Man Of The Night Impresses On Debut (Plus Reviews And Preview)

Reviews: 

Quick update on a few trackers that have run this week. First was the 14.30 at Musselburgh on Wednesday. I had two trackers running here and both had a ding-dong battle to the line with Bill Neigh just getting up to beat Ventura Flame. Both are nice types and will pick up a couple of races this season but I didn't bet as both too short. Willa was also short and was a no bet and was disappointingly fourth. 

Quite a few reputations on the line on Thursday. Exciting Days had drifted all day in the 14.50 at Yarmouth so was a no bet for me, I can’t stress this enough that I won't bet if a 2-year-old tracker drifts like Exciting Days did today, yes the odd time the drifters win but I like to see my horses getting supported. My other tracker in the race was the eventual winner Iffraaz who showed his class and won at a generous price of 7/4. 

Later on, was the Newbury evening meeting which I had been looking forward to for a while now. I mentioned a couple of exciting prospects running in the 18.20 at Newbury in my last post. First was the 140,000 gns purchase So Sharp for Archie Watson and then the Richard Hannon Dark Angel Filly Dark Lady. So Sharp was steadily backed throughout the day and from an early price of 5/2 she was sent of 11/10 favourite while my second tracker Dark Lady drifted out to 6/1 as the support for So Sharp continued up until race time. I had a small win bet on Dark Lady as I missed the boat on So Sharp. 

The race itself proves that money talks especially with 2-year-olds. The bookies had it spot on this time as So Sharp and Dark Lady settled down to battle it out in the last furlong. It seemed to me Hollie Doyle was pulling double and apart from So Sharp showing a bit of inexperience and hanging right the result was never in doubt as she ran on to win by a comfortable length. As for Dark Lady that was a lovely introduction and am sure she will be contesting some Group races herself this season. 

In my post on the 26th June, I mentioned 3 Horses to Follow and one was running in the 18.55. Man Of The Night was one I mentioned and checking the market the night before the early price of 13/8 was soon gobbled up from some shrewd punters who knew how good this Richard Hannon colt is. By the time I was on my work break at 10am he was a shade of odds on and you would have been lucky to get even money. Another no bet for me at the price, going off topic a bit but from a selfish betting perspective I would have liked to have seen one of my trackers disappoint so next time I could get a bit of value. Anyway that wasn’t the case as Man Of Night soon quickened clear and ran out an impressive winner. Richard Hannon and owner Mr Saeed Manana have some serious firepower this season with Man Of The Night and his half brother Wild Thunder. 

Timeform Early Declaration Alert With Preview:

18:40 Beverley 05 Jul 2019: Mighty Spirit has solid form to her name. Trained by Richard Fahey and owned by the down to earth John Dance. Might Spirit has run with credit in all three races and none more so than coming sixth in the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot. Will be a major disappointment if she gets beat here. No bet. 

19:25 Haydock 05 Jul 2019: Top Class Angel for Richard Hannon. I can’t seem to catch the Richard Hannon horses at the right time. This Dark Angel filly cost 240,000 euros so was not exactly cheap and was nibbled at from 7/1 to 5/1 on her debut. The experience will have done her good and I will be keeping a close eye on the market to see if supported again (8/1 time of writing). Could be an each way bet if doesn't drift like Exciting days did today. 

Thanks for reading and good luck.

Man Of The Night wins in confident style on debut for @rhannonracing and @LeveySean 👏👏 pic.twitter.com/mnCMdjifpC

— Newbury Racecourse (@NewburyRacing) July 4, 2019

Mia's No Diva As She Powers Home (Plus Reviews And Previews)

It’s been quite a busy few days and trying to find time to update the many trackers coming through is bloody time-consuming but the more information I put into it makes me feel confident when deciding which trackers to bet on. As far as the blog goes this week has turned out alright but could have been better for me personally. 

The start of a new month means the start of a new me as I plan to try to step back and be a bit more cautious when it comes to betting on my trackers(not sure how long that will last, to be honest). Monday I had three trackers going and as I said a new me meant Dark Kris who was odds on was a no bet and it turned out to be the correct decision as the Richard Hughes trained odds on favourite was a disappointing second to Rich Belief. Those lofty ambitions that the trainer and connections had when they gave Dark Kris an entry for the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot seem like a world away. He was a touch keen but should have won this in a canter. The other tracker was Cherokee Mist for Charlie Appleby. This $500,000 City Zip colt looks a major disappointment for the Godolphin team. His first run set the alarm bells ringing when he finished second to last, so I was interested to see how the market was before I bet, he drifted so that made my mind up and he was a no bet for me as for Cherokee Mist he disappointed again, am not sure where he will go from here. 

I was looking forward to Mia Diva's next run and was in two minds on Sunday night whether to take the 8/1 early price but stayed on the side of caution and waited till ten the next morning to see if this John Quinn Exceed and Excel filly had attracted any support, she had and 9/2 was the best price available. Each way bet on and ready for 18.00 at Catterick. Mia Divas first race was in a hot Novice contest, and I was pretty confident she was a useful horse but the one worry was the 70 odd day lay off. The 9/2 quickly disappeared, and she ended up 3/1 second favourite. Mia Diva broke well and Jason Hart tracked the leader before taking it up at the final furlong marker and staying on to win by just over a length. Mia Diva looks a nice filly and still looked a touch green to me. I will be looking forward to seeing what John Quinn and owners Phoenix thoroughbred Limited do next. 

Another three trackers on Tuesday and the cautious approach bit me on the ass, first was Dragon Command at Hamilton. I am sure I checked the betting on Monday night and this George Scott trained gelding was around 5/2. Even though his form was solid I thought he was a bit too short in the betting and forgot about it. I watched the end of the race and when I saw his starting price I was gutted. Next was Dramatic Sands another with solid form but was a short-priced favourite. Dramatic Sands kept on well and beat the rallying Overpriced Mixer to make it two winners out of two trackers. My only bet Swinley Forest was next and all I was thinking was if he wins I have fucked up big time and not done a treble but as it happened Swinley ran a fair race despite being keen and ran on at the finish in what looked a decent enough race. 

Timeform Early Declaration Alert: 

18:20 Kempton 03 Jul 2019: Willa is a short-priced favourite at the time of writing, no bet. 

14:30 Musselburgh 03 Jul 2019: Bill Neigh another short price so no bet, but looks a nice type for the John Ryan stable. 

14:30 Musselburgh 03 Jul 2019: Ventura Flame for Keith Dalgliesh, short again so no bet. Thursday looks a belter of a day for 2-year-old racing with some nice looking prospects on show. 

14:50 Yarmouth 04 Jul 2019: Exciting Days runs for Robert Cowell and owner K Dasmal. Bought for $45,000 at the Keeneland sales last September. Ran a fair debut in what looked like an average Maiden despite being keen. 

14:50 Yarmouth 04 Jul 2019: Iffraaz brings the best form to the table after beating Hurstwood on his debut in May. Hurstwood franked that form when beating a few nice types in a Class 2 Conditions Stakes race the other day. He disappointed in his next race at Royal Ascot when relatively fancied. Has to shoulder a win penalty. 

18:20 Newbury 04 Jul 2019: So Sharp is a 140,000 gns purchase for Archie Watson. Talented 2-year-old who will be winning races this season, market check on debut, 

18:20 Newbury 04 Jul 2019: Dark Lady is a homebred filly for the Cheveley Park team and trained by Richard Hannon. Lovely pedigree and should also win races this season, market check needed on debut. 

18:55 Newbury 04 Jul 2019: Man Of The Night is a $350,000 Night of Thunder colt for Richard Hannon, very well thought of and exciting prospect, market check needed on debut. Thanks for reading and good luck.

Day 4 Royal Ascot Trixie Daily 2019

If I have any readers left apart from Aaron, Sam, Jason and my nan I would like to apologize for Sams selections this week that has been nothing short of awful. Nah! I am only joking and to be honest at least his have got out the stalls, I actually thought I knew a thing or two about 2-year-old racing but bloody hell I can’t get an angle on these. If I don't laugh I will cry as Ascot as been a nightmare for me and my winnings from May are going faster than my readers at the minute. Anyway my selection Sunday Sovereign was the well-backed favourite who started well but faded late on, another disappointment but at least I got a run for my money this time. Aaron got his first winner and our first winner at Royal Ascot when the jockey of the moment Frankie Dettori squeezed through the gap on Sangarius and gave him a nice 13/2 winner. Sam's selection Sinjaari was another disappointment. 

On to tomorrow. 

14:30 Ascot 21 Jun 2019 Albany Stakes 

Daahyeh couldn't have been more impressive on her debut run. The well-backed 3/1 joint-favourite was held up by David Egan in midfield before putting the race to bed inside the last furlong. The second Raffle Prize went onto win a Class 2 at Chester next time out and on Wednesday won the Queen Mary Stakes. Daahyeh looks a nice filly. Silent Wave looks a nice filly. Making her debut at Goodwood last month she was awkwardly away leaving the stalls but soon led and asserted over one furlong out, she will be a lot more clued-up today, and I am interested to see what she can do when running in a better class race. So Wonderful has been beaten favourite twice already but against top opposition, she looks like she has more to offer and with Don in the saddle. LAST SURPRISE is one of the many unexposed fillies in the race. This No Nay Never filly was very impressive at Lingfield on her debut when striding clear of Quiet Place and with the unstoppable Frankie in the saddle I am looking forward to seeing again today and looks each way value at 16/1 (wrote this last night and been hammered since Frankie got his four timer today). 

17:35 Ascot 21 Jun 2019Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes

Aaron: Baghdad beat Corgi in the King George V Handicap at this meeting last year and is now the mount of Ryan Moore so expect him to have plenty of support, Corgi comes into this after finishing behind FUJAIRA PRINCE who himself was just beaten a neck at York, that was his first start over that distance, He’s lightly raced having only run five times and it would be no surprise to see him improve with another go over this distance, so he is my selection at 6/1. Ben Vrackie is an interesting one for John Gosden who is having his first outing of the year and has yesterdays star man Frankie on board so could come in for some support yet, another one is Secret Advisor he was placed in the Queen’s Vase here in 2017 behind Stradivarius but has been out of action since winning at York in August of that year but could offer a bold show for the boys in blue and James Doyle, Joseph O’Brien has two in here with Downdraft and Arthurian Fame both of which have a shout each way but the latter being preferred. 

17:00 Ascot 21 Jun 2019 Sandringham Stakes 

Sams: MAGNETIC CHARM

In a wide open Sandringham were the top 8 in the market all won last time out. Desirous looks a likely improver as to Hotsy Totsy who represents Ed Walker who won this race is 2018. She will love the step up to 1m and the ground will suit but It’s the Queen horse MAGNETIC CHARM that gets my vote, she won a competitive fillies race at York last time out and it wouldn’t be surprising at all to see her improve enough to take this race. Adv 10/1 Bet365. 

Reviews: 

13:50 Chelmsford City 20 Jun 2019: Exciting Days: At first glance, it looks a disappointing result but the short price he started plus the Class 2 entry he had gives me hope for his next run. (No Bet) 

20:30 Lingfield 20 Jun 2019: Cherokee Mist: Late drift told the story, had a class 2 entry at the beginning of May but didn’t run. Market check next time. (No Bet) Thanks for reading and good luck.