Friday's 2YO Update

 2:00 Chester - 

Andrew Balding does well at Chester and always worth noting when in the ownership of J C Smith. Indomitable is a bay colt who has been beaten narrowly in both starts to date. His latest start, finishing second in the Convivial Maiden Stakes, was a great result and worthy favourite for connections. 

Indomitable  



3:25 Sandown - 

Quite an interesting race. 

Ed Dunlop doesn't have that decent string of juveniles but Venedgar is a consistent horse who has achieved an official rating of 83. This determined son of Dubawi has been beaten by a couple of smart Gosden two-year-olds. 

John Gosden may be a thorn in Venedgar's side because of Kosciusko has been noted by connections. 

Wojood is interesting. Hugo Palmer's charge is one of few two-year-olds to gain a significant entry but disappointed almost a month ago. Something went amiss at Newmarket. Could go well at odds of 22/1. At that price, is worthy as a speculative each-way wager. 

Note: Wojood was a big price and too keen. I don't think connections was too concerned with disappointing today and if getting a low handicap mark will be winning. This horse needs to kerb its temperament but that should happen sooner rather than later.  

4:00 Salisbury -

Simon Crisford's Jash won well on debut. This son of Kodiac was well backed and cruised to a four-and-a-half length victory. The form of that race has been franked. This smart prospect was meant to race at this course but it was abandoned due to a chaffer grub infestation. Has to defy a win penalty which makes life harder. 

4:35 Salisbury - 

Hugo Palmer has Red October going here. This son of Dawn Approach cost 50,000 guineas at the yearling sales. Palmer can go well with his debutantes and should run a race. 

4:40 Doncaster - 

Saeeb bin Suroor has done better this season than last. He is still rather hit and miss and something of a poor relation to Charlie Appleby. However, Royal Marine may be worth a second glance. This home-bred son of Raven's Pass was fancied on debut at Newmarket but looks to have disappointed behind Jash who is decent two-year-old. Royal Marine looks one of the better-entered juveniles and has win and place claims at 6/1. 

Note: Once again proved correct. Royal Marine detailed on one of our two 10 Dark Horse mailing lists. Failed on debut - wins easily the second start after drifting markedly in the betting. It doesn't get any better than this. Group Horse Knows!  

Ralph Beckett has been going well of late with a couple of winners and debutants who have shown ability [Fragrant Bell & Sam Cook]. James Park Wood is intriguing. Beckett can win on debut and this son of Australia who cost 190,000 guineas has received a significant entry. The way his debutantes have gone of late could well hit the frame. 

Saturday's 2YO Update

Just the one race of interest:

6:15 Lingfield - 

An EBF Novice Stakes over 7 1/2f  on good going.  Nine two-year-olds take part. All have race experience. 

A couple of these are worth a second glance. Global Warning is one of the best juveniles in the stable. This bay colt is a son of Poet's Voice out of a twice-winning mare. This April foal wasn't fancied on debut at 25/1 but showed promise. Gerald Mosse is retained by Dr Johnny Hon. Global Warning cost 155,000 guineas at the yearling sales. The form of that debut has worked out pretty well. However, I suspect this colt will improve significantly for his racecourse bow. Whether you want to take short odds is another matter. The tissue price details 11/10f. I wouldn't knock the chance of this horse because I think he is very likely to prevail. 

The other horse of interest is David Simcock's *Wiretrap. This son of Charm Spirit has been gelded since his first start at Great Yarmouth. I'm pretty sure the stable expected this bay to go well. There was good money for this horse, who adorned the second colours that day for Qatar Racing Ltd. That was the race John Gosden sent out Legends Of War who won impressively. That juvenile has proven to be Group class. A very expensive breeze-up purchase at 900,000 guineas. 

Wiretrap didn't achieve anything on debut. A slow start put pay to any real hope. However, his attitude looks a touch suspect and no doubt the gelding operation has been taken with hope of improvement.

This step up in distance may help. The 81- day absence may be a positive or a negative. The betting will most likely tell the story. If priced 13/2 & less SP this gelding has very good win and place claims. If outside this betting guide it would most likely be a negative. 

Conclusion: I would let the betting settle before getting involved. It could well tell the story for Wiretrap. In truth, Global Warning looks a tough horse to beat. The stable rate this colt and should go well. If Wiretrap is in the best betting guide, he has very good claims and may be a threat. If considering betting each way you may be wise to bet a point on these two as a stronger bet. 

*NR