Sirenuse is on the up !

Bryan Smarts Sirenuse showed very good speed to win the 5f C4 Handicap at Thirsk today on going described as Good to Firm, she clocked a time of 57.98 secs in doing so which was slightly faster than the C2 won by Fol Hollow on the same card. She managed to bag the rail and was able to stay to win by 1 1/4 lengths from the fast finishing pair of Brierty and Indian Trail. Said to have got even faster this year, she is a pure 5f horse that requires fast ground to show her best. She looks sure to go on from this.

Ingleby Lady denies Baldemar at York

Ingleby Lady continued her rise up the handicap ladder to win a Class 2 handicap at York over 6f off a rating of 92, beating Baldemar in the process by 3/4 length on ground described as Good to Firm. The time was slow by 0.49s and she was always travelling well throughout and although drifting right once hitting the front she stayed on well.
Last time out at Pontefract Baldemar ran below form but the trainer put that down to having run him to soon and he was much better here and can surely win again. Esoterica stayed on well from the rear and Oldjoesaid ran his best race for Kevin Ryan so far in finishing 4th off a mark of 93.
Only 2 1/2 lengths covered the first 4 but there was 3 lengths back to the 5th.

Johannes continues his progress.

Johannes went up 23lbs in 2009 and he has begun 2010 in the same vein by winning the Class 2 Totepool Flexi Betting Handicap at York over 5f on ground described as Good to Firm. He had previously only won over 6f and he sat off the fast pace here and picked them off at the end. He was winning this off a rating of 95 and will probably go up to 102 as a result which will make things difficult for him in the Stewards Cup which is probably his main aim.
Jaconet blitzed along in front and hung on for second but she had them all at work for a long way and she looks a definite bet in the Dash at Epsom, she had previously shown her best form on the All Weather but on this showing it looks like she has bridged the gap now, she is declared for Thirsk on Saturday.
River Falcon ran on under Fallon pressure as is his want and there were some dissapointing efforts from those out the back such as Fol Hollow, Rievaulx World and Russian Spirit.

Just what the Dr ordered !

Prescription a 5 year old Pivotal mare ran on in good fashion to take the 6f Listed Race for fillies at Nottingham on Saturday beating Serious Attitude and Tropical Treat. The time was fast by 0.16s and the first 4 pulled 2 3/4 lengths away from the others. The winner was hampered early on but when she got going down by the rail she fairly flew along to be well on top come the finish. Having only had 11 starts previously she is still open to improvement and being by Pivotal she will improve with age. She is currently rated 95 but the 2nd here was rated 109 so an increase looks likely, however the 3rd and 4th were only rated 87 and 80 so the handicapper may be lenient this time.

Of those behind R. M. Beckett's 3yo Tropical Treat in 3rd was having only his 3rd run and if he isnt raised too much for this effort then he would surely command respect in a 3YO 6f handicap if his connections were to take that route.
Serious Attitude hadnt run for 9 months and ran a promising race in 2nd after having been impeded at a crucial stage of the race and this Cheveley Park winner looks likely to taste victory again soon.

Up a bit, down a bit

This week saw Buachill Dona win the Class 2 IPS Security Hcap at Newcastle over 5f off a mark of 98 and as a result he was raised 4lb, Captain Dunne in 2nd was the unlucky one in the race and he was raised 3lb to 99 and Quest for Success who was 3rd went up 2lb to 101.
The Stan James.COM Palace House Stakes, Group 3 over 5f went to the improved Equiano who may now run in the Temple Stakes at Haydock, of those behind Blue Jack went up a further 5lb to 110 and looks set to continue in this grade now.

Masamah wins on first run for Ryan

MASAMAH opened his account for the season on his first run for Kevin Ryan having been bought out of Ed Dunlop's yard at the end of last season. He was always at the head of affairs having bagged the rail from his number 3 draw and he was never really in any danger in a decent field. The time was a good one compared to other sprints that have taken place at Chester in the past and I can see this horse progressing further. Rated 90 pre race he will go up 7lbs or more for the win, however we could see him racing in Listed company before too long.
Of the others behind Fol Hollow put in his usual solid race, Sohraab last years winner got going all too late as his draw had pushed him out wide on the bend, Look Busy ran well considering it was her first run back and she was runing off 105 and missed the break and Hamish McGonagall has started the season in fine form and should be able to pick up something soon.

Hawkeythenoo !!

What a rate of improvement HAWKEYETHENOO has shown since last July and after his win in a competitive Class 2 Handicap at Newmarket over 6f on rain softened ground it looks as though his improvement has not come to an end. He won a Class 4 previous to this and as a result was raised 9lb but there was no stopping his storming run up the rail today. He had the best of the draw with low numbers enjoying a distinct advantage on the day. The trainer thinks the horse is tremendously talented and nominated him to run in the Ayr Gold Cup before his first run this year so he must have known he was a good un !
It will be interesting to see were the 2nd from his previous race at Thirsk goes next GREEN PARK, he had no sort of run next time out and he too is well handicapped on old form and was running on in that race so is entitled to go close at some stage.
The 4th GENKI ran a great race considering he was drawn 25 and had to come right over to the stands side, he was last for best part of the race and was brought with his challenge down the middle of the track, he was rated 103 today and on this performance all roads will lead to the big handicaps once again and The Stewards Cup.
ENACT in 2nd was said to have grown over the winter, however pre race Sir Michael Stoute said the horse preferred top of the ground and wouldnt want any rain which is exactly what she did get and it was a big performance from this Kyllachy filly who went off the 15/2 fav in the circumstances, currently rated 95 it will be interesting to see where she goes next with the winner and 3rd having had a race fitness edge over her today.
ANGUS NEWS always seems to run well here and although she was another to have a good draw it was good performance from her as she was on the pace throughout and was also carrying 1lb overweight.
PARISIAN PYRAMID ran another solid race and had every chance but just lost out for 4th on the line. SECRET ASSET ran well to finish 6th for her inexperienced jockey (1-11)and MO MHUIRNIN and FLIPANDO ran on from rhe rear when the race was all but over.
The time reflected the going and was slow by 2.30s.

Horses to follow

Blue Jack - 3rd next time in Palace House Stakes 8/1
Castles in the Air -
Indian Trail - Dash, Epsom Derby Day
Holbeck Ghyll -
Internationaldebut -
Anne of Kiev -
Captain Dunne - Temple Stakes
Lenny Bee -

Equiano back to his best

Equiano followed up his last win by taking the Group 3 Palace house Stakes at Newmarket after setting a fast pace throughout. The operation undertaken, whatever it was, seems to have done the trick and it now looks as though he will aim to regain his crown in the Kings Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot. Of those behind Blue Jack ran well following his win at Newbury last time.He had to be switched early by Richard Kingscote as he obviously wanted covering up before making eyecatching headway through the field to be closest at the finish.

The time of the race was a respectable 58.40s.

Up a bit, down a bit.

This week the Riu Palce Meloneras Handicap at Pontefract saw CASTLES IN THE AIR raised 8lb to 102 as a result of his win. INTERNATIONALDEBUT was left on the same mark so will surely go close off 89 soon, THEBES in 4th was dropped a 1lb and has since won over 7f on the AW. off the others behind BALDEMAR down 1lb to 90, HOTHAM down 1lb to 88 and MARINE BOY down 2lb to 96.

The Investec Capital Markets Handicap at Epsom saw FATHOM FIVE win his 2nd race at the course having won the same race last year off a 2lb higher mark as a result he was raised 3lb to 94. Those that ran well behind were INDIAN TRAIL and HOLBECK GHYLL who have both been left on the same marks. RIEVAULX WORLD was dropped 3lb to 89 and HOH HOH HOH 2lb to 90 and both of those are capable of showing better from in due course. HOH HOH HOH was running off 104 last season and finished 3rd to Borderlescott and Captain Gerard in the 5f City Wall Stakes at Chester in July off level weights being beaten 1 1/2 lengths on going described as Good to Firm.

STONEACRE LAD has been dropped a further 4lb to 69, having been rated 100 at the begining of 2009, although the stable remains in dire form.