I will start with State Patrol who after three runs still hasn’t put his best foot forward. The Richard Fahey colt turned up at Nass last Sunday hoping to take away some of the 80.000 euro prize money, I did have my doubts that the trip was too short and so it proved as he ran on late again. It’s definitely frustrating as I’m sure he can win over further but I can’t wait forever. Royal Musketeer is a Charlie Hills colt owned by Mr Ziad A. Galadari who is a tracker I mentioned for a race at Haydock at the beginning of August but was a non runner. I wasn’t expecting him to be 17/2 at Chelmsford on Saturday but hey I was well-happy as Royal Musketeer held on to win by a nose from the nice Richard Hannon colt Dewey Road.
I was really pleased with HICKORY who I noted down as a potential bet on Monday night after looking through my notes and statistics. The James Fanshawe Free Eagle colt was a 125,000 gns purchase at the Tattersalls 2019 October Yearling Sale out of Book 3 and was a 20/1 shot which was to good of a price to leave, fast-forward to race time on Tuesday the 20/1 had evaporated, and he was as short as 7/1. I really hope someone actually saw my Twitter post and threw a few quid on as Hickory despite being slow out the stalls quickened up nicely to win by over a length with the impressive Tom Marquand in the hot seat.
Things didn't quite go to plan with my next fancy as I really needed some support for H Bomb to stand any chance, It really does help to check that stats out when betting as pretty much most of the time the stats don’t lie. H Bomb was a 33/1 shot at race time and according to the stats in maiden and novice 2-year-old races Karl Burkes last winner over 33/1 was back in 2017 when Capla Dancer won at Ripon and was a huge 66/1, I really should have waited till closer to the race but that’s the gamble I took and H Bomb trailed in towards the back. IL Bandito was one I thought I had in the bag but was collared close home by the nice looking Michael Dods colt Northern Express. Last but not least a short priced winner for one of my eye-catchers when the Ralph Beckett trained Patient Dream won at Lingfield.
EYE-CATCHERS
CONQUERING EAGLE is a Lope De Vega bay colt for the Andrew Balding yard. Purchased by owners PDR Properties & Apollo Racing at the 2019 Orby Sale for 120,000 euros. Conquering Eagle was a 66/1 shot on debut in a pretty nice looking maiden at Sandown last Sunday, he wasn't the best away by far but looked professional and knew his job. Rob Hornby crept up on the rail but Conquering Eagle was never really put in the race and stayed on steadily without threatening. I really hope the champion jockey is booked for his next outing and it would be even better at Kempton but that could be wishful thinking on my part.
BELLISSIME is a No Nay Never filly trained by Kevin Ryan and owned by Mrs R G Hillen and Partner who was purchased at the 2020 Goffs Arqana & Breeze Up Sale for £150,000. Kevin Ryan seriously knows the time of day and wouldn't have stuck Bellissime in the Group 2 Lowther Stakes at York for her debut if he didn't think she was a nice type. Bellissime was slowly into stride and outpaced before making headway towards the end of the race. Really looking forward to her next run and hopefully she can progress after that promising debut.
Thanks for reading and stay safe.
Quick update on my latest selections and eye-catchers. It pains me to say it but a visit to Specsavers could be in order after a disappointing eye-catcher over the weekend, Nurse Dee looks limited, to say the least after finishing down the field at York on Saturday. It did get better though as two trackers got their heads in front. The Cheveley Park owned Ice Sprite ventured into handicap company and the William Haggas trained Zoffany filly made no mistake at Newmarket winning easily. Top Class Angel finally got her first win for trainer Richard Hannon after being placed twice this season. The Dark Angel filly dug in deep to also win at Newmarket.
Saturday’s headline post was Godolphin at the double and the first leg of it came in when the well-thought-of Charlie Appleby Frankel colt DHAHABI held on from the fast-finishing Dinoo who will be winning his Maiden soon enough. I took 9/4 the night before with Dhiahabi and had a winning bet so it was a profitable day for me personally. I expected Declaring Love to win easily after being well-supported but the Gosden filly Bizzi Lizzi had different ideas and won well with Declaring Love finishing second.
Eye-Catchers
16:25 Sandown 21 July 2020
First off congratulations to The Middleham Park Syndicate after Ventura Tormenta won the Prix Darley Prix Robert Papin (Group 2) at Chantilly last week when holding off the challenge of the Norfolk Stakes winner The Lir Jet. That brings me onto my first eye-catcher this week, VENTURA DIAMOND, who was purchased for 100,000 gns at the Tattersalls 2019 October Yearling Sales. The Richard Fahey trained Dandy Man filly made an eye-catching debut at Sandown last Tuesday in what looked a pretty nice fillies Maiden. The winner Miss Jingles and second Zoetic are both nice types and the way Ventura Diamond was staying on at the finish I can see a winner sooner rather than later for this nice looking filly.
12:00 Newmarket 24 Jul 2020
OLYMPIC THEATRE is a Michael Bell Mayson gelding I had noted down on my shortlist for the Newmarket race last Friday, Why? Because owners The Fitzrovians had a first timeout debut winner in 2018 called Nuremberg at Ascot. The price 40/1 well and truly put me off but luckily enough I backed the winner Jadwal anyway but was still disappointed I didn’t have a few quid each-way on Olympic Theatre who ran a stormer to finish third despite being slowly away and running green. Another who should be up to winning soon enough.
12:20 York 25 Jul 2020
Richard Fahey has a good relationship with owners Clipper Logistics with plenty of 2-year-old winners over the years including the exciting Space Traveller. STATE PATROL has some way to go to be even mentioned in the same breath as the Bated Breath colt but there was a lot to like about the Zoffany colts debut at York on Saturday. A 50,000 euro purchase at the 2019 Orby Sales State Patrol is a half-brother to the brilliant The Last Lion. A drifter at York on debut from 11s to 14/1 and it showed he was in need of the race when slowly away before finishing well to finish third. Considering the start and traffic problems along the way It was definitely an encouraging debut and one to look out for the next start.
More Eye-Catchers:
16:20 Doncaster 25 Jul 2020 RAADOBARG
2:20 York 25 Jul 2020 PATIENT DREAM
13:15 Ascot 25 Jul 2020 SNOW LANTERN
Thanks for reading and stay safe.
