Mutayaser Money

The money has come for Mutayaser in the 2.10 at Leicester today.
The Stoute trained colt has a middle distance pedigree, by Shamardal (Prix du Jockey Club and St James’s Palace Stakes winner) out of Borgia (ran credibly in the Arc twice as well as the Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Turf) and it could pay to take the hint and back him to make a winning debut - get on quick as the price is going down faster than a Romford birds G-string on a Friday night ;o)
Be lucky

Time For Bed

Regressing back to childhood today and the old Magic Roundabout (what the feck was that all about?) and backing Zebedee in the 3.55 at Newmarket.
Over at Goodwood the much talked about Date With Destiny lines up in the 3.40 and the filly is fancied to take this on the way to bigger things.
Be lucky

Taking A Dip At Bath

It will be very difficult to find winners at Newmarket today with so many unexposed two and three-year-olds and the racing there is best watched rather than punted on.
Over at Bath I like the look of Minikin. The Montjeu filly won well at Folkstone and with further improvement to be expected she is fancied to win the Rajpoot.com Handicap at 5.45 despite having to shoulder a penalty.
Be lucky

Wash-out, Non-runner, King and VIP's Only

Bit of a wash-out today, literally down at Goodwood where by all accounts the jockeys would need a rubber ring and the meeting is cancelled.
I was thinking of having a little investment on Daniel Thomas at Lingfield but the gelding has been declared a non-runner.
Elsewhere Richard Hannon appears to be plotting a trip to France for King Torus, 20-1 for next years 2,000 Guineas, with the Group 1 Prix Jean Luc Lagadere at Longchamp on Arc weekend likely to be the colts target rather than the Racing Post Trophy and the Dewhurst Stakes.
Victor Chandler is shutting their Gibraltar based telephone betting service. The company are now taking ninety-seven per cent of all bets via online or mobile services according to reports and only VIP punters will be able to place bets by phone – I shall have to ask if my regular Saturday 25p Yankee makes me eligible for the ‘Elite’ service?

St. Leger Entries

Sixteen horses remain in the St Leger field at the latest forfeit stage with current 7-4 favourite Rewilding standing his ground. Dual Oaks heroine Snow Fairy is second favourite with Midas Touch, Artic Cosmos and Dandino next in the betting. Cape Blanco is also listed but O’Brien has stated that no decisions have been made yet and the stable are looking at the Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes as a possible alternative for the Irish Derby winner.

Variety Is The Spice Of Life

I had a slightly disappointing York with Sariska refusing to race and Starspangledbanner finishing second sandwiched between two 100-1 shots in the craziest Nunthorpe result for years. There has apparently been only two 100-1 winners of Group One races in Britain the other being a horse called Hittite Glory who won the Flying Childers in 1975. When your luck is out your luck is out!
So I am looking to get back to winning ways today at the Variety Club Day at Sandown.
In the first Long Lashes lines up for Godolphin. I backed the filly at Goodwood and she looked as though she needed the run. the filly had looked a good prospect last year and with cheek pieces for the first time on today I shall be giving her another chance in the Listed event. Seta is the big danger.
Native Khan can put himself into contention for next years Derby by taking the Group Three Solario Stakes at 2.35. The grey won his debut nicely at Newmarket and may well mature into a very nice horse.
Up at Chester one of my favourite handicapers Jedi takes his place in the 2.50. The Stoute trained gelding has been running well this year, the soft going will suit and as is all important with a track like Chester he has course form having won here back in May.
Be lucky

Ebor Festival - Day Four

I was unable to write this morning but no-one who reads this site would have had to ask which horse I was backing in the big sprint, and I can confirm tonight that I am starspangledstunned by the result at York.
Sole Power recorded the biggest upset of the Flat season by a country mile with an amazing win in the Nunthorpe at 100-1. I had of course backed Starspangledbanner and for a while it looked as though he might reel in the Edward Lynam trained colt but it was not to be. Another 100-1 shot, Piccadilly Filly, finished third.
Some days the formbook doesn't just get torn up it is torn into a million pieces, set on fire and the ashes scattered to the four corners of the world.

Ebor Festival - Day Three

I am at the Oval hopefully watching Anderson, Broad and Co. giving the Pakistan team another lesson in swing bowling; the teams batting on the first day having resembled the Recorder Select XI when we played Old Parkonians XI last year and lost by 76 runs.
Beaten in the Yorkshire Oaks at odds-on last year I expect Sariska to make amends for that today. It should be a cracker of a race with Midday an obvious danger but the Breeders’ Cup Fillys & Mares winner hasn’t been able to get the better of Sariska in three attempts. Dual Oaks winner Snow Fairy represents the Classic generation and is also a big threat. This should prove to be one of the highlights of the week if not the season. The dvd recorder is set.
The Lowther Stakes sees some nice two-year-olds lining up. Maqaasid ran a big race at the Royal meeting when winning the Group Two Queen Mary Stakes (beating my tip Meow) and is expected to take this despite having to give three pound to her rivals.
Yours truly from Silly Mid-Off
Be lucky

Ebor Festival - Day Two

A couple of really difficult handicaps again today at York, including the Ebor of course. I was planning on backing Ask in the Lonsdale Cup but he has been declared a non-runner.
In the 4.05 it is difficult to get away from Face The Problem, though at 6-4 Barry Hills' colt is short enough. He has won his last three starts, including a course and distance success, having finished third on his debut and to my mind is open to further improvement still.
Be lucky

Tuesday Review

Close but no cigar!
A great finish to the Juddmonte between Rip Van Winkle, Twice Over and Byword. Unfortunately my selection finished third of the three but the race was yet another advertisement for keeping horses in training.
Rewilding was impressive in the Great Voltigeur giving my selection Midas Touch a four length beating and the Godolphin colt now looks likely to take his chance in the St. Leger.

Ebor Festival - Day One

Some tough Handicap and Nursery races for the first day of the big meeting at York this week, but we are in for a treat with the Juddmonte and Great Voltigeur.
We have some very good horses lining up in the Juddmonte and with the going and distance a slight worry for Rip Van Winkle, Twice Over and Dick Turpin the preference is for Byword. The Fabre colts only defeat in his last four starts came at the hands of Goldikova over 1m 1f at Longchamp. He showed the benefit of an extra furlong when bating Twice Over in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot and has won on softer going.
In the Great Voltigeur I fancy Midas touch to turn around Epsom form with Rewilding. Having reviewed the race several times the O’Brien colt never really looked happy at Epsom and showed how good he could be when chasing home Cape Blanco in the Irish Derby. He has winning form as a two-year-old on softer going and a big run is expected.
Be lucky

Potential Stars - Update

Having mentioned Janood in the ‘Potential Stars’ editorial 11th August the colt maintained his unbeaten record and earned a 20-1 quote for the 2,000 Guineas with victory at Newbury on Saturday in the Listed Matalan Stakes (Registered As The Washington Singer Stakes). As mentioned earlier in the month the Medicean colts dam Alluring Park won as a two-year-old and is a full sister to Japanese Group One sprinter Shinko Forest (Green Desert-Park Express) and half sister to the top class Derby winner New Approach (Galileo-Park Express). Sire Medicean won the Lockinge Stakes and Eclipse Stakes during his racing career for Sir Michael Stoute and this bay colt definitely now looks like one to keep an eye on.

Ante-Post Bets - Update

2000 Guineas

Strong Suit 5-1

Janood 20-1

1000 Guineas

Memory 8-1

Helleborine 20-1

Blue Day At Newbury

I wrote here recently about Godolphin two-year-old Janood and the Medicean - Alluring Park colt has a chance to follow up on his debut win at Newmarket in the 2.00.
Another horse I have talked of is Kite Wood. I lost a few quid on the beast at Ascot when he did not get the 2m 4f but he won this race impressively last year and the rain will help him more than some of the others. Bin Suroor has stated that the Galileo colt has been working nicely leading up to this race.
My lil buddy Frankie picked out Dashing Doc in the 4.50 this morning whilst we were having breakfast. Now I wouldn't advise you to pawn the family silver and have a punt on the advice of a 21-month-old but I mention it as it might prove interesting to see if we have a budding tipster on our hands.
Be lucky

Racing For Change

I recently wrote to The Sunday Times, as one does, in regard to RFC and the decimal odds experiment and how I did not agree with the idea.
The Racing Post today posed the question ‘What do you think has Racing For Change achieved so far?’ upon it’s website and the posted remarks were of interest.
The only positive was from a gentleman who liked ‘the large number cloths’ and that was it. Generally the comments were along the lines of ‘Publicity for itself.’ ‘Makes money for the marketing man’ ‘Not a great deal to be honest’ ‘They are a waste of space’ 'nothing more than a gimmick and have achieved nothing of note so far' and my personal favourite ‘Jockeys wearing ruddy football shirts? They'll have the horses name painted on its backside next!’
I have mentioned previously that the screening of Stewards Inquiries is one of the few RFC ideas that I have been behind from day one and the VisitEngland Quality Assured Racecourse scheme in which courses will be assessed on things such as toilets, catering and retail outlets at least on paper can’t be a bad idea. The Breast Cancer Care Pink Mile at Chester should also be applauded for the money raised, but I would have to agree with the good folk on the RP website that to date I can see little RFC has done for the benefit of the sport.
One of the initiatives, and I am not pulling your leg here, is the encouraging of students to become ‘Horseracing Ambassadors’. According to the RFC website:
‘There are 3.2 million students in the UK who are an important future market for racing, so with the assistance of Capitalize, a specialist consultancy, Racing for Change has commenced a programme to recruit college-based racing fans who can help to promote the sport on campus during the next academic year. The selected students will be given advice on how to set up a university racing society and provided with a toolkit of support materials which will help them to communicate with fellow racing fans in and around their campus. Capitalize is looking for ambitious students who have an interest in horseracing and are keen to gain invaluable experience in sports marketing. Each student will be set a number of projects which will include arranging regular trips to local racecourses, themed educational race nights to help people learn more about horseracing and stable visits to see horses working on the gallops.’
So that is a ‘specialist consultancy’ brought in to advise students on organising a day out.
Down my local, The Cricketers, we have a ‘racing society’ of sorts. My Uncle Bernie puts up a piece of paper on the wall with details of the race meeting of choice on it. If you fancy going racing that day you put your name on the list and your money in the pint pot. My uncle Bernie then books a coach and off we all go.
If the guys at RFC care to drop me a line I will put them in contact with my uncle who will happily, and no doubt at considerably less cost than Capitalize, give them a sheet of paper out of his notebook, a couple of bits of blue-tac and lend them his ballpoint pen!

Potential Stars

As we come towards the final stages of the Flat season as someone venerated for the possession of wisdom, judgment, and of great experience - stop sniggering - it is time to test my sage like abilities and predict some two-year-olds that will be worth backing for the major races in 2011. I have had some success recently holding some nicely priced ante-post vouchers on Sea The Stars and Canford Cliffs in the last two years so here's hoping I can do it again.
I have talked about Strong Suit previously and I am holding a small ante-post voucher about the colt at 5-1 for the 2000 Guineas. His most recent run at the Curragh when defeated by Zoffany is a little worrying as is the fact he is now available at prices as big as 10-1. Fingers crossed it was no more than an off day for the Hannon colt and the trainer has stated that he feels he that he is the best of their 100-plus two-year-olds.
Zoffany will of course be at the top of may peoples list of two-year-olds to follow. Slightly disappointing when behind Strong Suit in the Coventry at the Royal meeting you can’t knock the form of his other five runs, all victories, and of course following the Curragh victory he now has a Group One in the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes to his name. On breeding a step up to a mile next year shouldn’t be a problem.
King Torus won the Group Two Veuve Clicquot Vintage Stakes over seven furlongs on the 28th July at Goodwood to add to his Group Two win in the 32Red.com Superlative Stakes at Newmarket earlier in the Month. Breeding would suggest that a mile would probably be the Oratorio colts limit stamina wise.
Janood was an interesting debutant for Godolphin at Newmarket on the 30th July. The Medicean colts dam Alluring Park won as a two-year-old and is a full sister to Japanese Group One sprinter Shinko Forest (Green Desert-Park Express) and half sister to the top class Derby winner New Approach (Galileo-Park Express). He is entered at Newbury and York later this month and may be one to keep an eye on.
As for the fillies, I have already mentioned Memory as the outstanding two-year-old filly to have run this year and took the 8-1 for the 1000 Guineas at the time. At this stage of the season she still looks to be the best we have seen thus far.
Many a good judge was taken with the run of Helleborine when she won the Listed Prix Six Perfections at Deauville on the 31st July over seven furlongs, following up on her debut win at Maisons-Laffitte in June over six. There is plenty of black type in the Observatory fillys pedigree and a mile looks well within her range, possibly up to a mile and a quarter. She is not guaranteed to cross the channel to race in our 1000 Guineas of course but at 20-1 she is worth a small investment at this stage of the season.

Ante-Post Bets

2000 Guineas

Strong Suit 5-1

1000 Guineas

Memory 8-1

Helleborine 20-1

Football

The new season is upon us and if you care to read them (and why wouldn't you?) my views and opinions in regard to the coming months can be found on the special Football page.

Harbinger Retired

Harbinger has been retired. The four-year-old was the highest-rated Flat horse in the world following his eleven length demolition of the field in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. The colt will be remembered as one of the all-time greats. A decision on a potential stud career has yet to be confirmed but no-one can be in doubt that he will prove very popular with breeders if he is able to take up the new career.

Wolverhampton

Michael Bell has a good strike rate up at Wolverhampton and he sends out a likely sort in the shape of Screenprint in the Bet In-play At Ladbrokes.com Nursery Handicap at 3.45. A recent winner at Epsom the chestnut colt looks to be on a fair weight for his Nursery debut and a couple of quid will be invested.
Be lucky

Curragh Report

A mixed day for the O’Brien stable at the big Curragh meeting on Sunday as Fame And Glory returned to action with a comfortable victory in the Group 2 Royal Whip Stakes. Next up it looks likely to be either the Irish Champion Stakes or the Prix Foy on the way to the Arc.
Zoffany was impressive in the Phoenix Stakes overturning the Coventry form in beating the strongly fancied odds on Strong Suit. The Dansili colt is now quoted at 8-1 for the 2000 Guineas with my ante-post ticket on Strong Suit for the Guineas now not looking at little skinny at 5-1.
In the two-year-old fillies heat the Galileo filly Together disappointed for the O’Brien team hanging badly and finishing third behind the Jessica Harrington trained Laughing Lashes.

Harbinger

It has been announced that a decision concerning the racing future of Harbinger will probably be taken on Monday. The highest-rated horse in the world, and recent King George winner, suffered a career-threatening injury on the gallops Saturday morning and is unlikely to race again with John Warren, director of Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, stating that the chances of seeing the colt on the racetrack again was ‘a longshot’. The good news is the horse is reported to have recovered well from surgery and is described as ‘comfortable and in very good condition’.