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.
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.
It’s that time of year again when we all look to become racing experts and predict the winner of Britain's richest horse race of the year. The Epsom Derby looks really hard to predict this year with so many good horses in with a chance, most are Aidan O'Brien's, to be honest, but it won’t stop every Tom, Dick and Harry giving their opinion on who will win, which is good for racing. Aidan O’Brien has won it four times out of the last ten years so you would be an idiot to dismiss his runners, out of Aidan's I like Broome and with the Don riding must have a chance.
Am no expert on the Derby field but I might just have a small bet, the one I will be putting my hard-earned cash on is Telecaster (pictured), even though he has only raced three times in his lifetime he's made quite an impression. This son of New Approach is 5/1 second favourite behind Sir Dragonet after lowering the colours of the amazing John Gosden trained Too Darn Hot when winning the Group 2 Dante stakes last time out. Owner Castle Down Racing will be hoping the gamble to pay an 85,000 supplement fee will pay off. I liked the way he was staying on and hopefully, the extra couple of furlongs will see him in an even better light. Jockey Oisin Murphy takes the ride for this Hughie Morrison trained bay colt and hopefully by 16.35 on Saturday I will have a few extra quid in my pocket.
Reviews and Bet Reviews
It’s been a pretty quiet week on the betting front for me this week. I mentioned three trackers in my last post on Tuesday, the first was Lincoln Blue for Jane Chapple-Hyam, I like to leave my bets as late as possible if I can and after an opening show of 9/1 he drifted out to 11/1. The trainer has had only one win over the past three seasons with 2-year-olds so it was a no bet for me and Lincoln Blue finished disappointingly down the field anyway. The winner of the race Majestic Sands for Richard Fahey looks a nice Kodiac colt. Bought by the Cool Silk Partnership for 90.000 guineas as a yearling. Majestic Sands managed to win despite running green and could be a possible Royal Ascot runner.
Next up was Amnaa who had been given an early entry for the Marygate Fillies Stakes Listed race but didn’t run, I noticed she had been nibbled at from 8/1 down to 5/1, so I had a small each way bet, I wish I hadn’t to be honest as she disappointed and finished towards the back.
Javea Magic was another who finished nearer last than first but this time I didn’t bet. That was 3/3 losers for my trackers on Tuesday, how things can change after a good couple of weeks. My other bet on the day was a horse called Gracie, now I never bet on names but this one drew me in, I won’t be making that mistake again as it was my second loser on the day.
The 2-year-old races seem to be coming thick and fast now so the Timeform alerts are also gathering pace, on Thursday I mentioned a few on Twitter (If I have any trackers I will always post on twitter if I don’t get time to write a blog). The 17.05 at Carlisle had a few horses of interest, first was Karl Burkes Miss Lucy who attracted some overnight support and was sent off 9/2, she ran a decent debut and only tired in the closing stages. Stars in the Night was a disappointing favourite and finally, Yarrow Gate who I had a bet on each way at 4/1, she also ran a decent race to finish second to Exceptional for Richard Fahey. A small loss on the day but not much damage done to the betting bank.
A couple more trackers on Friday and both in the same race first was Kilham who had a Brocklesby entry but didn’t run, to be honest, that was a decent run to finish third today and will keep an eye out next time. I wasn't going to have a bet on Iffraaz today as I was really worried about the soft going. As I mentioned on Twitter, he was entered in a Class 2 at York but didn’t run and last minute I decided to go for it and have a win bet, I don’t know why I was worried about the ground as Joe Fanning gave him a peach of a ride, and he won by just over 2-lengths, the drift was a nice bonus as he ended up a nice 4/1 and a profitable end to the week.
Timeform Early Declaration Alert
13:55 Doncaster 01 June 2019: Kuwait Direction had an entry for a Class 2 race at Chester on the 25th May but didn’t run.
13:55 Doncaster 01 June 2019: Full Verse ran in Class 2 at Ascot and also has an entry in the Group 2 Railway Stakes in June.
18:45 Lingfield 01 June 2019: Separate had an entry in a Class 2 race at Ascot but didn't run and also ran in the Listed Marygate Fillies Stakes at York.
The Saturday Trixie:
The Saturday Trixie starts a new month today so I will update the results of last month and who was the top tipster for May in my next post.
Aaron: Duke Of Firenze - 3:45 Epsom, Is in flying form looking to make it 3 wins in the Last 3 Saturdays, will love a fast pace and has a good record in the Dash winning it in 2013, solid e/w claims.
Sam: Broome - 4.30 Epsom, Landed the Ballysax Stakes and the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial in nice style and should be suited by the step up in trip. In my opinion, has the best of the O’Brien jockeys on it and is the one to beat! Adv 9/2 Skybet.
Craig: Kuwait Direction - 1.55 Doncaster, had an entry for a Class 2 race but didn’t run. This Kodiac colt who is trained by Richard Hannon cost £120,000 as a yearling, already had one run and was backed into 13/8 favourite from an opening show of 9/4 but was never involved after missing the break. I think this longer trip should suit and at 9/1 at the time of writing looks each way value against the hot favourite Full Verse.
Thanks for reading and good luck for the weekend.
