Thank you very much for 10,000 Views (Plus Reviews and Previews)

When I started my blog just before the new Flat season I would have been happy with a few hundred views by this time but this week I reached 10,000 plus and I can't believe it to be honest. I would like to thank everybody who has taken the time to read and hopefully I have pointed out a few nice horses along the way. It hasn't all been plain sailing of course with some losers too but I have noted a few nice priced winners including Threat, Fred, Misty Grey and Good Vibes which have made it a season to remember for me with still a few months left. 

Timeform Dec Reviews 

Well Of Wisdom (Pictured) won well for the trackers last Sunday. I had a winning bet on this Charlie Appleby colt and couldn't believe the 3/1 he ended up. Well Of Wisdom looks a nice colt and ran a decent race in Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot last month. One thing I have to admit is that I was watching Liverpool on the TV and also trying to watch the race on my chrome book and for some reason, I thought Well Of Wisdom got beat and Saqqara King won, that’s when you know you need to take a trip to Specsavers. 

Fleeting Prince had been given a Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes entry after his debut run at Chepstow. He was quickly out the stalls at Windsor on Monday and made all to win easily. The price of 11/8 was decent but no bet for me. 

Cool Sphere ran a decent enough race to finish second but another no bet for me. 

WELL OF WISDOM 3/1 1ST 
FLEETING PRINCE 11/10 1ST 
Cool Sphere Evens 2nd

Timeform Early Declaration: 

18:05 Yarmouth 17 Jul 2019: 

Kassab made a pleasing enough debut when finishing fifth in a fair event here on July 4th. This Peter Chappel-Hyam colt was an 85,000 gns purchase in April and will have to improve to trouble the market principles here. One positive is he has a Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes entry. No bet for me 

14:40 Lingfield 17 Jul 2019: 

Dark Lady made a pleasing debut when second to the very well-thought of Archie Watson filly So Sharp. This Richard Hannon Dark Angel filly looked a future winner going into many notebooks that day. Short at the time of writing so not sure what to do yet. 

14:40 Lingfield 17 Jul 2019: 

Depose. Kingman filly for Hugo Palmer, a bit of a worry hood first time. No bet for me. 

15:00 Chepstow 18 Jul 2019: 

Above. I imagine is one of Archie Watsons best 2-year-olds and to give away so much weight will have to be on top of his game. A 150,000 euro purchase for owners Qatar Racing Limited, Above has been given a few decent entries and hopefully, he can confirm his promise on Thursday. I imagine he won't be much of a price so another I might just watch instead of betting on. 

15:00 Chepstow 18 Jul 2019: 

Above won't have it all his own way because my second tracker in this race Swinley Forest has run two decent efforts himself. Thanks for reading and good luck.

Royal Ascot Daily Trixie 2019

The first day of Royal Ascot looks a cracking day, so after our first win on the Saturday Trixie we thought we would up our game and do a Trixie each day. 

Day 1: 15:05 Ascot 18 Jun 2019 Coventry Stakes Group 2 | Class 1 | 2YO only 

Craig: Threat made an impressive debut at Newmarket in May beating Electrical Call by two and three-quarter lengths. This Richard Hannon trained colt will be aiming to repeat that effort over an extra furlong. The Footstepsinthesand colt cost 100,000 gns and is currently rated 94. Well Of Wisdom won first timeout and was an unlucky loser in his last race when being hampered in a Newbury Conditions race before running on again. He was third that day with Fort Myers in second behind the Richard Hannon trained Temple of Heaven, to be honest, any of these three could have won that day. MONOSKI was second on debut to the highly rated Bomb Proof and confirmed that promise when beating the Brocklesby winner Show Me Show by a comfortable six lengths next time out. This Mark Johnston trained colt is currently rated 99 and looks each way value at 12/1. Arizona looks to be Aidan O'Brien's main hope with Ryan Moore in the saddle. Arizona was second to the highly rated Sunday Sovereign on debut back in May. This son of No Nay Never made no mistake next timeout when easily beating his stablemate King Of Athens who also runs here. Arizona could be special and it wouldn't surprise me to see him take this field apart, but is a bit short for me. 

14:30 Ascot 18 Jun 2019 Queen Anne Stakes 

Aaron: An intriguing race which sees last years 1st & 2nd do battle again, Accidental Agent won this last year at 33/1 and ran a good 3rd in the Lockinge last time out where he just lacked some pace, Lord Glitters 2nd last year finished 13/14 in the same race which isn’t his usual running for this likeable grey, these 2 along with Romanised who was 4th in the Lockinge could pick up a place or even cause an upset at double figure odds, Barney Roy a winner at the royal meeting in 2017 brings good form having just been beaten by Zaaki who has since won again, if he maintains his old form he could go close, at the top of the market comes more Lockinge form with Le Brivido, LAURENS and Mustashry, Le Brivido finished well to get 5th where he lacked a clear run, but he’s too short in the market for me, Mustashry the Lockinge winner in impressive fashion last time tracked the leaders then quickened clear to win by 2 1/2 lengths, plus he’s bringing in solid form from the Earl of Sefton where the first 4 home have all gone on to win next time out, but there are some questions to if he will handle the rain softened ground, my selection is the likeable mare LAURENS, she travelled well on her reappearance where she was just done for pace in the closing stages, but this winner of 4 G1’s last year is fully expected to come on for that run and I can’t have her out of the frame at 6/1. 

15:40 Ascot 18 Jun 2019 King's Stand Stakes

Sam: 1st and 2nd meet again in the battle of the speedsters. Last years winner Blue Point has been showing good form over in Meydan winning 3/3 race very comfortably. The course specialist seen out the 5f better than Battaash last year. However in the race last year Battaash used up a lot of petrol leading Kachy and Lady Aurelia which could have cost him the race. In his only race this year he traveled to post and through the race much better than he has done in previous race when he acts like a big kid. That day he had Mabs Cross 3 lengths behind it’s hard to see him reversing. Should he behave going to post and going into the stalls I think BATTAASH will take all the beating and that’s why he’s my selection for the King's Stand Stakes. 

Timeform Early Declaration Alert: 

19:20 Ripon 19 Jun 2019: Airbrush from the Richard Hannon yard, was entered for a Class 2 race but didn’t run. Purchased by Qatar Racing for a 145,000 Euros, will need a market check on debut. Thanks for reading, good luck.

Threat Heads to Royal Ascot and Gives My Tracker a 14/1 Winner

As the saying goes you wait forever for one bus then two come along, well the same can be said about my winning trackers this week when I had an alert for both Threat (pictured) and Dylan De Vega. In my last post, I wrote how Threat was entered in a Class 2 race at Ascot last week but passed the opportunity in favour of running in the four runner Class 3 Maiden Stakes at Newmarket on Sunday. 

I wasn’t going to have a bet on Sunday, to be honest, as I did a 22-mile training run in preparation for my up-and-coming marathon and couldn’t walk, but all the talk on Twitter about the 1000 Guineas gave me itchy feet and I miraculously felt good enough to walk to my local bookmakers. I had my eye on two for the Guineas, both Aidan O’Brien’s, but standing to wait for the off I still couldn’t decide and in hindsight, I should have done both but kept with my original selection Just Wonderful and, of course, the other O’Brien horse Hermosa made all and won impressively. 

I don’t normally back 2-year-olds in a four-runner race especially a 14/1 shot, but after missing out on a 2-year-old last week that I fancied I wasn’t letting it happen again, so I had a win bet on the Richard Hannon trained Threat, and it was back home to watch the race. My wife must have a sixth sense because she’s in and out all day, upstairs, downstairs but of course that exact minute the race is off she decides to come in and want a full-blown conversation with me, am well on to this by now and it’s yes and a shake of the head while one eye on the television, sorted. 

It’s been a quiet start for the Richard Hannon 2-year-olds this season with Temple Of Heaven the only one winning out of 14 runners at 11/4, so to expect a 14/1 debut winner against the experienced Electrical Storm and the Charlie Appleby newcomer Path of Thunder and to add to the mix the Balding outsider Spanish Angel. I wasn’t that confident, but a bit of market support for the Footstepinthesands colt give me some hope. 

Threat broke smartly and looked professional from the off with Tom Marquand settling him in before taking it up two furlongs out and staying on to win by just over 2-lengths. 

Get in! 

Threat you little beauty. 

Owners Cheveley Park Stud has a very nice colt on their hands here and looks like he could be heading to Royal Ascot, the Coventry Stakes could be the target and according to trainer Richard Hannon he will appreciate the step up to six furlongs. 

It goes to show sometimes you have to take a punt whatever the price.

Other trackers Dylan De Vega was entered to run in a Class 2 at Chester this week but took what looked an easier option, a Class 5 Novice Median Auction Stakes race at Beverley. The Richard Fahey trained Poet’s Voice Colt won by 3-lengths and also looks a nice prospect. No bet for me at the price but nice to see another tracker win. 

I did have another tracker Summer's Way but was a non-runner. 

Timeform Early Declaration Alert.  Not sure I can be as lucky as last week but I will be taking a closer look at these on Friday 10th May. 

6.00 Ripon: Birkenhead has had a busy start to the season and finished sixth In the Brocklesby first time out, I doubt I will be back this Mick Channon-trained Colt. 

10th May 

6.40 Wolverhampton: Ocasio Cortez, entered in a Class 2 earlier in the season but didn’t run, I imagine will have to improve a bit to win in what looks a good field. 

10th May 

2.00 Ascot: Aroha For the Brian Meehan yard who was also entered for a Class 2 race but didn't run, actually ran a good race to finish fourth on debut despite running loose and also slowly away. 

I will check the market before I decide if I am betting. 

Thanks for reading and good luck this week.

Magna Grecia Just to Good (Plus Reviews and Tips)

Reviews:

What a race, what a horse, what a trainer. As much as all of the social media chat crap about the draw bias at the end of the day the best horse won, but first I will make it short and sweet about my selection Al Hilalee. I thought I was in with a chance when I see he had been backed in from the early morning 16s to 8s at the off, but as the race unfolded William Buick was pushing away on him from the halfway stage and finished nearer last than first. 

The winner Magna Grecia (Pictured) from the all-conquering A O’Brien stable looks a class act and am sure we haven't heard the last of this son of Invincible. Just a quick mention for the one and only Aidan O’Brien who has managed to win this race for an unbelievable tenth time, but overall I only had a small each way so not much damage was done. 

I noted a couple of horses in the 4.20 at Goodwood and Qutob again failed to get his neck in front(actually got beat by a neck), the other was City Wanderer for the Mick Channon yard, I didn’t bet on him because when I looked early at the betting he was a 33/1 shot, so to my surprise when I looked at the results he ended up 8/1, even though he finished 5-lengths behind I will keep an eye out for his next run after that market move. 

The One That Got Away

I do love 2-year-old racing and even though I have rarely bet so far this season I always check the races to see if any movers. Karl Burke is worth looking out for when his horses are gambled on the second timeout so I was keeping a close eye on Insania in Thirsk's opener and I watched as she was backed in from 5s to 3/1 second favourite, did I back her?
No, I decided to leave her alone and watch her win by just over 2-lengths. It summed up my day really. 

The Saturday Trixie review: Week 2 Move over Hugh Taylor we have a new kid in town, well I wouldn’t go that far like but Aaron did the business again this week when Fusil Raffles won by nearly 3-lengths to give Aaron his second winner in a row, this was after both mine and Sam's selections disappointed again, we definitely need to raise our game next week. 

Timeform Early Declaration Alert 

As I only do a couple of posts a week I will put forward some of my early trackers, not saying I will back them this time or not but it’s worth checking them out at least. 

5th May 4.10 Newmarket: Threat was entered in a Class 2 at Ascot but never ran, worth a market check. 

6th May 1.55 Beverley: Dylan De Vega wasn’t fancied on debut but ran a good race to finish second, also had a Class 2 entry but never ran. 

6th May 2.50 Bath: Summer's Way Class 2 entry. 

Thanks for reading and good luck.