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

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.