Good Morning racing folk, Royal Ascot has ended and it was back to civilisation this week, I hope we all made it through ok enough. Despite today's racing not quite being the class of last Saturday we still have some very competitive races to look through. The big race of the day will be from Newcastle as they stage their yearly Northumberland Plate meeting, gamely won last year by Ile De Re. Donald McCain's Gelding lines up here once again, this year under 5 pound claimer Jason Hart who has been in great form as of late. Also on that Newcastle card we have Jack Dexter going to post after his exertions in the King's Stand, he should be winning the first.
Amongst the supporting cards we have two top meetings from Newmarket and then obviously the Irish Derby from The Curragh. The first and second from Epsom clash once again there with Ruler Of The World and first time Godolphin runner Libertarian. They also go to post at Windsor and Chester followed by evening meetings from both Doncaster and Lingfield.
Last Saturday marked the end of Royal Ascot for 2013 and it was a pretty miserable day for the blog by all accounts. Royal Ascot ended on somewhat a sour note as Thomas Chippendale gave his last breath on the racecourse when winning the Hardwicke. Shortly after passing the line he staggered and eventually collapsed, it soon became clear that he was no longer with us and had passed away. That victory was one that should have been filled with joy for the team at Warren Place for Lady Cecil, but jubilation soon turned to disaster. Later on in the afternoon Lethal Force won the Diamond Jubilee from the favourite Society Rock and in third Krypton Factor.
In the final results of the tipping challenge between myself and George Gorman, the result didn't go my way as we both failed to find a winner on the last day. My final level stakes profit was -10.58 and George won with a 'sparkling' -7.25 for which we can only apologise. It's about time he got one up on me anyway isn't it Mr Gorman!!
As always you can catch my blog on www.pigeonscoop4.wordpress.com where today Martin is running a competition for Newcastle and Newmarket races. Just pick a horse in the 2:05 and 3:15 from Newcastle and then at Newmarket the 2:55 and 3:30, then cheer them home for free! You can also follow Martin on twitter @Pigeon_Island so go and say hello to him. Thank you!
Onto today's action!
2:20 Newmarket - Fig Roll
If you are a frequent reader of this blog you will know that Fig Roll is a filly I am very fond of after her first two outings. She showed a tremendous attitude on both occasions when really stretching out for the winning line when asked and won second time out. She was unsuccessfully stepped up in trip over in Ireland at Naas, albeit in a very good looking race won by Sandiva. At Royal Ascot she was dropped back to 5 furlongs in the Queen Mary and ran a very encouraging fourth when staying on late. The obvious thing to do with her is to once again try her over 6 furlongs which is exactly what Richard Hannon does today. In Ireland she pulled very hard early on after jumping smartly but she should be able to get plenty of cover from stall 9. There is a huge danger in the stall next to her with Godolphin representative, Majeyda after winning her maiden at Leicester well. She is probably the one Fig Roll has to beat but the only worry would be that Majeyda's maiden is looking a little bit weak. Fig Roll to build on her Royal Ascot run. (3/1)
3:15 Newcastle - Moidore
Usually the Northumberland Plate would throw up a few potential selections to scratch your head over, but this year Moidore was the only one leaping of the page. After not really firing over hurdles he has been returned to the level posting 2 very good runs and one below average run behind Ardlui. If you can forgive him that run then he has a very big chance on the other two and is sure to stay unlike some others in the field. It would appear that connections have waited for this race after a good second to subsequent Royal Ascot winner Well Sharp. That run was off a pound lower and on ground that is likely to be similar to the conditions today, in fact the more rain the better. On the back of an encouraging run at York, Moidore can land the Northumberland Plate. (11/1)
4:05 Newmarket - Nabucco
Nabucco is an ultra consistent type for John Gosden but with just the one win to his name, he can double his tally this afternoon. Last time out over course and distance he was beaten narrowly by the improving Niceofyoutotellme with Beaufort Twelve in third. On that form and a turn around at the weights the latter should be a lot closer to the selection, in theory anyway. However Nabucco himself his still an improving horse and is capable of better for sure, despite being raised 3 pounds he can still give a good account of himself. Ryan Moore takes the ride today as William Buick is elsewhere but that is by no means a negative to have the ex champion on board. Looking through the future entries for Nabucco you will see he is entered in the John Smith's Cup at York next month, this shows just how highly they think of him. Nabucco to find the needed improvement and land the spoils today. (4/1)
5:35 Newmarket - Ghanaian
The Godolphin pair look to hold the key to this race but with Great Timing probably wanting further than this, preference is for Salisbury scorer, Ghanaian. Mickael Barzalona takes the ride today which is a bonus in itself as he rides the July course probably better than anyone in the weighing room. Last time out was his first appearance for Saeed Bin Suroor after of course moving over from Mahmood Al Zarooni's yard. To say he was impressive is an understatement after being outpaced earlier on in the contest he picked up well to win going away late on. This has bought about a step up to a mile which is a more than sensible idea and for now will be his optimum trip but could still get further. He is 9 pounds higher than his latest success but should be more than capable of carrying the extra weight to victory. Ghanaian to find the needed improvement and beat his stable mate. (2/1)
6:30 Curragh - Libertarian
Libertarian is the obvious choice for me and can round off a good day for team Godolphin with victory in the Irish Derby. He runs into the horse that beat him in the Derby again today, of course I speak of Ruler Of The World under Joseph O'Brien. But with different tactics he can really bring his stamina in to play here and we should see a different horse than at Epsom. After the Derby was run at an absolute crawl he flew home very late to snatch second on the line and was never nearer to the lead. The addition of a pacemaker from his future yard in Cap O'Rushes should ensure they go a good gallop and expose any stamina doubts in his rivals. William Buick comes over to Ireland for two rides today but you would imagine that this is the main reason for his trip and must be respected. Libertarian to outstay his rivals and come late to win. (4/1)
NAP - Libertarian
Nb - Nabucco
Lucky 15 - Fig Roll, Nabucco, Ghanaian and Libertarian
Good Luck with all your bets this afternoon, especially if following any of my selections.
Happy Punting.
Friday 28 June 2013
Sunday 23 June 2013
Hastings Racecourse Day Out
Some of you may remember that a couple of weeks ago I was kindly invited by BCLC who fund the lottery out here in British Columbia. Throughout the course of that day I got to experience things I never thought I'd get to, one of them being meeting one of the biggest jockeys in the world. Today I will take you through a few things that we managed to witness and physically do throughout the afternoon. Thank God the weather was kind to us!
I was invited through a friend of a friend just after a concert we both happened to be at, as if I needed more persuasion than a free afternoon racing, there was free food and drink. I was sold on it and to my brother's delight he got to come along to, he is getting married in October so I'm helping him enjoy life while he can... Ahem. I was told during the week that we would get to meet Breeder's Cup and Dubai World Cup winning jockey Aaron Gryder, then later on that we might not. So I went to the course hoping for the best.
Upon arrival we were greeted at the front desk and taken to the balcony surrounded with Budweiser advertising, where we would meet the rest of the bloggers. I had my Sunday best on but compared to the dresses some of the other ladies were wearing, a suit was nothing! We then got told how to place bets in Canada and were given betting vouchers for $10 each, all I can say is that Win or Each way is much less complicated. After everyone had got the chance to socialise and familiarise themselves with the surroundings, we were informed that Aaron was able to meet us. So off to the Paddock we went.
It was before the first race, one which Aaron had no ride in so he spent longer talking to us than we had intended, he was more than willing to do so. This came just 2 days after his win on Calidoscopio in the Brooklyn Handicap at Belmont Park in New York. This warranted many well done's and pats on the back, all taken with a blushing red face, but nonetheless appreciated. After a chat about racing and Animal Kingdom he assured us that he will 'probably be off the mark in the second race'.
For that second race me and my brother were given the chance to go and sit in the stalls, yes, we were actually sitting in the stalls when the race went off. It was only a 5 runner affair but Aaron was on the hot favourite 'I Think So' trained by Troy Taylor. True to his word Aaron led the field a merry dance and kicked for home scoring by a pretty easy three lengths from Silkworm. After our encounter to sit in the stalls we were given the chance to welcome Mr Gryder back into the winners enclosure, before getting our winnings of course.
After this it was pure enjoyment of the racing with a free beer here and there, not to mention the lovely spread of food for us from the racecourse. But one last privilege that we did get to witness was the racecourse commentator call a race up in the box. Unknown to me but our very own Richard
Hoiles had actually called a few races from Hastings Park before when stationed in Hong Kong. It was a 9 runner race which is about as big of a field you will get at Hastings so more than your usual field. In that field was a horse called Spirit River, unfortunately not the Coral Cup winner at Cheltenham, he is still with Nicky Henderson. But there was a surprise in the race as Hopeseeker won under Fernando Perez and for trainer Carl Lausten at 20/1.
We met Aaron once more as he was leaving the track for another brief chat just before the last race to say thank you. The last race was also the only other race I managed to back a winner all afternoon as Fernando Perez notched up a quick fire four timer on Miss Heatheridge. She took over at the end of the back straight to win as easily as she liked, but has since been beaten over course and distance.
Id like to thank BCLC for their kind invitation and hospitality and also to Hastings Racecourse themselves for being great hosts. If anyone is ever in Vancouver and want something to do I cant recommend here enough, plus its always free to get in!!
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| Hastings Park Home Straight |
Upon arrival we were greeted at the front desk and taken to the balcony surrounded with Budweiser advertising, where we would meet the rest of the bloggers. I had my Sunday best on but compared to the dresses some of the other ladies were wearing, a suit was nothing! We then got told how to place bets in Canada and were given betting vouchers for $10 each, all I can say is that Win or Each way is much less complicated. After everyone had got the chance to socialise and familiarise themselves with the surroundings, we were informed that Aaron was able to meet us. So off to the Paddock we went.
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| Me with Aaron Gryder |
For that second race me and my brother were given the chance to go and sit in the stalls, yes, we were actually sitting in the stalls when the race went off. It was only a 5 runner affair but Aaron was on the hot favourite 'I Think So' trained by Troy Taylor. True to his word Aaron led the field a merry dance and kicked for home scoring by a pretty easy three lengths from Silkworm. After our encounter to sit in the stalls we were given the chance to welcome Mr Gryder back into the winners enclosure, before getting our winnings of course.
After this it was pure enjoyment of the racing with a free beer here and there, not to mention the lovely spread of food for us from the racecourse. But one last privilege that we did get to witness was the racecourse commentator call a race up in the box. Unknown to me but our very own Richard
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| Aaron goes into an early lead |
We met Aaron once more as he was leaving the track for another brief chat just before the last race to say thank you. The last race was also the only other race I managed to back a winner all afternoon as Fernando Perez notched up a quick fire four timer on Miss Heatheridge. She took over at the end of the back straight to win as easily as she liked, but has since been beaten over course and distance.
Id like to thank BCLC for their kind invitation and hospitality and also to Hastings Racecourse themselves for being great hosts. If anyone is ever in Vancouver and want something to do I cant recommend here enough, plus its always free to get in!!
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| From Me and Matt, thank you to Hastings Racecourse and BCLC |
Saturday 22 June 2013
Royal Ascot Day Five
Good Morning and a welcome to the weekend racing fans, this week has already been quite an exceptional one with one day still remaining. This day last year saw Black Caviar race away from Australian turf for the first time in the Diamond Jubilee, of course she won, not easily but she did it. We don't have anything of that hype to look forward to this year but we do have a very open race to assess and scratch our heads over.
Yesterday was very much a day for the bookies, at least with selections on this blog made it seem that way with only two placed efforts, a placed favourite and a non runner. Bana Wu was the biggest one to collect from as she got third under Richard Hughes at 16/1, she followed in Mutashaded who was also third at 8/1 earlier on. The latter would look a very good bet for the St Leger should he take up that engagement, I have heard quotes of 33/1 which he wont be on the day.
Sky Lantern stole the day with a very wide draw in the Coronation Stakes yet still managing to forge clear from her main rival Just The Judge. The two were separated by the French raider ridden my Thierry Jarnet after Just The Judge almost kicked her in the parade ring. Sky Lantern was 4 lengths clear however and just oozed class, she even earned a few quotes for such races like the Arc which is a big dream right now.
Once again Today Martin is running an invite only Pigeon Swoop for twitter users for four Ascot races, you can track my progress on his site through my twitter tag, @lukeyboy1325. He may also be running one open to everyone on Sunday! You can find the four Ascot races included on his twitter page @Pigeon_Island or on his website where you will also find my selections as well. He may also be running a Swoop at the weekend so feel free to enter that through twitter. The site is www.pigeonswoop4.wordpress.com Enjoy!
As you will know if you have been keeping track of this blog throughout the week, I have been taking on my friend and jockey George Gorman in a tipping contest. Neither of us have dazzled but George managed one more winner than me yesterday with Sky Lantern herself to reclaim the lead. Todays selections are in for the final and deciding day.
Luke -4.58 George -1.25
2:30 - Master Carpenter Freedom Square
3:05 - Mount Athos Ektihaam
3:45 - Dandy Boy Society Rock
4:25 - Zero Money Gabriel's Lad
5:00 - Lahaag Highland Castle
5:35 - Stopped Out Shahwardi
A winner is needed badly by me to bridge the gap on George, fingers crossed it happens. Thanks to George for taking part in this competition this week.
Now onto the racing!!
Royal Ascot - Chesham Stakes - Master Carpenter
Master Carpenter is a son of the high class Mastercraftsman so the step up to 7 furlongs will suit after winning on his step up to 6 furlongs. He is two wins from three runs so far in his short but successful career, his only defeat coming here over 5 furlongs behind Anticipated. Last time out he beat a smart horse of Richard Hannon's called Malachim Mist by a length and three quarters going away. Everything about that run suggests he will get further and for now 7 furlongs might just be the way to go with stamina in the pedigree. Despite having stamina in the family he showed good early pace and was always leading before quickening up around a furlong out. Andrea Atzeni takes the ride and can land the opener on the last day of Royal Ascot. (12/1)
1st - Master Carpenter
2nd - Autumn Lily
3rd - Bunker
Royal Ascot - Hardwicke Stakes - Mount Athos
Mount Athos burst onto the scene last year with a very easy victory in a big handicap at York over a mile and 6 furlongs under top weight. High Jinx was in second that day receiving 7 pounds but Mount Athos made him look very ordinary indeed. He then went on to win easily at Newbury before coming 5th in the Melbourne Cup when not getting the best of runs. Next he disappointed in Hong Kong when he should have probably been put away for the season to rest for this campaign. He made his comeback in great style at Chester when bolting up in the Ormonde Stakes, albeit not really beating a great deal. Today he is down a furlong in trip which many people are making out to be a big problem but I disagree entirely. He looks a horse with gears for sure and clearly he is very classy, but look further into how the race will be run. Its a given that Universal will set the pace probably being challenged by Ektihaam and Paul Hanagan, it would also be no surprise to see Aiken up there. If that happens which is very likely there will be a strong pace on and stamina will really come into play benefiting Mount Athos greatly. Whatever happens the target remains the Melbourne Cup again and can use this as a stepping stone today. (11/4)
1st - Mount Athos
2nd - Ektihaam
3rd - Universal
Royal Ascot - Diamond Jubilee - Dandy Boy
Last year Dandy boy ran in the Wokingham carrying 9 stone 8 pounds and his finishing winning time was 1 minute 13.87 seconds. Half an hour earlier in this race Black Caviar carried 9 stone 1 pound and clocked a winning time of 1 minute 14.10 seconds. Although this can be argued completely different as they were two separate races it is something to take in for sure. Dandy Boy carried 7 pounds more than Black Caviar and clocked a faster time while doing so. Compared to last years race, all in all this does look a very ordinary Group 1 race, especially considering the occasion. But Dandy Boy has been absolutely laid out for this race after a run at The Curragh last time, in which his rider never asked him a thing. He will be absolutely primed to the second here today and on a track he loves so much could take some beating. Dandy Boy to emulate 2004 winner Fayr Jag who won the Wokingham 12 months prior to winning this race. (12/1)
1st - Dandy Boy
2nd - Rosdhu Queen
3rd - Gordon Lord Byron
Royal Ascot - Wokingham Stakes - Zero Money
Hugo Palmer's gelding has been slipping down the weights ever so slightly as of late, putting him on a more than workable mark. This season he has had just the one run behind the reopposing Nocturn at Newmarket on the July Course over 6 furlongs. He was beaten 2 lengths that day and despite the winner being an improving horse, he gets a turn around at the weights. That was his only run of the season and shaped well before tiring at the furlong pole to fade back into eighth, looking in need of the run. He will be much more fit today and after a good showing at Newmarket last time could well go close off the same mark. James Doyle is a positive jockey booking as he is riding out of his skin as of late and knows the horse fairly well. Zero Money to go well at a price and reward us with the opposite of his name. (40/1)
1st - Zero Money
2nd - Shropshire
3rd - Elusivity
Royal Ascot - Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap - Lahaag
At York over a mile and a quarter, Lahaag looked to be screaming out for a longer trip when sticking to his task nicely in the finish. It would appear that he ran into a good one with First Mohican winning fairly easily by a neck to tell the truth. However the third placed horse was a further 5 lengths back with a lot of daylight between them, it could just be that Lahaag is also very good. He will be coming into his own over this distance after being a little outpaced in the early parts of his York run. Back in March he ran in the Lincoln as his pipe opener, that was a disaster though over a distance far too short he trailed in 17th of 22. With Paul Hanagan riding with confidence and John Gosden finding a few winners lately, Lahaag can land this one. (11/1)
1st - Lahaag
2nd - Ustura
3rd - Hanoverian Baron
Royal Ascot - Queen Alexandra Stakes - Stopped Out
This is one of my favourite races at Royal Ascot oddly enough, but it must be said that compared to previous years it is a bit weak. The selection is stopped out who has run only once on the flat when second to the progressive Bold Sniper at Thirsk. He has however gained all his experience over hurdles and has improved since moving to Philip Kirby's yard in Middleham. He landed his biggest success to date when beating Minella Forfitness into second at Sandown in a handicap hurdle back in April. In March he was also 5th in the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham under Lucy Alexander, how many other horses will have done that double this year! Stamina shouldn't be a problem for Stopped Out it all depends on how classy he is on the level, but he is still improving and could well be capable of winning this. Stopped Out to take the last race of Royal Ascot 2013. (20/1)
1st - Stopped Out
2nd - No Heretic
3rd - Mad Moose
NAP - Mount Athos
Nb - Dandy Boy
Also over at Newmarket, Mickael Barzalona is a jockey I like to follow at the track at he handles it absolutely superbly. He has a very good book of rides today and a Lucky 15 could well be worth it for a nice profit.
2:15 - Outstrip
4:40 - Top Joker
5:15 - Trojan Rocket
5:50 - Passion Play
All of his rides look to hold good chances however, good luck!
Happy Punting today and thank you for going through Royal Ascot with me this week!
Yesterday was very much a day for the bookies, at least with selections on this blog made it seem that way with only two placed efforts, a placed favourite and a non runner. Bana Wu was the biggest one to collect from as she got third under Richard Hughes at 16/1, she followed in Mutashaded who was also third at 8/1 earlier on. The latter would look a very good bet for the St Leger should he take up that engagement, I have heard quotes of 33/1 which he wont be on the day.
Sky Lantern stole the day with a very wide draw in the Coronation Stakes yet still managing to forge clear from her main rival Just The Judge. The two were separated by the French raider ridden my Thierry Jarnet after Just The Judge almost kicked her in the parade ring. Sky Lantern was 4 lengths clear however and just oozed class, she even earned a few quotes for such races like the Arc which is a big dream right now.
Once again Today Martin is running an invite only Pigeon Swoop for twitter users for four Ascot races, you can track my progress on his site through my twitter tag, @lukeyboy1325. He may also be running one open to everyone on Sunday! You can find the four Ascot races included on his twitter page @Pigeon_Island or on his website where you will also find my selections as well. He may also be running a Swoop at the weekend so feel free to enter that through twitter. The site is www.pigeonswoop4.wordpress.com Enjoy!
As you will know if you have been keeping track of this blog throughout the week, I have been taking on my friend and jockey George Gorman in a tipping contest. Neither of us have dazzled but George managed one more winner than me yesterday with Sky Lantern herself to reclaim the lead. Todays selections are in for the final and deciding day.
Luke -4.58 George -1.25
2:30 - Master Carpenter Freedom Square
3:05 - Mount Athos Ektihaam
3:45 - Dandy Boy Society Rock
4:25 - Zero Money Gabriel's Lad
5:00 - Lahaag Highland Castle
5:35 - Stopped Out Shahwardi
A winner is needed badly by me to bridge the gap on George, fingers crossed it happens. Thanks to George for taking part in this competition this week.
Now onto the racing!!
Royal Ascot - Chesham Stakes - Master Carpenter
Master Carpenter is a son of the high class Mastercraftsman so the step up to 7 furlongs will suit after winning on his step up to 6 furlongs. He is two wins from three runs so far in his short but successful career, his only defeat coming here over 5 furlongs behind Anticipated. Last time out he beat a smart horse of Richard Hannon's called Malachim Mist by a length and three quarters going away. Everything about that run suggests he will get further and for now 7 furlongs might just be the way to go with stamina in the pedigree. Despite having stamina in the family he showed good early pace and was always leading before quickening up around a furlong out. Andrea Atzeni takes the ride and can land the opener on the last day of Royal Ascot. (12/1)
1st - Master Carpenter
2nd - Autumn Lily
3rd - Bunker
Royal Ascot - Hardwicke Stakes - Mount Athos
Mount Athos burst onto the scene last year with a very easy victory in a big handicap at York over a mile and 6 furlongs under top weight. High Jinx was in second that day receiving 7 pounds but Mount Athos made him look very ordinary indeed. He then went on to win easily at Newbury before coming 5th in the Melbourne Cup when not getting the best of runs. Next he disappointed in Hong Kong when he should have probably been put away for the season to rest for this campaign. He made his comeback in great style at Chester when bolting up in the Ormonde Stakes, albeit not really beating a great deal. Today he is down a furlong in trip which many people are making out to be a big problem but I disagree entirely. He looks a horse with gears for sure and clearly he is very classy, but look further into how the race will be run. Its a given that Universal will set the pace probably being challenged by Ektihaam and Paul Hanagan, it would also be no surprise to see Aiken up there. If that happens which is very likely there will be a strong pace on and stamina will really come into play benefiting Mount Athos greatly. Whatever happens the target remains the Melbourne Cup again and can use this as a stepping stone today. (11/4)
1st - Mount Athos
2nd - Ektihaam
3rd - Universal
Royal Ascot - Diamond Jubilee - Dandy Boy
Last year Dandy boy ran in the Wokingham carrying 9 stone 8 pounds and his finishing winning time was 1 minute 13.87 seconds. Half an hour earlier in this race Black Caviar carried 9 stone 1 pound and clocked a winning time of 1 minute 14.10 seconds. Although this can be argued completely different as they were two separate races it is something to take in for sure. Dandy Boy carried 7 pounds more than Black Caviar and clocked a faster time while doing so. Compared to last years race, all in all this does look a very ordinary Group 1 race, especially considering the occasion. But Dandy Boy has been absolutely laid out for this race after a run at The Curragh last time, in which his rider never asked him a thing. He will be absolutely primed to the second here today and on a track he loves so much could take some beating. Dandy Boy to emulate 2004 winner Fayr Jag who won the Wokingham 12 months prior to winning this race. (12/1)
1st - Dandy Boy
2nd - Rosdhu Queen
3rd - Gordon Lord Byron
Royal Ascot - Wokingham Stakes - Zero Money
Hugo Palmer's gelding has been slipping down the weights ever so slightly as of late, putting him on a more than workable mark. This season he has had just the one run behind the reopposing Nocturn at Newmarket on the July Course over 6 furlongs. He was beaten 2 lengths that day and despite the winner being an improving horse, he gets a turn around at the weights. That was his only run of the season and shaped well before tiring at the furlong pole to fade back into eighth, looking in need of the run. He will be much more fit today and after a good showing at Newmarket last time could well go close off the same mark. James Doyle is a positive jockey booking as he is riding out of his skin as of late and knows the horse fairly well. Zero Money to go well at a price and reward us with the opposite of his name. (40/1)
1st - Zero Money
2nd - Shropshire
3rd - Elusivity
Royal Ascot - Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap - Lahaag
At York over a mile and a quarter, Lahaag looked to be screaming out for a longer trip when sticking to his task nicely in the finish. It would appear that he ran into a good one with First Mohican winning fairly easily by a neck to tell the truth. However the third placed horse was a further 5 lengths back with a lot of daylight between them, it could just be that Lahaag is also very good. He will be coming into his own over this distance after being a little outpaced in the early parts of his York run. Back in March he ran in the Lincoln as his pipe opener, that was a disaster though over a distance far too short he trailed in 17th of 22. With Paul Hanagan riding with confidence and John Gosden finding a few winners lately, Lahaag can land this one. (11/1)
1st - Lahaag
2nd - Ustura
3rd - Hanoverian Baron
Royal Ascot - Queen Alexandra Stakes - Stopped Out
This is one of my favourite races at Royal Ascot oddly enough, but it must be said that compared to previous years it is a bit weak. The selection is stopped out who has run only once on the flat when second to the progressive Bold Sniper at Thirsk. He has however gained all his experience over hurdles and has improved since moving to Philip Kirby's yard in Middleham. He landed his biggest success to date when beating Minella Forfitness into second at Sandown in a handicap hurdle back in April. In March he was also 5th in the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham under Lucy Alexander, how many other horses will have done that double this year! Stamina shouldn't be a problem for Stopped Out it all depends on how classy he is on the level, but he is still improving and could well be capable of winning this. Stopped Out to take the last race of Royal Ascot 2013. (20/1)
1st - Stopped Out
2nd - No Heretic
3rd - Mad Moose
NAP - Mount Athos
Nb - Dandy Boy
Also over at Newmarket, Mickael Barzalona is a jockey I like to follow at the track at he handles it absolutely superbly. He has a very good book of rides today and a Lucky 15 could well be worth it for a nice profit.
2:15 - Outstrip
4:40 - Top Joker
5:15 - Trojan Rocket
5:50 - Passion Play
All of his rides look to hold good chances however, good luck!
Happy Punting today and thank you for going through Royal Ascot with me this week!
Thursday 20 June 2013
Royal Ascot Day Four
Well Day Three of Royal Ascot was an absolute classic, you couldn't help but feel that Sir Henry was looking down on the racing. First of all America got their first Royal Ascot 2013 win with No Nay Never for Wesley Ward in emphatic style. Thirty five minutes later Riposte gave Lady Cecil the win everyone wanted leaving not one dry eye in the house. It was only fitting that Tom Queally rode the winner in the colours of Prince Khalid Abdullah, what a brilliant tribute to Sir Henry. As if that wasn't enough, Estimate out battled Simenon and Top Trip to win the Gold Cup in the Royal colours of The Queen.
The day could hardly have started slower for No Nay Never as he walked out of the stalls giving away a couple of lengths to his rivals. He soon put that right with an electric burst of early speed and found himself in front 50 yards later on. Joel Rosario was just niggling along on his mount and was headed for a while, but No Nay Never quickened again in awesome style to win by a length. To make the victory all the more impressive, No Nay Never didn't just win after missing the start, he also broke the 2 year old track record. Back in second was the favourite from Ballydoyle, Coach House who ran very well but didn't have the pace to go with the winner late on. Wind Fire ran a blinder to come third but today was all about the rapid No Nay Never.
One of the most emotional wins in Royal Ascot history occurred in this years Ribblesdale as Lady Cecil's filly Riposte came late to win. This comes just over a week since the great Sir Henry Cecil lost his battle with cancer and was important to all at Warren Place. She looks to have a nice future after quickening well off a slow pace and had the race put to bed shortly after the 2 furlong pole for Tom Queally. Just Pretending gave chase in second but Ballydoyle were forced to settle for another runner up spot with Elik just behind in third. Winsili went off favourite after Alive Alive Oh and The Lark were both non runners, she could only manage fourth however. Ascot was left a wash with tears as everyone came together to celebrate the win of Riposte for Lady Cecil.
Next we had an epic over the 2 and a half mile Gold Cup distance. Around the two furlong marker, Estimate, Simenon and Top Trip clashed to battle to the line, but it was the Queen's horse Estimate that came out on top by a neck. Simenon ran with credit in second and rumours are he could be Melbourne Cup bound for Willie Mullins. Top Trip eventually faded back into third but only a length behind Simenon and two lengths clear of Colour Vision. Our selection, Model Pupil ran a good race but just didn't have the late pace yet still plugged on for seventh. Another year on his back and he will be a serious contender. The highlight of this race will always be the scene's of the Queen jumping for joy with a smile from ear to ear cheering home her horse. A great day for racing!
Roca Tumu battled his way to landing the Brittania Stakes, fighting off Godolphin's Tarkini under Silvestre De Sousa. The Joanna Morgan trained horse prevailed by a length with a further half a length back to Queensbury Rules for Ryan Moore. Our selection Wentworth was staying on late in the day but couldn't reach the leaders, in the end doing no better than fourth.
John Gosden got his first winner of the week as Remote ran out a very impressive winner of the Tercentenary with a strong late run. William Buick had left plenty of work to do turning for home with Chopin holding him against the rail, eventually the opening came. He began to storm down the outside and claimed Windhoek and Van Der Neer inside the last furlong to win well. Shikarpour ran on strongly to get second under Christophe Lemaire and no doubt will be winning Group races soon enough. Van Der Neer acquitted himself nicely over the longer trip, but looks to have been beaten by two real top class individuals losing nothing in defeat.
Elidor sprang a bit of a surprise and in the process lost his maiden tag under a delighted Martin Harley for his boss Mick Channon. It wasn't the strongest pace and many were finishing strongly late on, Bold Sniper and Space Ship were never nearer than on the line. They finished 3rd and 2nd respectively and should both be winning a similar contest soon enough down the line. Our selection was Number One London who was being ridden along turning for home but not losing ground and with a small chance. That chance disappeared when becoming the pinball between a few horses and faded to third last.
Once again Today Martin is running an invite only Pigeon Swoop for twitter users for four Ascot races, you can track my progress on his site through my twitter tag, @lukeyboy1325. You can find the four Ascot races included on his twitter page @Pigeon_Island or on his website where you will also find my selections as well. He may also be running a Swoop at the weekend so feel free to enter that through twitter. The site is www.pigeonswoop4.wordpress.com Enjoy!
Luke -1.67 George -3
2:30 - Sandiva Joyeuse
3:05 - Mutashaded Battle Of Marengo
3:45 - Viztoria Sky Lantern
4:25 - Bana Wu Labarinto
5:00 - Nearly Caught Leading Light
5:35 - Campanology Smarty Socks
For the first time Luke takes the lead this week, and the crowd go wild!! I shall keep premature celebrations to a minimum. We have a tough day of racing to get through and our preview starts right now.
Royal Ascot - Albany Stakes - Sandiva
Newfangled was a very impressive winner of this race last year, unfortunately she was fatally injured in her next run when having the world at her feet. Another smart filly lines up here today though with Sandiva, from the in form Richard Fahey yard in the hands of Frankie Dettori. She is unbeaten in two visits to the racecourse winning impressively both times, once at Nottingham and once at Naas. Her first win was very much an introduction to racing for her as she was horribly green and Tom Eaves nursed her home, still winning comfortably. Next time out she was stepped up to 6 furlongs which bought about more improvement and in a much better race. It shows how highly connections rate her to send her over to Ireland to run in a listed race, beating a much more experience Heart Focus. Fig Roll was third in that race and she ran a very good fourth in the Queen Mary earlier in the week when a selection on here. Richard Fahey can finally get a winner on the board after a whole host of second's here with Sandiva. (5/2)
1st - Sandiva
2nd - Joyeuse
3rd - Wedding Ring
Royal Ascot - King Edward VII Stakes - Mutashaded
I was absolutely devastated yesterday to find that the price on Mutashaded had gone, due to that pesky Pricewise putting him up as a selection. It looks a pretty weak King Edward VII headed by Derby Disappointment Battle Of Marengo and other horses that must improve against him. But it is clear that we haven't even scratched the surface of quite how good Mutashaded is, and he is held in high regard by Roger Varian. Like Sandiva he has only ran twice which makes him very less experienced than his rivals, but also very unexposed against them. On debut Mutashaded ran a little green and was also outpaced, but in testing ground he quickened nicely to score by a comfortable length and a quarter. It is also worth noting that he opened up in the betting at 5/1 and was consequently backed in to 9/4. He then took the winter off as he is a big horse and probably needed a little time to grow into himself, but then in May returned at Sandown off a mark of 79. He made fairly easy work of it when asked to quicken, but it looked nothing more than a prep run as he was already entered here. On that run, the step up to a mile and a half looks perfect for him and more improvement is expected. Mutashaded to turn over Battle Of Marengo. (8/1)
1st - Mutashaded
2nd - Battle Of Marengo
3rd - Tha'ir
Royal Ascot - Coronation Stakes - Viztoria and Agent Allison
Viztoria looks like a horse that is dying to run on faster ground which she will get here today after a pipe opener at The Curragh. That remains her only run as a three year old after looking promising as a two year old when winning two from three races. Her only defeat came at Maisons-Laffitte in France in a Group two when second to the classy Penny Pictures. Other than that defeat she has looked potentially top class in all three other runs, winning easily on each occasion, and will relish the step up to a mile today. Her only start as a three year old came in a Group 3 at The Curragh when carrying a pound overweight and still beating her elders. The form of the race may not have worked out well with only Moonstone Magic back in third winning next time out, but she looked a class above them. Viztoria looks an exciting horse and we could see her at her best over a mile and can take this race today. (11/1)
Also a quick mention for Agent Allison who is a huge price after a disappointing run in the 1000 Guineas when not really handling Newmarket. She is worth another chance after running a good race at Newbury the time before when slow away to come second behind Maureen. Jim Crowley takes the ride. (66/1)
1st - Viztoria
2nd - Just The Judge
3rd - Agent Allison
Royal Ascot - Wolferton Handicap - Bana Wu
Richard Hughes is without a winner so far this week and will be keen on getting one today to save any last day blushes. Andrew Balding's filly, Bana Wu sneaks into this at the bottom of the handicap on the back of useful runs in higher class races. Her strongest form is at Newmarket when possibly not handling the undulations too well and needing a bit further. Even with that holding her back she managed to get fourth, three lengths behind the winner, Dank, who was third to Duntle earlier in the week. She then bit off a bit more than she could chew last time behind Noble Mission, and probably didn't stay the 2 furlongs further than we have today. Her one win came over this distance at Newbury when a very short 2/5 favourite and in a race she should win easily. However, now in a handicap and on a workable mark, she can make her presence felt and grant Richard Hughes his first winner of the week. (16/1)
1st - Bana Wu
2nd - Forgotten Voice
3rd - Rewarded
4th - Labarinto
Royal Ascot Queen's Vase In Memory of Sir Henry Cecil - Nearly Caught
There would be no more fitting winner than Disclaimer for Lady Cecil and Tom Queally in the race dedicated to Sir Henry. But preference is for one that may not leap off the page at you from the yard of Hughie Morrison with George Baker in the saddle. Nearly Caught is much more inexperienced than his rivals, but made a lasting impression on debut to win over a trip that looks too short. George Baker was again in the saddle that day at Windsor, and only had to use the whip once, in a victory that saw him running away from the field by 2 lengths. By this season's super sire New Approach, Nearly Caught tackles a trip 6 furlongs longer than on debut, that's not saying he wont stay. He needed a lot of time to quicken at Windsor and the ground may have helped but he needed a stamina test sooner rather than later. In behind him that day, from 3rd down to 6th has thrown up 2 winners and 2 horses placed in their next two runs. This shows it was a fairly strong maiden and despite the larger price Nearly Caught can definitely ruffle a few feathers. (33/1)
1st - Nearly Caught
2nd - Leading Light
3rd - Disclaimer
Royal Ascot - Buckingham Palace Handicap - Campanology
Johnny Murtagh has ridden plenty of Royal Ascot winners but Campanology can give him his first training Royal Ascot win here. Last time over a mile he had a pretty poor run and switched wide late on made good ground to come fourth in a big handicap at the Curragh. The key to him looks to be the fast ground which he of course gets here on the straight course which should help him. There has already been a bit of early money for him but is still a very tempting price considering his first run for Johnny Murtagh last time. He showed excellent pace at the Curragh so I don't think the drop back to a mile will be any trouble for him at all. One thing is for certain though, if anything in front is tiring late on he will be eating into their lead with every stride. One last thing is that he is tongue tied for the first time which could bring about some more improvement. Campanology to win the last and grant Johnny Murtagh his first training win at Royal Ascot. (16/1)
1st - Campanology
2nd - Smarty Socks
3rd - Mont Ras
4th - Mezzotint
NAP - Sandiva
Nb - Campanology
Happy Punting today guys!
The day could hardly have started slower for No Nay Never as he walked out of the stalls giving away a couple of lengths to his rivals. He soon put that right with an electric burst of early speed and found himself in front 50 yards later on. Joel Rosario was just niggling along on his mount and was headed for a while, but No Nay Never quickened again in awesome style to win by a length. To make the victory all the more impressive, No Nay Never didn't just win after missing the start, he also broke the 2 year old track record. Back in second was the favourite from Ballydoyle, Coach House who ran very well but didn't have the pace to go with the winner late on. Wind Fire ran a blinder to come third but today was all about the rapid No Nay Never.
One of the most emotional wins in Royal Ascot history occurred in this years Ribblesdale as Lady Cecil's filly Riposte came late to win. This comes just over a week since the great Sir Henry Cecil lost his battle with cancer and was important to all at Warren Place. She looks to have a nice future after quickening well off a slow pace and had the race put to bed shortly after the 2 furlong pole for Tom Queally. Just Pretending gave chase in second but Ballydoyle were forced to settle for another runner up spot with Elik just behind in third. Winsili went off favourite after Alive Alive Oh and The Lark were both non runners, she could only manage fourth however. Ascot was left a wash with tears as everyone came together to celebrate the win of Riposte for Lady Cecil.
Next we had an epic over the 2 and a half mile Gold Cup distance. Around the two furlong marker, Estimate, Simenon and Top Trip clashed to battle to the line, but it was the Queen's horse Estimate that came out on top by a neck. Simenon ran with credit in second and rumours are he could be Melbourne Cup bound for Willie Mullins. Top Trip eventually faded back into third but only a length behind Simenon and two lengths clear of Colour Vision. Our selection, Model Pupil ran a good race but just didn't have the late pace yet still plugged on for seventh. Another year on his back and he will be a serious contender. The highlight of this race will always be the scene's of the Queen jumping for joy with a smile from ear to ear cheering home her horse. A great day for racing!
Roca Tumu battled his way to landing the Brittania Stakes, fighting off Godolphin's Tarkini under Silvestre De Sousa. The Joanna Morgan trained horse prevailed by a length with a further half a length back to Queensbury Rules for Ryan Moore. Our selection Wentworth was staying on late in the day but couldn't reach the leaders, in the end doing no better than fourth.
John Gosden got his first winner of the week as Remote ran out a very impressive winner of the Tercentenary with a strong late run. William Buick had left plenty of work to do turning for home with Chopin holding him against the rail, eventually the opening came. He began to storm down the outside and claimed Windhoek and Van Der Neer inside the last furlong to win well. Shikarpour ran on strongly to get second under Christophe Lemaire and no doubt will be winning Group races soon enough. Van Der Neer acquitted himself nicely over the longer trip, but looks to have been beaten by two real top class individuals losing nothing in defeat.
Elidor sprang a bit of a surprise and in the process lost his maiden tag under a delighted Martin Harley for his boss Mick Channon. It wasn't the strongest pace and many were finishing strongly late on, Bold Sniper and Space Ship were never nearer than on the line. They finished 3rd and 2nd respectively and should both be winning a similar contest soon enough down the line. Our selection was Number One London who was being ridden along turning for home but not losing ground and with a small chance. That chance disappeared when becoming the pinball between a few horses and faded to third last.
Once again Today Martin is running an invite only Pigeon Swoop for twitter users for four Ascot races, you can track my progress on his site through my twitter tag, @lukeyboy1325. You can find the four Ascot races included on his twitter page @Pigeon_Island or on his website where you will also find my selections as well. He may also be running a Swoop at the weekend so feel free to enter that through twitter. The site is www.pigeonswoop4.wordpress.com Enjoy!
Luke -1.67 George -3
2:30 - Sandiva Joyeuse
3:05 - Mutashaded Battle Of Marengo
3:45 - Viztoria Sky Lantern
4:25 - Bana Wu Labarinto
5:00 - Nearly Caught Leading Light
5:35 - Campanology Smarty Socks
For the first time Luke takes the lead this week, and the crowd go wild!! I shall keep premature celebrations to a minimum. We have a tough day of racing to get through and our preview starts right now.
Royal Ascot - Albany Stakes - Sandiva
Newfangled was a very impressive winner of this race last year, unfortunately she was fatally injured in her next run when having the world at her feet. Another smart filly lines up here today though with Sandiva, from the in form Richard Fahey yard in the hands of Frankie Dettori. She is unbeaten in two visits to the racecourse winning impressively both times, once at Nottingham and once at Naas. Her first win was very much an introduction to racing for her as she was horribly green and Tom Eaves nursed her home, still winning comfortably. Next time out she was stepped up to 6 furlongs which bought about more improvement and in a much better race. It shows how highly connections rate her to send her over to Ireland to run in a listed race, beating a much more experience Heart Focus. Fig Roll was third in that race and she ran a very good fourth in the Queen Mary earlier in the week when a selection on here. Richard Fahey can finally get a winner on the board after a whole host of second's here with Sandiva. (5/2)
1st - Sandiva
2nd - Joyeuse
3rd - Wedding Ring
Royal Ascot - King Edward VII Stakes - Mutashaded
I was absolutely devastated yesterday to find that the price on Mutashaded had gone, due to that pesky Pricewise putting him up as a selection. It looks a pretty weak King Edward VII headed by Derby Disappointment Battle Of Marengo and other horses that must improve against him. But it is clear that we haven't even scratched the surface of quite how good Mutashaded is, and he is held in high regard by Roger Varian. Like Sandiva he has only ran twice which makes him very less experienced than his rivals, but also very unexposed against them. On debut Mutashaded ran a little green and was also outpaced, but in testing ground he quickened nicely to score by a comfortable length and a quarter. It is also worth noting that he opened up in the betting at 5/1 and was consequently backed in to 9/4. He then took the winter off as he is a big horse and probably needed a little time to grow into himself, but then in May returned at Sandown off a mark of 79. He made fairly easy work of it when asked to quicken, but it looked nothing more than a prep run as he was already entered here. On that run, the step up to a mile and a half looks perfect for him and more improvement is expected. Mutashaded to turn over Battle Of Marengo. (8/1)
1st - Mutashaded
2nd - Battle Of Marengo
3rd - Tha'ir
Royal Ascot - Coronation Stakes - Viztoria and Agent Allison
Viztoria looks like a horse that is dying to run on faster ground which she will get here today after a pipe opener at The Curragh. That remains her only run as a three year old after looking promising as a two year old when winning two from three races. Her only defeat came at Maisons-Laffitte in France in a Group two when second to the classy Penny Pictures. Other than that defeat she has looked potentially top class in all three other runs, winning easily on each occasion, and will relish the step up to a mile today. Her only start as a three year old came in a Group 3 at The Curragh when carrying a pound overweight and still beating her elders. The form of the race may not have worked out well with only Moonstone Magic back in third winning next time out, but she looked a class above them. Viztoria looks an exciting horse and we could see her at her best over a mile and can take this race today. (11/1)
Also a quick mention for Agent Allison who is a huge price after a disappointing run in the 1000 Guineas when not really handling Newmarket. She is worth another chance after running a good race at Newbury the time before when slow away to come second behind Maureen. Jim Crowley takes the ride. (66/1)
1st - Viztoria
2nd - Just The Judge
3rd - Agent Allison
Royal Ascot - Wolferton Handicap - Bana Wu
Richard Hughes is without a winner so far this week and will be keen on getting one today to save any last day blushes. Andrew Balding's filly, Bana Wu sneaks into this at the bottom of the handicap on the back of useful runs in higher class races. Her strongest form is at Newmarket when possibly not handling the undulations too well and needing a bit further. Even with that holding her back she managed to get fourth, three lengths behind the winner, Dank, who was third to Duntle earlier in the week. She then bit off a bit more than she could chew last time behind Noble Mission, and probably didn't stay the 2 furlongs further than we have today. Her one win came over this distance at Newbury when a very short 2/5 favourite and in a race she should win easily. However, now in a handicap and on a workable mark, she can make her presence felt and grant Richard Hughes his first winner of the week. (16/1)
1st - Bana Wu
2nd - Forgotten Voice
3rd - Rewarded
4th - Labarinto
Royal Ascot Queen's Vase In Memory of Sir Henry Cecil - Nearly Caught
There would be no more fitting winner than Disclaimer for Lady Cecil and Tom Queally in the race dedicated to Sir Henry. But preference is for one that may not leap off the page at you from the yard of Hughie Morrison with George Baker in the saddle. Nearly Caught is much more inexperienced than his rivals, but made a lasting impression on debut to win over a trip that looks too short. George Baker was again in the saddle that day at Windsor, and only had to use the whip once, in a victory that saw him running away from the field by 2 lengths. By this season's super sire New Approach, Nearly Caught tackles a trip 6 furlongs longer than on debut, that's not saying he wont stay. He needed a lot of time to quicken at Windsor and the ground may have helped but he needed a stamina test sooner rather than later. In behind him that day, from 3rd down to 6th has thrown up 2 winners and 2 horses placed in their next two runs. This shows it was a fairly strong maiden and despite the larger price Nearly Caught can definitely ruffle a few feathers. (33/1)
1st - Nearly Caught
2nd - Leading Light
3rd - Disclaimer
Royal Ascot - Buckingham Palace Handicap - Campanology
Johnny Murtagh has ridden plenty of Royal Ascot winners but Campanology can give him his first training Royal Ascot win here. Last time over a mile he had a pretty poor run and switched wide late on made good ground to come fourth in a big handicap at the Curragh. The key to him looks to be the fast ground which he of course gets here on the straight course which should help him. There has already been a bit of early money for him but is still a very tempting price considering his first run for Johnny Murtagh last time. He showed excellent pace at the Curragh so I don't think the drop back to a mile will be any trouble for him at all. One thing is for certain though, if anything in front is tiring late on he will be eating into their lead with every stride. One last thing is that he is tongue tied for the first time which could bring about some more improvement. Campanology to win the last and grant Johnny Murtagh his first training win at Royal Ascot. (16/1)
1st - Campanology
2nd - Smarty Socks
3rd - Mont Ras
4th - Mezzotint
NAP - Sandiva
Nb - Campanology
Happy Punting today guys!
Wednesday 19 June 2013
Royal Ascot Day Three
Day two was a successful and profitable one for the blog with our Next best, Al Kazeem and also Duntle winning their respective races. The real talking point was the supreme form of James Doyle who rode a 891.5/1 treble from his four rides on the day. We will see all three of them as we go through our review of the action from Day Two of Royal Ascot.
Aidan O'Brien trained the winner of the Jersey with Gale Force Ten ridden by his son Joseph gamely beating Montiridge. Richard Hannon's colt looked to have the beating of Gale Force Ten, but the Irish raider knuckled down, and after being passed came back to land the spoils by a head. Tawhid stayed on well to grab third under Silvestre De Sousa, from our selection Garswood and will benefit from the step up to a mile. A brave Gale Force Ten landed the Jersey and was a very worthy winner.
Duntle was fairly week in the betting on course, unfortunately for people opposing her, someone forgot to tell her that as she duly obliged for the blog. She took over from the furlong pole and despite Lady's First battling on after making all went on to win the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes. Lady's First ended up going down by half a length but lost absolutely nothing in defeat, again running a good race. Dank had every chance at the furlong pole, but couldn't quite quicken enough to reach the leader going down in third by a head, with Beatrice Aurore a further head back in fourth. The well backed favourite for the race was Chigun but she could do no better than 6th under Tom Queally. The day was won by Duntle who made it back to back Royal Ascot wins.
The Prince Of Wales' Stakes was built up to be the big rematch between Al Kazeem and Camelot, but it was not to be. However we did get a fantastic finish between Al Kazeem and the long time leader Mukhadram under Paul Hanagan. It looked for a moment turning for home hat Hanagan had timed it perfectly aboard his mount when kicking 3 lengths clear. James Doyle got to work on his pride and joy Al Kazeem and immediately started to pick up, still a furlong out it was in the balance. Closer to home was when Al Kazeem finally managed to wear down Mukhadram and win by a neck and the first of three for James Doyle. The Fugue ran a great race on reappearance to get third staying on well, but couldn't reach the leading pair and was three and a quarter lengths back. Camelot turned for home with every chance but couldn't pick up late on and the well back favourite had to settle for fourth. The pacemaker for Camelot was stablemate Windsor Palace but he could never reach the front after missing the break.
The Royal Hunt Cup favoured the far side, something which Richard Hughes didn't anticipate as Stirring Ballad started far side, but was switched over early on. James Doyle made it a quick fire double with Belgian Bill who raced prominently on the far side with runner up Premio Loco. Of the near side group, David Livingston fared best with our selection Burke's Rock just behind in eighth place. Only 7 horses in total raced far side with the first four coming from that small group including Belgian Bill who was produced late. The veteran Premio Loco ran a good race as always and just couldn't get past Belgian Bill with Arsaadi back in third.
The last leg of James Doyle's big treble and his third lifetime winner at Royal Ascot came in the impressive shape of Rizeena who won the Queen Mary very well. American raider, Sweet Emma Rose also ran with great credit for Wesley Ward and Joel Rosario after being prominent all the way. The yard of Tim Pitt saddled the third placed One Chance under Andrea Atzeni who was a length behind the runner up. Hopefully you backed our each way selection with a bookmaker offering first four as Fig Roll ran her guts out to hold on for fourth at 33/1. Favourite Beldale Memory could manage no better than 14th in the hands of Jamie Spencer for Clive Cox.
The far side once again dominated the finale in the Sandringham with Annecdote winning for Jonathan Portman and Richard Kingscote. She was never too far away before being produced just over a furlong out and eventually lead inside the final furlong. Auction was the closest threat but went down by a neck and it was the same distance back to Woodland Aria in third. Nargys put up a much improved effort to finish fourth under Jamie Spencer reinstalling the faith connections once had in her. Mango Diva went off the 6/1 favourite but was never looking a likely winner and finished back in ninth. Our selection Annie's Fortune lost it at the start when coming out the stalls slowly and finishing second last.
Today Martin is running an invite only Pigeon Swoop for twitter users for four Ascot races, you can track my progress on his site through my twitter tag, @lukeyboy1325. You can find the four Ascot races included on his twitter page @Pigeon_Island or on his website where you will also find my selections as well. The site is www.pigeonswoop4.wordpress.com Enjoy!
Luke -3.92 George -2
2:30 - No Nay Never No Nay Never
3:05 - Alive Alive Oh Just Pretending
3:45 - Model Pupil Repeater
4:25 - Wentworth Homage
5:00 - Remote Chopin
5:35 - Number One London Bold Sniper
Good luck once again! Now on with the racing!
Royal Ascot - Norfolk Stakes - No Nay Never
Wesley Ward outlined No Nay Never as his best 'gun' for the week and gets the selection with stablemate Sweet Emma Rose running a good second yesterday. He has only seen the racecourse once in his lifetime but was very impressive on that visit, winning eased down in the end. No Nay Never didn't jump out of the stalls the best but showed fantastic early speed to get up the rail to lead. Once in the lead he didn't look back and with an experienced rival attacking him up the straight, knuckled down when asked to extend again. The one worry comes in the form of the race being on dirt and obviously today is turf, but Wesley Ward assures punters that he is bred for turf and it will be fine. As with all of Ward's Ascot horses this year Joel Rosario rides and he should know the horse very well after riding him at Keeneland. One last note is that the debut was over 4 and a half furlongs, just half a furlong shorter than today but it should pose no problems for him. No Nay Never to be our first Royal Ascot 2013 winner from across the pond. (11/2)
1st - No Nay Never
2nd - Saayerr
3rd - Emirates Flyer
Royal Ascot - Ribblesdale Stakes - Alive Alive Oh
The Ribblesdale has gone the way of the Irish for the last two years and they can complete the hat-trick here with Tommy Stack's, Alive Alive Oh. Her only loss came in a maiden at The Curragh when behind subsequent Irish 2000 Guineas winner Magician and Bunairgead of Jim Bolger's. She then won at Cork before being stepped up in trip at Navan when winning a listed race with ease over a mile and 2 furlongs. Today she is stepped up in trip once more to a mile and a half which should pose no problems to her whatsoever. Top Irish jockey Fran Berry is booked to ride today after his day one win aboard Well Sharp in the Ascot Stakes and is 100% on this horse. The only slight worry is that she hasn't run on ground this fast but she should cope with it and didn't seem totally in love with really testing ground. Alive Alive Oh to make it a hat-trick of Ribblesdale's for Ireland. (5/2)
1st - Alive Alive Oh
2nd - The Lark
3rd - Elik
Royal Ascot - Gold Cup - Model Pupil
Charlie Hills' representative may not be the most tipped up horse in the race, but is one that I have followed for a while and has been laid out for this race. He started this year with a leisurely win at Doncaster in a group three over a mile and a half under Ryan Moore, winning by 8 lengths on not ideal ground. He was then kept at the same distance but upped in class when taking on Noble Mission and Universal at Newbury in a Group 3. It was obvious that he was never comfortable and was outpaced up the straight, yet staying on in fourth behind good horses that have won since. His most eye catching run was his most recent outing at Sandown when stepped up to 2 miles in the Henry II Stakes, a Group 3 race. He was slightly keen early on but will have learnt a lot from the run against more experienced stayers and despite that managed a good third. He came into it strongly, again on ground not really favoured by him after a downpour on the night and looked beat a furlong and a half out. If you were holding an each way ticket on him you'd have given up as he looked to fade backwards but once on the rail he ran on again. From a furlong out Richard Hughes looked after him and nursed him home but he was still running on, giving the impression that today's marathon trip will suit him well. Model Pupil is grossly over priced and can make the most of his 4 year old allowance here for James McDonald. (50/1)
1st - Model Pupil
2nd - Simenon
3rd - High Jinx
Royal Ascot - Brittania Stakes - Wentworth
Wentworth comes here on the back of a very encouraging run at Goodwood when dropped down to six furlongs. The logic behind that was because of connections feeling he didn't travel well enough and to of course get him fit. He travelled pretty well that day and would have won if he had managed to get a gap, alas that was not the case and he had to settle for third. This race has been in the mind of Richard Hannon for some time now and Wentworth has been laid out perfectly for it. Despite running over 6 furlongs last time there are no stamina worries, courtesy of his win over a mile at Newbury as a two year old. Of course this is a very tough race and it will take some winning as always, but with some more exposed types in the field it hands Wentworth a big chance. Unfortunately his price reflects that a little but is still the selection and very much the one to beat. (9/2)
1st - Wentworth
2nd - Maputo
3rd - Haafaguinea
Royal Ascot - Tercentenary Stakes - Remote
John Gosden and William Buick can saddle their first winner this week here with the rapidly improving and unexposed Remote. The form of his latest handicap win was given a tremendous boost, when runner up Baltic Knight won a listed race next time out at York. He was 6 lengths behind the selection at Doncaster and Remote could hardly have been more impressive in doing so. There are no stamina worries back up in trip to a mile and two furlongs, as he is already a winner over the distance at Newbury. William Buick is riding him for the first time today but that isn't a real worry as he looks a very progressive type and potentially a class above these. Despite the better race and longer trip Remote is still a confident selection and can show his rivals the way. (3/1)
1st - Remote
2nd - Windhoek
3rd - Chopin
Royal Ascot - King George V Stakes - Number One London
It is quite hard to believe that Number One London is still a maiden after all these attempts and running so well. Today could well be the day he loses that maiden tag and his consistency rewarded for Kieren Fallon and Brian Meehan. He has run against a few of these either in a stakes race or a maiden off level weights, today he benefits from a turnaround in the weights. Space Ship beat him by 5 and three quarter lengths, that form can be reversed with a 9 pounds difference between them. Excellent Result is another that may struggle to confirm the form with Number One London also worse off at the weights. The one race I am interested in is his last outing at Newmarket in which he was behind a smart horse called Maputo who runs earlier on. Although it was a handicap, it looked a very strong one with a smart horse called Chesterfield of Godolphin's in behind in third. He stayed on nicely that day to grab second late on and it looked at if a step up to a mile and a half will be right up his street. If he is unplaced today I would be very surprised and we have to wait till the last race of the day for our NAP. (12/1)
1st - Number One London
2nd - Excellent Result
3rd - Eshtiaal
NAP - Number One London
Nb - Remote
Happy Punting today guys!
Aidan O'Brien trained the winner of the Jersey with Gale Force Ten ridden by his son Joseph gamely beating Montiridge. Richard Hannon's colt looked to have the beating of Gale Force Ten, but the Irish raider knuckled down, and after being passed came back to land the spoils by a head. Tawhid stayed on well to grab third under Silvestre De Sousa, from our selection Garswood and will benefit from the step up to a mile. A brave Gale Force Ten landed the Jersey and was a very worthy winner.
Duntle was fairly week in the betting on course, unfortunately for people opposing her, someone forgot to tell her that as she duly obliged for the blog. She took over from the furlong pole and despite Lady's First battling on after making all went on to win the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes. Lady's First ended up going down by half a length but lost absolutely nothing in defeat, again running a good race. Dank had every chance at the furlong pole, but couldn't quite quicken enough to reach the leader going down in third by a head, with Beatrice Aurore a further head back in fourth. The well backed favourite for the race was Chigun but she could do no better than 6th under Tom Queally. The day was won by Duntle who made it back to back Royal Ascot wins.
The Prince Of Wales' Stakes was built up to be the big rematch between Al Kazeem and Camelot, but it was not to be. However we did get a fantastic finish between Al Kazeem and the long time leader Mukhadram under Paul Hanagan. It looked for a moment turning for home hat Hanagan had timed it perfectly aboard his mount when kicking 3 lengths clear. James Doyle got to work on his pride and joy Al Kazeem and immediately started to pick up, still a furlong out it was in the balance. Closer to home was when Al Kazeem finally managed to wear down Mukhadram and win by a neck and the first of three for James Doyle. The Fugue ran a great race on reappearance to get third staying on well, but couldn't reach the leading pair and was three and a quarter lengths back. Camelot turned for home with every chance but couldn't pick up late on and the well back favourite had to settle for fourth. The pacemaker for Camelot was stablemate Windsor Palace but he could never reach the front after missing the break.
The Royal Hunt Cup favoured the far side, something which Richard Hughes didn't anticipate as Stirring Ballad started far side, but was switched over early on. James Doyle made it a quick fire double with Belgian Bill who raced prominently on the far side with runner up Premio Loco. Of the near side group, David Livingston fared best with our selection Burke's Rock just behind in eighth place. Only 7 horses in total raced far side with the first four coming from that small group including Belgian Bill who was produced late. The veteran Premio Loco ran a good race as always and just couldn't get past Belgian Bill with Arsaadi back in third.
The last leg of James Doyle's big treble and his third lifetime winner at Royal Ascot came in the impressive shape of Rizeena who won the Queen Mary very well. American raider, Sweet Emma Rose also ran with great credit for Wesley Ward and Joel Rosario after being prominent all the way. The yard of Tim Pitt saddled the third placed One Chance under Andrea Atzeni who was a length behind the runner up. Hopefully you backed our each way selection with a bookmaker offering first four as Fig Roll ran her guts out to hold on for fourth at 33/1. Favourite Beldale Memory could manage no better than 14th in the hands of Jamie Spencer for Clive Cox.
The far side once again dominated the finale in the Sandringham with Annecdote winning for Jonathan Portman and Richard Kingscote. She was never too far away before being produced just over a furlong out and eventually lead inside the final furlong. Auction was the closest threat but went down by a neck and it was the same distance back to Woodland Aria in third. Nargys put up a much improved effort to finish fourth under Jamie Spencer reinstalling the faith connections once had in her. Mango Diva went off the 6/1 favourite but was never looking a likely winner and finished back in ninth. Our selection Annie's Fortune lost it at the start when coming out the stalls slowly and finishing second last.
Today Martin is running an invite only Pigeon Swoop for twitter users for four Ascot races, you can track my progress on his site through my twitter tag, @lukeyboy1325. You can find the four Ascot races included on his twitter page @Pigeon_Island or on his website where you will also find my selections as well. The site is www.pigeonswoop4.wordpress.com Enjoy!
Luke -3.92 George -2
2:30 - No Nay Never No Nay Never
3:05 - Alive Alive Oh Just Pretending
3:45 - Model Pupil Repeater
4:25 - Wentworth Homage
5:00 - Remote Chopin
5:35 - Number One London Bold Sniper
Good luck once again! Now on with the racing!
Royal Ascot - Norfolk Stakes - No Nay Never
Wesley Ward outlined No Nay Never as his best 'gun' for the week and gets the selection with stablemate Sweet Emma Rose running a good second yesterday. He has only seen the racecourse once in his lifetime but was very impressive on that visit, winning eased down in the end. No Nay Never didn't jump out of the stalls the best but showed fantastic early speed to get up the rail to lead. Once in the lead he didn't look back and with an experienced rival attacking him up the straight, knuckled down when asked to extend again. The one worry comes in the form of the race being on dirt and obviously today is turf, but Wesley Ward assures punters that he is bred for turf and it will be fine. As with all of Ward's Ascot horses this year Joel Rosario rides and he should know the horse very well after riding him at Keeneland. One last note is that the debut was over 4 and a half furlongs, just half a furlong shorter than today but it should pose no problems for him. No Nay Never to be our first Royal Ascot 2013 winner from across the pond. (11/2)
1st - No Nay Never
2nd - Saayerr
3rd - Emirates Flyer
Royal Ascot - Ribblesdale Stakes - Alive Alive Oh
The Ribblesdale has gone the way of the Irish for the last two years and they can complete the hat-trick here with Tommy Stack's, Alive Alive Oh. Her only loss came in a maiden at The Curragh when behind subsequent Irish 2000 Guineas winner Magician and Bunairgead of Jim Bolger's. She then won at Cork before being stepped up in trip at Navan when winning a listed race with ease over a mile and 2 furlongs. Today she is stepped up in trip once more to a mile and a half which should pose no problems to her whatsoever. Top Irish jockey Fran Berry is booked to ride today after his day one win aboard Well Sharp in the Ascot Stakes and is 100% on this horse. The only slight worry is that she hasn't run on ground this fast but she should cope with it and didn't seem totally in love with really testing ground. Alive Alive Oh to make it a hat-trick of Ribblesdale's for Ireland. (5/2)
1st - Alive Alive Oh
2nd - The Lark
3rd - Elik
Royal Ascot - Gold Cup - Model Pupil
Charlie Hills' representative may not be the most tipped up horse in the race, but is one that I have followed for a while and has been laid out for this race. He started this year with a leisurely win at Doncaster in a group three over a mile and a half under Ryan Moore, winning by 8 lengths on not ideal ground. He was then kept at the same distance but upped in class when taking on Noble Mission and Universal at Newbury in a Group 3. It was obvious that he was never comfortable and was outpaced up the straight, yet staying on in fourth behind good horses that have won since. His most eye catching run was his most recent outing at Sandown when stepped up to 2 miles in the Henry II Stakes, a Group 3 race. He was slightly keen early on but will have learnt a lot from the run against more experienced stayers and despite that managed a good third. He came into it strongly, again on ground not really favoured by him after a downpour on the night and looked beat a furlong and a half out. If you were holding an each way ticket on him you'd have given up as he looked to fade backwards but once on the rail he ran on again. From a furlong out Richard Hughes looked after him and nursed him home but he was still running on, giving the impression that today's marathon trip will suit him well. Model Pupil is grossly over priced and can make the most of his 4 year old allowance here for James McDonald. (50/1)
1st - Model Pupil
2nd - Simenon
3rd - High Jinx
Royal Ascot - Brittania Stakes - Wentworth
Wentworth comes here on the back of a very encouraging run at Goodwood when dropped down to six furlongs. The logic behind that was because of connections feeling he didn't travel well enough and to of course get him fit. He travelled pretty well that day and would have won if he had managed to get a gap, alas that was not the case and he had to settle for third. This race has been in the mind of Richard Hannon for some time now and Wentworth has been laid out perfectly for it. Despite running over 6 furlongs last time there are no stamina worries, courtesy of his win over a mile at Newbury as a two year old. Of course this is a very tough race and it will take some winning as always, but with some more exposed types in the field it hands Wentworth a big chance. Unfortunately his price reflects that a little but is still the selection and very much the one to beat. (9/2)
1st - Wentworth
2nd - Maputo
3rd - Haafaguinea
Royal Ascot - Tercentenary Stakes - Remote
John Gosden and William Buick can saddle their first winner this week here with the rapidly improving and unexposed Remote. The form of his latest handicap win was given a tremendous boost, when runner up Baltic Knight won a listed race next time out at York. He was 6 lengths behind the selection at Doncaster and Remote could hardly have been more impressive in doing so. There are no stamina worries back up in trip to a mile and two furlongs, as he is already a winner over the distance at Newbury. William Buick is riding him for the first time today but that isn't a real worry as he looks a very progressive type and potentially a class above these. Despite the better race and longer trip Remote is still a confident selection and can show his rivals the way. (3/1)
1st - Remote
2nd - Windhoek
3rd - Chopin
Royal Ascot - King George V Stakes - Number One London
It is quite hard to believe that Number One London is still a maiden after all these attempts and running so well. Today could well be the day he loses that maiden tag and his consistency rewarded for Kieren Fallon and Brian Meehan. He has run against a few of these either in a stakes race or a maiden off level weights, today he benefits from a turnaround in the weights. Space Ship beat him by 5 and three quarter lengths, that form can be reversed with a 9 pounds difference between them. Excellent Result is another that may struggle to confirm the form with Number One London also worse off at the weights. The one race I am interested in is his last outing at Newmarket in which he was behind a smart horse called Maputo who runs earlier on. Although it was a handicap, it looked a very strong one with a smart horse called Chesterfield of Godolphin's in behind in third. He stayed on nicely that day to grab second late on and it looked at if a step up to a mile and a half will be right up his street. If he is unplaced today I would be very surprised and we have to wait till the last race of the day for our NAP. (12/1)
1st - Number One London
2nd - Excellent Result
3rd - Eshtiaal
NAP - Number One London
Nb - Remote
Happy Punting today guys!
Tuesday 18 June 2013
Royal Ascot 2013 Day Two
Welcome to day two of Royal Ascot after a first day to remember, Animal Kingdom bombed in spectacular style, Dawn Approach reconfirmed his dominance and Johnny Murtagh rode a double from his only rides of the day. The day started just as the Cheltenham Festival did, with the hot favourite overturned when Animal Kingdom trailing in third last. The writing was on the wall early on as from his wide draw of 13 he pulled very hard leaving himself no chance. The race was left to Joseph O'Brien and Declaration Of War to come and pick up late on, from Aljamaaheer and our selection Gregorian who was third at 16/1.
Next we were treated to our first real close finish of the meeting when Sole Power got past South African raider Shea Shea to win the King's Stand. Entering the final furlong it looked almost all over with Shea Shea hitting the front and Reckless Abandon like last year hanging towards the stand side rail. However Johnny Murtagh has other plans and lifted Sole Power home to reverse Meydan form with the runner up and at a huge price of 8/1. Our selection Kingsgate Native never looked likely to get involved and ended up coming home 16th and tailed off.
The St. James' Palace Stakes threw up a fantastic finish when Dawn Approach and Toronado locked horns past the furlong marker and battled all the way to the line. It went to a photograph but once again Jim Bolger's Colt got the better of the representative of the home side in Toronado. There was a lot of barging and trouble turning for home which seemed to be caused by Magician having a coming together with Dawn Approach. Despite Richard Hughes and Toronado sweeping by while that was happening, the 2000 Guineas winner managed to pick up again and set the record straight after Epsom. The horse that probably suffered most from the coming together was our selection Mars who had his run checked twice yet still managed to grab third at an each way price. I have no doubt that he will be winning a big race very soon and looks one for the future for sure, maybe even the eclipse?
The juvenile's took to the track next and we may have already seen the most impressive winner of the week with Ballydoyle's War Command who won by 6 lengths easily. Seamie Heffernan took him to the front around the furlong pole and just as the others were getting into it he went further clear and it was over. Back in second was Parbold for Richard Fahey and Tony Hamilton, he had a bit of a horror run but stayed on well late in the day. Filling up the placing's was stablemate of War Command, Sir John Hawkins under Ryan Moore despite running around a bit. The favourite, Stubbs, was a bit disappointing and suffered the same fate as Animal Kingdom after being way too keen. Even if he was on his game he would have been some horse to beat War Command who looks top class. Our selection, Riverboat Springs was never in the race and may benefit from 7 furlongs.
So with Ireland claiming the first four races it was time for an English winner, in theory anyway as Jonjo O'Neill teamed up with Fran Berry to win the Ascot Stakes with Well Sharp. Off a slow pace he picked up nicely towards the outside and was in front from a furlong out and went further clear in good style. Tiger Cliff closed late on but not fast enough and the fairytale search of a Royal Ascot winner for Lady Cecil goes on. Nicky Henderson saddled the third horse with Lieutenant Miller ridden by Graham Lee with Mubaraza a length behind. Our selection Suraj had every chance turning for home but eventually found the trip a bit too far fading into 11th but not too far beaten.
Extortionist took the Windsor Castle Stakes to round up Day One providing Johnny Murtagh with a double from two rides. He charged late and very hard to land it almost cosily under a perfectly timed run with Richard Fahey saddling another runner up with Supplicant. The favourite for the race Anticipated came home close up in third with a further neck back to Fountain Of Youth under Ryan Moore who is winnerless so far. Our longshot selection Peterkin led the far side group for a lot of the way but tired at the furlong marker eventually coming an eased down 2nd last.
Today Martin is running a free Pigeon Swoop to all twitter users for four Uttoxeter races as well as a Ascot version down to invite only. You can find the four Uttoxeter races included on his twitter page @Pigeon_Island or on his website where you will also find my selections as well. The site is www.pigeonswoop4.wordpress.com Enjoy!
Before we go on with today's action we have mine and George's tipping challenge to clean up for Day One. It was a bit of a sorry sight for both of us really with George bagging the only winner with Dawn Approach at 5/4. Hopefully today brings some improved results.
Luke - 6.00 George - 4.75
2:30 - Garswood Gale Force Ten
3:05 - Duntle Chigun
3:45 - Al Kazeem Al Kazeem
4:25 - Burke's Rock Spa's Dancer
5:00 - Oriel Oriel
5:35 - Annie's Fortune Zurigha
Again best of luck to Mr. Gorman and once more I hope that he gets absolutely no winners and I get a few, I threw sportsmanship out the window by the way.
Now we are genuinely going to start the racing!
Royal Ascot - Jersey Stakes - Garswood
Montiridge is a horse I very much like but today could be a bit tough for him on this faster surface than last time when impressive. Preference instead is for 2000 Guineas seventh Garswood for Richard Fahey who was in irresistible form yesterday in these races along with a winner at Thirsk. Last season Garswood was a very smart 2 year old earning a rating of 115 after winning a listed race at Newmarket nicely on his step up to seven furlongs. Last time he was a bit outclassed in the 2000 Guineas and probably didn't stay a mile too well just yet but he will now for sure be race fit. Pat Smullen is a very eye catching jockey booking as Richard Fahey only employs Mr. Smullen for horses he is confident with. With Guineas form yesterday being franked with the first three home in the St James' Palace Garswood can take race one on day two. (5/1)
1st - Garswood
2nd - Gale Force Ten
3rd - Montiridge
Royal Ascot - Duke Of Cambridge Stakes - Duntle
Duntle was one of the Irish bankers last year when winning the Sandringham under Wayne Lordan and David Wachman brings her back again this year. Since Royal Ascot last year she has been first past the post in all 3 starts, I say first past the post as she lost a race to Chachamaidee in the stewards room when possibly unlucky. That form is very strong though as Chachamaidee herself was second in this race last year to Joviality when breaking very slowly. On her reappearance Duntle won a Group 3 at Leopardstown, although it was a race that she really shouldn't be beaten in. There is no doubt she will come on leaps and bounds for that run and if turning up should be very hard to beat once again. Duntle to land back to back Royal Ascot victories. (11/4)
1st - Duntle
2nd - Thistle Bird
3rd - Dank
Royal Ascot - Prince Of Wales' Stakes - Al Kazeem
Roger Charlton's representative has been coming on leaps and bounds in the last year and last time he claimed his biggest win to date. That was in the Tattersalls Gold Cup when he beat Camelot in impressive style and I see no reason why the placing's should reverse today. That win was on the back of a victory in the Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown after almost a year off, but he was much the best that day. This will arguably be the son of Dubawi's biggest test to date with the reappearance of The Fugue and French raider Maxios to repel, but if continuing his huge improvement they should be no problem for him under James Doyle. His trainer Roger Charlton has always been very keen on him and nursed him through his early years but he is now repaying that faith big time. Al Kazeem to land back to back Group 1's. (5/2)
1st - Al Kazeem
2nd - Maxios
3rd - The Fugue
Royal Ascot - Royal Hunt Cup - Burke's Rock
If you are a regular reader of my blog then it is no secret that I am a huge fan of Burke's Rock and the Jeremy Noseda yard. This is a very interesting entry for the daughter of Cape Cross after winning a listed race at Goodwood last time when touching off Sentaril. She gets in off a mark of 97 which for her I think is a stone under what she can achieve with her improvement this year. The jockey booking also catches the eye with Frankie Dettori on board, how Ascot would erupt if he were to grab a winner! 16/1 is usually a bit slim for me in these handicaps, but Burke's Rock has bags of potential and put the record straight after being unlucky at Kempton on reappearance. That run puts her around level with Stirring Ballad at the head of the market although had her behind in fourth last time at Goodwood. The only worry I would have is that she may need further but will stay every yard of this trip today and is sure to give a good account of herself. Burke's Rock to get Frankie back at Royal Ascot in the Hunt Cup. (16/1)
1st - Burke's Rock
2nd - David Livingston
3rd - Fury
4th - Excellent Guest
Royal Ascot - Queen Mary Stakes - Oriel and Fig Roll
First up the Richard Hannon first string with Oriel. She is yet to get her head in front from her two visits to the racecourse but it is clear they think an awful lot of her. First time up she was second to Rizeena who was more experienced and Richard Hughes looked after her that day when not picking up the whip. Still she managed to get within a length at one point before being lightly eased when beaten, it was between those two for my first selection today and a tough choice at that. It was Oriel's second run that gives you a bit of confidence even though she was two lengths behind the reopposing Alutiq. You can pretty much write off that run as Oriel got no passage whatsoever and was never closer than on top of the line and just touched off for third. Once again Richard Hughes looked after her but with a clear run it appears it would have been a matter of how far. Oriel can land this but Rizeena is once again a big danger. (8/1)
Fig Roll is a horse I fell in love with on her debut at Kempton when she was runner up after getting a horrible passage, much like her stablemate. She was cut off at a crucial time but still ran on very strongly to just be denied victory and showing a fantastic attitude. Next time out was at Salisbury and she dipped her toe in higher company when tackling a conditions race under Pat Dobbs. Again she showed a tremendous attitude when really knuckling down late on despite being outpaced early in the race. It is a possibility that she was also pretty green that day but showed a really good attitude to win going away eventually from Alutiq who beat Oriel. On her Salisbury run you would be forgiven for thinking she wants further right away, but in good company at Naas next time she showed plenty of speed and didn't appear to stay the 6 furlongs. The mini but brave Fig Roll can run a big race and has good each way claims. (33/1)
1st - Oriel
2nd - Rizeena
3rd - Fig Roll
One last note is that Phil McEntee looks to complete a fairytale story of his own with Baytown Kestrel under Adam Kirby and owned by his wife. He bought the horse for £400 before entering it in a Lingfield Maiden where she absolutely bolted up at 50/1. Mr. McEntee had a bet on her that day which meant for the first time in his training career he woke up debt free. I hope you will all help me, and in particular Racheal Kneller out in cheering home Baytown Kestrel and wish the McEntee's the best of luck.
Royal Ascot - Sandringham Handicap - Annie's Fortune
I didn't have a clue about this race, before I read what Kieren Fallon thought about Annie's Fortune, and he didn't make her sound like a 40/1 shot. He mentions that her trainer Alan Jarvis holds her in very high regard and that after her latest run at York they found a problem with her. That has been corrected now and if she is back to near her best she could ruffle a few feathers and defy her big odds in the finale. Her two year old form would hold her in good shape for this race, after a close up fourth and then a third in Group 3's, before having a race too much in the Rockfel. She will have to show she is back to her best to even think about landing this prize today for connections. She returns to her favoured faster ground today and could well go close for each way purposes and maybe even spring a surprise. (40/1)
1st - Annie's Fortune
2nd - Zurigha
3rd - Woodland Aria
NAP - Garswood
Nb - Al Kazeem
Be lucky if you are having a bet today and good luck!
Happy Punting!
Next we were treated to our first real close finish of the meeting when Sole Power got past South African raider Shea Shea to win the King's Stand. Entering the final furlong it looked almost all over with Shea Shea hitting the front and Reckless Abandon like last year hanging towards the stand side rail. However Johnny Murtagh has other plans and lifted Sole Power home to reverse Meydan form with the runner up and at a huge price of 8/1. Our selection Kingsgate Native never looked likely to get involved and ended up coming home 16th and tailed off.
The St. James' Palace Stakes threw up a fantastic finish when Dawn Approach and Toronado locked horns past the furlong marker and battled all the way to the line. It went to a photograph but once again Jim Bolger's Colt got the better of the representative of the home side in Toronado. There was a lot of barging and trouble turning for home which seemed to be caused by Magician having a coming together with Dawn Approach. Despite Richard Hughes and Toronado sweeping by while that was happening, the 2000 Guineas winner managed to pick up again and set the record straight after Epsom. The horse that probably suffered most from the coming together was our selection Mars who had his run checked twice yet still managed to grab third at an each way price. I have no doubt that he will be winning a big race very soon and looks one for the future for sure, maybe even the eclipse?
The juvenile's took to the track next and we may have already seen the most impressive winner of the week with Ballydoyle's War Command who won by 6 lengths easily. Seamie Heffernan took him to the front around the furlong pole and just as the others were getting into it he went further clear and it was over. Back in second was Parbold for Richard Fahey and Tony Hamilton, he had a bit of a horror run but stayed on well late in the day. Filling up the placing's was stablemate of War Command, Sir John Hawkins under Ryan Moore despite running around a bit. The favourite, Stubbs, was a bit disappointing and suffered the same fate as Animal Kingdom after being way too keen. Even if he was on his game he would have been some horse to beat War Command who looks top class. Our selection, Riverboat Springs was never in the race and may benefit from 7 furlongs.
So with Ireland claiming the first four races it was time for an English winner, in theory anyway as Jonjo O'Neill teamed up with Fran Berry to win the Ascot Stakes with Well Sharp. Off a slow pace he picked up nicely towards the outside and was in front from a furlong out and went further clear in good style. Tiger Cliff closed late on but not fast enough and the fairytale search of a Royal Ascot winner for Lady Cecil goes on. Nicky Henderson saddled the third horse with Lieutenant Miller ridden by Graham Lee with Mubaraza a length behind. Our selection Suraj had every chance turning for home but eventually found the trip a bit too far fading into 11th but not too far beaten.
Extortionist took the Windsor Castle Stakes to round up Day One providing Johnny Murtagh with a double from two rides. He charged late and very hard to land it almost cosily under a perfectly timed run with Richard Fahey saddling another runner up with Supplicant. The favourite for the race Anticipated came home close up in third with a further neck back to Fountain Of Youth under Ryan Moore who is winnerless so far. Our longshot selection Peterkin led the far side group for a lot of the way but tired at the furlong marker eventually coming an eased down 2nd last.
Today Martin is running a free Pigeon Swoop to all twitter users for four Uttoxeter races as well as a Ascot version down to invite only. You can find the four Uttoxeter races included on his twitter page @Pigeon_Island or on his website where you will also find my selections as well. The site is www.pigeonswoop4.wordpress.com Enjoy!
Before we go on with today's action we have mine and George's tipping challenge to clean up for Day One. It was a bit of a sorry sight for both of us really with George bagging the only winner with Dawn Approach at 5/4. Hopefully today brings some improved results.
Luke - 6.00 George - 4.75
2:30 - Garswood Gale Force Ten
3:05 - Duntle Chigun
3:45 - Al Kazeem Al Kazeem
4:25 - Burke's Rock Spa's Dancer
5:00 - Oriel Oriel
5:35 - Annie's Fortune Zurigha
Again best of luck to Mr. Gorman and once more I hope that he gets absolutely no winners and I get a few, I threw sportsmanship out the window by the way.
Now we are genuinely going to start the racing!
Royal Ascot - Jersey Stakes - Garswood
Montiridge is a horse I very much like but today could be a bit tough for him on this faster surface than last time when impressive. Preference instead is for 2000 Guineas seventh Garswood for Richard Fahey who was in irresistible form yesterday in these races along with a winner at Thirsk. Last season Garswood was a very smart 2 year old earning a rating of 115 after winning a listed race at Newmarket nicely on his step up to seven furlongs. Last time he was a bit outclassed in the 2000 Guineas and probably didn't stay a mile too well just yet but he will now for sure be race fit. Pat Smullen is a very eye catching jockey booking as Richard Fahey only employs Mr. Smullen for horses he is confident with. With Guineas form yesterday being franked with the first three home in the St James' Palace Garswood can take race one on day two. (5/1)
1st - Garswood
2nd - Gale Force Ten
3rd - Montiridge
Royal Ascot - Duke Of Cambridge Stakes - Duntle
Duntle was one of the Irish bankers last year when winning the Sandringham under Wayne Lordan and David Wachman brings her back again this year. Since Royal Ascot last year she has been first past the post in all 3 starts, I say first past the post as she lost a race to Chachamaidee in the stewards room when possibly unlucky. That form is very strong though as Chachamaidee herself was second in this race last year to Joviality when breaking very slowly. On her reappearance Duntle won a Group 3 at Leopardstown, although it was a race that she really shouldn't be beaten in. There is no doubt she will come on leaps and bounds for that run and if turning up should be very hard to beat once again. Duntle to land back to back Royal Ascot victories. (11/4)
1st - Duntle
2nd - Thistle Bird
3rd - Dank
Royal Ascot - Prince Of Wales' Stakes - Al Kazeem
Roger Charlton's representative has been coming on leaps and bounds in the last year and last time he claimed his biggest win to date. That was in the Tattersalls Gold Cup when he beat Camelot in impressive style and I see no reason why the placing's should reverse today. That win was on the back of a victory in the Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown after almost a year off, but he was much the best that day. This will arguably be the son of Dubawi's biggest test to date with the reappearance of The Fugue and French raider Maxios to repel, but if continuing his huge improvement they should be no problem for him under James Doyle. His trainer Roger Charlton has always been very keen on him and nursed him through his early years but he is now repaying that faith big time. Al Kazeem to land back to back Group 1's. (5/2)
1st - Al Kazeem
2nd - Maxios
3rd - The Fugue
Royal Ascot - Royal Hunt Cup - Burke's Rock
If you are a regular reader of my blog then it is no secret that I am a huge fan of Burke's Rock and the Jeremy Noseda yard. This is a very interesting entry for the daughter of Cape Cross after winning a listed race at Goodwood last time when touching off Sentaril. She gets in off a mark of 97 which for her I think is a stone under what she can achieve with her improvement this year. The jockey booking also catches the eye with Frankie Dettori on board, how Ascot would erupt if he were to grab a winner! 16/1 is usually a bit slim for me in these handicaps, but Burke's Rock has bags of potential and put the record straight after being unlucky at Kempton on reappearance. That run puts her around level with Stirring Ballad at the head of the market although had her behind in fourth last time at Goodwood. The only worry I would have is that she may need further but will stay every yard of this trip today and is sure to give a good account of herself. Burke's Rock to get Frankie back at Royal Ascot in the Hunt Cup. (16/1)
1st - Burke's Rock
2nd - David Livingston
3rd - Fury
4th - Excellent Guest
Royal Ascot - Queen Mary Stakes - Oriel and Fig Roll
First up the Richard Hannon first string with Oriel. She is yet to get her head in front from her two visits to the racecourse but it is clear they think an awful lot of her. First time up she was second to Rizeena who was more experienced and Richard Hughes looked after her that day when not picking up the whip. Still she managed to get within a length at one point before being lightly eased when beaten, it was between those two for my first selection today and a tough choice at that. It was Oriel's second run that gives you a bit of confidence even though she was two lengths behind the reopposing Alutiq. You can pretty much write off that run as Oriel got no passage whatsoever and was never closer than on top of the line and just touched off for third. Once again Richard Hughes looked after her but with a clear run it appears it would have been a matter of how far. Oriel can land this but Rizeena is once again a big danger. (8/1)
Fig Roll is a horse I fell in love with on her debut at Kempton when she was runner up after getting a horrible passage, much like her stablemate. She was cut off at a crucial time but still ran on very strongly to just be denied victory and showing a fantastic attitude. Next time out was at Salisbury and she dipped her toe in higher company when tackling a conditions race under Pat Dobbs. Again she showed a tremendous attitude when really knuckling down late on despite being outpaced early in the race. It is a possibility that she was also pretty green that day but showed a really good attitude to win going away eventually from Alutiq who beat Oriel. On her Salisbury run you would be forgiven for thinking she wants further right away, but in good company at Naas next time she showed plenty of speed and didn't appear to stay the 6 furlongs. The mini but brave Fig Roll can run a big race and has good each way claims. (33/1)
1st - Oriel
2nd - Rizeena
3rd - Fig Roll
One last note is that Phil McEntee looks to complete a fairytale story of his own with Baytown Kestrel under Adam Kirby and owned by his wife. He bought the horse for £400 before entering it in a Lingfield Maiden where she absolutely bolted up at 50/1. Mr. McEntee had a bet on her that day which meant for the first time in his training career he woke up debt free. I hope you will all help me, and in particular Racheal Kneller out in cheering home Baytown Kestrel and wish the McEntee's the best of luck.
Royal Ascot - Sandringham Handicap - Annie's Fortune
I didn't have a clue about this race, before I read what Kieren Fallon thought about Annie's Fortune, and he didn't make her sound like a 40/1 shot. He mentions that her trainer Alan Jarvis holds her in very high regard and that after her latest run at York they found a problem with her. That has been corrected now and if she is back to near her best she could ruffle a few feathers and defy her big odds in the finale. Her two year old form would hold her in good shape for this race, after a close up fourth and then a third in Group 3's, before having a race too much in the Rockfel. She will have to show she is back to her best to even think about landing this prize today for connections. She returns to her favoured faster ground today and could well go close for each way purposes and maybe even spring a surprise. (40/1)
1st - Annie's Fortune
2nd - Zurigha
3rd - Woodland Aria
NAP - Garswood
Nb - Al Kazeem
Be lucky if you are having a bet today and good luck!
Happy Punting!
Monday 17 June 2013
Royal Ascot 2013 Day One
It seems like it was just last week that the Cheltenham buzz was here and we were all expecting My Tent Or Yours to win the Supreme. But time has passed and today is the start of Royal Ascot, like Cheltenham we have a short priced favourite in the first with Animal Kingdom who won this years Dubai World Cup. Last year we also had a short priced favourite, when I say short priced I mean Frankel Priced when he destroyed the field at 1/10. Today also brings back the English 2000 Guineas winner Dawn Approach who looks to bounce back from his spectacular flop in the Epsom Derby. He lines up with his old rival Toronado and from Ballydoyle the Irish 2000 Guineas winner Magician and Epsom Derby sixth in Mars.
Also featuring on the card today is the King's Stand which will see Mike De Kock's champion sprinter line up with Shea Shea when he locks horns with Reckless Abandon. Also lining up is Australian representative Shamexpress for trainer Danny O'Brien, those two raiders try to follow in the footsteps of Little Bridge who won this last year for Hong Kong. Supporting the card today we have the two Juvenile races starting with the Coventry Stakes won last year by Dawn Approach himself. The second of the two year old races is the yearly headache that we call the Windsor Castle Stakes in which 27 head to post. Near the top of the market is Wesley Ward's representative Ogermeister who won this race with Strike The Tiger in 2009. The second to last race also features our first handicap of the week when the stayers take to the track over 2 miles 4 furlongs in the Ascot Stakes, won last year by Simenon for Willie Mullins.
As always you can see my selections on the website ran by Martin Jenkins, please follow him on twitter on @Pigeon_island he works tirelessly for everyone who enters it. If you are interested in checking out the website and following all the action from Royal Ascot, visit www.pigeonscoop4.wordpress.com me and Martin both thank you!
All throughout this week my friend and amateur jockey George Gorman has agreed to take me on in an Ascot tipping challenge. The rules are as follows, win only selections to a £1 stake and at the end of the week will be crowned Champion, its quite a prestigious honour! If one of our selections happens to be a non runner it shall be replaced with the SP favourite. Tuesday's selections are as followed:
Luke George
2:30 - Animal Kingdom Animal Kingdom
3:05 - Kingsgate Native Shea Shea
3:45 - Mars Dawn Approach
4:25 - Riverboat Springs Championship
5:00 - Suraj Lieutenant Miller
5:35 - Peterkin Anticipated
As a sporting person I say good luck to George and I hope he gets beaten out of sight this week! But onto the racing and selections on Day one of Royal Ascot 2013
Royal Ascot - Queen Anne Stakes - Gregorian
If you are a regular reader of my blog you will know that I am a big fan of Gregorian and since last year I have been saying he is a Group one horse, today he gets to prove that. In my eyes Animal Kingdom is a 'good thing' but there is no value in the price he is unless drifting markedly on the day. Gregorian holds some value however in a race when a lot are fully exposed, he comes with some improvement possibly left in him. Last time he won nicely at Epsom in a Group 3 despite absolutely hating the course to the extent I had given up turning for home. But his class proved vital and he managed to hold off Gabrial and Penitent who again should be big threats today. If Gregorian can continue his progression then it would be no surprise at all were he to ruffle a few feathers today and at least make the frame. (18/1)
1st - Animal Kingdom
2nd - Gregorian
3rd - Sovereign Debt
Royal Ascot - King's Stand Stakes - Kingsgate Native
Kingsgate Native has been a very reliable yardstick this year finishing second and first respectively both at double figure odds when put up on this blog. We keep the faith with him today and once again he is a fantastic each way price down to the addition of Shea Shea at the head of the market. In the Temple Stakes at Haydock he managed to reverse the Newmarket form with Sole Power in good style, also beating Reckless Abandon and the unlucky Swiss Spirit. He will need to step up again today but has shown previously that he has bags of ability and retains all his enthusiasm for the game. Life wont be as easy for him today but with a strongly run 5 furlongs at Ascot he should be a closer and once again run a good race for Shane Kelly. For me Reckless Abandon is the main danger and the one to beat but I cant have Kingsgate Native going off a price that big against horses he has beaten this season already. (14/1)
1st - Kingsgate Native
2nd - Reckless Abandon
3rd - Shea Shea
Royal Ascot - St James' Palace Stakes - Mars
Our previous selection Gregorian was third in this race last year but this year looks a race full of class with Dawn Approach dropped back in trip to a mile. Today he has a pacemaker with Leitir Mor and Ballydoyle bring their own pacemaker in the shape of George Vancouver. Them two factors will no doubt help out Mars today as the Derby was not run to suit at all and it turned into a bit of a sprint. Today will be a really strongly run mile and although Dawn Approach is a very strong rival, Mars can make his presence felt here. I cant fathom why Magician is such a short price despite his Irish 2000 Guineas victory in which I feel he was flattered somewhat. Joseph O'Brien gave him a great ride that day which isn't something you hear me say often, but the other jockeys were caught napping. Mars however didn't receive the greatest ride in the Derby but still ran on for sixth and is more than worth another go this afternoon. Mars to live up to the hype he caused last season from a strong pace. (12/1)
1st - Dawn Approach
2nd - Mars
3rd Glory Awaits
Royal Ascot - Coventry Stakes - Riverboat Springs
You would be hard pressed to find a horse that hated Epsom more than Riverboat Springs did last time out when behind the reopposing Thunder Strike. But he went into everyone's notebook that day after flying home from an impossible position under William Buick who keeps the ride. Passing the furlong marker he was the best part of 10 lengths behind Thunder Strike but managed to close that up to 3 and a quarter lengths at the line. That would explain the reason that both of them are around the same price but at Ascot I would expect Riverboat Springs to run a big race. Despite there being a vast amount of unexposed runners today Mick Channon's Colt can make his experience count and put it all up to them. The main thing early on for William Buick to do will be to settle him, if he can do that then the chances of him flying home late are very high, it would take a good horse to catch him if so. Riverboat Springs to put right his interesting Woodcote run last time. (10/1)
1st - Riverboat Springs
2nd - Sir John Hawkins
3rd - War Command
Royal Ascot - Ascot Stakes - Suraj
Now a real head scratcher as the stayers go to post in the Ascot stakes, a race which has been kind to the National Hunt horses over the years. It is a horse that has recently been showing his worth over hurdles that is the selection here with Michael Bell's Suraj after two runs over hurdles for Jonjo O'Neill. It was his last run that really captured my attention though when at Chester, he was drawn 15 of 17 which at Chester is near impossible to win from. It also didn't help that he absolutely walked out of the stalls and had to hunt around at the back of the field, from then on Hayley Turner rightly didn't give him a hard time. He still stayed on at the one pace under hands and heels to finish 10th and 11 and three quarter lengths off the winner. That run is easily forgotten but it does mean that he is dropped two pounds for today's race and you can add an extra 2 pounds off for the four year old allowance. So instead of a mark of 95 which would make him joint top weight he gets to run off 93 which in a race like this can help no end. Suraj to refind the winning thread. (20/1)
1st - Suraj
2nd - Lieutenant Miller
3rd - Homeric
4th - Midnight Oil
Royal Ascot - Windsor Castle Stakes - Peterkin
As always the Windsor Castle is a lottery to pick a horse but this year the magic pin has fallen on Peterkin for Mark Johnston. In a race where all 27 could win a Johnston horse may not be the worst way to go as they are generally very tough and a lot more forward as a younger individual. I first saw Peterkin at Doncaster when he won impressively despite being very green and almost pulling himself up late on. On that basis he was a lot more value than his 3 and three quarter lengths of victory and it could have easily been five or more. Once again he was green when hanging off the rails in a good race at Windsor when conceding 7 pounds to the second horse and the winner looking potentially quite smart. He was still green that day which is a slight worry but Mark Johnston wouldn't bring him here if he wasn't ready to run in a big race. Hopefully he can jump out well and try to make all for Joe Fanning. This son of Invincible Spirit can land a surprise here in the Windsor Castle. (40/1)
1st - Peterkin
2nd - Ogermeister
3rd - Steventon Star
NAP - Riverboat Springs
Nb - Suraj (each way)
Good luck today guys, may your dinners be bookie funded!
Happy Punting
Also featuring on the card today is the King's Stand which will see Mike De Kock's champion sprinter line up with Shea Shea when he locks horns with Reckless Abandon. Also lining up is Australian representative Shamexpress for trainer Danny O'Brien, those two raiders try to follow in the footsteps of Little Bridge who won this last year for Hong Kong. Supporting the card today we have the two Juvenile races starting with the Coventry Stakes won last year by Dawn Approach himself. The second of the two year old races is the yearly headache that we call the Windsor Castle Stakes in which 27 head to post. Near the top of the market is Wesley Ward's representative Ogermeister who won this race with Strike The Tiger in 2009. The second to last race also features our first handicap of the week when the stayers take to the track over 2 miles 4 furlongs in the Ascot Stakes, won last year by Simenon for Willie Mullins.
As always you can see my selections on the website ran by Martin Jenkins, please follow him on twitter on @Pigeon_island he works tirelessly for everyone who enters it. If you are interested in checking out the website and following all the action from Royal Ascot, visit www.pigeonscoop4.wordpress.com me and Martin both thank you!
All throughout this week my friend and amateur jockey George Gorman has agreed to take me on in an Ascot tipping challenge. The rules are as follows, win only selections to a £1 stake and at the end of the week will be crowned Champion, its quite a prestigious honour! If one of our selections happens to be a non runner it shall be replaced with the SP favourite. Tuesday's selections are as followed:
Luke George
2:30 - Animal Kingdom Animal Kingdom
3:05 - Kingsgate Native Shea Shea
3:45 - Mars Dawn Approach
4:25 - Riverboat Springs Championship
5:00 - Suraj Lieutenant Miller
5:35 - Peterkin Anticipated
As a sporting person I say good luck to George and I hope he gets beaten out of sight this week! But onto the racing and selections on Day one of Royal Ascot 2013
Royal Ascot - Queen Anne Stakes - Gregorian
If you are a regular reader of my blog you will know that I am a big fan of Gregorian and since last year I have been saying he is a Group one horse, today he gets to prove that. In my eyes Animal Kingdom is a 'good thing' but there is no value in the price he is unless drifting markedly on the day. Gregorian holds some value however in a race when a lot are fully exposed, he comes with some improvement possibly left in him. Last time he won nicely at Epsom in a Group 3 despite absolutely hating the course to the extent I had given up turning for home. But his class proved vital and he managed to hold off Gabrial and Penitent who again should be big threats today. If Gregorian can continue his progression then it would be no surprise at all were he to ruffle a few feathers today and at least make the frame. (18/1)
1st - Animal Kingdom
2nd - Gregorian
3rd - Sovereign Debt
Royal Ascot - King's Stand Stakes - Kingsgate Native
Kingsgate Native has been a very reliable yardstick this year finishing second and first respectively both at double figure odds when put up on this blog. We keep the faith with him today and once again he is a fantastic each way price down to the addition of Shea Shea at the head of the market. In the Temple Stakes at Haydock he managed to reverse the Newmarket form with Sole Power in good style, also beating Reckless Abandon and the unlucky Swiss Spirit. He will need to step up again today but has shown previously that he has bags of ability and retains all his enthusiasm for the game. Life wont be as easy for him today but with a strongly run 5 furlongs at Ascot he should be a closer and once again run a good race for Shane Kelly. For me Reckless Abandon is the main danger and the one to beat but I cant have Kingsgate Native going off a price that big against horses he has beaten this season already. (14/1)
1st - Kingsgate Native
2nd - Reckless Abandon
3rd - Shea Shea
Royal Ascot - St James' Palace Stakes - Mars
Our previous selection Gregorian was third in this race last year but this year looks a race full of class with Dawn Approach dropped back in trip to a mile. Today he has a pacemaker with Leitir Mor and Ballydoyle bring their own pacemaker in the shape of George Vancouver. Them two factors will no doubt help out Mars today as the Derby was not run to suit at all and it turned into a bit of a sprint. Today will be a really strongly run mile and although Dawn Approach is a very strong rival, Mars can make his presence felt here. I cant fathom why Magician is such a short price despite his Irish 2000 Guineas victory in which I feel he was flattered somewhat. Joseph O'Brien gave him a great ride that day which isn't something you hear me say often, but the other jockeys were caught napping. Mars however didn't receive the greatest ride in the Derby but still ran on for sixth and is more than worth another go this afternoon. Mars to live up to the hype he caused last season from a strong pace. (12/1)
1st - Dawn Approach
2nd - Mars
3rd Glory Awaits
Royal Ascot - Coventry Stakes - Riverboat Springs
You would be hard pressed to find a horse that hated Epsom more than Riverboat Springs did last time out when behind the reopposing Thunder Strike. But he went into everyone's notebook that day after flying home from an impossible position under William Buick who keeps the ride. Passing the furlong marker he was the best part of 10 lengths behind Thunder Strike but managed to close that up to 3 and a quarter lengths at the line. That would explain the reason that both of them are around the same price but at Ascot I would expect Riverboat Springs to run a big race. Despite there being a vast amount of unexposed runners today Mick Channon's Colt can make his experience count and put it all up to them. The main thing early on for William Buick to do will be to settle him, if he can do that then the chances of him flying home late are very high, it would take a good horse to catch him if so. Riverboat Springs to put right his interesting Woodcote run last time. (10/1)
1st - Riverboat Springs
2nd - Sir John Hawkins
3rd - War Command
Royal Ascot - Ascot Stakes - Suraj
Now a real head scratcher as the stayers go to post in the Ascot stakes, a race which has been kind to the National Hunt horses over the years. It is a horse that has recently been showing his worth over hurdles that is the selection here with Michael Bell's Suraj after two runs over hurdles for Jonjo O'Neill. It was his last run that really captured my attention though when at Chester, he was drawn 15 of 17 which at Chester is near impossible to win from. It also didn't help that he absolutely walked out of the stalls and had to hunt around at the back of the field, from then on Hayley Turner rightly didn't give him a hard time. He still stayed on at the one pace under hands and heels to finish 10th and 11 and three quarter lengths off the winner. That run is easily forgotten but it does mean that he is dropped two pounds for today's race and you can add an extra 2 pounds off for the four year old allowance. So instead of a mark of 95 which would make him joint top weight he gets to run off 93 which in a race like this can help no end. Suraj to refind the winning thread. (20/1)
1st - Suraj
2nd - Lieutenant Miller
3rd - Homeric
4th - Midnight Oil
Royal Ascot - Windsor Castle Stakes - Peterkin
As always the Windsor Castle is a lottery to pick a horse but this year the magic pin has fallen on Peterkin for Mark Johnston. In a race where all 27 could win a Johnston horse may not be the worst way to go as they are generally very tough and a lot more forward as a younger individual. I first saw Peterkin at Doncaster when he won impressively despite being very green and almost pulling himself up late on. On that basis he was a lot more value than his 3 and three quarter lengths of victory and it could have easily been five or more. Once again he was green when hanging off the rails in a good race at Windsor when conceding 7 pounds to the second horse and the winner looking potentially quite smart. He was still green that day which is a slight worry but Mark Johnston wouldn't bring him here if he wasn't ready to run in a big race. Hopefully he can jump out well and try to make all for Joe Fanning. This son of Invincible Spirit can land a surprise here in the Windsor Castle. (40/1)
1st - Peterkin
2nd - Ogermeister
3rd - Steventon Star
NAP - Riverboat Springs
Nb - Suraj (each way)
Good luck today guys, may your dinners be bookie funded!
Happy Punting
Friday 14 June 2013
Dutch To Give A Masterpiece At Sandown
Good Morning and a happy weekend to all you racing fans, the sun is hopefully out where you are the birds are cheeping and Royal Ascot is days away. Ballydoyle dropped a bombshell today that Magician is unlikely to take his place in the St. James' Palace with some Minor Bruising. This will most likely make Dawn Approach an odds on chance to emulate Frankel by winning the 2000 Guineas and St James' Palace. But today we have some good racing from Sandown as they head the Saturday meetings with York also holding Listed action. Supporting meetings are from Musselburgh, Bath with evening meetings at Leicester, Lingfield and in Ireland Limerick. We also have the jumpers in action at Hexham this evening where the Champ AP McCoy has a few rides.
It was a truly awful week for racing as one of the most loved and most talented trainers passed away after a long battle with Cancer. Of course I speak of the great immortal Sir Henry Cecil who passed away on the morning of Tuesday 11th June 2013. I don't wish to dwell on this topic too much and bring the mood down, I have however written a whole article on the life and times of Sir Henry. The link to that page is just below if you would like to read it, I just hope I have managed to do him justice. R.I.P Sir Henry.
http://lukeelder.blogspot.ca/2013/06/sir-henry-cecil-goodbye-to-friend.html
Last week was one of them days where you wanted to throw everything at the television as nothing went our way. Firstly we had Nabucco who ran well but just got out battled and went down by a length to Niceofyoutotellme. Then we felt even more hard done by when Pastoral Player got beat a short head when charging late at the eventual winner Amarillo. What made that loss worse was that he didn't get a clear run, if he had then it would have been most likely we would of had a winner. Finally we managed a winner with our NAP of the day with Dutch Masterpiece who took his handicap in really good style by 3 and a quarter lengths. But it was back to annoying ways with our last selection when Elhaame was a staying on second behind Double Discount to be beaten 3 parts of a length. Hopefully we have more luck today!
One last word, as always my posts are now up on http://pigeonscoop4.wordpress.com/ where I have my own section. Please go and follow Martin on twitter, he works tirelessly to provide a fun competition for everyone who follows him. You can do this on @Pigeon_Island so drop by and say hi to him.
But now onto the racing!
2:20 Sandown - Ashaadd
Ashaadd won handsomely at this track last time but over a furlong shorter when finishing very strongly under hands and heels when finding a gap. Ryan Moore was on board that day and he keeps the ride, but you can hardly say he worked Ashaadd too hard in the closing stages, but still won by a going away half a length. He also had some smart two year old form to his name when on debut he was second to Ask Dad by a neck and beaten just over 2 lengths by Pearl Acclaim. However the interesting thing is that despite going up 5 pounds for his last win he runs from 6 pounds lower in the weights. This is down to a very handy 3 year olds allowance so effectively he runs off bottom weight and a mark of 84, his official mark is 95. Long story short he has 11 pounds in hand, but this could also be his downfall that he is a three year old taking on the older horses for the first time. I am more than willing to take a chance however with the step up in trip looking sure to suit. This could be a very good piece of placing by Roger Varian providing he can stay out of trouble, Ashaadd to win the first. (4/1)
2:40 York - Sam Sharp
Sam Sharp is the first of our runners to look out for that take their chance today, my notes on him in my tracker are as follows. Best at a mile, useful horse but always seems to find trouble, could land a few nice prizes this year. Last time out was no different to that on his reappearance when he again met trouble in running and was behind a wall of horse a furlong out. Pass that furlong marker he was back in twelfth and out of it until Richard Kingscote switched him wide and he flew home for third. The handicapper has been kind and kept Sam Sharp at the same mark for today's race which throws him in with a huge chance. I must confess I was probably wrong about him being best at a mile, at least he was last year that's for sure. On the basis of his reappearance he seemed to be a bit outpaced early on and as I mentioned flew hope so the extra furlong shouldn't bother him. Everything crossed that this time he gets some luck in running and can repeat his Leicester success from last September. (10/1)
2:55 Sandown - Dutch Masterpiece
It's not often we have the same NAP two weeks running but that is exactly what we have we with Dutch Masterpiece after he obliged last week. This race has kind of fallen apart, as I am writing this a representative of Middleham Park racing has said Smoothtalkinrascal wont be running. He is in the process of being sold to Cheveley Park Stud and is a non runner today, all unofficial right now of course. But this makes Dutch Masterpiece's job a heck of a lot easier as in my eyes Smoothtalkinrascal was his biggest danger. Back to Dutch Masterpiece though, he was very taking when landing a handicap last weekend at Chester, going on to win pretty easily by 3 and a quarter lengths. As mentioned last week 2 of his defeats came when he hated the undulations of Goodwood and 6 furlongs was a bit too far at Newmarket. But in my eyes he is a Group race horse in the making and the Gary Moore yard really like him, Dutch Masterpiece to go in again. (15/2) (There will be a rule 4 on that price due to Smoothtalkinrascal coming out)
8:05 Leicester - Ashdown Lad
Ashdown Lad is the second of our horses to follow that run today and is one that I like very much. On his seasonal reappearance he was very awkward when push came to shove giving Robert Tart no help at all yet still a decent second. In his latest outing over course and distance everything finally fell into place when Paul Hanagan took over in the saddle, when just getting up by a flared nostril. He was much more genuine in the finish of the race and having a jockey with the experience of ex champion Paul Hanagan will have helped, he keeps the ride today. A thing that was against him last time was the ground, officially it was given as Good, but if you watch the race it is a lot softer than good. Testing ground was his downfall at Goodwood last season and a return to a fast surface will see him to good effect. My comment in my tracker for him is as follows. Awkward ride but very talented, if he gets his act together he is the type to go on spree. With that comment, hopefully Mr Hanagan can once again find the key to Ashdown Lad and bring about some more improvement off a 2 pound higher mark.
NAP - Dutch Masterpiece
Nb - Ashdown Lad
Hopefully we can put last weeks annoying selections behind us and bag ourselves a few winners this weekend.
Happy Punting!!
It was a truly awful week for racing as one of the most loved and most talented trainers passed away after a long battle with Cancer. Of course I speak of the great immortal Sir Henry Cecil who passed away on the morning of Tuesday 11th June 2013. I don't wish to dwell on this topic too much and bring the mood down, I have however written a whole article on the life and times of Sir Henry. The link to that page is just below if you would like to read it, I just hope I have managed to do him justice. R.I.P Sir Henry.
http://lukeelder.blogspot.ca/2013/06/sir-henry-cecil-goodbye-to-friend.html
Last week was one of them days where you wanted to throw everything at the television as nothing went our way. Firstly we had Nabucco who ran well but just got out battled and went down by a length to Niceofyoutotellme. Then we felt even more hard done by when Pastoral Player got beat a short head when charging late at the eventual winner Amarillo. What made that loss worse was that he didn't get a clear run, if he had then it would have been most likely we would of had a winner. Finally we managed a winner with our NAP of the day with Dutch Masterpiece who took his handicap in really good style by 3 and a quarter lengths. But it was back to annoying ways with our last selection when Elhaame was a staying on second behind Double Discount to be beaten 3 parts of a length. Hopefully we have more luck today!
One last word, as always my posts are now up on http://pigeonscoop4.wordpress.com/ where I have my own section. Please go and follow Martin on twitter, he works tirelessly to provide a fun competition for everyone who follows him. You can do this on @Pigeon_Island so drop by and say hi to him.
But now onto the racing!
2:20 Sandown - Ashaadd
Ashaadd won handsomely at this track last time but over a furlong shorter when finishing very strongly under hands and heels when finding a gap. Ryan Moore was on board that day and he keeps the ride, but you can hardly say he worked Ashaadd too hard in the closing stages, but still won by a going away half a length. He also had some smart two year old form to his name when on debut he was second to Ask Dad by a neck and beaten just over 2 lengths by Pearl Acclaim. However the interesting thing is that despite going up 5 pounds for his last win he runs from 6 pounds lower in the weights. This is down to a very handy 3 year olds allowance so effectively he runs off bottom weight and a mark of 84, his official mark is 95. Long story short he has 11 pounds in hand, but this could also be his downfall that he is a three year old taking on the older horses for the first time. I am more than willing to take a chance however with the step up in trip looking sure to suit. This could be a very good piece of placing by Roger Varian providing he can stay out of trouble, Ashaadd to win the first. (4/1)
 |
| Ashaadd can show his elders the way here. |
2:40 York - Sam Sharp
Sam Sharp is the first of our runners to look out for that take their chance today, my notes on him in my tracker are as follows. Best at a mile, useful horse but always seems to find trouble, could land a few nice prizes this year. Last time out was no different to that on his reappearance when he again met trouble in running and was behind a wall of horse a furlong out. Pass that furlong marker he was back in twelfth and out of it until Richard Kingscote switched him wide and he flew home for third. The handicapper has been kind and kept Sam Sharp at the same mark for today's race which throws him in with a huge chance. I must confess I was probably wrong about him being best at a mile, at least he was last year that's for sure. On the basis of his reappearance he seemed to be a bit outpaced early on and as I mentioned flew hope so the extra furlong shouldn't bother him. Everything crossed that this time he gets some luck in running and can repeat his Leicester success from last September. (10/1)
 |
| Sam Sharp can build on his reappearance |
2:55 Sandown - Dutch Masterpiece
It's not often we have the same NAP two weeks running but that is exactly what we have we with Dutch Masterpiece after he obliged last week. This race has kind of fallen apart, as I am writing this a representative of Middleham Park racing has said Smoothtalkinrascal wont be running. He is in the process of being sold to Cheveley Park Stud and is a non runner today, all unofficial right now of course. But this makes Dutch Masterpiece's job a heck of a lot easier as in my eyes Smoothtalkinrascal was his biggest danger. Back to Dutch Masterpiece though, he was very taking when landing a handicap last weekend at Chester, going on to win pretty easily by 3 and a quarter lengths. As mentioned last week 2 of his defeats came when he hated the undulations of Goodwood and 6 furlongs was a bit too far at Newmarket. But in my eyes he is a Group race horse in the making and the Gary Moore yard really like him, Dutch Masterpiece to go in again. (15/2) (There will be a rule 4 on that price due to Smoothtalkinrascal coming out)
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| Dutch Masterpiece looks a class horse in the Making |
8:05 Leicester - Ashdown Lad
Ashdown Lad is the second of our horses to follow that run today and is one that I like very much. On his seasonal reappearance he was very awkward when push came to shove giving Robert Tart no help at all yet still a decent second. In his latest outing over course and distance everything finally fell into place when Paul Hanagan took over in the saddle, when just getting up by a flared nostril. He was much more genuine in the finish of the race and having a jockey with the experience of ex champion Paul Hanagan will have helped, he keeps the ride today. A thing that was against him last time was the ground, officially it was given as Good, but if you watch the race it is a lot softer than good. Testing ground was his downfall at Goodwood last season and a return to a fast surface will see him to good effect. My comment in my tracker for him is as follows. Awkward ride but very talented, if he gets his act together he is the type to go on spree. With that comment, hopefully Mr Hanagan can once again find the key to Ashdown Lad and bring about some more improvement off a 2 pound higher mark.
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| Ashdown Lad in winning action at Sandown |
NAP - Dutch Masterpiece
Nb - Ashdown Lad
Hopefully we can put last weeks annoying selections behind us and bag ourselves a few winners this weekend.
Happy Punting!!
Tuesday 11 June 2013
Sir Henry Cecil - Goodbye To A Friend
Yesterday morning the racing world was put in a state of disbelief when the news of Sir Henry Cecil's death came through. It was news that not only rendered a person speechless but news that would bring about so much emotion.
The word Legend and Great is thrown around in sport, but that is exactly what Sir Henry Cecil was a sporting great and a wonderful man. He had been through his ups and downs, showing remarkable strength and courage to come back against all the doubters and in a way, himself.
In 1969 Cecil took out his training licence after working as an assistant to his stepfather for a period spanning four years. In the same season as he took out his licence he was noted for training the Eclipse winner Wolver Hollow, a win which he would follow up with Wollow in 1976 and again with Gunner B two years later. A year after his first win he trained his first Royal Ascot winner in the Queen Alexandra Stakes with Parthenon, his first of 75 winners at the Royal Meeting.
As a trainer he only had to wait four years before his first classic winner in 1973, after Cloonagh won the Irish 1000 Guineas. However his first English Classic came at his beloved Newmarket when Bolkonski won the 2000 Guineas partnered by father of Frankie, Gianfranco Dettori. They were to be his only classic winners before moving to his long time home of Warren Place, which he acquired from his at the time father in law Sir Noel Murless.
When someone mentions the name Sir Henry Cecil, racing fan's mind's immediately think of Warren Place, where he trained from 1976 to his day of passing. Before the turn of the century Sir Henry was regarded as one of the best trainers of his current time, winning the Champion Trainer title 10 times from 1976-1993. Even in the year of his transition to Warren Place he managed to send out the 2000 Guineas winner with Wollow, once again with Gianfranco Dettori in the saddle, landing back to back wins in the race. It took him 3 years at Warren Place till he landed the Fillies equivalent when One In A Million won the 1000 Guineas, this time Joe Mercer did the steering.
It wasn't until 1985 until he won his first Classic at Epsom, but it was more than worth the wait as he and Steve Cauthen first won the Oaks with Oh So Sharp, then the Derby with Slip Anchor. Oh So Sharp went on to win the ladies triple crown after a narrow victory in the 1000 guineas when again partnered by Cauthen. Cecil won three more Epsom Derby's with Reference Point in 1987, Commander In Chief in 1993 and finally with Oath in 1999. But it was Oh So Sharp who stole the year despite Slip Anchor being the top rated European Horse on a mark of 136 after his 7 length Derby win. However Oh So Sharp did win the top rated European three year old filly award off a mark of 131 after her St. Leger victory.
But it is for his handling of fillies that he will be fondly remembered, landing the 1000 Guineas 6 times but topping that with 8 victories in the Epsom Oaks. After Oh So Sharp was the heroine of the 1985 Oaks, he followed up in 1988 once again with a Sheik Mohammed owned horse. This time it was Diminuendo that won the Oaks, only for the duo of Cecil and Cauthen to win the race again the year after with Snow Bride. After that victory in 1989 there was a break of 7 years till the next Oaks win at Warren Place when Lady Carla won in 1996. However that opened the floodgates and Cecil won the Oaks four times between 1996 and 2000 when Love Divine won under Richard Quinn.
Things had gone fantastically career wise for the Master of Warren Place even after Sheikh Mohammed had withdrawn his string of 40 horses from the yard. But in the year of 2000 His twin brother David passed away of Cancer which started a long cold run for Cecil. With his stable once of 200 now down to 50, the racing public began to call for his retirement, saying that he was past it. But against everyone's word he carried on, everyone but Prince Khalid Abdullah who kept his full faith during this period. During the time of July 2000 through to October 2006, Cecil had failed to send out a Group 1 winner, something unheard of by someone his class and talent. In the season of 2005 Warren Place had only 12 winners throughout the whole string of 50 horses, for the first time Cecil began to doubt himself and mention retirement.
As if things weren't bad enough, Sir Henry was diagnosed with Stomach Cancer in 2006, a hit that for most people would be the icing on the cake. But Sir Henry came back in admirable style and throughout it all despite physically declining, mentally he never lost his edge. Although gaining the sympathy of the public, that wasn't enough and the next chapter is quite incredible to us mere mortals.
In the Oaks of 2007, a race that had been so good to Sir Henry over the years, he saddled two runners including 9/4 favourite Passage Of Time. But it was his lesser fancied Light Shift who swept to the front with just over 2 furlongs to go, but almost as soon as she did that she was challenged. The challenger was her to be old rival Peeping Fawn in the hands of Martin Dwyer, while victory looked unlikely for Light Burst she knuckled down and battled. During that fight to the line she was joined but never headed with Ted Durcan aboard leaving not one eye dry on the downs that afternoon. Against all the odds Sir Henry Cecil had another classic winner and was back in the eye of the public and the media. That was his 24th Classic winner, of course with there to be one more incredible and breathtaking performance left.
Cecil began to repay Prince Khalid Abdullah when training the frequent top class winners with horses such as Midday and Twice Over. But there was one last hurrah from the Master of Warren Place, that 'hurrah' came in the form of Frankel, arguably the best thoroughbred to have ever lived. Frankel ran a total of 14 times and was never beaten in any of them, but it was on 30th April 2011 in the 2000 Guineas when we realised just how good he was. Rerouted was the pacemaker for his stablemate, or so he was meant to be. But from the gates opening Frankel was out in front and after 2 and a half furlongs into the race, half the field were off the bridle trying to keep up. They tried in vain as the public sat back and watched a true great dominate Group 1 horses to win by a very easy and never in doubt 6 lengths.
After his 2000 Guineas romp, Frankel went on to win 8 more Group 1 races varying from a mile up to a mile and two furlongs. Those runs earned Frankel the tag of 'Best Racehorse in the world' despite strong competition from Australia's Black Caviar. But to tell the truth, he wasn't the best racehorse in
the world, he was in all likeliness the best racehorse to have ever graced the track.
Sir Henry Cecil was knighted in 2011 by Her Majesty, and if you could find a more deserving person in any sport I would be shocked. He earned the title as the Master of Warren Place through his 25 Classic winners throughout the course of his career and his presence on the racecourse.
Sir Henry was taken from us after a long fight with Stomach Cancer just a week before Royal Ascot starts, a meeting in which he trained no fewer than 75 winners, a record for some time to come. But it is not his incredible record on the course we will remember him best for. We will remember him for being the perfect gentleman, for having impeccable manners no matter who you are. But more importantly for the relationship he had with a racehorse, his zest and fight for life and for the way he captured every heart of the public. His legacy will live on through his three children and on the racecourse in them Khalid Abdullah colours worn by Tom Queally.
Like the vast majority of you reading this, you won't have known British Horse Racing without a Sir Henry Cecil leading the way. I just hope that I have managed to capture at least half the man he was, and that his name live on through everyone's little personal memory of the great man.
With that I conclude this run-through of the incredible life and man that was Sir Henry Richard Amherst Cecil. I ask each and every one of you to join me in saying a fond farewell and with lumps in our throats, Goodbye Sir Henry, thank you for all the memories and for being the leading light in British Horse Racing. May you Rest In Peace and your name live on for centuries to come.
Thank You.
The word Legend and Great is thrown around in sport, but that is exactly what Sir Henry Cecil was a sporting great and a wonderful man. He had been through his ups and downs, showing remarkable strength and courage to come back against all the doubters and in a way, himself.
 |
| A Young Sir Henry Cecil |
As a trainer he only had to wait four years before his first classic winner in 1973, after Cloonagh won the Irish 1000 Guineas. However his first English Classic came at his beloved Newmarket when Bolkonski won the 2000 Guineas partnered by father of Frankie, Gianfranco Dettori. They were to be his only classic winners before moving to his long time home of Warren Place, which he acquired from his at the time father in law Sir Noel Murless.
When someone mentions the name Sir Henry Cecil, racing fan's mind's immediately think of Warren Place, where he trained from 1976 to his day of passing. Before the turn of the century Sir Henry was regarded as one of the best trainers of his current time, winning the Champion Trainer title 10 times from 1976-1993. Even in the year of his transition to Warren Place he managed to send out the 2000 Guineas winner with Wollow, once again with Gianfranco Dettori in the saddle, landing back to back wins in the race. It took him 3 years at Warren Place till he landed the Fillies equivalent when One In A Million won the 1000 Guineas, this time Joe Mercer did the steering.
It wasn't until 1985 until he won his first Classic at Epsom, but it was more than worth the wait as he and Steve Cauthen first won the Oaks with Oh So Sharp, then the Derby with Slip Anchor. Oh So Sharp went on to win the ladies triple crown after a narrow victory in the 1000 guineas when again partnered by Cauthen. Cecil won three more Epsom Derby's with Reference Point in 1987, Commander In Chief in 1993 and finally with Oath in 1999. But it was Oh So Sharp who stole the year despite Slip Anchor being the top rated European Horse on a mark of 136 after his 7 length Derby win. However Oh So Sharp did win the top rated European three year old filly award off a mark of 131 after her St. Leger victory.
 |
| Oh So Sharp completing the fillies Triple Crown |
But it is for his handling of fillies that he will be fondly remembered, landing the 1000 Guineas 6 times but topping that with 8 victories in the Epsom Oaks. After Oh So Sharp was the heroine of the 1985 Oaks, he followed up in 1988 once again with a Sheik Mohammed owned horse. This time it was Diminuendo that won the Oaks, only for the duo of Cecil and Cauthen to win the race again the year after with Snow Bride. After that victory in 1989 there was a break of 7 years till the next Oaks win at Warren Place when Lady Carla won in 1996. However that opened the floodgates and Cecil won the Oaks four times between 1996 and 2000 when Love Divine won under Richard Quinn.
Things had gone fantastically career wise for the Master of Warren Place even after Sheikh Mohammed had withdrawn his string of 40 horses from the yard. But in the year of 2000 His twin brother David passed away of Cancer which started a long cold run for Cecil. With his stable once of 200 now down to 50, the racing public began to call for his retirement, saying that he was past it. But against everyone's word he carried on, everyone but Prince Khalid Abdullah who kept his full faith during this period. During the time of July 2000 through to October 2006, Cecil had failed to send out a Group 1 winner, something unheard of by someone his class and talent. In the season of 2005 Warren Place had only 12 winners throughout the whole string of 50 horses, for the first time Cecil began to doubt himself and mention retirement.
As if things weren't bad enough, Sir Henry was diagnosed with Stomach Cancer in 2006, a hit that for most people would be the icing on the cake. But Sir Henry came back in admirable style and throughout it all despite physically declining, mentally he never lost his edge. Although gaining the sympathy of the public, that wasn't enough and the next chapter is quite incredible to us mere mortals.
 |
| Light Shift (right) Out Battles Peeping Fawn (left) |
In the Oaks of 2007, a race that had been so good to Sir Henry over the years, he saddled two runners including 9/4 favourite Passage Of Time. But it was his lesser fancied Light Shift who swept to the front with just over 2 furlongs to go, but almost as soon as she did that she was challenged. The challenger was her to be old rival Peeping Fawn in the hands of Martin Dwyer, while victory looked unlikely for Light Burst she knuckled down and battled. During that fight to the line she was joined but never headed with Ted Durcan aboard leaving not one eye dry on the downs that afternoon. Against all the odds Sir Henry Cecil had another classic winner and was back in the eye of the public and the media. That was his 24th Classic winner, of course with there to be one more incredible and breathtaking performance left.
 |
| Twice Over (near side) gets on top of Midday (Far Side) |
Cecil began to repay Prince Khalid Abdullah when training the frequent top class winners with horses such as Midday and Twice Over. But there was one last hurrah from the Master of Warren Place, that 'hurrah' came in the form of Frankel, arguably the best thoroughbred to have ever lived. Frankel ran a total of 14 times and was never beaten in any of them, but it was on 30th April 2011 in the 2000 Guineas when we realised just how good he was. Rerouted was the pacemaker for his stablemate, or so he was meant to be. But from the gates opening Frankel was out in front and after 2 and a half furlongs into the race, half the field were off the bridle trying to keep up. They tried in vain as the public sat back and watched a true great dominate Group 1 horses to win by a very easy and never in doubt 6 lengths.
After his 2000 Guineas romp, Frankel went on to win 8 more Group 1 races varying from a mile up to a mile and two furlongs. Those runs earned Frankel the tag of 'Best Racehorse in the world' despite strong competition from Australia's Black Caviar. But to tell the truth, he wasn't the best racehorse in
 |
| Frankel in Imperious form at Ascot |
Sir Henry Cecil was knighted in 2011 by Her Majesty, and if you could find a more deserving person in any sport I would be shocked. He earned the title as the Master of Warren Place through his 25 Classic winners throughout the course of his career and his presence on the racecourse.
Sir Henry was taken from us after a long fight with Stomach Cancer just a week before Royal Ascot starts, a meeting in which he trained no fewer than 75 winners, a record for some time to come. But it is not his incredible record on the course we will remember him best for. We will remember him for being the perfect gentleman, for having impeccable manners no matter who you are. But more importantly for the relationship he had with a racehorse, his zest and fight for life and for the way he captured every heart of the public. His legacy will live on through his three children and on the racecourse in them Khalid Abdullah colours worn by Tom Queally.
Like the vast majority of you reading this, you won't have known British Horse Racing without a Sir Henry Cecil leading the way. I just hope that I have managed to capture at least half the man he was, and that his name live on through everyone's little personal memory of the great man.
With that I conclude this run-through of the incredible life and man that was Sir Henry Richard Amherst Cecil. I ask each and every one of you to join me in saying a fond farewell and with lumps in our throats, Goodbye Sir Henry, thank you for all the memories and for being the leading light in British Horse Racing. May you Rest In Peace and your name live on for centuries to come.
Thank You.
 |
| RIP Sir Henry Cecil - 11 January 1943 – 11 June 2013 |
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