Making Up For Lost Time (19:15 Chelmsford City 24 Oct 2020)

First off I would've loved Absolute Scenes to have romped home after writing about the Roger Varian Dawn Approach filly last Wednesday. It was a strange betting market as the night before I took 12/1 or could have been 14s now I can’t remember but come 10 a.m. the next morning minus a few non-runners Absolute had been hammered into 9/4 and Bet 365 was offering a tidy cash out profit, I’m still having problems with this do you or don't you cash out malarkey, anyway I didn't cash out, and she ended up drifting back out to 13/2 and just managed to hang onto third place luckily. The writing was on the wall for my next selection Hasanaat who took a drift from 5s to 9/1 and never landed a blow in what looked a decent enough race.

It makes all the weeks, days and hours put in researching horses, trainers and owners worthwhile when one of my unraced horses to follow wins at 16/1, yes I know some have been disappointing which I will note at the end of the flat season when I have nothing to do but count the days until the new one. The horse in question is the Ralph Beckett-trained SCOPE who I mentioned as one to follow back in March.

Ralph Beckett and owner Mr J. H. Richmond-Watson are always worth noting but to be honest this looked a difficult race to make his debut. Not going to lie, Scope was my last selection in my lucky 15 and got me out the shit. I actually thought he finished second and still wasn't convinced when looking at the replay but in all honesty, Scope travelled like a dream and looks a good sort for the future. 

Well, all the updates out the way it's time to look ahead to tomorrow. I do say this a lot but Jesus it looks difficult and a day to keep stakes low as I am struggling to find a bet. I will detail my thoughts on a few but as I say I will keep my stakes low if betting at all. 

16:07 Chelmsford City 24 Oct 2020 

I did a post about the Hugo Palmer trained SPIRIT OF IFFRAAJ not long ago, and he could be in with a shout again here. I could be a country mile out here but I will try a speculative each-way here and hope for the best. POET'S KING is trained by Kevin Ryan and owned by Mr Jaber Abdullah. The Paco Boy bay colt could be worth a gamble to grab a place here. Owner Mr Jaber Abdullah had a few 2-year-old winners over the years with Kevin including Elnadim Star, Hello Youmzain and Baby Alya who won the first timeout at Newcastle last month. Anything under 10s I will have a small each way. 16/1 at present. 

19:15 Chelmsford City 24 Oct 2020 

I do worry why we haven't seen the Richard Hannon trained LOST EDEN till now. I know the Sea The Stars colt was well-thought-of as a 2-year-old and was also given a Derby entry. Purchased for 200,000 euros at the 2018 Orby Sale. Dam Ghostflower was placed twice in a short career in 2012. Could be worth a small wager but may need to blow a few cobwebs off here but hopefully, he still retains the ability that made Richard Hannon think highly of him last year. 6/1 at present. 

13:55 Leopardstown (IRE) 24 Oct 2020 

Last but not least a shortie in the name of HOROSCOPE who I put up a few weeks back for Aidan O’Brien. I thought that was a useful debut without getting serious. Stable in terrific form and would be disappointed if Horoscope isn’t involved here. Even favourite at present. Thanks for reading and stay safe.

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.