Friday (20th May)

Bets

Wednesday 18th May Kempton

The Kevin Philippart De Foy filly Mai Alward was quickly cut to around sevens Tuesday night. I had taken the 12s and was happy to see she had been supported. I was watching the betting through the day, money was coming in, it's always good to see support and my cash out was climbing, 13/2, 6/1, 5/1 9/2 unbelievable, the support continued and Mai Alward was actually as low as 7/2 but drifted back out to 11/2 come race time. A  decent start this time as Daniel Muscutt had her covered in behind the leaders as the race devolved, another gamble Speriamo was travelling strongly with previous winner Land Of Summer, Mai Alward was slightly blocked in as the Speriamo and Land Of Summer went for home, a little flat footed Mai Alward stayed on to take third as the Pat McBride runner won by a nose, I will take a 12/1 place as it's better than a kick in the plums!

Thursday 19th May Sandown

Amaretti Virginia for Richard Hannon, disappointed with that effort and looking limited after finishing fourth.

14.20 Bath Friday May 20th 

Trackers: Estate, Knowwhatimeanharry.

I could be playing for a place here as the likely favourite is odds on shot  Commander Straker for David Loughnane and owner David Lowe. The Kodi Bear colt has finished second on both his starts, beaten odds on when bumping into the John Quinn trained Breege. 

Rod Millmans Ignac Lamar has finished third on his last two starts. The Dandy Man colts best effort last timeout when third to Dunnington Lad, the second Rumstar won easy next timeout and the fourth placed at Nottingham since. Nice winner for the Millman stable with Cuban Mistress at Sandown on Thursday, interesting.

Interesting runner for Clive Cox here called Valdai for owner Mr Nurlan Bizakov. Trainer won this race last year with Caturra who had an excellent season winning the group 2 Flying Childers. Clive does have a great first timeout strike rate at Bath, definitely one for the short list. 

Fox Degree for Ralph Beckett and King Power Racing. A 200,000 gns purchase. I imagine price will be the key, over sevens would be a negative here. 

Jilted for Richard Hannon, sent off 8/1 finished and behind Cuban Mistress at Salisbury. The winner Katey Kontent looks decent, and would need to improve a fair bit too figure here.

Knowwhatimeanharry and Zarrafina both need to improve.

I've had a small each way on the Andrew Balding colt Estate here who was 9/2 when I put the bet on. The son of Showcasing was an 80,000 gns Breeze-up purchase and made his debut in a class 2 at Chester at the start of the month. Not an easy course to make your debut, especially for debutantes, a few had experience already and it showed, drawn in stall 11 and slowly away David Probert was playing catch up, it all looked a little tough for the Balding newcomer as he was ridden to keep in touch, he was never catching the leaders so it looked to me that Estate was just guided home without given a hard time. A bit of support wouldn't go amiss here in what looks an easier race. 

Tracker: 17.53 Catterick May 20th  

Exquisitely for Karl Burke. 

Thanks for reading. 

Newmarket Thursday (14th April)

Bit of everything here, first off I'm not putting my bets up as I just don't have time plus it's been a bad month, only kidding. I will just put my trackers up and details like I used to do. 

13.50 Newmarket Thursday 14 April.

Small field here but I will give it a go. 

1: Cheeky Maxi

The Brocklesby winner combo of Hannon & Amo Racing are back again here. A 38,000 gns purchase at the Goffs Sales. Dam Alhawdaj only ran twice, winning second timeout as a 3yo over six furlongs on soft ground. Cheeky Maxi has already had one run under his belt, it's always good to get a bit of experience and sometimes a bad looking debut means nothing with 2yos as they can look a different horse next timeout, he certainly need to improve here I imagine after finishing near last on debut at Leicester on April Fool Day. Really well supported into 15/8 favourite, could have been the Amo factor we will see. Cheeky Maxi was a bit slow away that day but soon caught up, Brocklesby runners Jiffy Boy and Evolicatt showed their experience by drawing away while Cheeky Maxi faded to finish towards the back. Interesting to see the betting here if a big price would be a negative for me.

2: Kingdom Of Dreams 

James Tate runs his first 2yos here and on paper the 100,000 gns Oasis Dream yearling Kingdom Of Dreams looks a nice type. Dam Beneventa had a RRP rating of 110 for trainer John Dunlop, and won a group 3 in 2004. Notable offspring would be Bow Creek (118 best RPR) for Mark Johnston and Dare To Dream (111 best RPR) for Jeremy Noseda. Owner Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum ran El Hadeeyah at this meeting last year and finished third on her debut.

3: Royal Mariner

James Tate's second runner here. Unraced dam Learza was a half-sister to the Aidan O'Brien Middle Park winner Ten Sovereigns who now stands stud at Coolmore. James Doyle takes the ride. 

4: Tajalla 

Roger Varians first 2yo runner. Rogers first 2yo runners have finished 2,2,2,2 and 4 since 2017. The 90,000 gns yearling is by dam Armum who won second timeout on good to soft back in 2017. Over 15/2 would be a negative.

5: Candy Rain 

Trainer Micheal Bell not really noted for his first timeout 2yo winners but last season actually wasn't to bad with a 16 percent win strike rate, May was notably the best month for his juveniles winning on debut. Surprisingly he's hasn't had a first timeout 2yo winner at Newmarket over a five year period, if well supported it would be a positive for the Kodiac filly who is a half-sister to the Richard Hughes gelding Aussie Stormer who won twice over five furlongs in 2020.

6: Fragrance

Charlie & Mark Johnston run the 105,000 gns yearling Fragrance for owners Highclere BredRacing. Mark Johnston always hits the ground running at the start of the season and had his first winner the other day with Duchray. Won this race in 2016 with Sutter County. 

Conclusion

Do the opposite to what I write ha as nothing seems to have turned out like I expected, that's the beauty of 2yo racing, you can look like Hugh Taylor one day or a total loser the next. Difficult race and one I imagine I won't be getting involved in. Cheeky Maxi is interesting after being made favourite for debut and interested to see the market. Tajalla being Rogers first runner should know his job.  

Wed 13 April 16.15 Gowran Park

Tracker Alroos 

Could be the last Irish 3yo tracker I mention because even though I'm not betting on them I'm pretty sick of them, I blame Aidan O'Brien, this one looks alright to be honest. Alroos was well regarded last season by Kevin Prendergast and stayed on well when beaten by Purple Dawn last timeout, the Golden Horn filly could have claims here against a O'Brien hotshot. 

13.00 Ripon Thursday 14 April

Trackers Beach Breeze, Teatime Tipple

Star Of Lady M won well on debut at Redcar for David O'Meara but she has a penalty to carry here and will be all the rage. Tony Coyle only has a small string of 2yos but gets the odd winner, Teatime Tipple was very green on debut but managed to run a decent race in the Brocklesby, if the gelding settles could improve from that fine effort. Beach Breeze was behind Tipple that day, was also keen but faded quickly. Shame it's only six runners here. 

Early entries trackers: 

17.30 Sat 16 April

Blatant for Eve Johnson Houghton.

Knowwhatimeanharry for Bill Turner.

16.10 Sat 16 April Newbury

Chef de Partie for Harry & Roger Charlton

Tashkent (3yo to follow) for Richard Hannon.

16.45 Sat 16 April

Valsad for Harry & Roger Charlton

Via Serica for Brian Meehan

Thanks for reading, hopefully I can fit another post in if some of the early entries run.