious relative’s ability. Wyeth is a 4 year old but is yet to win a race.

Old Cape Royal was not winning out of turn when he made all from a good draw at Nottingham, to break a 24 race losing sequence. He runs in the Windsor where he is again favourably drawn. He has blistering early pace and he may well be difficult to peg back again in the 7.00.

Formation does not lack for talent but he has looked a pretty difficult ride. He won at Pontefract a couple of runs ago when ridden by Jamie Spencer. The partnership are back together again in the 7.30 and Spencer may well be able to cajole this tricky customer along once again.

There are a few nice types in the 8.00. I was impressed with Duncan on his debut when he was second at Newmarket over a mile. He is bred to appreciate the extra 2 furlongs tomorrow and I note that the 3^rd horse in that Newmarket race has won since. Island Vista made a pleasing debut over 7 furlongs at Kempton last season but then suffered a minor setback and hasn’t run since. She is another that will appreciate the longer trip; in fact she may well want even further.

Acknowledgements: My thanks to Jane Ince for the photo of Carlisle racecourse, and to artists Lisa Miller (top) and Katy Sodeau for allowing me to use their pictures.

That is it for tonight.

 

There are some old favourites in action in the Doncaster 3.25 including Pawan and Somnus. Pawan has been in fine form for trainer/jockey Ann Stokell and thoroughly deserved his success at Warwick recently. Somnus was a great servant for Tim Easterby, winning 3 times at Group 1 level. He has his first run for his new trainer John Quinn tomorrow. He has been off the track for 280 days so will probably need the run. His best form has been with cut in the ground. My selection for this race is Floristry who ended her 2 year old campaign with a hat trick of wins. This course and distance winner has been off the track for 280 days as well but comes from a stable that can get one ready first time up, and as a 3 year old has more scope for improvement than some of her older rivals.

Peruvian Prince has a good handicap in him somewhere. He is just creeping down the weights a little and I would give him a reasonable chance in the 4.00.

Sortita was a beaten favourite on her last run when 3^rd behind Savarain in a Goodwood maiden. The form of that race has worked out quite well and Sortita can record her first win in the 5.10.

Stow was a winner for my list to follow at Bath back in May and has since run well in third from an unfavourable draw at Sandown. He has only had 6 runs in his life and could be open to further improvement. He has gone up a further 3 pounds for finishing 3^rd at Sandown but could still be competitive off his new mark. He looks each way value at around 8/1 in the 2.05 at Goodwood.

Alfathaa and Atlantic Sport represent my list to follow in the 2.40 and both have something to prove. Alfathaa was quite highly tried after winning a Newbury maiden. He was well down the field in the 2,000 Guineas and then wore blinkers on his next couple of starts, finishing runner up in a conditions race at Newmarket on the second of these. He has tended to race a bit keenly but if he is able to settle he would be in with a chance. Atlantic Sport is held in very high regard by his trainer Mick Channon. He started the season well enough with a win at Newbury over 7 furlongs but he was then a costly failure when returning to the Berkshire track. After travelling well he found little in the finish. He is upped in trip to a mile tomorrow and he should have no problem as far as stamina goes. I am prepared to give him another chance and he is the selection.

In the 3.15 the 3 year olds Muthabara and Cape Amber will both need some rain to give them a chance. Passage of Time came back to form when beating Bankable last time out and she would be my choice as long as the ground is no firmer than good. On fast ground the Irish raider Lush Lashes would be interesting.

The draw is likely to play an important part in the Stewards Cup at 3.50. The sprint handicap today was won from stall 13. The top 6 finishers were from stalls 13, 21, 10, 20, 19 & 16. It does seem sensible to ignore those drawn in single figures so I have reduced the field to a short list of 5, Buachaill Dona, Bentong, Northern Fling, Knot in Wood and Barney McGrew. Buachaill Dona is in good from as he comes here on the back of a win at Newcastle. He has done most of his winning over the minimum trip which I suppose is a negative. Bentong is not badly handicapped and his stable has been showing signs of a return to form recently. Six furlongs on firm ground is probably his ideal. Northern Fling has not been at his best since winning on soft ground at Doncaster in April. He was running on over 5 furlongs at Ascot last time out though, he handles any ground and he is a course and distance winner. Knot in Wood has a 3 lbs penalty for his win at Hamilton last month when he just edged out Baby Strange, who ran so well today. He is on a career high mark but is a talented individual and I wouldn’t rule him out. Lastly, Barney McGrew has been one of my fancies for this since he finished and eye catching 4^th in the Hamilton race won by Knot in Wood despite the handicap of a bad draw.

Up at Hamilton first time blinkers may do the trick for Astrodome in the 7.35.

The only runner from my list to follow at Newmarket is Fearless Warrior in the 5.45. He has shown bits of form and has been slowly coming down the weights. He has an each way chance.

Up at Thirsk Mike Channon introduces Straight Sets in the maiden at 4.15. This filly is a half sister to the useful Championship Point from the same stable.

There are some decent meetings on Sunday. At Chester Mark Johnston runs Proclaim in the 2.20. He is a half brother to Dhaular Dhar, himself a winner 3 times round the Roodeye. Proclaim should strip fitter for this, his second racecourse appearance and is well drawn.

Impressible is a half sister to the top class sprinter Reverence. She makes her handicap debut in the nursery at 2.50. She will be ridden by David Allan, himself no mean sprinter as he recently won the jockey’s “dash” showing a fair old turn of foot to win easing down!

Reverence himself runs in the 3.25, but is badly drawn and the same can be said of Aahayson. The latter has not run since finishing 5^th in a listed race on dirt in Sweden. Last years winner Green Manalishi comes out of stall 2 and looks the one they all have to beat.

The only other runner from my list to follow is Hereford Boy in the Newbury 3.50.

My thanks to Lisa Miller for use of her picture "the final bend" and to Paul Myers-Bennett for the photo of Chester racecourse.

That is about it for tonight, I hope that you find a winner or two over the weekend.

 

 

Winners continue to be hard to dig out at Goodwood.  Have my tips gone to the dogs?

Anyway, onward to day 4 at the Sussex track. Dandy Nicholls has trained 5 of the last 10 winners of the Stewards Sprint Stakes, the 2.50 at Goodwood tomorrow. He has 6 runners this time and it is never easy to pick the best of his when he comes into the race mob handed. My two fancies are Northern Dare and Valery Borzov, with a slight preference for the latter. I thought that Baby Strange ran a cracker when a narrow 2^nd to Knot in Wood at Hamilton and he is the other one I like.

Illustrious Blue heads the weights for the Totesport Mile at 3.30. He has an excellent course record but he has not really been firing this season. I tipped him at Goodwood on Tuesday but he could only finish 10^th of 17. I would very much like to see Dhaular Dhar win this. After inning at Doncaster in May at 16/1 he was runner up in the Buckingham Palace Stakes (25/1) at Ascot and then ran 2^nd in the Totesport International, again at Ascot and again at 25/1. He is a course and distance winner but has a bad draw unfortunately. When Lang Shining won the Newbury Spring Cup he looked set for a successful campaign but he has not really built on that success. He has something to prove now, and there is also some doubt about his ability to handle fast ground. Unshakable won this race back in 2005 and was a good second at Epsom a couple of runs ago. He would be a decent sporting bet but I would worry about him if the ground was on the quick side.

Royal Confidence represents my list to follow in the 5.15. After starting the season well when 3^rd behind Stimulation and Fat Boy in the Free Handicap at Newmarket she has been a bit disappointing. She handles fast ground and would have a chance on her best form but she will need to step up on recent efforts.

I put Cape Vale on my list to follow this season, partly because he is a half brother to Moss Vale who is a bit of a favourite sprinter of mine. Cape Vale hasn’t won this season but has put in some decent runs. He drops back to the minimum trip in the 5.50 after being campaigned over 6 and 7 furlongs this season.

The Elite Racing Club does not have quite the ammunition of a few years ago now that the likes of Soviet Song and New Seeker have retired. They had a winner yesterday with Party in the Park though and they have another runner with chances tomorrow with Harlech Castle in the Haydock 7.50. He comes from a very successful bloodline being a half brother to numerous winners. After being out of touch earlier in the season he ran a much better race when 4^th last time out where he was wearing blinkers for the first time. With Paul Cole’s horses starting to find their form after a quiet period he has an each way chance.

Film Maker got off the mark when he bolted up in a maiden at Redcar. He was then upped in class when 5^th of 7 in a listed race at Epsom. He makes his debut in handicap company tomorrow in the 7.30 at Newmarket. He has won on quick ground and Ryan Moore is booked to ride.

I think that Marajaa has a race in him somewhere this season. He goes in the 8.05 at Newmarket where he will be ridden by Alan Munroe. Any market move for him could be significant.

Aflaam was an eyecatching 3^rd on his racecourse debut and is my selection for the 3.15 at Thirsk. The other runner from my list to follow at the Yorkshire track is Tawzeea in the 4.30.

My thanks to Dan Maudsley for his photo of "dog on the racecourse."

My thanks to Kate Tann for use of her photo of New Seeker (with Soviet Song in the background)

 

 

After day 1 at Glorious Goodwood at least I can say I haven’t peaked too early with 4 days to go! I did get a tip for Finjaan (pictured below) but too late to pass it on I am afraid.

I don’t have a strong view on the opener at Goodwood. One interesting runner though is Mudawin. He is one of those horses that always seems to win at a big price. His career wins have come at 20/1, 11/1, 20/1, 5/1 and 100/1. Even though he does not have an outstanding strike rate he certainly would have made a profit if backed blindly throughout his career.

Henrythenavigator looks one of the bankers of the week in the Sussex Stakes at 3.30. Raven’s Pass looks the one to benefit should the Irish star not be at his best for any reason.

There are 3 runners from my list to follow in the 4.05. Colony and Savarain were first and second in a valuable handicap at Royal Ascot last month and they are handicapped to finish close to each other again. William Blake is tried at 12 furlongs again despite finishing last on his only previous effort at that trip. A tough one to call but I am going to go for Savarain.

In the 5.15 there is a good word for the Richard Hannon trained Dane’s World.

William Haggas is enjoying a successful season and I like the look of one of his in the Kempton 6.00. Silvanus has the best form on offer and should prevail.

Premio Loco has won 2 of his 6 career starts and should be all the better for his first outing of the season where he ran with some promise while looking as though he needed the race. He looks to have a chance in the 8.30. I would also like the prospects of The Fifth Member if taking his place in the line up. He is a dual course and distance winner.

Kiwi Bay’s apparent inconsistent form might be due to a dislike of soft going. Providing he gets fast ground he would be in with a shout in the Redcar 3.55.

Moving on to Thursday Arthur’s Girl represents our list to follow in the 2.15 at Goodwood. I was very disappointed with her last run when 4^th at Newmarket in the Plantation Stakes. I can’t put her forward on the basis of that run.

On form our list runner Rowe Park has no chance in the 2.50. His runs this season have given supporters no encouragement at all. The only glimmer of light is that he won on his only previous visit to Goodwood.

It is impossible to oppose Yeats in the Goodwood Cup at 3.30. There are 3 runners from our list to follow in the race, Mad Rush, Regal Flush and Sagara. All with a fair bit to do though.

Mark Johnston does well at Goodwood and I quite fancy Hawaas in the 4.05. This horse has only run 3 times winning twice, both on good to firm ground. There are two other runners from our list to follow, Age of Reason, also trained by Mark Johnston, and Dr Faustus. Neither of these has been done any favours by the handicapper.

Dr Faustus is trained by Sir Michael Stoute who runs Chester winner Adversity in the 4.40. He has gone up in the weights for his win at the Roodeye but may be capable of further improvement and has an each way chance.

In the 5.50 Hereford Boy is a runner from our list to follow. He is a course and distance winner but has never won with an “F” in the going description.

Full Speed was a winner at York in may on fast ground. He didn’r run a bad race subsequently when 5^th at Haydock. He goes in the 3.55 at Nottingham.

Rock Peak is still a maiden but has shown signs of ability in most of his races. His trainer Hughie Morrison tries him at 14 furlongs in the 8.35 at Sandown which might bring out further improvement in him.

DUM SPIRO SPERO

Picture of Finjaan by kind permission of British 2YO Racing

 

 

I am not going into Goodwood on particularly “glorious” tipping form, but there have been some near misses, for example Dan Chillingworth who was 2^nd at 12/1 today.

Goodwood is never easy as some horses just don’t handle the track, which makes previous course form an important factor. If we look at the opening race at 2.15 I see that Mr Aviator has form figures at Goodwood of 122. He comes here on form having won the Royal Hunt Cup and he has won on good and good to firm. He is 5 lbs higher than when winning at Ascot so it is possible that the weight will beat him but he is well drawn and must have a chance. Illustrious Blue has a marvellous record at Goodwood. His form figures at the Sussex track read 31311114. All his 7 career wins have come on good ground and he is now on a mark 2 lbs lower than his last win. Sir Mark Prescott’s Caraval is the bottom weight and should be all the better for a recent 3^rd at Sandown. Championship Point won the race last year but is only 1 lb higher in the ratings and is another to consider. I would go for the course specialist Illustrious Blue.

Conduit only went down by three parts of a length to Campanologist in a Group 2 at Royal Ascot and that form should be good enough to see him win the 2.50.

There are 3 runners from my list to follow in the 3.30. King of Dixie is yet to finish out of the first 3 in his career. He takes a step up in class in the Lennox Stakes at 3.30 but is certainly not out of it. Stimulation is a tough sort that has been running consistently well but may find this just a little too hot for him. He may well run into a place however. Infallible deserves to get her head in front. She finished 4^th to Natagora in the 1,000 Guineas, and runner up in both the Coronation Stakes and the Falmouth. 7 furlongs looks to be her ideal trip and she gets my selection.

I have been following the fortunes of Mrs Kipling this season, partly because she is by the first season sire Exceed and Excel. She duly won a little race at Lingfield but then came last in the Cherry Hinton. She runs in the 4.05 and might not want the ground too firm.

Milne Graden is unbeaten in his 3 starts and comes into the “could be anything” category. He is trained by Jeremy Noseda whose horses may be coming back into a bit of form and he would be my suggestion in the 4.40. The remarkable Birkside also lines up in this. He has won an amazing 13 races since last May and seems to run a couple of times a week. The other one I quite like is Sandbuch who appeared to not quite see out the 2 miles at Ascot earlier in the month. This drop back to a mile and three quarters could be ideal.

Mountain Pride did my list to follow a bit of good when he won at 20/1 at Sandown in June. He could be a major player in the 5.15 although there is a slight doubt about his ability to handle fast ground. The Fifth Member is another to have done this column proud this season justifying my selection twice. Both those wins came on the all weather at Kempton but he has run well at Goodwood before and certainly comes here in good form. Swop is a 5 year old but has only had 3 runs in his life. He is a good looking sort that may just be a blot on the handicap as the assessor does not have much to go on.

Up at Beverley I fancy Bryan Smart’ 2 year old filly Positivity in the 3.10 at Beverley while the other one I like at the East Yorkshire course is Richard Fahey’s Trip the Light in the 4.20. The stable won this race a couple of years ago with Halla San.

Pictures are by kind permission of Ann Duffield Racing

Good luck