Coming to the end of the Flat turf season.
12:15 Redcar -
Div I
A big, old field on testing condition (soft).
John Gosden has King Of Comedy going here. This son of Kingman is a home-bred colt from Lady Bamford. He ran out a comfy winner on debut at Sandown over 7f. Has strong claims. Like all of these winners, has to shoulder a penalty. However, this colt ran out a sweet victor giving the impression he can progress to bigger prizes.
Interesting to see Victory Day making his second start for William Haggas. This son of Bated Breath is owned by Clipper Logistics. This March foal is detailed on our 10 Dark Horses Mailing so worthy of extra attention. He made his debut at Yarmouth, almost 50-days ago. Victory Day was relatively fancied on debut when slightly outpaced but run on in the closing stages. Should improve for that first start. This £270,000 yearling purchase was originally entered for the Gimcrack Stakes (Group 2). That was the beginning and the end of the significant entries so we will have to see whether this is something of a limitation. I would give the horse the benefit of the doubt. Even better claims if priced 13/2 & less SP (no betting as I write this post so time will tell).
King Of Comedy 8/15f 2nd
Victory Day 4/1 4th
Note: King Of Comedy ran on but couldn't get to the debut winner. Victory Day was held up a long way off the pace. Ran on but just didn't look good enough in 4th.
12:45 Redcar -
Div 2
Another big, old field.
Five Amarones was an inspired purchase by Mike Smith from the Tom Dascombe stable. Next start, cruised home by four-and-a-half lengths. Considering this gelding was narrowly beaten by a head in a Selling Stakes, such an impressive victory came as something of a surprise. There is one thing that this horse likes - soft ground. Disappointed last time out at Nursery class and, I guess, reason connections have gone back to Stakes class. Has to shoulder a win penalty although a 5lb apprentice perched on top. Five Amarones is a limited horse with an official rating of 74. His strength is the testing ground.
Kevin Ryan has George Mallory is on a recovery mission. This son of Kingman cost 145,000 Euros at the breeze-up sales. Readers will be familiar with the F. Gillespie's silks. This February foal was given a stiff task by making his debut in the Convivial Maiden Stakes (the richest Maiden in Europe). He was quite fancied that day when priced 11/1 at York. It was a very good debut when finishing 6th place and a similar number of lengths. I'm pretty sure connection (and punters) expected a big run at Ayr when stepping up to 1m on soft going. It was a very disappointing effort. Nothing happened. There must have been an issue that day because it just couldn't be that bad. A return to the soft ground. You have to consider the trainer knows best. Dropping back in trip. I'd expect a much better run today.
Five Amarones 15/2 2nd
George Mallory 4/1 8th
Note: Five Amarones enjoyed the testing ground and put up a bold front-running performance. Beaten by a better horse in second place. George Mallory was well backed but showed nothing. There must be a problem with this horse because the first run showed real promise. The only other reason may be looking at nursery races. Be interesting to see if this big horse shines at some point.
5:40 Kempton -
Nivaldo won well on debut and given a Class 2 stakes entry. Has to defy a win penalty.
Just noticed I had missed this second division. Another one of our 10 Dark Horses going here for Saeed bin Suroor. Silent Hunter was a beaten favourite on debut when finishing a respectable fourth. Should go well today and holds each-way claims.
Nivaldo 13/8 1st
Silent Hunter 5/2 2nd
Note: Nivaldo ran well under a win penalty. Cruised clear but was being caught near the line although eased to a fair win. Silent Hunter is clearly a decent horse and will be winning soon. Drifted to 5/1 on the exchanges and I had an each-way bet. Seemed to hang when in the straight and took an age to gather his pace before finishing with spirit.
Five two-year-old races for Friday. I will detail the significant entrants and form horses worthy of note.
2:00 Goodwood -
Just a couple of entrants. Big Boots is a son of Society Rock and tidy winner on debut at Bath. He was slightly disappointing at Windsor racing under a penalty when favourite. It will be interesting to see if he can show more without an apprentice. A high draw is an advantage.
Robert Cowell has been kept busy this early season with an increased string of two-year-olds. Blame Roberta has received a couple of significant entries. This daughter of Blame races in the ownership of Khalifa Dasmal. She looks a good yearling purchase at just $27,000. She ran a respectable fourth place on debut at Yarmouth. The form has been franked with the first three horses either winning or narrowly denied. This bay filly wasn't too far behind or given a hard race. Looks capable of better.
This looks a difficult race to assess so I would advice a watching brief.
2:20 Haydock -
Mark Johnston has been in fine form this season. Axel Jacklin looked disappointing on debut but fared much better at Newmarket when stepping up to 6f. This leggy son of Iffraaj battled hard when runner up to Usain Boat. Should go well.
Five Amarones is one of a number of horses Tom Dascombe has entered this season. This son of Alhebayheb was entered to run in the Lily Agnes but didn't take part. He was fancied on debut at Pontefract but slowly into stride even though he had a prime draw. In truth, he ran on pretty well to chase home Carey Street. Five Amarones ran a similar race at Bath over the minimum trip. Always slightly outpaced, he didn't have the pace to get to grips with Barbill or Ginger Nut. That third place did suggest some limitation. The major hope here is stepping up to 6f.
Arthur Kit hasn't received any entries for Tom Dascombe, but this debutante is well bred, the mare being Ceiling Kitty who won the Queen Mary Stakes Group 2 (2012). The betting details that this colt is first string. The stable do well at this racecourse.
2:45 Bath -
No significant entrants although New Queen and Country Rose may well be in the very near future.
3:55 Bath -
An interesting Class 3 EBF Novices' Stakes over 5f 160y on firm going.
Hua Hin is well regarded by the Hannon stable. This son of Dandy Man ran well to win on debut, although tiring in the closing stages. He was entered to run in the Lily Agnes but didn't take that route. This February foal has to shoulder a 6lb win penalty and reason why Gary Mahon takes off a valuable 5lb. I would expect Hua Hin to improve for that first start after a month off course.
Charles Hills has a few decent types this season. Ynys Mon ran in a Class 2 race on debut when stuck in the mud. This son of Olympic Glory is a good-looking colt but has temperamental issue. He has been too keen on both his last starts which may have become a habit. That is a problem. He may enjoy this firm ground and this small field shouldn't bring about traffic problems which didn't help at Chester. However, I would be worried if he is keen over this extended five furlongs especially at even money. If going a stride too fast it makes winning difficult.
7:30 Pontefract -
The best race on the day this Class 2 with win prize money of over £15,000. Just the five runners. Looks a trappy heat. Will be taking a watching brief.
Four two-year-old races to consider. I will - for the most part - be detailing the significantly-entered juveniles.
1:55 Beverley -
Carey Street - trained by John Quinn - looked to be well beaten in the Brocklesby Conditions Stakes. However, he ran out a decent winner at Pontefract. A seven pound penalty will make life more difficult. Looks the type to lead and try to hold on.
2:15 Bath -
A number of significantly entered juveniles and form horses. Lady Wolf is a big price for Rod Millman. He does pretty well at this course and can win at big odds so worthy of some respect even at 33-1. Popping Corks doesn't look overly fancied in the betting but noted by the trainer. Similarly, Richard Hughes Queen Shaahd is one of a few juveniles noted by the ex jockey. The betting suggests form horses are favoured. Karalini was a short price on debut at Windsor. A good-looking filly. The prize on debut looks significant and the form of that race hasn't turned out too bad. In addition, there was a lot to like about John Quinn's Signora Cabello. She is a sturdy-looking filly with some size and strength. The first five beat the rest of the field at Beverley by a fair distance. She will improve for that debut and should hit the frame. An interesting race in ways with the two form horses and a few debutantes who may have a glimmer of ability at prices.
2:30 Beverley -
A couple of significant entries here with twice-raced Wasntexpectingthat, who hit the frame on debut when contesting the Brocklesby. Richard Fahey's charge looked to have a great opportunity on his second start at Thirsk. However, the champagne corks were popping from halfway when Vintage Krug blasted clear of the field for Tim Easterby. Wasntexpectingthat is a professional horse and the type to run his race. The form of the Brocklesby has been franked so this looks within his compass if not being vulnerable to a smarter type. Tom Dascombe has been giving a few two-year-olds entries for the Lily Agnes Stakes which takes place this week at Chester. Five Helmets is one of five juveniles entered for the Lily Agnes. He is taking this route, which is probably a blessing. One of the more interesting horses here. Big Ace doesn't have any significant entries at present but ran well at Pontefract on debut from a wide draw and ran wide most of the way.
4:00 Bath -
Ginger Nut has been relatively fancied on both starts to date. She definitely went a stride too fast last time out at Salisbury in the testing ground. This going will be more suiting and I would expect a bold show. If drifting to each-way prices must show more today. Five Amarones has been given a couple of entries from Tom Dascombe. This bay colt was fancied on debut at Pontefract but not best away. He ran on well and will improve. Should figure. Richard Hughes has another entered juvenile making his debut. Swiss Pride is worth noting although the trainer is difficult to asses at times. Clevedon ran in the Brocklesby but achieved little.
Conclusion: Ginger Nut and Five Amerones look decent prospects and unless Swiss Pride is better than not should fight it out.