Tuesday's 2YO Update

A few races today. Big fields. Potentially smart 2yos.  

2:00 Catterick - 

Just the sole significant entry being Beechwood Izzy. Keith Dalgliesh's charge ran at Listed class last time out but finished last of twelve. This Irish-bred daughter of Dandy Man has to defy a winner's penalty. Ran creditably first and second start. 

2:10 Leicester - 

A big field of sixteen two-year-olds. A number of significantly-entered juveniles. Roger Varian's Impulsion won well on debut and since contested pattern class and far from disgraced. Although shouldering a win penalty, this bay filly is a decent horse who deserves respect. By all accounts, this is a marked drop in grade.

Richard Hannon's Canton Queen ran in a competitive Stakes race at Newmarket. A number of horses have franked the form. This daughter of Shamardal cost 110,000 guineas at the yearling sales. Interesting to consider whether this filly was fit and primed on debut as she wasn't beaten far [less than five lengths]. Also, she was prominent, which can take its toll if not completely fit. Not without some hope at 12/1. 

Michael Bell's two-year-olds are running well. Interesting that he has two fillies going here. Both have been identified as having ability. 

Just Be Friendly wasn't too fancied on debut at Newmarket when finishing last. However, that was a tough race. In addition, this daughter of Toronado was too keen, which is a disaster over 7f. This 60,000 guineas yearling purchase is owned by Bill Gredley. Not without some hope as I'm pretty sure she is a lot better than seen. If backed it would bring more confidence. 

Heartbreak Hotel is making her debut for respected owner Chris Wright.  This 110,000 guineas yearling has been noted and ridden by Hayley Turner. Priced 20/1. It isn't a surprise in a competitive race. Another filly who should be considered although will have to be pretty smart to beat some of these on her racecourse bow. 

Conclusion: An intriguing race. It doesn't look the easiest of affairs. Impulsion is a decent juvenile and even with a win penalty has claims. A few form horses have a chance from a statistical point of view. Also, Orchid Star, although not noted by the trainer, could go well. Canton Queen, Just Be Friendly & Heartbreak Hotel are all big prices but not without a hope. The latter will need to be very good to win this on debut but the other two have racecourse experience and that should see improvement on debut efforts. A race I would have to watch unless you fancy a speculative bet.

Salisbury - Abandoned

4:35 Salisbury - 

A course which attracts plenty of smart prospects. Certainly, that is the case for Simon Crisford's Jash who won with authority on debut at Newmarket. There was a lot of money for this son of Kodiac. This bay colt has to defy a win penalty but bookmakers are fearful of that first display and priced 8/15f. 

As always, there may be some opposition. Saeed bin Suroor has been better this two-year-old season than last but still rather up and down. Royal Meeting is a home-bred son of Invincible Spirit. A recent Class 2 entry gives some hope of ability.  

Conclusion: The betting suggests this is a two-horse race. Jash won easily on debut and even with a penalty deserves respect. If Crisford is hoping to go for group class, this should be a stepping stone to better things. Royal Meeting is difficult to assess. Bin Suroor can ready a debutant and get a few pound from the favourite but needs to be pretty smart to lower the colours of the jolly. 

4:50 Leicester - 

*Al Mureib is the sole entry here. 

5:05 Salisbury - 

A quick rundown of the significant entrants. 

William Haggas has a good string of juveniles. Hidden Message cost $150,000 at the yearling sales. This daughter of Scat Daddy races in the familiar silks of Qatar Racing Ltd. I always find Haggas slightly tricky to assess on debut. He can have winners although a few of his juveniles are better for the run. General statistics would suggest at 2/1 this filly is not great value. 

Sir Michael Stoute's King's Girl has been noted. She ran okay last time out when a beaten favourite. Definitely not one of the better two-year-olds in the stable.  

* NR

Friday's 2YO Update

I must apologise for a couple of quiet days. I'm in the USA so been very difficult to get online, think and work. 

Let's take a quick look at the races. 

2:05 Newmarket - 

A Novice Stakes over 7f on good to firm going. A big field with 17 runners and number well respected. 

Canton Queen trained by Richard Hannon.

Dandhu, trained by David Elsworth. Definitely one of the stable's better two-year-olds, although a small string. Ran well on debut and should be thereabout today. 

Andrew Balding is a talented trainer and *Hello Bangkok is held in some regard by connections King Power Racing Co Ltd. Ran well on debut, losing narrowly. Interesting and should run a big race. 

Ice Gala has received a significant entry and ran well on debut when third beaten less than one length. 

Simon Crisford doesn't have many two-year-old horses of significance but Imperial Charm is worthy of note. Debutantes are never the easiest of horses to assess although the trainer is a good judge and his better juveniles go well. 

Sir Michael Stoute has Layaleena, a debutante, who is a 130,000 guineas yearling purchase. Very few of their debutantes win over 7/1 SP. 

Conclusion: A competitive heat with a few talents on show. The debutantes will need to be very good and primed to win. The betting may well tell the story for Layaleena. If strong in the betting has decent claims. If weak, best watched. Imperial Charm has the ability to go well. Dandhu is one of the major hopes, especially if priced 13/2 & less. I'm pretty confident Elsworth rates this filly. She ran well on debut and the stable does well with two-year-olds on their second start. A similar thought can be afforded to Hello Bangkok. Balding likes this filly and she will go close. 

* NR

2:15 Ffos Las - 

Momkin has to fend off rivals by carrying a winning penalty but clearly held in high regard by Roger Charlton.   

3:15 Newmarket - 

Richard Hannon's Mordred sets a high standard for this race A straightforward colt. He has achieved an official rating of 91, which is plenty enough and more to win a normal race. Interesting to see Sir Michael Stoute has Sangarius going here. This son of Kingman is held in some regard. The stable can ready a debutante and they can go in at short odds. It will take a serious performance to lower the colours of Mordred in what looks like a two-horse race on betting.  

5:50 Salisbury - 

An auction stakes. These generally go to form horse and most likely to the favourite Flashcard who won in some style on debut at big odds [33/1]. Has to defy a winner's penalty but that is more likely in these restrictive race types than others. Bill Turner fields the only significant entrant in this field. John Betjemen is a sturdy sort who ran well on debut before disappointing. Come back after a long break, stepping up to 7f and didn't do much wrong. Dropping back to 6f shouldn't be a problem. I'm sure this colt wants decent going and may even benefit is it turned soft.