A Quick Look At My Last Post (14th September)

Quick look at my last post. First off was SHARVARA for Richard Hannon, the Kingman colt ran a decent race to be third but couldn’t land a blow with the front two, pretty sure Sharvara will be picking up a win soon enough. WANEES looks the business for Charlie Hills after what was a decent win at Ascot. A perfect ride by Dane O'Neill saw the La Havre colt make his challenge in the last furlong staying on well to win a touch cosy. Nice to get a win on the board. My next tracker was a bit of a mystery and a disappointment to be honest. I did have a decent bet at 5/1 the night before on the Karl Burke trained HYPERSONICAL who is well thought of at Spigot Lodge. I felt confident of a top three finish at least but was soon counting my losses as the Kingman colt never got involved and finished stone last. I’m still scratching my head over this one, interesting to see how the market speaks next time out but I will be very wary betting again after that run. BOUQUET won nicely and my other tracker in the race CANTERBURY BELL is better than that display and one to keep an eye out for. 

14:25 Sandown 15 Sep 2021 

Definitely not a race to get too heavily involved in with plenty of newcomers from the top yards turning up. A couple of trackers in this so I will just mention them. CABRAKAN did me for a few quid last time out when involved in a good old ding dong finish. The Richard Hannon trained Divine Prophet colt was a 20/1 shot that day and I actually thought I had it but Cabrakan was bumped at a crucial moment and that was the end of that, at least I got my each way money after finishing third. He could have more on his plate here with some nicely bred newcomers but if they disappoint this could be the chance to break his duck, really not sure if I will bet as it’s a tough little race. Next tracker is a newcomer and likely to be an outsider here but EXECUTIVE POOL could be worth checking out further on down the line for trainer Gary Moore. 

14:55 Sandown 15 Sep 2021 

I have three trackers here which always gives me a problem. ATHEBY sets the standard here for Jane Chapple-Hyam after finishing fifth here in the Betway Solario Stakes last month. Interesting to see how he goes here. The Richard Hannon trained Time Test colt HOLIDAY was certainly thrown in at the deep end in the Denford Stakes at Newbury last month, that’s a sign that Richard does like this colt. It was a big ask and after being up with the pace Holiday soon weakened, should be more at home here. This next tracker is DAYMAN who was heavily backed for his debut at Windsor last month but was disappointing, I have watched that race a few times and as much as I want to have a speculative each way here it’s hard to make a case for the David Loughnane colt after he finished well back on debut, David does rate this colt and that’s the only reason I may have a small bet. It’s a difficult race to be positive about any with a few newcomers also added to the mix. 

13:40 Yarmouth 15 Sep 2021 

Doesn’t get any easier here, seems to be one of those days when all races look tough. A couple of trackers again with plenty of newcomers with nice pedigrees. I will concentrate on my trackers only. ALVEDISTON wears a first time hood here for trainer William Haggas. The New Bay colt was well-supported on debut at Newbury last month. The colt was up with the pace but faded the final furlong, I say faded but looked eased down to me. I would expect him to come on for that run but this could be a strong race. If I can get an each way price I’m going to give Alvediston another chance. VINTAGE FASHION is my other tracker who I imagine will be a big price for Mark Johnston. Thanks for reading and good luck on a tough day.

Saturday's Horse Racing News (4th September)

Today was an improvement from Thursday when all of the trackers ran well. First was the Michael Bell trained IMPROVISE who opened up at 6/1 on Thursday night, I was on the Iffraaj filly like a shot, actually touched around 15/8 before drifting back out. I was a bit worried when the O’Meara filly Smiling Jayne started to shorten in the betting and even more worried as she came with a late rattle to nearly chin Improvise on the line. That was a decent performance from Smiling Jayne and one to look out for. A great start to the day for me with Improvise winning. Next up was Leuven Power who was also well-supported for trainer Roger Varian. I took 5s each way and watching the race I thought my money was well down the pan as he was ridden for most of the race but managed to stay on to grab third. My other tracker Designer ran a cracker to finish second. Last but not least was the odds on favourite SNAFFLES who ran out an impressive winner in Ireland. 

14:15 Thirsk 04 Sep 2021 

The Richard Hannon trained Kingman colt SHARVARA ran in the Convivial Stakes class 2 race at York last month which is always a good indicator. Owned by Middleham Park and bought for 116,000 euros at the Arqana Breeze Up Sale. Sharvara was easy to back for his debut race when sent off a 20/1 shot. I personally thought this was a cracking debut and Sharvara knew his job when looking professional, it was only the final half furlong when the front three had flown he was eased by Ryan Moore, I’m pretty sure Sharvara has more to give but the only negative here is Charlie Appleby turns up with newcomer Mythical Dancer. Sharvara is around 4s at the time of writing. 

14:50 Thirsk 04 Sep 2021 

I don’t need to tell anyone how I love a Karl Burke second timeout 2yo and he turns up with one here. I have already taken the plunge at 5s each way which hopefully is the right decision, if HYPERSONICAL drifts then I will be in the shit. The Kingman bay colt was purchased at the Craven Breeze Up Sales for 335,000 gns and owned by John and Jess Dance. I’m pretty sure we haven’t seen the best of the Kingman colt after being bumped at the start on his debut at Haydock and losing plenty of ground. Hypersonical was eased into the race but couldn’t make up the ground he lost at the start. That was a pretty hot race and he should be more at home here. Hypersonical is 4s at the time of writing. 

14:00 Ascot 04 Sep 2021 

The odds on favourite Alotaibi will obviously take all the beating here for John Gosden but I will take him on with the Charlie Hills trained WANEES who cost 325,000 gns. Alotaibi beat Wanees by a good few lengths at Newbury when they met last month. The Le Havre colt travelled smoothly but jockey Jim Crowley seemed to give him an educational ride and Wanees wasn’t given a hard time, I’m hoping with the weight he gets plus a stronger ride will see Wanees can come home in front and go on to better things. 

14:35 Ascot 04 Sep 2021 

Two trackers. 

BOUQUET trained by John Gosden. 

CANTERBURY BELL Trained by William Haggas. Thanks for reading and good luck.

Author: Craig Newton

Thursday/Friday's 2yo Racing (12th August)

Plenty of trackers have come through for the next few days so will do a quick update, some are first time out so I will always be careful betting. The 2-year-old races Friday look pretty tough with the top yards all involved but hey we can only try. 

17:00 Leopardstown (IRE) 12 Aug 2021

First one is unraced from the Joseph O’Brien yard. SNAFFLES is a pretty cheap purchase which cost 11,000 euros at the 2020 Autumn Yearling Sale. Snaffles comes from a decent family including Libranno who was trained by Richard Hannon Snr back in 2010 and had a smart 2-year-old career, also a half-brother to Unforgettable also trained by Joseph and won second timeout. At the minute it looks like a pretty open market so I will chance an each way on Snaffles at 5/1 and hope he is ready to go first time out but as I said whatever he does tomorrow he should improve for the run. Any big drift would be a negative. 

13:07 Newbury 13 Aug 2021

Looks a great race with plenty of well-bred newcomers. I have three trackers here: A La Francaise, Sassy Rascal and the one I will take a chance on. I mean I may need my head testing but I thought KINDNESS didn’t run too bad considering she was green as grass and met trouble in running. I could be way off the mark but it’s only money. The No Nay Never filly is trained by Ed Walker and ridden by Oisin Murphy again in the colours of familiar owner David Ward. As I said plenty of nice types but a small each way for me. 

13:40 Newbury 13 Aug 2021

It doesn’t get any easier, I may sit this one out and watch but William Haggas does rate ALVEDISTON. The 2-year-old colt is owned by another familiar owner in the name of Mr James Wigan. Not much to go on apart from the betting but if over 8s it will be a negative. One to keep an eye out for whatever happens Friday.

14:10 Newbury 13 Aug 2021

Three trackers.

EDUCATOR. Trainer William Haggas.

SPACE COWBOY. Trainer Richard Spencer. 

WANEES. Trainer Charlie Hills.

A watching brief for me but all worth looking out for this season. 

18:08 Newmarket 13 Aug 2021

Another watching brief but the same applies, all worth looking out for. 

CABRAKAN. Trainer Richard Hannon. 

COROEBUS. Trainer Charlie Appleby. 

SPLENDENT. Trainer Paul Cole. 

17:53 Thirsk 13 Aug 2021

The race GREEN TEAM made his debut in was a pretty decent contest so this should be more to the Wootton Bassett colts liking. The Kevin Ryan colt wasn’t fancied on debut going off 14/1. The £55,000 purchase is owned by Ahmad Al Shaikh. I thought Green Team looked pretty professional on debut and only tired late on. Over 40 days off the course and a run under his belt should see Green Team in the thick of things here. 

Time is getting on so I will just note down a few more trackers worth looking at.

18:23 Thirsk 13 Aug 2021

FORGIVABLE. Trainer Tim Easterby.

SHERDIL. Trainer Karl Burke.

13:15 Nottingham 13 Aug 2021

SNOOZE N YOU LOSE. Trainer Karl Burke. 

Thanks for reading and good luck. 

Author: Craig Newton