Charlie Hills: 5 Horses to Follow in 2020

This season was always going to be a hard act to follow for Charlie Hills with his 2-year-old horses because 2-year-olds like Phoenix Of Spain don’t come around very often. 

Phoenix Of Spain had a special year in 2018 winning the Group 3 Acomb Stakes then finishing second in the Group 2 Champagne Stakes and the Group 1 Futurity Stakes at Doncaster. 

As a three-year-old Phoenix Of Spain won the Irish 2000 Guineas at 16/1 on his reappearance. 

This season has seen a couple of nice 2-year-olds come from the Hills stable in Lambourne.

Flippa The Strippa made her debut in a Nottingham Stakes race at the end of April. It was a nice introduction by the Outstrip filly who stayed on nicely to finish third despite not being fancied in the betting. 

Flippa The Strippa went onto win her next race at Chepstow then contested the Listed National Stakes at Sandown. Even though it wasn’t the strongest field Flippa The Strippa won well and picked up some nice prize money too. Not bad considering she cost just £10,000 at the yearling sales. 

Persuasion was bought for 155,000 gns by Peter & Ross Doyle Bloodstock as a foal and sold on to owner Susan Roy for 220,000 gns in 2018. 

The Acclamation bay colt won first timeout at 16/1 and showed the potential that Charlie Hills had seen on the gallops. Persuasion was given some fancy entries this season and ran a great race to finish second in the Group 3 Tattersalls Stakes at Newmarket when beaten by Wichita which was no disgrace. 

Persuasion has only had three races and will look to be challenging the big guns next season. 

One horse that has been pretty frustrating this season is DULAS who am pretty sure has ability but also has a few issues. The Raven’s Pass colt was bought for 60,000 gns at the 2018 October Yearling Sale and is owned by Julie Martin & David R Martin & Partn. A big price on debut at Newmarket in a pretty hot race, Dulas was far to green to make any impact and finished down the field. He was entered in the Convivial Stakes at York but was unruly before the start and withdrawn. 

After a long lay off I was pretty sure Dulas would be spot on but again ran to free and blew his chance but having said that the winner that day Highest Ground could be a bit special and has an early entry for the Irish 2000 Guineas next season. Dulas did look to be getting the hang of things late on and I won’t be giving up on the bay colt just yet. 

One more Charlie Hills 2-year-old that looks to be held in high regard is the Mr. Hamdan Al Maktoum filly SHURAFFA. The Shamardal filly was also keen on debut at Salisbury in a Class 2 race. Charlie had given Shuraffa two significant entries before her debut and hopefully, she will improve next season and break her maiden tag. 

See the latest news from Charles Hills stable. 

Thanks for reading and look out for my next horses to follow.

Dulas To Make His Return At Leicester (23rd September)

13:50 Leicester 23 Sep 2019: 

This looks like a nice little race to look forward to here. The market will be the clue for a few of these potentially nice newcomers. Highest Ground is a homebred Frankel colt for Sir Michael Stoute. Owned and bred by Niarchos Family. Ryan Moore takes the ride. Needs a market check on debut. 

Mostaqel was a 200,000 gns purchased as a yearling for the Richard Hannon team. Another one who needs a market check on debut. Richard Hannon has a pretty decent strike rate at Leicester so always worth considering his 2-year-old newcomers. 

Macho Boy was up with the pace until tiring the last furlong in what was a nice 2-year-old race with the winner Cherokee Trail winning again since. Should have more to offer today. 

Law Of Peace looks the one to beat here after two narrow defeats. The Charlie Appleby Shamardal colt has looked the likely winner on both but been outbattled at the finish. Last time out he had a ding-dong battle with the John Gosden newcomer Enemy with the pair drawing clear of third-placed Crystal Pegasus. Will be a short price so no bet for me even though looks a nice type.

DULAS has been on my tracker list since he was given a nice introduction at Newmarket back in July. Make no mistake, that was a pretty damn hot maiden. The winner Al Madhar for Richard Hannon looks a horse with a nice future also the second Al Suhail has run in a Group 3 race at Sandown. The seventh, eighth and even the eleventh Celtic Art have all won. Dulas is trained by Charlie Hills and purchased for 60,000 gns last October. Been off the tracker for 73 days but hopefully, fitness won’t be a worry here. Another positive is the smartly bred Raven’s Pass colt was given some significant entries after his promising debut. The one negative was he was declared to run at York a while back but was very keen going to post and ended up being withdrawn before the start of the Convivial Maiden Stakes won by Molatham, trained by Roger Varian. Dulas was well-supported that day which was a good sign. 

Conclusion: Nice little race to look forward too (the benefits of being off work sick). Law Of Peace sets a good standard here with a few potentially nice newcomers. I like Dulas to place at least. Maybe am being a bit optimistic hoping for an each-way price with Dulas but hopefully the Law Of Peace will be backed and Dulas might drift. 

18:00 Kempton 23 Sep 2019:

Tracker Secret Acquisition: 

A promising debut from Secret Acquisition and an entry for the Group 1 Fillies Mile in October make this Daniel Kubier a horse to follow. The Sea The Stars filly wasn't fancied on debut when 12/1 at the off. Maybe this big entry is ambitious but she looked professional and knew her job from the start. The Hugo palmer newcomer should also be checked on debut. 

Related post: Hot 2-year-olds to Follow in September

Thanks for reading and good luck.

Hot 2-Year-Old Trainers To Follow In September

I can't believe that we are nearly in September and the 2-year-old races will be winding down over the coming months. As I said the flat is winding down but it's not over until the fat lady sings and there is plenty of time to make some money. 

So, which trainers will be banging out the winners till she sings? Step forward Mr Clive Cox who over the past two Septembers has kept his 2-year-olds in great form. Let's take a look at the stats. In 2017 Clive Cox had seven runners with four winners and two placed including Awesome and Snazzy Jazzy who won the Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sales Stakes race at Curragh. 2018 wasn't much different with Clive having eight runners with five winning and another placed. Hopefully, this month will be the same. Two Clive Cox horses I will be looking forward to seeing out again is Positive who will be winning again soon and the exciting It’s Good To Laugh who will be getting his first win on the board soon for owners Paul and Clare Rooney. 

Next on the Hotlist for September is John Gosden who loves a 2-year-old winner this month. A few pointers in the right direction here though. Has to be in Maiden and Novice races only, plus the distance is 1 mile to 1 mile 1 furlong and also under 15/2. In 2017, he had four winners out of eleven runners with another three placed. Winners included the sadly departed Roaring Lion and Crossed Batton who won at Sandown. One I am really looking forward to seeing out soon is the Ms Hissa Hamdan Al Maktoum owned Thebian Kingman colt who cost £230,000 and is entered in the Group 2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster.

Charlie Hills could be another worth following in September with his 2-year-olds. As always just Novice and Maiden races and priced under 15/2. In 2017, he had six winners out of twelve runners that's an amazing 50 per cent strike-rate and in 2018 he had ten runners with four winning. Dulas could be a dark horse to look out for in September, I think I may have put this on as a horse to follow. Finished a respectable sixth on debut at Newmarket in July and is highly thought of by trainer Charlie Hills. 

Trainers are creatures of habit and Richard Hughes 2017 and 2018 September stats for his 2-year-old horses in Novice and Maiden races are exactly the same. In 2017 Richard had nine runners with three winning and another one placed and of course the same for 2018. One course he seems to like is Chelmsford with three winners and another placed out of four horses he has sent there, all winners in this month have been under 15/2. Three to look out for are Maori Knight an 82,000 euro Camelot colt. Lady Lynetta an 80,000 euro Tamayuz filly and unraced Kyllachy colt called Rathagan. 

Thanks for reading and good luck.

Dry July (Plus Reviews)

I know people do dry January when they give up alcohol for the month but me I am doing dry July and giving up backing winners for the month. Joking aside when you see the betting bank going down week in week out it's time to start worrying but I trust in my trackers and I feel a winning streak is just around the corner. Before I get to my Saturday trackers, I posted a few on Twitter on Friday that I wouldn't be betting on but would be watching with interest for future bets. 

Al Suhail 2nd: 

Fantastic run from this expensive Charlie Appleby colt who was beaten a neck by Al Madhar. The Richard Hannon winner was impressive and looks a serious colt for the future as for Al Suhail I thought he ran a great race, and we will hear a lot more about this Dubawi colt in the future am sure. (No Bet) 

Dulas 6th (Pictured):

A 66/1 shot in the morning this Charlie Hills colt was well-supported and backed into 33/1. Dulas was entered for the Group 2 Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot but never ran and according to @paddockinspector (worth a follow as always gives great information) looked like he wasn't fully fit so considering that, he ran a great race to finish sixth and I will be looking out for him next timeout. (No Bet) 

Tammani Unp: 

William Haggas trained Make Believe colt was another big price who was given a nice introduction and I will be keeping in my trackers (No Bet) 

Galactic Glow 5th: 

One of my horses to follow was a major disappointment in the 14.05 at York. I really thought this William Jarvis colt would give Spartan Fighter something to think about but trailed in a well beaten last. (Win Bet)

Friday: 

Galactic Glow 5/1 5th 
Al Suhail 6/4 2nd 
Dulas 33/1 6th 
Tammani 33/1 8th 

Saturday bets on early before I went out for the day. 

I had an each way bet on Tiritomba who finished last. Another each way bet on Atlantic Crossing who was a non-runner but the way my luck is lately I call that a winner. 

I really fancied Manigordo in the 14.15 at Ascot and had a win bet early on, so I was pretty disappointed to see this Richard Hannon colt get beat a neck at the finish. 

My last tracker was the impressive Dr Simpson who confirmed that she is a lovely filly when easily winning by 7-lengths in the Chester opener. The Tom Dascombe trained Dandy Man filly was available at evens before the off. 

Saturday: Tiritomba 8/1 7th 
Atlantic Crossing NR 
Manigordo 4/1 2nd 
DR SIMPSON EV 1ST 

The Saturday Trixie Review: 

Well, I said I hoped we could get one winner this week but at the cost I wish we hadn't. Sams selection Beat The Bank suffered a fatal injury when winning the summer mile for the second year running and is a sad loss to all connections involved with this amazing horse. As for my selection Wild Thunder he was well and truly put in his place in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket. Aaron's selection Burnt Sugar finished stone last in the Bunbury Cup. 

Timeform Early Declaration: 

17:00 Longchamp (France) 14 Jul 2019: Well Of Wisdom 
18:00 Windsor 15 Jul 2019: Fleeting Prince 
18:30 Windsor 15 Jul 2019: Cool Sphere 

Thanks for reading and good luck.