As always I have been so busy lately, in my last post I gave a couple of unraced 2-year-olds that could be worth checking on debut, first off was the Roger Varian trained Batraan who ran at York last Sunday, I did mention anything over 9/2 would be seen as a negative and despite a bit of late support Batraan started 5/1. I did have a small each way bet but I really hate doing win bets and of course it went down straight away as Batraan finished out the places. If you read the race report it said slowly away, behind, ran green, some late headway, so I will definitely be keeping a close eye on the 85.000 gns purchase next timeout.
Next was Reams Of Love for Mark Johnston who could only manage third but another who will come and plenty.
I went a bit mad on my other fancy which was the Aidan O’ Brien horse LIPIZZANER who I had noted as being entered in a host of nice group races this year including the Dewhurst and Middle Park Stakes. The market didn’t really know what to do and when I saw 6/4 about Lipizzaner I went straight in and in the end it was the right decision as Lipizzaner stayed on gamely to win by half a length.
I had no time to do a post this week but mentioned a few on Twitter I liked, first up was Midnight Poppy at Musselburgh, I took 18s the night before and had a speculative each way bet, I always like to watch the market through the day and noticed Midnight was getting well-supported so went in again at 10s little did I know that Hugh Taylor was the reason for the support. Midnight Poppy ran a great race to finish second, so I was pretty happy with that. Next up was Windsor and I liked two in the race that I thought could improve for their debut race so had a split stake on the two.
I didn't expect OPERATIC to win by seven lengths but the Simon and Ed Crisford filly didn't break sweat in an impressive display, my other horse was Typical Man who actually ran well to finish third but was no match for Operatic. Party Rebel was my next bet but as I mentioned on Twitter I am trying to knock betting on first time out 2yos on the head even though I have had a few nice winners this season its something I need to look into at the end of the season but anyway Party Rebel was slowly away but kept on to finish fourth and one I will look out for next timeout.
Considering I always go on about how I hate doing win bets instead of each way sometimes with prices you after go for broke and it paid off with my next two winners.
LATEST GENERATION actually opened up 3/1, but I was in two minds so by the time I decided to bet I could only manage to get 2/1 but after an impressive display and a starting price of 8/11 I was pretty happy with my 2/1.
It’s been a good week to be honest as my next bet was the well-bred FABILIS who is trained by Ralph Beckett and a full-brother to Monarchs Glens. I did get a bit worried at one stage as he was hard ridden but Fabilis came again and won going away in the end. Fabilis looks a nice prospect and should be even better when upped in trip.
14:00 Sandown 11 Sep 2020
An intriguing little contest here and no doubt Maximal will be a short price favourite to get his first win on the board for Sir Michael Stoute after finishing third to One Ruler at Sandown in August, the form has been franked with Latest Generation hosing up in the Class 2 race at Donny the other day but I could be totally wrong here but I’m willing to have a speculative each way bet on the Andrew Balding trained CONQUERING EAGLE (14/1 at the time of writing) who I noted as a eye-catcher in the same race as Maximal when making his debut. I don’t know if I need to go back to specsavers to change my glasses but to me Conquering Eagle was given an easy time by Rob Hornby that day. The step up in trip should suit the 120,000 euros Lope De Vega bay colt. As I said I won’t be going mad but sometimes you have to go take on the favourites.
Thanks for reading and stay safe.
Well, of course I’m disappointed in not getting a winner with the horses I mentioned in Friday's post but I always like to look at the positives and not get too down about it. MUAY THAI was up first and I don’t know why but when Pat Dobbs is in the saddle I never seem to win and as you may have seen it happened again. The Richard Hannon newcomer looked professional from the start and cruised along nicely on the rail before Dobbs had to go between horses to challenge but by then the two in front got first run and Muay Thai finished third but it was definitely a promising debut. Must go close next time out so one for the trackers.
ACT OF WISDOM is definitely better than seen today and the drift told the story that it wasn’t going to be his day. All his family needed a little time to get fully tuned so it didn’t surprise me too much and sometimes a bad first run could be a good thing for a punter as I might get a half decent price next timeout. It’s alright saying after the event but I did have my eye on the Richard Hughes winner Lightening Shore after a great debut when third to the Round Six here a few weeks back but these things happen.
PURE BUBBLES was a non runner but I thought it was Gary Moore's day when his other runner CHAMPAGNE PIAFF had every chance the last furlong until tiring and finishing fourth at 66/1.
DECISIVE EDGE was well-backed in the later race at Kempton and I thought my 33/1 bet was looking good for a place until being swamped inside the last furlong but hopefully another who will be entered in a smaller easier race in the next few weeks or so.
Saturday looks like another nightmare for punting with some nice 2 yos making their debut, so I will be leaving it alone and just watching I think.
One tracker who will be a short price who I expect to definitely be in the mix is LIPIZZANER who runs in the 15.30 at Naven. The well-thought of Aidan O’Brien runner ran a blinder last timeout in the Norfolk Stakes at Ascot despite being slowly away.
13:00 York 06 Sep 2020
We have a few here that have run to a decent level including Mamba Wamba and McManaman plus the Queens runner Inveigle but I will take a chance with the Roger Varian colt BATRAAN to make a winning debut for a team in great form. Batraan is an 85,000 gns purchase for owner Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum and is out of unraced Dam Testimony. Roger has a great record at York with Molatham, Sardinia Sunset and the winner of this race last year Clan Royale all recent winners. The only negative would be if drifting to over 9/2.
14:30 York 06 Sep 2020
Roger Varian has the favourite here Athers who could be hard to beat but them favourites are there to be taken on, so I will hopefully have a small each way on the Mark Johnston newcomer REAMS OF LOVE who was a 80,000 euro purchase at the 2019 Orby sale for owners Crone Stud Farm who had a winner with Love Is Golden the other day. Sire Frankel and Dam Night Of Light both enjoyed a bit of cut in the ground so hopefully Reams Of Love will too.
Thanks for reading and stay safe.
