Midweek Talking Turf - October 6th 2011 - Botham to hit them for six at Ayr!

Without jinxing things, the form of the tipping article has been exceptional, with the last 4 naps all being successful, making August and September very profitable months for followers of The Yorkshireman.

We focus on Ayr on Thursday for a competitive card, and where there are some promising chances, especially for some of the more notorious northern yards, such as Jim Goldie and Paul Midgely, both of whom like to pull off a nice betting coup now and again, so be sure to keep an eye on any market movers!

Our first selection comes in the first race, the 2.10, in a mile maiden race. NEVER PERFECT looks an exceptionally well bred colt who can build on a promising fourth on his racecourse debut last time out at Newcastle. The son of Galileo looked green on debut, but still managed to run a respectable race on ground that was less than ideal. He has a Racing Post Trophy entry, so is clearly highly though of by connections, and should go a lot better against a much lower quality field.

BOTHAM is a horse who was very impressive last time out, winning at Hamilton under a penalty, and won with plenty in hand. Jim Goldie's dual performer was running after a previous win at Hamilton 10 days previous, and the horse and the yard are clearly in good heart at the moment, and can complete the hatrick in the 5.10, the lucky last. The 9 furlong trip should be ideal for the gelding, and given his last two victories have been successful on both good and soft ground, the forecasted rain would not hamper his chances. He is due to go up 5lb in the handicap next week, so is a horse who is well in, and should win a shade cosily under Danny Tudhope who has 2 wins and 1 place from 3 starts on him, and I would be very surprised if a gamble isn't launched and landed from local connections.

Our final selection is for another native of the Ayr region and is from Keith Dalgleish, who has a tremendously successful season, in his first year since departing as Mark Johnston's right hand man. One of his more consistent horses is CHOOKIE AVON, who since being given a break in the middle of the summer, has come back looking fresh and thriving at northern tracks. His last three starts have reaped a first, second and a third at Newcastle, Ayr and Mussleburgh respectfully, and is another who seems to have remained slightly ahead of the handicapper. Persistent rain means the ground is likely to be soft, which shouldn't be a problem, winning two starts ago on soft ground, beating consistent Middleham Park Racing stalwart Whispering Spirit.

2.10 Ayr - Never Perfect

3.10 Ayr - Chookie Avon

5.10 Ayr - Botham (Nap)

The Yorkshireman - Jack Milner

Saturday Tipping - Saturday 17th September, Ayr and Newbury

The showpiece race of Ayr's autumn three day festival is the Ayr Gold Cup, one of the most prestigious sprint handicap races of the flat season with a first prize of £74,000, and it invariably attracts some of the best speedsters in the country. Trainer Dandy Nicholls usually arrives in Scotland mob handed and had five runners last year, including the winner, Redford. This year he has chances with Regal Parade, Tajneed and Evens and Odds, but I’m going to look elsewhere.

Jim Goldie’s Hawkeyethenoo is a tough, consistent sort who finished down the field last year, but has been in good form this year, winning the Victoria Cup at Ascot. Pepper Lane has been a talisman for trainer David O' Meara and completed a hatrick when winning The Great St Wilfred at Thirsk, but has gone up 22lb since the start of his winning sequence. Eton Rifles was impressive when landing a massive gamble under the incomparable K Fallon in the second leg of the Betfair Summer Double.

However, the leading prospect here may be MACS POWER, for the James Fanshawe stable. He has been running well in good quality handicaps this season, and seems to thrive on good ground. He didn't seem to enjoy soft ground in a listed race at Newmarket, but before that ran well behind subsequent narrow Sprint Cup third Hoof It. He is yet to get that slice of luck that is often needed in these big sprint races, and off a decent weight, with the ground possibly in his favour, I am expecting another big win for the successful Fanshawe and Cosgrave partnership.

Aside from Ayr there is an excellent card at Newbury, including the Arc Trial, won last year by the subsequent Breeders Cup Turf winner Dangerous Midge. This tough colt looks to defend his crown, after winning this race in impressive style last year against a good field, including Group One winners Rainbow Peak and Campanologist. His last run was at Meydan in the Sheema Classic where he appeared not to handle the surface and finished last. From his runs last year he sets a good standard, Green Destiny steps up in trip and it is unknown whether he will stay.

Caspar Netcher is a juvenile who has gradually been stepped up in class after a maiden win and a second in a conditions race. From there, he finished second, third and fourth in listed races, including a third to Frederick Engels in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot. A third in a Group 3 race behind current ante post 2000 Guineas favourite Harbour Watch was then topped by a Group 2 win last time out in the Gimcrack Stakes (Group 2) at York. The form was franked from Burwaaz who finished second next time out, and Reply winning the big sales race last weekend for Ballydoyle. As a final plus, that man Fallon is booked.

2.30 Newbury - Caspar Netcher (Nap)

2.00 Newbury - Dangerous Midge

3.20 Ayr - Macs Power (Ew)

The Yorkshireman - Jack Milner

Saturday Tips - 16th April 2011

After the hype and hoopla surrounding the Grand National, there is usually an anti-climatic lull in the National Hunt season before a final crescendo at the Punchestown festival, which will bring the season to a close. However before then we have the Scottish Grand National meeting at Ayr Saturday, with a bumper field that includes last years winner Merigo, as well as strong chances from the Tim Vaughan, Gordon Elliot and David Pipe yards. There is also extremely competitive flat racing from both Doncaster and Newbury, and we are fortunate to be at that time of the year, where both codes are working in harmony!

We start off our selections at Newbury, and in the Group 3 Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes, and the Sir Michael Stoute trained VERDANT. He was billed as a possible Derby horse last year after winning a good maiden and then a tough handicap race, but instead went down the handicapping route. He ran on Derby day finishing third behind the tough Dandino, before ending the season with good wins at Sandown and Goodwood. The Khalid Abdullah owned 4 year old will have the best jockey in the business on board in Ryan Moore and is clearly on the upgrade. There could be a threat in the Clive Cox/Adam Kirby partnership that has Poet, the top rated horse in the race also involved, and could fill out the 1-2.

We stay at Newbury for the next race for Fred Darling stakes, which is now called the Dubai Duty Free Stakes, a listed contest for fillies. There is a line up of 14 contending this group 3 race, with lots of well respected horses, with the top stables all represented. Cape Dollar, winner of the Rockfel Stakes last year is respected and will likely go off the warm favourite for Sir Michael Stoute. However a chance should be taken on RIMTH, the horse who set tongues wagging with an impressive facile maiden win last year, before being ultra consistent in big races last year. She followed her maiden win with places in the Lowther Stakes, Dick Poole stakes and Chevely Park stakes, twice finishing behind Champion 2 year old filly Hooray. There is an eyecatching booking with Cristophe Soumillion on board, who is returning from a very successful stint in Meydan for Mike De Kock.

The focal point of Ayr’s season is the Scottish Grand National, a gruelling 4 mile race, won last year by Merigo, who lines up to defend his crown. There are 30 runners, and the ground is likely to be good or good to firm, which should suit perfectly recent Cheltenham National Hunt Chase winner CHICAGO GREY for the fantastic trainer Gordon Elliot. His victory at Cheltenham shows he stays the trip perfectly, and there will be no issues over the ground. He has a very good handicap mark, thanks to Neptune Collognes running taking top weight. The trainer is in exceptional form, having winners at the highest level at both the Cheltenham and Aintree festivals. The major threats come from Merigo, who clearly loves the course and trip, and Beshabar, second to Chicago Grey last time out, but in receipt of 5lb on their reappearance.

Selections:

2.05 Newbury – Verdant

2.40 Newbury – Rimth

3.25 Ayr – Chicago Grey NAP

The Yorkshireman – Jack Milner