Glorious Goodwood - Day Two

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ORSIPPUS has already been well backed, and has been running well over the extended trips on the flat to warrant supporting in the opener, a hotly contested two mile-five furlongs handicap. Nicky Henderson has three, including the hot favourite Cape Express, Veiled and Sentry Duty, but none offers great appeal at current prices. Orsippus however has a rejuvenated K Fallon on board and has consistent form of 4214 since returning from the National Hunt sphere. His win in June at Pontefract came over 18 furlongs, and over the sticks he has form at this 21 furlong trip, third behind the smart Carlito Brigante in last years Coral Cup. Plenty of smart runners were in that field, and off a mark of 82 (136 NH), he should go close. As should TROVARE who landed a monster gamble at Kempton, before finishing second next time out under a penalty. The stable have finally found the answer to this five year old, and although now up 6lb, is still relatively unexposed.

GHURAR is a massively respected colt for the evergreen John Gosden and his formidable stable, and with Paul Hanagan on board for Sheikh Hamdan, he will take all the beating. 2/1 looks quite short though, despite him winning a smart Newmarket maiden and the value instead lay in MAXENTIUS - who didn’t handle the heavy ground last time out behind Olympic Glory at HQ. He set tongues wagging when winning pretty much on the bridle at Doncaster and still ran with credit in the mud. On better ground for an in form stable, he should go well.

Frankel wins by nine lengths. End of; enjoy.

The mile and a half handicap looks a very trappy affair and the race Stature won last time out has worked well, with similar profiles for Mawaqeet and Rule Book. I do instead however like two at biggish prices and for GASSIN GOLF and TREND IS MY FRIEND – both at working mans prices. Gassin Golf is a beautifully bred colt for Sir Mark Prescott who ran just plain too bad to be true last time out at Chester, never settling. He is a lot better than that on the basis of his Haydock win, Luke Morris was on him then, and is back on today, and think he could be an each way price at around the 25/1 mark. Similarly Trend is my Friend, who won well and on merit at Sandown on Eclipse Day. I backed the colt then, and he looks to be going the right way, stepped up in trip with a 5lb increase from the handicapper.

One of the best looking maidens of the meeting, and there is no shortage of class. Pearl Sea is favourite based on placed efforts in two maidens with subsequent winners, but there is absolutely no chance of me backing or tipping a Jamie Spencer favourite in a seventeen runner maiden. CUT NO ICE looks a smart type for Paul Cole, and would be no surprise to see the filly build on her good third last time out at Newbury. The stable are in good nick, and the winner and the fourth have both come out and won next time out. Similarly HASBAH for Peter Chapple-Hyam, whose two year olds have been running well, a narrow second on Monday, and the Cape Cross filly can step up from a good fourth on debut at Yarmouth. She led two furlongs out before fading, but wasn’t knocked about and will have learnt a lot from the run. The winner has since hacked up in a conditions race by seven lengths.

Jay-sus these handicaps don’t get any easier, a seventeen runner affair once more, with nine furlongs the trip, and plenty of unexposed sorts. Won last year by Dandy Nicholls, and trainers from the north have a strong record, and as such, have plenty entered. The Quinlan team have two, but the pick looks to be ARIYFA, formerly with John Oxx and bred by The Aga Khan in Ireland, he looks to have a bit of class about him. Placed in two solid handicaps this year, he should be on the upgrade, his last run was third behind Jack’s Revenge, who went down by two necks yesterday, the form looks good. William Buick in the plate is a big positive too. CHIGUN won a maiden by ten lengths coming away over a mile last time out at Salisbury, and is up 10lb for that, but was mightily impressive to see. With the form of the stable at current present, she is a beautifully bred filly and could improve again still.

How Dubawi Sound can be a 2/1 favourite in an eighteen runner Goodwood handicap is beyond me. With Harry Bentley on board, claiming 3lb, he is also 6lb ahead of the handicap, so hypothetically 9lb well in, but off top weight and running just four days later, far too short for my liking. TRIPLE CHARM has a much more likeable profile, and is well worth taking a chance on for Jeremy Noseda and William Buick. He seems to be on the right side of the handicapper, and was given a poor ride to try and weave through traffic and leave it too late at Kempton Park. I have a feeling that on turf, the Pivotal filly could run a solid race. Similarly THE CONFESSOR who has been lowered 2lb for not performing at all like she can in the extremely soft going at Yarmouth. She wasn’t given a hard time, and given his form in seven furlong handicaps, it would be no surprise to see the five year old bounce back.

2.00 Goodwood – Orsippus & Trovare
2.35 Goodwood – Maxentius (Nap)
3.45 Goodwood – Gassin Golf & Trend is my Friend
4.20 Goodwood – Cut No Ice & Hasbah
4.55 Goodwood – Ariyfa & Chigun
5.25 Goodwood – Triple Charm & The Confessor

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Glorious Goodwood - Day One

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Glorious Goodwood, a meeting of pure class and comes this year with the added allure of the greatest equine specimen on the planet once again gracing us with our presence, with Frankel running in the Sussex Stakes on Wednesday against three rivals, albeit with one of them being his full brother and pacemaker.

Tuesday has a terrific spread of racing, with three group races, three handicaps and a maiden race, something for everyone to sink their teeth into. At meetings like this, it is important to follow trainers and combination that have significant success on the Goodwood plains.

The Fahey team are in good heart at the minute, with doubles at Carlisle and Pontefract and they have the favourite with LAS VERGLAS STAR with Paul Hanagan booked to ride. Second on his last two starts, the last of which came at Ascot last week, and for that, he is due to be risen 3lb in the weights. The yard are flying and with favourites having a good record in handicaps such as this at the minute, he looks a good price around the 6/1 mark. Another yard in good nick is that of Mark Johnston and LICENCE TO TIL can be forgiven a poor run last time out in the John Smiths Cup, which was a very messy race. Before that, he ran a game third at Newmarket, and the form of that is working out rather strong, Unex El Greco hacking up on Saturday. He could go off a much bigger price than he should be.

MICHELANGELO started his career in a five runner listed race against horses who have all shown form since, and he has come on with the two further starts a treat. Despite greenness he ran on well behind twice group placed Noble Mission and Godolphin’s Mariners Cross. That was followed by a cosy listed win at Goodwood and hacking up in the three year old trophy at Newmarket. He is bred to step up in trip and on all known runs should relish a mile and a half, and potentially even further. He looks the banker on day one.

It really does pain me to tip favourites, but I have spent an absolute age pouring through the form of The Lennox Stakes and I can not get away from CHACHAMAIDEE for Tom Queally and Sir Henry Cecil. Going through her rivals; Edinburgh Knight finished behind Libranno, who is temperamental and fourth in this race last year. Majestic Myles is at his best on soft ground, Foxtrot Romeo was grossly flattered in stop start races in the Irish Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes. Firebeam has failed in listed company twice this season, and has not won for nearly three years. The Cecil mare however has placed on her last seven starts, all in group company, most recently a terrific second to Joviality in the Windsor Forest Stakes at Royal Ascot. She is completely different gravy to this field and should rout them accordingly, providing no silliness from Mr Queally!

The Molecomb Stakes is a five furlong sprint for two year olds and looks wide open this year with a twelve runner field. The Hannon team have won this two out of the last three years but Lyric Ace has disappointed on his last two starts and Dominate is a recent maiden winner and second string. The cash went over to Ireland last year and could do so again with DYLANBARU going for the Tommy Stack yard, after a good third in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot. Although behind Hototo that day, he can reverse the form and has been waiting for this, whereas Hototo hacked through the mud in the Super Sprint. The form of the race has worked out well, with four runners coming out and winning next time out, including a listed and group win. Morwaij was flattered in a poor Group 3, and the only threat could prove to be Jadanna, whose stamina was stretched last time out in a good Group Two behind Sendmylovetorose and Maureen. However the Stack yard are in good heart, with a 24% strike rate in July and the even better ground should aid her even more.

I received a word a few weeks ago that GARSWOOD was absolutely burning up the gallops back home, and a few people must have gotten wind too, because he was absolutely smashed up in the betting, going off the 9/4 favourite. Tony Hamilton got caught napping, and ran on for third, but the damage had already been done. With Paul Hanagan on board and this colt’s lofty reputation, he is worth taking another chance on, and is potentially very, very good.

JACK’S REVENGE looks to be a George Baker type of improver, and has been a revelation this season. Last seen tailed off in a seller last winter, he has come back with a bang after losing his Jacobs in a frightful gelding operation. His form since has been 22211, and is gradually getting better with racing. Up 7lb for a win under Ryan Moore last time out at Newmarket and the best jockey in the game keeps the ride. He could have won by further but hung towards the end, and needed to be driven out, and there could be a couple more pounds in there to eek out of the four year old.

NOVERRE TO GO is a horse that is thriving as of late, and that is in no coincidence to do with the ground firming up. He has excellent form on ground quicker than good, and is in good heart, as is the yard, with Ron Harris excelling with his veteran sprinters. He should run well at a decent price.

2.00 Goodwood – Las Verglas Star & Licence to Til (Ew)
2.35 Goodwood – Michelangelo (Nb)
3.10 Goodwood – Chachamaidee (Nap)
3.45 Goodwood – Dylanbaru
4.15 Goodwood – Garswood
4.50 Goodwood – Jack’s Revenge
5.25 Goodwood – Noverre to Go (Ew)


The Yorkshireman – Jack Milner

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Monday Racing at Ayr, Lingfield and Yarmouth 30/7/2012

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WELSH NAYBER seems a transformed horse since the fitting of the bins, and with an additional 3lb now lower in the handicap, the gelding looks to finally have his best chance of breaking the maiden tag. Only beaten two lengths and a length in his last two starts, he was far from disgraced, and the form is working out rather well, the fourth and the seventh have gone on to win next time out. Jim Crowley is in the plate, and is one of the most under-rated jockeys in the weighing room.

PALUS SAN MARCO was tipped up here in the blog when winning his maiden well when still being quite green at a notoriously difficult track at Brighton. He stayed on well close home and is upped in trip as a result. Ryan Moore and Frankie Dettori are on smart horses, but that should only prove to increase our prices and subsequent profit! Lovely jubbly!

PIPER’S LASS has quite the eye-catching pedigree for the Mark Johnston team, a Singspiel filly out of a winning mare out of Selkirk. The yard are flying at the moment, Group winners and places in France over the weekend as well as having winners at York, Newmarket and Ascot. They have had fourteen two year old winners already and have plenty of positives to put this filly up as a good looking selection.

COMMANCHE RAIDER goes for another in form stable, of Michael Dods and Paul Mulrennan, who had a double up at Newcastle on Saturday. Their recent winner comes here after maintaining a strong level of form last season without winning, and finally got his nose in front for the first time in two years at Ponty over the minimum trip; beating recent winner Sir Geoffrey. He ran on well and is stepped up to six furlongs at Ayr, up 4lb; he will go close to defying the rise.

Our final selection is PEACE SEEKER who finally got his season on the right track when third last time out at Kempton, going down a length to subsequent second in higher grade; Noverre to Go. He seems to be gradually improving his fitness, and got tired late on, unlucky to lose second place. The form has worked out nicely, the fifth and ninth winning next time out, the first, fourth, sixth placing as well. The 3lb rise should just see him home. JUST!

2.35 Ayr – Commanche Raider (Nap)
3.15 Yarmouth – Peace Seeker
3.30 Lingfield – Piper’s Lass
5.10 Lingfield – Palus San Marco
5.40 Lingfield – Welsh Nayber

The Yorkshireman – Jack Milner

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Saturday at York 28/7/2012

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Ascot have a peach of a card to rival Newmarket in the south, both have some strong cards, and some tough handicaps as well as promising two year old races. York steals the show, as it does when there is racing there, and they have a Group Two 10 furlong race as well as a twenty runner minefield, the Sky Bet Dash.

William Haggas has a great record at York and has a horse for Sheikh Hamdan in the form of HAAMAAT who steps down into handicap company after fourth in a listed contest last time out. The filly looks very smart and the form of her previous win at Kempton looks very strong, with Jedward coming out and winning a strong Newmarket handicap. Stepped up in trip, pedigree wise, should suit, and the form of her Listed race at Haydock is already working out well.

RANSOM NOTE looks massively overpriced given his form on very quick yard, and the Charlie Hills stable is rocking and rolling with eleven separate winners already this month. He finished second in this race last year behind Twice Over, and has been brought on steadily, needing the run first time out, and nineteen lengths behind Frankel at Ascot. He looks an outstanding price. I’m on! Yeehaa!

The big handicap is a bit of a minefield, and I don’t want to give something a massive nod, because it looks incredibly trappy. May spread a few Gibraltar Pounds across Last Bid, Kaldoun Kingdom, Powerful Presence and Misplaced Fortune.

NOBLE ALAN is a solid national hunt horse who has recently scored a fairly nice handicap mark, and finally upped to two miles, will surely outstay his rivals. He stayed on well, leaving it too late at Chester, but with Graham Lee back on board, I have full faith that this winning hurdler and chaser can score the hatrick and achieve success on the flat.

MAYFIELD GIRL is a tough filly who has been very consistent thus far this season, an impressive fourth behind Super Sprint winner Body and Soul and a form line through there looks pretty strong. Our Diane looks very solid and unexposed but offers little value at around the 3/1 mark. Good old Robert Winston to give us a winner in the lucky last! Yeehaa!

2.35 York – Haamaat
3.10 York – Ransom Note (Nap)
4.50 York – Noble Alan
5.20 York – Mayfield Girl

The Yorkshireman – Jack Milner

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Racing at Ascot on Saturday

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Ascot have a peach of a card to rival Newmarket in the south, both have some strong cards, and some tough handicaps as well as promising two year old races. York steals the show, as it does when there is racing there, and they have a Group Two 10 furlong race as well as a twenty runner minefield, the Sky Bet Dash.

Starting with Ascot, Richard Hughes has a good set of rides for his boss and father in law, especially in Maureen, who runs in fillies Group 3 contest. That being said, their horses are generally very short, and certainly avoidable for me at the prices.

Looking for some alternative value elsewhere, WE ARE CITY looks the right profile of a Michael Bell handicapper and is a big price in the opener. An Elusive City filly, she went off second favourite in a decent Newmarket maiden before well held next two starts, and struggled in soft conditions at Epsom. Upped to seven furlongs, and on better ground should bring some improvement, and 63 looks a fair mark, she creeps in at the bottom of the weights; Ryan Powell takes off 3lb too.

The sprint handicap looks a good race, with some potential group horses in the mix, and CATFISH looks sure to suit back to being at the minimum trip, and on better ground. Good placed efforts at York and Epsom in competitive handicaps showed the filly has a touch of class, and didn’t see the trip out or handle the course running over six furlongs at Newmarket, she should bounce back here.

HOYAM looked very good when finishing second at Royal Ascot, and although Maureen looks to be a very good filly in the making, the pair are closer than the difference in prices. She should be suited upped to six furlongs for the first time and hopefully land a double for Michael Bell.

DIALA set tongues wagging last year when absolutely hacking up in a Newmarket maiden and this three year old filly has been somewhat unlucky this year. Running on ground that didn’t suit in the guineas and then again at Warwick on soft, she should come on a treat for the runs and down into handicap company, is better than a 90 rated filly for William Haggas.

1.45 Ascot – We Are City
2.55 Ascot – Catfish
3.25 Ascot – Hoyam
4.30 Ascot - Diala (Nap)


The Yorkshireman – Jack Milner

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Friday Evening Racing at Newmarket and York

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MOONGLOW was well held on her final start in maiden company after showing promise early on, but her final start can be ignored and it was clear her future lay in handicaps. The filly looks to have a few pounds in hand on her official rating and looks a good price to boot.

ECHO OF SILENCE runs for the in form Marco Botti yard, and even more significantly, the money is down for her this morning. She showed promise on debut finishing third, and still showing signs of greenness. It looks a poor maiden and well within their grasp; Jamie Spencer takes the ride. SUUEGIOO is another of the same mould, a Marco Botti horse running in maiden company, and again showed promise, but has done so on two occasions, both in esteemed company. At the third bite of the cherry, he has no excuses this time, and at around the 7/1 price, looks to be the answer. We’re going potty for Botti, like the alliteration? With THEREABOUTS filling out the Botti trixie. Well held on three maiden starts, dropped in off a reasonable mark, it looks a very substandard Newmarket three year old handicap, and he looks the animal most likely to come out and improve in this company. Another one at a very reasonable price indeed.

5.35 Newmarket - Moonglow
6.10 Newmarket - Echo of Silence (Nap)
7.40 Newmarket - Suuegioo (Nb)
8.45 Newmarket – Thereabouts

DANSILI DUTCH has been in really good nick lately, and the tough three year old looks to have the beating of the two market principles at the weights. Second last time out behind David O’ Meara’s Miss Ellany, there is a now over a stone pull at the weights in his directions. I can not have the favourite at any price, those Roger Varian horses are underpriced and not firing. Abandon ship!

PRODIGALITY runs for Ron Harris who has been basking in the glow of The Knavesmire all season, in fact he has milked it dry. His three year old gelding sneaks in at the foot of the weights for the twenty runner handicap and given the form of his sprinters there this season, he ticks every box and should come and run well.

EBN ARAB is running for the ever proving formidable team of Richard Hannon and Sheikh Hamdan. A well bred sort to several winners, the colt has entries in some of the strong two year old races towards the end of the season, including The Gimcrack.

CROWN COUNSEL finalises the Lucky 15 with King Kieren riding for Mark Johnston, his record at York speaks for itself, as does the significance of the booking!

6.00 York - Dansili Dutch (Nap)
6.30 York - Prodigality (Nb)
7.00 York - Ebn Arab
8.00 York - Crown Counsel


The Yorkshireman – Jack Milner

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Friday Afternoon at Ascot and York

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NEW FALCON is a game son of New Approach who showed greenness on debut, before stepping up on that and finishing second on the all weather behind a well backed favourite. He shapes the right way, and looks too big at double figure odds. Similar story with SEQUENCE for Sir Michael Stoute and Her Majesty The Queen, who debuts in handicap company for the first time. On a lenient mark, and a daughter of Selkirk, she should appreciate the step up in trip to a mile and a half. ROC FORT goes for an in form stable, and could spring an upset in the maiden contest. A gelded son of Rock of Gibraltar, Sir Henry Cecil has the favourite who is odds on, and the Ruth Carr three year old should be able to run into a place at the very least at around the 20/1 mark. ON THE HIGH TOPS goes with Shirley Teasdale for the same trainer and is the standout rider in this apprentice handicap. The course and distance winner is down to a career low mark of 59 and although beaten soundly, has been running rather gamely. At the foot of the weights, she has solid claims on only her fourth start of the season thus far.

2.45 Thirsk - New Falcon (Nb)
3.55 Thirsk - Sequence (Nap)
5.30 Thirsk - Roc Fort
5.55 Thirsk - On the High Tops

SHARAARAH steps back down into handicap company after running with credit in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot, only beaten by eight lengths. The form of that is shaping nicely, and the filly beat New Falcon on her maiden win, hopefully both can win and doubly-frank the form! THISTLE BIRD was tipped up on here when winning last time out at Windsor in a nice little listed contest. He stayed on powerfully that day, and with under his belt, and the stiffer task of Ascot, he should thrive. He looks the best bet on the card. A couple of outsider fancies to round off with and KANGAROO COURT was an exceptional juvenile hurdler, giving trainer Emma Lavelle her first Cheltenham Festival win. He has claimed two wins on the flat in the last few months and is a gutsy stayer who will appreciate the two mile trip. William Buick booked is a big positive and at around 12/1 looks a fair price. ROAYH is the outsider of the entire field in the 4.40, but shouldn’t be overlooked, despite carrying top weight. The Godolphin gelding has ran at Lingfield, Epsom and Sandown since signing off his season last year with second in a twenty runner handicap at HQ and a mark of 95. With three runs under his belt, and down to a mark of 90, he has been given the chance to bounce back, and has exceptional form as a two year old and solid form at three. Hopefully here is where he bounces back in style.

2.55 Ascot – Sharaarah (Nb)
3.30 Ascot - Thistle Bird (Nap)
4.05 Ascot - Kangaroo Court
4.40 Ascot – Roayh



The Yorkshireman – Jack Milner

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