It's Good To Laugh (Thursday's Thoughts)

14:50 Ffos Las 29 Aug 2019: 

Trackers: It’s Good To Laugh.

Clive Cox has had a pretty decent 2-year-old season so far with Golden Horde winning the Group 2 Richmond Stakes at Goodwood and Positive coming second in the Group 2 Vintage Stakes at Goodwood. It’s Good To Laugh is owned by Paul and Clare Rooney who have plenty of horses in training with Clive Cox. I am confident this horse has some talent after receiving some lofty entries this past month. Bought for a tidy sum of 100,000 euros as a yearling by Kevin Ross Bloodstock, this Tamayuz bay colt made his debut at Sandown last month. Watching the race again it was a race full of promise and when It’s Good To Laugh got the hang of things he was flying at the finish. The form of that race doesn't look strong but the potential that the Clive Cox colt showed was huge. I would be disappointed if he can't win this and go on to better things in the future. (6/5) 

14:10 Carlisle 29 Aug 2019: 

Trackers: Alix James, Black Caspian, Herbert Pocket, Brazen Point. 

This looks like a pretty decent 2-year-old Class 4 Novice Stakes race here. Can I find the winner that's the main thing? I will go through a few who have chances: 

You have to feel sorry for Alix James who has bumped into a nice horse in his three starts to date. The Iain Jardine Acclamation colt has done everything but win and should be thereabouts again. 

Black Caspian for the Kevin Ryan yard. The Dark Angel colt finished second to last on debut at York back in June but I noted that the 200,000 gns purchase had been backed from 7/2 into 11/4 before the off. Always worth noting the market support on debut run. Black Caspian was very keen that day and green before easing down with a few furlongs left. His next run was a different story when coming second to Lord Of The Lodge at Haydock. Interesting that he has been given a Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes entry. 

Panic Room Is a £60,000 purchase for John Dance and trained by Tom Dascombe. 20/1 Outsider on debut at Nottingham. Nice enough debut and the market should give a clue on his chances second timeout. 

Solemn Pledge looks interesting for the Karl Burke yard. I always love Karl Burke 2-year-olds at Carlisle. The Showcasing filly looked to know her job on debut at Ayr back in July. Always up with the pace before plugged on in the soft ground to finish third to Maykon. No significant entries but improvement should be on the cards especially if supported in the market. 

Conclusion: Looks a tricky affair and I haven’t even written about the newcomers from the big yards. One newcomer to note is the Tim Easterby Brazen Point who was given an entry for the Class 2 Convivial Stakes but didn't run. If Solemn Pledge attracts market support could possibly be an each-way bet. 

Thanks for reading and good luck.

Friday's Preview (22nd August)

17:35 Goodwood 23 Aug 2019: 

Two horses of interest in the British E.B.F. Novice Stakes for 2-year-olds. The hot favourite I imagine will be the Charlie Appleby trained Volkan Star and rightly so. This Sea The Stars bay colt cost a cool 1,000,000 gns at the 2018 October Yearling sales. A pretty professional debut at Newmarket when travelling strongly throughout the race but was beaten by the unexpected winner Cepheus who is also highly regarded by trainer Brian Meehan. As for Volkan Star, this looks to be a stepping stone to bigger and better things. I imagine the step up in trip will bring out more improvement. The other horse of interest who could be each-way value is the Andrew Balding-trained Hold Fast. This Fastnet Rock filly made her debut here at the beginning of the month. Slowly away that day and looking very inexperienced, David Probert gave her a nice introduction and when the penny dropped she made steady progress. Stepping up in trip should bring some improvement and any market support will add a bit of confidence in what looks a nice race. 

14:15 Ffos Las 23 Aug 2019: 

Skontonovski is trained by Richard Spencer. This Harbour Watch colt made a pleasing debut at Newmarket at the beginning of August. Purchased for £50,000 in August 2018 and owned by Rebel Racing Premier. Skontonovski must have been working well before his debut because he started off 7/2 second favourite to the eventual winner Lazuli. This looked like a pretty nice race with the third-placed Ziggle Pops well-thought-of by Richard Hannon. Skontonovski was hampered at the start and checked when making his move a furlong out before running on again. Trainer Richard Spencer thinks very highly of Skontonovski and I expect a win won't be far away. Skontonovski was well-backed the other day at Windsor but was withdrawn. I may take an early price in case money comes in for him again. One negative is Richard Spencer hasn’t had the best 2-year-old season. 

14:05 Newmarket 23 Aug 2019: 

Two trackers of note here: 

Thread Of Silver.
Tomouh. 

15:15 Newmarket 23 Aug 2019: 

This looks above average race with a few big guns ready to be unleashed. A real tough call to pick the winner but I will note my trackers: 

Royal Crusade for the Charlie Appleby yard. This Shamardal homebred colt looks a nice type on paper and is highly regarded by Charlie Appleby who has given him a Group 1 and Group 2 entry. 

Impatient for the Ralph Beckett yard. The More Than Ready filly looked professional on debut at Kempton. Not the best draw and outpaced 3 furlongs out before staying on again the final furlong to close the gap on the nice Gosden winner Eshaasy. Should come on plenty for the experience and interested to see any market support for this nice looking filly. 

Great Image had an early entry for the Class 2 Peter Walwyn Stakes at Salisbury in June but didn't run. 

Good luck and thanks for reading.