Not a bad day yesterday with Dalaalaat winning.
6:00 Newcastle -
Interesting. This is why you need to take note of Group Horse. It details potentially smart juveniles - before they have raced. Roger Charlton has a few nice prospects this season, especially the likes of Fashion's Star who we detailed on one of our 10 Dark Horse Mailings along with other gifted two-year-olds (most before debut). Headman has been on our radar for some time. This British-bred son of Kingman is out of a French-winning mare who raced just three times. Headman is definitely one of the better juveniles at Beckhampton House Stables. Most of Charlton's debutantes go well when starting favourite.
As I always say, there are few easy races. That point can be seen with another significantly entered horse in opposition. Repaupo has the advantage of two runs, setting the standard. This bay colt, a son of Quality Road, is owned and bred by George Strawbridge. Big odds-on backers may have shivers running down their spine as we reflect on his last defeat at 1/5f. The problem of betting prohibitive odds is that you can't really return from such a loss. Time may tell that he bumped into a rare talent in Tom Dascombe's Metatron who was fancied in the marked. Repaupo never looked like a winner that day and pushed along mid-division. By the time he found his stride, the winner had flown with Pegasus wings. Gosden's charge ran better on debut and he may simply have disappointed. There will be no excuses today.
Headman 8/13f 1st
Repaupo 15/8 2nd
Note: ''What did we say?'' Once again, Group Horse proves its class with an effortless less debut winner. Repaupo finishes second.
7:15 Wolverhampton -
Simon Crisford is a talented trainer. He is good at placing his juveniles. Aluqair was given a Class 2 Stakes race entry before his debut at Nottingham over 6f. This son of Kodiac run well considering he was hampered at the start. A touch of inexperience, too. The first four that day were clear of the fourth. Looks the type to put down a decent effort.
Aluquair 5/2 5th
Note: Well backed but ran a very disappointing race. Difficult to see in running but keen, which didn't help. I know riding a horse isn't easy but when going four wide on a turning course a Group Horse would struggle to win. A combination of factors details that this run is best forgotten. Much better than this which should be seen next time out.
1:30 Nottingham -
Aluqair has been noted by Simon Crisford. A recent Class 2 entry brings some confidence. This son of Kodiac cost £48,00 at the breeze-up sales.
Aluqair 6/1 4th
Note: A nice introduction.
2:30 Nottingham -
Michael Bell has seen a few decent two-year-olds come to hand this season. Eagles By Day is owned by Clipper Logistics and cost 125,000 guineas at the yearling sales. Probably a fair sign to have Jamie Spencer in the saddle. Bell isn't the easiest trainer to assess with debutantes. The best can win at the first time of asking. However, they can vary from one extreme to the other. Babbo's Bell is an example. Looked to be coming for money but drifted markedly in the betting and was in need of the run. With any juvenile making its racecourse bow at this time of the year, they may be in need of experience or the run. The betting is the best guide. If priced 13/2 & less SP would bring more hope.
Eagles By Day 7/1 2nd
Note: Note: A big drifter on the exchanges but a bit of money late. Ran a very nice race in second. A fair juvenile who has very good claims next start.
The only other entrant is Marcus Tregoning's Strindberg. He doesn't give many entries and this son of Sea The Moon was a huge price on debut when showing a bit of pace because dropping out of contention. Beaten a long way. Stepping up in distance but needs to transform from a caterpillar into a butterfly. The only interesting aspect is a price of 50/1. On balance, you'd have to take a watching brief and a result looks very unlikely.
Strindberg 50/1 4th
Note: Strindberg, once again, showed the worth of this information. Looked to have a lot to proved but well backed, returning 20/1. Was 200/1+ on the exchanges early. Ran well to finish 4th.
5:40 Kempton -
A good few horses of note here.
Buffalo River has shown a level of ability on all three starts. John Gosden is an excellent trainer and a very good judge. Punters who followed this son of Noble Mission on his last two starts have probably pulled their hair out by now. A crushing loss at 2/9f putting the cherry on the layers' cake. In truth, this horse has a fair level of ability. Whether you wish to bet at fractional odds-on after three losses is a matter of opinion.
Note: Drifted markedly in betting when very keen to post but ran out a tidy winner.
Richard Hannon is a fair judge with a vast string of two-year-olds. Ajrar is well entered. She won easily on debut by three lengths. Runner-up at Listed class. Two credible runs at Group 3. Then a disappointment when attempting Group 2. This daughter of Nayef needs to leave that last race behind her. There is always a fear she has regressed. In addition, she has to defy a win penalty which isn't easy against strong opposition. Ajrar has achieved an official rating of 94. Few horses get to that level. Interesting. I would have to take a watching brief.
Buffalo River 11/10f 1st
Ajrar 6/1 2nd
Note: Far from disgraced finishing second under a win penalty and against a talented colt. Drifted to over 16/1+ on exchanges before some late money.
6:10 Kempton -
Sir Michael Stoute has 10 significantly entered two-year-olds this season. Sovereign Grant has run twice and fancied to go well on both starts. She isn't the best looking filly. My brother noted this when at Great Yarmouth, where she disappointed at 4/6f. She wasn't beaten far into third. Has a chance but may have some limitation.
Sovereign Grant 15/8f 1st
Note: Won easily.