August Review - Cash! Dough! Wonga! Dosh! Lolly!

An absolutely cracking month with 11 winners from 24 runners and GGG’s finishing a big fat almost obese +18.05 profit to level stakes; the biggest profit this year.
That’s seven winning months out of eight in 2011; here's hoping for more 'Bookie Bashing' winners in September.

Maybe Five Out Of Five

Happy to report the Maybe made it five wins out of five yesterday at the Curragh winning the Moyglare Stud Stakes with some ease. The filly is now as short as 3-1 for next years 1000 Guineas, I advised her back in June and I am happily sitting on an ante-post voucher at 8-1.

Celebration Mile

I got it totally wrong yesterday but stay well in front for the month and hopefully can add a few bob more to the pile this afternoon.
The race of the day is the Group Two Celebration Mile at Goodwood and I am going to take on short priced favourite Poets Voice with Dubawi Gold. The Hannon trained colt was badly hampered when making his run last time but has solid form earlier this year and for me there has to be doubts about the Godolphin horse. If Poets Voice settles he might just stroll this but at 7-4 it's a big if, and my cash is with the three-year-old.
Earlier on the card at 2.15 Drunken Sailor is lining up in the Listed Windflower March Stakes. Reportedly has the Melbourne Cup as his big target later this year and I am convinced the gelding can take this little race for a second season before popping off down under.
Be lucky

Fly Me To The Moon

A day to have the notebook at hand over at Newmarket this afternoon with four two-year-old races and a number of untried three-year-olds lining up in the later races.
Moon Trip is out again quickly having won nicely at Leicester on Tuesday when tried at a mile for the first time and despite the 6lb penalty the Johnston two-year-old looks likely to go in again today.
Hopefully I shall be crooning the old tune 'Fly me to the moon........' later.
Be lucky

A Little Aperitif

Another good day yesterday with George Baker (horse, trainer, owner, jockey take your pick) doing the business.
Unusually for me I am having a little flutter on a summer jumps race today in the 4.40 at Worcester. Aperitif is not one to get too carried away with but the ten-year-old won well enough over course and distance eight days ago and is a whopping 10lb well in on the weights. Tom Scudamore gets the leg up from his brother Michael and I have taken a bit of the 11-4 this morning.
Be lucky

Triple Baked

The George Baker trained George Baker ridden this afternoon by George Baker - seriously I haven’t been at the sherry already - looks to have a good chance in the 4.30 at Leicester this afternoon. The gelding has been in good form recently wining three of his last four starts and at around 7-2 this morning is my pick of the day. Be lucky

Roman Opinion

Little bleary eyed from the cricket yesterday watching Bell and KP give the Indians a lesson in run making - A big thank you to Mr & Mrs Wilson and their beautiful baby Ella for the B&B and the Fulham boys Mr O'leary, Dave, Luke and Stu for a beer or twelve!
Back in Essex this morning and all eyes are again to York.
In the Group Two Lonsdale Cup at 3.05 we have some interesting horses including Harris Tweed taking a big step up in distance but Opinion Poll has been here and done it and is expected to retain his crown today at 7-2.
I put Holy Roman Warrior up on his debut and he has proven to be a decent enough two-year-old so far this season. He lines up today in the Bonus King Betfred Nursery at 4.50 and has a decent chance at 4-1.
Be lucky

Ebor Festival - Days Two and Three

Not a great start to the meeting tipping a third and a second; hopefully the luck will change. I am at the Oval for the Cricket on Friday so will put up a horse for tomorrow this afternoon as well – bit of a BOGOF deal on GGG’s.
On Thursday Barry Hills runs Group Three Princess Margaret Juddmonte Stakes winner Angels Will Fall in the Group Two Lowther Stakes at 2.30 and I fancy the filly to stay unbeaten.
Snow fairy will unfortunately be missing from the Yorkshire Oaks at 3.40 which to my eyes leaves the race open for Blue Bunting to confirm her middle distance class. A bit of a surprise winner of the 1000 Guineas she put the disappointment of Epsom where she had little luck in running (and Frankie got some unusual bad press) behind her by winning the Irish Oaks. She should be better than the form suggests and can take this Group One this afternoon.
In the Group Two Gimcrack Stakes Reply and Lilbourne Lad drop down in class from Group One company and should be the two to concentrate on. Reply gets a 3lb pull for a length and three quarters beating in the Phoenix Stakes (Lilbourne Lad fourth, Reply fifth) but I think Lilbourne Lad has enough to hold off his rival again and win this six furlong event.
Be lucky

Ebor Festival – Day One

Day one of the big meeting up at York and I fancy a couple to get the ball rolling.
If there is a colt in training that deserves a change of luck it is Seville. Runner-up in the Dante here in May, Irish Derby and Grand Prix de Paris The O’Brien trained colt is fancied to get a much deserved victory today in the Group Two Great Voltigeur Stakes at 3.05, take the 6-4 this morning.
The 3.40 Juddmonte International Stakes, Group One, is a real cracker of a heat and Await The Dawn will no doubt have plenty of followers as he tackles Group One company for the first time but I will be sticking with that lovely mare Midday. She looked back to her best when winning the Nassau Stakes (Group One) for the third consecutive year at Glorious Goodwood and while a certain amount has to be taken on trust with Await The Dawn tackling Group One for the first time she is a proven mare of the highest ability and at 5-2 is my pick.
Be lucky

St. Leger Ante-Post

I wrote yesterday whilst tipping Census, who went on to win the Group Three Geoffrey Freer Stakes at 4-1: 'I have a feeling that Census is improving with every race and will turn out to be a St Leger horse.' Following the victory the Richard Hannon trained colt is firmly in the St. Leger reckoning and I have taken a little of the 6-1 on offer today.
Be lucky

Census Gold

Races all over the country today but I am sticking to the west.
In the 3.05 at Newbury we have a nice mix of established middle distance horses and up coming possible future stayers. I have a feeling that Census is improving with every race and will turn out to be a St Leger horse. The Hannon trained three-year-old finished behind Brown Panther at the Royal meeting but to my eyes had given the winner too much of a head start. I expect him to reverse the form over todays longer trip in the Group Three.
I have followed Dubawi Gold on and off for the last two seasons, I tipped him in the Irish Guineas, and the colt has a big chance on Guineas form in the Group Two 3.40. His poor run at the Royal Meeting when finishing sixth (Excelebration third) can be put down to trying to stay with Frankel leading to him visibly tiring late on and without the beast that is Frankel in the line-up I think he can get back to winning ways today.
Be lucky

Howard Johnson - Licence Revoked

The BHA inquiry into Howard Johnson, ongoing since January, has finally come to a close with the trainer being given a four-year ban from racing - the Trainer has subsequently announced his retirement.
Johnson was banned for three years for the charge concerning running Striking Article following a neurectomy and for a further year for administering anabolic steroids to three other horses.
On the 10th January this year I wrote on this site 'Hopefully the case will be dealt with swiftly and fairly with justice being seen to be done and minimising the bad publicity for the sport.'
Unfortunately the case has dragged on but the BHA disciplinary panel have dealt with Johnson in a manner suiting the offence. He has had some wonderful horses in his stable such as the great Inglis Drever but behaviour such as this, showing little or no regard for the horses welfare, are literally beyond belief from such a renowned trainer. He has shown a total disregard for the well being of a horse when running Striking Article eight times following the 'de-nerving' operation.
I for one will not miss the man now the truth is out in regard to how horses in his care are looked after.

Lady's Day At Nottingham?

I pocketed a couple of bob again yesterday with two winners a third and a non-runner out of my four tips leaving me nicely in front so far this month. I am going to try and press on with a couple at Nottingham this afternoon.
Bryan Smart's Lady Paris won nicely at Pontefract recently and is fancied to go in again in the 2.55, I will take a bit of the 7-4 available early.
Straight after in the 3.30 Deslaya looks to have a good opportunity to notch up her first win. Due to go up 4lb after this race her recent run at Brighton suggests she will be winning sooner rather than later and today should be the day and she is available at 3-1 this morning.
Be lucky

Four At Newmarket

Nice little meeting at Newmarket today and I fancy a few short priced ones – hopefully a day for a bit of Bookie Bashing.
First up in the 2.50 Holdens Stud Handicap Mashaaref looks the one to beat. Straight after in the 3.25 Hiscox Property Maiden Fillies Stakes Sir Michael Stoute appears to have found the ideal opportunity for Regal Heiress to notch up a first victory. The 4.00 Sagecare Nursing And Care Conditions Stakes looks to be at the mercy of the Hannon trained Trumpet Major. Finally in the TurfTV Handicap at 5.10 recent Kempton winner Planetoid should be good enough to defy the 6lb penalty under Tom Queally.
Be lucky

Imagine If You Will

Fairly mundane stuff today but there is the possibility of nicking a couple of bob over at Yarmouth in the 5.00. Imaginary Diva is 3lb well in here and has put up two good performances lately when winning at Brighton and finishing second in better company at Windsor. I have taken a bit of the 15-8 this morning.
Be lucky

Newmarket and Haydock

It's Shergar Cup day at Ascot and although a bit of fun and something different and it is nice to see the different jockeys from across Europe and the rest of the globe due to the nature of the competition not really a meeting to get involved with gambling wise.
I have put Class Is Class up before as a tip, winning back on 1st July, and I fancy the Stoute trained gelding to get the job done again in the Group Three Rose of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock this afternoon, 2.45.
Elsewhere there is some nice racing at Newmarket and in the Group Three Sweet Solera Stakes Discourse catches the eye. There are some nice two-year-old fillies lining up but the selection looked a decent type when wining here on debut in June and is a strong fancy.
At 5.20 Walter Swinburn trained filly Hurricane Lady looks to have a chance at what will hopefully be a decent price. Twice a winner already this season she run well in defeat last time and could go in again today.
Be lucky

Canford Cliffs Retired

Richard Hannon has today confirmed that the five time Group One winner Canford Cliffs has been retired and will now stand at Coolmore Stud in Ireland following the deal brokered at the end of last season. The colt had reportedly suffered a near-fore pastern injury at Goodwood, described as ‘a bit of a shadow on the joint running into the pastern’ by Hannon and was retired on veterinary advice.
My admiration for the colt is well known to any previous visitor to this site.
I backed him on debut at Newbury in May 2009 and for the Coventry Stakes win at the Royal Meeting a month later. Following that race I invested a few quid for the 2010 Guineas and subsequently followed him in every race since including the ‘Dual on the Downs’ at Glorious Goodwood.
Winner of seven of his eleven career starts – including the Irish 2000 Guineas which was the beginning of his unbeaten five Group One victories – the horse owes me and the racing public nothing, he was a top class miler, and I wish him a long, happy and fruitful retirement at Coolmore.

Sligo Fancy

A little bit of 'after the Lord Mayors show' for the next few days with the greatest of respect to Brighton and their August Festival that starts today.
I do fancy one out in Ireland though in the shape of Ashgrove Nell. Running in the 7.50 at Sligo tonight the filly should be suited by the step up to one mile four furlongs and the booking of Pat Smullen to take the ride certainly catches the eye.
Be lucky

July Review - A Winning Month Again

It took a while and at one point I wondered if I would ever get in front tipping up nine second placed finishers during the month but I am happy to report that GirdysGeeGees did it again in July eventually showing a +2 points profit to level stakes; that’s six winning months out of seven in 2011.