Another day of great information detailed on Saturday.
A few races to review:
2:00 Goodwood -
Richard Hannon has a vast string of two-year-olds. I get the feeling Al Wafi has been a touch disappointing. This son of Helmet was backed on debut but never figured at Lingfield. Clearly, the trip was too short. This bay colt showed improvement next time out when stepping up to 7f. Connections gave this juvenile an entry for the Gimcrack Stakes (Group 2) but that looks a misjudgment. However, the stable is trying to find the key to improvement and this distance over one mile may bring further hope. Not without a hope.
3:25 Yarmouth -
Racing on the Norfolk coast. Brian Meehan hasn't really hit the high notes this season with his two-year-olds. That factor shows in the limited number which has been given significant entries. No Way Hose is just one of five horses worthy of note in the stable. He managed to win the third start after two creditable finishes at headquarters. His victory over Shorter Skirt was a fair effort. A win penalty will make life harder, especially if one of the newcomers has a level of ability.
The first of the debutantes worthy of note is William Haggas' Mubtasimah. This bay daughter of Dark Angel cost 160,000 euros at the yearling sales (65,000 Guinea foal). Now in the ownership of Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum. Interesting to note this is the only filly Haggas has entered for the Cheveley Park Stakes (Group 1). He does well at Yarmouth and looks well found in the betting. Debutantes are difficult to assess and trainers rarely want to give them a hard race. Definitely one of the major hopes.
Jeremy Noseda isn't having a vintage year with his two-year-olds. That point alone brings a few question marks and may limit the ability of Quasar. However, even a relatively poor string can unveil a talent and reason why this American-bred son of Orb is worthy of some interest. The owner, Marc Keller, is no stranger to very talented horses which adds to significance. This breeze-up purchase cost $250,000 (actually bought by the owner). A Rockfell Stakes (Group 2) entry gives further hope. The stable can ready a juvenile to win on its racecourse bow. The betting is the best sign here. Very few of the stable's debutantes win when priced over 8/1.
Conclusion: An intriguing race. No Way Hose sets a decent standard - fit and ready to roll. The weight penalty is the issue. It seems hard work for winners to defy these penalties. Whether a winner or not depends on the quality of the debutantes. I'm confident Mubtasimah has the ability to win this season. If touching each-way odds could be a decent bet. It's difficult to know what to think about Quasar. The lack of quality two-year-olds in the stable may indicate a lesser juvenile. However, he was a relatively costly buy, well owned and a good jockey booking. If priced 8/1 & less, I would give this horse the benefit of the doubt.
Just the one two-year-old race for Sunday.
2:00 Pontefract -
World Order has made hard work of winning, although achieved an official rating of 80. Trained by Declan Carroll, this son of Society Rock has raced five times. His first two starts saw narrow defeats to talented juveniles in No Lippy & Charming Kid, when beaten less than one length.
This April foal started at odds of 50/1 when competing in the Windsor Castle Listed race at Royal Ascot. Beaten just under ten lengths in fifteenth place. That pattern race being the only significant entry he has held, which may indicate a horse on the downgrade. Owners, Clipper Logistics, have a wealth of talented juveniles including Soldier's Call (pictured) who is trained by Archie Watson, the winner of this year's Windsor Castle. He ran creditably at Goodwood when third in the Markel Insurance Molecomb Stakes (Group 3).
World Order isn't in that league, although, at best, a talented juvenile who should have won by now.
He was far from disgraced when fourth at York over five and a half furlongs behind Chynna, tiring in the closing stages when 2/1 favourite.
The first attempt at nursery class didn't go too well when beaten into fourth place of six over the minimum trip at Thirsk. It was a mucky day, raining, and the going was on the soft side, although the time wasn't too slow. Broken Spear won the race in imperious style, while the others fought out their own places.
It's interesting to consider the chances of World Order on this sixth start. At best, he has enough ability to win a race of this class. However, you may be a brave soul to jump in and take a fraction above levels you devils (even money).
Carroll has reached for the blinkers. Not the best sign in some ways. After a number of hard races, you have to wonder if this colt is starting to regress. At short betting odds, it isn't, perhaps, the time to take a gamble.
I would have to take a watching brief.
Seems like a very long day.
2:00 Sandown -
Dark Shadow is the only entrant here. Clive Cox's son of Dark Angel was relatively fancied on debut at Ascot just over one month ago. He was well backed from 7/1 - 9/2. Unfortunately, the horse next to him in the stalls was unruly which done him few favours. There could be more to come.
2:35 Sandown -
A number of entrants taking part for this 7f race. Dancing Speed was wide drawn last time out at Goodwood but well backed. Didn't show as much ability as expected. This step up in distance should help. Hugo Palmer's Eagle Hunter ran a great race on debut after a slow start. The third horse hasn't been disgraced. Also, from a statistical point of view very good claims. If a marked drifter in the betting could be value. Richard Hannon has Glorious Dane (as well as Dancing Speed). He was a drifter in the market on debut at Leicester. That wasn't a surprise when reviewing the run as he was very inexperienced. This son of Olympic Glory made up a lot of ground to catch the leaders before tiring in the closing furlong. Could well improve for that debut.
6:25 Chepstow -
Steve has been highly tried and will appreciate this drop in class. Millman does well at this course. Has to shoulder a win penalty which doesn't make life easy as he is no world beater. Axel Jacklin has shown ability but his last two starts have looked pretty average. It wouldn't surprise me if he has regressed.
6:35 Goodwood -
Just Wolstonbury given the significant entry but looks to be second string to Sylvester Kirk's Nayslayer who was backed on debut and the form of that race has been franked by a number of horses.
A couple of races to consider for Sunday.
1:45 Nottingham -
Interesting to note Gay Kelleway's Moveonup was earmarked for the Brian Yeardley but takes this easier target. This son of Zebedee ran well on debut when third. A positive jockey booking adds to confidence. Disappointing there are just two places with seven runners for each-way backers.
Charlie Fellows doesn't have many two-year-olds in training but his debut winner Snazzy is no slouch. Interesting that he fields Sibirica. This daughter of Exceed And Excel cost £64,00 at the breeze-up sales. She actually cost more as a yearling. Fellows gave her an entry for the Hilary Needler which has got to be a sign of confidence. As with all debutantes, you are taking a leap of faith that they will get away on terms and run in a straight line. Bookmakers have this filly priced 8/1. Could be of interest, especially if drifting in the betting. This isn't the easiest of races to win and two places puts a downer on each-way unless brave enough to bet on the two.
Likely favourite Napanook has no entries as yet but ran well on his racecourse bow.
3:10 Goodwood -
A selling race with a significant entry. That doesn't happen everyday. It's our old friend Anthem Of Peace, trained by Brian Meeham. He was given a Lily Agnes entry which looks crazy considering he has proven next to nothing in three starts. The good part - he's 50/1. The blinkers have been applied to bring about concentration. This horse is likely to finish in two positions: first or last. There is no real form to give hope but I still feel the trainer held this colt in some regard earlier in the season. Today is the day. Unlikely in many ways but as a speculative bet you could be proven a wizard if betting and he finally shows a glimmer of ability.
Just noticed Wolf Hunter is also a significant entrant. Richard Hughes horse has shown ability but been far too keen in his races to finish with any zeal. Saying that, he did storm home after running wide on the bend at Kempton. He has enough ability to well in a rce of this type but needs to settle.
Another busy day and not feeling 100% so will try to keep this short and sweet. As always, we will be detailing the significantly entered two-year-olds.
The Investec EBF Woodcote Stakes (2:00 Epsom) is the highlight of the racing but as all of these horses are significantly entered we will not look too closely here. The understanding being that we are looking for horses in less competitive races.
6:20 Bath -
Anthem Of Peace hasn't achieved much in two starts. Meehan thought enough of this colt to enter him for the Lily Agnes Stakes. He was exceptionally keen on debut at Windsor when cruising to the front and tiring quickly. Things didn't go right at Chester. Priced at 25/1, it isn't beyond the realms this horse has ability. Without question, he needs to settle. If touching huge odds on the exchanges may be worth a small win bet.
Clive Cox does well at this course and High Horse hasn't done anything wrong in both starts to date. His debut effort over course and distance was decent. He was simply beaten by a better horse on the day. Just half a length separated the first three at Salisbury when he finished third.Not much of a price - but the horse to beat.
Thegreyvtrain has plenty of pace and the best of his form is a second at Kempton. He ran in the Lily Agnes Stakes but finished last. Looks unlikely to win although may lead for a furlong or two.
7:10 Goodwood
Interesting to see Brelade's Bay making her return after a month off course. She was outpaced when making her debut at Kempton. Turning courses are never ideal for debutantes and she was quickly outpaced but plugged on in the closing stages. Micheal Bell gave her a significant entry. This daughter of Footstepsinthesand was fancied in the betting and looks to be held in some hope here today. This extra furlong will be a positive and I would expect a bolder show from a good draw. The betting is key. if priced 13/2 & less SP would bring greater confidence. If weak, I would take a watching brief.
Popping Cork has been given a significant entry. This drop down to auction class will be a touch easier.
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.