Friday 27th April 2018

1.40 Doncaster

This looks a good race for the grade, with the majority of these likely to be better than their current handicap marks. Knightly Spirit is the rightful favourite after showing some very useful form as a two-year-old in behind the likes of Roaring Lion and Showroom and starts life on a lenient mark in ideal conditions. French Flyer looked useful two-year-old even though he had the size and scope to be better at three.  Michael Dodds isn’t firing on all cylinders just yet, so that would be a concern. Cracker Factory has some useful two-year-old form to his name and is well bred but this trip could maybe be a bit sharp for him and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him in a Juvenile hurdle later in the year. Spark of War is one of my three-year-olds to follow and conditions will be in his favour on Town Moor. This is a tough race for him to start his season and hopefully the Keith Dalgleish yard has turned a corner following a winner at Beverley today.

Very green on debut on heavy ground, first three in the race pulled clear and Spark of War was given an easy ride back in fourth.  He improved slightly on second start but again was very green. Spark of War was surprisingly dropped in trip on final start and ridden differently but was not quick enough to do himself justice. Those three runs were within a month so he has quickly got a handicap mark. He is by Declaration of War, who improved from two to three and his dam won a listed and G3 race over 12f as a three-year-old, so there is some hope for improvement this year.  A 65,000 purchase from a good family so connections will expect him to build on his opening mark.

1pt win SPARK OF WAR (16/1 general)

3.00 Sandown

Stephensons Rocket was one of my handicappers to follow but finds himself in the Classic Trial. He would have won on debut but for greenness out in front. The horse that beat him that day was Crossed Baton, who had the benefit of experience and went on to win the Classic Trial at Epsom this week. This looks a really strong race, with Sevenna Star looking like he could be special after beating a highly thought of Mark Johnston horse at Windsor by 14 lengths. Chilean has won a group 3 in France already this season and you can’t rule out any of Charlie Appleby’s at the moment. Stephensons Rocket could easily run an excellent race and finish out of the first three.

Green out of the stalls and a little keen on debut. Looked to have the race won but ran green in front and outpaced before being beaten by a more experienced rival at Sandown. He didn’t have to improve to go one better at Redcar next time, though he was quite keen again. He showed a good attitude at Redcar, pulling further away from the field the further he went. The form of that win could be questionable but Stephensons Rocket is a big scopey colt who should be competitive in top mile and half handicaps this season or even group races if he learns to settle. He hasn’t been given a mark yet but a best guess would be mid 80s.

1pt win STEPHENSONS ROCKET (11/1 Bet365)

Other eye-catchers over the winter but not put up at the start of the season run in the 4.35 at Sandown and 3.25 at Doncaster. At Sandown Give And Take is related to both Fame And Glory and Legatissimo. Her first two runs were encouraging (two and a half lengths behind Wild Illusion who went on to win the Prix Marcel Boussac last autumn).  She looked to really get the hang of things when bolting up on her third start. She should be capable of better still. The other eye-catcher in this race is Crystal Hope, who was very green on debut at Nottingham but did show signs of ability when staying on behind Hadith (rated 97) and Sheikha Reika (rated 88). Given her breeding, more will be expected as a three-year-old. She has an each-way chance at 12/1 but once again John Gosden has another potentially high-class horse at his disposal in Highgarden.

At Doncaster my eye-catcher is Mirror Mirror, who ran in a couple of decent novice races as a two-year-old. I noted that this horse is from the Family of Kingston Hill, who would improve for middle distances next season, so I am surprised they have stepped her down from a mile to 6f. She did show good pace when making the running on her latest start, where she also lost a shoe.  She might be here for the experience and a handicap mark, but if she suits the step down in trip then she is overpriced at 16/1.

In the 3.55 at Doncaster, Humble Gratitude runs in his first handicap off a fair mark. Clifford Lee was on board when he broke his maiden tag and put up an RPR of 84. He also put up an RPR of 85 when finishing ¾ lengths behind Staxton at Haydock. 6/1 looks a fair price.

Tuesday 24th April 2018

Stream Song played up on the way to post and took her time to get going but got the job done in the end. She clearly needs time to learn and develop like her half-sister, Journey.  A further step up in trip will be of benefit, with John Gosden naming the Lingfield Oaks trial as her likely next target. Ingenuity raced wide throughout at Pontefract and looked desperately in need of the run.

One runner tomorrow put up as a dark horse to follow for 2018.

2.55 Yarmouth

Without Parole (John Gosden)

Sire – Frankel. Dam – Without You Babe.

Hard not to be impressed by the manner of his victory on debut at Newcastle, but it is important to remember he was getting 4lbs from the second and third horses. He is a half-brother to Tamarkuz and could be absolutely anything. My only reservation would be that I may have raised expectations of him after John Gosden sent Enable to win at Newcastle on her debut.

Currently 25/1 for the 2000 Guineas, with a bit of money around for him this evening.

Monday 23rd April 2018

Camden Town was quite well backed and ran a fair race at Nottingham on Saturday. He got quite tired at the end and maybe wasn’t be suited by the undulations of the track. I think he will have a race in him this season.  Corgi ran a very nice race at Newbury and collected some each-way money at 16/1.

Two horses I put up at the start of the season run tomorrow.

4.40 Pontefract.

Ingenuity from my handicappers to follow runs in second division of the 6f novice race. He carries a 7lb penalty for his win at Carlisle last year, when beating Hey Jonesy (rated 110 but disappointed in the free handicap at Newmarket last week). He also carried a 7lb penalty when running behind Hikmaa, who ran well in the Fred Darling at Newbury. I’m not sure if Ingenuity will be fully wound up for this race, as he may have bigger targets further down the line. I would be most fearful of the two newcomers. Towton is overpriced at 25/1 and the well-bred Wondering Spirit is interesting.

Nothing to shout about on breeding but has looked really smart, especially on his second and third starts. On debut he was very green and obviously learnt a lot from that effort. On his second start he beat Hey Jonesy, who came fourth in the Middle Park and has an official rating of 110. He then carried a penalty in his third start at Newcastle only to be beaten by a subsequent listed winner who is now rated 101. I suspect he will be a miler as a three-year-old and looks an exciting prospect. He could pick up a handicap before taking a step up to group company.

1 pt win INGENUITY (7/4 Sky Bet)

6.20 Windsor

Stream Song starts life off a very lenient handicap mark after beating Sheikha Reika in a novice race last season. Sheikha Reika boosted the form when bolting up at Newmarket last week. Stream Song did take a while to get the hang of things last season, so she will be likely to come on for the run tomorrow. The step up in trip is sure to suit and I’d be quite disappointed if she can’t win off this mark. I’d recommend having a very small bet on her for The Oaks (50/1 Paddy Power, William Hill).

A half-sister to top class filly, Journey. Stream Song was quite green on her first two starts. The first time at Ascot where she was produced with a run but faded and was given a hands and heels ride.  She was then unsuited by a steadily run race on her second start at Doncaster. She looked to get the hang of things on her third start, staying on very strongly and winning a shade cosy, putting up an RPR of 84. The third horse in that race has won in listed company since. Given her half-sister was a late developer, there is almost certainly more to come upped in trip as a three-year-old, off a mark, which she should build on with few problems.

1 pt win STREAM SONG (4/7 Betfair Sportsbook, Paddy Power)

Antepost

0.5pts win STREAM SONG for the Investec Oaks (50/1 Paddy Power, William Hill)

Saturday 21st April 2018

I was really impressed with Bombyx today even though he didn’t win. He travelled powerfully into the race and should come on for the run. I’d expect him to improve when upped to a mile and a half. Enable was beaten in this race last year so I’m not giving up just yet. On to tomorrow...

6.15 Nottingham

Chesterfield is well fancied for the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr tomorrow, but the selection is his half-brother, Camden Town, who runs at Nottingham. This is one of my riskier picks from the handicappers to follow and he may be a long-term project given his breeding! It is positive that Roger Fell's horses have been running well recently and promising apprentice Lewis Edmunds takes the ride. There are some top yards represented in this race so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him run well without winning. The market is likely to be very informative.

Godolphin bred and sold to Roger Fell before seeing a racecourse. This horse may have been written off too early, as is often the case with plenty of well-bred horses. Camden Town was well beaten behind the mighty impressive Without Parole on his third start. Although he was soundly beaten, he did show some signs of ability and is almost certain to be better at three than at two. Camden Town is a half-brother to 2m hurdle winner Chesterfield and may be worth risking in middle distance handicaps off a low mark.

0.5 pts each-way CAMDEN TOWN (33/1 Bet365)

A couple of other horses to mention that caught my eye over the winter. The first is Highland Sky who runs in the 4.20 at Newbury.  He was an expensive purchase by Camelot. Three of his five half-brothers produced RPRs over 90 and their optimum trip was a mile and a half. He looked slow and green on his first two starts over a mile and the extended mile and a furlong at Wolverhampton so the step down to a mile tomorrow is not certain to suit.  Tomorrow may just be another educational experience and he will do better in handicaps once stepped up in trip.

The second is Corgi who runs in the 4.55 at Newbury. He is a big scopey colt who shaped with promise in his first two starts and looks like he’ll improve as a three-year-old. He ran right to the line on second start at Nottingham when finishing second behind Msayyan, who unfortunately didn’t do himself justice in the Feilden Stakes at Newmarket earlier this week. Sir Michael Stoute’s horse in this race could be anything but I think Corgi has an each-way chance and is available at 12/1.