Midweek Previews And Reviews (20th August)

I must admit I shouldn't have had a bet Saturday because as I said in my weekend post I didn't really fancy much. In the end, I backed Sun Power to win. It's funny because I can understand now why some gamblers wait till last minute before betting. First, it's good to see the market and most of the time it really does pay to be cautious, especially with 2-year-old horses and second, it's good to see how your horse is going to post. Well, Sun Power was really keen going to post and had to be restrained by jockey Silvestre De Sousa. I wish I could have cashed out at that point. Sun Power was exactly the same through the race and disappointed. 

Phantom Bride was my next each-way bet for Karl Burke. It was a speculative bet and despite being well-supported she also disappointed in what was a Saturday to forget but the lesson learned was if I don't fancy anything strongly. I should be more patient and not bet. 

I also mentioned Queen’s Order who broke her duck with a nice win at Pontefract on Sunday, it was made a lot easier with Dazzling Des and Ventura Lighting both non-runners. I had another speculative bet on my other tracker Serious Jockin who was another who was never involved. Hopefully, I can make up for a bad weekend with a couple of wins this week.

14:15 Bath 21 Aug 2019: 

A couple of trackers in this 2-year-old Maiden Stakes race. Aweemaweh was a cheap purchase by Mick Channon last September. Aweemaweh has been given a Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes entry. It could just be a pipe dream but to have any hope will have to put in a bold show here to stand any chance of making the lineup in September. The chestnut colt made a pleasing debut last week at Salisbury over six furlongs. The ground that day was soft and Aweemaweh plugged on without threatening the impressive winner Ascension. Interesting to see any market support for this Bungle Inthejungle colt and I hope I can get an each-way price. 

Another tracker to note in this race is Tommy Rock for the Clive Cox stable who also has a Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes entry. A 100,000 euro purchase for owner Peter Ridges. The market will prove the best guide for his chances on debut. Mick Channon has a decent record at Bath with his 2-year-olds but Clive Cox has a really impressive one. I may even do a split stake depending on prices and market support.  

14:35 Carlisle 21 Aug 2019: 

Ainsdale for the 2-year-old Carlisle specialist trainer Karl Burke. Ainsdale looks to have a great chance of making the frame at least here, after being beaten by the impressive Richard Fahey and Cheveley Park owned Custodian at Pontefract a couple of weeks ago. The Mayson colt stayed on without threatening the easy winner. A recent significant entry gives me hope that a better run is expected here and with the forecast soft ground at Carlisle, Ainsdale should be right at home. 

14:05 Carlisle 21 Aug 2019: 

Herbert Pocket is my last tracker for the Tim Easterby yard. The one positive here is this Helmet colt started his career in a Class 2 race at York in May. Despite finishing towards the back that was a good sign but a few negatives here too. Been off the course since then which makes me think must have been some kind of problem also had no significant entries since his debut in May. Needs to attract some support for me to even consider betting on this outsider today. Thanks for reading and good luck.

Sun Set To Shine At Newbury (16th August)

It’s been a bloody long week and as much as I love my racing I just haven’t had the time to watch much racing never mind write a post for the blog. 

A quick review of the post I wrote on Monday. First up was the Kevin Ryan filly Reviette who drifted from the overnight price of 3/1 to 7/1 at the off. Reviette was badly outpaced before staying on at the death to grab third place and a bit further would have won. It was a nice performance and should be more to come over a longer distance.

Aweemaweh was my second fancy in the first division of the Novice Stakes race. Mick Channon likes this colt and he ran a promising race despite running green. My headline horse Impressor actually won for a change as normally when I mention a horse in the headline they get bloody beat, but Impressor was actually impressive (no pun intended) and looks to be a horse with a bright future. African Swift was my last fancy and just got outbattled in a ding-dong battle with Kalsara. 

Plenty of racing the weekend but I really am struggling to find any standout bets. It always seems to be the way on a Saturday lately, anyway I will write about a few that may have a chance but I won't be going overboard. 

13:50 Newbury 17 Aug 2019: 

Sun Power sets a good standard here and will be hoping to give the warm favourite Juan Elcano something to think about. The Richard Hannon Night Of Thunder colt is a 115,000 gns purchase for the King Power Racing Team and hasn't disappointed in his four runs to date. Has plenty of nice entries so is well-thought-of by the Hannon yard. The forecast good to soft ground shouldn't be a problem and at around 3/1 I will be putting Sun Power in one of my bets. 

13:30 Ripon 17 Aug 2019: 

A speculative bet here. Phantom Bride for the Karl Burke yard. This Fastnet Rock filly ran in a very hot maiden at Goodwood at the beginning of the month, with the first four all entered in decent races in the future. I know Phantom Bride finished way back but am sure she will find this grade more to her liking. Kings Caper obviously sets the standard and to add to the mix a few nice newcomers enter the equation but hopefully with a bit of luck Phantom Bride can sneak a place for me and the Ontoawinner owners. 

14:00 Pontefract 18 Aug 2019: A tasty little race at Pontefract to get stuck into here. Two trackers of interest, the first is Serious Jockin for the Mick Channon stable. The Footstepsinthesand colt was well-supported on his debut at Newbury this month when backed in from 6/1 to 9/2 at the off. Serious Jockin was slowly away that day but showed some speed to catch up before Callum Shepherd calling it a day a couple of furlongs out when no chance of catching the leaders up. Interesting that Mick Channon has dropped this colt back to five furlongs and also interesting is that Serious Jockin has been given a Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes entry at Newbury. Needs to seriously improve here. My next tracker is Queen’s Order who I wrote about before her debut in July. The Kevin Ryan filly looked a nice type when making her debut over this course and distance last month when only beaten just under a length by Pop Dancer. The form has been franked when Pop Dancer won a Class 3 the other day. I expect Queen’s Order will come on for that run and looks to have a great chance of winning here. That does not say she will have it all her own way as we also have Dazzling Des who has to give some serious weight away and a newcomer Moon Power who cost 90,000 euros and is owned by The King Power Racing Team. 

Good luck and thanks for reading.