I am back after a about a month off due to weddings and my wife telling me I was spending too much time on here!!!
What did I miss? Royal Ascot? The Derby? 3/4’s of Euro 16?
What have I done? Watched Big Brother 🙂 I am the last viewer standing, more people in there than watching but my money is on Hughie!!
Tomorrow is the racing day where the elite jockeys complain that they cannot be in 5 different places at once and the second and third tier jockeys get a chance to shine.
Up and coming apprentice George Wood takes a handy 7lbs off of seven furlong handicap stalwart Buckstay in the 5.10 at Newmarket and that could be enough to get his head in front. Running on well over an inadequate trip at Ascot last time he is an each way bet to nothing. In the same race have a little on Tanzeel who will love the faster ground and could be fit enough first time this season.
The July Cup take Limato or Eastern Impact to take advantage of the drying ground. Limato is a class act and a return to sprinting could see him take this Group 1. Eastern Impact loves the course and comes here fresh. My favourite ever July Cup moment was the great Chief Singer proving as good over six furlongs as he was over a mile and further.
Finally at York take a chance with the king of sprinters Robert Cowell and lump on Outback Traveller. He is making the transition from seven furlong nearly horse to graded sprinter and can take another step up the ladder with this listed success.
A very good week in the land of Racingahoy, Crystal Palace stay up and are a week away from a Cup Final, we have had lots of sun and also the return of The Stone Roses. It feels like 1989 all over again 🙂 Let’s all join hands and make a wall!
As a Palace fan you might be expecting me to go all out for Eagle Top tomorrow at Newbury but although he is clearly the best horse in the race he has disappointed in this type of contest before and I will be giving hi a swerve.
Eagle Top’s trainer John Gosden could have better luck later on with Remarkable. This unexposed colt had the option of the handicap on the same card but has chosen this Listed race and he is clearly held in some regard. Any cut in the ground should not inconvenience this son of Pivotal.
I have been a long term admirer of Kodi Bear ever since he was runner up in Belardo’s Dewhurst stakes a few years ago. Amazingly they lock horns again tomorrow and I feel that Kodi Bear could still have some scope for improvement this year. Whilst Progeny of the sire Kodiac prefer fast ground this one does have form in the soft and can prevail in the big race of the day.
Over at Newmarket Jamie Spencer can silence his doubters with success on Desert Encounter. This improving type will enjoy the galloping Newmarket course. In the next another improver Thikriyaat from the Sir Michael Stoute in form stable can continue his winning run.
I remember being nineteen and going up to York with an old sprinter called Bold Lez and walking through the town the night before with my flowery shirt and flares (it was the early 90’s). I thought I looked really cool, I loved that shirt it was pale blue with big pink roses on it and I wore it everywhere until the horrendous evening when I turned on the TV to watch Eastenders and saw Kathy Beale wearing the exact same top.
Bold Lez was disappointing but he always was when he spent more that an hour in a horsebox. Not sure if it was travel or homesickness.
Anyway York starts tomorrow and  here below are some selections.
I am going to be controversial but a change of regular jockey could assist Bogart in the sprint.Back on a winning mark and on a course he likes. He also goes well fresh so not having a run will not inconvenience him. There will be a few unexposed types but he is a solid contender.
In the first there just may be enough juice in the ground for course and distance winner Empress Ali. This diminutive mare loves this course and is only 6lb higher than her great success last year. The trainer Tom Tate has a good record on this course.
Finally take Twilight Sun to win the Duke of York. This big imposing son of Kyllachy looked the type to make an even better four year old and finished ahead of the favourite Magical Memory twice last season including at Haydock in the Beyfred Sprint Cup (see below).
My plants are getting some rain which means I do not have to get the hose out (ooh err missus) so that gives me twenty minutes to throw down some selections for tomorrow.
Keith Dalgleish is having a great start to the season and his Livella Fella can improve for a step down in trip to a more suitable mile and a quarter. Fast ground is a plus.
Chepstow looks like it is going to receive quite a lot of rain and the ground will change significantly. This will not inconvenience course specialist Distant High and he is a confident selection for the 6.25 at Chepstow.
Richard Price can have a double when Zaria runs in the 7.25. This daughter of mud loving Tomba will relish any give under foot and is in good form at present after being just touched off on his seasonal debut at Haydock.
Today I went out to Leith Hill Tower and looked out on virtually the whole of Surrey from what I believe is its highest point. It was absolutely beautiful and I wholly recommend it to anyone in the area. The dog came along and disgraced herself by invading some picinic’ers. They were not happy!! I am going to start calling her Yogi Bear!
Tomorrow is the classic Windsor Monday night meeting and the city boys and bankers (yes a B) will be out in force.
Get ahead of them with a couple of selections at the course. Sir Michael Stoute can do no wrong at present and his expensive purchase (the bankers will figure the 340k gns is loose change) Sir George Somers has a second outing in the 5.50. Very green first time he should improve and it will be disappointing if he cannot take a hand in the finish here.
An hour later Richard Hannon jnr runs Nisser in the sprint handicap. Not seen since last July when well backed in all three starts culminating in a course and distance win. All those efforts proved to be good form and it will be a shame if he cannot be competitive off a mark of 85.
Five go to post in the next and it is a very competitive listed race over a mile. Four of the quintet including odds on favourite Lightning Spear like to be held up and this could give an advantage to the front running Here Comes When. There is a slight doubt over whether he truly stays a mile but a soft lead on a turning track could help him get home.
Finally a trek up north to Musselboro could pay dividends if you follow Valentino Boy in the 2.40. It will be third time lucky but he was quick off the blocks last time at Pontefract and will take some catching.
Well I am now fully recovered from my disgusting virus and work today was a joy as I was looking out of the window counting the minutes until the weekend starts. Temps in the mid 20’s (degrees of weather not temporary workers not yet ready to celebrate their third decade). As well as that a full day’s racing on both codes on C4.
Tomorrow’s Classic trials at Lingfield are not exactly star studded and may not have a huge bearing on Epsom in a few week’s time but they could provide a double bonanza for Aiden O’Brien. He runs Seventh Heaven in the Oak’s trial and Landofhopeandglory in the colt’s equivalent.
Seventh Heaven looks an improving type who won well last time, she is not certain to appreciate the distance but if staying could have too many gears for the favourite Mountain Bell who won by 10 lengths last time at Windsor, the Windsor form has not worked out.
Landofhopeandglory looked slow last time out at Newmarket over 10 furlongs so the extra two furlongs should suit and a front running ride from Ryan Moore could help him stretch his rivals out and sap any finishing kick from them.
The well fancied Sign of a Victory will be well fancied to continue Nicky Henderson’s good form on the flat and he could be a blot on the handicap but I fancy the improving filly Perestroika who was a big rangy filly last year and may have done well over the winter. Henry Candy is more known for his sprinters but the selection ran very well at last year’s Shergar Cup meeting at this course and has a decent claimer taking 5lb off.
Elite Army looked a superstar two years ago and a few injuries have kept him off the track since apart from a disappointing run at Newbury last season. A gelding operation (Ouch!!) and a break may have done him the world of good and I take him to win a poor Listed race. I wouldn’t back Scotland with my worst enemies money.
It is not often you get decent fast ground this time of the year but that is what we will have at Ascot tomorrow and the big handicap at 4.15. A couple of horses that will love the ground and act on the track are Outback Traveller and topweight Mister Universe (below).
Over at Haydock the Swinton hurdle can go to the unexposed Gwafa. This former decent flat racer will appreciate the faster ground and looked to be progressive before unseating his rider at Aintree.
Summary
3.25 Lingfield – Seventh Heaven – 1pt Win at 3/1
4.00 Lingfield – Landofhopeandglory – 1pt Win at 4/1
If you replied very good, yes, I just told you I am stop asking. Then I am very jealous as I have just spent two days in bed with the Norovirus and my stomach is just recovering. I have just had my first piece of food in 48hrs a lovely lovely banana.
So I am at home today in bed and have just been through today’s cards so here are my selections.
At Brighton get the day off to a good start with Tomily. Richard Hannon’s two year old was well fancied first time only to be touched off and then ran third in probably the hottest juvenile race of the year at Newmarket. If he can’t win an ordinary Brighton maiden there will be huge disappointment.
In the next Indian Tinker has a good record at Brighton and has been dropped a few pounds after his reappearance, an additional three pounds from having a decent claimer on board could tip the balance further.
Robert Powell the trainer of Indian Tinker can follow up in the last with Royal Bajan. His second run for this trainer could end in success and Brighton should suit his front running style.
Over at Fakenham take Kiama Bay to put a couple of disappointments over fences and unsuitably heavy ground behind him when dropping in class and back to his favourite course.
Paul Morgan’s team are in good form and the tongue tie worked last time on Angel Face. A bumper winner for Alan King she should have the requisite class to get in amongst this lot.
The inaugural Norfolk National can go to the Phillips Hobb’s Thomas Wild who put up a great effort at Cheltenham behind Any Currency. A stumble four out put paid to any chance he had and this is a lesser race.
There are not many times where I feel like the day has been a disaster but yesterday’s blog definitely was. Typical early season surprises and my bets were as effective as Air Force Blue! It will be interesting to see what comes out of yesterday’s 2000 Guineas and whilst on first viewing you may think it was a sub-standard renewal the winnere did put daylight between him and the rest and they were fairly well strung out.
Today is a new day and it is the fillies turn. Aiden O’Brien runs three and I am not sure which one I like and just cannot trust how far forward O’Brien has them. I really struggle to read his horses in the early part of the season and yesterday’s 2000 did nothing to ally those fears.
Apart from Minding’s victory in the Fillies Mile there did not seem much between them and I fancy one at long odds.
Jim Bolger certainly knows how to get one ready first time and his Turret Rocks is over priced at 25/1. Not far behind the best last year this filly is probably more likely to be an Oaks filly but she won’t be the first Oaks filly to take or get placed in a Guineas. She will be staying on best of all and certainly has a touch of class about her.
In the first Mark Johnstone may supply the answer in Watersmeet, a course and distance winner who has had a decent wspring on the all-weather so comes here fit and on a good mark and will appreciate the drying ground better than his rivals.
In the Sun Chariot I am unconvinced Amazing Maria wants further than a mile or Arabian Queen is as effective off a soft surface. I will take a chance with Irish Rookie and hope the ground is juicy enough. Her trainer states she needs cut but the formbook doesn’t agree and the step up in trip will suit.
In the sprint side with the best trainer of sprinters in the country Robert Powell. He runs Captain Bob and a return to a firmer surface will suit. Down in the weights and off a featherweight with top lightweight jockey Jimmy Quinn in the saddle this is another one that can bely its odds.
I once went out with a mime artist for six months and people often ask me what we got up to and I have to reply that it was very normal and we mostly enjoyed quiet nights in.
This is a joke (of sorts) to lead us into my selections for the season’s first classic the 2000 Guineas. A race dominated by Air Force Blue who on all known form should prevail and has been favourite for the race since a very impressive Dewhurst victory last Autumn. He is the most likely winner but at the price (4/6) I cannot advise him and also there have been a couple of negatives in the last week.
On the superb Morning Line (not often you can say that) last week where Clare Balding visited Ballydoyle Aiden O’Brien vocalised his fears of Air Force Blue having too much speed and he had doubts of him staying the trip and then this week the horse has been declared with a tongue strap which could indicate some sort of breathing issue.
All being equal he should win but there is some each way value further down the field. Last year’s Racing Post Trophy winner Marcel (see what I did?) is available at 11/1. He did not get the credit he deserved for that victory as the favourite Foundation found trouble in running. However the form is decent with the second winning a group race after and he travelled very smoothly throughout the contest. He has reportedly done well over the Winter and will definitely stay and enjoy the slightly softened ground and the uphill finish.
The other one to take on the favourite is the only horse to have lowered his colours on course and that is Buratino. He defeated the favourite at Royal Ascot but subsequently that defeat was revenged at the Curragh later in the year. A slight doubt due to running style about the mile trip but his pedigree suggest he should be capable of staying the mile. His form ties him in with the very best of his generation and he should be there or thereabouts.
The Jockey Club stakes is a race to savour as Jack Hobbs (below) takes on Simple Verse. I always maintain a good colt will beat a good filly so side with Jack Hobbs but at 1/2 this is a race to savour rather than stake hour house on.
The Palace House stakes at 2.30 is a race renowned as a starting point for the top sprinters and this race is full of good older sprinters looking to position themselves for the best races of the year. The ground will not be quick enough for Sole Power and Waady has to prove he is as good elsewhere as he is at Sandown. Perhaps the speediest in the race is Cotai Glory, still lightly raced and housed in the stables that perhaps has the most quality in the sprinting division at present Charlie Hills this four year old could progress this year.
In the first take a chance on the thoroughly un-genuine Emerald. Marco Botti’s horse has a terrible head carriage but also a lot of talent. This is the scene of his only victory and the open spaces here probably suit.
It has been a great week. The inherited scruffy pooch April (below) is finally making friends with the two cats and I am spending my Saturday morning in the garden with the three of them in some glorious, yet chilly, sunshine previewing today’s ‘Whitbread’ card at Sandown and some good handicaps at Haydock.
The trainer’s title clash between Paul Nicholl’s and Willie Mullin’s has really livened up the final day of the season  with Nicholl’s just over £50k ahead as I write. It is a toss up as to whoever comes out on top as they are both running fancied horses in most races.
I called it the ‘Whitbread’ card earlier and isn’t it strange that probably everyone over the age of 35 still calls it that even though the sponsorship of the race ended over a decade ago. Not sure the bet365 are getting there money’s worth!
The race itself is very competitive this year and I have already got a few quid on Henri Parry Morgan each way at decent odds, not sure he is still value as he has to prove he can be as effective right handed.
The two against the field I will put up are Bishop’s Road and Theatre Guide. Bishop’s Road is highly progressive and showed his stamina at Haydock when he was very impressive in the Grand National Trial and also his liking for this course when winning here over a much shorter trip. The ground is a worry but at 18/1 and with Kerry Lee’s fantastic first season in charge showing her very adept at winning these long distance races it is worth taking a chance.
Theatre Guide has also improved this year. A gallant third in the Hennessy followed by a scintillating win at Kempton proved his liking for a competitive long distance handicaps and a right handed course. I had high hopes for a Grand National tilt which never happened but this could be a great consolation.
As we go backwards through the card the 3.35 clash/rematch between Sprinter Sacre and Un De Sceaux is a race to savour rather than bet on although I have a feeling that Sire de Grugy could be overpriced on his favourite track.
It takes a very decent horse to beat Menorah over distances just shy of three miles and especially at Sandown. He has won this race the past two seasons and it will top a fantastic season for the champion jockey Richard Johnson to complete the hattrick. Fresh from only running twice this season he can power past some dodgy jumpers and disappointing types.
If we ignore Wolf of Windlesham’s latest jumps effort where he was virtually pulled up he has a fantastic chance at the weights if you consider what the beaten horses in his Cheltenham win have subsequently achieved. A recent win on the all weather indicates his good health.
Over at Haydock we have a very competitive mile event contested by lots of the Lincoln runners and one of those is Express Yourself who finished seventh. He should come on slightly for that run and has an impressive course record. Do not worry if he is slowly away as that is his style of racing.
It may also be worth a few pounds on Your’e Fired. This Karl Burke trained five year old was progressive last year and ended up competing in group races. He may need the ground a little softer but there is some juice in the ground and he could improve further this year.
racingahoy 