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. 

Tuesday's 2YO Update

A few races today. Big fields. Potentially smart 2yos.  

2:00 Catterick - 

Just the sole significant entry being Beechwood Izzy. Keith Dalgliesh's charge ran at Listed class last time out but finished last of twelve. This Irish-bred daughter of Dandy Man has to defy a winner's penalty. Ran creditably first and second start. 

2:10 Leicester - 

A big field of sixteen two-year-olds. A number of significantly-entered juveniles. Roger Varian's Impulsion won well on debut and since contested pattern class and far from disgraced. Although shouldering a win penalty, this bay filly is a decent horse who deserves respect. By all accounts, this is a marked drop in grade.

Richard Hannon's Canton Queen ran in a competitive Stakes race at Newmarket. A number of horses have franked the form. This daughter of Shamardal cost 110,000 guineas at the yearling sales. Interesting to consider whether this filly was fit and primed on debut as she wasn't beaten far [less than five lengths]. Also, she was prominent, which can take its toll if not completely fit. Not without some hope at 12/1. 

Michael Bell's two-year-olds are running well. Interesting that he has two fillies going here. Both have been identified as having ability. 

Just Be Friendly wasn't too fancied on debut at Newmarket when finishing last. However, that was a tough race. In addition, this daughter of Toronado was too keen, which is a disaster over 7f. This 60,000 guineas yearling purchase is owned by Bill Gredley. Not without some hope as I'm pretty sure she is a lot better than seen. If backed it would bring more confidence. 

Heartbreak Hotel is making her debut for respected owner Chris Wright.  This 110,000 guineas yearling has been noted and ridden by Hayley Turner. Priced 20/1. It isn't a surprise in a competitive race. Another filly who should be considered although will have to be pretty smart to beat some of these on her racecourse bow. 

Conclusion: An intriguing race. It doesn't look the easiest of affairs. Impulsion is a decent juvenile and even with a win penalty has claims. A few form horses have a chance from a statistical point of view. Also, Orchid Star, although not noted by the trainer, could go well. Canton Queen, Just Be Friendly & Heartbreak Hotel are all big prices but not without a hope. The latter will need to be very good to win this on debut but the other two have racecourse experience and that should see improvement on debut efforts. A race I would have to watch unless you fancy a speculative bet.

Salisbury - Abandoned

4:35 Salisbury - 

A course which attracts plenty of smart prospects. Certainly, that is the case for Simon Crisford's Jash who won with authority on debut at Newmarket. There was a lot of money for this son of Kodiac. This bay colt has to defy a win penalty but bookmakers are fearful of that first display and priced 8/15f. 

As always, there may be some opposition. Saeed bin Suroor has been better this two-year-old season than last but still rather up and down. Royal Meeting is a home-bred son of Invincible Spirit. A recent Class 2 entry gives some hope of ability.  

Conclusion: The betting suggests this is a two-horse race. Jash won easily on debut and even with a penalty deserves respect. If Crisford is hoping to go for group class, this should be a stepping stone to better things. Royal Meeting is difficult to assess. Bin Suroor can ready a debutant and get a few pound from the favourite but needs to be pretty smart to lower the colours of the jolly. 

4:50 Leicester - 

*Al Mureib is the sole entry here. 

5:05 Salisbury - 

A quick rundown of the significant entrants. 

William Haggas has a good string of juveniles. Hidden Message cost $150,000 at the yearling sales. This daughter of Scat Daddy races in the familiar silks of Qatar Racing Ltd. I always find Haggas slightly tricky to assess on debut. He can have winners although a few of his juveniles are better for the run. General statistics would suggest at 2/1 this filly is not great value. 

Sir Michael Stoute's King's Girl has been noted. She ran okay last time out when a beaten favourite. Definitely not one of the better two-year-olds in the stable.  

* NR

Saturday's 2YO Racing Tips

I hope you have been following the two mailings we sent out and these recent updates. There is one thing Group Horse does - it delivers. If you don't agree, then take a look at the horses we have given and continue to do so over the months. 

Just a few noted successes on Friday: 

• 2:05 Newmarket - Layaleena, trained by Sir Michael Stoute 
• 3:00 York - Emaraaty Ana wins the Gimcrack Stakes (Group 2) 
• 3:15 Newmarket - Sangarius, a hot favourite for Sir Michael Stoute wins on debut and going places 
• 4:15 York - Commanding Officer, detailed on our 10 Dark Horse Mailing, wins the Convivial Maiden 
• 6:55 Salisbury - Kuwait Currency wins at Listed class 

I don't know about you, but I've not seen anyone else detailing such class horse from a limited selection!    

Let's take a look at the better two-year-olds running today:

1:40 Newmarket - 

We've seen some real talents racing over the last few days and it will be interesting to see how Saeed bin Suroor's Royal Marine goes. This homebred son of Raven's Pass who is out of a once-raced mare. This bay colt looks to be one of the stable's better juveniles. As I always mention, debutantes can be a law unto themselves. However, I do think it is a positive this April foal races at Newmarket. 

Simon Crisford is a very talented trainer, especially at priming debutantes. You may have noticed one of our 10 Dark Horses ran on Friday, Imperial Charm. Just denied in third place beaten by two other juveniles we noted as class acts [Layaleena & Ice Gala, for good measure we gave the fourth, too, Dandhu]. Crisford could well have a decent prospect going here in the shape of Jash. This bay son of Kodiac cost 185,000 guineas at the yearling sales. I'd be pretty confident this two-year-old has some ability. The stable is very good with debutantes which give greater hope. 

5:15 Windsor - 

Jeremy Noseda hasn't had too many talented juveniles this season. However, Lady Cosette is going in the right direction. To be fair, this bay filly is one of the best two-year-olds in the stable (not the best year). She ran well on debut when needing the run. A gallant second at Goodwood over 7f. Dropping back in distance shouldn't be a problem and a horse I suspect will take some beating. 

As usual, there are no easy races. Andrew Balding has been in exceptional form and for that reason, Bye Bye Hong Kong catches the eye. This American-bred son of Street Sense was a beaten favourite on debut when third at Newmarket on soft going. A horse worthy of note in the silks of King Power Racing Co Ltd. If touching each-way prices looks a very good bet. 

Finoah has been knocking on the door. This son of Kodiac, trained by Tom Dascombe, has been a model of consistency and achieved an official rating of 85. Unlucky not to have won with five placed efforts. Has claims but may be susceptible to one or two lightly raced horses and have to be careful that after so many hard races may regress at some point. A horse with a chance if running his race.

Just to make it a little tougher we have Typhoon Ten, who won on debut and has to shoulder a winner's penalty. No easy task against the potentially useful opposition. He struggled last time out when dropping in distance and it may well have been the penalty which saw him lose. A well-entered horse who may not have the class for pattern races so keeping to this level for now. 

Conclusion: A tough race in ways. I would favour Lady Cosette and Bye Bye Hong Kong. The latter may be a decent each-way bet if prices allow. 

6:00 Redcar - 

Concello is noted as one of Archie Watson's better two-year-olds, from a decent string. The winning penalty is never the best sign but a capable juvenile.