Charlie Appleby: Another Exceptional Season...

Newmarket trainer Charlie Appleby has had another exceptional season with his 2-year-olds. 

This is the first part of his season review plus a couple of horses worth keeping an eye out for in the future. 

One horse stands out of course but I will get to him soon enough. Charlie started this season with a bang having five winners out of his first ten 2-year-old runners. 

Well Of Wisdom was his first win of the season at Newmarket. The Oasis Dream colt looked to be the second string of the Godolphin pair as they also had Full Verse in the race but Well Of Wisdom stayed on well to win on his debut. Well Of Wisdoms highlight of the season was winning the Listed Prix Roland De Chambure at Longchamp and gaining some black type to go with the 26,786 euro prize money. 

Pinatubo

Charlie Appleby's next winner looked every bit a superstar and he’s a horse that got everybody talking. Pinatubo was born on the 11th March 2017. The Shamardal colt was made 3/1 second-favorite for his debut race at Wolverhampton's evening meeting back in May. Little did we know at this stage that he would be mentioned in the same breath as the great Frankel in months to come. It was a professional and easy victory for his first race of the season and his second race was just as easy when winning the Woodcote at Epsom, but could he produce the same effort when he moved up another level? Well, we found out when Pinatubo demolished a decent field in the Chesham Stakes at Ascot. After another easy win in the Group 2 Vintage Stakes at Goodwood I wrote a post about promising Pinatubo and the mighty Frankel: Can Pinatubo Match the Might of Frankel? 

I don’t think we will ever see another Frankel but at the time Pinatubo looked unbeatable and so it proved for the rest of the season when adding the National Stakes and Dewhurst Stakes to what was already an impressive first season. 

Can Pinatubo be as good next season? 

I really hope so and can't wait to see him out again. Saying that he still has to keep that level up to be in the same league as Frankel. 

That leads me on to my first two Charlie Appleby horses to follow. 

The first is the well-thought-of EASTERN WORLD. The Dubawi colt was given a Group 2 Champagne Stakes entry back in August but didn’t run and it’s interesting he has early entries for the Irish 2000 Guineas and the Irish Derby next season. He was declared to run on Wednesday at Kempton in what looks a decent field with some big yards in the mix.

Another 2-year-old who made a favorable impression on me is the Dubawi filly DECLARING LOVE.

It's been a while since we saw the Godolphin homebred in fact the Dubawi filly has not run since making her debut in a hot Novice race at Newmarket in May. 

That was a nice introduction without pushing Declaring Love, she was only beaten by the impressive Group winners Raffle Prize and Daahyea and the fact she was given plenty of significant entries since that race and also has early entries for the Irish Oaks and the Irish 1000 Guineas next season means she could be horse not to take lightly in 2020. 

Thanks for reading and look out for my next Charlie Appleby season review plus a couple more horses to follow.

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.

Dry July (Plus Reviews)

I know people do dry January when they give up alcohol for the month but me I am doing dry July and giving up backing winners for the month. Joking aside when you see the betting bank going down week in week out it's time to start worrying but I trust in my trackers and I feel a winning streak is just around the corner. Before I get to my Saturday trackers, I posted a few on Twitter on Friday that I wouldn't be betting on but would be watching with interest for future bets. 

Al Suhail 2nd: 

Fantastic run from this expensive Charlie Appleby colt who was beaten a neck by Al Madhar. The Richard Hannon winner was impressive and looks a serious colt for the future as for Al Suhail I thought he ran a great race, and we will hear a lot more about this Dubawi colt in the future am sure. (No Bet) 

Dulas 6th (Pictured):

A 66/1 shot in the morning this Charlie Hills colt was well-supported and backed into 33/1. Dulas was entered for the Group 2 Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot but never ran and according to @paddockinspector (worth a follow as always gives great information) looked like he wasn't fully fit so considering that, he ran a great race to finish sixth and I will be looking out for him next timeout. (No Bet) 

Tammani Unp: 

William Haggas trained Make Believe colt was another big price who was given a nice introduction and I will be keeping in my trackers (No Bet) 

Galactic Glow 5th: 

One of my horses to follow was a major disappointment in the 14.05 at York. I really thought this William Jarvis colt would give Spartan Fighter something to think about but trailed in a well beaten last. (Win Bet)

Friday: 

Galactic Glow 5/1 5th 
Al Suhail 6/4 2nd 
Dulas 33/1 6th 
Tammani 33/1 8th 

Saturday bets on early before I went out for the day. 

I had an each way bet on Tiritomba who finished last. Another each way bet on Atlantic Crossing who was a non-runner but the way my luck is lately I call that a winner. 

I really fancied Manigordo in the 14.15 at Ascot and had a win bet early on, so I was pretty disappointed to see this Richard Hannon colt get beat a neck at the finish. 

My last tracker was the impressive Dr Simpson who confirmed that she is a lovely filly when easily winning by 7-lengths in the Chester opener. The Tom Dascombe trained Dandy Man filly was available at evens before the off. 

Saturday: Tiritomba 8/1 7th 
Atlantic Crossing NR 
Manigordo 4/1 2nd 
DR SIMPSON EV 1ST 

The Saturday Trixie Review: 

Well, I said I hoped we could get one winner this week but at the cost I wish we hadn't. Sams selection Beat The Bank suffered a fatal injury when winning the summer mile for the second year running and is a sad loss to all connections involved with this amazing horse. As for my selection Wild Thunder he was well and truly put in his place in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket. Aaron's selection Burnt Sugar finished stone last in the Bunbury Cup. 

Timeform Early Declaration: 

17:00 Longchamp (France) 14 Jul 2019: Well Of Wisdom 
18:00 Windsor 15 Jul 2019: Fleeting Prince 
18:30 Windsor 15 Jul 2019: Cool Sphere 

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.