More Eyecatchers for July (12th July)

It was nice to see another eye-catcher winning last Friday at Newmarket. 

I had the Andrew Balding-trained Youth Spirit down as one to follow after a promising debut at Haydock a few weeks ago. I wasn’t sure if I was going to bet on the Camelot colt as it looked a pretty hot contest with Godolphin bringing a few nice looking horses themselves including the hot favourite Magical Land. 

I took my chance in the end and Youth Spirit ran a great race to win by a length and looked like a lovely horse for the future. 

I rarely back a horse once it’s won and sometimes that goes against me as it did with another one of my eye-catchers last week when Gussy Mac who won for me the second timeout and went on to win the Dragon Stakes at 10/1. 

I wasn’t too bothered as it’s nice to see them actually run well again. 

It’s also been nice to see a few of my trainers 2yos to follow get a win on the board the past few weeks and it makes all the hard work worthwhile and hopefully, a few readers won a couple of quid. 

James Tate gave Final Voyage as one to follow

 and he came up trumps when winning at Chelmsford at 9/1. 

Eve Johnson Houghton’s 2yos to follow have produced two winners so far with Enduring winning second time of asking at 5/2 and Saturday we seen an impressive winner at Ascot in the name of Jumby who won on debut at 5/1 so it's always worth a quick check at the trainer's 2yos to follow when making your bets. 

Eyecatchers: 

ILLUSTRATOR was a 21,000 gns purchase at the 2019 October Yearling Sales and made his debut June 12th at Wolverhampton, the form of the race hasn’t worked out to well even though the winner that day Choritzo has contested at a higher level but never been involved in the finishes. The son of Bobby’s Kitten was easy to back at Wolverhampton and definitely looked in need of his first experience on the racecourse. Illustrator was slowly away that day and had to be ridden to get back in contention and was staying on well without threatening the eventual winner Choritzo. Now with a run under his belt, we should see Illustrator pick up a race in the near future. 

TITIAN was a 195,000 euro purchase at the Arqana 2019 August Yearling Sales and is owned by Mr. Michael Buckley and trained by William Haggas. The Iffraaj colt made his debut in what looks a pretty hot contest at Newmarket last week. A 28/1 shot on debut, Titian definitely outran them odds. Titian looked to know his job on debut and actually travelled well until hitting a flat spot a few furlongs out until finding a second wind and staying on nicely towards the end, in fact, was gaining every stride and considering this was his first time on the racecourse a win shouldn’t be too far away for this nice looking colt. This one is not as obvious as the others, it may well flop or hopefully make the frame at least. 

AURIFEROUS was a 65,000 gns purchase by Andrew Balding at the 2019 October Yearling Sales. The Golden Horn colt made his debut at Salisbury on Saturday in the race won by the impressive Frankel colt Francesco Guardi. Auriferous was nibbled at from 22s to 14s before the off. Auriferous was at the back and behind a wall of horses for most of the race but stayed on without getting near the action, I will be interested to see the jockey booking and the market next timeout.

PERFECT SUNRISE, trained by James Tate. 

SHAMARDALAH, trained by William Haggas. 

Thanks for reading and stay safe.

Magical Morning for Inhaler (Reviews & Preview)

REVIEWS

It was nice to get off to a great start on Wednesday with the Karl Burke trained Inhaler winning the first at Pontefract when holding on to win by a neck at odds of 100/30. The writing was on the wall for my next two as both Sands Of Giza and Sparkling Olly went for a walk in the betting and both disappointed. The last was the mount of good old Frankie Dettori, he seems to get better with age this man as he rode the perfect race on Magical Morning. The John Gosden colt was very impressive and can hopefully step up a level this season. 

PREVIEW

19:30 Thu 11 June 2020 Yarmouth 

I have two trackers in this race and have been looking forward to the exciting Charlie Appleby colt Man Of Promise since July last season when he ran a stormer to finish third in a bunch finish to Mums Tipple at Ascot. You would have to be a fool to bet against the well-thought-of Into Mischief colt but yes I will be having a small each-way speculative bet on John Gosden's Thebian just in case Man Of Promise disappoints. The Kingman colt was a £230,000 breeze-up purchase and to be honest, showed very little on debut at Chelmsford last September but hopefully will sneak a place here. 

EYE-CATCHES 

15:40 Tuesday 02 June 2020 Newcastle -

Lost My Sock is a 2-year-old chestnut colt trained by Tim Easterby for owners Ryedale Partners No 4 and was bought for 21,000 euros at the October 2019 Orby Sale. At this early stage of the season, it’s hard to say how strong the races are so not much to go on this week. You could say jockey David Allen definitely earned his money on this Bungle Inthejungle colt as Lost My Sock looked like he was half asleep when coming out the stalls, ridden from the start the 7/1 shot ran on and wasn’t beaten far in the end in what was promising debut but will need to be quicker out the stalls next timeout. 

15:05 Tuesday 02 June 2020 Newcastle - 

I had my eye on a few in this race but I guess the most obvious one is the Karl Burke trained Significantly who went off 3/1 favourite. The Garswood colt was purchased for £52,000 at the Goffs Premier Yearling Sale in August 2019. Significantly was away well and held up in midfield, I think jockey Ben Curtis was in two minds on which way to go but once out in the open Significantly picked up well and ran on to finish a close second. Sound Reason and Fools Rush In are also worth a look next timeout. 

13:50 Thursday 04 June 2020 Newmarket 

This looked a pretty nice contest. To be honest, a number of these 2-year-olds caught the eye. The winner, Eye Of Heaven, is a nice type for Mark Johnston. The first three should pick up a win soon. 

The one I have put in my trackers is the Roger Teal's Dark Angel colt Gussy Mac who was purchased for £52,000 at the Goffs Premier Yearling August Sale. This April foal was slowly away (which can be forgiven for his first run) and was then settled in at the back of the field by jockey Jason Watson before making headway a few furlongs out to finish a never nearer sixth. I hope Gussy Mac can settle down next start and hopefully pick up a race for Roger Teal. 

Thanks for reading and stay safe.