The Wokingham and Diamond Jubilee

Well I get the chance to go to Royal Ascot tomorrow as I have a share in Tatlisu in the Wokingham. He has been well supported since Ryan Moore, who rides him, has had all his winners - but in truth he is probably shorter in the betting than he deserves to be and his price is probably more about the jockey. That said he has blinkers on for the first time so it is not beyond the realms of possibility that he will improve again on what he has shown to date and if that was the case he wouldn't be far away as he goes on any ground and heavy rain is supposedly due in the area tomorrow.
The draw is an unknown factor if the going changes - it seems to have favoured those drawn low more than those drawn high so far but that may change.
I like the look of both Huntsmans Close and Gamesome and I hope Tatlisu can get in the frame too.

The Diamond Jubilee sees an International field with Ireland, Australia and USA making up over half the runners. The home team may be up against it and Tropics looks the pick. In truth the race looks an easy Group 1 to win as it seems to be low on quality and it will be interesting to see how the time of this race works out - particularly if the going stays as it is.
Aiden O'Brien has his team in top form and the stable cat could run well if it came over so Due Dilligence could go very well for Ryan Moore as he travels and stays well.

No selections as I will just be having a watching brief - if you want to have a look at the big race facts they are available on the link above for both races.

Good Luck !
 

Kings Stand Stakes - Royal Ascot Day 1

It looks like we are in for a feast of racing all week at Royal Ascot and the first big sprint is the Kings Stand Stakes.
The going is Good, Good to Firm in places. (GoingStick: Standside: 8.5, Centre: 8.3, Farside: 8.5, Round 8.1 on Tuesday at 08:15).The Fav is Sole Power as he seeks a record breaking third win in the race. He faces 18 rivals from over the globe in this fascinating Group 1 sprint.
For me this race is between Mecca's Angel, Sole Power, G Force, Muthmir, Goldream and Steps is good ew value at 50/1 as like Sole Power he finishes well off a fast pace.
Paddy Power himself thinks Sole Power is a good bet today and the best price you can get this am is 5/1 with Ladbrokes.
Goldream is good value too at 28/1 as he will like the going today and Robert Cowell hasn't sent many to Royal Ascot and he has to be respected in these big sprints.
The going is a slight concern for Mecca's Angel but the time of her race at Longchamp last time out was 55.24 which shows as always a dodgy going description at that track. She possesses plenty of natural speed being by Dark Angel and when winning at Longchamp she had a poor draw but still won going away by two lengths and she may set too hard a test for Sole Power to claw back and she is my idea of the winner.

Facts and Figures :
History : First run in 1860 as the The Queens Stand Stakes/Plate over the 2 year old course of about 6f. The distance was reduced to 5f in 1907 with the name of the race having changed to The Kings Stand Stakes in 1901.

Draw Record last 7 years :

2014 : 8, 4, 11, 10 (16 ran) Good - Richard Hughes 58.85s

2013 : 14, 5, 10, 6 (19 ran) Good - Johnny Murtagh

2012 : 7, 8, 22, 3 (22 ran) Good to Soft

2011 : 14, 18, 10, 15 (19 ran) Good

2010 : 11, 4, 3, 5 (12 ran) Good

2009 : 1, 15, 14, 9 (15 ran) Good to Firm

2008 : 11, 9, 12, 1 (13 ran) Good to Firm

Age of past Winner - 7, 6, 6, 6, 5, 5, 3

Previous Results :

2014 : 1st Sole Power, 2nd Stepper Point, 3rd Hot Streak, 4th Medicean Man

2013 : 1st Sole Power, 2nd Shea Shea, 3rd Pearl Secret, 4th Jack Dexter

2012 : 1st Little Bridge, 2nd Bated Breath, 3rd Sole Power, 4th Medicean Man

2011 : 1st Prohibit, 2nd Star Witness, 3rd Sweet Sanette, 4th Overdose

2010 : 1st Equiano, 2nd Markab, 3rd Borderlescott, 4th Nicconi

2014 Racing Post Analysis-
A wide-open Group 1 sprint, as if often the case these days, and they were spread across the track.
For a second consecutive year, SOLE POWER´s irresistible late burst proved too much for his rivals, travelling supremely well under new rider Richard Hughes, who weaved his way through the field. Having been switched right, he ended up near the far rail and he fairly flew home to win readily. Although now a 7yo he´s at the very top of his game and can return in 2015 in a bid to complete a hat-trick in the race, granted similarly quick ground.

Trainers Comments :

Sole Power - Eddie Lynam told At The Races: "I'm very happy with him. He's in a real good place and I'm looking forward to him. This is his fifth Royal Ascot, which is unusual. He's won the last twice and was placed in it and he was down the field in it, but he's carried us for years. He's a great horse.He hadn't run for a while so his last run blew the cobwebs away. He needed a run to get him back in order.Richard (Hughes) was happy and the way the horse has been training, recently especially, I think he's right now and he's ready to go."

Shamal Wind - R Smerdon said: "She's a very flexible mare and we wouldn't be worried if the ground was very soft or very fast. It's going to a tough race, but our horses have done well in this race before and I think she'll go pretty well. It's great to be involved and great to have a horse good enough to run at Ascot. Her win in the Oakleigh was typical of her style in that she is a run-on sprinter. She has an explosive burst, but you have to time it exactly right and she has been narrowly beaten in races. She is a tricky ride."

Muthmir,- Angus Gold, racing manager to owner Sheikh Hamdan, said: "I don't think he'll have any trouble holding him over five furlongs at Ascot and he's exciting. Whether he can beat Sole Power is another matter, but he's a horse we're looking forward to. I don't think he'll be outclassed, as long as we can get him into it in the right way, get a lead and produce him late. Sole Power is an incredibly impressive sprinter and there's obviously others in there as well, but I think our horse deserves to take his chance."

William Haggas is bullish he may be able to dethrone Sole Power in the Group 1 sprint - "He’s taking on the best sprinter that there’s been for a while but he’s got a lot of things in his favour. He’s got a good turn of foot and I think the track, the trip and the fast ground will suit him. He’s got a nice draw and he’s very well."

Mecca's Angel - Michael Dods said: "Mecca's Angel is a very straightforward filly who did it very well in France last time when she quickened again off a strong pace and was quite impressive. This will be her sternest test yet, but I believe she has come on for that last run and deserves to take her chance.She has won on an uphill track before and she will probably jump and sit but she could lead if she has to lead. She is a better filly on genuinely good or good to soft ground so I hope they put plenty of water on - I will walk it on Tuesday morning just to check it's all right. Winning any race is a great feeling and makes all the hard work worthwhile but a race like the King's Stand is what we are aiming at as we want to compete with the best and show it is possible to train good horses up here in the North. If we were to win it would mean a hell of a lot to the whole operation - to my staff, to Paul (Mulrennan, jockey) and to the owners. Royal Ascot only happens once a year so you have to enjoy it, it's a massive occasion."

Stepper Point, - William Muir said: "Stepper Point just ripped a shoe off coming out of the stalls at Chantilly. He looked like a teddy bear in his coat before his last run, but he his just starting to show his summer coat now. He is in great shape and he really comes alive at this time of year."

Steps - Roger Varian said: "He ran a good race in the 'Dash' and he was only beaten two and a half lengths at Ascot last year. He is in super form and although I can't see him winning it, he has a good chance of being in the first four or five."

888sport Charity Sprint (Handicap)

Trainers Comments

Martyn Meade told At The Races about Scalzo : "I'm very pleased and obviously the horse has shown his ability and to actually be able to have an owner like this in the yard is enormously exciting. After the Haydock run it was not in our minds to sell the horse, but the opportunity to train for that particular owner made it a no-brainer. What we have to do is produce the goods.Running him in the big sprint handicap at York, we can gauge how good he is and then hopefully introduce him into Group class after that."

Henry Candy says of Twilight Sun: "He's in very good form. I'm happy with the draw (seven) and the ground. This has been his target since his win at Newmarket and I think he's ready to run a good race."

Sam Hoskins, representative of Magical Memory said: "It was a good win last time out and I think we've found the right tactics now, he needs holding up. He should run well but even though we get a bit of a pull at the weights with Twilight Son, I think he'll be tough to beat - he looks a Group horse in a handicap to me. It's a 20-runner handicap, though, so anything could happen, and with such good money on offer we'd be mad not to take our chance. I just hope they don't get lots of rain as he wouldn't want it very soft. Otherwise, he's going there with a good each-way chance I think."

Karl Burke commented re Explosive Lady "I was very pleased with how she ran at Haydock because I warned that she'd need the run and I feel she's really sharpened up for it. We're hoping for a good run off 95 because I feel she's a good bit better than that. She might need to be because Henry Candy's horse and three or four others look big dangers, it's very competitive. If I'm right, though, I still think she's well handicapped."

Richard Fahey has three runners in the race and comments as follows "Grandad’s World has been disappointing but we’ve gelded him since his last run. That will hopefully help him because he’s always been talented and worked well this week. I hope he can improve but this is very competitive. Bonds Girl is in no man’s land a little. She had a fantastic season last year and if she came back to her best she’d have a chance but she’s not very big. It’s not a case of her having not trained on but the worry is have the others strengthened and caught her up? She couldn’t be in better order though. Sarista got very upset in the stalls on her only previous run for us and we have been doing a lot of work with her since. She came here with a tall reputation but the main thing is for us to get her behaving properly at the start and see if she can run her race.

Race History :
Draw Record last 7 years :
2014 - 12, 5, 6, 16 (20 ran) Good, Good to firm in places - David Allan 1m 12.03s
2013 - 14, 9, 16, 3 (19 ran) Good to Firm - Duran Fentiman
2012 - 4, 12, 9, 17 (17 ran) Soft
2011 - 18, 16, 2, 15 (20 ran) Good
2010 - 5, 3, 19, 11 (20 ran) Good
2009 - 2, 6, 19, 4 (20 ran) Good
2008 - 8, 4, 17, 18 (19 ran) Good

Weight of Winner : 8-7, 8-11, 8-9, 8-11, 8-7, 9-1, 9-0,

Result :
2014 : 1st See The Sun, 2nd Naadir, 3rd Kickboxer, 4th Gamesome
2013 : 1st Body And Soul, 2nd Moviesta, 3rd Barracouda Boy, 4th Heaven's Guest
2012 : 1st Sholaan, 2nd Gabriel's Lad, 3rd Glen Moss, 4th Boris Grigoriev
2011 : 1st Lexi's Hero, 2nd Cocktail Charlie, 3rd Acclamazing, 4th Swiss Dream
2010 : 1st Victoire De Lyphar, 2nd Iver Bridge Lad, 3rd Singeur, 4th Pastoral Player
2009 : 1st Swiss Diva, 2nd Parisian Pyramid, 3rd Favourite Girl, 4th Rowayton
2008 : 1st Brave Prospector, 2nd Victorian Bounty, 3rd Ancien Regime, 4th Good Gorsoon

Tim Easterby has had 4 wins in the last 12 years.

2014 Racing Post Analysis
The ground continued to dry out and was now good to firm.
This traditionally hot 3yo sprint handicap looked well up to scratch this year and although it was another case of the winner making just about all, the form still has a solid look to it and plenty of winners will come out of this. The main action unfolded up the centre of the track. SEE THE SUN, back up to 6f and from a yard with a decent record in this contest, showed plenty of speed up the centre of the track and although he appeared to be paddling inside the last furlong and looked sure to be swallowed up, he found a bit more and just managed to hold on. On this evidence a return to 5f wouldn't bother him, but he gets this trip well and there should be more decent races to be won with him.

Investec Corporate Banking Dash - Class 2 Heritage Handicap

The stalls are situated on the stands side for the 5f races, high numbers are nearest the rail.

The Draw as you will look at them is therefore as follows with their usual running style described:
  1 Desert Law - Prominent
  2 Smoothtalkinrascal - Prominent
  3 Monumental Man 8.8 - Leads/Pace
  4 Chiclet - Prominent
  5 Steps - Held Up
  6 Secret Missile - Held Up
  7 Monsieur Joe - Held Up
  8 Normal Equilibrium - Midfield
  9 Pearl Acclaim - Prominent
10 Burning Thread - Held Up
11 Seeking Magic - Held Up
12 Humidor - Midfield
13 Free Zone - Prominent
14 Caspian Prince 9.10 - Prominent
15 Duke Of Firenze 9.3 - Prominent
16 Perfect Muse - Held Up
17 Confessional - Prominent
18 Boom The Groom - Prominent
19 Barnet Fair - Held Up
20 Silvanus - Prominent

Some of the main contenders are as follows :

Monumental Man a C&D winner on his two previous starts at this track, looked better than ever here last time out, the race was set up perfectly for his strengths, he bagged the rail and was soon bowling along disputing lead, went on outright 2f out and drew clear inside final 1f for a convincing success by 3 3/4 lengths. Although up 12lb in the handicap ratings he actually carries 3lb less in weight than he did for his latest C&D win - so theoretically there is no reason to suppose his time will be any slower. His time for that race was 0.38secs faster than last years winning time in this race. He is drawn in stall 3 which could be a negative, but Stone Of Folca broke the world record for 5f from stall 2 so hopefully it will not be too much of a hindrance to his chances. In any event he would appear to be, on paper, the confirmed front runner in the field of runners so he should be able to go where he wants.

Steps (IRE) ran without his usual headgear at Newbury and looked rusty after 6 months off, the run sure to bring him on, and he does have an excellent record second time out in a season (has won in 3 of last 4 years); slowly into stride, never going pace, held when short of room briefly final 1f, not unduly punished. In this race last season he was counted as an unlucky loser as he missed the break and then finished fast to go down by just three quarters of a length in 4th. He is one pound lower in the handicap ratings this time and is drawn further towards the middle of the track.

Seeking Magic probably needed run after 6 months off last time out at Newmarket. He finished second in this race last season from a 4 lb higher mark having contested the same Newmarket race previously and his stable also run Perfect Muse. He is drawn in the middle in stall 11 and he is another who could easily have won last year granted some better luck.

Perfect Muse progressed well in 2014 and is open to improvement. Put down a good marker for this at Goodwood behind Humidor recently, just lacking the wherewithal to quicken at the crucial stage, but going on well at the end. Cam Hardie was booked early to claim a useful 3lbs and she is drawn more towards the rail in stall 16.

Chiclet (IRE) completed hat-trick in Ireland, the latest at being at Dundalk on the All Weather surface where she was close up, travelled strongly, led on bridle over 1f out, quickened clear soon after to record an impressive victory. The trainer nominated this as her next port of call although I'm not sure she has shown enough speed for a race of this nature but she is open to further improvement. She is drawn in stall 4 so will be able to follow the pace set by Monumental Man.

Barnet Fair looks close to hitting top form for his trainer who has a very good record in this race. He finished 6th in the race last season from a 1lb lower mark. He warmed up for this with a 6th at Thirsk under Franny Norton and Kieren Fox rides today. One big plus in his favour is the draw, he was drawn in stall 1 last year whereas this time he is 19 so I would imagine he will be able to do better than his 6th last year.

Desert Law (IRE)has shown some good from this season and it shows that he's competitively handicapped again, so he's one to bear in mind as he has form in the race, albeit 3 years ago, when 2nd to Spirit Of Folca, beaten half a length from stall 16 after travelling well. He is 8lb lower in the handicap ratings now but he has to cope with stall 1 so he may not get much cover.

Caspian Prince last years winner is now 11lbs higher and is 12bs worse off with Seeking Magic for winning by a head. He is drawn in stall 14, the same stall from which he won last season. He has been competing at a higher level since and he evidently still possesses speed. Weight in 5f races does not have as much bearing as weight in for instance in 1m 4f races as the weight carried is done so for less time and therefore there probably wont be much between him and Seeking Magic again at the line.
Facts and Figures
Draw Positions of previous winners and placed horses
2014 - 14, 17, 12, 13 (19 ran) Good - Adam Kirby 54.75s
2013 - 19, 1, 5, 13 (17 ran) Good - 55.22s
2012 - 2, 16, 15, 3 (20 ran) Good to Firm - 53.69s (World Record)
2011 - 9, 13, 10, 1 (16) Good to Firm - 54.30s
2010 - 15, 14, 16, 9 (19) Good to Firm - 54.22s
2009 - 18, 12, 11, 1 (18) Good to Firm - 54.67s
2008 - 8, 19, 12, 17 (19) Good - 55.33s
Age of Winner - 5, 4, 4, 6, 6, 9, 6
Previous Results :
2014 : 1st Caspian Prince, 2nd Seeking Magic, 3rd Addictive Dream, 4th Steps
2013 : 1st Duke Of Firenze, 2nd Smoothtalkinrascal, 3rd Dinkum Diamond, 4th Fair Value
2012 : 1st Stone of Folca, 2nd Desert Law, 3rd Catfish, 4th Taajub
2011 : 1st Captain Dunne, 2nd Confessional, 3rd La Fortunata, 4th Sohraab
2010 : 1st Bertoliver, 2nd Hawkeyethenoo, 3rd Rocket Bob, 4th Judge N'Jury
2014 Racing Post Analysis :
This was always going to be fast and furious and the second and fourth will feel they could have won on another day. Surprisingly, though, there was very little trouble in behind.
CASPIAN PRINCE, 7lb higher than when readily making all the running over C&D earlier in the season, repeated the trick in what was a much more competitive race, soon being in front near the stands´ rail and, having battled back after the third edged ahead of him, just held on. He clearly loves a fast 5f.

Course and Distance winners, their best times, actual weight carried and going :
Caspian Prince - 54.75s  9.0 - Good
Duke Of Firenze - 55.22s 9.0 - Good
Monumental Man - 54.37s 8.11 - Good To Firm

First Time Tongue Strap - Boom The Groom and Smoothtalkinrascal.

Selection : Monumental Man @ 12/1

Nottingham Sprint

TAKE NOTE THE GOING HAS CHANGED AGAIN TO GOOD TO SOFT, GOOD IN PLACES.

Hi everyone - no posts for a short while, so sorry about that. However I've been doing well over the last few days having gone through the card at Newmarket on Friday I'm ready to tackle some sprint races today at Nottingham.

There has been rain overnight and the going has changed to Good from Good to Firm, Firm in places. Showers are forecast for the remainder of the day as can be seen from the met office rainfall radar map. The going is essentially the same as last weeks meeting here, The turftrax reading being 8.0. You will need to check which way the wind is blowing as if its head on it will favour those held up.

The stalls are situated on the stands side for the 5f races, high numbers are nearest the rail. The course has minor undulations and generally speedy, handy types are favoured.

3.45 ODDS ON FAVOURITE DG TAXIS 01159500500 HANDICAP - 5f 13yds - cLASS 3

Van Ellis and Royal Mezyan are non runners.

Draw order as you will look at them is as follows :

  1 - Borderlescott - Prominent
  2 - Blithe Spirit - Prominent
  3 - Rusty Rocket - Prominent
  4 - Sleepy Sioux - Held Up
  5 - Judge N'Jury - PACE
  6 - It Must Be Faith - Prominent
  7 - Free Zone - Held Up
  8 - Top Boy - Held Up
  9 - Double Up - Held Up
10 - Burning Thread - Prominent
11 - NR - stall will move up 1
12 - NR - stall will move up 1
13 - NR - stalls will move up 1 closer to rail
14 - Harrogate Fair - Prominent

Powerful Wind was able to get to the rail from stall 8 of 11 LTO at Chepstow and bagged the rail to lead all the way and it looks as though he will be able to do that today, however that was a Class 5 veterans handicap and he had a lot in his favour so he may not be able to dominate this field as much. He is up 5lb in the ratings but has a 7lb Claiming Jockey on board. The time was 58.19s with a top speed figure of 70.
Judge N'Jury, for the same stable, has 3 horses to his inside who are usually held up so he should also be able to get across towards the rail with Powerful Wind. He is 11 and contested a Class 3 LTO returning from a 210 day break and finished 3rd. That was on similar going to today where he led and raced against near side rail, was ridden 2f out and was headed and one pace 1f out. The time of the race was 59.55s and he recorded a top speed figure of 75, he was beaten 2 lengths. He is however 6lb lower than his last win which was over this course and distance in a Class 3 Handicap on similar going to today, which he won by 4 lengths drawing clear from 2f out and keeping on strongly in a time of 1m 0.4s which was 0.26s slower than last weeks Class 5 over C&D.
Double Up is the short priced favourite on the basis of his win at Newmarket in a Class 4 where he faced just 5 others. The race was run in a time of 57.44s with a speed figure of 75 and its a case of whether they will be going fast enough for him today as today's race will be about 2.5 secs slower. He wasn't slowly away as described by race readers, he was close up from the start. They had the benefit of a fresh wind behind and the field parted like the Red Sea for Double Up who ran on to win convincingly with It Must Be Faith beaten in 5th. I would be surprised if he gets an easy run through today as I would imagine the field will be spread out across this side of the track come th efinal furlong and he may have to wait to get a run but he certainly has the potential to improve further.
One who I think is well drawn in stall 10 is Burning Thread whose last win came off a mark of 90 in a Class 3, he is rated 87 today and Tim Clark claims 5lb. He was having his first run of the season last time out for his new trainer David Elsworth who has been in fine form of late and he was drawn in stall 2 of 15 at York in a Class 2 Handicap, winning time 57.50s. He was pretty isolated on the far side for most of that race and finished 5 1/2 lengths behind Out Do in a race that has worked out well since. If he progressed from that then he will go very close. The only negative may be the going as he usually likes it a bit faster than he will get today, but it was Good ground at York (6.4) so it may not be a problem.
Rusty Rocket, Blithe Spirit and Harrogate Fair will be praying for more rain but should run well in any event as will the 13yo Borderlescott, but its Burning Thread for me who is a best priced 9/1.

Now the going has changed to Good to Soft, Good in places you will need to consider Rusty Rocket, Blithe Spirit and Harrogate Fair as the this will have enhanced their chances and there may be more non runners as they afternoon goes on. The going change may be a negative for the Fav Double Up.

The Temple Stakes big race facts

The Betfred.Com Temple Stakes - Haydock - Group 2
History : Has been run at Haydock since 2008 having previously been staged at Sandown between 1965 to 2003 on Whitsun (now Spring) Bank Holiday Monday Holborn, owned by Charles Englehard won the first running. Previous form in the race in recent years has been beneficial.
Draw Record last 7 years : 
2014 - 7, 1, 5, 3 (9 ran) Good to Soft - Oisin Murphy 1m 0.15s
2013 - 10, 4, 5, 11 (10 ran) Firm - Shane Kelly 59.25s
2012 - 2, 4, 4, 12 (12 ran) Firm 56.39s
2011 - 5, 12, 11, 1 (12) Good to Firm 57.67s
2010 - 4, 6, 9, 5 (9) Good to Firm 58.92
2009 - 1, 11, 6, 12 (9) Heavy 1m 4.03s
2008 - 3, 1, 10, 4 (12) Good to Firm 57.15s
Low numbers favoured
Age of Winner - 3, 8, 5, 4, 5, 4, 3
Result :
2014 : 1st Hot Streak, 2nd Pearl Secret, 3rd Kingsgate Native, 4th Justice Day
2013 : 1st Kingsgate Native, 2nd Swiss Spirit, 3rd Reckless Abandon, 4th Sole Power
2012 : 1st Bated Breath, 2nd Sole Power, 3rd Spirit Quartz, 4th Borderlescott
2011 : 1st Sole Power, 2nd Kingsgate Native, 3rd Prohibit, 4th Borderlescott
2010 : 1st Kingsgate Native, 2nd Equiano, 3rd Borderlescott, 4th Spin Cycle
2014 Racing Post Analysis :
A one-two for Qatar Racing with HOT STREAK leading home Pearl Secret, the pair well clear. They all raced middle to far side.
Hot Streak, whose top apprentice rider was unable to claim his 3lb allowance, is a tremendously fast horse and, despite being taken on up front by Justineo (who faded to finish sixth), he sustained his challenge to skip clear before easily holding off the runner-up´s late bid. This was a really taking performance from a young, still improving sprinter and, when the emphasis is on speed, European runners at least are going to find him tough to beat.

Back on Track

Hoping to get back on track today and find a winner.

2.55 Newbury - This sees a decent field line up over the 6f. Clear Spring won a 4 runner Class 2 Conditions Stakes at Haydock last Saturday and consequently has to carry a 6lb penalty. He was up against Intibaah and Louis The Pious over whom he held a fitness advantage on Soft ground, the other runner Invincible Ridge was 14lb wrong with Clear Spring at the weights, so he faces a  tough task today with 6lb penalty. Clear Spring prior to that race had a run a good race to finish 5th behind Pipers Note at Ripon, where he was 2 lengths behind Algar Lad who won a Class 2 Handicap at York earlier this week.

Fast Track and Golden Steps head the market today and they both return from their winter breaks. The form that entitles them to be were they are in the betting is their race at Newmarket last July when they finished 1st and 5th over 6f on Good to Firm in a time of 1m 11.49s. Eastern Impact was a running on second that day beaten a nose and he was giving Fast Track and Golden Steps 9lb and 2lbs respectively.

Eastern Impact ran again at Newmarket a week last Sunday in another Class 2 Handicap beating the progressive Huntsmans Close, finishing in 4th was Accession who runs today and he was receiving 3lbs if you take Jack Garrity's claim into account. However the winning time of that race was 1m 9.82s ie 1.67s faster, the winning distances being a shd, 1 length, 1 length. Accession was drawn 2 of 22 on the outside, he broke well and had to come across the field in order to get a prominent position which he held throughout the race. The going was probably faster than ideal (9.2 on the going stick) and he was reverting back to 6f, having run predominantly over 7f, however he recorded a career high top speed figure of 85. 
He is 2-3 at Newbury, he is 3-11 in fields between 6 and 11 runners and 2-4 when running between 8 and 14 days since last run. There are 10 runners and 12 days since his last run.
The stalls are positioned on the stands side rail and he is drawn 9. Chilworth Icon is drawn 10 and he tends to start slowly and generally be held up so Accession should get the rail if his jockey chooses to use it. The going at Newbury is officially Good (6.3 on the going stick) so it should suit him better than at Newmarket.
On the line through Eastern Impact he should have the beating of Fast Track and Golden Steps and with the fitness and the rail draw he is the value bet at 5/1 and he will need to win well in order to get a rating high enough to get into the Wokingham which the stable would like to get into if possible.
Of the others Eternitys Gate has room for improvement although he is running from 4lb out of the handicap and Magnus Maximus winner of the Tattersalls Million in 2013 has blinkers applied for the first time in an effort to rekindle his enthusiasm.

York's Dante Meeting - Day 1

Well I'm off to York tomorrow to watch Tatlisu in the 2.40 Class 2 Handicap.

He doesn't have the best of draws in stall 1 as only 1 winner has come from that stall in sprints since 2009 - a total of 91 in all, but Ryan Moore will be riding and hopefully he can get a toe into the race as he usually travels well.

The overnight favourite looks to be Polybius and he is entered for the Group 2 Temple Stakes and the Group 1 July Cup so this may be a springboard to better things and he must be well thought of to get those kind of entries, he holds a decent draw in 17, although he has no real experience of big field handicaps.

The first 4 home from Pipers Note's win at Ripon last time re oppose. 
Tudhope has not ridden Algar Lad since last July so I don't think we can read anything into him being on the stables Out Do as he won on him last time out at Pontefract. In that race he stole a march on the others and it paid to be out in front that day. He doesn't have a great record at York finishing 8958 from 4 starts.

Kickboxer has now been transferred to Godolphin so high hopes for him too, although he has yet to win here from 4 starts, albeit he was 3rd to G Force in one of his attempts..

All 4 of Blaine's wins have come in July/August so it might be a bit early to catch him even though he is well drawn in 18.

Bogart should be all the sharper for his return at Beverley and Boy In The Bar should also come on with blinkers back on for his second start for Richard Fahey.

It's a very difficult race in which to come to a conclusion as we don't know what effect the draw will have, if any and it may be a wise move to go for two horses, one drawn high and one drawn low, but if Polybius is as good as they think he is he may take some stopping.

Richard Fahey quotes - I thought everything went wrong for Tatlisu at Ripon last time. They spread out across the track and he’s a horse who needs cover in his races. He hasn’t got a great draw for that here but if they go quick up front I hope he’s in the right place to pick them off.

I was pleased enough with Boy In The Bar’s first run for us at Ascot where I feel the ground just dried out a little bit too much for him. He wouldn’t want it too quick and we’ve stuck the blinkers back on him on the recommendation of Robert Winston. We’ll see what effect they have.
In the Duke of York at 3.15 the two horses most likely to go on to better things, Muthmir and Lightning Moon, are returning from their winter breaks and on this occasion it may be best to go with those with race fitness as there will be plenty of pace on here. However beyond those two this isn't looking a race bursting with talent and Astaire at 13/2, the winner of the Abernant at Newmarket is worth risking your money on.
Of the others I think Naadirr was flattered by his win at Doncaster as he he was shielded from the strong headwind. Aetna and Jack Dexter probably need more cut in the going to show their best whist Lucky Kristale hasnt done much for a while.
Mattmu was stuffed by Limato last season and will probably need the race in any event. 

Hawkeyethenoo to roll back time !

The Victoria Cup on Saturday is the competitive race that you would expect it to be but there is one horse who is beginning to get some respite from the handicapper and that is Hawkeyethenoo who gets in here at the bottom of the handicap on a mark of 93 with Hector Crouch taking off a further 7lb, so he will be running off and actual weight of 8-1 or a mark of 86.

You may think he is getting a bit old in the tooth but he is a former winner of this race and he often runs well here and as we have seen in these sprints this year age is no barrier.

When he won this race back in 2011 as a 5yo he was rated 96 and his winning distance was a comfortable two and a half lengths. The going was Good to Firm that day and the actual weight he carried was 8-7 with the time recorded being 1m 26.49s.

In October he returned to the track for the 14th time over this distance in a Class 2 Handicap off a mark of 100, actual weight carried 9-6, It was Good to Firm that day and he was drawn in stall 18 of 18. He was settled out the back on the rail before running on to be beaten just one and a quarter lengths, despite a troubled passage, in a race time of 1m 26.44s and the Racing Post analysis read as follows :
Steadied start and switched to race near side, held up, progress 2f out against near side rail, stayed on well final furlong, gaining at finish.

This season he has had two races and on his latest start at Haydock his rider adopted similar tactics to his Ascot run and he was running on at the end despite not having the clearest of passages and hopefully that will have set him up for a decent run in this.

This time last season he was running in Group 2's over 5f and 6f which is probably a bit short for him now and in 2013 he wasn't beaten far in both the Group 1 Golden Jubilee here and the Haydock Sprint Cup behind Lethal Spirit and Gordon Lord Byron respectively. He won the Stewards Cup off 103(top weight) as a 6yo and has consistently run well in big sprints through his career.

He is drawn 16 of the 29 runners tomorrow so he should be able to get plenty of cover. He should also get the strong pace he needs as Outback Traveller in stall 13 should lead, whilst Zarwaan 14, Bronze Angel 18, Lulu The Zulu 19, Dream Spirit 20 and Heavens Guest 22  all like to race prominent so there's plenty of pace about him. 
Seven of his 8 wins have come when  he's carried 9 stone or less and his last 4 wins have come in fields of 20 or more runners as he seems to like coming through horses. It's now just a case of whether his young jockey is able to steer him through the gaps.

Although he has run well on ground described as good to firm in the past he ideally needs the ground to be on the soft side of good. The going is currently good at Ascot however there has been a bit of rain about as well as racing on Friday night so hopefully the going will be just about right.

Once again I am not saying he will win but he is decent odds for a horse of his ability and as several bookmakers are paying 5 places you should take advantage of that offer as he will pay decent odds for a place with his current odds being 40/1. 

Good Luck !

Van the Man !

Well back to my sprint roots today as there is a wide outsider that I think has the potential to do better than his 50/1 odds.
Van Ellis drops to Class 3 handicap company following his Class 2 run at Ripon against the likes of Pipers Note and Tatlisu.
The handicapper has dropped him 5lb from 100 to 95 and the excellent Cam Hardie takes off another 3lb.
James Doyle was booked at Ripon, Van Ellis's first run back following a long break, so Steve Flook, who is better known as a Hunter Chase trainer must have thought he had a chance in that race.
At Ripon he set a very good pace on the far side leading the field before he eventually gave way and faded at about the furlong pole. He was allowed to come home in his own time and was well beaten according to a number of race readers. The Racing Post analysis said the following "Led far side, headed over 1f out, weakened and eased"
This run was no surprise given that he was coming back off an 814 day break.
He was bought for 8,000 at the 2014 Ascot December Sales having previously been with Mark Johnston and Godolphin.
When with Johnston he won twice at Chester in 2012, both wins coming from stall 9 of 9 runners(we've seen this week its difficult to overcome a high draw) so he did very well to win both of those, the latter of which was a listed race.
Immediately prior to that Listed win he won the Skybet Dash by a length and a quarter over 6f at York off a mark of 100 when he was drawn in possibly the worst stall of all on the straight track number 1.
In October 2012 he contested the Group 2 Champions Sprint at Ascot where he came up against the likes of Group 1 winning sprinters Society Rock and Maarek. He once again got the worst of the draw in stall 1 of 15 but he showed up well without getting any cover and faded at the furlong pole. He was a 3yo though against older horses and he was only beaten 6 1/4 lengths at the line.
Prior to his return last month his last run was when 2nd at Meydan for Godolphin in 2013.
He has only run 15 times in total in his 6 years and 6 is an age that top sprint trainer Robert Cowell says is the best age for a sprinter, so he is in his prime with possible improvement/return to his old form to come. The handicapper had him rated as high as 108 as a 3yo and with Cam Hardie's claim he is effectively now running off a mark of 92.

He runs 7.10 at Ascot on Friday over 6f, he is drawn 7 of the 14 so hopefully he will get a little bit of cover if needed. I am not saying he is going to win but at the likely price of between 33/1 to 50/1 he could represent some value and is worth a small each way investment at those odds.