Good Morning everyone, this time last year we were about to have Frankel blow us away in the Lockinge at Newbury. This time around we don't have as much to be excited about but we have a great race to look forward to with Europe's major stables represented. Cityscape sports the colours of Prince Khalid Abdullah who of course owned the great Frankel, James Doyle takes the ride for Roger Charlton. It is no surprise to see an Aidan O'Brien train the favourite, but to my mind it is hard to see why Declaration Of War is as short as 2/1. Granted he is very talented but whether he is ready for a challenge like this remains to be seen, famous last words eh!
This week I wont be able to watch any racing as it is a long weekend over here in Canada so we have Monday off work for Victoria Day, don't ask me what it is because I don't know. For the weekend my brother is taking me somewhere, where do you ask, I have no idea as he refuses to tell me however it is a nine hour car journey.
Last week we had a fairly good go at it with one winner, however a 12/1 NAP winning is no bad thing at all. Our nb also gave it a good run and was just denied with a late run, 10 more yards and he was in front, but that's racing. One to watch out for next time is Orsippus who I suspect will land a summer hurdle somewhere, he may have got a place were it not for a mistake late on and remains a good prospect.
Onto this week's racing and not a long blog this week as I am up at an early hour to drive down to... Wherever it is I am being taken.
3:05 Bangor - Zama Zama
A tentative vote here for Evan Williams Chase debutant who landed a handicap hurdle at Newton Abbot around this time last year for Nicky Henderson. Personally I am surprised he didn't go chasing earlier in his career as he looks a ready made chaser but is yet to sparkle for his new yard. Adam Wedge takes the ride meaning he can claim three pounds and is a more than capable jockey. The most positive thing going for Zama Zama today is that Evan Williams is notorious for having summer winners. On the hope that going chasing can bring some improvement in Zama Zama today he gets the tentative vote to win today. (No price available, 10.0 on Betfair)
3:30 Newmarket - Dundonnell
Dundonnell looks to have a perfect opportunity to refind the winning thread here at Newmarket for Roger Charlton and Martin Harley. As a two year old he was only narrowly denied by Toronado at Doncaster before a good fourth at the Breeders Cup. He takes the sensible step back to 7 furlongs today after probably not staying a mile fully and also a step down in class. He has to give away 7 pounds to his rivals which will be no easy task but he has 10 pounds in hand on official ratings. Even if there are some improving types with the lightly raced horses here today, Dundonnell should still have the edge and now he is race fit and ready to go. (15/8)
3:50 Newbury - Trumpet Major
This year's Lockinge doesn't look the strongest race but it is a competitive race nonetheless and one to look forward to. For me two stand out, they are Trumpet Major and the globetrotting Cityscape but the former gets the vote after a good Sandown victory in a Group 2. There was a useful field behind him that day and they included the reopposing Chil The Kite and Libranno who gave him 4 pounds that day. He also ran as if he needed the run slightly so should improve a great deal today for the duo of Richard Hannon and Richard Hughes who are flying as of late. In a possibly rather weak Lockinge, Trumpet Major can take it from Cityscape. (14/1) (Reverse forecast Trumpet Major/Cityscape)
5:35 Uttoxeter - Toubeera
Toubeera had an engagement at Aintree yesterday which she avoided in preference to come here and came good last time at Huntingdon. Before she was off the track for almost two years she was a very good prospect, running a good race in a big Sandown bumper before tiring late. After her comeback she has run some very good races, especially translating the form in to a race of this caliber. The strongest of them runs being 13 and three quarter lengths behind Utopie Des Bordes also at Sandown. But last time at Huntingdon she showed her true self when winning very easily over 2 and a half miles, the same trip as today. I fully expect her to once again win with the only danger in my mind coming from Letsby Avenue, but Toubeera is open to more improvement. (SP)
NAP - Toubeera
Nb - Dundonnell
That's all for today guys, my apologies for the length of the blog today but its time to go to bed for me now as I am up in 5 hours!
Happy Punting!
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