Good morning/evening everyone, I hope we are all ready to see racing go into overdrive with Glorious Goodwood and Galway hitting full flow next week. Before then we have a big day of racing to get through today which features the King George from Ascot as well as Group action from York, a race which Mukhadram won last season.
Tomorrow I will be presenting live at Ascot for the Dubai Racing Channel to discuss the action with Laura King and Stephen Molyneux. I hope you can tune in live and more importantly, enjoy the day of racing!!
As always we have a video preview prepared for you guys as we give our selections for the Channel 4 races today. I am joined on the panel this week by @calummadell, @adamwebb121 and @Mytentoryours, it has been a while since we have had a full house! We hope you enjoy the video and if you want to get involved in the debate please direct your questions and fancies at me on twitter through @Lukeelder13.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNMsKEkU2Dk (Live just after 8pm)
Now onto the all important selections!
2:45 Newmarket - First Flight
I won't need to introduce you to First Flight anymore as he is a frequent visitor to the blog without too much success thus far. He was my best handicap bet of Royal Ascot, however a bad draw scuppered them plans although he still ran with credit in the Britannia to finish ninth of the thirty. That was the first time he had encountered faster ground this season which is more to his liking but surprisingly he seemed to be outpaced for the majority of the race. On that basis the step up to a mile and two furlongs is just what the doctor ordered and First Flight is taken to beat his elders. (5/1)
3:30 York - Picture Dealer
Picture Dealer is another who has appeared on the blog before and remains well handicap despite his rather unappealing form figures. With all that taken into account he has been slowly running himself back in to form and his last run at Yarmouth was better than the bare result suggests. He absolutely fell out of the stalls and immediately gave his rivals a five length advantage before taking a while to find his stride into the race. Despite all that happening he stayed on well for fourth but in two strides he would have been a clear second behind an improving Sheikh Hamdan horse. Any strength in the market would be a positive but we take Picture Dealer to finally refind the winning thread for new connections. (25/1)
3:50 Ascot - Taghrooda
Taghrooda blew apart the Investec Oaks when destroying a good field by three and three quarter lengths and remained unbeaten in doing so. In truth there was only one horse in the race from four furlongs out before she readily asserted when asked to quicken and made some good animals in behind look very ordinary. Volume has since proved hard to pass in the Irish Oaks, but she had no response to Taghrooda when she drew level before just failing to hold Tarfasha. The King George however generally isn't a race that is kind to three year olds with Nathaniel being the only winner for them in the last ten years, that stat gets even worse for three year old fillies. However as you know I am not one to take stats too seriously as if a horse is good enough they will win the race in hand. Taghrooda definitely looks the real deal and this daughter of Sea The Stars can strengthen her portfolio by landing the spoils. (11/4)
NAP - First Flight
Nb - Taghrooda
Good luck today guys and as always, happy punting!
Friday 25 July 2014
Friday 18 July 2014
Take Montbazon At Rasen
Good evening/morning to you all, firstly I must apologise for the poor blog title this week but I struggled big time, however I trust we have recovered from last week's deluge of racing and are ready for a more relaxed weekend. We were pretty unlucky last week on the blog with Nabucco and Intrinsic not running on account of the ground, but Slade Power did the business for us once more. Brockwell once again promised so much but didn't deliver and is becoming a frustrating horse to follow, but we march onto this week.
Newbury hold the main meeting of the day with the two year old Super Sprint and also the return of Al Kazeem after his failed stud duties. Today also marks one of the big days of Summer Jumping with the Market Rasen Summer Plate and Summer Hurdle, both of which look good renewals.
As always we have a preview video prepared for you guys as we discuss the Channel 4 racing today. Joining me on the panel today are @Calummadell and @Adamwebb121 after a successful video last week. We hope you enjoy the video that you can watch via the link below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpvVv0LWlRA&feature=youtu.be
Now onto the all important selections!
1:30 Newbury - Automated
Clive Brittain allows Automated to step back in to Maiden company after finding Group company a bit too hot, but he didn't disgrace himself despite not handling the step up in trip last time out. The son of Authorized brings the best form to the table when running Eagle Top to half a length which has since been boosted in a big way. He was able to nearly make all that day which is something he hasn't experienced since, after being taken on and beaten in a match for the lead at both Sandown and Chester. With a soft lead this afternoon he can once again show his strong front running attributes and finally lose his Maiden tag. (8/1)
2:20 Market Rasen - Clerk's Choice
You don't have to venture too far back to find Clerk's Choice contesting the Champion Hurdle with a realistic chance, but things haven't gone his way since then. However during the past year he has been running himself back into form on the all weather including a commendable effort at Cheltenham in the Coral Cup. Trevor Whelan is a jockey on the rise and his three pound claim means he doesn't have to carry round such a big weight, however he must still concede weight all round. One last point is that he visits Market Rasen for the first time today but there is no reason to suggest he won't handle the tight track. Clerk's Choice to get his career back on track this afternoon. (14/1)
2:55 Market Rasen - Montbazon
A second visit to Market Rasen this afternoon with Montbazon who like our previous selection has also been in action on the all weather at Kempton. It would appear that this race has long been the plan and Aidan Coleman is no bad replacement for the sidelined Wayne Hutchinson and Robert Thornton. His exploits during the National Hunt season mean he must carry a welter burden of 11 stone and 12 pounds which won't be easy, but a third in the County Hurdle and a fourth in the Supreme Novices is by far the best form on offer. With recent All Weather efforts behind him, Montbazon can take all the beating this afternoon in a weaker race than he is used to. (10/1)
5:15 Market Rasen - Lemon Drop Red
Paul Webber's representative is unlucky to still be a maiden over fences after falling last time out at the final fence when leading and in with a big chance. Before that he had unseated on his chase debut at Kempton at the second last fence when still going strongly and looking a likely winner. That isn't the end of his bad luck as he was all but bought down by a loose horse here at Market Rasen last year when having the race at his mercy, that was at the third last fence... Are you sensing a theme here? I won't jinx it by saying he will depart at the fourth last today but on the whole he is usually a good jumper which may be hard to believe. He faces a big rise in the weights despite not finishing last time but should be more than good enough to win off this mark with Denis O'Regan on board. (9/2)
NAP - Automated
Nb - Lemon Drop Red
Good luck today guys and as always, happy punting!
Newbury hold the main meeting of the day with the two year old Super Sprint and also the return of Al Kazeem after his failed stud duties. Today also marks one of the big days of Summer Jumping with the Market Rasen Summer Plate and Summer Hurdle, both of which look good renewals.
As always we have a preview video prepared for you guys as we discuss the Channel 4 racing today. Joining me on the panel today are @Calummadell and @Adamwebb121 after a successful video last week. We hope you enjoy the video that you can watch via the link below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpvVv0LWlRA&feature=youtu.be
Now onto the all important selections!
1:30 Newbury - Automated
Clive Brittain allows Automated to step back in to Maiden company after finding Group company a bit too hot, but he didn't disgrace himself despite not handling the step up in trip last time out. The son of Authorized brings the best form to the table when running Eagle Top to half a length which has since been boosted in a big way. He was able to nearly make all that day which is something he hasn't experienced since, after being taken on and beaten in a match for the lead at both Sandown and Chester. With a soft lead this afternoon he can once again show his strong front running attributes and finally lose his Maiden tag. (8/1)
2:20 Market Rasen - Clerk's Choice
You don't have to venture too far back to find Clerk's Choice contesting the Champion Hurdle with a realistic chance, but things haven't gone his way since then. However during the past year he has been running himself back into form on the all weather including a commendable effort at Cheltenham in the Coral Cup. Trevor Whelan is a jockey on the rise and his three pound claim means he doesn't have to carry round such a big weight, however he must still concede weight all round. One last point is that he visits Market Rasen for the first time today but there is no reason to suggest he won't handle the tight track. Clerk's Choice to get his career back on track this afternoon. (14/1)
2:55 Market Rasen - Montbazon
A second visit to Market Rasen this afternoon with Montbazon who like our previous selection has also been in action on the all weather at Kempton. It would appear that this race has long been the plan and Aidan Coleman is no bad replacement for the sidelined Wayne Hutchinson and Robert Thornton. His exploits during the National Hunt season mean he must carry a welter burden of 11 stone and 12 pounds which won't be easy, but a third in the County Hurdle and a fourth in the Supreme Novices is by far the best form on offer. With recent All Weather efforts behind him, Montbazon can take all the beating this afternoon in a weaker race than he is used to. (10/1)
5:15 Market Rasen - Lemon Drop Red
Paul Webber's representative is unlucky to still be a maiden over fences after falling last time out at the final fence when leading and in with a big chance. Before that he had unseated on his chase debut at Kempton at the second last fence when still going strongly and looking a likely winner. That isn't the end of his bad luck as he was all but bought down by a loose horse here at Market Rasen last year when having the race at his mercy, that was at the third last fence... Are you sensing a theme here? I won't jinx it by saying he will depart at the fourth last today but on the whole he is usually a good jumper which may be hard to believe. He faces a big rise in the weights despite not finishing last time but should be more than good enough to win off this mark with Denis O'Regan on board. (9/2)
NAP - Automated
Nb - Lemon Drop Red
Good luck today guys and as always, happy punting!
Friday 11 July 2014
Slade To Power Away With July Cup
Good morning/evening everyone, it has been a long week with top class action from Newmarket, but that culminates today with the July Cup for which Slade Power is a strong favourite. Ascot and York also provide top class action with the latter staging the Silver Cup and the former with the Summer Mile. We had a somewhat poor weekend last Saturday with only Roseburg winning, however with non runners he came in odds on, but we hope for better this week.
As always we have a video prepared for you guys and after covering the first two days on BetRacingNation I make my OnTheOtherHoof weekly debut. @Adamwebb121 has done a fantastic job at holding down the fort while I was away but he can't be in attendance tonight after a visit to York. This leaves me with @Calummadell and @Mytentoryours to deal with on the panel tonight as we cover the marathon Channel 4 coverage. Enjoy the video by clicking the link below or joining us live!
http://youtu.be/p6cNpzTEIvc
Now onto the all important selections!
1:55 Ascot - Intrinsic
Intrinsic broke a few hearts including mine when not making the cut for the Wokingham at Royal Ascot, but his targets seem to have been redirected towards the Stewards Cup or whatever you call it nowadays. As well as his Goodwood target he has been given entries in the Nunthorpe and the Sprint Cup at Haydock, both of those races carry a Group One status. It is clear from them entries how highly Robert Cowell rates this son of Oasis Dream and he remains one going in the right direction after notching up a hat trick. He was raised six more pounds in the handicap after his narrow victory over Ashpan Sam last time out at Goodwood, with the runner up winning since the race. Ryan Moore was gifted a soft lead that day and Intrinsic was left with a lot of ground to make up by Richard Hughes at the furlong pole, however he got out of trouble to get on top when it mattered. It isn't often you can say a winning ride was poor but this is one of those occasions and Intrinsic is taken to continue his progression. (13/2)
2:55 York - Nabucco
John Gosden's representative has been a consistent horse for a long time now and was inclined to have needed his reappearance behind French Navy at Goodwood. He showed great improvement last season when notching up three wins, two seconds and a third in his six runs, as a result of his consistency he is now rated 109 which is a bit steep. However John Gosden has had the stroke of genius to book the promising seven pound claimer Kieran Shoemark who is just starting to get some big rides. With the seven pounds being negated it allows Nabucco to run off a two pound higher mark than his last win and will take some beating this afternoon. (12/1)
3:50 Newmarket - Slade Power
You may recall my confidence behind Slade Power at Royal Ascot when winning the Diamond Jubilee and confidence is probably even higher today. The main thing against him that day for most people was his hatred for fast ground, a theory that was disproved in emphatic style. There is a bit more juice in the ground today which could bring about more improvement in him, after his Ascot performance that is a scary thought. He was never outside the first three and forged into the lead a furlong out which is where he stayed despite pressure from Due Diligence and Aljamaaheer who re-oppose today. Out of the those two the latter would have to be preferred but will do well to get closer to Slade Power who should be victorious once again. (11/4)
4:40 York - Brockwell
A bit more of a tentative selection now with Brockwell who was a bit unlucky last time out at Royal Ascot in the Ascot Stakes. He was in the process of running a good race before getting caught on the rail and stopped in his tracks by the tiring Asbaab and Sardinia. This cost him around 10 lengths and from that point he was always facing an impossible task but stayed on again for ninth and beaten 12 lengths. That was with first time cheekpieces which come off for today after not really improving his performance, however there is one big change for him today. He has a tendency to run a bit lazily late on in the race which they hope will be solved by the addition of Kieren Fallon who is one of the strongest jockey's in the saddle. Brockwell to make amends for his Royal Ascot disappointment from two pounds lower in the handicap. (6/1)
NAP - Slade Power
Nb - Intrinsic
Good luck today guys and as always, happy punting!
As always we have a video prepared for you guys and after covering the first two days on BetRacingNation I make my OnTheOtherHoof weekly debut. @Adamwebb121 has done a fantastic job at holding down the fort while I was away but he can't be in attendance tonight after a visit to York. This leaves me with @Calummadell and @Mytentoryours to deal with on the panel tonight as we cover the marathon Channel 4 coverage. Enjoy the video by clicking the link below or joining us live!
http://youtu.be/p6cNpzTEIvc
Now onto the all important selections!
1:55 Ascot - Intrinsic
Intrinsic broke a few hearts including mine when not making the cut for the Wokingham at Royal Ascot, but his targets seem to have been redirected towards the Stewards Cup or whatever you call it nowadays. As well as his Goodwood target he has been given entries in the Nunthorpe and the Sprint Cup at Haydock, both of those races carry a Group One status. It is clear from them entries how highly Robert Cowell rates this son of Oasis Dream and he remains one going in the right direction after notching up a hat trick. He was raised six more pounds in the handicap after his narrow victory over Ashpan Sam last time out at Goodwood, with the runner up winning since the race. Ryan Moore was gifted a soft lead that day and Intrinsic was left with a lot of ground to make up by Richard Hughes at the furlong pole, however he got out of trouble to get on top when it mattered. It isn't often you can say a winning ride was poor but this is one of those occasions and Intrinsic is taken to continue his progression. (13/2)
2:55 York - Nabucco
John Gosden's representative has been a consistent horse for a long time now and was inclined to have needed his reappearance behind French Navy at Goodwood. He showed great improvement last season when notching up three wins, two seconds and a third in his six runs, as a result of his consistency he is now rated 109 which is a bit steep. However John Gosden has had the stroke of genius to book the promising seven pound claimer Kieran Shoemark who is just starting to get some big rides. With the seven pounds being negated it allows Nabucco to run off a two pound higher mark than his last win and will take some beating this afternoon. (12/1)
3:50 Newmarket - Slade Power
You may recall my confidence behind Slade Power at Royal Ascot when winning the Diamond Jubilee and confidence is probably even higher today. The main thing against him that day for most people was his hatred for fast ground, a theory that was disproved in emphatic style. There is a bit more juice in the ground today which could bring about more improvement in him, after his Ascot performance that is a scary thought. He was never outside the first three and forged into the lead a furlong out which is where he stayed despite pressure from Due Diligence and Aljamaaheer who re-oppose today. Out of the those two the latter would have to be preferred but will do well to get closer to Slade Power who should be victorious once again. (11/4)
4:40 York - Brockwell
A bit more of a tentative selection now with Brockwell who was a bit unlucky last time out at Royal Ascot in the Ascot Stakes. He was in the process of running a good race before getting caught on the rail and stopped in his tracks by the tiring Asbaab and Sardinia. This cost him around 10 lengths and from that point he was always facing an impossible task but stayed on again for ninth and beaten 12 lengths. That was with first time cheekpieces which come off for today after not really improving his performance, however there is one big change for him today. He has a tendency to run a bit lazily late on in the race which they hope will be solved by the addition of Kieren Fallon who is one of the strongest jockey's in the saddle. Brockwell to make amends for his Royal Ascot disappointment from two pounds lower in the handicap. (6/1)
NAP - Slade Power
Nb - Intrinsic
Good luck today guys and as always, happy punting!
Friday 4 July 2014
Old Newton Cup To Go To Havana
Good morning/evening to you all, I hope you are all ready for a huge day of racing today including a fiercely competitive Coral Eclipse for which The Fugue is the favourite. Sandown takes the lead out of all the Saturday meetings however Haydock stage the yearly Old Newton Cup with a strong supporting card. Last weekend saw a successful one with our nap, Gregorian winning at a nice price to put us up on the day, but we hope to better that today. Next week also marks the start of the July meeting at Newmarket, but first things first, let's get stuck into today's racing.
As always we have a video preview online for you guys, however we also have a special video in which we discuss the name change of the Stewards Cup at Glorious Goodwood. Joining me for that video are @Adamwebb121 and @Calummadell, the same two join me on the panel for the weekly preview with the addition of @Mytentoryours. We hope you enjoy the videos!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IU2fkaA0NYk - OnTheOtherHoof special, sponsorship in racing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLH0I9FzAO4 - Weekly Preview
Now onto today's selections!
2:05 Sandown - Steps
Roger Varian's Gelding is one that will appreciate the forecast overnight rain, which should ease the going of the Sprint course that is regularly softer than the round course. He was last seen when a tad unlucky in the King's Stand at Royal Ascot when flying home late on after getting himself badly outpaced early in the race. It was very much the same story in the Epsom Dash under top weight when all chance looked to have disappeared when he fell out of the stalls. However he did very well to get himself back in the mix and it was a near miracle that he almost won over a fast five furlongs that wouldn't have suited. The stiff five furlong course at Sandown looks much more to his liking and will take a lot of beating if reproducing his last two efforts here today. (6/1)
3:15 Sandown - Queen Catrine
Unlike Steps, Queen Catrine isn't one that will appreciate the overnight rain, however it was very fast ground today and there doesn't look sufficient rain to do too much damage on the round course. Saying that however, she was third in the Prix Marcel Boussac on softer ground with the ill fated Lesstalk In Paris ahead of her, a repeat of that form should see her go close. We last saw her at Royal Ascot in the Sandringham when not receiving the best of rides from Jamie Spencer, however when asked she made up good late ground and just failed to catch Muteela. With Ryan Moore booked seeming a huge positive with Jamie Spencer riding Toast Of New York at Belmont Park, Queen Catrine is taken to get her head back in front. (9/4)
3:30 Haydock - Havana Cooler
Luca Cumani has won this race three times since 2004 and always seems to aim one here with Franciscan finishing fifth in the race last season. Havana Cooler is trusted with representing the stable this season after a very good reappearance at Royal Ascot behind Arab Spring which was a much stronger contest than today. That was his only run as a four year old so far but his three year old form is looking top class after beating Pether's Moon and Cat O'Mountain and a third in the Melrose. He was ridden with restraint last time and without the clearest of passages found it hard to stamp any kind of mark on the race, but today's stiffer stamina test should benefit him. Havana Cooler to take his final step this afternoon before tackling Group races. (9/2)
5:15 Haydock - Roseburg
We round off the day with Roseburg who has been slowly improving for Luca Cumani and faces a six pound rise for his victory by a short head last time out, which on paper seems harsh. However the first two pulled clear of a good field and he had the race in safe keeping when going clear two furlongs out and wandering around in front close to home. He is value for further than that success and it would be no surprise if he could defy the rise in the handicap. It is also worth noting that Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum who is the owner of Roseburg and the retainer of Andrea Atzeni wanted him here instead of allowing him the ride on Kingston Hill. (13/8)
NAP - Havana Cooler
Nb - Steps
Good luck everyone and as always, happy punting!
As always we have a video preview online for you guys, however we also have a special video in which we discuss the name change of the Stewards Cup at Glorious Goodwood. Joining me for that video are @Adamwebb121 and @Calummadell, the same two join me on the panel for the weekly preview with the addition of @Mytentoryours. We hope you enjoy the videos!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IU2fkaA0NYk - OnTheOtherHoof special, sponsorship in racing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLH0I9FzAO4 - Weekly Preview
Now onto today's selections!
2:05 Sandown - Steps
Roger Varian's Gelding is one that will appreciate the forecast overnight rain, which should ease the going of the Sprint course that is regularly softer than the round course. He was last seen when a tad unlucky in the King's Stand at Royal Ascot when flying home late on after getting himself badly outpaced early in the race. It was very much the same story in the Epsom Dash under top weight when all chance looked to have disappeared when he fell out of the stalls. However he did very well to get himself back in the mix and it was a near miracle that he almost won over a fast five furlongs that wouldn't have suited. The stiff five furlong course at Sandown looks much more to his liking and will take a lot of beating if reproducing his last two efforts here today. (6/1)
3:15 Sandown - Queen Catrine
Unlike Steps, Queen Catrine isn't one that will appreciate the overnight rain, however it was very fast ground today and there doesn't look sufficient rain to do too much damage on the round course. Saying that however, she was third in the Prix Marcel Boussac on softer ground with the ill fated Lesstalk In Paris ahead of her, a repeat of that form should see her go close. We last saw her at Royal Ascot in the Sandringham when not receiving the best of rides from Jamie Spencer, however when asked she made up good late ground and just failed to catch Muteela. With Ryan Moore booked seeming a huge positive with Jamie Spencer riding Toast Of New York at Belmont Park, Queen Catrine is taken to get her head back in front. (9/4)
3:30 Haydock - Havana Cooler
Luca Cumani has won this race three times since 2004 and always seems to aim one here with Franciscan finishing fifth in the race last season. Havana Cooler is trusted with representing the stable this season after a very good reappearance at Royal Ascot behind Arab Spring which was a much stronger contest than today. That was his only run as a four year old so far but his three year old form is looking top class after beating Pether's Moon and Cat O'Mountain and a third in the Melrose. He was ridden with restraint last time and without the clearest of passages found it hard to stamp any kind of mark on the race, but today's stiffer stamina test should benefit him. Havana Cooler to take his final step this afternoon before tackling Group races. (9/2)
5:15 Haydock - Roseburg
We round off the day with Roseburg who has been slowly improving for Luca Cumani and faces a six pound rise for his victory by a short head last time out, which on paper seems harsh. However the first two pulled clear of a good field and he had the race in safe keeping when going clear two furlongs out and wandering around in front close to home. He is value for further than that success and it would be no surprise if he could defy the rise in the handicap. It is also worth noting that Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum who is the owner of Roseburg and the retainer of Andrea Atzeni wanted him here instead of allowing him the ride on Kingston Hill. (13/8)
NAP - Havana Cooler
Nb - Steps
Good luck everyone and as always, happy punting!
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