ahorse

Quote from yesterday “Of those with previous experience Oldjoesaid should be better for his debut run at Chepstow when he was 7^th of 8.  The one they all have to beat though is Sakhee’s Secret.” 

Sakhee’s Secret won at 5/3 and Oldjoesaid was 2^nd at 25/1.

There are only 2 runners from our list to follow tomorrow, and they are both entered in the 8.15 at Nottingham.  Harrison’s Flyer and Meikle Barfil are both trained by sprint specialist Milton Bradley.  Harrison’s Flyer has gone 11 runs without a win and now runs off a mark of 67.  He has won 3 times off higher ratings so is not badly handicapped at present.  Meikle Barfil has really shown no form of note since moving to his current yard.

I have had a look at the two year old races tomorrow. Another True Story looks likely to start favourite in the 2.00 at Brighton.  Inflight is a possible alternative at a bigger price for a stable with a good winning percentage at the Sussex track.

Le Masque swerved at the start at Thirsk today and ran no sort of race at the back so it is just possible that he will take up his entry in the 6.30 at Carlisle.  He is certainly bred to be a 2 year old and Kevin Darley has the job of keeping him in order.

At Nottingham in the 6.15 Maslak makes some appeal after a 5^th at Newmarket in a race that is working out well.

Star Strider and Naayla are my 2 against the field in the Nottingham 7.15.  Slight preference is for Star Strider who had all sorts of traffic problems at Goodwood last time in a race won by Just Dust.

  See you tomorrow.

Continue reading “Diary: August 15 2006” →

Saturday was a poor day for our list to follow with no winners although a couple of my miscellaneous selections came good. English Ballet won the Sweet Solera Stakes, a Group 3 at Newmarket in good style. She handled the rain softened ground OK while giving the impression that she might be even better on a faster surface. This race has thrown up some smart winners over the years including Soviet Song, and English Ballet is being quoted at 25/1 for next years 1,000 guineas.

Audience is a horse I have been keeping an eye on for a long time, before he had even seen a racecourse in fact.  He was featured as a “dark” 2 year old in one of Marten Julian’s publications, and a couple of years after appeared as a horse to follow in one of Mark Howard’s annuals after he had changed hands for 48,000 gns.  I backed him that year when he won at 11/1.  He does seem to be one of those horses that doesn’t win that frequently but when  he does “the price is right” because his only win in 2005 came at 33/1.  He had been running well without quite getting there this season and he did seem a winner waiting to happen yesterday.

Sunday was a much better day for the list to follow with a couple of winners.       Moss Vale was an expensive purchase for David Nicholl’s but he has repaid his transfer fee with 3 excellent wins, the latest coming this afternoon at The Curragh. Our other winner was Spectral Star at Leicester at 8/1.

There are no runners from the list tomorrow but there are a couple of 2 year old races that are worth a look.

In the Thirsk 5.55 Le Masque is worth noting.  Both the sire and dam were multiple winners at 2.  The stable does not have a good record first time out however.

The other race that took my eye was the Windsor 6.15.   Dance of Dreams, a colt by Johannesburg is related to a number of winners and although Nick Littmoden has a poor record first time up with his juveniles this looks one for the notebook.  The other newcomer in this race that I want to mention is Woqoodd.  Michael Jarvis has been doing well with his 2 year olds of late and this one is apparently well thought of by connections.

Of those with previous experience Oldjoesaid should be better for his debut run at Chepstow when he was 7^th of 8.  The one they all have to beat though is Sakhee’s Secret.  The form of his 3^rd here last month reads well as the 2^nd that day, Cheap Street has won since.  Sakhees Secret finished well that day and is related to all sorts of  winners.

I will finish thyis eveing with an idea mentioned to me by “Lancelot” whose web site you will find as one of my lonks (well worth a visit by the way).  His  favourite bet is a Patent and his betting pot is still nicely on the plus side over two years purely because of doing Patents. 

His latest strategy is a "Rolling Patent" where instead of backing the three horses he puts the single, double and treble on the first.  If it loses he starts again.  If it wins he banks the stakes, takes the winnings from the single (one third of the total) and then puts the other two thirds on the next horse for the double and treble to continue.  A second win and he keeps the treble going and pockets the rest.

Apart from anything else it means you need not have three horses in one day, the Rolling Patent can stretch over, say, three days at one selection a day.  The returns for a block of three might be slightly down on a real Patent but that is more than made up when the third selection of one block and the first of the next come up.  A double which would not normally have been claimed.

A staking plan well worth consideration.

  See you tomorrow.

Continue reading “Diary: August 14 2006” →

There are 3 runners from our list to follow on Sunday.

Leicester 4.50 Spectral Star

Deauville 3.25 Peeress

 Curragh 4.15 Moss Vale

Continue reading “Diary: August 13 2006” →

There always seems a bit of a lull in the racing calendar mid August and I don’t have too many strong fancies for Saturday.

Still, the show must go on and let’s see if we can find something of interest.

I am a supporter of the Shergar Cup thing but it doesn’t make finding winners any easier.

Bouboulina represents the list to follow in the opener at 1.20.  She is lightly raced with only 4 career starts and this is her first appearance in a handicap. She is also tried at sprint distances for the first time so is a bit of an unknown quantity.  Our old friend Sierra Vista will be ridden by Hayley Turner and the combination look to have an each way chance.  Old Sierra Vista rarely runs a bad race.   Lady Livius has only won twice – at odds of 20/1 and 100/1!

King Orchisios finally found his form last time out and gave us a 7/1 winner.  Now that he has got his head in front he may well take some catching.  The consistent Didn’t We is the likely threat. He comes from a stable whose horses are often named after song titles.

  We have a couple of “listers” in the 1.40 at Haydock.  Rio Riva looked good when winning first time out at Redcar but his two subsequent starts have been much less convincing.  If he can recover his best form he would have a good each way chance at value odds of 12/1.  In Full Cry won on his only start as a juvenile but has not been able to get his head in front this season.  He has looked a bit onepaced in his recent runs so it is a bit of a surprise that he is dropped in trip here.  Of the rest Audience is due a win and has been running consistently.  He is decent on his day and is quite well handicapped at present.  Sir Nod is from the stable as Rio Riva.  He is 25/1 in the Racing Post and that is probably a fair reflection of his chance in the 2.15.  

Hinterland has done us proud already this season with a couple of wins in good handicaps but he tackles Group 3 company in the 2.45.  He deserves to take his chance and both trainer and jockey have been in fine form lately. It is not impossible that he could bridge the gap to Group 3 class but I wouldn’t take too short a price.

In the 3.20 Pagan Sword, Kamanda Laugh, Prince of Light and Mutawaffer are the four from our list. Pagan Sword was a fast finisher at Good wood last week after failing to get a clear run and looks interesting here.  He is maybe a little high in the handicap and is also a bit of a quirky sort but if things drop right for him he could win this.  Kamanda Laugh usually shows his best form at Newmarket and is probably best with a bit of give in the ground.  Mutawaffer has been expensive to follow this season and it is now a long time since he actually won a race.  He has been threatening to win something though.   He has been running over shorter distances until stepped up to this trip last time at Newmarket when he was a creditable 2^nd.  Not out of it but I have put him forward unsuccessfully too many times to make too strong a case now. Our last runner is the consistent Prince of Light who rarely runs a bad race. He has already won for us this season and I feel may have a better chance than some of the experts give him credit for.  Things didn’t quite go his way last time at York and he will probably be on the premises here.

Grigorovitch won at Newcastle a fortnight ago and has gone up 4 lbs as a consequence. The 3.50 looks pretty competitive and Grigorovitch is not well drawn.

Alambic looks likely to make it win number 6 in the 4.55.

Down at Lingfield Jafaru didn’t show much on his first run last month but has stamina in his pedigree and may do better at this trip.  Newcomer Sonovishi is bred to win as a 2 year old.

English Ballet impressed me when she won on her debut at Windsor with the first 2 well clear of the remainder.  She runs in the 3.10.

Hughie Morrison may have found a winning opening for Intrepid Jack in the 3.40.  He has been running well in better races than this.  Our other runner is Banjo Patterson who has been disappointing this season.

In the 4.15 there have been some good reports about debutante filly Orange.

In the 4.50 our list horse Art Investor looks like being the outsider of the party.  I thought he ran well enough last time at Newmarket where he was returning after a lengthy absence.  He has a better chance that the tipsters give him credit for. Of the others Shahmina made a pleasing debut when 4^th to Early Evening at Nottingham.

Up at Redcar we have 2 runners in the 7 furlong handicap at 2.50.  Confide has won twice and is only up 3 lbs for his last win.  He is a nice type and should go well again.  Our other runner is Ryedale Ovation who put in his best effort for a while when 4^th at Thirsk on his last run.

I will be back tomorrow for a look forward to Sunday’s racing.

Continue reading “Diary: August 12 2006” →

The sport seems to be attracting the wrong sort of press these days with Robert Winston the latest to come under suspicion.  Winston was actually involved in a nasty looking incident at Pontefract yesterday when there was a 3 horse pile up in the juvenile maiden.  Ebn Reem made all to win the race thus avoiding the mayhem behind.  He had some solid form behind him and was not winning out of turn.

I was pleased to see both the horses mentioned in my preview of last nights racing won.  Alambic became the first horse from our list to follow to notch 5 wins while the Queen’s High Style was a winner at Kempton.  High Style looked an unlikely winner at half way but produced a fair turn of foot to take the race quite comfortably in the end.

Sticking with unlikely winners Fishforcompliments certainly comes into that category.  He started favourite for the opener at Haydock but was being niggled along quite early and you could have got 10s or possibly even 20s in running. Under a skilful ride from Paul Hannigan he finally got the hang of things to come through and win.  He has plenty of ability but seems a bit of a baby.  Winged Flight was a facile winner at Yarmouth while Diamond Hurricane won a competitive nursery at Brighton.

I will start my look at Friday with the evening meeting at Haydock where proceedings get under way with a 5 furlong maiden.  Proud, 3rd in his last two runs at Nottingham looks a consistent sort and might well be there or thereabouts.  Bazroy, from the same stable as Diamond Hurricane won back at the start of the season and wasn’t far behind at Chester the other day, he could go well at a price.

In the 7.30 Tudor Prince and Astronomic View have the best form. Astronomic drops has finished 3^rd on both his runs at Lingfield.  He drops back to 6 furlongs here after seeming to not quite last the 7 last time.  He has chances as does the consistent Tudor Price who looked all over the winner last time at Kempton when beaten by Stagehand.  He maybe was not quite as resolute as he might have been on that occasion.  I am hoping for a good run from the Elite Racing Club’s Tredegar.  Tredegar is a half brother to useful sprinter Eisteddfod.

In the 2.10 at Lingfield I will put up Fairfield Princess against the likely favourite.

We have a list horse in the 3.10 with Sant Elana a slightly fortunate winner at 12/1 last time.  She has gone up 4 lbs for that win but is lightly raced at this trip and I see that the majority of the tipsters go for her.

There are some interesting newcomers in the 5.45 at Newmarket.  Ea and Storm Path both look worth keeping an eye on.

Just Dust has already won 4 times this season and goes again in the 6.45.  Her wins have largely come on sharp tracks and under a 6 lbs penalty could be vulnerable.  Capannina has failed to live up to expectations but comes from a stable that is going well.

We have 3 runners in the 7.45.  Khyber Kim, Degas Art and Morghim.  Khyber Kim probably has the best chance of the trio.

  Bye for now.

Continue reading “Diary: August 11 2006” →

There has been plenty of quantity about this week’s racing but it has not been so hot on quality.  I am writing this update before the evening racing so I don’t know if Alambic managed to make it 5 out of 5 at Yarmouth tonight.

The other horse I will be looking out for tonight is the consistent two year old High Style in the Kempton nursery at 7.56. 

There are no list runners in action on Thursday so I have tried to find some interest elsewhere.

Henry Candy has a good strike rate at Chepstow with his 2 year olds and he sends Pretty Miss there for the fillies maiden at 2.50.  This one was made favourite on her debut at Windsor but could only finish 9^th of 15.  She should benefit from that run and this does not look a particularly strong contest.

Fishforcompliments looks a likely winner in the 2.10 at Haydock. He was 2^nd on his debut despite running green. Final Curtain is a newcomer to note, especially if there is any confidence behind her in the market.  Her trainer has a particularly good record with 2 year olds in August.

At Yarmouth Mark Johnston’s Winger Flight looks to improve on his 3^rd at Ascot in the 2.30.

  Good luck.

Continue reading “Diary; August 10 2006” →

Only a quick update tonight as I am off to the footie.

We have one runner from the list to follow with Alambic tomorrow in the 8.15 at Yarmouth.  This filly won 4 times in th space of 11 days last month but has now gone up 9 lbs in the handicap.  The other 3 year olds in Sir Mark Prescott’s team seem to have come to the end of their winning runs so it remains to be seen if Alambic can add to her tally.

Back tomorrow evening.

Continue reading “Diary: August 8 2006” →

We had one winner for the list to follow today with Raucous at 8/1.  I haven’t watched the race but by all accounts this is a scopey type and should win more races.

It is hard to keep tabs on all the runners from the list, especially when they run abroad.  I see that Sir Mark Prescott’s Elusive Dream has clocked up a couple of wins recently.  He won a listed contest at Hamburg and then picked up another win at Galway.

There are no runners from the list in action on Tuesday.

Continue reading “Diary: August 8 2006” →

Borderlescott kept the list to follow ticking over winning the Stewards Cup at 10/1.  Royston Ffrench rode the winner.  He is in good form having won twice on Mark Johnston’s Crosspeace during the week at Goodwood.

Crosspeace’s half sister So Sweet won on Saturday, landing a bit of a gamble. Crosspeace himself won twice as a two year old.  The one to take away from So Sweet’s race may be Cliché who only got the hang of things late on her debut but ran on well towards the finish.

There are 3 meetings on Monday with Ripon looking the most interesting.

The card starts with a two year old race where all 5 runners are previous winners.  Fool Me is a horse I have been following and he was a winner at Leicester in a maiden on his second outing.  This race looks tougher though.  The trend has been for the winner to be well backed.  In 2001 this race was won by Million Percent.

There is quite a strong sprint handicap at 3.20.  Unfortunately from an each way backers point of view there are 15 runners.  Our list to follow is well represented with a third of the field, and I will concentrate on them.  King’s Gait has been running quite consistently but he carried top weight here and may just be a bit high in the handicap.  His last win was at Musselburgh when he beat Fullandby by a head.  Fullandby is 2 lbs better off now and is also in good form having won last time out.  Zomerlust has won at Ripon twice from 6 attempts and has also finished second at the Yorkshire venue.  Tim Easterby has 3 runners in the race and the booking of Kevin Darley for Game Lad looks noteworthy.  Rather like a few others Game Lad may want some ease in the ground. 

Our final runner is Ice Planet, who comes here on the back of a 2^nd to Wyatt Earp at York.  Ice Planet has been running well this season without winning.  He was 2^nd to Stewards Cup runner up Mutamared in May and 5^th, beaten only a length to the winner of the Stewards Cup, Borderlescott also in May.  He has only been out of the first 5 once in his last 15 starts and acts on firm ground. I think this might be his opportunity and he gets the selection.

  We have a couple of runners in the 4.20.  Phone In has been expensive to follow and I am not too keen on him now he has left Sir Mark Prescott’s yard. Raucus has run well on his 3 starts and should be suited by the trip.  Looks to have a good chance of being in the shake up here.

Kerriemuir Lass also comes into the category of expensive to follow.  Her last 4 runs read 2322. She is quite lightly raced and has not gone up in the weights from her last run which was not a bad effort.  She is upped in trip for the 6.40 at Carlisle where Philip Robinsom might just try and make all with her.  He will have the stiff finish to contend with.  The main danger may be Bauer from the in form Luca Cumani stable.

I remain convinced that Harrison’s Flyer has a win a win in him this season.  He goes in the 6.55 at Windsor.

  That is about it for tonight.  Hope to see you tomorrow evening.  

Continue reading “Diary: August 7 2006” →