Sirenuse can go well for Smart

Sirenuse is a real speedball and should go well at Ayr tomorrow, she won well at Thirsk last time in a good time, in fact it was faster than the Class 2 Handicap won by Fol Hollow on the same card. As a result she was put up 4lb but arguably she should have been put up by more. She was mentioned by her trainer as a horse to follow at the begining of the season and if she wins this she will have a chance of getting in the Dash at Epsom on Derby Day as her revised rating would help her cause. She has come out of the Thirsk race very well and she has the rail here to fall back on and she could have enough in her to dominate all the way to the line. City Dancer could be the one to give her the most problems as she has been dropped a bit in the ratings since last season and now with Dandy Nicholls she could find any amount of improvement and an apprentice takes off a further 3lb.

Hamish looks to Scotland

Hamish Mcgonagall won as expected at York on Saturday, he was well handicapped on his best form and he was at the head of affairs throughout, he will now contest a race at Musselburgh in which he came 4th last season. One I liked the look of behind was Rasaman who I thought was unlucky, he was stopped in his run at a vital time and he could have finished closer for his canny tainer Jim Goldie. The other one to run well was Ziggy Lee, to be honest I didnt rate this one's chances much pre race but I was proved wrong as he came with a stong run up the near rail which isnt the best place to challenge in a sprint at York and provided the handicapper doesnt take a dim view you could see this one progressing further as the season goes on.

Parisian Pyramid back on track

Parisian Pyramid who had a ggod race at Newmarket behind Hawkeyethenoo got back in the winning groove at Goodwood on Saturday when he beat Johnny Mudball. Personally I didnt think the race would take much winning and if he's put up too much for this he could struggle to win again for a little while. The second Johnny Mudball ran a solid race, he was keen behind the leaders but when he got a gap and hit top gear he was picking up ground fast and his turn doesnt look that far away and it will be interesting to see where he goes next and to see what view the handicapper has taken of the run. Rileyskeepingfaith ran respectably considering he had gone up in the weights for his win last week and he can win again in the right race.

Kingsgate Native could take some stopping !

Kingsgate Natives win in the Temple Stakes could be the curtain opener for a very good season for him. Having been gelded he looks as good or even better than he has done before and Royal Ascot a happy hunting ground for him in the past can be his next target. The fact that he is trained by Sir Michael Stoute puts the icing on the cake and to come out and win this race from race fit top sprinters in a fast time is a very good performance indeed. Equiano continued his good form but just found one better than him on the day here and he will have a better chance of winning again in the Kings Stand were his speed will come to good use and he wont meet this rival. Borderlescott keeps on pulling out the form even at 8 and he too will surely have his day at some point this season, but all in all a very good running of this race and if the winner can continue in this form he can remain unbeaten this summer.

Anne of Kiev to make amends ?

Hopefully Anne of Kiev can win tomorrow evening in the Class 4 6f Handiacp at Windsor, Luke Morris is back in the saddle and surely she can ger better luck than her last 2 runs were she suffered interfernce and poor runs through the field (take a look at the replay of her last run if you get a chance). If it all falls into place though she should go very close, but those runs have been flagged up by various pundits so what sort of price you can get is anyone's guess.

Saturdays Sprints

Just as I thought the 3 sprints make up half of this weeks Scoop6 races.

2.15 Goodwood
Rileyskeepingfaith finally got his head in front last time but he doesnt have the assistance of Ryan Moore here, however I dont think this is going to take too much winning. A lot has been expected of Johhny Mudball by his stable this season but he hasnt fired so far although he had a poor draw at Newamrket last time, Hayley Turner is employed to coax out some improvement. Parisian Pyramid finished some way in front of Johnny Mudball at Newmarket but he had the best of the draw there and he could only finish 5th, he then ran too soon at Chester and Tom Queally is an interesting booking although he may have trouble coming down the hill with his action. Son of the Cat and Run for the Hills are others that can make their presence felt.

3.00 Haydock
Total Gallery won the Prix de L'Abbaye last season beating the useful Fleeting Spirit, however he is considerably worse off at the weights with Kingsgate Native on Goodwood form from last season. Kingsgate Native himself is having his first run this year and he may have his sights more set on Royal Ascot as he needed his first race last season. Equiano has won both The Abernant and the Palace House at Newamrket this year and he looks back to his best although last time he had a race fitness edge over Borderlescott when beating him into second and it wouldnt be hard to imagine the tables being turned this time. Blue Jack who was 3rd there was tucked in at the back and he ran on very well up the hill and he could could give the first two a bit more to think about this time, however they're all on the same weight again and there wont be a great deal between them but I can see Borderlescott coming out on top.

3.40 York
There are a few in with chances in this Johannes loves fast ground and won well at York after having the race set up for him by Jaconet, it was the first time he had won over 5f and he will not have the assistance of an out and out front runner this time. Taberet finished back in 3rd there and a 7lb claimer has been booked to offset Johannes rise in the weights since, Taberet ran again a few days later but you should ignore that as it came too soon. Sohraab wasnt well drawn at Chester but he ran ok, he has a first time visor here and on his best form he is reasonably handicapped. Hamish McGonagle ran well at Chester in finishing 2nd after being slowly away and he is well handicapped on his best form, however he may have preferred a bit of cut. Indian Trail seems to be running better than ever although he is stepping up in class here, he gets a useful 5lb off his back though and he should be finishing fast. Rievaulx World has dropped 10lb so far this season and Tom Eaves takes the ride, he didnt handle Epsom and is another who needs it fast.

Up a bit, down a bit

The Class2 Totepool Flexi Betting Handicap at York over 5f saw Johannes raised 6lb to 101 for the 1 length win from Jaconet who was in turn raised 3lb to 95, she will still be a force to be reckoned with in the Dash if this weeks exertions havent taken there toll. Of those behind Judge n Jury was dropped a 1lb to 98, The Nifty Fox 2lb to 84,Hamoody 2lb to 86, Ishetoo 2lb to 88 and Rievaulx World 4lb to 85.

The Class 2 Sporting Bet.Com Stakes Handicap at York over 6f went to Ingleby Lady who was raised 5lb to 97. She beat Baldemar who was raised 3lb (although his rider put up 1lb overweight for this) to 94 and Esoterica who was left on 92. Of those behind Oldjoesaid was dropped 1lb for his encouraging run to 92, Red Cape down 2lb to 84, he may prefer 5f, Sunrise Safari 1lb to 86 and Himalya 2lb to 100.

The Class 4 Replas Concrete Repair and Refurbishment Handicap at Doncaster over 6f went to Tubby Isaacs who was raised 6lb to 76, however the 2nd Leonid Glow up 2lb to 78 and 4th Anne of Kiev no change on 75 were both finishing best of all and can gain compensation.

The Class 2 Totesport Handicap at Newbury over 6f saw Rileyskeepingfaith raised 5lb to 102 for his 1/2 length win from Shifting Star who was in turn raised 3lb to 92. Wildcat Wizard was raised a further 2lb to 94 for another placed effort, whilst of those behind Striking Spirit, for whom there was money, was dropped 1lb to 94, Arthurs Edge was dropped 5lb to 95, Desert Phantom 4lb to 90 and Beaver Patrol 3lb to 86.

The Class 2 Scarborough Handicap at Thirsk over 5f saw Fol Hollow finally get his head in front and as a result he was raised 3lb to 96, Captain Dunne was raised a further 1lb for another placed run to 100. Jargelle was dropped 2lb 90, Tabaret 1lb to 89 and Pavershooz 2lb to 87. The latter is once again becoming well handicapped if he shows any improvement from last season.

The following Class 4 Filey Handicap over 5f went to the improving Sirenuse who has been raised 4lb to 83 and if she can get into the Dash at Epsom she would help force the pace even more, although there are so many front runners in that it may go to a hold up horse, so start having a look at the declared runners and check out the early prices. Indian Trail was left on the same mark of 85 as was the consistent Brierty who finished 2nd.

3 Good Sprint races this weekend

Three good sprints at 3 different tracks this Saturday :
2.15 Goodwood Class 2 6f Totescoop6 Handicap sees Definightly, Jarrow, Jonny Mudball, Parisian Pyramid and Rileyskeepingfaith in opposition as well as others.

3.00 Haydock Group 2 5f Betfred.Com Temple Stakes has Total Gallery, Blue Jack, Borderlescott, Equiano, Kingsgate Native, Triple Aspect and Look Busy as the main contenders.

3.40 York Class 2 5f Sporting Bet.Com Sprint Handicap sees Archers Road, Avertor, Hamish McGonagall, Indian Trail, Johannes, Masamah, Sohraab, and Taberet as the main contenders.

All 3 races look very competitive and all 3 could form part of this weeks big Scoop 6 Pot on CH4 so scutiny of previous entries on this blog should be top of the list....if anyone wins you know where to find me !

Fol Hollow finally gets his head in front

Fol Hollow as I have previously said is a consistent sort and his followers were rewarded on Saturday when he won the Class 2 handicap at Thirsk over 5f in a time of 58.11s at odds of 8/1. The handicapper has had him on this sort of mark (93) for a while and although he is always thereabouts it has been a little while since he won and it is likely he will be raised a few pounds for this. He hadnt run too well earlier in the week at York behind some of his rivals in this race but that may have been a pipe opener for this, who knows ? His trainer now says that he will be aimed at the 6f handicap at Epsom on Derby Day as opposed to the Dash which he has run in for the last 2 seasons.
Captain Dunne who wore the first colours of the Middleham syndicate finished 2nd and his early season target is reportedly the Temple stakes next weekend at Haydock.
Jargelle finished 3rd after showing very quick speed to get to the rail from her outside draw wearing a first time tongue strap. If he showed this speed in the Dash you could see him going close in that.
Jaconet couldnt get to the front this time and for her this race may have come too soon after York.

Spencer makes a meal of it !

Anne of Kiev who I highlighted on this blog a few weeks ago as having been denied a clear at Windsor was given another nightmare passage this time from Jamie Spencer at Doncaster on Saturday night. Spencer met every possible traffic problem in his efforts to get to the front, weaving from one side of the course to the other. Anne of Kiev was running all over the others, and she eventually got through to fly but could only manage 4th behind Tubby Isaacs in the Class 4 handicap over 6f on Good to firm off 75. She looks sure to win soon on the basis of her last 2 runs and she is currently for sale to stay in the stable at £20,000.00 if anyone's interested in making an investment.
The time of the race 1m 11.35s and was fast by 0.05s.