Preview & Reviews (14th May)

Friday 13th May York 

We all knew the date but I'm not superstitious at all and was in fact feeling lucky as my bet on Yahsat in the Listed Marygate Stakes at York was on. I did manage to get 8/1 each way on Thursday which I thought was a great price. The Karl Burke 2yo brought good form to the table, the yard was in tremendous form and that was good enough for me. The market didn't change throughout the day until Fix You was taken out, fuck a rule 4 straight off, the bad luck had started. I don't normally bet on this sort of race but felt surprisingly confident about Yahsat and come race time the filly was backed into 7/2, the favourite Miami Girl was a solid 9/4 chance for Richard Hannon and the other Karl Burke runner Pillow Talk had also been backed into fives, I wasn't really worried about Pillow Talk to be honest, big mistake.

A solid start by Yahsat who was out of the stalls well, up with the pace and tanking along, as the race was unfolding many of the fancied runners where under pressure and still Yahsat was going well enough, come on I shouted at the television, I was confident of a place at least and Clifford Lee had yet to ask her a question, I've got this I thought as he pushed the button on Yahsat and the Dandy Man's response was immediate as she quickened up in the style of a nice horse but Pillow Talk was also moving well and keeping up with Yahsat as they went head to head, toe to toe, both unwilling to give an inch until Pillow Talk finally stuck her neck out on the line and prevailed in an Impressive renewal of the Marygate Stakes with Karl Burke having the first and second, both look Royal Ascot bound and take nothing away from Yahsat here as this was a cracking run. A place at eights with a rule 4 is better than a kick in the crown jewels but what could have been but for Friday the 13th, unlucky for some! 

Eye-catchers

16.45 York Thursday 12th May 

Decent race this with Queen Olly a good winner for the David Loughnane team, could be a few future winners from this race but one that looked in need of the experience is the Andrew Balding and Qatar Racing owned Roaring Lion colt Thunder Cat who was backed into 9/2 at the off. The first runner for first season sire Roaring Lion was very slow away and had to play catch up for most of the race, Cieren Fallon certainly earned his money as he pushed Thunder Cat from the start to the finish as he passed beaten horses to eventually finish fifth. One to watch out for next timeout, especially as money came in late.

14.40 Sun 15 May Ripon

This is a race I'm not sure who I will bet on until nearer the time as a few of the top trainers with newcomers turn up, I will be looking at the market for clues, I mean Alice Haynes and Amo Racing aren't here for the day out, it's hard to get much of an angle with Alice as she's a new kid on the block with not many stats to get stuck into but hey what potential she has. Ti Amo Sempre is an 85,000 gns yearling and comes here with a nice pedigree. 

Tim Easterby has an acclamation colt Common Acclaim who cost 150,000 gns, pretty expensive but as I've mentioned before, not the best first out trainer, any market move could be significant.

Karl Burke is in fine form and runs Smooth Daddy colt Prince Nabeel, another market check with him. 

Richard Hannon turns up with the Middleham Park Racing owned Shouldvebeenaring who was strong in the market on debut at 4s, slowly away at Goodwood and plum last before making strong late headway towards the finish and should come on plenty here. 

Dukono for Richard Fahey was fifth on debut at Thirsk when sent off 9/1, the 52,000 gns yearling should improve here and Richard's last 2yos have both won when strong in the market. Does have a pretty decent record here so will be keeping a close eye on the Expert Eye colt.

Royal Mariner for James Tate, another who could improve for his debut race at Newmarket, that race had a bit of quality about it and with the winner Tajalla looking a decent sort for the Varian stable and the second Fragrance going on to score at Catterick, Royal Mariner should be winning himself soon. The No Nay Never colt was slowly away at Newmarket and outpaced but stuck to his guns, despite being beaten a few lengths, the jocking booking of James Doyle was a positive that day. James Tate has a decent record here with his second timeout 2yos and any support would also be a positive. Very interesting runner. 

One horse I have as a tracker is Gulmarg for trainer Simon Woods who was second to Yahsat in a race that has worked out very well with the third and fourth winning recently and Yahsat narrowly beaten in the Marygate yesterday in a pulsating finish with Pillow Talk. Gulmarg was quick into stride at Pontefract on debut and looked professional in his job, coming around the Pontefract bend Yahsat put the race to bed quickening up, all credit to Gulmarg who battled on to finish second. This could be more his company and can hopefully get his head in front. It's a tough one as I like Royal Mariner and Gulmarg, I'm leaning towards Gulmarg here and can hopefully get an each way bet on, if I have time I will update the blog tomorrow.

Thanks for reading and good luck. 

Previews & Reviews (13th May)

Ramazan gave the blog another winner this week at Beverley, next year I'm going to wait until I get a bit of an idea of the form instead of thinking I'm a pedigree expert and betting on debutantes. 

As I mentioned in my last post I'd bet each way on Ramazan at 5s and also done a small speculative each way on the Robert Cowell runner Miss Mai Tai, I was hoping she would attract serious money,  the money did come and she went off 10/1, in hindsight I should have cashed out but I always worry about making wrong decision like I have in the past, anyway I left it and her effort faded out when the going got tough. 

Ramazan was quicker away this time and raced prominent, with Hanagan in the hot seat I was pretty sure I would get a run for my money, still a touch green he was ridden two furlongs out to take up the running and did so when meeting the rising ground, Ramazan did have a battle but was always doing enough, get the fuck in! 

York 11 May 2022 

One I mentioned on twitter was Thunder Moor who was very well supported on debut and looked the likely winner until fading in the last furlong, the support that day made me think connections would have been disappointed Thunder Moor didn't win. That's what you have to look out for, strong support on debut and add to that a decent second timeout record. Thank God for best odds as Thunder Moor won easily and drifted to sevens, happy days!

Eye-catchers.

14:10 Beverley May 10 2022 

The one that caught my eye and probably everyone else's was the Kevin Ryan Kodiac colt Professor Pesca who was actually the overnight market leader at 7/2 until drifting the following morning. Drawn in 10 Professor Pesca jinked to the left coming out the stalls and lost ground, Kevin Stott gradually gained ground and once he met the rising ground was finishing best of all but all too late in the day. Pretty sure a win won't be long coming.

13:45 Musselburgh May 9 2022 

Not sure how good the race is yet but Karl Burke does rate the winner Cathy Come Home, the one that caught my eye was the Ian Jardine colt Finn Russell who was slightly slowly away on his debut, blocked in and struggling for a gap two furlongs out until switching inside and running on very well, definitely has a small race in him. 

13.45 Lingfield May 3 2022

Lingfield isn't the easiest place and especially when 2-year-olds are making their debut, The Queens colt Garner looks one to keep on the right side of in what was an eye-catching debut at the track. Pretty steady in the market at 3s, the son of Recorder was half asleep coming out  the stalls and was bustled along by Ryan Moore, in contrast the eventual winner Lucy Lightfoot had flown and never getting caught, it was all about a learning experience for Garner as Ryan tried to educate him around the bends, once he hit the last furlong the penny dropped and he found another gear but all to late.

(Just to note about my eye-catchers I won't be backing them blind, other things like the opposition, ground conditions, you know what I mean).

York 13.50 Friday 13 May 

This looks a great race with plenty of potentially nice horses for the future, it would take forever going through and times getting on. Definitely not the sort of race I would bet in, my style is to find a winner at a smaller meeting then leave them alone, but I can't leave Yahsat here as the Karl Burke two-year-old has done me plenty of favours just through her form line. The Dandy Man filly beat JM Jungle and Ramazan last timeout and both have gone on to score for me, even her debut race is one with a couple of winners when she was beaten by Richard Hannon's Powerdress at Newmarket last month with Lost Angel and Lucy Lightfoot both winning since. The forms decent but who knows against this field. I'm no time specialist so I wouldn't really know about that either. 

I'm not going mad here so a small each way at 8s and hope for the best with Yahsat. 

The early favourite is Miami Girl who also looks a nice type for Richard Hannon and could be anything really but given a good rating and sectionals by some better judges than me.

14:20 Thirsk May 2022 

A few nice looking newcomers in this plus a few with experience. Bryan Smart sent out Cotai Pearl at Musselburgh last month and was only beaten by the odds on Jungle Time who runs in the Marygate today. That was a nice run and will be up there at the business end of the race I'm sure. 

I'm hoping for an each way price on the Kevin Ryan trained Flying Barty, I'm probably asking a bit much here but you never know. It's been a bit of a slow start for Kevin's 2yos but Thunder Moor winning the other day and Catch The Paddy coming second yesterday he's hitting form at the right time. Flying Barty was pretty well fancied going off 5/1 at Newmarket for her debut, Kevin Stott held her up but she seemed to struggle handing the dip before staying on again, the form looks decent and I'm hoping for a big run here. Doesn't have the best strike rate at the course and over 10s would be a negative. 

Other trackers to note: 

19:10 Doncaster Sat 14 May 

Double O  trained by David Loughnane.

15:35 Newmarket Sat 14 May 

Mawj trained by Saeed Bin Suroor.

16:10 Newmarket Sat 14  May 

Princess D'Or trained by Charlie Appleby.

Thanks for reading. 

Craven Meeting 2022 (Newmarket 13.15 April 12th)

It's the start of the Craven meeting and we have a beauty of a 2yo fillies novice race here to get stuck into, as you could see by my last attempt at predicting the winner these early newcomer races are not my cup of tea but I will have another go at trying to get a place at least!

1: Bojink

Trained by George Boughey who ran Paddy Brunty on Saturday at Thirsk who finished down the field, also ran Coraje last month who finished third on debut. Decent trainer who can prepare one first timeout. Dam Tahoo was a decent performer for Karl Burke and owners Nick Bradley Racing 19, won first timeout as a 2yo over five furlongs and another three times in a short career.

Bojink is a full-sister to Galileo Glass who was trained by Joseph Parr, won over six furlongs and again over a mile. The Nick Bradley owned filly has the services of William Buick. The previously trained George Boughey Forca Brasi colt won at Newmarket first timeout last season.

Craig's key stat: William Buick has a 50 percent win strike rate over five furlongs when riding for George Boughey.

2: Cloud Flyer

Trained by George Boughey and owned by Mr O. Oulton. A 20,000 gns foal and 18,000 gns yearling picked up at the Somerville Sales. Dam never did much for trainer Brian Meehan before moving to America. Nothing exciting from the offspring to date.

3: Dreaming Princess 

David Loughnans first 2yo of the season. Owners Amo Racing. David and owners Amo have worked well together in the past with 2yos, Fearless Angel won first timeout last July (11/4) and Go Bears Go who again won first timeout this time at Ascot in May (6/1). Dam Lisiere won twice in her career over six furlongs (good/soft ground). The 13 yo has produced 3 winners out of four offspring, none first time out or over the minimum distance. A 60,000 gns purchase.

4: Family Ties 

Trainer David O'Meara has already had a 2yo winner with Star Of Lady M and runs Expert Eye filly Family Ties here for familiar owners Clipper Logistics who have combined to have a few nice 2yos over the years including Leodis Dream, Forced Entry, Love Interest and Midheaven. Dam Savannah's Dream was a nice 2yo for David O'Meara back in 2016, third on debut at Ripon then ran an unbelievable race to finish second in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot when a 100/1 shot. Family Ties is a half-sister to the Kevin Ryan and Clipper Logistics owned Ballet Steps who won first timeout as a 2yo last season at Beverly when made 5/4 favourite for his debut. Nice looking type who has won again this season. 

Craig's key stat: Over a six year period David's has a 27 percent win strike rate in April with his 2yos. 

5: Flying Barty 

The Starspangledbanner filly is trained by Kevin Ryan and owned by Chasemorefarm & Seymour Bloodstock. A half-sister to Boonie who was owned by Seymour Bloodstock and won first timeout at Beverly last season and went on to finish third in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot. Dam Dice Game was unraced.

6: Lost Angel

A 150,000 gns purchase at the October Yearling Sales out of book 2 for the Clive Cox team. The Dark Angel filly is owned by Atlantic Equine. A full-sister to San Andreas who won over six furlongs as a 2yo on his second run for Joseph O'Brien in 2018 and has now won over £63.000 in prize money, also a sister to Maggie's Angel who won first timeout over five furlongs for Richard Fahey and finished second in the Hilary Needler Trophy. Dam Last Bid was a decent filly for Tim Easterby winning three times as a 2yo.

Craig's key stat: Clive Cox has a fifty percent win strike rate with his first timeout 2yos in April over a six year period. 

7: Lucy Lightfoot

Trained by Stuart Williams and was purchased for £20,000 as a yearling. Could it be significant that Stuart Williams and the owners of Lucy Lightfoot introduced Desert Dreamer in this race last season who won at 25/1? Desert Dreamer went on to have an excellent season running in pattern races for most of the season. The Oasis Dream filly definitely deserves a win after being placed in multiple pattern races. Lucy Lightfoot is a half-sister to two winners, Cloak And Dagger and Rue Bonaparte. 

8: Powerdress

Richard Hannon unleashes a 130,000 gns yearling here owned by Mr Martin Hughes who had part owned a few nice types with Richard including Gisburn who won second timeout last season at Newbury and System who won a Listed race here last season. A half-sister to Danielsflyer, a nice type for Michael Dods. 

Craig's key stat: Richard Hannon has a 3 percent win strike rate at Newmarket with his first timeout 2yos over a six year period. 

9: Radio Goo Goo 

David Evans trained 50,000 gns Havana Grey yearling. A half-sister to Ben Haslem trained Millionaire Waltz who won five times over further. Dam Radio Gaga won first timeout as a 2yo over six furlongs for trainer Ed McMahon back in 2011.

10: Yahsat 

Karl Burkes first 2yo of the season. The Dandy Man filly cost 70,000 gns as a yearling and is owned by Mr Saeed Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi. Yahsat is a full-sister to the William Haggas trained Royal Address who took a few runs to get going then rattled off a hatrick of wins, the last a Listed race in France, since moved yard. Yahsat is also a half-sister to the Richard Fahey trained Straits Of Moyle, another who needed the experience before getting his head in front.

I will update this tomorrow closer to race time.

Thanks for reading and good luck.