High Rainfall Leads To Winnings

Bit of a wet and miserable morning but at least there is some nice racing to be enjoyed and with luck a few quid to be trousered.
In the 2.00 at Haydock High Standing has every chance of making a winning seasonal reappearance. He raced in some good company last year and if returning at his best he should be good enough to take this listed event.
The 2.30 sees Rainfall taking a step up in class following her winning debut at Thirsk at the start of the month. She won with bundles in hand to my eye having watched the race several times and could be better than this listed class. It is a big ask to step up from a class 4 maiden to this and on breeding she will probably want further in the future but I think the Johnston filly can win this on the way to bigger things.
Over at Beverley On The High Tops is fancied to take the Continental Two-Year-Old Trophy at 3.40. The bay gelding beat subsequent winner Premier Clarets on his debut and Tom Tate knows how to train juveniles.
Be lucky

Diamond In The Rough & The Cats Whiskers

You read it here first, Dinkum Diamond took the National Stakes at Sandown last night in some style and the Aussie Rules colt now appears bound for the Royal meeting and the Norfolk Stakes. They looked to go a fair gallop and after this sparkling (sorry) display this little bay looks like being a two-year-old to follow.
Talking of two-year-olds to follow I have recently watched again the race from Tipperary on the 20th May won by Meow. Beaten a short head on her debut (7 lengths clear of the third) she destroyed the field in this maiden with an impressive front running display. Owned by Michael Tabor and trained by David Wachman she is bred to be a bit speedy being by Storm Cat out of Airwave. Entered for the Phoenix Stakes and Tattersalls Millions this bay filly looks like a lively contender for the major two-year-old races during the summer.

Dyna Waltz

Read the reports this morning in regard to Dyna Waltz having suffered a stress fracture in the Lingfield Oaks trial and that being the reason why the filly will be missing the Oaks. Gosden seems hopeful that she will be back later in the season. As I mentioned on the day I was fairly impressed by her at Lingfield and it makes you wonder how good she might be having accounted for Timepiece with some ease whilst sustaining an injury. I look forward to her return.

Diamond To Shine At Sandown

Good meeting at Sandown tonight with Dinkum Diamond, mentioned earlier this week in the Who’s The Daddy article on Aussie Rules, fancied to put in a good run in the 6.35 (National Stakes). The Hannon colt Cape To Rio looks handy but I was taken with the way Dinkum Diamond won at Salisbury.
In the Henry II Stakes (7.10) I like the look of Cesarewitch winner Darley Sun with the distance and going likely to suit the colt on his first run in the Godolphin colours. Opinion Poll is obviously a good horse but may prefer to get is toe in a little more than likely tonight, another danger might be illustrious Blue as William Knight has stated his intention to run him as a Cup horse this season.

Who’s The Daddy II

Aussie Rules, and I am not talking of the convict conceived game they play in the land down under, 18 butch men on a team, oval pitch, four posts, six points for a goal, one for a behind and one for a rushed behind - is it just me or does it all sound a little homoerotic?
No, I am talking of the Coolmore stallion and French 2000 Guineas winner (2006) whose first two-year-olds are off and running. Chinese Wall won a nice race at Maisons-laffitte in April with Emma’s Gift and Dinkum Diamond both getting off the mark at Bath and Salisbury respectively earlier this month. Being by Danehill it would be no surprise if Aussie Rules gets plenty of two-year-old winners. Dinkum Diamond is entered to run in the Listed National Stakes at Sandown on Thursday (27th May).
Strewth you'd be a right drongo not to take note cobber.

Canford cracks it!

Having placed a bet on Canford Cliffs in June last year to win the 2000 Guineas, and bored anyone who cared to listen silly about how good this horse could be, he finally proved me right by taking the Irish version this afternoon. I still believe he is a bit special, and his handler Richard Hannon certainly thinks so. Next up will almost definitely be a rematch with Newmarket winner Makfi in the St James’s Palace at Ascot.
Fame & Glory took the Gold Cup at the Curragh earlier this afternoon in the style of a good horse and if he goes to Epsom for the Coronation Cup it could prove to be a corker with Sariska also entered to run.
Music Show was third in the Irish 1000, for me Moore gave her too much to do in the final two furlongs as she was coming home as strong as any of them. The filly now owes me a few quid having backed her at Newmarket when the draw ruined her chance. I still feel she can win a big race this year and I will be keeping an eye out for her. My other fancy Termagant was a disappointing ninth.
Inter won the Champions League final and Toulouse beat Biarritz in the Heineken Cup to start off the little sporting treble but unfortunately Toulon, having lost Jonny Wilkinson at the start of the second half to injury, duly folded without their star fly half and Cardiff came back from 13-6 down at half time to win 28-21

Guineas, Gold Cup, Trebles, Ruck & Maul. It's all going on

Having backed Canford Cliffs at the end of June last year following the Coventry Stakes for the 2000 Guineas I am not about to desert the colt now and he is fancied to take the Irish 2000 on Saturday having come third at Newmarket. Music Show was unlucky at Newmarket (probably the fact my cash was on her didn’t help) in the 1000 Guineas with the draw ruining her chances; the stands side having a distinct advantage. She won her race and the filly has every chance in the Irish version. I have been waiting for the Kevin Pendergast filly Termagant and I will be backing both fillies on Sunday. Fame and Glory is the bet in the Tattersalls Gold Cup.

It’s a big weekend for Rugby and Football as well. With both teams looking for a ‘Treble’ Inter Milan, generally 5-4, would be my pick to lift the Champions League with Jose Mourinho out foxing his old mentor Louis van Gaal. Three times winners Toulouse (4-11) look too good to lose to Biarritz in the Heineken Cup final especially as Biarritz have lost their influential centre Damien Traille to injury and the brilliant No.8 Imanol Harinordoquy, so effective for France in the Six Nations, is being held together by sticky tape and elastoplasts after a brilliant but battering season. Jonny Wilkinson and his Toulon team (1-2) are taken to lift the Challenge Cup and leave Cardiff singing the blues in Marseille on Sunday. None of the prices are going to pay for a week in the sun so a little treble is the way to go.

Who's The Daddy

Over the last few weeks the answer quite simply is Dubawi.
With the unbeaten Makfi taking the 2000 Guineas at the start of the month his reputation was further enhanced the weekend before last when Worthadd won the 127th Derby Italiano having taken the Premio Parioli (Italian 2000 Guineas) in April. Anna Salai won a Group 3 at Longchamp in April, and Poet’s Voice, winner of the Champagne Stakes in 2009 as a two-year-old, was eighth in the French 2000 Guineas this weekend.
By the great but ill-fated Dubai Millennium the Irish 2000 Guineas winner was a top class racehorse but with his first crop now at classic age his prowess in the breeding barn down at Dalham Hall Stud might be set to eclipse his achievements on the track.

Flat track fluffs it

Unbelievable Flat Track Frankie misses a penalty with only minutes to go in the FA Cup Final and deprives me of a nice little winner on the last goalscorer bet. Paco Boy duly obliged though and has got to be a major fancy for Ascot. Kevin Mitchell loses at Upton Park but in truth I was a bit boozy by that time of the night to supply anything like an unbiased and informed comment. Hopefully he will come back better.

The Boy & Flat Track Frankie

A beautiful sunny F.A. Cup Final morning
I mentioned Paco Boy last night and nothing has changed my mind; he is fancied to take the Lockinge in some style.
At Wembley it's hard to see any result other than a Chelsea win but at 1-5 it is not a betting proposition so the 4-1 Last Goalscorer available about Mr Lampard will be the way I shall go. 'Flat Track Frankie' as he is known in my local has on several occasions this season scored goals for Chelsea once the result was already beyond doubt. He scored the fifth of five when the teams met in the League in March and since then he has scored the last against Villa (twice) as well as Liverpool, he even scored the last goal in the defeat at Spurs. He popped in the fifth of seven in the thrashing of Stoke and rounded off the season scoring the second of eight from the spot against Wigan. It would be no surprise to see him scoring the third or fourth this afternoon.
Be lucky

Friday review

That’s the wheels well and truly fallen off!
Odds-on shot Society Rock beat into second having taken it up just over a furlong out looking all over the winner, two non-runners and Muwakaba finishes a very disappointing last of five.
Fair to say Henry Cecil had a better day than me – Manifest, Chachamaidee and Principal Role landing the master of Warren Place a big race treble.
Time to seek the solace of a cold lager and a busty barmaid me thinks.
Roll on tomorrow and Paco Boy

A head in front

Going into the last day of the Dante meeting a head in front of the bookies so let’s see if we can kick for home.
I am a fan of Kite Wood and strongly fancy the Galileo colt to win the Yorkshire Cup (2.40). The 3.10 is an intriguing affair with some nice fillies taking their chance and I like the look of Muwakaba. The nicely bred Stoute chestnut won her only two-year-old start well and could make a very nice three-year-old.
Over at Newbury the two Listed races on the card are of interest. Society Rock (2.20) flew home when eventually finding room at Ascot in April, a performance I believe makes him the one to beat today. The Fillies Trial stakes (2.55) sees a number of Oaks hopefuls put their credentials on the line. My preference is for Wedding March. Making her debut in the UK for Godolphin, previously campaigned by Andre Fabre in France, the filly takes a step down in class for this and is fancied to land the spoils and secure Godolphin an across the card double with the aforementioned Kite Wood.
Be lucky

Not a bad day

Another day another winner – in fact two!
It was a nice seasonal reappearance from Sariska. Kicking clear around two and a half out she may have idled a little in front but Spencer kept her up to her work without being too hard and she won a shade cosily in the end. I would imagine the Bell team will be pleased with the performance and the Coronation Cup awaits. Fareer also obliged at 11-2 taking the Hambleton Handicap by a head having taken it up early and set what looked a decent pace throughout. He was kicked for home two out and held off the challenges of Rainbow Peak and Balcarce Nov another head back in third.
Russian Spirit never really seemed to get going and having found traffic problems about one and a half out she was left to come home under her own steam thereafter. Duchess Dora finished third in the 3.45 coming with a late run but never really looking like getting there, having found trouble in running she came home quickest of all and will win sooner rather than later. Twist Again looked like putting in a challenge in the last at three out but it didn’t materialise with her effort petering out as they entered the final furlong.
Elzaam took the two-year-old heat in some style for Michael Jarvis under Richard Hills and duly goes into the notebook as Jarvis had stated before the off that the colt will improve further with the race. Having made most of the running he picked up nicely when challenged. The second Sir Reginald will also be worth keeping an eye out for.
Cape Blanco took the Dante in the style of a good horse. Tracking the leaders throughout Murtagh kicked him on from just over a furlong out and he run out an easy three and a quarter length winner. The chestnut colt was clear second favourite for the Derby at 7-2 after the race but drifted to as big as 8-1 on the exchanges as a rumour spread that he had shown signs of being sore.

Dante day

The sun is shining, God is in his heaven and all’s right with the world, plus of course it is the Dante today at York. The race is fascinating with the much touted Stoute colt Workforce taking on Godolphins Sandown winner Chabal with a supporting cast of Tattersalls Timeform 3-y-o Trophy winner Coordinated Cut, the unbeaten Cape Blanco for Aidan O’Brien and Circumvent for Paul Cole. The winner will almost certainly take their place towards the head of the betting for the Derby and it is a race to watch rather than bet on for me. The two-year-old maiden is definitely also best watched, the notebook will be close to hand though as a couple of these could turn out to be above average.
The Middleton Stakes is likely to be a cracker with Sariska and Midday meeting again. With respect to the others this should be a two horse race and I fancy Michael Bell’s double Oaks winner to prevail again over the Breeders Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine.
Fareer has a chance in the 3.10 back in handicap company having looked out of his depth in the Group 2 at Sandown. I have mentioned Jarvis horses already this week and Russian Spirit should be there or thereabouts in the 1.40; a little each way double might be the way to go.
Duchess Dora ran at Chester and wasn’t disgraced behind Archers Road and a bold show under Johnny Murtagh can be expected in the 3.45. Twist Again won three of her last four starts in 2009 and ran a credible second at Doncaster earlier this month on her return to action. With Kieren Fallon booked to ride again and the good-firm going being to her advantage she will have to be my bet of the day.
Be lucky

Not A Bad Start

Oi Oi we have a winner!
Aviate took the Musidora Stakes at York this afternoon despite a lot of traffic problems under Eddie Ahern. Boxed in and with little room to manoeuvre, when her chance came she showed an impressive change of gear up the rails to win the race in the last few strides. I still feel that 1m 2f is her optimum trip but she is probably the most impressive of the Oaks candidates we have seen to date and if she gets the extra two furlongs the turn of foot she displayed when she got a clear passage today could prove decisive at Epsom. The big question though appears to be will she run? Henry Cecil and Prince Abdullah do not seem to want to run Timepiece and Activate in the same Oaks so one may be crossing the Channel to challenge for the French equivalent.
Of the other horses mentioned on this blog Business As Usual as expected ran a fair race and nearly nicked some each way money with his front running effort finishing fourth and looking as though he simply got tapped for toe when the challengers arrived. Still convinced he will be better over further.
Starspangledbanner ran a nice race but appeared to tire in the final furlong and Murtagh wasn’t too hard on the chestnut colt once his chance had gone. I think he will improve for the run and is one to watch out for in the major sprints this summer.
Itlaaq was a non-runner.
I will be getting the nut into the form book for tomorrow and with a bit of luck we might find another winner, or two, on Thursday.

Wednesday

Stuck in the office for the start of the York meeting and some numb nut has called a meeting for two o'clock - not a happy camper!
Just a quick line regard Fulham. Roy and his boys have worked miracles to get to the Europa League Cup Final, best priced 11-4 with Betfred this morning, and their place in the history of Fulham F.C. is assured. I think most neutrals will be willing them on tonight, and though I won't be having a bet as on paper Atlético Madrid look to good, one more herculean effort from the Cottagers and maybe, just maybe....

And the winner is.......

Wednesday sees the start of the Dante Meeting, lets see if we can nick a bit of beer money for the week ahead.
Australian import Starspangledbanner is interesting at a best priced 5-1 from 11-2 at the time of writing for the Duke of York Stakes on Wednesday despite top weight and the O’Brien camp not firing on all cylinders over the last couple of weeks. The four-year-old has won 6 of his 12 starts, including two Groups 1’s, and the colt has a good chance of making a winning Northern Hemisphere debut possibly on the way to emulating his sire Choisir, who of course took Ascot by storm back in 2003, as the colt has entries in the King’s Stand and Golden Jubilee at the Royal meeting. O’Brien is quoted as saying ‘I have told Johnny that he needs to wear a neck brace and a parachute.’ so it is safe to assume he has been impressing at home.
Following the disappointment of Timepiece at Lingfield Henry Cecil runs Aviate in the Musidora Stakes on Wednesday. The filly won nicely at Ascot but she needs to improve to become a serious Oaks contender, as well as prove she can stay a mile and a half, and it will be interesting to see how she goes at what on breeding I believe might be her optimum trip of 1m2f.
Itlaaq, mentioned in a previous post, is due to take his chance in the Bet at Bluesquare.com SP Guarantee Handicap at 3.45. The form of his head second to Incendo at Kempton last October is working out well and though the draw could have been kinder the Dunlop gelding has a decent chance of notching up a win and reversing the form with Incendo at the weights.
Business As Usual, also mentioned in a previous post, lines up in the 2.10. I am convinced he will want further as the season progresses but with the Jarvis string in such fine fettle at this time he must be worth a look at what might even be an each-way price.
Be Lucky

Trainers

Ey by gum and other clichés it’s that time of year when the spotlight falls on the York May meeting, one of my favourite meetings of the year, so I have been having a gander at the trainer stats for the forthcoming Dante Festival.
Trainers to note at York would include Michael Jarvis as his horses have been in fine form of late with the three-year-old colt Business As Usual a planned runner on the Wednesday. Not one of my braver calls but the horses in the care of Godolphin and Sir Michael Stoute are as ever to be considered at the major meetings, as a nice treble at Chester on Friday (7th) demonstrated for Stoute. John Dunlop has an impressive strike rate at York with Itlaaq holding two entries on the first day of the meeting and it may pay to follow the four-year-old gelding in whichever race Dunlop chooses if making the long journey from Arundel. Peter Chapple-Hyam has had his fair share of winners on the Knavesmire and his Brave Prospector might be the best chance of success for the Newmarket trainer at the meeting if taking his place in the Sportingbet.com Stakes on the Friday.

Football

Can't let the end of the season pass without comment. Lovely scenes at Stamford Bridge with the players, WAG's and children on the pitch at the end of the game celebrating the Chelsea triumph - I wonder if you can get odds on one of the bed hopping West London wide boys winning 'Role Model of the Year 2010'?
Strange but true: Check for yourself if you don't believe me (I had to check several times myself to be sure) Skybet are currently offering odds of 20-1 for Tottenham Hotspur to win the Champions League 2011. Surely not even the most ardent, fantasist, boozed up fool of a Spurs fan could consider that value? If Spurs win the Champions League next season I will walk from Lands End to John O Groats wearing nothing but a Tottenham bobble hat and a Tutu.

Im Forever Blowing Bubbles

Racing today is pretty awful, best left alone, so I will be watching the not so happy Hammers last game of the season against Man City. Should be a party atmosphere at the Boleyn Ground if only in thanks that this season is over - shockingly bad!
Plenty of quality racing to get the teeth into next week so will be looking for ways to boost the punting kitty, what price a West Ham 2-0 win?
Fortunes always hiding i've looked everywhere...........................

Derby Trial

Bullet Train won nicely enough, has to go on the shortlist for Epsom now but Henry Cecil is talking of Ascot in his post race interview. We have plenty more pointers to come over the next few days. Looking forward to York and Newbury.

On Trial

Just been watching the Oaks Trial at Lingfield and I am sad to report Timepiece did not look like a Classic winner. Fairly impressed by the winner Dyna Waltz certainly appears to get the 1m 4f