Monday (30th May)

Have to say there has been what seems like a million 2yo races lately and I'm pretty much behind with everything but I love it. If I can inspire people to enjoy these races with my passion for the youngsters it's all worthwhile.

In my last post I mentioned Mersea for trainer Grant Tuer who ran at Carlisle on Thursday, I wouldn't normally go near a horse who has already ran three times but the form was decent and the Born To Sea filly kept on gamely to win at 5/2, my other tracker Sideways Shift broke down and I'm hoping she is okay. My bet was down anyway as my first selection Maxi King could not get involved at Haydock finishing fourth staying on, even the favourite Banddar disappointed in what was a surprise result at Haydock. Royal Dress should come on for that run.

Nice to see the Mark Johnston Dear My Friend win at 6/1 for the trackers over at Carlisle, no bet for me on debut though.

I do have a few trackers Monday but most are unraced and likely no bets.

16.50 Ayr 

Hernan Cortes for Kevin Ryan and owners Al Shaqab Racing, Etreham & J-PH Dubois. A 180,000 euro yearling. Trainer had a 2yo debutante winner recently with the useful looking Elvenia. Decent strike rate at the course. A negative if drifting to a big price. 

13.25 Redcar

Miss Brazen is a cheap purchase for £8,000 trained by Karl Burke. Another if drifting would be a negative for me. 

17.40 Windsor

Guiteau for David Loughnane. A £32,000 purchase, trainer David Loughnane has been in sparkling form and debutantes have run well with a 26 percent winning strike rate and a 60 percent place strike rate. A big price is a negative for me. 

14.55 Lingfield

Tough race with plenty of nice looking newcomers from the top yards here. No time to go through them so I will just mention my tracker Oh Sweet Tabu for Richard Hannon and Pat Dobbs. I've mentioned how the combination seems to never do me any favours but I'm giving them another chance here. Starting off in a pretty decent race, The Frank Whittle and despite being green did well to finish third. The winner looks alright and the second Catch The Paddy also looks a nice type for Kevin Ryan. The Zoustar filly was steady in the market in the Haydock race she was in until the meeting got abandoned. I'm giving her an each way shot at 9/2 and hopefully experience will benefit here against a few decent newcomers plus the the once raced Lakota Sioux for Johnston. 

Thanks for reading and good luck.

Previews & Reviews 26 May

Merry Christmas one and all, I know it's not Christmas but it felt like after one of my trackers was given as a bet 365 boost by one of Santa's helpers in their office, more about that later let's look at my losing bets first. 

Nottingham 22 May 

My tracker was Immortal Beauty who I thought had an excellent chance of taking the fillies maiden. It didn't last long until I thought the complete opposite as she got upset in the stalls first and then came out hanging all over the place, it was plain to see something wasn't right and Hollie Doyle rightly took it easy on her to the finishing post. 

Beautiful Sunrise was my next at York against the odds on favourite Walbank, only had a small bet for interest, didn't last long the interest as Walbank absolutely made mincemeat of these with an instant turn off foot, impressive. 

Monday 13.40 Wolverhampton 23 May

What a day for me, Zero Carbon is one of my 3-year-olds to follow for the blog. Well regarded by Richard Hughes last year and one I was looking out for this season, given a educational ride on debut by Pat Dobbs. I was pretty confident about a place at least here but no price so I ended up doing a win bet at 3s which I thought was reasonable. As the betting sorted itself out Zero Carbon had drifted to 9/2, what to do hey? I cashed out and was going in at 9/2 until I saw they had Zero Carbon as a price boost and was 11/2, couldn't believe my eyes so went each way with a bigger stake and also threw my other tracker Voce Del Palio in an each way double for good measure. 

I'm always feeling uneasy when I do bigger bets. I'm not sure why because the betting bank is healthy at the minute. It was getting close to the Zero Carbon race. I had that uneasy feeling even though I was still pretty confident. The race started, Zero Carbon had the rail and Pat Cosgrove was out like a bullet, the well backed Green Man was poised to challenge with James Doyle in the seat, watching how they were moving I was more confident as Pat kicked on again, cmon Zero Carbon you beauty as he stayed on to the line winning a comfortable half-length, phew bet landed, heart rate dropping, thank God! 

The next was even more heart attack material as I was waiting on Voce Del Palio for the double, I had all but given up when stablemate Wujdaan quickened up a furlong to go but Voce Del Palio sprouted wings and flew with a rocket up its ass to win by a head, what a ride and what a day.

Few trackers tomorrow but tough day, I will just mention them because as always time is getting on.

16.40 Carlisle

Double O won me a few quid when I backed her on debut at Doncaster, was well-supported that day into 3s, quickly away despite being a touch keen, I thought she would win that day but didn't go through with her effort and the slow starting Parr Fire came from last to first to win. Trainer 2/6 at the track with second timeout 2yos. My other tracker is Mersea for trainer Grant Tuer, a consistent sort who will run her race. Looked to know her job at York last timeout but couldn't land a blow to the well touted Thunder Moor who won with a bit in hand with Mersea finishing in third, always a doubt of a horse regressing but the form looks good enough to be involved here. 

14.10 Haydock

Banddar has been supported overnight and rightly so after running in a very hot race at Ascot. The Saeed Bin Suroor runner finished fifth that day and the second and fourth have both won in good style. My tracker Maxi King won't be a pushover after finishing second at Nottingham to the impressive Garner. The David Loughnane Belardo colt definitely needed the experience as he was all over the place at times. I'm not too confident when I see a horse hanging but I'm willing to take another chance here. My other tracker is the Richard Hannon trained Royal Dress. 

Going to chance a small each way double here but not going mad.

Other tracker to note.

Carlisle 4:40: Sideways Shift trained by Karl Burke.

Carlisle 17.15: Dear My Friend trained by

Mark Johnston.

Thanks for reading.