Saturday Reviews And Thoughts

Reviews

What an absolute stinker of a Saturday, I did say I will be honest about the good and the bad this season. I got up feeling positive about a few trackers I had put on the night before. I checked the market a few times throughout the day and updated my notes.

First bet was a speculative each way on Elmaftun who was an Irish tracker (say nothing) the 33s I took turned into 50s and by now I knew my outcome, second to last, not to be disheartened because I wasn't too confident anyway. 

Second bet was Thunder Moor for Kevin Ryan, a few whispers the night before so took 7/2 and good to see the Dandy Man colt get smashed into 15/8 favourite, I was confident until I saw money for the Burke Jungle Cat filly. Thunder Moor looked a bit green before going into the stalls but was away well and I thought she would stride away the final furlong but instead hung right and faded, the money horse Miss Jungle Cat won well. 

Third bet was supposed to be Paris Lights. I actually felt the Siyouni colt had a chance at 7s but ended up a non runner.

The day wasn't going as planned but I still had what I thought was a few beauties up my sleeve, next was Chef De Partie who I thought looked nailed on for a place under the guidance of Hollie Doyle at Newbury, dwelt ffs here we go again, always playing catch up and never got to the leaders but not sure he would have won to be honest, also had Tashkent for Richard Hannon, I thought my 16s was a good each way bet but he soon drifted to 22/1 and never got involved. 

The bets were adding up, this was supposed to be my disciplined season, I checked out Rock Girl the 2yo Amo owned George Boughey filly, looked a poor race on paper, Hughes had the favourite Knebworth, not a trainer you would associate with first time out 2yo winners but Knebworth was steady in the market, I know best I'm gambling on Rock Girl, the race started Knebworth the Awtaad colt was quickly away while Rock Girl couldn't keep up with the blistering pace, how wrong was I as Knebworth won easily, Rock Girl stayed on to finish second but no money coming back again.

I think I knew how the day was going to end, you just get a feeling it's not your day.

I backed Valsad who again drifted out but to be fair the Ryan Moore mount actually ran well to finish fifth at 28s.

The lucky last bet at Nottingham for me to at least keep my head up high and get one winner. I noticed support for the Queen's 2yo runner Crosstich into 4s and jumped on but the gelding ran green and faded. 

What did I learn from today? I have to be more disciplined definitely, practice what I preach. Today all the 2yo debutantes that won were backed late, that's something to consider when thinking I've got a decent price the night before. Irish 3yo trackers are the devil so staying away from them, all in all, noting down my bets and looking through them is something that can only benefit me as I try to become more consistent and make profit from this wonderful sport. Another pointer with the 2yos so far is we've had sixteen races and twelve winners have been under 5/1.

It's going to be tough trying to get back on top in April but with more discipline and the right approach I will try my best, now time for my other addiction, eating Easter eggs.

Thanks for reading and Happy Easter. 

Saturday Reviews And Previews

A quick update before I get stuck into the trackers. I think I'm back to my old tricks of needing a bet when I see a 2yo race. Newmarket is always a tough place to get a win and Tuesday wasn't any different, I didn't really fancy anything in the opening race so tried my luck with Lucy Lightfoot but she was beaten pretty quickly. A few winners could come from this race and the eventual winner Powerdress won very well for Richard Hannon.

The Brocklesby form seems rock solid and Wednesday Rousing Encore was running at Beverley for Fahey, Rousing Encore had finished third to Jiff Boy on debut and Jiffy Boy came  third in the Brocklesby at the start of the season, one small problem we had an Archie Watson hot pot in the same race. I needed a drift on Archie's horse. I took a gamble, a straight win on Rousing Encore, and prayed to the lord that Brave Emperor would drift, the lord works in mysterious ways and the early short price turned to 5/2, the rest is history as Brave Emperor dwelt and was hampered and Rousing Encore never looked like getting beat, you little beauty.

Then I ended up undoing my hard work on Thursday when betting on Beach Breeze even though I fancied Teatime Tipple then backed Cheeky Maxi who never got near the impressive Varian winner Tajalla.

Lessons to be learnt for sure. 

Trackers:

16.45 Newbury Sat April 2022

A couple of trackers here in what looks a decent looking maiden with many of the top yards turning up. I will only mention my trackers because time is against me.

CHEF DE PARTIE

Harry Charlton & Roger Charlton tracker here owned by Brook Farm Bloodstock. A 95,000 gns purchase at the October Yearling Sales. The Siyouni colt had one run already last season at Doncaster when relatively unfancied in the betting going off 11/1. The brilliant Hollie Doyle rode him that day and Chef De Partie, despite looking green towards the end, found his feet and was making ground up but too late to get involved. A half-brother to the Roger Charlton trained Extra Elusive who picked up two group 3s in 2020. Hollie's back on board today and should have learned plenty from that debut race in September and can hopefully be involved.

TASHKENT

Hannon has a couple in this including the early favourite Dulas but one I'm interested in is the unraced Tashkent. Last year the Acclamation colt was well regarded by Richard Hannon, now I'm not sure why he didn't run and that's a worry but I'm willing to give the 92,000 gns yearling a chance. A full-brother to Melancholy who finished third on her only start in November for Simon & Ed Crisford. Whatever he does today, don't give up. I'm sure he will win a race or two this season. 

Cork 16:00 Sat April 16 

I mean it this Irish Racing is going to leave me broken. One tracker that popped up in my email is Paris Lights for Jessica Harrington. I mentioned the Siyouni colt a few weeks back when nowhere to be seen until staying on at the end. The winner Wexford Native is decent so maybe it wasn't too bad of a performance to finish fifth and with the extra couple of furlongs hopefully Paris Lights can get involved here, also have Ninja as a tracker here. 

Cork 13.40 Sat April 16

Elmaftun for Kevin Prendergast.

Pessoa for John Murphy.

Newbury 5:20 Sat April 16

Valsad for Roger Charlton 

Thanks for reading and remember it's early days yet. 

Unraced Three-year-olds To Follow 2022 (Part 2)

1: SAMUEL PEPYS is by Galileo and out of Tiggy Wiggy, trained by Aidan O’Brien. I always remember dam Tiggy Wiggy as being an absolute speed machine who made all and just bombed out the stalls, add Galileo to the mix and we could have a nice type here. Samuel Pepys is a full-brother to a couple of nice O’Brien horses, Southern Cape and Year Of The Tiger. 

2: KING OF TIME is by Kingman and out of Lombatina, trained by Charlie Appleby. The boys in blue could have a nice one here. Dam Lombatina only raced twice, winning first time out. Her offspring include Agrotera for Ed Walker who ran to a decent level winning a Listed race back in 2019, hopefully this Kingman colt can put in a few decent performances this season. 

3: PEROTAN is by Churchill and out of Tanaghum, trained by Aidan O’Brien. Dam Tanaghum has been busy over the years and produced a few nice types, trained by John Dunlop Tanaghum ran to a decent level herself winning a Listed race. One offspring to note is Matterhorn who was a class horse for Mark Johnston. Perotan could be a name to look out for. 

4: DAIQUIRI DREAM is by Dubawi and out of Cocktail Queen, trained by Ralph Beckett and owned by familiar owner Mr J. C. Smith. Dam Cocktail Queen was a decent type back in her day for David Elsworth and produced a nice type trained now by William Haggas called Tom Collins who has performed with credit. Ralph gave Daiquiri a decent entry last season so lets hope he was right. 

5: GALLERIA BORGHESE is by Caravaggio and out of On Ice, trained by Aidan O’Brien. Not much information here but well-thought of by Aidan so that will do for me. 

6: GRACELAND'S GIRL is by Iffraaj and out of Stella Point, trained by Tim Easterby and owned by The Wolf Pack 2 and Partner. Long shot this one. A full-sister to Storting who is a decent sort for Mick Channon. 

7: INSTRUMENTAL is by No Nay Never and out of Strut, trained by Aidan O’Brien and owned by Derrick Smith. I have a few Irish 3yos in the list so I will just throw them in. Dam Strut was a nice type for Roger Charlton and he certainly loves this dam, training four of her offspring including Mince who was a class act back in her day. Plenty of speed in Instrumentals pedigree and another to look out for this season. 

8: IVY LEAGUE is by Galileo and out of Timbuktu, another trained by the all conquering Aidan O’Brien. Dam Timbuktu was average to say the least but has produced one nice offspring named Ontario who came third in a Listed race last year, disappointed after that so will be wary with this Galileo colt. 

9: ZERO CARBON is by Acclamation and out of Clotilde, trained by Richard Hughes. Another one that you may not find in other 3yos to follow this season but it's nice to be different. It took a while for dam Clotilde to come into her own but had a decent season as a 4yo winning a few races over a mile. I will be keeping that in mind when this bay colt makes his debut. 

10: PEARL BORDER is by Ribchester and out of Firth Of Lorne, trained by Charlie Appleby. Pearl Border comes from a class family being a half-sister to Master Of The Seas and Latharnach both trained by Charlie. Another exciting Godolphin 3yo to look out for. 

Times getting on I will note below a few more I will be keeping an eye out for. 

11: CHERUB trained by Aidan O’Brien. 

12: COMET LINE trained by Joseph O’Brien. 

13: COMPERE trained by Dermot Weld. 

14: ELMAFTUN trained by Kevin Prendergast. 

15. SONG OF WAR trained by Aidan O’Brien 

Thanks for reading and look out for my 3yos to follow coming soon.

Read Part 1 Here