If Ever A Wiz There Was (5th November)

Tuesday, Redcar, Karl Burke couldn't quite work his magic on WIZARD D'AMOUR. 

The race turned into a right pain in the ass when I backed the 200,000 gns Dutch Art colt at 5/1 each-way on Monday night. The Favourite, BILL PEYTO, was withdrawn. So first off a huge Rule 4. 

Then, Wizard looked like he was about to pass Le Cheval Rapide but, annoyingly, the Declan Carroll gelding had different ideas, stuck his head out on the line, to deny me a nice win. 

These things happen and we take the good with the bad. 

The drift on GIRL FROM IPANEMA told the story and was never involved. 

One horse I mentioned on Twitter the other week was QUEEN’S SPEECH for Aidan O’Brien.  The American Pharoah filly was a non runner but fast-forward to Monday at Curragh. My luck stinks at the minute because I spotted Queen’s Speech running but Heff' was on another O’Brien. So, you've guessed it, I didn’t have a bet, and off I went to work. To my surprise, when I got home and checked the results, the horse Heff' was on was a non-runner, and he won on Queen’s Speech at 11/2. You can't make it up!

It was nice to see one of James Tate's 2-year-olds to follow win today when HIT THE HEIGHTS made the perfect start at Lingfield winning 12/1. 

17:45 Chelmsford City 05 Nov 2020 

It's Bonfire night tomorrow, so I’m hoping to start the evening off with a bang, It's a shame we only have seven runners going to post here. I did like the look of EPIDEMIC’S debut run at Chepstow back in August, yes you seen that right it's been awhile since the Richard Hannon Exceed and Excel colt ran so it's a bit of a gamble. The bay colt was a pretty expensive purchase at the 2019 Orby Sales when being bought for € 430,000 for owners Aquis Hong Kong Pty Ltd & Justin Casse. Epidemic was slowly away on debut and lost a good few lengths before getting back into the race and staying on without being given a hard time by Rossa Ryan. Really not sure why he has been off the course 90 odd days but I did notice Epidemic was entered in a race the other week and was getting well-supported until being taken out late on. Andrea Atzeni takes the ride tomorrow in what looks like a tough little race but hopefully Epidemic can finish in the first two. 15/2 at time of writing.

Couple of trackers on Friday to note in Ireland. 

17:15 Dundalk (IRE) 06 Nov 2020 

A couple of trackers here, first is the O’Brien trained JEROBOAM who ran well to finish second to Hype last week. A newcomer to note is the Joseph P O'Brien runner EQUUS DEUS who comes with a nice home reputation. As always, the first timeout is always a worry but worth keeping a note of for the future. 

18:15 Dundalk (IRE) 06 Nov 2020 

JOAN OF ARC: A P O'Brien 

ON TIPTOES: Donnacha O'Brien 

Thanks for reading and stay safe.

Brazilian Magic (2:10 Redcar 3rd November)

The luck of the Irish deserted me on Sunday and, to be honest, I have pushed my luck lately with a few nice wins over these past weekends. 

Saying that, I was still disappointed as my two bets didn't even look like placing never mind winning. 

I was worried about the drop in trip for METAPHORICAL and despite being up with the pace couldn't quicken with the leaders and plugged on to finish fifth. 

I did expect more from KING OF THE CASTLE who comes from a lovely family who have won multiple group races so it was disappointing to see King Of The Castle finish fifth and never in with a shout. I won’t be giving up on him just yet as it took Serpentine a few runs to get the hang of things before getting a win on the board and going on to win the Epsom Derby last year so put this one in your tracker for another day. 

I thought HOPEFULLY DARLING ran a promising race In dire conditions at Newmarket when getting the hang of things late on. 

I mentioned a few to look out for at Kempton on Monday and was pleased with how they ran. ILZA'EEM was actually 7/1 the night before but that didn’t last long and went to 3/1 in a blink of an eye, I thought I was seeing things and couldn’t believe my eyes as I was just about to have an each way bet. In the end, I had two win bets on ILZA'EEM and my other tracker INIGO JONES who stayed on nicely and definitely worth checking next time out. 

14:10 Redcar 03 Nov 2020  

Karl Burke doesn't have the best first timeout record with 2-year-olds at Redcar. In fact, he hasn’t had a first timeout winner over the past four years but a few have placed so my tracker here comes with a warning. 

WIZARD D'AMOUR is an expensive Dutch Art colt owned by Mr Carl Waters & Mrs E Burke. 

A full-brother to the William Haggas trained Diagnostic who ran to a decent level. One issue is will the 200,000gns yearling take to the soft ground? 

I guess we won’t know till tomorrow but sire Dutch Art did win on soft early in his career. 

The likely favourite BILL PEYTO looks a nice type for Simcock and with the stylish Jamie Spencer in the saddle we could see one of them rides when he cruises up without moving a muscle to win easily but at the time of writing Wizard is available at 5s so a small each-way bet for me as ground concerns and first timeout is always a worry.

16:50 Kempton 04 Nov 2020 

The 2-year-old racing on Wednesday looks fantastic but a day to watch and take notes. Saying that, I will be having a each-way bet on my next tracker who I backed first timeout. GIRL FROM IPANEMA comes from the Ed Walker (pictured) yard and William Buick takes the ride. The Fast Company filly is a 56,000 gns purchase for owner David Ward who also has the talented Starman in training with Ed. Looking at the result you would think she was disappointing but I thought she looked professional, maybe a touch keen, but was up with the pace and not knocked about. Hopefully an each-way bet is available come Wednesday. 

Good luck and thanks for reading.

Absolute Scenes at Chelmsford (21st October)

It's been an interesting few days since my last post that I will go through now. 

In my last post, my headline was about the Romans coming and the Aidan O’Brien Galileo bay colt didn’t disappoint. ROMAN EMPIRE was given numerous early group entries by Aidan so was obviously well-thought of. A break of 103 days was my biggest concern but Seamie Heffernan led from the front and never looked back. 

I had a nice win bet plus in a double with my other selection MARTINIQUE. 

After Roman Empire won I had the dreaded cash-out option, I say dreaded but I should have hit the cash out button without a second thought as Martinique drifted like a barge from 5/2 to 6/1 at the off. The Le Havre filly dwelt and was never involved but one to keep an eye out for as I’m sure she has talent. 

Onto a few selections that I put up on Twitter. 

First was the Ed Walker 56,000 gns purchase Girl From Ipanema who was running at Yarmouth on Tuesday. The David Ward owned Fast Company filly attracted a bit of support, so I had a small each way, even though she finished down the field I saw enough to suggest Girl From Ipanema could be worth following next timeout. The funny thing was Ed has been quiet with 2-year-old winners lately but on Tuesday he had three out and of course, the other two won. 

Wednesday was one of them days when you are happy but still slightly pissed off. 

I fancied three horses and put two on Twitter. 

The first was MUTASAABEQ for Charlie Hills. I actually messaged my mate Tuesday night and said do me an each-way at 9s but thought about it too much and said don’t bother it looks a hard race. Mutasaabeq won impressively and put me in a bad mood but hey racing is like a rollercoaster one minute you are up next down. 

My next horse was ONES ARE WILD, if you followed me on this you would have had to be super quick to get the 5/1 that didn't last long at all. I had a nice each way at 5s on the Donnacha Aidan O'Brien trained Bated Breath colt and to say it was too close for comfort is an understatement. 

My last bet was SANDHURST who ran on well to win in what turned out to be a profitable day.  

Nothing really strong on Thursday as the next few days the 2-year-old racing looks really difficult. 

18:15 Wolverhampton 22 Oct 2020 

Godolphin turned up here double-handed with Beau Nash and Wirko. The betting should point the way on how they will perform. Military Mission brings the best form to the table, and then we have a John Gosden newcomer. I will be willing to chance an each-way bet on the Owen Burrows-trained HASANAAT. 

The Oasis Dream filly made her debut in a Class 2 race at Salisbury when well supported into 5/2 from 9/2. That day, Hasanaat was slowly away but stayed on steadily in what looked a decent race with the second Light Refrain winning next timeout and the coming second in the Listed Rockingham Stakes. The third Noon Star was an impressive winner at Nottingham next timeout. A 40-odd day break and step up in trip will hopefully see Hasanaat in with a shout here against a few inexperienced rivals. 13/2 at the time of writing. 

17:30 Chelmsford City 22 Oct 2020 

ABSOLUTE SCENES is a cheap purchase for Roger Varian who ran pretty well until fading at Lingfield last month. The hood is applied tomorrow and drops back in trip. Another small each way on the Dawn Approach filly. 11/1 at the time of writing. 

Thanks for reading and stay safe.