8th May - Hamilton

Bets:

16.15 Thursday 05 May 

Chester

I thought I was onto a winner when I saw Self Praise at 5/2 then noticed three non runners, even though a rule 4 was coming it gave me more confidence the Hugo Palmer colt could take this, I'd played it out in my head, either Explicit or Blatant would set the pace and James Doyle would come with a late rattle down the outside to just get up on the line, wishful thinking as the David Evans trained Democracy Dilemma with the help of a first time visor set a blistering pace and never stopped, Self Praise did come out the pack and finished second never threatening the winner, yep rule 4 so small loss after looking good at 5s the night before. 

Next bet was Saturday, you can tell I'm not confident at the minute as I did Redemption Time each way at 9/2 in the nice looking Ascot race. The Clive Cox trained 2yo looked awkward and was still looking green as he pulled any chance away, the Appleby winner Noble Style looked decent as Redemption Time finished third. Had a small each way on Kinrarra a never nearer fifth at Nottingham. My 100/1 Oaks ante-post bet on Emily Dickinson looks well and truly over after a lacklustre run in the Oaks trial at Lingfield.

15.50 Sunday 07 May 

Hamilton 

Eight two-year-olds go to post in a pretty open looking race. Kind Spirit is the early favourite for Charlie & Mark Johnston. The Outstrip colt was pretty strong in the market on debut in a five runner race, the winner Daytona Lady won well, a decent enough debut by Kind Spirit, if strong in the betting has good claims. 

Kevin Ryan colt Pride Of Yorkshire another who was popular on debut after fading to finish fourth to Fix You who looks pretty decent for Alice Haynes. Pride Of Yorkshire was quickly away and knew his job until tiring that day, should come on for the run and a bold show from the front is expected. Northcliff finished fifth in that race and another who should be better for the run.

Legend Of Xanadu has placed both runs so far and another with a chance, Sprezzatura finished behind Legend Of Xanadu last timeout and should be close between them again.

Can't rule out a Karl Burke two-year-old and 23,000 gns yearling Unitarian makes his debut here. Interested to see the betting come race time which should give us a clue to his chances.

I'm going to take a chance on JM Jungle for John Quinn who unleashed impressive winner Breege at Wetherby recently. The £46,000 yearling is related to a couple of winners. Looking at the stats, May is John's best month with two-year-olds. The Bungleinthejungle colt was slowly away at Pontefract in a four runner field, early days but the winner Yahsat looked alright for Karl Burke. JM Jungle joined the pack after the slightly slow start and was tucked in behind, ridden along two furlongs to go; the 5/1 shot finished third of the four runners but was never near the impressive winner, with the betting being so open I've had an each way at 13/2. If taking a drift in the betting it would be a negative and I might take a small loss and cash out.

Other trackers: (no bets for me)

14.15 Cherub (Aidan O'Brien)

15.00 Waterville (Aidan O'Brien) & First Emperor ( Donnacha O'Brien) 

Thanks for reading.

Thursday Chester (5th May)

It was a case of going with experience over debutantes in my last post as I sided with the David Evans trained Evolicatt over the newcomer Katey Kontent. Evolicatt drifted from 7/2 to 6s so I ended up doing an each way bet in the end after cashing out for a small loss. It didn't really matter in the end as Evolicatt finished fourth lacking the speed of the winner Katey Kontent who had plenty of it in her pedigree. Evolicatt looks to need six furlongs for me but I won't be waiting around to find out. ❎

Points -2 

Next bet was another big outsider, I can't let these go without a small each way just in case, but they are doing no good for my points total as Tashkent was a staying on 50/1 fourth for the Hannon yard. I'm pretty sure she is better than this but it's one of them how many times can you back a horse. ❎ 

Points -2 

I mean my page is starting to look like a game of family fortunes with all these letter X's. All I can do is stick at it. 

Total points -4 

At least Jason Coote has been mentioning a few winners, my guest post writer sure knows the time of day with these 2yos as he gave Lucy Lightfoot a positive mention and she duly obliged by winning at Lingfield. 

16.45 Chester 05 May 

Eleven go to post here in a tasty 2yo race at Chester with £12,885 up for grabs. It's a real shame my tracker SELF PRAISE runs here as I would have loved a lower grade class race than this class 2 at bloody Chester. I mean the 37,000 gns purchase is certainly up against it here, drawn wide, the son of Twilight Son fell out the stalls on his debut at Doncaster and needs to be a lot sharper here, if he's slow that's my bet down the pan. I do however feel this February foal is a nice type for Hugo Palmer and with James Doyle on board I'm really praying he's in a nice position to finish this race strong. Plenty of dangers here and It won't be plain sailing, I imagine a couple of the speedy types will try to bomb It and hold on. Explicit was certainly away quick at Musselburgh on debut so you know Franny Norton will be going all out here. Blatant is no slouch either and has a plum draw, plus a few newcomers make it a fascinating race. 1 point each way 5s. 

20.30 Cork 06 May 

A couple of trackers here, Frankel colt Malabu Drive for Ger Lyons who comes from a nice mare called Tates Creek. The other tracker is my cliff horse Paris Lights who I'm sure will get a win on the board soon. I hope I'm right because I've banged on about this Siyouni colt for a while now, slowly away last timeout and staying on without threatening against Wexford Native who has since finished second in a Listed race. Hopefully an each way price here. Possible 1 point each way if the price allows.

Thanks for reading.

Welcome to May (1st May)

What a frustrating end to April that was, first was Chef De Partie for Roger Charlton and Richard Kingscote, no each way available so I took the 7/2 and had a few quid win. I was hoping he was quicker away and less keen today, Chef De Partie was away well so that was nice to see, helped by the rail he didn't hang as much but still a bit keen, this was more like it as Chef was in a perfect position to take the long time leader and favourite Frantanck who had made a bold bid to make all, it was only a matter of time I thought until the Frankel colt tired but no Frantanck was gutsy and wouldn't let Chef De Partie past for all he tried, I can't complain really it was a nice effort.❎

Next was Graceland's Girl who I had a few quid on each way at 9/2, I was pretty convinced she could finish in the first three, another who was slowly away last time out and I was hopeful it wouldn't happen again. Here we go as they went behind the stalls, I felt pretty confident at this point, ah fuck slowly away and playing catch up. David Allan got Graceland's Girl back in the back but used a little effort getting there, it was a copy of the Chef De Partie race as Lucia Joy made all and my fancy couldn't get past, a small loss. I feel with a bit of luck this month could have been alright but I've ended up with a small points loss. ❎

The first eye-catching performance that I will add to my trackers.

17.20 Doncaster 30 April 

Self Praise is trained by Hugo Palmer and made his debut on Saturday evening at Doncaster. The son of Twilight Son cost 37,000 gns and is a half-brother to the Richard Hannon trained Foden who's a two times winner. Early support for Self Praise saw his price drop to around 9/2. Ross Coakley was in the saddle and in what was a scrappy start to the race when Self Praise was slow out the stalls and in a bit of scrimmaging as they tried to sort themselves out, push come to shove a few furlongs out and the sprint was on, Self Praise was behind three of the six field as Ross made his move and went for a gap that wasn't really opening up to be honest then losing all momentum and playing catch up, I'm pretty sure Self Praise would have won with a clear passage. One I will be looking forward to next time out. 

15.17 Salisbury (Tracker Evolicatt)

Nine go to post here in this fillies Conditions Stakes

Tough little race with one 2yo with experience and the rest make their debut. I'm pretty sure the market will sort itself out come race time.

Evolicatt is the first of the David Evans runners here. The March foal ran well in the Brocklesby finishing fifth, next run saw her come second to Jiffy Boy at Leicester on soft going. The form looks decent and I'm hoping experience counts against the debutantes. 

Angelic Davis for Roger Teal, a capable 2yo trainer who can pop up with a big priced winner even though doesn't have many 2yos, not to be overlooked.

Baccarat Baby for Ralph Beckett. The 72,000 yearling out of mare Volunteer Point who won fto over six furlongs for Mick Channon. Ralph's Sunny Orange made a winning debut at Leicester last week. Decent fto strike rate at the course, if negative in the betting I would take a watching brief.

Cuban Miss for Rod Millman and the Middleham Park Racing team. Been some support for this daughter of Havana Grey. Half-sister to Triple Spear who won three times for Michael Appleby. Given a good write up in the blog and described as a very speedy filly. Trainer not known for fto 2yo winners. 

Durley Boy for Mick Channon. April foal who at the time of writing is weak in the market. Trainer had a great fto strike rate back in 2018 but poor since, did have a second on Friday with Desperate Hero 

Girlswannahavefun is David Evans second runner here. If supported could have an each way squeak.

Jilted, Brazen Beau filly for Richard Hannon. A 22,000 gns March foal. Trainers had 3/13 with debut winners this season, 12/1, 9/1 and 1/1, plus stable has won this race a few times in the past. The mare won on debut back in 2014.

Early favourite Katey Kontent for Clive Cox. Trainer no first time out 2yo winner yet but strong in the market this morning. A half-sister to the useful Karl Burke trained El Caballo who finished second on debut last season over five furlongs, pedigree looks spot on here and if backed to short odds should be there about.

Princess Naomi second runner for Rod Millman who is currently the outsider of the field.

Conclusion:

Katey Kontent makes plenty of appeal on pedigree and with a few if the big trainers sending one over its a tough one to be confident. I'm chancing a small win bet on Evolicatt hoping it's third time lucky and the experience counts. 1 point each way.

Other trackers:

17.02 Salisbury: Vaslad.

Thanks for reading.