Time to go Wild for The Thunder (Plus Reviews, Previews And Tips)

Just a few trackers to catch up on before I look forward to Saturday's racing. Graceful Magic put in a decent effort considering she carried 9-7. Always prominent but couldn't quite go with the pace of the eventual winner Hot Touch. I had a small each way bet on Airbrush who was also up with the pace before weakening. I had a feeling she would struggle to last out, and I was right, pretty disappointing and I won't be backing her again I don't think. Hot Touch ran a nice race. Jack Mitchell rode the perfect race and held her up until producing her a furlong out to win by just over a length. Breath Of Joy the 85,000 Gns purchase for Amy Murphy was an eye-catcher on debut and am sure she will come on for her first run. Another one I will keep an eye out for is the Ed Walker-trained Clegane who was given a quiet introduction by Richard Kingscote and was supported from an opening show of 40/1 to 20/1 on the off. Another tracker on the day was Alabama Whitman who won at short odds.

Graceful Magic 14/1 4th
Airbrush 7/1 7th 
HOT TOUCH 7/2 1ST 
ALABAMA WHITMAN 4/7 1ST

Timeform Early Declaration with preview. 

13:50 Newmarket 13 Jul 2019: Tiritomba is a 57,000 gns purchase for Richard Hannon. I still can’t work out Richard Hannon horses but Tiritomba ran a nice enough race on her debut at Windsor behind Knight Shield. An Opening show of 10/1 didn't last long as she was backed into 6/1 at the off. Slowly away and niggled at half-way before running on again in the closing stages. This extra furlong should suit in what looks a tough little fillies Maiden with all the top yards sending out potentially nice fillies including the Mark Johnston trained Frankel filly Frankel’s Storm. Read more about her here, also looking at past results Aidan O’Brien has raced a few nice fillies in this race including Zagitova, Sizzling and 2015 winner Ballydoyle, so I would expect a big improvement form Ennistymon (NR) after a quiet introduction first timeout. 

17:50 Salisbury 13 Jul 2019: Atlantic Crossing is a 55,000 gns purchase for the in-form Paul Cole yard. Will be a tough ask against some top yards but should improve after that nice introduction. 

14:15 Ascot 13 Jul 2019: 

Another Richard Hannon tracker. I swear if these Richard Hannon horses do nothing I will ban him from my list. Anyway, Manigordo is a USA colt who was originally sold at the Keeneland sales back in 2017. After an opening show of 9/2 he drifted to 11/2 at the off and showed his inexperience when slowly away before steadily staying on the final furlong. That looked a decent enough effort and with that experience under his belt should come on a fair bit. 

14:00 Chester 13 Jul 2019: 

Dr Simpson is definitely a nice horse but the lay off is a slight worry for me. A cheap purchase at £24,000 he showed plenty of speed to be beaten by the talented Lambeth Walk on debut. As long as the layoff isn't a problem he should be in the mix at the business end of the race. My other tracker Mia Diva who I had a nice win with the other week also runs but has a win penalty to deal with. 

The Saturday Trixie: 

Could this be the week that we finally three winners? 

I very much doubt it haha just one will do these days, but we try again. 

Aaron: Burnt Sugar - 3:30 Newmarket, He won this race last year by half a length when he was rated 99, since been as high as 105, but is now down to 102 due to 2 mid-division runs towards the end of last year, but those were on heavy and soft so the return to good to firm will be ideal, just seems like he’s been laid out for this race and at 12/1 for the first 5 I think he has every chance of running better than his odds suggest. (Each Way) 12/1.  

Sam: 4:00 Ascot - Beat The Bank - has very strong course form including winning this race last year off the slightly lower mark. 8 from 9 when racing in group 2 and below. Sets the standard and should take the beating. (Win) 3/1. 

Craig: 14.55 Newmarket - Wild Thunder- Richard Hannon has two serious 2-year-old prospects this year in the names of Man Of The Night and his half brother Wild Thunder. This Night Of Thunder Colt was purchased for 105,000 euros in October last year and surprisingly sent off a 10/1 shot for his debut at Goodwood in May, Wild Thunder was driven out to win by just under a length in what was a professional performance. Richard Hannon has given Wild Thunder a host of Group entries and hopefully, he can improve again against a very strong field. (Each Way) 12/1. 

Thanks for reading and good luck.

19.15 Kempton Preview (Plus Reviews) (10th July)

Before I start if you’re suffering from depression or feeling suicidal you should click on Hugh Taylor's page because this post could tip you over the edge. 

''What the bloody hell happened to my tracker Ecclesiastical?'' 

I was feeling pretty confident of a place at least given he had been well-supported into 3/1 at the off. Ecclesiastical made a better start this time and was up with the pace for most of the way before weakening the final furlong, maybe he needs to strength up or could be just average at best. Richard Hughes has banged a few 2-year-old winners in of late so the warning signs were there, first, it was Twice as Likely and then Aussie Showstopper and now Old News. 

As frustrated as I am about my last few trackers and bets the one positive I can take out of it is that they have all attracted support and hopefully I can get back to winning ways as soon as possible. 

Timeform Early Declaration Alert With Preview: 

19:15 Kempton 10 Jul 2019: 

Graceful Magic 
Airbrush 
Hot Touch 

15:10 Carlisle 11 Jul 2019: 

Alabama Whitman 

19:15 Kempton 10 Jul 2019. 

Twelve declared for this Novice Fillies Stakes race with £5,822 for the winner. 

Three Horses of note here in what looks a nice race at Kempton. 

Graceful Magic was a 33/1 surprise winner for Eve Johnson Houghton on her debut at Sandown in May. She was then given her chance in the Group 1 Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot and sent off a 100/1 shot. Graceful Magic was never in with a shout that day and will be more at home in this company but has to shoulder a win penalty against a few unexposed fillies and potentially nice newcomers. 0/9 with 2-year-olds in the past four years at Kempton. 

Airbrush wouldn't be one of Richard Hannon's best 2-year-olds but made a bold show to make all in a Newmarket maiden last month until tiring the last furlong. The impressive winner that day Ultra Violet has an early entry in a Group 2 at Newmarket this week. Airbrush was entered in a Class 2 race at Newmarket this week but takes her chance in this lower grade. 

Allez Sophia is another filly for Eve Johnson Houghton. This Kingman homebred filly has run well-enough on her two starts to date and should put up another bold show. 

Breath of Joy is a newcomer for the Amy Murphy stable. Quite an expensive purchase and with De Sousa on board I will be watching the market with interest. 

Clegane is a newcomer for Ed Walker. Market check needed on debut. 0/2 with 2-year-olds this season. 

Havana Princess is a 10,000 gns purchase for Dr J D Scargill. 

Hot Touch looks a nice type for Hugo Palmer. Made a promising start to her career when beaten by Havana Dawn at Thirsk. This 100,000 euro purchase was entered to run in a Class 2 race at Newmarket but takes her opportunity here instead. Form of debut race doesn't look strong but remains with potential. 

Miarka for Harry Dunlop and owner Susan Roy who has some nice horses in training most notably Charlie Hills trained Garrus. Would have to be a nice filly to be involved here and market check needed. 

Oribi ran in the same race as Airbrush at Newmarket. Would need a significant improvement for this W J Haggas filly to be involved here. 

Predictable Tully for Clive Cox. As always Clive has great record with 2-year-olds and this season hasn't been any different. Seven winners out of eighteen runners with four winning on debut in 2019 is a great stat for any trainer. Having said that Predictable Tully would have to be well-supported to stand any chance here also Clive Cox’s 2-year-old win record in Maiden and Novice races at Kempton the past four seasons reads 0/28. 

Silent Agenda Is a 175,000 gns purchase for owners Clipper Logistics and trained by the unstoppable Archie Watson. After a promising debut she disappointed on her second start at Brighton. If, supported in the betting may stand a chance but I would take a watching brief with her. 

Tambourine Girl is last but not least for Roger Charlton. Pleasing enough debut when a 7/1 chance at Windsor to Knight Shield. 

Looks to have a decent chance after a nice debut run.

Conclusion: A tough race to be confident. Tambourine Girl and Hot Touch are strong in the market at the time of writing, I will wait for the betting to settle and if Airbrush doesn't drift I might have a small each way. Good luck and thanks for reading.

Royal Ascot Daily Trixie 2019

The first day of Royal Ascot looks a cracking day, so after our first win on the Saturday Trixie we thought we would up our game and do a Trixie each day. 

Day 1: 15:05 Ascot 18 Jun 2019 Coventry Stakes Group 2 | Class 1 | 2YO only 

Craig: Threat made an impressive debut at Newmarket in May beating Electrical Call by two and three-quarter lengths. This Richard Hannon trained colt will be aiming to repeat that effort over an extra furlong. The Footstepsinthesand colt cost 100,000 gns and is currently rated 94. Well Of Wisdom won first timeout and was an unlucky loser in his last race when being hampered in a Newbury Conditions race before running on again. He was third that day with Fort Myers in second behind the Richard Hannon trained Temple of Heaven, to be honest, any of these three could have won that day. MONOSKI was second on debut to the highly rated Bomb Proof and confirmed that promise when beating the Brocklesby winner Show Me Show by a comfortable six lengths next time out. This Mark Johnston trained colt is currently rated 99 and looks each way value at 12/1. Arizona looks to be Aidan O'Brien's main hope with Ryan Moore in the saddle. Arizona was second to the highly rated Sunday Sovereign on debut back in May. This son of No Nay Never made no mistake next timeout when easily beating his stablemate King Of Athens who also runs here. Arizona could be special and it wouldn't surprise me to see him take this field apart, but is a bit short for me. 

14:30 Ascot 18 Jun 2019 Queen Anne Stakes 

Aaron: An intriguing race which sees last years 1st & 2nd do battle again, Accidental Agent won this last year at 33/1 and ran a good 3rd in the Lockinge last time out where he just lacked some pace, Lord Glitters 2nd last year finished 13/14 in the same race which isn’t his usual running for this likeable grey, these 2 along with Romanised who was 4th in the Lockinge could pick up a place or even cause an upset at double figure odds, Barney Roy a winner at the royal meeting in 2017 brings good form having just been beaten by Zaaki who has since won again, if he maintains his old form he could go close, at the top of the market comes more Lockinge form with Le Brivido, LAURENS and Mustashry, Le Brivido finished well to get 5th where he lacked a clear run, but he’s too short in the market for me, Mustashry the Lockinge winner in impressive fashion last time tracked the leaders then quickened clear to win by 2 1/2 lengths, plus he’s bringing in solid form from the Earl of Sefton where the first 4 home have all gone on to win next time out, but there are some questions to if he will handle the rain softened ground, my selection is the likeable mare LAURENS, she travelled well on her reappearance where she was just done for pace in the closing stages, but this winner of 4 G1’s last year is fully expected to come on for that run and I can’t have her out of the frame at 6/1. 

15:40 Ascot 18 Jun 2019 King's Stand Stakes

Sam: 1st and 2nd meet again in the battle of the speedsters. Last years winner Blue Point has been showing good form over in Meydan winning 3/3 race very comfortably. The course specialist seen out the 5f better than Battaash last year. However in the race last year Battaash used up a lot of petrol leading Kachy and Lady Aurelia which could have cost him the race. In his only race this year he traveled to post and through the race much better than he has done in previous race when he acts like a big kid. That day he had Mabs Cross 3 lengths behind it’s hard to see him reversing. Should he behave going to post and going into the stalls I think BATTAASH will take all the beating and that’s why he’s my selection for the King's Stand Stakes. 

Timeform Early Declaration Alert: 

19:20 Ripon 19 Jun 2019: Airbrush from the Richard Hannon yard, was entered for a Class 2 race but didn’t run. Purchased by Qatar Racing for a 145,000 Euros, will need a market check on debut. Thanks for reading, good luck.