Let's take a look at Monday's round-up of significant two-year-old runners.
12:05 Redcar -
A decent sized field. Finoah isn't one of the better Dascombe horses and has given this juvenile a Class 2 entry. However, this son of Kodiac has been consistent although still a maiden in nine starts. A very capable gelding with an official rating of 87. Looks to have a fine chance but whether you want to jump in at odds on because he may regress at some point.
Finoah 10/11f 1st
Note: A easy win for Finoah who deserved this victory.
12:15 Leicester -
Another odds-on shot. Richard Hannon has been dropping a few of his better juveniles in class to mop up prize money and victories. Watan won well on debut then finished second at Group 3. His latest at similar class proved to be a disappointment when fifth of six at Sandown. This son of Toronado was fancied to go well in the betting and hasn't been seen for almost two months. A win penalty sees him carrying 6lb extra but an official rating of 105 detail a pattern horse. I don't like betting at 1/3f just in case something crazy happens.
Watan 8/11f 1st
Note: Watan drifted in the market but won this well.
1:05 Redcar -
The Double Trigger Novice Stakes. No surprise to see a Mark Johnston representative. Mr Chiange isn't one of the better juveniles indicated by a sole Class 2 entry. He wasn't fancied on debut when racing over one mile and didn't achieve a great deal. Stepping up a furlong seemed to bring improvement when he finished second to a class horse in Nate The Grate. In truth, that was a remote second behind a horse priced 1/9f. However, I liked the display at Goodwood on soft going. If anything, the jockey may have pushed a little too much with the front-running tactics and he was collared in the closing stages.
Oak Park has been given one significant entry. I like Karl Burke as a trainer and especially his two-year-old. This son of Sea The Stars was fancied to go well on debut but looked inexperienced and soon off the pace. He seemed to relish the testing conditions and finished with verve unlucky not to have hit the frame. Would have most likely won with an extra half furlong. The second start proved a disappointment. A marked drift in the betting (was about 4/1 early on the exchanges) and that didn't speak well at all. Oak Park finished sixth beaten over ten lengths. It will be interesting to see if there was an issue that day. I'm intrigued to see how he goes today.
Oak Park 7/1 3rd
Mr Chiange 3/1 4th
Note: Mr Chiange did his normal front-running tactics but tired in the closing stage. Oak Park ran on to finish a creditable third.
3:40 Leicester -
Mick Channon has been sending out a few decent two-year-olds late this season. Modern Millie is a homebred daughter of Sixties Icon in the ownership of Norman Court Stud. She is out of a four-time winning mare who raced up to Group class but didn't achieve a great deal at that grade. Most of Channon's debutantes are well found in the betting if they hold any real hope. In fact, very few win on debut when priced bigger than 8/1. Interesting to see if this bay filly is fancied.
Modern Millie 9/4f 1st
Note: Once again Group Horse proves its point by identifying Modern Millie a horse we had on our radar from months ago. Wins nicely.
5:15 Chelmsford -
Another of Karl Burke's two-year-olds with a significant entry. Collect Call hasn't been disgraced in his three starts to date. Certainly, the last three efforts have shown this daughter of Kodiac to be a fair type. An official rating of 84 illustrates this point. A beaten favourite over course and distance. The winner, Aldana, looked very well and a better physical type so I wouldn't take that defeat as a disappointment. Crisford gave that filly a Listed entry afterwards, which shows she is well regarded.
Collect Call 7/4 3rd
Note: Perhaps a slightly disappointing effort from Collect Call. The winner eased clear and the rest were left behind.
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
1:20 Newbury -
Couple here given significant entries of late. Richard Hannon's Neverland Rock, a son of No Say Never, cost 480,000 euros as a yearling. In addition, Clive Cox fields Wise Counsel in the ownership of Clipper Logistics Ltd. This son of Invincible Spirit was sent through the sales but withdrawn. A big field of 16 to-year-olds should indicate the winner has a level of ability. Certainly, this pair have some interest.
1:40 Nottingham -
James Tate hasn't hit the ground running with his two-year-olds this season bar one impressive winner at Catterick. However, Autum Splendour has been noted by this Newmarket handler. This son of Dandy Man wasn't a crazy-expensive yearling purchase at £52,000. Saeed Manana often buys well so this horse could be worthy of interest. The betting suggests he is one of the favourites for this race.
Interesting that Tate has given Hard Taskmaster an entry but needs to improve a good deal on what we have seen so far.
Finoah was narrowly foiled last time out at Wolverhampton behind Sporting Chance who is seemingly held in some regard.
Langholm was all the rage on debut in the Brocklesby Stakes but failed to shine that day or more recently at Doncaster when stepping up to 6 1/2f. This drop back in distance may help but connections may be better served heading for Nursery races after this third start.
7:25 Haydock
Certain Lad is well regarded and won nicely on debut. He is earmarked for the Gain Railway Stakes (Group 2) in Ireland. A win penalty will be a fair test of this is Irish-bred son of Colodvil.
Tom Dascombe always buy a good-looking horse and it is interesting to see that Swift Justice has been given a couple of significant entries. He is a 50/1 shot and Kingscote is, presumably, riding the first string.
I seem to be running out of time so a quick note of significant entered horses.
1:50 Leicester -
Secret Venture, trained by Kevin Ryan. This son of Kyllachy cost £85,000 when purchased at the yearling sales. The stable have done well this season with their noted juveniles.
Triple One hasn't received any entries at present. Michael Bell's charge was fancied in the betting on debut at Beverley but clueless. The betting that day may indicate ability. Priced at 10/1, I would imagine he will be backed if fancied today. The stable go well with fancied juveniles on their second start. If strong in the market could indicate a transformation.
2:00 Redcar -
Comete ran in a Class 2 race on debut at Newcastle. This daughter of Cammacho was pretty fancied in the betting considering it was a race worth almost £13,000. I can imagine connections expected a big run. Having a couple of months off course suggests there may have been a slight issue or given time to grow. The betting indicates there is better to come.
Tom Dascombe has a couple of nice prospects with Arthur Kitt and Jackstar. Jensue is, perhaps, not in their league but respected enough to contest the Lily Agnes Stakes. She was slow away at Chester, as she was a touch outpaced at Beverley on debut. However, both starts, she has finished with gusto. This extra furlong should suit and by all accounts (on race type) this is a drop in class.
2:10 Lingfield -
Gypsy Spirit won on debut at Windsor for Tom Clover. The form of that race is ok without being anything special. Interesting that the trainer had this filly earmarked for the Marygate Listed race at York but didn't take that route. I imagine connections thought this step up to 6f would have seen her struggling for pace at the Navesmire. She has to shoulder a 4lb win penalty and wide draw.
3:50 Leicester -
Glorious Dane has been noted by Richard Hannon.
6:40 Wolverhampton -
Finoah has shown ability in a couple of starts. Interesting to see Simon Crisford has Sporting Chance noted as having ability. Considering he has a couple of decent horses to judge this breeze-up purchase, money would bring further confidence.