Friday's 2YO Update

1:30 Ascot - 

Finoah
I'Letyouknow 
Swiper 

Finoah is determined but keeps getting beat. I'Letyouknow has been beaten favourite on both starts to date. Open to further improvement. Swiper finished second last time out. 

1:50 Haydock - 

Sparkle Roll 

An expensive 750,000 yearling purchase. Strongly fancied in the betting. Gosden has a decent string of two-year-olds and they often go well when favourite. 

 2:05 Ascot - 

Prince Eiji 
Red Armada

Roger Varian's juveniles are running well and Prince Eiji is definitely one of the best in the stable. This 2,600,000 guineas yearly cost an arm and a leg and held in high regard. Debutantes are difficult to assess at times but this one could go well on his first start. An each-way price may give a little more room to play with. 

Red Armada wasn't overly fancied in the betting on debut and finished fourth of six. A huge price here at 25/1. Needs to improve but not impossible. Would give greater encouragement if backed. 

2:25 Haydock - 

*Hidden Message

William Haggas has a decent string of juveniles and they have been running well. Hidden Message cost $150,000 at the yearling sales. 

* NR

4:25 Musselburgh - 

Sky Defender

Sky Defender is a very capable horse who ran well on debut at Goodwood when narrowly foiled. There must have been an issue at York when competing in the Convivial Maiden Stakes. If back to best has strong claims here. 

6:15 Kempton - 

Sam Cooke 

Ralph Beckett's two-year-olds have been putting in some nice performances of late with a few decent winners. I actually missed Frangrant Bell who won on debut. Sam Cooke has been given a similar entry. This bay colt wasn't the most expensive at 36,000 euros but interesting from a low draw. 

Artois doesn't have any significant entries but from a statistical point of view has respectable win and place claims.    

6:45 Kempton -

Almufti
Albert Finney

Hugo Palmer isn't having the best of seasons with his two-year-olds. Blonde Warrior is about as good as they get. Almufti hasn't been seen for over two months. This son of Toronado has been fancied on both starts. He was far too keen last time out at Newcastle. There may have been a few problems along the way because it's a lengthy absence. Stepping up in distance so will need to settle. 

Albert Finney was on our 10 Dark Horse mailing. One of few to disappoint. Two races haven't seen too much potential although relatively fancied on both starts. The 25/1 odds suggests something isn't quite happening. This homebred has the hood applied no doubt with the thought of finding the key to ability. Be nice to see this horse show a little bit more. Time will tell. 

7:15 Kempton - 

Imperial Charm 
Dandhu 
Short Skirt
Desirous 

As you can see, plenty of well-entered two-year-olds going here. A fascinating race. For each-way punters, it is a shame this isn't three places. Imperial Charm and Dandhu ran in the same race at Newmarket. It was a competitive heat and there wasn't a great deal between the pair in third and fourth place respectively. The former trained by Simon Crisford is one of the stable's better two-year-olds. Dandhu is definitely in the top two of David Elsworth's youngsters. He does very well at this course. This daughter of Dandy Man is a burly type. She didn't get a very good start at Newmarket and Mosse seemed very slow to get her in contention, which cost her dear in the closing furlong. I think she would have gone close to winning. She does seem to be a little tardy from the stalls which doesn't help. Potentially this could be a problem on this turning course. I suspect she will run off the pace and maybe bigger odds in running if you bet on the exchanges. 

Imperial Charm is a decent horse and I wouldn't knock her. In fact, from a low draw, she may well lead and could make valuable lengths over the likes of Dandhu. I can see Crisford instructing front-running tactics. I could be a battle with Dandhu at the line. 

This is a competitive race. 

Short Skirt has proven she is no slouch with three seconds to date. Eve Johnston-Houghton's charge has been beaten less than two lengths on all starts. She has cheekpieces applied and stepping up to seven furlongs for the first time. 

To add to the dilemma Ralph Beckett fields Desirous. This daughter of Kingman was well fancied on debut but disappointed. The going description of good may have hidden the fact it was slow ground. The time being 5 seconds slow indicates some ease. I would imagine connections expected much better. I think this filly is well respected in the stable and could well improve on this second start. 

Conclusion: Pity this race is so competitive. A few hidden dangers make it a tricky affair, especially with just six runners. I like Dandhu but there is just a little too much going on for me. I can see her touching much bigger odds in running but that will be an obstacle to overcome. Pretty sure Imperial Charm will lead and try to hang on. Short Skirt is able. While Desirous is probably much better than most imagine. A watching brief. A good few winners will come from this race so I may just hope one or two look disappointing for future bets.

Take a look at a bet we advise today

Thursday's 2YO Racing Update

1:40 Newmarket - 

This looks an ideal opportunity for Amy Murphy's Happy Odyssey. This bay daughter of Camacho may have been a cheap breeze-up purchase at just £14,000. However, this April foal was half fancied in the betting when finishing a creditable second to Country Rose who is sharp over five furlongs. She isn't much of a price but a recent Listed race entry gives some confidence. The stable have a couple of talented two-year-olds to give some measure. 

2:20 Nottingham - 

Richard Hughes has done a little better with this season's two-year-old string although he never fills me with confidence. Swiss Pride showed a glimmer of ability o debut, running on after a slow start. He is a willing type who battled when runner-up against The Last Party. Shame this is a seven-runner race for each-way bets. Should go well. 

2:30 Newcastle - 

Amadeus Grey made his debut at York when ''never dangerous''. He was quite fancied at Wetherby stepping up in distance and down in class. A creditable effort that day when second best. Could well start this at odds-on. 

Mark Johnston's Aisling is no talent and one significant entry sometime back details a horse who is heading toward handicaps. She steps up in distance. Interesting to consider whether this is a plus or minus. The only thing I would say about this filly is that she hasn't had much go right in all three races so far: pulling too hard and then pushed far too wide last time out. 

3:05 Newcastle - 

Hugo Palmer hasn't set the world alight this season with his juveniles but there is still time to make his mark. Almufti cost 120,000G at the yearling sales and pretty strong in the betting on debut when starting at 3/1. This good-looking colt traveled well but tired in the closing stages. That was a very competitive debut, in a race worth over £30,000. I would expect a big run. Perhaps worthy of an interest if touching each way prices. 

6:30 Hamilton - 

Port Of Leith has been consistent although beaten on three start. The only horse to be given a significant entry.