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Ty Istabraq,
Thought we had the leader covered as he came to challenge but there will be other days.However although he only finished second can easily see Forest Falcon being upped 7lb to a handicap mark of 90.This will undoubtedly make life that much tougher but maybe going up in trip to 10f will be an option allowing greater opportunities?
Thank you for your continued support and I’m sure I can turn this sticky patch around.
good luck to allIt’s good to have flat racing back on the turf and although I like the a/w through the winter it does restrict choice as regard the numbers with so few really capable of putting up the necessary performance.My only sorrow is that at this time in previous years you would find me eagerly tucking into a newly arrived Racehorses annual,a great loss as it’s become part of so many lives for over half a century.
Today we go to Kempton for a very lightly raced individual who offers a lot of potential in the penultimate contest of the card.The Roger Varian trained POSTILEO only made his racecourse dedut in the middle of June last year and for such a late foal has been most progressive,consistently improving his RPR ratings from each outing.Registering numbers last time that for me put him head and shoulders above the opposition here.However there are a couple of question marks over his chances.Being first try over 2m and tried in a much higher grade of contest than previously attempted.In his favour is the current stable form where in the past fortnight fancied runners have performed to expectations and a 29% strike rate since the start of the year.
good luck to allDamn …another second!
Although Postileo was beaten I still believe he will turn out the best of these …his turn is only delayed.
As I’m now covering a much greater range of races there should be more days such as today when I can put forward more than a single selection for your consideration.Taking them in chronological order first up will be the lightly raced NUGGET who produced successive higher RPR’s with only a slight blip on his second outing when 10f was attempted.The same can be said of the numbers registered with the colt signing off on a career high.This colt looks to have more to offer and expect him to be in the mix at the business end of this contest.
For my second selection we go north to Newcastle and a filly that took a massive step forward with her win at York on her final outing as a 3yo.The only one of her age group in the race and once pushed clear between the 2f-1f poles the result was never in doubt.Following a couple of runs over shorter her career has taken off since being sent over this trip and there’s no reason to think FRANKENSTELLA’S finished yet.
good luck to allSuch is my luck at the moment,believe Frankenstella is better than her showing perhaps one of those rare horses than don’t act on the a/w?But impossible to know from the information to hand.
Nugget got blocked off whichever way his rider tried to get a run,positive vibes,his next win is only temporary postponed.
The Craven meeting opening the turf season at racing HQ is always most anticipated with some good horses strutting there stuff and putting their credentials on the line.Like many I couldn’t help but be impressed by Mutasaabeq,yesterday,who won as he liked in a very good time and reminded me of Zilzal who only saw the track as a 3yo but stamped himself as a miler from the top drawer by Nureyev,a horse we never saw the best of in a very short career.However tempting a Guineas run may be why not wait for Royal Ascot and the Jersey Stakes or whatever it’s called nowadays as a smaller stepping stone before deciding whether he’s up to taking on Group 1 company?
For those interested Zilzal ran in the 1989 turf season.
Although a 5yo GOING PLACES is very lightly raced having had a total of 5 career starts.Made his debut as a 3yo here on the July course running respectably over 8f.This was followed by a single run in 2020 at Kempton when making the running in a very slow 7f 3 runner novice event,finished 2nd and gelded in Dec of that year.Switched to present connections January of this year has been progressive on the a/w being successful in two of his 3 contests all at 7f.
This drop in trip today in my opinion is well worth a try as the selection can be keen in his races and although Gunmetal also qualify’s he seems very much at the mercy of the handicapper as he reaches the veteran stage of his career and I very much prefer the progressive profile of Going Places.Achieving career high numbers last time,head & shoulders above anything previous,the selection is still on a upward trend and worth the risk.
good luck to allApologies for being so late.
Shall just put forward CARBOU e/w at Newbury this afternoon for your consideration.
The favourite for this race Mithras has a Guineas entry?
Horses to watch in the handicaps in the same race as the selection the Richard Hannon trained Dingle and from the second race on the card Dirty Rascal who registered good numbers but is passed over today due to the weight rise and going up 2 grades along with the miserly price offered by bookmakers which I don’t consider covers the risk involved.
good luck to allAt the appropriate time I would ask all to pay silent tribute to a quite remarkable man,
HRH Prince Phillip,The Duke of Edinburgh.
thank you.I used to enjoy the mixed nature of this Sandown meeting but can’t say I’m a tremendous fan after they split it between the codes for …….. not actually sure?The only reason that springs to mind is that the big handicap chase tomorrow is considered the curtain fall on the NH season.Personally I was dismayed when they opened up the NH close season to make it all year round as summer racing ‘over the sticks’ never struck the right note for me.
Anyway I digress as today at Sandown we see the start of the trials for all the big middle distance races to come.The Classic Trial has lost a lot of it’s lustre since I started to take an active interest in racing although for me it’s still an interesting race but has been relegated in stature behind the likes of similar contests elsewhere.
Although I will be watching my money today is going on the Gosden father & son duo trained RIFLEMAN in the second race on the card.The selection I’m putting forward for your consideration for me looks fairly handicapped for his debut in this sphere having been progressive as a juvenile following a very green turf run last September.Two runs at Kemptn showed he had learned when second behind what may be quite a smart horse,Noble Dynasty,before finishing off his juvenile campaign with a smooth success registering good numbers.The step up in trip shouldn’t be a problem and with a stable in form and a top jockey booked looking to get back on the winning trail.
good luck to allMust say I was rather confused why some races at Ascot today carried a ‘trial’ tag,what does it signify?
For me little of any value could be taken from them if anything at all as I don’t suppose many of these will be turning up for the real thing on the day.A complete waste of time as if they were likely to draw contenders for the main event.
After the terrible run I’ve been on lately I wouldn’t blame anyone for sitting on the sidelines and just monitoring selections put forward at present.I say again to all readers EVERY selection does carry my own money.Just couldn’t believe what happen with Rifleman as the horse had never behaved in such a manner previously.
Going to Chelmsford’s evening card tomorrow for the ultra consistent ARIJ who’s hardly ever been out of the frame in all his races.This run of form has seen the gelding climb the ratings and following his latest successful run is raised 8lb to a new high mark.Although this contest will be the toughest to date the numbers registered have shown improvement this year leaving last seasons numbers very much in the shade.Establishing a new career high last time the gelding deserves a crack at something better than the races he’s contested so far and I’m expecting a good show.
good luck to allI do believe I’ve reached breaking point and shall therefore be taking a sabbatical from putting forward any more investments as I can’t in all honesty continue inflicting financial pain on anyone who’s loyally followed the horses advanced.While the current year has been bad,overall since first tipping horses here the record reads ……
to a £1 win @ SP …… staked £118 …returned £117.01 with of course best prices this could be enhanced.
I now regret my earlier decision to embrace racing over all distances and although I stand by my claim that the selection process is valid for all trips the extra work involved makes things that much harder and maybe being more selective is the key to making it work the way I wish.
From time to time I shall post on the site on topics raised and please post or message if you have questions.
good luck to allI think it’s time to tentatively dip a toe into the water and test the temp.
While I’ve been more relaxed this past month watching the action unfold I can’t say I haven’t felt a prang at times when seeing certain horses win.
With Epsom,Royal Ascot etc on the horizon decided on a trail run to see if all the negative thoughts and confusion that had built up with my chopping and changing has gone and my old clear sighted perception is still there.
So today having an investment on CONCIERGE e/w who looks more than quite fairly priced @ 14/1.Following a slow start to the campaign has been building up the momentum which resulted in a narrow victory over Aplomb at Newbury over this trip and ground with the rest well beaten off.A 4lb rise in the handicap mark doesn’t look insurmountable as this gelding has run well off similar marks in the past.
good luck to allthank you Istabraq,it’s good to be contributing to the site again and hopefully in a profitable way.
Have just started looking forward to Royal Ascot and although it’s still over a week away feel I should point to a filly that looks to have a big future.She took time to find her feet being a latish foal,March 16,but since hitting form last Autumn has gone from strength to strength.Saw off some useful types in the Harry Rosebery up at Ayr before showing improvement to win the Cornwallis Stakes,comfortably,at Newmarket the following month.The Cornwallis is one of the 2yo races I look to for candidates to be sprint stars of the future.Opened her 2021 campaign with an emphatic demolition job up at York in the Listed Westow Stakes with the favourite,Acklam Express,running very poorly but in saying that I think it’s hard to say with conviction that he would have beaten the filly.The numbers produced in her last couple of races not only tell of improvement but of more to come and rival the best around.She’s not ground dependent having run and won on everything from good-firm to soft.She’s entered for the King Stands and although yet to run at Gp 1 level plenty believe the filly capable.
The filly in question?
WINTER POWER……one I believe we shall be hearing more of this year.
good luck to allThere’s 6\1 available for the king’s stand at the moment, maybe it it will bigger at declaration stage though as long as bataash runs
With not as much money sloshing around,don’t know about others,but I’ve noticed the calibre of runner in the class two events is very much dominated by the amount of prize money offered.So today going to York for a sprint handicap that moneywise knocks many other races for six.Although making his handicap debut this colt looks more than promising just wish it was another course rather than York.Making his racecourse debut at Ascot last September DARK SHIFT e/w left quite an impression leaving other juveniles with experience looking completely outclassed.The selections only other juvenile start was a muddling affair in which he took a keen hold giving the jockey ‘a torrid time’ to quote RP for which he eventually paid the price in the dash for the line.Making his seasonal debut in a novice event at Nottingham showed real class,recording good numbers,with none of the opposition able to land a blow once in front and winning comfortably,with the form receiving a boost from the subsequent runs of those behind.Second & fourth won next time out.Starting off a mark of 88 today doesn’t look harsh on the balance of his form and although the underfoot conditions will be new he did handle the good ground at Ascot on debut.With the stable & rider in reasonable form I’m expecting a big run today and a marker as to where he may be heading in the future.
good luck to allMust admit to being a little disappointed by Winter Power’s performance in the King Stand however personally at the moment I would put it down to the tactics used in the race.Although the filly can run prominently she’s also quite capable of being held up off the pace.
Why is this so important?
I’ve long believed in sprints as a horse rises in grade it also gets harder to run from the front unless you believe you have no other option,which in this case I don’t think would apply.So don’t write her off yet!
Putting forward a selection today in a handicap which is never the easiest to unravel but HAQEEQY e/w in the Royal Hunt Cup stamped a lasting impression on me when winning the Lincoln registering numbers that put his previous efforts in the shade.Tried in a Listed event last time but stakes races are rarely run at a similar tempo to a top handicap and although not doing bad I’m expecting a more today.
Perhaps this deserves a thread of it’s own but here goes..
We all are aware of the stable being stocked with horses of impeccable pedigree however can punters make money backing Aidan O’Brien’s runners?How often have we seen him run two,three or more horses in a race with a longer priced one winning.As I prefer handicaps this question probably doesn’t apply to me as much as others.This week we have last years Derby winner Serpentine entered in the Gold Cup which I find puzzling as regard his runs since winning the Derby have been 12f and two over around 10f and now 20f?I’ve voiced the opinion before that the stable is all about making stallions and for me having failed over shorter trips connections are searching for a niche in order to secure a future at stud.
So I ask the question can the O’Brien stable be followed profitably?
good luck to allHaqeeqy didn’t have the smoothest of runs but I did expect him to be in the shake up.As the gelding didn’t run to expectations in the Listed contest on his last visit could it be the course not being suitable?
Today waiting until the final contest on the card for a horse that in my book is still to live up to previous promise and I think connections are trying what’s needed,a step up in trip.Not seen on a racecourse until a 3yo he created a good though not great impression in a Redcar novice event before being put away for the season.His seasonal bow at four came in another novice where he again created a good if workmanlike impression.Made a winning handicap debut next time out off a mark of 87 recording numbers suggesting definite progression from his novice wins.Was very disappointing when next seen at Doncaster for which connections could offer no explanation but bounced back in his final appearance of the year again at Doncaster the following month winning nicely and putting clear daylight between himself and his rivals.Although running quite well on the whole,there are some blips,that Doncaster win was the geldings last success to date.BIELSA e/w has been in fair form this year clocking up some good numbers with his pedigree suggesting the step up in trip won’t be a problem,nor will any rain that continues to fall hinder the selection.
good luck to all
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