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Hi all,

The decision to swerve Royal Ascot paid off on Tuesday as Oliver Hardy won at Brighton. Today I’m heading to Royal Ascot for two and Chelmsford for two.

Royal Ascot

3:40 – Magical – 7/4 – Gen –The selection has been well placed to win three starts this year, including the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup on her last start.  The 4-year-old ended last season with a win in the fillies & Mares here on Champions Day before finishing runner-up to Enable in the Breeders Cup Turf.

4:20 – I Can Fly – 9/2 @ William Hill & Ladbrokes – Another possible winner for Aidan O’Brien. Straight track form is always useful at Ascot as we saw yesterday with Lord Glitters. The selection was beaten just a neck by Roaring Lion in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes over C&D on Champions Day. Not at that level so far this season but if the going turns soft a big run can be expected.

Chelmsford

7:10 – Desert Fire – 3/1 @ William Hill or 11/4 @ Ladbrokes & Coral –  The selection won a handicap at Meydan back in January before two further solid placed efforts. The 4-year-old made an encouraging all-weather debut when 4^th of 14 at Newcastle 61-days ago. Drops back to 1m 2f here and gets the first time cheekpieces.

8:40 – Highgarden – 11/4 @ William Hill & Ladbrokes – The selection showed a good battling attitude to win a Group 3 at Newmarket back in September. This is the filly’s seasonal reappearance and she drops into Class 2 handicap company here. The daughter of Nathaniel makes her all weather debut, but trainer John Gosden is an is an impressive 10 winners from 25 runners 40% +17.88 A/E 1.59 16 placed 64% with his runners in 3yo+ handicaps at the track.  Despite top-weight and a lack of race fitness I think the 4-year-old can win this.

Cheers

John

Morning all,

Conrad Hastings given a confident ride by Rachel Blackmore gave the service a 7/1, 10/1 if you were on advised early prices, winner at Kilbeggan on Monday evening.

It’s the start of Royal Ascot today. I was intending to just tip at Royal Ascot this week but I have been tempted in by two at the lesser meetings.

Brighton

7:50 – Oliver Hardy – 3/1 @ BetVictor or 11/4 – Gen – The 3-year-old was strong at the line when winning here 15-days ago. Up 3lb for that and up a furlong on distance, which should suit on the evidence of his last start. He looks to have a good chance of following up. Rain would be an unknown as that last win was gained on good to firm.

Thirsk

5:45 – Shepherd’s Purse – 3/1 – Gen – The selection is on a long losing run but looks to be knocking on the door. The 7-year-old was beaten just a head at Pontefract 8-days ago, that was a Class 5 handicap and he races in Class 6 company today. Similar going as at Pontefract so can go close if all the cards fall right.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Carlisle

3:30 – Beverley Bullet – 9/2 @ Paddy Power – The selection is 3 wins from 3 runs at Carlisle and all his career wins have come on good to soft or worse. Showed his well being for this when 4^th of 14 at York on Friday. Provided there’s juice in the ground and this race doesn’t come to quick he’s got a good chance returned to a track that suits.

Kilbeggan

8:30 – Conrad Hastings – 10/1 @ Bet365 – Returns to a tack where he’s 1 win from 2 runs 2 placed. The selection ticks the boxes marked course & distance and going. The 8-year-old returns from a 281-day break but should be straight enough as he’s run well when fresh in the past and trainer Henry De Bromhead has his runners in winning form.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

New King was a decisive winner for the service at Sandown yesterday. I have another couple of selections for you today.  

Gowran Park

4:55 – Heavenly Snow – 8/1 @ Paddy Power or 15/2 @ William Hill & Coral – The selection impressed when battling on to hold over her challengers inside the final furlong to win by a comfortable three lengths at Roscommon 6-days ago.  Up 7lb for that win needn’t be an issue as the filly has only had five career starts and as her trainer Sheila Lavery told the Racing Post “There’s loads more improvement in her”. A bigger issue would be drying ground as she seems to need some juice in the ground.

Doncaster

3:55 – Camacho Chief – 9/4 – Gen – The 4-year-old has the soft ground in his favour and will also be suited by the drop back to 5f. He’s on a competitive mark and I will be disappointed if he can’t take advantage of conditions today.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Sandown

4:25 – New King – 7/2 @ Bet365 – Has improved with each of his four career starts and put in a career best when finishing 4th of 9 to stablemate Private Secretary, here over a furlong further, 50-days ago. First run on soft for the son of Frankel but his pedigree suggests he can be effective on it.

Bath

1:45 – Das Kapital – 9/2 @ William Hill – 9/2 @ William Hill – Made an encouraging seasonal reappearance when a running on 3^rd of 15 at Nottingham 10-days ago. Granted consistency wasn’t one of the selections strengths last season but the step up in trip will suit the 4-year-old who looks on a competitive mark.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Three selections on a busy Friday.

York

4:05 – Happy Power – 9/4 – Gen – The selection was an impressive winner of a soft ground Newbury handicap on his seasonal return in April before finishing 3^rd at Haydock in listed company. Looked like he needed a mile at Haydock which he gets. Just as importantly the 3-year-old gets his favoured underfoot conditions today.

Cork

6:55 – Peach Tree – 3/1  – Gen – Not surprisingly the selection found the Epsom Oaks to hot a race on her last start. Back in calmer waters today should see the daughter of Galileo in a better light. Her trainer Aidan O’Brien has won five of the last 11 renewals of the Munster Oaks, from 25 runners with 4 winners from 8 runners 50% +18 7 placed 88% having won one of their last three starts and raced in Group 1 company.

Sandown

3:45 – Herculean – 6/4 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – Should be too good for his rivals here. The 4-year-old is making his seasonal return here and having his first run since a gelding operation. Lightly raced with 2 wins from 4 runs. He looked last season like he was the sort who would improve with age and racing experience. Despite top-weight of 9-12 he looks to be starting his season off a well handicapped horse off 91.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

The weather has been dreadful and most of today’s race meetings have precautionary inspections to pass. The two exceptions are Newbury & Leopardstown.

Newbury

3:35 – Infanta Isabella – 15/2 @ Paddy Power or 7/1 – Gen – The selection has run well on both her starts this season. She’s got placed form at Newbury and is effective on good to soft. The drop back to a mile today looks interesting and her stamina can come into play in the closing stages of the race.

4:10 – Urban Highway – 11/2 @ William Hill & Paddy Power – The 3-year-old has yet to win on four starts since moving to the Tony Carroll stable. Put up a career best when staying on to finish 2^nd of 15 at Windsor 45-days ago. Up just 3lb for his last run and back up to 7f, should stay. The selection looks on a winnable mark if he handles today’s slow ground.

4:40 – Zuba – 7/2 @ William Hill & Coral – Caught the eye when 3rd to Private Secretary at Sandown on his seasonal reappearance 48-days ago. Not sure why we haven’t seen him for over six weeks. Should have improved for his handicap debut and shapes like he will stay 1m 4f.  I’m sure he can win a race off his present mark off 75. An unknown is soft ground, it was good to firm last time, but his dam won on soft to heavy which gives hope he will handle it. Another concern is his trainers form. Amanda Perrett has gone 58 days and 54 runners since her last winner.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Good news from my consultant’s appointment. I got the all clear and the surgery had been successful. As you can imagine that’s a big weight now lifted.

Haydock

3:20 – Lorelina – 5/2 @ Paddy Power or 2/1 – Gen – is 2 wins from 2 runs on heavy with the last of those wins came over C&D off 2lb lower last September. The 6-year-old comes into the race on the back of an excellent effort in finishing 5th of 11 at Epsom on her last start. With her main market rival Herculean now a non-runner her chance is enhanced on the likely going.

Kempton

7:20 – Baasem – 9/2 – Gen – The selection was only beaten 4 ½ lengths by Surfman on his final start as a juvenile. The 3-year-old made a promising handicap debut when 6th off 11 at Leicester 15-days ago. He was running on well enough over 1m 2f to think today’s extra furlong will suit and the handicapper has dropped the gelding 2lb since his Last run. Should be able to go close on just his second start on the synthetics.

8:20 – Papa Stour –9/4 @ Bet365 & William Hill – Just 1 win from 14 runs but the selection shaped well when 3rd of 14th at Chelmsford 16-days ago. That was the 4-year-old’s first run for 163-days and his first since a gelding operation. He didn’t get the best runs a furlong out at Chelmsford and would have finished closer with a clearer passage. Granted stall 10 could be better for the Andrew Balding trained runner but he looks on a winnable mark and can go close for a trainer among the winners.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Making all at Pontefract, Roulston Scar did the business for the service on Monday at a generous 6/1.

I have my follow up consultants appointment this morning which means there are no selections today.

Cheers
John

Hi all,

Pontefract

7:05 – Roulston Scar – 6/1 – Gen – Trainer Kevin Ryan saddles two here the selection and Princes Des Sables. Preference is for the race fit selection. The 3-year-old won on his seasonal return at Wetherby and followed that up with a third placed effort at York. Found things happening to quick over 5f at York. Remains inform and looks capable of more progress over 6f. Stall 3 looks fine and he can win again.

Leicester

4:30 – Cadre Du Noir – 7/2 @ William Hill & Paddy Power – Trainer Marty Meade is very much on the cold list having gone 21 runners and 61 days since a winner. I believe he had to shut down his stable, so his runners are just starting to return to the racecourse. He does very well with his runners at Leicester, though, having had 5 winners from 11 runners 45% +10.98. The selection a $1,100,000 purchase as a yearling only saw the track once last season when shaping with promise, when 3rd of 9 in a back-end Nottingham maiden. He looked to have plenty of scope for progress as a 3-year-old. I’m sure he can win races this season although soft ground be an unknown for the son of War Front.

Cheers
John