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I will go through Friday’s racing in alphabetical order of course so we will start with the evening meeting at Chepstow.

  

It has been an in and out jumps season for my list to follow but one that has definitely paid his way is Grecian Groom.  Although he has only won twice one of those wins came at 33/1.  He has done very little of note apart from that win however.  He runs in the novice hurdle at 6.00.  He is related to smart flat performer Gamut.

  

Urban Tiger looked a good bet to succeed over hurdles this season based on his flat form for Alan King.  He has proved a bit of a flop though and moved to Carl Llewellyn mid season.  He has put in a few placed efforts and may be able to get his head in front in the 5.45 at Newton Abbot where the better ground may help.  Mick Fitzgerald rides.

  

Fourty Acers won a 3 horse race last time out but the runner up has since been beaten and the form doesn’t amount to much.  He will at least appreciate the ground in the 6.45 and should go close.

  

We had a winner from John Gosden’s yard yesterday and I fancy another Gosden runner in the Sandown 4.00.  Sunshine Kid showed promise in 3 runs last season and should appreciate the ground.

  

The two I like in the 4.35 are Salaasa and Spume.  Salaasa has already won this season at Pontefract.  He looks interesting but for my selection I am going for Spume.  He was a winner at Salisbury last season and does not look harshly treated.

  There is a top class card at Punchestown where some of the top Irish hurdlers will be battling it out in the 4.05.  Iktitaf was running well when falling at Cheltenham and could go well.  Mac’s Joy looks the danger.  

The other Grade 1 on the programme is the Land Rover Champion Novice Hurdle. This will see eleven face the starter for a very competitive heat, perhaps Catch Me and Glencove Marina being the top ones of note.

 

A Group race campaigner on the flat in his native Germany, Catch Me is a classy novice, and he could even better his third-placing in the Ballymore Properties Novices' Hurdle now.

 

Catch Me would be my selection with Cuan Na Grai ridden by AP McCoy another for the short list.

  

Bye for now.

 

Continue reading “Diary: April 27 2007” →

Caribou is one of the lesser lights on my jumps list to follow but he has more than paid his way this season and he recorded his 2^nd win of the campaign today at 11/1 in the novice chase at Perth.  The underrated Dominic Elsworth was in the saddle.

  

Another to have earned his place on the list is Paul Nicholls’ grey Neptune Collonges who won the Gold Cup at Punchestown today to add to his earlier success in the Rehearsal Chase.

  

We also had a winner on the flat where Raincoat made it two wins from 2 starts at Epsom under Richard Hughes.  He will now probably be stepped up in class, possibly at York.

  

Elsewhere Cape Royal won the sprint at Epsom.  He had won at the track before but had also finished runner up there 4 times and seems to like the course.

  

There are two runners from our list to follow in the 3.25 at Beverley in the intriguingly named Sue has got her bus pass stakes!  The giant Handsome Falcon won on his only start last season at this track and looks a likely improver.  Artimino is likely to start favourite.  He is trained by James Fanshaw and runs in the red and white colours of the Cheveley Park Stud.  He made a very favourable impression when winning on his second start last season and then was narrowly beaten by the tough multiple winner Just Dust in handicap company.

  

Sir Jimmy Shand was a disappointment at Cheltenhan last time but there was not much wrong with his form before that.  I will burden him with my selection in the 3.40 at Perth.

  

King Barry is a course and distance winner and the booking of Timmy Murphy looks interesting. He runs in the 4.15.  Our old friend The Bajan Bandit has top weight in this race.  He is 12 now and has been a grand servant for connections winning 13 times.  Interestingly although trained in Scotland this is the first time he has ever run at Perth (well I thought it was interesting).

  

Schindlers Hunt represents our list to follow in the 4.05 at Punchestown.  He ran well last time to finish 2^nd in a Grade 1 at Fairyhouse.

  

Mighty Man has only been out of the first 2 twice in a career spanning 14 races. He looks the one to be on in the 4.40.

  

Bothar Na represents our list to follow in the 5.15.  He has failed to complete on his last 3 starts.

  

At Yarmouth He’s My Best is related to several winners and will be expected to go close in the 5.25. 

  

See you tomorrow

 

Continue reading “Diary: April 26 2007” →

It was not a good day for our horses to follow today.  Captain Jacksparra coming closest, beaten half a length at Wolverhampton.

  

We have a runner in the 2.20 at Epsom with the once raced Raincoat.  He won a fairly ordinary maiden as Sandown but should have scope for improvement.  He does have a fair bit to find strictly on the book.

  

We also have one runner in the 4.00.  John Dunlop’s Rock Anthem showed enough promise last season to come into the reckoning.  Not surprisingly given his name he is a son of Rock of Gibraltar.

  

Our list to follow is well represented in the 4.05 at Punchestown.  Beef or Salmon, Kingscliffe, Hi Cloy, Neptune Collonges and Racing Demon.  Beef or Salmon gets my selection to notch his 11^th Grade 1 victory.

  

Other runners from our list to follow are as follows.

  

Perth 3.40 Caribou

  

Perth 5.55 Closed Shop

  

Punchestown 3.30 Top of the Charts

  

Punchestown 4.40 Roman Ark

 

Continue reading “Diary: April 25 2007” →

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

  

The main action tomorrow is at Punchestown.  The qualifiers from our list to follow are as follows.

  

2.50 De Valira

  

3.30 Ross River, Top of the Charts

  

4.05 Justified, Newmill & Nickname

  

4.40 Aces Four, Merdeka & Vic Venturi

  

Newmill should prefer the ground rather than Nickname in the 4.05.  I feel that Justified might represent value in this race though.  Aces Four cames to this meeting in fine form and will be hard to beat.

  

There are a few runners from our list in action on the flat.  Bo McGinty is not the most reliable of characters but he is the sort of sprinter that you could make a level stakes profit over a season. He looks on  a decent mark and has a capable apprentice on board taking more weight off.

  

At Wolverhampton Tomorrow’s Dancer looks to have a fair chance in the 5.40. He is on a fair mark and should be suited by the step up in trip.

  

Captain Jacksparra and Mount Hermon featured several times on this site last season.  They look leading contenders in the Wolverhampton 3.25.  They have both won recently and there is very little to choose between them. I would give Captain Jacksparra the narrow vote.

 

Continue reading “Diary: April 24 2007” →

There are a couple of runners from our list to follow in the Pontefract 3.10.  Geojimali won at Musselburgh a couple of weeks back and is again ridden by 7 lbs claimer Gary Bartley.  He is clearly in good form and seems to be quite versatile when it comes to underfoot conditions.  Fantasy Explorer was an improver last year winning 4 times.  His best form has been over the minimum trip though so I am not sure about the 6 furlongs here. There are a couple of other horses that have done well for me in the past.  Zomerlust likes a bit of cut in the ground so if we do get enough rain to change the going he will be worth a second look. He won this race last season but is now 5 lbs higher in the handicap. Machinist, like Geojimali, is a former winner of the Ayr Silver Cup.  He likes fast ground but is currently off a mark 4 lbs higher than his highest winning rating.

  

Liberman runs in the 3.40.  He is a former Cheltenham Festival winner having won the Champion Bumper back in 2003 when trained by Martin Pipe. He had some decent national hunt horses behind him that day including Trabolgan, Cornish Rebel, Dempsey and Patriarch Express.

  

Walter Swinburne won the Newbury Spring Cup with his stable star Pinpoint on Saturday.  Count Ceprano looks capable of giving the stable further success this season judging on 3 runs at Lingfield.  He runs in the 6.25 at Windsor where I expect him to go well.  Adam Kirby has the ride.

  

Northern Jem represents our list to follow in the 7.25 at Windsor.  He was 3^rd to a decent sort of Mark Johnston’s earlier this month at Yarmouth and was 14 lengths clear of the 4^th horse.  This looks quiet a hot race with some of the big stables with runners but Northern Jem should acquit himself well.

  

There was a winner from the list to follow this afternoon when Keenan’s Future won the beginner’s chase at Stratford at 11/4. I wasn’t able to preview Saturday’s Irish racing but I note that another from our list, Dandy Man, won at Naas.  He is now trained by Tracey Collins who has taken over the stable after the death of her father.

 

Continue reading “Diary: April 23 2007” →

I haven’t watched the video of the Scottish National yet but I see that my selection, Parson’s Legacy was 3^rd.

  

In the novice chase Yes Sir registered his first win since last summer making all under Tom O’Brien.  Fast ground seems to be the key to him and although his jumping is not always pretty he seems to get round OK.

  

There were a couple of wins for our flat list to follow.  Tax Free was a comfortable winner at Thirsk while Junior really dug deep to make every yard in the 2 mile handicap at Newbury.

  

My selections in the Newbury Spring Cup were 2^nd and 4^th, with Walter Swinburne’s gambled on Pinpoint charging home at the finish too continue last season’s form.

  

There are 2 runners from our list to follow on Sunday both at Stratford.  Keenan’s Future in the 3.00 and Mort de Rire in the 3.30.  Both have failed to build on promising efforts last season.

 

A few of the fancied horses have already had their reputations tarnished in the classic trials during the last week.  Ther Aiden O'Brien pair Macarthur and Anton Chekhov are the latest to put their credentials on the line tomorrow in the 3.55 at Leopardstown.  Interestingly Macarthur is a full brother to former Derby winner Motivator.

 

Continue reading “Diary: April 22 2007” →

There were some good runs from some of the horses featured in last night’s update. Both Sister Act and Harlech Castle ran races full of promise and should soon be winning, while Green Manalishi won at the first time of asking for his new trainer.  I must run a feature on horses named after song titles some time.

  

Locksmith continued his rather unlucky spell; his last 5 form figures now read 32232.  I see that River Alder won up at Ayr.  He would certainly have paid his way as a horse to follow over the years.  He has now won 4 times from 11 starts at odds of 8/1, 7/1, 20/1 and 16/1.

  

The jumps season is rapidly drawing to its conclusion but there is still some quality action left.  Ayr stages the Scottish National tomorrow. The shortest priced winner in the last 6 years came in at 15/2 and last season Run for Paddy won at 33/1 so this has been a race for outsiders.  Over the last 10 years 3 winners have carried 11 stone 10 or more while some at the bottom of the handicap have also succeeded so the trends are a bit hard to follow.

  

Ferdy Murphy has trained the winner twice in recent years and is represented by Nine De Sivola who has been runner up in both the Eider Chase and the Irish National.  He stays all day and although he prefers soft ground he acts on good.  Off 10 stone 1 he has an obvious chance. Run for Paddy will love the ground and is well handicapped.  He could go well again.  Parson’s Legacy ran on well to finish 2^nd to Cloudy Lane in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham and is another that should handle the ground. Rambling Minster needs good ground and has been my long term fancy for this race.  Cornish Rebel is only 2 lbs higher than when a close 2^nd to Joe’s Edge in 2005.  If he is on a going day he would have a good chance.  Of the Nicholls runners you would have to fancy Napolitain though as he comes here a fresh horse and Ruby Walsh rides.  Idle Talk and Hill of Slane represent our list to follow.  Idle Talk has unseated in his last 3 runs now and Hill of Slane is some way out of the handicap.  I don’t have any really strong views in the race but if pushed for a selection I would go with Parson’s Legacy.

  

The 2.25 has a field of 6 with 4 coming from our list to follow.  This is an open race where they all have a chance.  Faasel is the obvious choice on the basis of his 2^nd to Aces Four at Aintree.  He is not the most strong willed character though and he might be worth taking on.  Natal is highly rated by Paul Nicholls who even supplemented him for the World Hurdle.  He acts on the ground and should go well.  Yes Sir showed signs of a return to form on his last run when 4^th to Aces Four at Aintree and acts on firm ground as he showed with multiple wins in the summer.  Rasharrow ran really well on his last run when 4^th at Cheltenham.  His jumping has tended to let him down but the better ground may help in that department.  Harmony Brig has been disappointing of late and is hard to fancy in this company.  Natal gets the vote.

  

I added Irish Wolf to my list to follow mid season thinking that he might win a handicap during the spring.  He has top weight in the 4.10 which may just  anchor him.

  

Locksmith is entered to run again in the 4.40.  He deserves a win and it could be significant that Timmy Murphy has the ride.

  

Len Lungo saddles The Pious Prince in the bumper at 5.40.  He looks a good prospect but will need to be good to defy a double penalty.

  

My best offering at Bangor is Mr Ed in the 4.20.

  

On the flat we have a list runner in the 1.40 at Newbury.  Black Rock showed promise in a couple of races on the all weather last season.  A mile should be his trip and I would hope for a big run from him.  Of the unraced horses in this Lucano and Stand Guard are worth noting.

  

Green Room represents our list to follow in the 2.10.  Although he has won on fast ground his best form has been with some cut so I will pass him by this time.

  

Our list to follow supplies 4 of the runners in the ultra competitive handicap at 2.40.  The fact that John Gosden has kept Royal Oath in training at 4 may well be significant. Ground and trip look ideal. The lightly raced Macedon is an interesting runner.  He is a 4 year old but has only raced 5 times and there may well be scope for improvement.  Plum Pudding has registered two wins over this trip, both in good ground at Newmarket.  He has the benefit of a recent run on the all weather so should be fit.  Our 4^th runner is Acheekyone, trained by Brian Meehan.  He was runner up to Illustrious Blue over course and distance on his final start lasts season.  All 4 have chances but I would just favour Royal Oath and Macedon.

  

Dutch Art looks to maintain his 100% record in the Greenham at 3.55.  Mick Channon’s Halicarnassus likes fast ground and could be the one to trouble the favourite.

  

Junior has been running well over hurdles and looks nicely handicapped on the level.  He is stepped up to 2 miles in the 4.25 and I will burden him with my selection.

  

Passion Fruit is a course and distance winner and has an each way chance in the Thirsk 3.05.

  

Tax Free broke course records at Leicester and Goodwood last season.  He has conditions to suit in the 4.15. Advanced, placed in Group company on his last start looks the main danger.

  

Deserted Dane won well at Beverley last season.  He likes fast ground and looks to have a sound chance in the 4.45.

  

Vanquisher ran 3 solid races lasts season and looks to get off the mark in the Wolverhampton.

  

I will be updated the site again tomorrow evening.

 

Continue reading “Diary: April 21 2007” →

Not a great day on the tipping front today but I did manage to tip Adagio who won the Craven Stakes pretty comfortably.  He is being quoted at around 6/1 for the 2,000 Guineas.

  

I have not said a lot about the 2 year old races so far as I usual like to wait until May before taking a view on the form. There is an interesting runner in the 1.40 at Newbury tomorrow however.  Harlech Castle is bred to win races as all 5 of his brothers and sisters have won, notably useful sprinter Eisteddfod and last years dual winner Tredegar. Of those 5 only one managed to win first time out though.  The sire Royal Applause gets plenty of two year old winners who are often at home on quick ground.  Whatever Harlech Castle does tomorrow he is one to keep a close eye on as you would expect him to land a race or two before the season is out.

  

There are a couple of runners from our list to follow in the 2.10.  Princess Valerina has had the benefit of a run already this season when she was 5^th at Kempton.  She is entered in the 1,000 Guineas and is probably capable of better than she showed at Kempton.  Escape Route is going to be my selection however.  She showed an impressive turn of foot to take a Lingfield maiden last October and comes from an in form yard.

 

  

For the initiated Green Manalishi is named after an early hit single by Fleetwood Mac. He is a speedy individual who likes quick ground. He won the 2.40 last year and should go well again.

  

Getting back to the list to follow Medicine Path is the form pick in the 3.15.  He was placed in Group 1 and 2 company lasts season and you would have to fancy him if he gets the trip.  That is by no means certain on breeding but there is a fair bit of stamina on the dam’s side.

  

The 3.50 will be a race I will take a keen interest in as there are 4 runners from our list to follow.  Tebee was slowly into her stride on her only start last season but ran on well when getting the hang of things.  She was 5^th that day at Lingfield and shaped with enough promise to suggest she can make a winning 3 year old. Composing stayed on well in a maiden at Salisbury on her only start as a juvenile to finish 3^rd.  Eternal Path is also a once raced filly having come 3^rd at Newmarket.  She is well bred and looks one to follow.  Mirthful makes up the quartet.  She was 7^th on her only start at Newbury lasts season in a race that has produced numerous winners. A selection would be rather guesswork but if pushed I would go for Eternal Path.

  

In the 4.25 I will be watching Sister Act who is a full sister to classy miler Soviet Song.

  

River Thames was 3^rd in Group company as a 2 year old and looks to have dropped to a fair mark.  He makes his first appearance fro his new trainer Kevin Ryan in the 4.15 at Thirsk.  This is a horse to follow this season I am sure.

  

Obstructive showed enough in 3 runs lasts season to suggest he can win a handicap.  He has an each way chance in the Lingfield 5.15.

  

The dry spell has played havoc with the fields at the Ayr meeting and I don’t have too many ideas.  Mill House Girl is an Irish raider in the 4.00.  Mick Fitzgerald has been booked to ride and this one looks worth a close look.

  

Locksmith (4.35) deserves to get his head in front after form figures that read 3223 in his last 4 runs.  Up against some decent rival here but should again give a good account.

  

See you tomorrow

 

Continue reading “Diary: April 20 2007” →

It was a decent day for our list to follow that supplied 4 winners.  French Saulaie has spoiled his chances over hurdles at times this season as he tends to be over keen.  He was well restrained by Richard Johnson at the back of the field though and came through strongly to win with something in hand.

  

On the flat Sakhee’s Secret ran right away from his rivals in the closing handicap at Newmarket and looks up to competing in listed class.  There were also wins for Petara Bay and Arabian Gulf.

  

There is a nice mix of flat and jumps again tomorrow and I will start with the jumpers at Cheltenham.

  

Dunsfold Duke was 2^nd last time out at Lingfield.  He runs in the 2.55 where he will encounter good ground for the first time.  Our other runner in this is Reach for the Top who will be ridden by Tony McCoy. After winning a weak race at Folkestone he was pulled up on his latest outing at Wincanton. If we ignore that last run he would be in with a chance here but he is probably one for next season rather than this.

  

We are well represented in the 3.30.  Karello Bay is likely to be popular after her impressive win at Haydock last month. Miss Mitch is a nice type and has a 5 lbs pull at the weights with Karello Bay after running 2^nd to Nicky Henderson’s mare at Haydock.  Annie’s Answer goes for a hat trick after wins at Bangor and Huntingdon. She has done little wrong so far and although upped in class here could well be good enough.  Ring Back, who had good bumper form was a winner last time out at Towcester and Tony McCoy has been booked to ride.  The weight might just prove too much for Karello Bay so I will take a chance with Annie’s Answer each way.

  

Roznic (4.05) showed that eh handles decent ground when winning at Kempton last time. This will be harder as he has been raised 8 lbs but is still entitled to go well.

  

Leading Contender has been expensive to follow but with the ground in his favour should not be far away in the 4.40.  Beau Michel is our other list runner in this race.  He has earned his place on our list with a couple of wins. He was a bit fortunate to win his last race but the handles the ground and I note he is blinkered for the first time. He is stepped up to 3 miles which should be in his favour.

  

At Newmarket there are plenty of old favourites in the 3.10 notably Quito and Sierra Vista who have figured in these pages many times in the past. Baltic King is the one I like here though.  Trip and ground will suit him and his trainer had a winner today.

  

Adagio and Thousand Words are the runners from our list to follow in the Craven Stakes at 3.40.  It is always tricky with these first time out 3 year olds but I am going to narrowly favour the less experienced Adagio.

  

We have a quartet of runners in the 4.20.  Illustrious Blue was 3^rd in the Winter Derby so is fit.  Stepped up in class here though. Clive Cox has had some good horses in recent years, notably New Seeker. Dimelight could be a similar type running in the better races around a mile.  This may just be a bit too classy for him though. Secret World is a talented individual who has had a few injury problems. He should win a race or two this season but for my each way selection I will go with Ivy Creek, another that has been injured but showed a progressive profile last season.

  

In the 5.30 I will take a chance with Mutajarred. He won on his second outing last season and is bred to appreciate this trip.

  

In the 2.00 at Newmarket there are encouraging reports about Hazytoo and King’s Event.

  

Macorville will be one to follow later in the season but does not look to be suited by the conditions in the Ripon 3.20.

  

Ravi River was a winner at Chester last season.  He is fit from a run on the all weather and should run well in the 3.55.

  

That is it for tonight

 

Continue reading “Diary: April 19 2007” →

There are 3 meetings tomorrow with a few of our list horses dotted about.

  

The Beverley 3.20 has a fair few old favourites  such as Caribbean Coral, Wyatt Earp, Fullandby and Cape Royal, but Dig Deep is the representative from the current list to follow.  He hasn’t run for 3 months so I think I will just watch him today.

  

John Dunlop’s Free Offer won a little race at Brighton on firm ground last season and may have scope for improvement.   She runs in the 3.55.

  

Over the jumps French Saulaie and Earth Man contest the 3.30 at Cheltenham.  Both trainers have won this race in recent years. French Saulaie has tended to race too keenly but if he can settle better he would have a good chance.

  

Madison Du Berlais has done well for me winning 3 times this season.  He carries top weight for Martin Pipe in the 4.05.  This is a race where Pipe senior has had considerable success in the past and Madison De Berlais, who seems to handle any ground, must be respected.

  

There are no fewer than 5 runners from our list to follow in a hot looking race at 2.00 at Newmarket.  Broomilelaw is owned by Sir Alex Ferguson and impressed when runner up in a Newmarket maiden on his only 2 year old start.  Urban Spirit was unfancied at 33/1 when runner up in a soft ground maiden at HQ.  Rhaam is a half brother to the useful Alfie Flits while Arabian Gulf and The Carlton Cannes are both well thought of by connections.  I will give Broomielaw a tentative selection but whatever happens it should be an informative race.

  

Sander Camillo, favourite for the 1,000 guineas will be expected to win the 3.45.

  

There are some nice types in the 4.20.  Al Shemali quickened well in testing conditions to win at Newcastle on his 2^nd start last term.  Petara Bay is related to some decent winners and was himself a winner last season at Haydock in September.  Hearthstead Maison, trained by Mark Johnston, won first time up at Chepstow last season and may not have appreciated the ground when subsequently beaten at Ascot.  He could go well here and is my selection.

  

Cheap Street and Lady Lily were two year olds that I featured last season and who both did well for us.  I am going for another successful juvenile from last season, Sakhee’s Secret in the 5.30 however.

 

Continue reading “Diary: April 18 2007” →