Just a quick update as I am at Great Yarmouth's Eastern Festival. From West Palm Beach via London to the Norfolk coast. Hence, the late update.
I'm getting around.
1:50 Beverley -
We don't see too many significantly entered two-year-olds going for Claiming races but Gay Kelleway is taking that option with Elieden. This daughter of Camacho has an official rating of 71 which tells the story of a limited horse but one that has enough ability to win a race. She has been entered for a few race this year showing glimmers of ability. Looks like connections are dropping in class to gain that first elusive win.
Elieden 11/4f 3rd
2:10 Sandwon -
William Haggas has a decent string of juveniles and Dalaalaat is making his debut today. This son of Kingman is worthy of respect.
Voltaic has run well on both starts to date and has valuable experience on side. This chestnut son of Power ran well in the Convivial Maiden Stakes at York, the one significant entry he has received. Stepping up to one mile. A decent juvenile at odds of 6/1.
Conclusion: Just the two significant entrants here. Paul Cole's Voltaic could well hit the frame at each way odds. Dalaalaat is in one of Haggas' best betting guides which give hope but will need to be a fair talent to win on debut.
Dalaalaat 3/1 5th
Voltaic 14/1 6th
2:20 Beverley -
Air Force Amy ran well on debut in a competitive race. Looks to hold fair each-way claims.
Air Force Amy 11/2 2nd
2:30 Yarmouth -
Big old fields.
Saeed bin Suroor has definitely achieved more this two-year-old season. It makes a change after being given the lesser lights for far too long. Royal Meeting is fancied to go well here after a recent Class 2 entry. Not the easiest horse to assess.
Charlie Appleby has given Aquanura similar entry. He has run well on both starts to date and sets a decent standard.
Other significant entrants include Alrajaa. Fancied on both starts to date and beaten favourite at Sandown when fading tamely in the final furlong. I can imagine connections were a little disappointed with that effort.
Clipper Logistics is no stranger to decent two-year-olds and Victory Day makes his debut for William Haggas. This son of Bated Breath cost £270,000 at the yearling sales. Interesting that he received a Gimcrack Stakes (Group 2) entry some time back but no other entries since. It may indicate he had a set back at some point. Haggas does well at this course. I would prefer To see this youngster priced 13/2 & less SP to hold best chances but not without a hope.
Conclusion: Looks like a four-horse race on betting. Not the easiest of races to assess. The two debutantes [Royal Meeting & Victory Day] will need to be pretty smart on debut to beat the form horses although they may not have lived up to expectation. I would have to take a watching brief.
Royal Meeting 2/1 1st
Alrajaa 4/1 2nd
Aquanura 11/4 3rd
Victory Day 5/1 5th
2:40 Sandown -
Good Fortune is a very well entered horse for Charlie Appleby.
Harry Dunlop has only one horse significantly entered and that is Goldino Bello.
Good Fortune 6/5f 2nd
Goldino Bello 25/1 4th
2:50 Beverley -
Rock Up In Style has received a Class 2 Stakes entry
Rock Up In Style 6/1 5th
3:00 Yarmouth -
Sir Michael Stoute has noted Sovereign Grant. He ran well on debut when running on in the closing stages, giving the impression the race was needed. Almost three weeks off course, and sure to be fitter this time around.
The only other entrant noted by the trainer is David Simcock's Wiretap. Not the easiest of horses to assess and a horse who gives the impression has had a few issues along the way, which isn't ideal. Was fancied on debut at Yarmouth but easily beaten. However, the form of that race has turned out to be very good. Doesn't look fancied in the betting. If seriously backed to 13/2 & less SP would have much better claims. Keep an eye on the betting.
Wiretap 8/1 2nd
Sovereign Grant 4/6f 3rd
4:00 Beverley -
Summer Blossom has been consistent and looking for this filly.
Sabai Sabai has been noted by Ralph Beckett but has been disappointing of late.
Summer Blossom 5/4f 2nd
Sabai Sabai 7/4 4th
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