Throne Hall Shows his Class at Hamilton

It was nice to finally get a winner in my last post when Throne Hall ran out an easy winner at Hamilton for my 3-year-olds to follow. 

The Kevin Ryan trained Kingman colt made his seasonal reappearance after a promising debut as a 2-year-old last August at Haydock. He received an early entry for the Group 2 Champagne Stakes last year gave me hope he would be competitive against a pretty average bunch. I managed to be quick and get the 5/1 on Wednesday night that was available and it was a good job as Throne Hall was hammered into 15/8 favourite. 

It was like defeat was out of the question and so it proved as he kept on and won a shade cosily in the end with a lovely performance and hopefully, he can move up a level this season and get some black type.

Throne Hall returns after a year off to land the Stay At Our Onsite Hotel Maiden Stakes in convincing style for @StottKevin and @kevinryanracing pic.twitter.com/fVhy9MLriO

— Hamilton Park (@HamiltonParkRC) August 13, 2020

Another tracker was Moon Daisy who could never land a blow in a competitive heat. Nice to see one of my eye-catchers Calcutta Cup (pictured) get his head in front at Chester yesterday for the Andrew Balding yard, I didn’t have a bet at Chester as it’s definitely one of the courses where I can never get a winner. Roger Charlton doesn’t have the best first timeout record with 2-year-olds but it was nice to see one of my Roger Charlton's 2yo’s to follow win on Wednesday for the blog. Lucid Dreamer looks a nice type and was given a lovely ride by Ryan Moore. 

18:00 Chepstow 15 Aug 2020 

The odds on favourite Jumaira Bay could run away with this as the Roger Varian colt brings decent form to the table and could be hard to peg back but these odds on shots can be beaten, so I’m going to do a split stake with two horses here. The first is another 3-year-old tracker who makes his seasonal appearance and has his first run for trainer Charlie Fellowes. BOMA GREEN was purchased for £105,000 at the 2018 Premier Yearling Sales. The gelding's debut race was way back in May last year when he looked a bit inexperienced and green but made a favourable impression. It’s pretty obvious that Boma Green has had some issues along the way as I was expecting him to run again last season, but he hasn't been seen since that promising debut last May. I will be interested to see how the market speaks tomorrow after such a long lay off. It’s always a worry he could need this run but if today is not the day I will definitely be checking next time out. MODMIN also makes his reappearance tomorrow for Marcus Tregoning after a promising debut at Flos Las last August. The Tamayuz gelding was always there about but could never land a blow and stayed on without threatening eventual winner It’s Good To Laugh. 

13:15 Newbury 16 Aug 2020 

BEHELD trained by Roger Charlton. The dam is a sister to stallion Showcasing who ended her career rated 107 and the highlight being a second in the Group 3 Merriebelle Stable Pavilion Stakes in 2015. Roger had a first timeout winner with Lucid Dreamer on Wednesday and Beheld is worth a market check here. The Frankel filly has a lovely pedigree and whatever she does here she will improve for sure. 

A fantastic front-running performance from Lucid Dreamer who wins the Unibet/British Stallion Studs @BritishEBF Fillies' Novice Stakes with Ryan Moore on board for @RogerCharlton 🚀 pic.twitter.com/xqDjNntx18

— Kempton Park Racecourse (@kemptonparkrace) August 12, 2020

17:10 Newbury 16 Aug 2020 

Not going to lie but this looks a tough little maiden with plenty of nice newcomers entering the shortlist. TASFEEQ made a promising debut at Goodwood at the beginning of August when given a nice introduction by Jim Crowley, I’m sure the 115,000 gns purchase will be more clued-up this time and hopefully, the Marcus Tregoning trained bay colt can get involved in the business end of the race. Thanks for reading and stay safe.

Eye-Catcher 31st July - 1st August 2020

If I was a trainer I would definitely be on the cold list after my selections in my last post. Solent Gateway was very disappointing and looks to be a bit quirky. Olympic Theatre was put in his place by the Marco Botti trained Atalis Bay and Jacinta De Vega was never involved. I had a lucky 15 with nonrunner Jacinth so overall one of them days. 

Eye-catchers:

13:05 Leopardstown (IRE) 31 Jul 2020 

It's not very often I venture into Irish racing but I did have a small dabble on a 2-year-old at Leopardstown last Friday. MOON DAISY looks a nice prospect for the new kid on the block Donnacha O'Brien. The well-thought-of Australia filly finished Sixth of Eight on her first start but watching the race a few times I think she could break her duck next timeout. Moon Daisy was around the 10/1 mark for most of the day until some strong support saw her odds tumble to 9/2 at the off. Moon Daisy was bustled along at the start before being steadied at the back by jockey Gavin Ryan before making steady progress on the inside which in turn gave her a few traffic problems and ended finishing a good few lengths back in sixth, hopefully, Moon Daisy will know more next time and give trainer Donnacha O'Brien another winner. 

12:55 Pontefract 31 Jul 2020

ARTORIOUS is a nice looking New Bay colt trained by Tom Dascombe and purchased for owner Mr. D R Passant for 55,000 euros at the Goffs 2019 Premier Yearling Sales. Having your first race at Pontefract and being drawn in stall 13 is not the best way to start your career, so I was surprised how well Artorious ran. Tom Dascombes colt came out of the stalls and swerved right before making progress and stayed on without being given a hard ride by jockey Danny Tudhope. Supported into 16/5 at Pontefract I’m sure Artorious is better than he showed here. Really looking forward to Artorious when he next runs. 

16:40 Goodwood 01 Aug 2020 

Another who finished down the field was the Charlie Hills trained IL BANDITO who made his debut at Goodwood last week. A 180,000 euro purchase at the 2019 Orby Sale and owned by Mrs. Susan Roy. IL Bandito fell out of the stalls and was pulling for the first furlong or so and running green before being settled at the back by jockey Richard Kingscote. The Acclamation bay colt was never involved but looked to have plenty left and should be more streetwise next timeout. Owner Mrs. Susan Roy also has Persuasion with Charlie Hills who won that same race last year and went onto finish second in the Tattersalls Group 3 Stakes at Newmarket. One to definitely keep an eye out for in the future. 

18:30 Chepstow 01 Aug 2020 

A couple to take out of this is TILAAWAH who is a 155,000 gns purchase and owned by Mr. Hamdan Al Maktoum who looked professional on debut but could never quite get to the more experienced front two El Parton and the winner Bhubezi. The Next is the Mark Johnston trained MIHRAB who wasn't fancied at Chepstow but should no more next timeout if supported in the betting. 

Thanks for reading and stay safe.