Info

4:00 Punchestown - Bridgequarter Girl (8/1) -1pt e/w - Thought to be capable of making the most of the weight advantage here and has been showing up well at home. Having examined the race in great detail it looks like a difficult race to call and for that reason I have chosen to back the horse e/w. I will also be having a side bet - Bridgequarter and Ourbeautifuldream 0.50pt Reverse Forecast. One thing is certain though, I definitely don't fancy the chances of the favourite but there are at least 3 horses in the race that could take home the prize (Lughnasa) and therefore despite receiving a strong word for Bridgequarter, I would advise readers to proceed with caution.

2:50 Haydock

Oscar O'scar (40/1) - 1pt e/w - not the info bet promised earlier but I think this one may just have a chance of running into a place.

1:15 Punchestown

Buckers Bridge (11/8) -3pt win - Horse from my to follow list this season which I missed earlier.

Today's Selection

Sorry for the late post time today, it's been a busy morning and to be honest today's racing is pretty uninspiring. With that in mind I will only be posting one bet today although I am waiting on confirmation of an info horse later on this afternoon which will be posted up around 3pm if I get the green light.

2:55 Punchestown - Ravensbury (5/1) - 1pt e/w & 3pt win

Today's Selections (Day 113)

Very little catches my eye today and with the poor weather continuing to reap havoc on the racing schedule, I will be proceeding with caution.

4:00 Taunton - Eastlake (20/1) - 1pt e/w - I've heard a few rumours circulating about this horse today and although I usually ignore any info which emulates from this particular yard, this horse does have the profile of a potential JP job lot. You only have to take a quick look at that horse's profile to see that he may have been the subject of a spot of handicap manipulation. Between October 2010 and May 2012 the horse won 5 races in 9 attempts and his record over 16-17f during that time was 5 from 6. In June Jonjo stepped the horse up in trip and needless to say his performance ratings dropped significantly. He hasn't won a race since. Today he drops back to his preferred trip for the first time since May and although his current mark had looked beyond him over 2m 4f+, I believe that he has the potential to be improve over today's trip and therefore the whispers doing the rounds may well prove to be correct. Very interesting to see how the horse performs in the market over the next few hours.

4:30 Taunton - Uruba D'Irlande (9/4) - 3pt win - Now I have to admit that I don't know an awful lot about how this horse has been working at home since joining the Nicholls yard but I do know everything about his pedigree and I also know that his performance in a PTP a few months ago was very impressive and that the turn of foot and cruising speed he demonstrated really caught the eye of a few PTP experts.

When you explore the horse's pedigree you quickly realise that he has the potential to be a very precocious animal. His Dam is out of Pistolet Bleu, was a listed performer as a 3yo and is also related to some very smart NH horses including; Pique Sous, Pancake and Laveroque. The horse's Sire isn't too prolific in this country but he excels in France and he's a Sire which Nicholls well as he's trained a couple of his top progeny.

For me there is no doubt that this horse has what it takes to be very smart over today's trip and with an abundance of bumper winners in his pedigree he should have more than enough tactical speed to get competitive. I obviously have a degree of respect for the Hobbs horse, especially as he's being heavily supported but stamina has to be a real issue for him and I just feel that Uruba has a more rounded NH pedigree.


4:40 Wolverhampton - Horsted Keynes (3/1) - 3pt win - A horse who featured in my 2yo diary for this season and I've had to wait until now to see him run. His pedigree is incredibly impressive and his dosage rating extremely high. His trainer has a stunning record at the track and although the presence of Jamie Spencer makes me neverous, I think the horse is more than capable of making a winning debut. Side Bet- 0.50 Reverse Forecast - Horsted and Midnight Warrior. 

Info

1:20 Leicester - Ningbo Express (11/1) - 1pt e/w - Apparently holds strong place claims and has been working well at home. Should handle the ground and JP heads to the meeting for just the one ride on the horse which is part owned by a family member.

Today's Selections (Day 112)

1:30 Bangor - Tidal Way (2/1) - 3pt win - This horse ran a race full of promise on his hurdling debut and was only beaten by Spanish Fork who had hurdling experience. The horse was a bit sloppy at some of his jumps that day but I expect his connection to have ironed out the creases since that run and he should be more polished today. He takes on a few horses today who were inferior to him on the flat and Longsdon has a stunning record with his hurdlers at the welsh course. All things considered I think the McCain horse is the one to beat but if Tidal can improve from his last run, then he should go close.

2:30 Bangor - Mount Hope (3/1) - 3pt win - Not a particularly strong race and once again McCain looks to have a very strong chance of winning it with Mount Hope. I doubt anything in this race will turn out to be a superstar but Mount Hope won his bumper in fine style and looked to have the makes of a nice handicapper.  He's related to Brady who is also in training at the yard and his Dam's sire is prolific in NH breeding. I know very little about his Sire but with a solid NH bloodline on his Dam's side I would be surprised if he wasn't capable of winning an average maiden. My only slight concern would be whether he would handle the ground but his bumper win did come in soft conditions so hopefully he will be ok.

3:30 Bangor - Investissement (8/1) -1pt e/w - A race in which Jonjo's favourite is extremely short considering he's never run competitively over hurdles and if there is one yard that I'm happy to oppose a fav from, it's this one. Investissement was a smart horse on the flat and at his peak won a Class 2 event off a mark of 95. He moved to the Pipe yard this year and made his reappearance following 426 day absence in a  Novice event at Fakenham. He went off towards the head of the market that day but was eased round the course and was never put in a position to really get competitive. Now it may well be that this horse is being played for a handicap mark, in which case this bet has no prospect of being successful but I just have a feeling that we may see a much better performance today and although he may not win, I expect Tom to at least ensure that he's competitive.

4:30 Bangor - Clondaw Draft (3/1) - 3pt win - I said last week that the Clondaw horses are to be followed this season and my winner yesterday proved that comment to be correct as Clondaw Kaempfer won in fine style. Today it's the turn on Clondaw Draft and he has the pedigree of a really nice horse being out of a sire who is really on the up and up. For me CD has more than enough potential to win a weak bumper such as this and I expect him to be competitive first time out as the McCain horse's usually are. He's not the strongest of the Clondaw group but I'm sure he will be a nice type and the current price is definitely attractive. Side Bet - 0.50pt Reverse Forecast - Clondaw and What A Good Night.



From now on horses from my to follow list this season will be highlighted in Red.

Today's Selections

1:10 Aintree - Vendor (6/4)  - 3pt win (PU)

2:50 Aintree - Lovcen (10/3) - 3pt win (UP)

4:00 Aintree - Clondaw Kaempfer (10/11) - 3pt win (1st - very impressive)

4:35 Aintree - Broadway Buffalo (2/1) - 3pt win (1st - SP 7/2)

4:35  Aintree - Ghost of a Smile (20/1) - 1pt e/w (UP)

All 5 selections are from my horse to follow list and I'm really looking forward to seeing Clondaw and Vendor perform.

Flat Selections

4:10 Doncaster - Lucky Beggar (12/1) - 1pt e/w

5:20 Doncaster - Fortrose Academy (5/1) - 3pt win

Today's Jump Selections

2:05 Chepstow- Big Society (9/2) - 1pt e/w

3:10 Chepstow - Master Zhurkov (9/2) - 1pt e/w

3:30 Aintree - Wishful Thinking (8/1) -1pt e/w

3:40 Chepstow - Mulligans Man (6/1) - 1pt e/w

4:15 Chepstow

Salubrious (11/4 BOG) - 6pt Max Bet - Not sure how much time I'm going to get tomorrow so i'm posting my main selection up early just in case. Horse has been tee'd up for this race and is apparently due to be the subject of a large punt tomorrow afternoon.

INFO

1:50 Newbury - Absolutely So (5/1) - 3pt win - Same source that gave me Race and Status a few weeks ago who won at 16/1 on debut. Horse has been working incredibly well at home with the other horses owned by Mr and Mrs Smith and with the horses with experience looking weak, this is a great opportunity for the horse to get a win under his belt before the winter break. (2nd - SP 11/4) 

Today's Selections

Another frustrating day yesterday as 2 of my selections finished 2nd while 2 horses I highlighted, including 1 from my horses to follow list, won in fine style. Today is a new day though and with a bit of luck those placed horses which I keep finding will be good enough to get their heads in front. Unfortunately due to time constraints I won't have time for detailed write up's today but rest assured that the normal level of research and study has gone into picking each selection.

1:40 Doncaster - Singersongwriter (5/1) - 1pt e/w - I've heard a lot about this horse and have been eagerly anticipating its debut. Although she faces the boys today and I believe that she may just have what it takes but a lot will depend on how the Bell runner performs (ALGORITHMIC) because he could literally be anything. (1st - won in fine style and looks smart)

2:30 Fakenham - Tour D' Argent (13/8) - 3pt win - Difficult race this as it features three horses from my to follow list (Tour, No Panic and Cross of Honour). I spent a long time looking through their respective chances last night and in the end all roads led back to Tour. I'm obviously concerned that he was a faller LTO and jumped through a few of his fences, but I'm hoping that run won't have had a serious effect on his confidence and he definitely has the necessary skills required to have a successful chasing campaign this season. (Fell - had every chance coming over the last - No Panic 1st and Cross of Honour 2nd)


3:05 Fakenham - Vulcanite (7/4) - NO BET - This horse feature prominently in my to follow list this season but I have a few doubts about him today and for that reason I won't be having a bet. Punters should be asking themselves why he's such a big price in what looks like a race filled with average handicappers. One for another day in my opinion. (1st - Definitely regretting not backing this one but another winner from my to follow list)


3:40 Fakenham - Court By Surprise (8/1) - 1pt e/w - I was sure that this horse was going to develop into a nice type last year but for one reason or another he never really found his feet. It later came to light that he had been suffering from breathing issues and he's subsequently had a wind opp over the summer.  Now, this is a bet not for the faint hearted as there is every chance that the horse will still be below par and will be confined to middle of the park handicaps for the rest of his career. However, if the wind op has the desired effect they I think we may see significant improvement from him today. (3rd - Not entirely convinced he want's 3m but it was a good effort from the front and I'm happy with the e/w return)


4:15 Fakenham - Close Touch (4/6) - 6pt Max Win - Without doubt this one is max bet material and if you believe the rumours doing the rounds then this horse is potentially very, very smart. (1st - Put this horse in you racing diaries because he has a massive future. Very, very impressive performance!)

Today Selections

3:25 Carlisle - De Bee Keeper (4/1) - 1pt e/w - Lucinda Russell has always targeted this early season meeting and this looks like the type of horse who has been played perfectly for this race. In April the horse race in a good look PTP race, finishing 3rd. The two horses in front of him that day both sold for significant money at the subsequent sales and the general feeling is that the race should work out quite well. De Bee Keeper was purchased for 80,000 euros and was the subject of a considerable amount of praise during one of Lucinda's recent stable tours. The plan was always to run the horse in a bumper on debut and he performed with credit on his reappearance and was not pushed for an effort at any time during the race. He turns out today in what looks to be ideal conditions and the jockey's 10lb claim can only help his cause and in my opinion Craig Nichol has plenty of raw talent. Usually this would be the type of horse which I would be backing to win but BIT OF A JIG is a horse that features in my horses to follow list and for that reason I decided to stick with the e/w bet rather than the win.


3:55 Carlisle - Vamizi (11/4) - 3pt win - This horse was very nearly a max bet today as I know that this particular race has been on the horses schedule for a considerable amount of time and his track record is impeccable. Vamizi is a horse which has always thrived in bad conditions and his stride pattern and the nature of his action mean that the course at Carlisle is perfect for him. For a class 3 race the opposition do not look particularly strong and I would be very surprised if anything in the field could beat him if he puts in a clean round of jumping.


5:00 Carlisle - Super Duty (4/5) - 3pt win - For me this is a two horse race between my selection and his old foe Nuts and Bolts and although it was difficult to choose between the two, I just feel that the drop back in drip will be too much for Nuts and Bolts when faced with Super Duty's speed. There is no doubt the Super Duty is a very smart and progressive individual, he campaign last season was extremely promising and his second placed finish behind Simonsig is impressive form in the context of this race. Having read plenty of reports about SD over the last few months it's safe to say that McCain has high hopes for this horse and a race at today's track has always been the plan as the nature of the course seems to suit him, as was evident when he destroyed his opposition on his second career start almost a year to the day ago. I know for some readers that backing an odds on shot coming back from a break isn't the most appealing betting proposition but I honestly believe that he will be a cut above his opposition today. Those looking for an e/w alternative should definitely take a close look at Nuts and Bolts.


5:30 Carlisle - Clondaw Flika (5/1) - 1pt e/w - For those readers that aren't familiar with PTP racing, I suggest that you remember the name CLONDAW this season as there are a number of very promising types who were purchased out of the Colin Bowe yard in the spring and all share the same first name. Clondaw Flika was the cheapest of them at £40,000 but I still think he will be extremely competitive today. Having read the reports of his debut PTP race back in April, it's safe to say that this horse is an imposing type with a strong galloping action. Although his pedigree doesn't exactly leap off the page when you analyse it, I'm a fan of his Sire's bloodstock and he's produced plenty of NH winners from a limited number of opportunities and they all seem to relish soft conditions.

When you analyse today's race as a hole it looks pretty weak, the Easterby horse has a reasonable NH pedigree but the trainers terrible record in races of this type would definitely put me off, even with McCoy booked to ride. Taxi Des Obeaux probably deserves to win a race after two valiant performances in bumpers this season but he has the profile of a horse who maybe found wanting at the business end of a race and although McGrath has a good strike rate for the trainer, he doesn't to be a particularly appealing betting proposition. Finally, you have the McCain horse, BALTIMORE and I have to admit that it was a very close call between him and Clondaw Flika. He's a well built gelding out of Flemensfirth and his Dam (Glenflag Princess) has already proven herself capable of producing winners. The horse won on its PTP debut in an average looking race over 2m 4f but the form doesn't look particularly strong as the second placed horse (now with Elliot) looks average and the third placed horse was beaten when falling in the race won by Clondaw Flika.

Now I have to admit that there is every chance that Baltimore will have a quicker turn of foot that Clondaw as he's related to a bumper winner and his Sire's progeny usually excel over 2m-2m 3f but I just have a feeling that Clondaw could potentially have the ability to gallop his opposition into the ground today and there is no doubt that the stiff up hill finish will really bring his stamina into play today.
Side Bet - 0.50pt Reverse Forecast - Clondaw Flika and Baltimore (1pt total stake) 

No Truth

MISSING WRITE UP

This has all the making of a nice looking maiden and usually I would never back a filly in a mixed sex maiden but this horse has apparently been working well at home, has a tremendous pedigree and is from a bloodline which the yard are all too familiar with. This one could definitely out run her odds and although a win might be optimistic, I'm hopeful she will place. 

Westward Point

That will teach me to ignore horse's from my to follow list!  Having drifted out to 16/1 the horse made all to win and that's a horse which I really should have backed because I knew it was a weak bumper and I knew the horse had what it takes to win. I'm hoping that a few readers may have seen that I'd highlighted him in my earlier post today and had a little e/w punt but I wasn't so luckily!

Today's Bets

Having some Internet problems today so I'm having to use my phone but hopefully it will be fixed soon and I can post my detailed write ups for today. In the meantime here are today's advised bets

1:40 Worcester - Seven Woods (3/1) - 3pt win - (3rd)

3:40 Newmarket - No Truth (18/1) - 1pt ew - (UP)

4:00 Fontwell - Easter Day (7/4) -3pt win - (1st - SP 9/4)

4:20 Worcester - Ballingbrigs (5/1) - 1pt ew - (UP)

5:30 Fontwell - Royal Present (11/4) - 3pt win - (2nd)

Today's Results

One of those day's when I'm left reminiscing about what could have been a truly fantastic day. It's very hard to complain when you land 2 winning bets and a CSF but with my other 3 selections all finishing second by short distances, it could have been something a bit special.

Results

2:40 - Melodic Rendezvous (6/4) - 3pt win - 2nd

3:10 - Bold Henry (3/1) - 3pt win - 2nd

4:40 - Rocky Creek (6/5 - 6pt win - 2nd

4:35 - Expanding Universe (2/1) - 3pt win - 1st 
          Curley Bill - 2nd - CSF £6.97

5:10 - Grande Le Victoire (13/8) - 3pt win - 1st (SP 7/2) - Thank God for BOG

2:40 Exeter

Melodic Rendezvous -6/5 - 3pt win - quite simply the price is now very appealing and I'm choosing to ignore the drift and have a punt. I have earmarked this horse as a very smart prospect and he should be competitive today and in my opinion 6/5 looks huge!

Today's Selections

Sticking to the jumps meetings again today and the card at Exeter really is top notch and should give us an indication of what's to come later in the year. At the start of every NH Season I compose my list of horses to follow and today sees no fewer than 8 competing at Exeter; Bold Henry, Johns Spirit, Module, Pantoxa, Rebel Rebelion, Melodic Rendezvous, Gullinbursti and Rocky Creek. Obviously I can't back them all, especially as 4 line up in the same race, but I will be backing one or two.

3:10 Exeter - Bold Henry (3/1) - 3pt win - I have to say that I'm slightly surprised to see that this horse has been sent over fences straight away as it was my understanding that he would have a few hurdles entries to refresh him. He has always been viewed as a potentially smart chaser and the fact that Hobbs has taken the decision to throw him straight into a race like this suggests to me that he has been showing up very well at home. As Henry is owed by JP it is no surprise to see McCoy take the ride but the weight of early money for the horse on the exchanges is obviously interesting given his connections especially when you consider the strength of the race. He has previous course experience and is perfectly comfortable in a variety of conditions and with the yard already in fine form, I think this horse will take a world of beating today.


4:35 Tipperary - Expanding Universe (2/1) - 3pt win - If bumper racing was all about breeding then this horse would be winning this race by a country mile. This gelding is out of Galileo and a Darshaan mare and is actually bred to be pretty smart on the flat. Over the years we have seen Weld excel with horses of this type and I have a feeling that this one may have a smart future in front of him. To date he has only seen on the race course once and performed with credit in a NHF race over 2m 4f (finished 4th). He looked to be in need of the run that day and there was no doubt that his stamina was stretched slightly by the trip. Weld has taken the decision to drop him back to 2 miles today and with the early pace in the race sure to be slow, this horse's turn of foot could have the rest of the field treading water. Once again my money maker R P heads to the meeting just for one ride and with the only real danger looking to be the Meade horse, I expect it to be another successful day for him and the effervescent Weld. Side Bet = 0.50pt Reverse Forecast - Expanding Universe and Curley Bill (Total Stake 1pt) 


4:40 Exeter - Rocky Creek (6/5) - 6pt Max Bet - Now this is probably a brave decision on my part as this does look like a nice little race but this horse has been the subject of some extremely positive reports and is considered to be a real live contender for some big festival meetings this year. As a winning pointer he has always been considered to be a chasing prospect but still performed with great credit over hurdles last year. His best performance came in the Albert Bartlett Novices when he  readily fended off Gullinbursti to win the race in fine style. That form of that event looks rock solid and I can see very few negatives in this horses profile as far as backing him in today's race is concerned. As we roll into November the Nicholls yard is about to explode into action and I have no doubt that this one will be fully wound up for today's race.

5:10 Exeter - Grande Le Victoire (13/8) - 3pt win - Not the greatest of bumpers and it should prove to be a formality for Grande. Although he is unlikely to be anything above average in the long run, his pedigree is superior to the majority of his opposition and his Sire, Kapgrande, may just be one to watch out for over then next few months as his stock appears to be on the rise. I don't know too much about his Dam's family but my general feeling is that it should be ok and with Hobb's targeting bumpers to good effect, I would expect this one to win with ease under Johnson.

4:05 Tipperary

Moscow Chief (4/1) - 1pt e/w & 0.50pt Reverse Forecast with Stage King (Total RF stake =1pt)

Result = 1st Moscow Chief - SP 5/1)
Stage King - 3rd

Today's Selection

Today's cards are very poor and the weather is sure to play a major part in how things pan out. With that in mind I will only be having one bet today and it's on the advice of a primary info source.

5:10 Plumpton - Hannibal the Great (2/1) - 6pt Max Win - Prior to moving to the Longsdon yard this horse had been brought to my attention by a PTP expert in Ireland. This Milan gelding had run in a PTP race at Liscarroll back in March and dead heated for first place with a horse called Mcllhatton. Mcllhatton has subsequently moved to the Nicholls yard for £62,000 and ran well in a bumper at Chepstow earlier this month (finished 3rd at 9/2). The favourite in that PTP race back in March was a horse called First to Boogie who is thought to be a very exciting prospect and went off at the head of the market in a top bumper at Punchestown back in April after moving to the Mullin's yard (finished 6th). The general feeling among the PTP form experts is that the race won by Hannibal represents rock solid form and at the time the horse was highlighted as a potentially smart individual.  Following that win the horse went off the radar and it wasn't until a few months ago that his name popped up again when I was approached to buy a share in the horse as part of a syndicate scheme. I declined on that occasion but I was informed that the horse had been working extremely well at home and was showing a high degree of promise in comparison to some of the yards other bumper recruits. Obviously this led me to dive deeper into the horses background and analyse his pedigree and I have to say that I was very impressed with what I found.

Firstly, the horse is by Milan who is a Sire who over the years has proven to be a decent duel purpose creator. His progeny are usually versatile as far as ground is concerned and win over a variety of trips ranging from 2m - 3m 2f. To date he is yet to really excel at the highest level but season on season his stock seems to be improving and so far this year he has recorded 111 wins from 704 runs. The horse's Dam is Town Gossip who was an average duel performer out of Indian Ridge but she is related to some very nice NH horses including;  Montalicino (OR 143 - Grade 2 hurdle winners) and Meadow Vale (Smart duel bumper winner). To date Town Gossip has produced one foal (Mostly Bob) who holds a current OR of 130, is well above average and also won a bumper on debut for Willie Mullins at the start of his career. As far as I am concerned Hannibal has the profile of a smart Nation Hunt performer and he should also have the pace required to win a low grade bumper with minimal fuss. The fact that the horse has joined the Longsdon yard also adds confidence to my selection as the horse matches the profile of horse which the yard seem to be target and Charlie is definitely a trainer who is destined to go on to bigger and better things this season.  In light of the horse's pedigree, his PTP form and the positive reports received from the yard, I have taken the decision to Max Bet this horse and although the current form of the stable is a concern, I think the horse should have more than enough to win and the only real danger I can see is Mixologist. Side Bet = 0.50pt Reverse Forecast Hannibal and Mixologist (total 1pt stake). 


Result - Hannibal the Great - 1st (SP 7/2) 
              Mixotogist - 2nd (SP 2/1) 
              CSF - £11.57

Info Horse

3:05 Bath - Queen Star (10/1) - 1pt e/w - Now this info comes with a warning, the horse was very well fancied to run a big race here today when I spoke to the man in question earlier in the week. However, the conditions today and the money for a few other horses has tempered confidence slightly and for that reason I have decided to only back this one e/w. What ever happens the horse should be very competitive here today and is thought to have plenty of room for improvement. (2nd)

Today's Early Selections

3:20 Kempton - Princely Player (10/3) - 6pt Max Bet (2nd)

Today's Selections

Full write up's to follow.

1:45 Ascot - Opinion Poll (10/3) - 3pt win - (UP)

2:30 Cheltenham - Bobowen (9/1) - 1pt e/w - (UP)

2:55 Ascot - Sapphire (3/1) - 3pt win - (1st)

4:20 Cheltenham - Barlow (16/1) - 1pt e/w - (UP)

5:30 Cheltenham - Southfield Theatre (5/2) - 3pt win - (1st)

Delayed 7:20 Tip

Glass Mountain (2/1) - 3pt win (2nd)

Today's Selections

Jumps only today and unfortunately I don't have time for detailed write ups.

1:00 Fakenham - Makari (5/2) - 3pt win (1st)

2:10 - Grandioso (7/1) - 3pt win (UP)

3:55 - Sire Collonges (9/2) - 3pt win (1st)




4:30 - Titan De Sarti (4/1) - 3pt win - This horse returns to the track today after a disappointing run in a hot listed event at Newbury last season. He was sent off at 13/2 that day from what I remember was heavily backed but faded late on after attempting to make all. Having read some stable tour reviews from the Henderson yard, the horse has apparently been working very well since then and in my opinion has plenty of room for improvement.

Mr Henderson has a tremendous record with horse of this type. In the 2011-2012 season his runners over 2m-2m1/2 returned a massive +£61 level stake return (27% strike rate). Furthermore horses which flopped on their previous outing for the yard also performed extremely well, returning a level stakes profit of +£43. Finally the trainer can definitely ready one and has a 31% strike rate in recent years with his runners making seasonal bows.

All things considered I think this rates as a solid bet and the horses performance in the market suggests that better things are expected today. Geraghty hangs around for 2 hours and 20 minutes to take the ride and I think the horse will take a World of beating here today. (3rd)

Today's Selections

Well, I knew yesterday was going to be difficult but it turned out to be a complete wash out and was a very disappointing day. I've learnt my lesson though, and in future I will refrain from looking for selections when the races just aren't there.


3:00 Wolves - Pearl Ransom (5/1) - 3pt win - Last chance saloon territory for this one after a couple of disappointing performances in turf maidens. Although he's had a few excuses I can't really see him getting another opportunity to run in a maiden after today and for one Spence may actually be an asset to the particular horse. For some reason the Pearl Bloodstock boys rate him very highly and he has a stunning strike rate when riding for these connections. The horse is well drawn and has a straightforward 8f pedigree which should mean he has more raw pace than most of his opposition.


4:30 Wolves - Pravda Street (3/1) - 3pt win - A horse who is in fine form seeking a a hatrick today after a solid performance in claiming company last time out over CD. Despite steeping up slightly in grade today, he opposition looks week and this one has every chance of recording a three timer today. At a bigger price Stella Express is very interesting but her jockey's terrible record at the track has to put you off slightly. Side Bet - 0.50pt Reverse Forecast Stella Express.


6:00 Kempton - Mushaakis (15/8) - 3pt win - You won't see many horses from this yard running off a handicap mark of just 63. His performance last time out suggested that he had plenty in hand and he looks like a potential job horse. The step in trip is sure to suit him and given that he receives a huge amount of a weight from the Godolphin horse, he should be very difficult to beat. Side Bet - 0.50pt Reverse Forecast Aussie Reign. 

Info

2:00 Lingfield - Royal Aspiration (12/1) - 1pt e/w - I have received info about this horse on a couple of occasions now and for one reason or another its never managed to bring home the money. The general feeling today is that the horse has been found a perfect opportunity and is starting to look very well handicapped. Obviously the artificial surface is unknown territory but his Sire has a good record at the track and RA works on a similar surface at home so it shouldn't prove to be too much of a problem. All things considered this horse has a good draw, is well handicapped and should put in an improved performance today.

8:10 Kempton

My Trust (2/1) - 6pt Max Bet - Just seen this one come up in my alerts and there is no doubt that it's a max bet qualifier against today's opposition and this horse might prove to be the shining light on an otherwise gloomy day's racing.

Today's Selections

It's been a long time since I saw such a poor set of cards and in my opinion it's extremely difficult to find any viable betting propositions. The card at Nottingham features plenty of low grade maidens and handicaps and the large fields make it almost impossible to find a winner. The track at Lingfield has just been relayed meaning that the course is bound to throw up some unusual results today and Wetherby is expected to be bombarded with torrential rain throughout the day making conditions extremely testing. With that in mind my selections will be limited today and I hope tomorrows racing will be of a better calibre.

1:50 Wetherby - Mississippi Blues (10/3) - 3pt win - Now usually I would avoid these types of races at this stage in the NH season but this horse definitely caught my eye when I was scanning the card this morning. The horse is a Poliglote colt out of a Pamapbird mare and was purchased for 44,000 euros last year. MB is related to a couple of winners in France including the Grade 3 winner Plaisir Du Roy who thrived in soft conditions. A few readers may not be familiar with Poliglote but he is responsible for some very smart jumpers and they usually mature very quickly and handle soft conditions. Mississippi's trainer has really started to hit form in the last few days and his record at the course is impressive. The first time out booking of McCoy to ride for a very powerful set of flat connections who are having their first jumps runner clearly catches the eye as well and I would be very surprised if this horse didn't put in a good performance. Interestingly I received a call this morning for another horse in the race Why Always Me (25/1) who has apparently been working very nicely at home but my personal feeling is that he will be up against it today. The word received was enough for me to have a side bet though - Side Bet - Mississippi Blue and Why Always Me 0.50pt Reverse Forecast. 


9:10 Kempton - Angelic Upstart (7/1) - 1pt e/w - Not an easy race to try and solve but this horses form at the course is rock solid and he recorded a very impressive speed rating over CD last time out when going down by just over a length to Forgive. Today Fortune is back in the saddle and is hanging around for 2 and a half hours to pick up the ride on the horse. Obviously I have the up most respect for the Dunlop horse who is apparently on the team sheet for Dubai later in the year but I just feel that Angelic is a seasoned campaign who has plenty of trick up his sleeve and in my opinion the handicapper has taken a real chance by leaving his mark unaltered following his last run. At 7/1 he is clearly a solid e/w bet and I expect him to run well.

So, in the absence of any info I receive that concludes today's selections and to be honest I'm hopeful rather than confident.

Huntingdon Info

4:50 - Empiracle (4/1) - 3pt win - Thought to be a very nice horse with plenty of potential, related to a NHF winner and his dam was also related to some very precocious hurdlers. All things considered this horse is apparently well fancied today and should go very close to taking home the price at a course which the trainer has targeted to very good effect over the last few seasons. (1st - SP 7/1)

Today's Selections

Another uninspiring day's racing so I will be keeping things short and sweet today but I will be having a couple of bets which makes a nice change after only backing 2 horses in the last 2 days (thankfully they both won).

2:10 Leicester - Seek Again (5/6) - 3pt win - Now I know there are no prizes for tipping up odds on shots, but this one really does have the look of a solid punt and I was very close to placing a 6pt bet. The nature of his debut win in a strongly contested maiden at HQ was visually impressive and there is no doubt that the horse should progress today. Obviously the addition of the hood is a bit worrying but Gosden employees it very well and I would assume its because of the limited runners in today's contest. On the basis of his pedigree and his last run, the soft ground and trip shouldn't be an issue and I would be very surprised if this horse didn't stroll to victory here. (2nd)

2:20 Huntingdon - The Last Night (9/2) - 3pt win - The cat is well and truly out of the bag as far as the gamble on this handicap debutant is concerned and although I took the 6/1 available last night, I will be using the current trading price for my P/L purposes. As previously mention the horse runs in it's first handicap today off a mark of 109 and that could prove to be extremely lenient. After a very promising start to his career of course and distance he put in two poor performances in 2 nice races at Ascot and Kempton. The nature of these performances do not concern me as he later scooped dirty and I'm not sure the that handicapper has taken that into account when awarding him his current mark. The fact that the money has flooded in over night suggest that connection are of a similar opinion to me and being a full brother to the very smart Tocca Ferro (same stable) its safe to assume that they know exactly what Last Night is capable of. (UP)

3:40 Leicester - Gifted Girl (6/1) - 1pt e/w - This has to be considered a speculative selection and realistically I probably should have left this race alone, as it looks like a hard one to call but something about the horse's profile enticed me to have a bet. Last season this horse put in some really eye catching performances which include a Class 2 maiden win at Goodwood and a very respectable performance in a listed race at Newmarket. She made her return this season in a Class 4 event at Kempton off a mark of 90 and although she was well beaten by the future Coronation Stakes winner Fallen For You, she disposed of today's rival My Queenie with minimal fuss. After that run she unfortunately had a set back which caused her to miss most of the season before reappearing in Class 3 classified stakes race at Ascot over 8f. She was well beaten that day, but it was a lack of race fitness which was her downfall rather than a lack of ability. It intrigues me that Cole has chosen to turn the horse out quickly at one of his favourite tracks and also books Callen who heads to the meeting for just one ride and has a very good strike rate for the owner. On the basis of her past form with the likes of My Queenie she should definitely be competitive today and as a tactically versatile individual, she should be at an advantage, especially as she's drawn alongside the Teal runner who is likely to set the pace. Obviously the soft ground is unknown territory but as Azamour progeny out of a Selkirk mare I'm hopeful she will handle it and she should run a big race. Side Bet - 0.50pt RF Gifted Girl and Cochabamba (2nd - CSF - £45.64)

All bets are BOG

Today's Selection

No matter how many times I look at today's cards only one race appeals to me and for that reason there will only be one selection on the blog today.

2:00 Windsor - Pivotal Movement (5/2) - 6pt max win - This horse has been heavily backed in both of his previous runs and although he has finished down the field on both occasion  both runs have shown plenty of promise. As a Pivotal progeny out of a Selkirk Mare it's extremely likely that he will relish today's conditions and with additional stamina in his pedigree he should be more than capable of staying the distance in today's conditions. In my opinion there is no-one better than Hughes when it comes to negotiating the specialist track at Windsor and from stall 5 there is every chance that he will be able to bag the favoured far rail and string his opposition out early. Personal, I can not see this horse losing today and I think he should really be a clear favourite on what he has achieved so far to date. At a current price of 5/2 he looks like extremely good value and for that reason my one bet today will carry a max stake bet.

Although there has been plenty of money for the Charlton horse today  I have serious reservations about Secondo when it comes to the ground as Royal Jade's most prolific progeny have all performed on good/firm. I also feel that he may struggle to make up ground if he fails to break on level terms as he was very slow to exit the stalls last time out.

As far as the rest of the opposition are concerned, Blue Twister and Overrider are the two which stand out. Blue Twisters debut run was not without promise and juveniles from the Balding usually improve significantly for the run. My only concern is that despite being by Pivotal, his mare usually produces fast, good ground performers and if Blue Twister is cut from the same cloth then today's conditions will definitely be against him. Overrider is fancied to run a big race today and connections are confident that he will handle the conditions. He has previous course experience which is obviously a major positive and if he continues to progress he should be a live wire contender in what is a weak race. With that in mind I will also be having a Side Bet - Pivotal Movement & Overrider 0.50pt Reverse Forecast. 

Today's selection

3:10 Goodwood - Empiricist (10/1) - 1pt ew (1st)

Newmarket

Not sure how much time I will have tomorrow so I will post my HQ selections now and will try and get some write up's done before racing starts.


1:50 - Fencing (6/1) - 1pt e/w (UP)

2:20 - Moohaajim (3/1) - 3pt win (2nd)

4:05 - Just the Judge (9/2) - 3pt win (1st - SP 6/1)

4:40 - Galileo Rock (6/1) - 1pt e/w (UP)

9:15 Wolverhampton

Tiradito (7/4) - 3pt win

7:45 Wolverhampton

Singzak (8/1) - 1pt ew

Today's Selections

A few bad day's recently which is annoying but there are some nice flat races today and after a few near misses on the jumps yesterday I need to turn things round today before a big weekend of racing.

1:00 Bath - Awake My Soul (11/4) - 3pt win - This horse has shown a high degree of promise and the fact that Cumani sends just one horse to Bath today obviously caught my eye. The booking of Hughes is also interesting and as a proven soft ground performer the horse has to be considered a strong bet in what looks like a reasonably weak maiden. The Gosden horse clearly rates as a danger but I would always side with a colt over a filly and I think Awake My Soul will be very hard to beat.


2:00 York - Chasing Dreams (14/1) - 1pt e/w - A very difficult race to assess but Kevin Ryan has a great strike rate at the track with his juveniles and this particular horse definitely has room for improvement. Despite only winning once from her 4 starts she has been consistent and seems to handle a bit of cut. She has always been towards the head of the market in her races and the handicapper has taken a real chance by dropping her by a further 2lb. She runs off a nice weight in today's company and with Amy chasing the apprentice title I expect the horse to put in a good performance.


2:30 York - Prince Siegfried (3/1) - 3pt win - The first thing to say is that I'm very disappointed that Model Pupil will not be running today as I know everyone in the yard was excited to see him run again but with multiple withdrawals this now looks like a race which wont take much winning. PS has always been a horse who is at his best of soft ground when getting an uncontested lead and that's exactly what he should get here. If Mickael can judge his sectionals correctly then this horse should be able to make all with minimal fuss.


3:40 York - Anderton (3/1) - 3pt win - A horse who many punters feel has some serious quirks but I think the horse has plenty of ability and is more than capable of winning this race. He is a late March foul so should be further forward than most of his opposition today and punters should not lose sight of the fact that if it wasn't for hanging violently in the latter stages of his last race, he would already have a win under his belt. We all know that Fahey's Juveniles demand respect and with Hanagan back in the saddle the current price of 3/1 looks too big.

Today's Selections

Full write up's will be returning tomorrow and I will be concentrating on the NH cards today as the season starts to kick into full gear. I need to reacquaint myself with my jumps selection processes so there may be a few teething problems but bare with me and I'm sure the jumps season will be as profitable as the turf was.


2:00 Worcester - High Road (13/2) - 1pt e/w - Has to be considered as a speculative selection but it looks like the kind of horse that may just find significant improvement on his second handicap start dropping back to a more suitable trip.

2:50 Exeter - Flying Vic (5/1) - 3pt win - Fitness has to be taken on trust but the form of his final PTP win is rock solid and he clearly has plenty of room for improvement off his current mark.

3:20 Exeter - Tim The Chair (15/8) - 3pt win - The ability to handle heavy ground will be a major asset at the track today and with his opposition well past their peak this horse should really get his season off to a good start today.

3:50 Exeter - Samenerve (3/1) - 3pt win -  Very interesting that the money has come for this new stable recruit. The owners are shrew'd gamblers and with the trainer in such fine form it looks like the horse may have been found the perfect opportunity.

4:00 Worcester - God Of The Kop (3/1) - 3pt win - I'm expecting big things from this horse this season and I would be disappointed if he wasn't good enough to win a race like this with McCoy in the saddle.

Today's Selections

A very frustrating day yesterday as all but one of my selections placed but none were good enough to win. Once again I'm under the weather today, so there will be no lengthy write up's.

2:50 Towcester - Thanks For Coming (9/4) - 3pt win

3:30 Nottingham  -Autun (11/4) -3pt win

4:00 Nottingham - Future Securities (5/1) - 1pt e/w

6:30 Kempton - Secret Art (11/8) - 6pt win

7:30 Kmepton - Emkanaat (9/1) - 1pt e/w (info) 

Today's Selections

Unfortunately I'm suffering from a serious bout of Man Flu so there won't be any write up's today.

4:10 Leicester - Cockney Sparrow (8/1) -1pt e/w 

5:10 Leicester - Desert Image (5/4) - 3pt win

5:30 Wolverhampton - Jay Bee Blue (7/1) - 1pt e/w

6:00 Wolverhampton - Kay Gee Bee (9/4) - 3pt win

7:30 Wolverhampton - Glory City (10/1) -1pt e/w 

Today's Selections

Win Selections 

2:30 Wolves - Sonko (1/1) - 3pt win - For me this is my banker of the day, on my ratings he is well clear of the rest of the field and I would be very surprised if he didn't win this race comfortably.


2:50 Windsor - My Boy Ginger (7/2) - 3pt win - A weak looking claimer but a selection which looks overpriced. MBG handles the ground, is unexposed over today's trip and looked as if his previous run was being used as trial for the real thing as he travelled wide throughout and was never really asked for any considerable effort. The trainer has a very good strike rate when sending 3yo's to this specialist track and I think My Boy Ginger should be more than competitive today.


3:20 Windsor - Sizzler (3/1) - 3pt win - A horse who featured in my 2yo diary for this season and although Beckett has left it pretty late to show this horse to the world he should be more than capable of making a winning début. Ralph has a very good strike rate with his juveniles at the track and it doesn't look like a particularly strong maiden and although there are obviously a few question marks surrounding the ground, he is out of Hernando and his progeny usually love a bit of cut. All things considered I think he looks like a decent win bet although some confidence in the market would obviously be a good indication that I'm on the right track.

4:10 Ponte -  Our Boy Jack (2/1) - 3pt win - Claiming System Qualifier 



Eachway Plays 

3:50 Windsor - Dutch Masterpiece (4/1) - 1pt e/w - This horse has always been well thought of by his connections and his run at Goodwood last time out was actually better than the result suggests. On the basis of his pedigree and his performance at Southwell, the ground shouldn't pose too many problems and he clearly has plenty of room for improvement from an opening mark of 80. I would usually have backed this horse to win but his absence from the track is a bit disconcerting so I have aired on the side of caution.


5:20 Windsor - Snow Trooper (7/1) - 1pt e/w - A course and distance specialist who has his ideal conditions today. The handicapper got slightly carried away in light of his 8 length demolition of the field over CD a few weeks ago but the horse has still been running well off his revised mark and today's field is weaker than the competition he hasencountered on the AW on his last two starts.Should go close.  Side Bet - 0.50pt Reverse Forecast - Snow Trooper and Myboyalfie. 

Today's Longchamp Selections

1:30 - Agent Allison (11/2) - 1pt e/w - Has surprised connections this year but has plenty of talented and may improve considerably from the step up in trip today.


2:05 - Olympic Glory (15/8) - 3pt win - There is no doubt that from a form point of view this horse will take all the beating today. He has positive form lines against numerous members of his opposition today and should also get a race run to suit provided that the likes of Snowday and Avantage get to the front early on. Another interesting angle is that the horse has recently been purchased by today's race sponsor and it looks to me as if he has brought himself a ready made winner. Best of the rest may prove to be WHAT A NAME who is apparently thought to be one of the best fillies ever to pass through the powerful Delzangles yard. I can't back a filly against the colts though especially in this race and I think the best her connections will be hoping for is some place money.


2:40 - Galikova (5/1) - 3pt win - I willing to give this horse one more chance to show that she is capable of winning at the highest level. Her form this year still looks rock solid but she definitely hasn't progressed from the dizzy heights she hit last year when she looked unbeatable at times. Head has employed a pace maker today which will obviously help Galikova significantly and it wouldn't be the first time that we saw a HEad horse suddenly bounce back to form at a big occasion so may the 5/1 currently available will look massively over priced come 2:45.


3:25 - Saonois (9/1) - 1pt e/w - Those readers that know me personally will know that I have been backing Orfevre on the anti-post markets for months. Having lumped on at prices in excess of 20/1 and having subsequently seen him drop to joint favouritsm at odds of 5/1, the sensible thing to do is to now lay the horse off to ensure that a profit is made come win lose or draw.  In order to keep things interesting though I have had an e/w bet on Saonois and I think he will go really close today at a very nice price.

12:55 Longchamp

All of my bets will be at Longchamp today as there is some really top quality race on show which culminates in Europe's richest race.  All the rest of today's selections will be detailed on one thread but I was keen to get this one off before the race started and my write up's are taking a little longer than I thought.



12:55 - Spirit Quartz (7/1) - 1pt e/w -  A very difficult race to call but this horse really deserves to get his head in front and if it wasn't for the Australian raider Ortensia he would already have landed the Numthorp and the King George Stakes this year. The draw is all important at Longchamp and stall 9 is right on the border of where you want to be. I'm hoping that Frankie can drop the horse in and come through late, as Hanagan is sure to try and set a blistering pace from stall 1.  If the races falls apart late on then I'm sure Spirit has the talent to pick up the pieces.

9:20 Wolverhampton

Fastnet Storm (3/1) - 3pt win

8:20 Wolverhampton

Progenitor (9/4) - 3pt win

3:05 Ascot

Valbchek (10/1) - 1pt ew - some rumours floating around that we may see a return to form from this horse today under the forever talented JM.

Today's Selections

A bit short of time today so write up's will be brief.

2:00 Ascot - Al Manati (4/1) - 3pt win - I was talking to a friend of mine who has connections to the Tate yard and he said he couldn't wait to see how this filly performs today. She is very highly thought of in the camp and has been blessed with an abundance of speed. I got my fingers burnt backing her last time out when she pulled too hard for her own good in a nice looking listed race but the drop back in trip today is sure to suit, as will the nature of the course and I think she will go very close. Side Bet = 0.50pt Reverse Forecast -  Al Manati and Garswood.

2:30 Ascot - Willing Foe (3/1) - 3pt win - No doubt Camborne will be hard to beat but there has been plenty to like about WF's recent performances, in particular his third placed finished over CD behind Fattsota who franked the form in emphatic style yesterday. All things considered I expect him to be very hard to beat.

3:10 Redcar - Firebeam (3/1) - 3pt win - should have too much class for his opposition today and the conditions shouldn't be a problem.


5:00 Newmarket - Hallelujah (5/1) - 3pt win -  The horse is incredibly progressive and this has been her target for a long, long time. The yard have plenty of smart sprinters and this one is thought to be one of the best.

4:40 Ascot

Ardlui (9/2) - 3pt win - Might be pushing my luck but I really fancy this one.

Today's Ascot Selections

Due to the conditions elsewhere I will be concentrating on the Ascot card today.  I may add a few more additional selections throughout the day though and I'm also waiting on confirmation on an info horse. So watch out for that one.

2:20 Ascot - Dream Tune (6/1) - 3pt win - My general feeling is that this horse has plenty of room for improvement on just his second start in handicap company. He was well supported when finishing second to Chosen Character off a mark of 87 and I don't feel that the 4lb rise should be too much of a concern against today's opposition. He has always been highly thought of by connections and the deteriorating conditions shouldn't cause him too many problems. I very nearly max staked this one but in the end common sense prevailed.

2:55 Ascot - Jakes Destiny (4/1) - 3pt win - It was a close call between my selection and the Charlton horse but in the end I sided with Jake due to the fact that he's race fit. Jake has been performing well in recent months and connections feel that he is value for a bit more than his current mark of 90. His knee action and previous performances on the AW suggest that he shouldn't have a problem with the easing ground and the addition of the first time tongue tie should hopefully allow him to stride on in the latter part of the race. He has recorded consistent speed ratings in all of his runs to date and at the current price of 4/1 he is definitely a value alternative to the favourite. Side Bet - 0.50pt Reverse Forecast - Captain Cat

3:30 Ascot - Fattsota (4/1) - 3pt win - Like many punters I am of the opinion that the 3yo division this season is incredibly weak and with that in mind I'm not jumping off my seat to lump on the likes of Silver Lime in this one. Fattsota is proven over CD and has been running incredibly well this season recording some top RP ratings. That being said, I'm not sure that genuine soft ground is what he really wants but providing it doesn't cut up too much he should be okay. I had great hopes for Voodoo Prince this season but despite his top notch pedigree he's far from straightforward and although he's in front of the handicapper I'm not overly keen to back him especially as Fallon rides. One outsider in the race who did catch my eyes was the Cecil horse Royal Peculiar but unless we see some serious sunshine in the next few hours, the ground should prove too deep for him. Still one to watch closely in the market before the off.

4:05 Ascot - Biographer (3/1) - 3pt win - This is a horse which I have always thought very highly of and the fact that his connections have chosen to wait for a listed race rather than throw him into one of the big staying handicaps earlier in the season tells you everything you need to know about the horses chances today. Obviously Sir Graham has to be feared but he doesn't appear as the type to relish soft ground and that would seem to be confirmed by his performance in the market so far this morning. Signed Up landed a nice touch for the blog 9 days ago and there is no doubt that he has the potential to be a top stayer, but I fear that this race may just come too soon and he has the bounce factor written all over him. At a bigger price, the incredibly well bred Monshak may be capable of showing her true colours today under what look to be ideal conditions. Granted she has plenty to find at the weights and hasn't always appeared to be straight forward, but there is no doubt that she's capable of running to a mark much higher than that which she currently holds. Side Bet - 0.50pt Reverse Forecast - Biographer and Monshak. 

Today's Selections

2:40 Warwick - Marshal Art (14/1) - 1pt e/w
4:00 Southwell - La Sylphe (3/1) - 3pt win
6:00 Southwell - Twin Shadow (4/1) -3pt win
5:40 Wolverhampton - Darkest Knight (20/1) - 1pt e.w
8:40 Wolverhampton - Just Lille (11/4) - 3pt win

Today's Selections

After a few very average days I'm looking to get back to winning ways  and I'm confident that we will see at least a couple of winners today. After all, it's all about the P.M.A!

2:30 Salisbury - Kind Dragon (4/1) - 3pt win

3:00 Salisbury - Cufflink (4/1) - 3pt win

3:35 Salisbury - New Pearl (11/4) - 3pt win

5:10 Salisbury - Hawkridge King (10/1) - 1pt e/w - INFO

Today's Selections

2:20 Wolves - Levi Drapper (4/1) - 3pt win - This is an intriguing entry from the Fanshawe camp and it's one which I'm struggling to get my head around.

The horse in question has been running consistently over the last few weeks on the AW at a variety of distances in excess of 7 furlongs. He was awarded an opening mark of 79 but has looked capable of winning a race on the AW off a mark in the low 70's. Despite his consistency, the handicapper viewed his last performance in a negative light and he runs in maiden company today with a mark of 69 but the interesting thing is that his trainer has taken the decision to drop him back in trip to 6 furlongs.

At first glance it is difficult to see the logic behind the decision to drop the horse back in trip as he hasn't exhibited a lightening turn of foot in the past and that's a major disadvantage given his tendency to be held up during his races. That being said, the horse has been competitive in his last few races and therefore I don't believe that today's race is a case of handicap manipulation and that's reiterated by the fact that the horse holds an entry at the track in three days time. His opposition are largely unexposed but average and all but one, will be experiencing the track for the first time. So Levi will definitely have an edge of his competition there. The million dollar question though is can he win over 6f and in my personal opinion, having looked at the race in great detail, is that he most definitely can.

On the basis of his pedigree the horse was designed to be a sprinter, he's a Rock of Gilbraltar colt out of a Sharpo mare and is closely related to Lother Stakes winner Soar and is also a half brother to Feet So Fast who was a smart sprint handicapper. His dosage is heavily weighted in favour of speed over stamina and he features some key sprint sires/mares on both sides of his bloodline. His speed ratings in his race to date have also been above average and although recorded at longer trips, he has a high cruising speed which will help him today.

What really intrigues me though is whether Fanshawe instructs Hayley to get the horse to the front rather than hold him up off the pace. Like most maidens at the course the early pace is likely to be disjointed and that will obviously prejudice my selection. With that in mind and given Levi's familiarity with a longer trip, I would be much more comfortable as the owner, if my horse was given a ride from the front and that's exactly what I expect him to do. If those tactics are employed (informed prediction only), then I think this horse has a real live wire chance of winning this race and with positive form in the book against Fast Finian (strongly fancied to take a race later on the card), a win in this one for Levi Drapper would frank that form and make me even more confident about my info bet later in the day.

Sorry that the write up is a bit longer than normal, I got slightly carried away with this one.


3:20 Sedgefield - Five out of Five (8/1) - 1pt e/w - I will keep this write up brief after the essay above but I do fancy this horse in what is a very weak contest. The majority of the field are average at best but Five out of Five actually has a couple of wins under his belt and this looks like a prime opportunity for connections to revert the horse to front running tactics. There is a lack of pace in the race and the finish at the track favours those who can distance themselves from the field. Moloney has a solid strike rate at the track as does his trainer and with the horses mark looking more than workable, he could go very close if the predicted tactics are employed.

5:20 Sedgefield - The Wicked Kipper (11/2) - 3pt win - This is a NHF system qualifier and I expect it to go very close today. The current price looks very generous and I would be amazed if this horse wasn't in the mix at the finish.

THE GAMBLE IS ON!!

3:30 Wolverhampton -  Fast Finian (4/1) - 6pt Max Win - The word received for this horse is very very strong and he carries maximum confidence tomorrow. Provided he gets a clear run he should take a world of beating in this one and this looks like info banker material.

2:50 Bath Info

This word is from a second hand source who has given me some success in the past but the horse's performance in the market so far this morning hasn't really indicated that there's a gamble a foot but we will just have to wait and see.

Sir Frank Morgan (6/1) - 1pt e/w and 3pt win

That's it for today on the betting front as there doesn't appear to be any real strength and depth to the flat card at bath. The Hill's runner Gordon Flash is thought to have a chance but I can't have my money riding on a 12 race maiden so I'm going to leave that one alone and keep my powder dry until tomorrow.


P.S - There are rumours of am expected late gamble on the Channon horse REPRESENT in the 5:50 but I hate backing in apprentice races so the horse won't have my money on it. 

2:20 Bath

Felix Febulla (3/1) - 3pt win