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Thursday 28 July 2011

Up a bit, down a bit - 28th July



Last week I mentioned that Secret Asset had been dropped 3lb to and he duly won the handicap on Tuesday at Goodwood at 14/1.

Skybet Supporting Yorkshire Racing Summer Festival Handicap Class 4 6f Good Doncaster

This went to Fast Shot by a length from York Glory with short head back to Shesastar in third. The winner has only had 11 starts to date and has been steadily improving for his trainer Tim Easterby and he is the sort who may stay ahead of the handicapper, although he has been raised 7lb to 78 for this effort. The time of the race was only 0.41 seconds outside standard and it was the closest to standard of the day and hopefully it should prove reliable form. The second had not been out of the first 3 in all seven starts and finished 2nd to Cinderkamp at Haydock and he is featured below after running third in a Class 2 at Newmarket, whilst the third had also won a couple of races. His jockey David Allan was quoted as saying after the race “Fast Shot did very well over the winter. He´s come back in good form and he is obviously improving as he had something to find with Shesastar. He is very tough and that is a big asset in a finish”.

Seddon Property Services Handicap Class 4 6f Good To Soft York

Toby Tyler took the spoils in this by 2 ½ lengths from Hotham with ¾ length back to Nomoreblondes in third with his trainer saying “he was unlucky last time at Hamilton, he was making his move when he got behind a wall of horses. He has been in training for well over a year now but he is in the form of his life so there is no point in giving him a break”. Of those behind Sonny Red finished 8th and was dropped 3lb by the handicapper to a mark of 74 and with the Nicholls stable coming back into form it shouldn't be long before he is running well. He was a running on second in last seasons Ayr Silver Cup behind Colonel Mak off a 15lb higher mark albeit his jockey was claiming 3lb. Green Park is now down to a mark of 77, he started the 3 of his wins at the end of last season off a mark of 76 before winning again off 82 and 88.

UTS Connor Sadler Handicap Class 4 5f Good To Soft Newcastle

Cayman Fox led at a good pace in this before Red Cape, Pavershooz and Rasaman came through to finish 1, 2, 3. The winner has gone up 5lb to 80, the second 4lb to 84 and the third remains on the same mark of 85. Behind Haajes finished 4th and has been dropped another 1lb to 75 and as I have said before it is only a matter of time before he wins and this was an improved effort from him as he ad Bedloe's Island and Doc Hay behind and he is now 8lb below his last winning mark. Cayman Fox finished second and first twice from 3 runs last August so she may be about to hit form.

Boylesports Mobile Handicap Class 2 6f Good Newmarket

This was a good field for this Class 2 3yo Handicap and it was won by David Elsworth's Swiss Dream by a length from Pabusar with a further half length back to Cinderkamp. The winner has gone up 6lb to 96, the second 3lb to 104 and the third 2lb to 88 and Swiss Dream lived up to her previous good runs and made all to win gamely. Barnet Fair once again didn't get a great start and in the circumstances he ran quite well to finish 4th and has been left on the same mark of 89 and What About You in fifth had been set some tough targets this year by his trainer and with the first time blinkers ran another good race.

Sky Bet Dash (Handicap) Class 2 6f Good York

This was won by Hoof It whom his trainer describes as a hell of a horse, very top class – likewise his jockey is also a big fan saying he has so much class it was a doddle for him and that he will make a Group sprinter before long. Some big statements indeed and even off top weight in the Stewards Cup he must have a favourites chance of winning that. He beat Tajneed here by ¾ of a length whom Dandy Nicholls had groaned pre race that he thought his horse was 10lb too high in the handicap and on this performance it shows that his horses are coming back to their best. Ginger Ted in third improved again on previous runs and continues his rise up the ladder for Richard Guest who has been doing that himself this season improving countless horses. Fathsta in 4th gave the form a solid look after running well in most of the big handicaps this season and was probably a little bit unlucky here having to be switched to make his run and he will be off bottom weight in the Stewards Cup on Saturday. There were others to note and out the back and several received some leniency from the handicapper with Befortyfour down 3lb to 84, R Woody down 2lb to 90, Singeur down 2lb to 94, Silaah down 2lb to 91, Mister Hughie down 2lb to 98, Midnight Martini down 3lb to 88 and Swilly Ferry down 3lb to 91. The latter had probably run his best race for a while in his run prior to this so we should keep an eye out for him as this may have been a blip.



Looking ahead to the Stewards Cup on Saturday it looks to be more competitive than ever and a few I like the look of at this stage are Kanaf (33/1), Colonel Mak (20/1) and Fathsta (25/1) and the booking of Jamie Spencer for Colonel Mak takes the eye. However there's no knowing what effect the draw will have on the race and you may even want to wait and see how the Silver Cup goes earlier in the afternoon before placing your bets. However I will try and have a more in depth look at the race tomorrow evening to try and narrow it down to a more manageable few.