I had mixed feelings after watching the 2-year-old Ffos Las race I previewed on Sunday, Why? Because for some reason Instead of backing both of my fancies Night Colours and Fashion Royalty I just backed Fashion Royalty each way. Even when the support came for Night Colours as the race approached I still didn't bother to go back the bookmakers. I had somebody on social media ask me why I don’t have an account online and I guess it would definitely be better for me as I like to watch the market movers as they happen but the negative would be me chasing bets if I don't really have the money, maybe one day I will change my mind.
I guess I didn't expect all three I mentioned to have a chance at the business end of the race, but they did and Night Colours quickened up to win in style. It was a lovely performance by the Simon Crisford filly and as for Fashion Royalty it was also a much-improved performance and could pick up a race soon. I didn't back the winner personally but I hope somebody who reads the blog might have had a couple of quid on.
14:20 Sandown 18 Sep 2019:
British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes:
A tasty little race here with a few potentially nice colts, I will mention a few that have raced.
Byzantine Empire for the all-conquering John Gosden team. It's no secret that John Gosden's 2-year-olds are flying at the minute and Byzantine Empire is a beautifully bred Golden Horn colt who is owned and bred Rachel D S Hood. He is a half brother to Richard Pankhurst who won the Listed Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot as a 2-year-old. Byzantine Empire was 3/1 second-favourite for his debut but fell out of the stalls and lost a good few lengths before steadily catching up and finishing like a train. Should be more clued-up today looks to have a good chance of being in the mix. (Eye-Catcher)
Never Alone is nicely bred Charlie Appleby colt who made an impressive debut in what looked like a hot little contest, but it was all about the other Charlie Appleby colt Royal Crusade at Newmarket that day who looks top class after a tidy win.
Never Alone is a 1,200,000 gns Dubawi colt who despite going right out of the stalls, looked professional and knew his job. Brett Doyle gave Never Alone a nice introduction and the extra distance should bring out more improvement. (Eye-Catcher)
Finest Sound was a big price on his debut here three weeks ago. The Simon Crisford colt was well put in his place by the exciting John Gosden Palace Pier who by the way has a Group 1 Dewhurst entry. That was a really nice performance and looks a horse worth following.
Heaven Forfend comes here with the best form and is a worthy favourite for Michael Stoute and the Cheveley Park Team. The Frankel colt should be a big player here after finishing a creditable sixth in the Chesham Stakes at Ascot last timeout. Ridden along and looking one pace until the final few furlongs when Oisin Murphy got a tune out of Heaven Forfend and stayed on steadily.
Conclusion: When I saw Never Alone running I was expecting to have a nice bet but there's a lot of potential on show here and even the unraced Andrew Balding colt is worth a market check. I will wait to see the market settle and see if I can get an each-way on Never Alone.
14:10 Yarmouth 18 Sep 2019:
This looks like a nice opportunity for Maqtal to get off the mark here. The Roger Varian trained homebred colt ran a promising debut at Doncaster back in July. The winner that day was the Richard Fahey trained Valdernoro who had since gone on to win the Group 3 Acomb Stakes at York. Maqtal could improve any amount after his debut but such a short price is no bet for me. It could be a mistake even mentioning Anglo Saxson here but the Charlie Fellows gelding who cost £70,000 looked to get the hang of things late on in his last race at Brighton. Will have to hope that a few of the nice newcomers disappoint here to grab a place,
Thanks for reading and good luck.
ANOTHER ONE OF THEM DAYS.
Sometimes you have to hold your hands up and just admit you were wrong and today was definitely one of them days. I think the more I thought about Seven Emirates the more I thought I was making a mistake backing him but that just seemed to wash over my head. I was up early Saturday and looking for signs that the Karl Burke trained colt was going to be backed off the boards. It happened about 10 a.m, Seven Emirates price was slowly moving down and instead of staying calm and waiting, no I rushed the bookmakers to take 7/1. I was sure by the time I got home it would have been about 6s. I was wrong on that too as he went back up again. The warning signs were there but my bet was on now so it was tough shit.
Why the bloody hell did I bet at Chester I was starting to think as the race got closer. Seven Emirates was 8/1 at the off, so I knew the outcome already.
It was a disappointing run in the end from a horse who had an entry in the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes. I briefly thought that at least he would finish placed but even that wasn't to be as Huboor wore him down the last strides. The winner was a 20/1 shot which made it worse. Not sure where Karl Burke will go with this Dark Angel colt after that. As for me, I have to learn from this and move on.
14:35 Ffos Las 15 Sep 2019:
3As Leisure Birthday Celebrations For Catherine's 30th EBF Novice Stakes.
Hot Summer sets a good standard here and is sure to be a warm order. The Richard Hannon trained Hot Streak colt is a £62,000 purchase for owner Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum. Hot Summer was only beaten a neck on his debut at Newmarket in August when behind the exciting Charlie Appleby colt Royal Crusade who has since gone on to finish second to the brilliant Threat in a Group 2 race. I thought after the promise Hot Summer showed on his debut it would just be formality next timeout, but he took a step backwards after only managing fourth at Kempton last week and still has a few questions to be answered here.
The first horse I think could be each-way value is the Roger Charlton trained Fashion Royalty who is a half-sister to War Decree and cost 385,000 gns as a yearling. Fashion Royalty made her debut at Newmarket 23 days ago and finished seventh of eight. It wasn't the best debut I will give you that, but she was well-supported that day which gives me hope that better was expected at Newmarket. The winner that day was Powerful Breeze who won a Group 2 race at Doncaster this week. Roger Charlton also has a pretty good record at Ffos Las with his 2-year-olds. Interesting to see if supported in the market.
Another horse who has shown some promise on debut is the only other filly in the race Night Colours. The Simon Crisford Night Of Thunder filly is a £38,000 purchase for owner Hussain Alabbas Lootah. Don’t get me wrong there were a few negatives that day like a 20/1 starting price also the fact she was pushed along for most of the race but I'm willing to take a chance that Night Colours will be seen in a better light here. Another who needs a market check.
Thanks for reading and good luck.
