Ooty Might Be Oot On Friday

[stevecaution]

After Roger Charlton said that he was going to take his time with Dubawi colt Ooty Hill because he felt he’ll make up into a really good four year old, I expected that we might not see him for a while. However, looking at the entries for Newbury on Friday, I see he is entered up in a fascinating six runner affair.

Ryan Moore is booked for this good looking grey horse who won his only start in promising style last year and he’s one of my horses to keep an eye on this year.

With John Gosden’s promising filly Star Of Seville and Godolphin’s Winters Moon opposing, this looks an interesting race. It seems unlikely that Star Of Seville, who was a runaway maiden winner on her second start, will go off at the price guide 13/2, especially as stable mate Western Hymn landed this en route to last years Derby.

Winters Moon was a typical Godolphin 2yo who won first time and then was beaten favourite next time up. Her third in the Fillies Mile sets the standard and she’s top rated, with a guesstimate price of 6/5 F here. The usual Godolphin caveats apply for me and I’ll be looking to oppose her if she’s really short.

An interesting contest if they all show up. We’ll find out if it’s a case of Ooty game, or Oot e’ door for Roger Charlton’s colt as he tries to concede 5lb to the girls as he steps up to a distance that seems certain to suit him much better than the 7f he won over last season.

Thanks for the good crack. Time for me to move on. Be lucky.

[stevecaution]

Well Ooty Hills is Oot today and he’s been the one for money. He was a general 2/1 second favourite behind the Godolphin filly but is mostly 6/4 or less now.

With Gosden’s hit and miss week, mostly miss, it is no surprise to see Star Of Seville relatively weak in the betting. She ran on the same card as Beautiful Romance, who ran third in the Nell Gwyn. I thought at the time that both fillies would be more likely Oaks types and this seems a more sensible starting point in terms of distance and class for Gosden’s Duke Of Marmalade filly than the race chosen for Beautiful Romance. I can’t fancy her here though, with improvement probably required and the stable not in the same form as this stage last year.

Winters Moon fans will probably be thinking it’s Christmas with their top rated filly sitting at 2/1. Her third in the Fillies Mile is the strongest form by quite a way. The ground was soft that day though and it’s good to firm today. She finished in front of Marsh Hawk that day and that filly didn’t cut much ice earlier this week.

I’m hoping Ooty Hills can handle the faster surface today and prove he’s something like as good as he looks as a specimen. Sometimes these grey horses appear to me as if they would like cut in the ground. I don’t know if it’s just their colour that deceives the eye.

Thanks for the good crack. Time for me to move on. Be lucky.

[nwalton]

good write up steve,i can normally tell if a horse is fit or not in the paddock(all the years i have been going,i suppose i had to pick up something) but i still cannot get a handle on a grey horse by looking at them.Maybe as you say its something to do with the colour.

[stevecaution]

Star Of Seville looked quite smart there and may well be decent. I am hoping that is a good pointer to Jellicle Ball running well tomorrow.

Ooty Hill pulled hard early and I always felt he was a bit far back once he settled. Maybe the ground was lively enough for him today.

Winters Moon was uneasy as favourite and was disappointing really. Not the most imposing sort and another Godolphin who doesn’t seem to have gone forward.

I am sure there is better to come from Ooty Hill, whose stable is never in a hurry with their horses.

Star Of Seville must surely be cut for the Oaks after that effort.

Thanks for the good crack. Time for me to move on. Be lucky.

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