Saturday's Horse Racing News (4th September)

Today was an improvement from Thursday when all of the trackers ran well. First was the Michael Bell trained IMPROVISE who opened up at 6/1 on Thursday night, I was on the Iffraaj filly like a shot, actually touched around 15/8 before drifting back out. I was a bit worried when the O’Meara filly Smiling Jayne started to shorten in the betting and even more worried as she came with a late rattle to nearly chin Improvise on the line. That was a decent performance from Smiling Jayne and one to look out for. A great start to the day for me with Improvise winning. Next up was Leuven Power who was also well-supported for trainer Roger Varian. I took 5s each way and watching the race I thought my money was well down the pan as he was ridden for most of the race but managed to stay on to grab third. My other tracker Designer ran a cracker to finish second. Last but not least was the odds on favourite SNAFFLES who ran out an impressive winner in Ireland. 

14:15 Thirsk 04 Sep 2021 

The Richard Hannon trained Kingman colt SHARVARA ran in the Convivial Stakes class 2 race at York last month which is always a good indicator. Owned by Middleham Park and bought for 116,000 euros at the Arqana Breeze Up Sale. Sharvara was easy to back for his debut race when sent off a 20/1 shot. I personally thought this was a cracking debut and Sharvara knew his job when looking professional, it was only the final half furlong when the front three had flown he was eased by Ryan Moore, I’m pretty sure Sharvara has more to give but the only negative here is Charlie Appleby turns up with newcomer Mythical Dancer. Sharvara is around 4s at the time of writing. 

14:50 Thirsk 04 Sep 2021 

I don’t need to tell anyone how I love a Karl Burke second timeout 2yo and he turns up with one here. I have already taken the plunge at 5s each way which hopefully is the right decision, if HYPERSONICAL drifts then I will be in the shit. The Kingman bay colt was purchased at the Craven Breeze Up Sales for 335,000 gns and owned by John and Jess Dance. I’m pretty sure we haven’t seen the best of the Kingman colt after being bumped at the start on his debut at Haydock and losing plenty of ground. Hypersonical was eased into the race but couldn’t make up the ground he lost at the start. That was a pretty hot race and he should be more at home here. Hypersonical is 4s at the time of writing. 

14:00 Ascot 04 Sep 2021 

The odds on favourite Alotaibi will obviously take all the beating here for John Gosden but I will take him on with the Charlie Hills trained WANEES who cost 325,000 gns. Alotaibi beat Wanees by a good few lengths at Newbury when they met last month. The Le Havre colt travelled smoothly but jockey Jim Crowley seemed to give him an educational ride and Wanees wasn’t given a hard time, I’m hoping with the weight he gets plus a stronger ride will see Wanees can come home in front and go on to better things. 

14:35 Ascot 04 Sep 2021 

Two trackers. 

BOUQUET trained by John Gosden. 

CANTERBURY BELL Trained by William Haggas. Thanks for reading and good luck.

Author: Craig Newton

Friday's Horse Racing Info (3rd September)

I had high hopes for a decent day Thursday but it turned out to be a disappointing after a few of my trackers disappointed. 

First off was the James Ferguson trained Viadelamore who I thought was a cert for a place at least at Salisbury. I was excited to see some early support when backed into 8s from 20s but the money faded a bit like Viadelamore’s effort who could only manage fourth. 

My other tracker Outbreak did win nicely in the end and the Dark Angel looks a nice one for Qatar Racing who gave him as a 2-year-old to follow in my blog at the start of the season. 

Persist ran well enough in the next at Salisbury but looked a bit disorganized towards the end of the race when struggling to find a gap, pretty sure Persist will win soon. Kinrarra was disappointing after drifting before the off. 

I expected a bit more from Bantry in Ireland who only managed fourth and New York City will have learned a lot after finishing third. 

16:20 Newcastle 03 Sep 2021 

The Marco Botti trained Tatsumaki looks a nice type after winning first time out at Newmarket last month but has a win penalty here to make life a bit more difficult. I will be taking him on with the Roger Varian trained LEUVEN POWER. The Cotai Glory colt was purchased from Book 1 at the October Yearling Sales for 180,000 gns. He made his debut at Salisbury just over a week ago when easy in the market. Leuven was slowly into stride that day and rode along until staying on again the last furlong. Roger does have a decent record at Newcastle especially when under 15/2 so as long as Leuven doesn’t drift it’s an each way all the way for me, 5/1 at the time of writing. Designer is another tracker here for John Butler after running better than her odds on debut when finishing fourth at 125/1, not one to be taken lightly here. 

15:30 Haydock 03 Sep 2021 

IMPROVISE is another who will hopefully improve after running green on debut at Newmarket. The Michael Bell trained Iffraaj filly was slowly away that day before making ground but couldn’t quite find the gap and then coasted home. I’m pretty sure Improvise is better than that. A full-sister to Eightsome Reel who finished third in a Listed race in 2019 for the same combination Michael Bell and The Queen. The betting should give us some clues, if over 9/2 it would be a negative. 

16:50 Down Royal (NI) 03 Sep 2021 

Yes I know SNAFFLES Is odds on but this Joseph O’Brien colt let me down for a few quid when finishing fifth on debut at Leopardstown last month. I took a good price that day before Snaffles was well-supported. The Churchill colt was outpaced before finishing with plenty left in the tank. Joseph does think a bit of Snaffles and connections will be disappointed if he can’t get involved here. 

Hoping for better luck and thanks for reading as always.