Charlie Hall Chase Day at Weatherby

Saturday features fantastic cards at Ascot, Newmarket and more importantly at Wetherby, where one of the highlights of the season occurs with The Charlie Hall Chase. Some of the premier jumpers, including last years winner Nacarat, decent yardstick Poquelin, and Hennessy winner Diamond Harry are possibly making their seasonal debuts. They also have an excellent supporting card, challenging Ascot, who also put on a fantastic day’s jumping with two listed contests and the United House Gold Cup.

The Charlie Hall is traditionally a high class race, with NACARAT winning in style last year, from the Paul Nicholls trained The Tother One. He seems to like flat tracks, where he can lead in a ‘catch me if you can’ style under jockey Sam Thomas, who does the steering here once more.

His style of running means he could have them all at it on the turn for home, and could be difficult to peg back. I really can not see him finishing outside of the front three. The fact that Diamond Harry runs so well when fresh, and is the class horse in the race, means he is respected, however is far too short a price for such a competitive renewal.

Time For Rupert blotted his reputation when disappointing in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham, while it was reported he was wrong that day there are still doubts in my mind. The value in the race could be CHICAGO GREY for Gordon Elliot. The Cheltenham National Hunt Chase winner looked to ooze class when travelling well two weeks ago when unseating jockey Paul Carberry at the last. He is my horse to watch for the season, and think he could go for the Grand National. With a touch more luck, he could spring an upset.

The trainer also runs CARLITO BRIGANTE in the Gigginstown Stud colours in the John Smiths Hurdle over 3m 1f. The Coral Cup winner looked to have more in the tank when a good fourth in the Liverpool Hurdle and built on that further to finish third behind Mourad and Quevega in the Punchestown equivalent race. He had prep at Dundalk to put him spot on for Saturday and he has the right trainer to get him prepared perfectly for the race.

Switching to the flat, there are two horses running in Listed races which look to have much more class than their counterparts at Newmarket on Saturday. JET AWAY, for the Frankel connections of Tom Queally and Sir Henry Cecil, could not have won easier when strolling to a Conditions Stakes victory over 9 lengths at York last time out. She travelled like a dream, and the daughter of Cape Cross could further enhance her reputation taking the 4.25, which has some solid consistent horses such as Dux Scholar, Dangerous Midge and Art History. The filly looks to have a touch of class however, and can provide three more cheers for Sir Henry.

The other fancy is ECLIPTIC, running for Team Godolphin, who looks set to build on winning a Conditions Stakes race last time out, a win which arrived on the back of a 458 day absence. The colt should come on for that run and the fact that the form has already been franked, with Inler winning a listed race in the interim, further enhances his claims. He lost a Group 2 by a neck as a two year old to King Torus, and he should use this to get back on his way to Group races overseas this autumn.

2.45 Carlito Brigante

3.20 Nacarat (Ew) Chicago Grey (Ew)

2.05 Ecliptic (Nap)

4.25 Jet Away

The Yorkshireman - Jack Milner

Ante Post Classics 2012

Newmarket 1000 Guineas

Maybe looks unbeatable providing she turns up on the day. Currently best priced 5/1, is an absolute steal, she has shown her durability and the well bred daughter of Galileo, out of a Dansili family as well looks bomb proof. Her win in the Debutante Stakes has been further franked by Lightening Pearl since winning a Group 1 and Group 3 subsequently.

Newmarket 2000 Guineas

Although finishing second to Parish Hall in the Dewhurst Stakes, POWER has been the stand out two year old, who will be subsequently aimed at the Guineas, especially with Camelot showing his class in the Racing Post Trophy, and will be their main Derby hope. He has run six times, winning on soft and good ground, and over 5, 6, and 7 furlongs, showing his versatility. Another excellently bred horse, a son of Oasis Dream, he was unfortunate at Newmarket, but the experience of the dip on the Rowley Mile will help his Classic hunt. The shortlist comprises of Sea The Stars half brother BORN TO SEA, who was impressive to say the least when winning a listed race on debut, after much hype and fanfare. Dalbirism looks another promising colt, winning a Group 1 Longchamp, showing a smart turn of foot. The Strength of Harbour Watch's Group 2 Richmond Stakes win at Goodwood has been no one of franked, with Bogart, Saigon, Caspar Netcher, Bannock, Silverheels, and Eureka all with good performances thereafter. In the Canford Cliffs colours, he has looked impressive, but worries over the trip may rule him out.

Epsom Derby 2012

Whilst price for Camelot is gone, time to tuck into the others:

Imperial Monarch, Ballydoyle 2yo Colt out of Galileo, ran once, won once over 8f on Soft at Curragh - 25/1

Parish Hall, Won Dewhurst, owned by Sheikh Mohamed, out of champion 2yo Teoflio - 20/1

Top Offer, won maiden impressively over 7f at Newbury, out of Dansili, Juddmonte owned, trained by Roger Charlton, closely related to Harbinger - 25/1

David Livingston, Ballydoyle horse, won Beresford Stakes, 8f Heavy, Galileo (Beresford previous winners, St Nicholas Abbey, Sea The Stars, Casamento), - 33/1

Apollo, another Ballydoyle, won decent maiden ahead of decent horse, Galileo, won 7f debut - 33/1

Akheed Mofeed, John Oxx horse, owned by Jaber Abdullah. Scopey 2yo, son of Dubawi. Highly respected 25/1

Epsom Oaks 2012

Very open, no obvious stand outs. No strong opinion, but Godolphin and Ballydoyle stables look to have the strongest hands to play in Lyric of Light (12/1), Maybe (12/1), Wading (12/1).

1000 Guineas - Maybe (5s), La Collina (16s), Lightening Pearl (20s)

2000 Guineas - Power (14s), Born to Sea (10s), Dabirism (10s)

Epsom Oaks - Maybe (12s), Lyric of Light (12s), Wading (12s)

Epsom Derby - David Livingston (33s), Apollo (33s), Top Offer (25s), Akheed Mofeed (25s)

Midweek Tipping - Musselburgh October 26th

Without sounding too cocky, Saturday was a tremendous day for followers of this articles selections, with out best bet, the Roger Varian trained Suhaila winning a tough fifteen runner handicap, going off 6/1 favourite, and other selection Gusto winning the Listed race on the Doncaster card at 8/1, providing yet more profit for a very good October.

We focus our attention Wednesday to Musselburgh, a place that can be often quite tricky to predict, and another place in the north where a can of worms can often be opened, to financially disastorous consequences! Haydock offers its first jump card of the year, and there is also racing on the flat in the afternoon at Nottingham and in the evening at Kempton Park.

A horse who has probably been one of the most unluckiest of the season is CHOISAN for trainer Ted Easterby. The son of sprint sensation Choisir has ran a whopping nine times as a two year old, and is still yet to break his maiden tag. In this run however has come five 2nds, a 3rd and two 4ths, showing that there is definitely ability there for the colt. He has finished behind some very smart horses too, including Zakreet, Gabrials Star and group horse Lilbourne Lad. He tries a mile for only the second time, after previously finishing second to a exciting horse of John Gosden's in Deia Sunrise. If things were to fall his way, he is surely in with a chance, in what looks like on paper, a poor maiden.

BEAT THE SHOWER is another horse who has shown his tenacity in northern handicaps. He disappointed when upped in tip to 2m 2f at York, still managing to finish a game fourth, beaten only five lengths to Orsippus, a horse with good form in the book. Before that he finished first twice, and a second and a third running over 2 mile handicaps, only going up 9lb in the handicap over the four runs. The gelding looks to still have plenty in hand and is currently thriving. Mark Johnston has a couple of entries that could prove to be a threat if gretting the breaks but the Peter Niven trained gelding looks sure to get placed at the very least.

Robin Bastiman is a trainer associated with sprinters in recent years, with the likes of Singeur, and more famously Borderlescott grabbing the headlines, and whilst NOVALIST isn't of that quality, he looks a sprinter going places, and with the level of form he has, a Class 6 handicap looks well within his grasp. He had a win and second under his belt from the fibresand at Southwell, before not seemingly handling heavy ground at Carlisle, and back after a break, he could be worth another chance. Three horses in behind his last win have all come out and won, further enhancing his claims, with hopefully giving the stable another success over the minimum trip.

3.50 Musselburgh - Beat the Shower (Nap)

2.40 Musselburgh - Novalist

3.15 Musselburgh - Choisan

Weekend Article - Racing Post Trophy Day at Doncaster

The flat season concludes it major series of races in the next few weeks with the Breeders Cup in America seen as the traditional curtain raiser, along with the Melbourne Cup in Australia. However eyes are on 'Gods Country' Saturday as the domestic season finishes with The Racing Post Trophy, a Group One race for two year old colts, over the straight mile at Doncaster.

The race is seen as a point towards classic success the year after, with glory on the horizon. This years favourite comes once more from the Aidan O' Brien Ballydoyle stable through CAMELOT, who was massively impressive, winning a Leopardstown maiden on the bridle. Son Joseph is booked for the son of Montjeu, which personally is a negative, and may give away a few pounds overweight. I like the look of the outsider TALWAR for Jeremy Noseda, who is a massive price. He went to The Curragh with a massive reputation after winning the Solario Stakes at Sandown, a race where the form has worked out extremely well. He was clearly wrong in Ireland, finishing stone last. He ran with credit in the big sales race at Newmarket, and providing he runs to a similar standard, given the question marks surrounding the Irish raiders, he is a great each way price.

EXCELT BOLT looks a very interesting runner in the 2.00, a highly competitive handicap. The Bryan Smart Exceed and Excel Colt has some very smart form to his name and is still highly unexposed. Finishing third in the Norfolk Stakes last year, he finished ahead of smart horses such as Zebedee, Dubawi Gold and Dinkum Diamond. Providing he is race fit and raring to go, he should run very close.

In the same vain as looking for value, I was pleased to see recent tip GUSTO running well and winning at Kempton recently. After finishing fourth of four in a Conditions Race at Salisbury, where he got no luck in running, he showed he is in good heart, travelling and winning well. It is another step up in trip, but has been in good form, as has the yard, and could be another tasty price.

Roger Varian has had a few 'handicap good things' that have been around this year, including John Smiths Cup favourite Pekan Star, and although disappointing there, SUHAILI looks to have bags more improvement to come from his four starts. The form of some of his earlier runs is tremendous. Finishing seventh behind World Domination on his second run, with group horses Fiorente, Wayward Glance and Solar Sky all ahead of him that day. He has since won a maiden and on his comeback run this year was last of 9, losing by 50 lengths. The manner of defeat highlights that he was practically pulled up after being dramatically eased down, so can put a line through that race. He looks class on pedigree, and the trainer has shown he can bring horses back, seen with Nahrain giving him his first group one win at Longchamp on Arc Day.

2.00 Doncaster Excel Bolt (Ew)

2.30 Doncaster Gusto (Ew)

3.00 Doncaster Talwar (Ew)

4.10 Doncaster Suhaili

The Yorkshireman - Jack Milner

QIPCO Champions Day

QIPCO Champions Day promises to be the jewel in the crown of British Racing, with Racing for Change putting every possible resource into promoting the richest day of British Horse Racing to date, and with five Group races, three of which being Group One, promises to be a momentous day, irrespective of the winners and losers on Saturday.

The long distance cup is a two mile encounter, with the best stayers in the country finally culminating their various cups at York, Goodwood, Doncaster and Royal Ascot here on Champions Day. Ascot Gold Cup hero Fame and Glory is yet to be officially declared to run, but signs from the stable look positive, and he is obviously a massive threat, although there are question marks after his two recent disappointing efforts over 1m 6f. Colour Vision ran a cracker to finish third in the Cesarawitch, and clearly stays all day. As does the Sir Mark Prescott horse Motrice, who finished third behind Opinion Poll and Saddlers Rock at Doncaster. It is hard to see past OPINION POLL, who looked to not see out the extended trip in the Doncaster Cup over 2m 2f. He travelled like a dream and came to the 2 furlong poll on the snaff, and the drop back in trip should help the dual Goodwood and Yorkshire cup winner, putting Frankie in the winners enclosure at Ascot once more.

The sprint division has been ruled this season by a few star performers, notably Hoof It and Dream Ahead, but in general it has been wide open. Society Rock, Bated Breath and Night Carnation have all put in good performances, but the Qipco Champion Sprint Stakes seems to come down to MOONLIGHT CLOUD and DEACON BLUES. Moonlight Cloud went off favourite for the 1000 Guineas, and seemingly didn't see out the trip, as seen when being the comfortable winner of Prix Maurice de Gheest over 6 1/2 furlongs at Deauville. The other star performer is the winner of The Wokingham Stakes at Royal Ascot is Deacon Blues. He has since won three Group 3 races with relative ease, and teh step up in class looks to be no problem whatsoever for the skeleton, James Fanshawe.

The fillies and mares race over a mile and a half looks another toug, puzzling contest, with seemingly many chances. Meeznah was impressive at Doncaster over an extended trip, and Oaks heroine Dancing Rain completed a double when taking the German equivalent to add to her Epsom crown. Last year's winner Crystal Capella has shown glimpses of her class, most notably when the Princess of Wales Stakes at Newmarket. The answer seems to lay at the foot of the two most unexposed sorts, who finished 1-2 in a listed race earlier in the season. FERDOOS just got the better of decent yarstick Vita Nova. Ferdoos looks to be very interesting, and the daughter of Dansili has still only raced four times, despite being a four year old. The form of the Haydock only makes her look even more impressive, with Vita Nova, Meeznah and Crystal Capella all behind her in second, third and fourth. That bare form line means she should have more in the locker, providing trainer Roger Varian has her right for the day.

It would be very difficult to oppose FRANKEL in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, and so instead, we will lastly focus our attention on the QIPCO Champion Stakes, which looks an abundance of riches, and many horses will reoppose since running in the Arc, showing how high a calibre of field, with at this current stage, with currently 9 Group One winners left in the field. So You think sets the standard over 10 furlongs, winning the Eclipse and Irish Champion Stakes, but he is too short in such a high quality field and such an open race. Green Destiny looked to thrive on the 10f trip in his recent Group 3 win, as did Dubai Prince in his comeback run in a listed race, but both could be out of their depth. King George winner Nathaniel is running over a trip that isn't his optimum, something that cannot be said about Circle Des Aigles. The french raider has been a model of consistency this year, with his best runs coming on softish ground over 10 furlongs, so a downpour could make him a very live threat. He has yet to finish out of the front three this season, all of which in Group company, and the gelding has never been beaten further than two lengths. The Sir Henry Cecil pair of Midday and Twice Over finished 1-2 in the International Stakes, and will surely run their usual consistent races but age may be catching up with the tried campaigners.

1.50 Opinion Poll

2.25 Deacon Blues

3.00 Ferdoos (Nap)

3.35 Frankel

4.10 Circle Des Aigles (Ew)

The Yorkshireman - Jack Milner

Prospects October Job Log

Jack's job log: 17

Written by Jack Milner, October 2011

Jack has finished his degree. His job hunt is proving a long and difficult road.

At work two weeks ago on a ludicrously busy Saturday afternoon, a friend came into the shop (a bookmakers, for those of you who are not regular readers) to place a few wagers on the football. In doing so, he looked round, with the kind of awe that a child has in Santa's grotto, to point out that there was horseracing on two huge plasma screens, the early afternoon kick-off on another and Sky Sports News on a fourth, featuring rugby league, golf and more football to come. He then said, ‘A job? This is PARADISE'.

To an outsider, it may seem just that. Especially on deserted evenings, where unsuccessful betting slips roll like tumbleweeds and bandits are replaced by under-aged youths attempting to sneak in and lose their pocket money.

However, paradise is often that on the outer only and, although the allure and the appearance of a glitzy, flashy hub of sports, jolly offers and the disregard of economics is lauded and almost made fashionable, there is a darker side to the place, and to the profession. The bookmakers, and the gambling industry in general, do not show the more cruel side - the side that the 2005 Gambling Act seeks to protect.

The three laws that all bodies in the industry are 'supposed' to abide by are:

1. Keep crime out of gambling
2. Be fair and open
3. Protect the young and vulnerable

On paper it sounds wise, achievable and easily to police. However, I can recount tales of all three being flouted, often overlapping. Youths seem adamant that the only way they can rise above the breadline is by putting their last few quid in a FOBT (fixed odds betting terminal) machine, hitting that magic number and having their name in lights a mere ten minutes after entering the premises. It doesn't happen. God loves a trier, he doesn't love a punter.

The dark side of gambling is rarely shown or discussed by media outlets or people in the industry. Take a recent advertisement from one of the main bookmakers - it involves a man betting on his laptop at home in a clean, swanky flat with his attractive partner bringing him a cup of tea. Exactly how it happens, isn't it?

Don't believe the hype. I once heard the phrase, 'See with your eyes and hear with your eyes'. Words of wisdom.

September 2011 Prospects Blog

Jack has finished his degree. His job hunt is proving a long and difficult road.

I am sure you have been waiting with bated breath to hear about how my potentially life-changing offer of a dream job went, and there seems to be a growing trend regarding the outcome. The phrase that immediately sticks out in my thoughts is ‘close, but no cigar’. I was informed that unfortunately I was not selected for the position, thank you for applying, etc.

The stats that the woman provided me with were supposed to fill me with some heart, and give me something positive to take from what was a very large negative. There were 160 applicants for the job and of these there were a meagre seven people interviewed in the Canary Wharf headquarters, of which I was one of the privileged few, getting an inside peek behind the proverbial Iron Curtain.

After the interview I was quietly confident, although never truly believed I would get the job. I know how my life works and things just don’t seem to click into place. Even when first embarking on this blog and the job hunt, I was turned away from a seemingly perfect job role when a locally based and well run company said, ‘sorry, you are seemingly too good for the job’. Unbelievable but true.

Getting back on track, the interview seemed to go well. It was with the head of content for the website, the head of HR and the marketing director. They liked the fact I had put some time and effort into working unpaid for The Racing Forum and that I was working there purely on my love of the sport and to bolster my CV. My eyes lit up when they discussed that they were interested in setting up their own forum. If successful in my job application, I would be responsible for overseeing this side of the project, due to my previous experience in the field at Prospects and now at The Racing Forum. That’s a good sign, right? Hinting that I’m pretty much qualified for future tasks and projects they are thinking about running.

However, I didn’t get the job. Like a horse that has seconditis, I just cannot get over that finish line. Apparently, I was third out of the seven shortlisted, with the two candidates higher in the pecking order having more experience and bringing ‘fresher ideas’.

As my childhood hero Bret ‘The Hitman’ Hart (yes, I am sad and I am aware of this) said, ‘the biggest dreams can come true’. For now, mine will have to wait.