2:45 Wolverhampton Novice Stakes (23rd July)

14:45 Wolverhampton 23 Jul 2019 

Ten go to post in the Holiday Inn Novice Stakes race over 5f 21y 

Trackers highlighted. 

1: Call Me Cheers is one of two runners for David Evans. An 8,000 euro purchase by David Evans in October 2018. Not a bad debut over course and distance in May when backed in from 14/1 to 10/1 and finished fourth after a slow start. Next run he showed speed until halfway, ridden and weakened final furlong. Been gelded since. 

2: Dorchester Dom: This bloody horse gives me nightmares. I backed this David Evans runner last time out when I was convinced he would at least place but was far too keen and weakened quickly. A nice debut in the Brocklesby Stakes in March when beaten just under 4-lengths by Show Me Show Me who ran a great race in the Super Sprint Stakes at the weekend. Sure he is better than his latest run but needs to settle better to be involved here. 

3: Flowing Magic is a 45,000 gns purchase for George Scott. After a fair debut at Yarmouth he took a step backwards last time out at Newcastle. Needs to bounce back after that disappointing effort. 

4: Hot Heels from the Tom Dascombe yard. This Hot Streak colt was a 27,000 euro purchase last September and makes his debut. Needs to be seriously backed to stand a chance against experienced rivals. 

5: Last Date needs a miracle. 

6: X Force runs for the Archie Watson yard. This BungleInTheJungle colt isn’t one of Archies best horses but has run two fair efforts to date. A promising debut against Raahy was followed by a disappointing effort next timeout when beaten by 33/1 shot Glamorous Anna. Archie Watson does have a few 2-year-old winners here so it would be no surprise to see him win. 

7: Airbrush (NR) 

8: Dana Forever looks to be Tom Dascombes main hope here. Yes, and another I backed the first timeout. Dana Forever was entered for the Hilary Needler Trophy Fillies Condition Stakes at Beverley in June but didn’t run. I did expect more to be honest but you just never know what will happen with debutantes. Dana Forever was up with the pace until weakening a furlong out. The betting will prove the best clue to her chances. 

9: Elpheba runs for trainer David Loughnane here. The £25,000 purchase has already run twice and her latest run was an improvement when finishing third to the runaway winner Dr Simpson at Chester. One interesting little fact is the owner David Lowe (part share) also has a horse called Fizzy Feet that won at Wolverhampton as a 2-year-old for the same trainer. 

10: La Chica Lobo another hoping for a miracle. 

11: Northern Grace: Ran in the Class 2 Condition Fillies Stakes race at Newcastle back in May. The Class 2 entry is the only positive for this Brian Ellison filly. The long lay off indicates some kind of problem, will be interesting to see how she runs here. 

Conclusion: Tough race to find a strong bet. Dorchester Dom looks to have the ability but his temperament looks a bit dodgy to me. The Qatar Racing owned X Force has a decent chance to get a win here. Dana Forever was well-supported on debut but disappointed and could be seen in a better light with that run under her belt. Elpheba is interesting with the trainer and owner statistic. 

I will wait till the betting settles before I decide to bet or not. 

Thanks for reading and good luck.

Who Remembers Istanbul? (Plus Reviews And Preview)

Not sure where to start with this post. 

I know I said I didn't have any strong fancies in my last post but tracker Dorchester Dom finishing stone last wasn't the best start to the day. I did have doubts about his long lay off, but he looked like a horse that had never set foot on a racecourse before. I guess there must be a problem and until he learns to settle things can only get worse. 

Onto my next tracker Dana Forever who was a debutante for Tom Dascombe. I did say I wasn't going to bet on unraced horses but an early Hilary Needler entry gave me hope this could be a nice filly. Even though only five runners I had an each way bet and took 13/2 which was a great price considering she ended up 7/2. Dana Forever was up with the pace before weakening a couple of furlongs out. Another disappointment which was the story of my day. Could be interesting next time out at a better price, we will see.

I did put a small Trixie up on Twitter and the first horse was Frasard who ran a great race and finished second. Who remembers Istanbul? If you're a Liverpool fan like me you won’t forget that Champions League Final back in 2005, anyway I thought Istanbul was nailed on for a place at least and won well for Richard Fahey, then the disappointing Dorchester Dom who I have said enough about, to be honest. I am getting fed up saying the Saturday Trixie was disappointing but I will give Sam credit with Mind The Crack who got pipped on the line this week. 

18:20 Windsor 08 Jul 2019 

Not a bad little race to get stuck into this Monday night at Windsor, It just so happens I will be watching this on my work break. Even though Clive Cox's Irish Acclaim has not been given any significant entries as yet he ran a pleasing debut at this course and distance a fortnight ago. Owned by Paul and Clare Rooney this Acclamation colt was purchased for 105,000 euros last September. He was a market mover on debut when backed in from 7/1 to 4/1 on the off. Irish Acclaim broke smartly and was up with the pace before looking a bit green a couple of furlongs out before running on again into fourth place. He will have benefited a lot from that experience and should grab a place at least. 

Martyn Meade gave Ecclesiastical Class 2 entry, but he never ran. The race he ran in looks to have a bit of substance about it with the William Haggas trained winner Boosala entered in the Group 2 July Stakes at Newmarket also the second Raahy and the third Tomfre have both come out and won since. Ecclesiastical went off 16/1 that day and lost a few lengths at the start before getting stuck behind a wall of traffic and then running on through beaten horses. I think we could see him in a different light here and I will have a small each way bet if the price allows.

Good Earth is another who will be in the mix after what looked to be decent efforts in has last two races. This colt was purchased by Jamie Osborne for £68,000 and was a decent third over this course and distance to the Mark Johnston trained Homespin last time out. 

Conclusion: Interesting race with a mix of experienced 2-year-olds and a few nice looking newcomers contesting the £3,429 prize money on offer. I will be keeping a close eye on the market to see if any support for Ecclesiastical. 

Thanks for reading and good luck.

Friday To Forget (Plus Reviews, Previews And Tips)

I love the Friday feeling when you finish work early and you can look forward to the weekend racing. Well, that Friday feeling can soon disappear, I can tell you. Before the weekend I still had a couple of bets left to run. It started off well really when I had Liberty Beach to win the Dragon Stakes at Sandown. How Impressive was that as she sprinted clear like a class filly.

Next, I got a tip off my next door neighbour and couldn’t be arsed going back the bookies and of course it wins 14/1, Enough Said was the name of the horse, is that just taking the piss or what haha. 

In the meantime, I had an each way double with Living In The Past and my tracker Top Class Angel. Living In The Past beat my other tracker Mighty Spirit and looks a nice type for Karl Burke. I also had an each way single on Top Class Angel and took 7/1 early on. 

Now am not one for slagging off jockeys but that was a terrible ride by Dobbs who got stuck behind the whole field and couldn’t get out until the winner had well-flown. 

Top Class Angel is much better than that and I will keep her in my trackers for now. 

Even though our results table doesn't look too good, I still enjoyed doing the Royal Ascot Trixie each day with Aaron and Sam. We had some success but this month has to be better. June saw me take the crown off Aaron with a small profit for the month. Hopefully, I can keep it for good. A new month and we go again. I hope we can get a few more winners or the Saturday Trixie could be doomed and put in the bin with Sam quickly Following. 

The Saturday Trixie results for June

	Aaron	P/L	Sam	P/L	Craig	P/L
Week 1	Lost 8/1	-1.00	Lost 4/1	-1.00	Placed 9/1	+0.40
Week 2	Won 5/4	+1.25	Lost	-1.00	Lost 9/2	-1.00
Week 3	Lost	-1.00	Won 13/8	+1.62	Won 5/1	+3.00 EW
Ascot 1	Lost 11/2	-1.00	Lost  2/1	-1.00	Lost 14/1	-1.00
Ascot 2	Lost 7/1	-1.00	Placed 8/1	+0.30	Lost 11/1	-1.00
Ascot 3	Won 13/2	+3.90 EW	Lost 4/1	-1.00	Lost 13/8	-1.00
Ascot 4	Lost 4/1	-1.00	Placed 7/1	+0.20	Lost	-1.00
Ascot 5	Lost	-1,00	Lost	-1.00	Won 3/1	+3.00
Week 4	Lost	-1.00	Lost	-1.00	Lost	-1.00
Total for       Month	010001000	-1.85	001020200	-3.88	201000010	+0.40

The Saturday Trixie: 

Aaron: First Eleven - Haydock 3:15, comes into this race after a narrow win at York, where the form has worked out rather well, he’s up 5lb from that and has to concede chunks of weight but I feel he could be the old group horse in a handicap, (3/1) Win Bet. 

Sam: Mind The Crack - 14:05 Haydock 06 Jul 2019(No Write-up) Win Bet. (7/2) 

Craig: Dorchester Dom -14:30 Leicester 06 Jul 2019, Not much of interest tomorrow so I will stick with the Dom(9/4) Win Bet. 

Timeform Early Declaration Alert With Preview:

I can’t believe how many trackers came through for Saturdays racing and then I noticed the Nursery races have started. Am not to keen on these types of races so I won’t be putting them up. I have a couple more trackers that I will preview but nothing too strong. 

14:30 Leicester 06 Jul 2019: Dorchester Dom ran a race full of promise in the Brocklesby at Doncaster. This David Evans Starspangledbanner gelding was nibbled at on debut when backed in from 50/1 to 33/1 at the off. Up with the pace for most of the race he was slightly hampered at the furlong pole before running on again at the finish. The extra furlong should suit and I expect a more professional performance since being gelded, the only worry is the 98 day lay off. (9/4) 

18:10 Nottingham 06 Jul 2019: Dana Forever is a newcomer by Requinto and trained by Tom Dascombe. Sister to the useful Kevin Ryan filly Broken Stones who won on her debut in 2016. Tom Dascombe thinks a bit of this filly and will have to be pretty useful with nice newcomers in this hot little Novice race and also running is the Archie Watson filly Exclusively who was outclassed at Royal Ascot. She has the experience already but has to shoulder a win penalty. I will wait to see how the betting settles before deciding to bet or not. (7/1) Thanks for reading and good luck.

The exciting Liberty Beach lands the Listed @chasemorefarm Dragon Stakes in great style for @jasonhart13 and @johnquinnracing 👏 pic.twitter.com/Gfn9samIE8

— Sandown Park (@Sandownpark) July 5, 2019