O'Brien Hoping To Be King Of The Castle (13:00 Naas)

The nights are closing in, the flat coming to an end and Christmas is cancelled but one positive thing is it gives me time to recharge the batteries and update all the stats for another crack at them bookmakers next year. It’s a strange one as I really should be keeping my winnings from the season safely tucked away for the next campaign but as we know it's easier said than done and a few bets this week have gone astray along with a small portion of my profits. 

A little update from my last few posts, I had a small each way on Poet’s King last Saturday at Chelmsford at 18/1 and as the way my luck is at the minute the Kevin Ryan colt ran a promising debut but could only finish fourth. Horoscope I thought was a short priced banker and was again slowly away and ridden throughout the race and could only manage second. My headline horse was the Richard Hannon 3-year-old Lost Eden at Chelmsford, even though The Sea The Stars colt could only manage second I thought it was a perfectly nice debut behind the nice looking winner Real World for the boys in blue. 

I was a bit annoyed with myself after not backing the Roger Varian trained MOVIN TIME at Newcastle on Monday. As I pointed out in my last post it was a hard race to solve but Movin Time had a couple of early nice entries which most of the time is an indicator that they are well-thought of by the trainer, one thing that put me off was Atzeni on board the expensive Kevin Ryan colt Manassas who drifted like a leg fell off and finished stone last while Movin Time ran a pleasing debut to finish second. Another expensive horse was the Aidan O’Brien Kingman colt Blue Planet who ran a promising debut to finish third at Dundalk on Wednesday. I mentioned Dubai Tigress on Twitter and the less said the better. 

Saturday looks a tough one and with the heavy going I will be giving it a miss although I will be looking forward to seeing what the John Gosden Frankel filly HOPEFULLY DARLING does in the opening race at Newmarket. Hopefully Darling is a full-sister to Cracksman who of course was a top-class performer for Gosden and owner Mr A. E. Oppenheimer with a Timeform rating of 136. Cracksman also won on debut in October at Newmarket and handled the soft ground very well. 

12:30 Naas (IRE) 01 Nov 2020 

Here we are again back in Ireland and to be fair for a change I have won a few quid on a few O’Brien horses this year. Aidan has three shots at the board here but I will be sticking with the No Nay Never colt METAPHORICAL who drops down in trip after staying on last time out at Gowran Park, Personally I would have liked to see him at seven furlongs but what do I Know. The second that day Flying Visit won a Group 3 the other day and the winner Sandhurst looks another decent one for the O’Brien team. 

13:00 Naas (IRE) 01 Nov 2020 

I have two trackers in this but will be going for the once raced KING OF THE CASTLE who could be another Aidan O’Brien improver. King Of The Castle comes from a lovely family being related to the likes of Wedding Vow, Beacon Rock, Bye Bye Baby all group winners and of course who can forget the Derby winner Serpentine. I am pretty sure King Of The Castle will be another group winner in the future and will only get better with age and when given a trip to test his stamina but hopefully today is the day he can finish in the first three at least. My next tracker is the O’Brien newcomer KEY TO THE KINGDOM another well-thought of colt who is a full-brother to Exemplar and whatever he does today should come on plenty for the run. 

16:05 Kempton 02 Nov 2020 

Early tracker this one for Simon and Ed Crisford. ILZA'EEM who cost £21.000 at the Orby Sales. Pretty sure this well-thought Olympic Glory colt will win in the near future but as always its best to be careful betting first timeout. INIGO JONES another to note. Thanks for reading and stay safe.

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.

Royal Ascot - Reviews & Previews for the Coming Week

Royal Ascot 

Well, Royal Ascot is over for another year, personally, I don’t really bet as it’s hard to find an angle but that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy the top-class racing that’s on offer over the five-day meeting, specially the 2-year-old races, of course, then we had the legend himself Frankie Dettori firing in six winners including riding the amazing Stradivarius who completed a hattrick of Gold Cups in spectacular fashion for trainer John Gosden. I know it was a bit different this year with the virus but I thought it was a tremendous job done by everyone involved but hopefully next year we will return to normality. 


Reviews 

Just two trackers over the weekend and both didn't disappoint, first was the Richard Hannon filly Top Class Angel who ventured into handicap company for the first time. A huge drift seen her go off at 18/1 and to be honest, I thought my each-way betting slip was heading straight in the bin, anyway, the Dark Angel filly came with a late rattle to sneak third place, I should be happy with that but I’m still sure she has more to offer next timeout. The next tracker was the John Gosden Dubawi colt Almighwar who ran on Sunday. Considering he disappointed first time out last year when finishing tenth at Newmarket a starting price of 11/8 was a little skinny but the well-bred newcomer got the hang of things late on and stormed clear to win easily. 

Previews

12:45 Beverley 23 Jun 2020 

Interested to see Bomb Proof back out again after a 400 plus day absence. The 100,000 gns purchase at the October 2018 Yearling Sales has his first run for new trainer James Fanshawe after previously being with Jeremy Noseda. The Society Rock colt I imagine won’t be much of a price after an impressive debut at York last May but even so, I will be watching closely and hoping he still has the ability after such a long lay off. 

19:55 Thu 25 June 2020 Leicester 

One tracker I have been waiting for a while for is the Richard Hannon Sea The Stars colt Lost Eden. Out of Godolphin filly Ghostflower who only raced twice in a short career back in 2012 when placed both times. A 120,000 euro foal rising to a 200,000 euro yearling back in 2018, Lost Eden was well-thought-of by trainer Richard Hannon last year and whatever he does first time out I'm sure he will improve for the run and hopefully be a nice horse for the Hannon team this season. 

14:10 Fri 26 June 2020 Newmarket 

Zoffarelli has an early entry for the Newmarket Maiden Stakes race for Ralph Beckett. The Zoffany colt is a 60,000 gns purchase for owners Mrs. M.E.Slade, Mr. B.Ohlsson & Partner who also owns the promising Ralph Beckett trained colt Lucander. Mare Genuine Quality only raced seven times for Ed Vaughan, her highlight being a third in a Listed race back in 2013. Market check needed on debut.

Thanks for reading and good luck.

13 Dark Horses to Follow for 2020 (3YO)

BEAUTIFUL COLOUR is by Shamardal (USA) out of Pomology (USA), trained by Saeed Bin Suroor and owned by Godolphin. Dam Pomology only raced five times for John Gosden in a short but brilliant career. Winning her first four races including the Group 3 Prix Minerve and the Group 2 Lancashire Oaks at Haydock before a short-head second in the Group 1 Qatar Prix Vermeille at Longchamp. This Bay Filly has an excellent pedigree and one to look out for this season. 

BRAVE NEW WORLD is by No Nay Never (USA) out of unraced dam Dara’s Girl (IRE), trained by Charlie Hills and owned by Mrs. Susan Roy. This Chestnut Colt was purchased at the Tattersalls sales for 120,000 euros. 

DAUNTLESS is by Dubawi (IRE) out of Enticement (IRE), trained by John Gosden and owned by the Queen. A full brother to Michael Stoute’s Diploma who had an official rating of 110 and won the Listed British Stallion Studs EBF Lyric Fillies' Stakes as a 3-year-old at York. 

DO YOU LOVE ME is by Galileo (IRE) out of Green Room (USA), trained by Karl Burke and owned by Phoenix Thoroughbred Limited. Purchased at the Goffs Orby Sale in 2018 for 3,200,000 euros and a full sister to the 109 rated Together Forever who won the Dubai Fillies' Mile (Group 1) as a 2-year-old in 2014 and also a full sister to 115 rated O’Brien runner Forever Together who excelled as a 3-year-old when winning the Group 1 Investec Oaks. Aidan O’Brien also has a 2-year-old from the same family who is unnamed at present but cost 3,000,000 at the October Sales last year and one to keep an eye out for in the future. 

FLOODWATER is by Teofilo (IRE) out of unraced dam Emboss (IRE), trained by Saeed Bin Suroor and owned by Godolphin. 

FREEDOM FLYER is by Invincible Spirit (IRE) out of Liberating (IRE), trained by Simon Crisford and owned by Mr. Saeed Suhall. 

LIBERTY POWER is by Mafki (GB) out of Liberty Chery (GB), trained by Tim Easterby and owned by King Power Racing. King Power had a couple of decent types with Tim Easterby last season Lampang and Art Power. 

LYDFORD is by Fastnet Rock (Aus) out of Miss Brown To You (IRE), trained by Michael Bell and owned by W. J. and T.C.O. Gredley. A half brother to the brilliant Big Orange.

LOST EDEN is by Sea The Stars (IRE) out of Ghostflower (IRE), trained by Richard Hannon and owned by Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum. Purchased for 200,000 euros at the 2018 Orby Sale. Dam Ghostflower was placed twice in a short career in 2012. 


PALAMOS is by Blame (USA) out of Qushchi (GB), trained by David Simcock and owned by St Albans Bloodstock Limited. Full sister to 101 rated Mrs. Sippy who was also trained by David Simcock who won a Listed race at Longchamp as a 3-year-old. 

QUEEN OF THE WAVES is by Kingman (GB) out of Marine Bleue (IRE), trained by David Simcock and owned by Qatar Racing Limited. A well-thought-of 2-year-old who will hopefully pick up a race or two this season. 

RIVIERA BELLE is by Medaglia d’Oro (USA) out of Eastern Belle (GB), trained by Charlie Fellowes and owned by Mr. A.E. Oppenheimer. Dam Eastern Belle won a Listed race at Newbury for John Gosden and had an official rating of 104. 

SANDS OF GIZA is by Kheleyf (USA) out of Kadiania (FR), trained by Richard Fahey and owned by Cool Silk Partnership. Purchased for £67,000 at the 2018 Premier Yearling sales. Half brother to Sands Of Mali Thanks for reading and keep safe.

**KNOW THE BEST HORSES IN TRAINING (BEFORE THEY RACE!)**