Its that time again, an appreciation day blog. Last year when I did one of these we had a few winners both times, once with Sue Smith's yard and once with William Buick, lets hope for more of the same today.
Last week we had just the one winner with Al Kazeem who was in truth a bit of a gift at the price considering all known form. He never really looked like losing either with the only worrying moment being when he cut up Mukhadram badly earning James Doyle a ban. He is now taking in a well earned break, but will be back later on in the season and all guns are aimed towards Longchamp for the Arc.
As for yesterday, it was a pretty good success as we managed two winners and an 18/1 double with our NAP and Nb. The afternoon started off averagely as Fig Roll came in fourth after looking for a while like the winner before tiring late on. Then Rosdhu Queen put in a woeful effort at York, one can only assume something was amiss as she was too bad to be true. She received a bump early on from March and then another one a furlong later from Sandreamer, it could come to light she picked up an injury there. But we shall have to wait an see.
Then it was time for Elusive Kate who did her best to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory by hanging across the course and Sky Lantern. It was clear she did the grey no favours but Richard Hughes' mount wasn't closing and always looked held by a determined Buick. Despite the stewards Enquiry the deemed that the interference was not enough to overturn the result and placings were confirmed.
From a slightly anxious winner to a very easy winner in our NAP, Kikonga under a confident Kirsty Milczarek. Throughout the race she was always handy and took up the lead on the turn for home with the minimum of fuss only to quicken again. By the time they passed the 2 furlong marker the race was all but in the bag with Milczarek just pushing away to keep Kikonga going. She went on to score by an easy four lengths and looks on to keep on the right side of. One to take out of the race is Miss Cap Estel who fared best of the hold up horses from a mile back and a troubled run.
Martin is running a contest for four Newmarket races today which entries are now closed but will be running a swoop next week for all tweeters. You can enter when he reveals the races by following him on twitter @Pigeon_Island and by visiting www.pigeonscoop4.wordpress.com or you can follow me on @Lukeyboy1325.
Onto today's racing however and to start Mickael Barzalona appreciation day!
2:05 Newmarket - Muharrib
Mickael Barzalona starts off today aboard Muharrib who ran a very good race on reappearance behind Intrigo and the reopposing Makafeh. He gets a four pounds pull of the weights with Makafeh today, along with race fitness that should put him ahead in theory. Last season he was a very progressive horse, winning nicely at Doncaster and before that finding just Cat O'Mountain too good at Kempton. The latter mentioned has developed into a very nice horse and is a strong selection later on in the afternoon. One incident that may have scuppered his chances somewhat last time occurred in the early part of the home straight. He was knocked to the side by Intrigo causing him to lose a couple of lengths and put him as the back marker. However saying that it did mean he got a clear path up the nearside rail, it just happened at an inconvenient time of the race. Muharrib to get today started with a bang. (7/1)
2:30 Ascot - Aljamaaheer
Aljamaaheer is the class horse of this race by a mile after 2 very solid Group one efforts the last twice, firstly in the Lockinge and secondly in the Queen Anne. The Queen Anne form is working out nicely, the winner has gone on to be second in the Eclipse and Elusive Kate who won yesterday was back in fourth. He wouldn't even have to match that effort of last time to take this, an effort slightly below it would suffice and his price is ludicrous. The only worry one could have about him is that he has only won twice but is always thereabouts, which questions his will to win. That shouldn't really be a problem today, if it is a problem at all as he is head and shoulders above today's rivals. His main rival Afsare comes off the back of a good effort at Sandown over a further trip, so todays distance will suit. But you would be hard pressed to say he is the class of the selection unless finding marked improvement from somewhere. Aljamaaheer is a very strong selection here. (5/2)
2:40 Newmarket - Outstrip
Outstrip will end a hectic 35 minutes for us and hopefully provide Mickael Barzalona with a quick fire double and ourselves with a treble. In my mind, there is nobody better at riding Newmarket than Barzalona, especially the July course, he excels with 2 year olds in particular. Outstrip really impressed me on debut over course and distance when taking on experienced rivals and beating them nicely. He was fairly poorly drawn that day and had to make his challenge down the centre of the track, which for a racecourse debutant is no easy thing. But in a really taking style he swooped to the front under Barzalona to win comfortably by a length and a half, from True Story who has since won well. On that occasion it looked like Outstrip will be much better with that run out of the way as he was a tiny bit green in victory. Outstrip to take the Superlative and prove how good he is. (10/3)
5:35 Newmarket - Cat O'Mountain
After Outstrip we have a long wait till our last runner who is the biggest price of the day and is also today's NAP. You may ask why but there is a simple answer and it would appear that people are jumping on the Hannon and Hughes bandwagon. The first thing to mention has to be the three year old allowance which proved so valuable for Kikonga yesterday, here he carries 8-13 instead of 9-12. After he won last year at Kempton he was given a Derby entry but wasn't seen on a racecourse until June and swerved the Classic. That race possibly has the strongest form in the book of any race this season despite only being a six runner affair. The winner of the race was Maputo who was running over too short of a distance at Ascot but broke the track record here on Thursday. He is the first one from the race considered a Group horse, back in second was Number One London who is the only one to let the form down. In third was Chesterfield who is a horse I really like and also a horse that won next time out at Newbury, he is also considered a Group horse. In fourth was Cat O'Mountain himself with Feel Like Dancing in behind who won the Bahrain Trophy on Thursday. After that run he is now a real live contender for the St Leger and held in very high regard by John Gosden and William Buick. Last up is the rank outsider Mr Fitzroy who was beaten out of sight in the race, even he has managed a second next time out. Cat O'Mountain is also well related as a horse by Street Cry, he is a half brother to seven winners including Michita who won the Ribblesdale and top class Willing Foe. On breeding this trip should see him to his best. It would be a huge shock to me were he to be out of the frame and it will take a very good horse to beat him here. Apologies for the extra long write up but I really fancy this one. (10/1)
NAP - Cat O'Mountain
Nb - Aljamaaheer
A lucky 15 with all the selections today should see a good profit and maximum confidence is behind all of today's selections.
Happy Punting!
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