Charlton To Send Out The Big Boys (16:00 Kempton 11 Nov 2020)

It’s been a few days since my last post: ''Thank God'' I hear you say.

I was hoping to start bonfire night with a BANG as I was looking forward to seeing the Richard Hannon trained EPIDEMIC out again at Chelmsford, instead of bang it was more like a fizzle you get out of one of them duff fireworks. To be honest, the writing was on the wall before the race even started as the Exceed and Excel colt drifted from 15/2 - 10/1.

I really hate a drift when I have my money down. An awkward start did not inspire me with confidence and Epidemic was never involved.

I mentioned a few Irish horses I had as trackers, and they disappointed. One I did have a few quid on was the Aidan O’Brien trained JOAN OF ARC who was 7/2 the night before. Joan Of Arc looked pretty professional for her first day on the course and had been hammered into 11/10 favourite so somebody knew something. It sort of makes you feel it's going to win when the money comes in like that and as Joan Of Arc came to challenge I was counting my pennies but Hazel wouldn't give in and it was a head bobber on the line. The commentators called mine then said it was close and then the result came in, bloody Hazel just got back up, when your luck is out it's out and that's it. 

When I first thought about asking trainers to give a few 2-year-olds to follow for the season I didn’t even think I would get a reply, never mind a good few getting back to me with horses to follow. I hope a few people put them in their trackers as last week was a pretty good week. 

First off was James Tate’s HIT THE HEIGHTS who made his debut at Lingfield on November 4th. The 60.000 gns Iffraaj colt dug deep and won at odds of 12/1. James was at it again a couple of days later when ILLUSTRATOR won at the third time of asking. 

Actually, I didn't backed either of them but I did spot one of Karl Burke 2-year-olds to follow running on Saturday. Karl had given TIPPERARY TIGER (pictured)a good write up in his post back in April and the Tiger didn't disappoint. It was a funny race at Doncaster because the fog was heavy but as the runners emerged at the furlong pole Tipperary Tiger had already flown, I was surprised at the 10/1 but definitely wasn't complaining. 

I definitely think it’s been a bit more of a struggle this year and even though I have mentioned a few winners on social media I feel the blog hasn’t done as well as I expected. I think with the slow start things have been a bit up the wall. I have already started on the stats and hopefully next year I can do a bit better. We still have a few more 2-year-old races left so I will mention a couple that I will be checking out on Wednesday. 

16:00 Kempton 11 Nov 2020 

This looks a tough race with plenty of newcomers who could be anything. A lot of the top yards turn up here so I'm pretty sure the betting will be the key to their chances. Bullace brings decent form to the table but has a win penalty to burden here. Imperial Sun was up with the pace until fading pretty bad so drop in trip should suit here. I do like the look of the Roger Chartlton trained BIG BOY BOBBY but will this drop in trip suit that's the question. A 60,000 euro purchase at the 2019 September Yearling Sale and owned by Paul & Clare Rooney. Big Boy Bobby improved on his last run when staying on well to finish fifth at Newbury. The Vadamos gelding wasnt given a hard time but finished his race well. I just hope Thomas Greatrex has him up with the pace come the cut off point as I’m sure Big Boy Bobby will be staying on at the business end if good enough. I will be hoping to have an each way bet, anything over 15/2 will be a negative. 

16:35 Kempton 11 Nov 2020 

Tracker: AHLAWI (Hugo Palmer) 

Thanks for reading and stay safe.

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.