I'd like to start off today's brief intro with a word about The Ashes which started yesterday. For your avid cricket fans, like myself, this is the crème de la crème of cricket, which is the reason I woke up at 2:45am to watch it.
Alistair Cook won the toss but he went for 13 when England had just 27 runs on the board. It was then up to his fellow opening batsman Joe Root and number 3 Jonathan Trott to steady the ship, which they did until Root was bowled by Siddle. That would be the first of 5 wickets for Peter Siddle, completing the other men that fell to him were Trott, who top scored with 48, Pietersen, Bell and Matt Prior. The only real positive from the England innings was that a few players got settled at the crease but disappointingly didn't go on with their score.
Of the Australian bowling attack, it started out poorly with James Pattinson doing his best Steve Harmison impression by bowling a wide first ball. From then on they gathered pace with Pattinson finishing with figures of 3-69 while debutant Ashton Agar bowled economically for no reward, ending with 0-24. Peter Siddle was the pick of the bowlers with 5-50 off his 14 overs and Mitchell Starc contributed 2 wickets for his 54 runs.
At the close of play England had Australia in a spot of bother as they closed on 74-4, with Shane Watson, Chris Rogers and the danger man Michael Clarke all falling. Late selection, Steve Smith, remains at the crease on 38 and looking dangerous, his partner in the morning will be Philip Hughes who himself is on 7. An exciting days play in prospect however.
Now onto the racing and the first day of the July meeting at Newmarket.
1:40 Newmarket - Feel Like Dancing
This race in the past has gone to such horses as Persian Punch, Youmzain, Tranquil Tiger and more recently Masked Marvel. The last two running's have gone to the yard of John Gosden with Masked Marvel and last year with Shantaram, so its clear he sends some good horses to this race. Feel Like Dancing put up a much improved effort last time out when he was second in the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot. Sensibly he takes a step down in trip today to a mile and five furlongs after not really staying the distance over 2 miles. Behind him that day were the reopposing Ray Ward, Boite and Dashing Star, form that should be upheld over this trip. Also on that day was the introduction of cheek pieces for the first time which bought around marked improvement, they stay on today. He has run at Newmarket once before, ending in him only beating one home in a 6 runner race, but that was over a trip too short and in a good race carrying top weight. Preference is for Feel Like Dancing to make it a hat trick in the race for John Gosden. (10/3)
2:10 Newmarket - Figure Of Speech
Godolphin look to have a smart recruit here with Figure Of Speech after winning easily on debut over course and distance, easily dispatching of Whaleweigh Station. His chief rival today looks to be Ballydoyle's Sir John Hawkins, but he looks to need further and is easy to back early on. Mickael Barzalona takes the ride after Adam Kirby rode him for his debut win over this course, Barzalona is a huge positive on this course. Against some of todays rivals he has relatively little experience with just the one outing but as it was over this course and distance, it can be seen as a positive. His sire, Invincible Spirit, has sired some top class horses, most recently with Mayson, Swiss Spirit and over longer trips the top class Hurricane Run. Its clear that class is in his pedigree and this trip is more likely to suit him over some of today's rivals. Figure Of Speech to win for the boys in blue. (9/2)
2:40 Newmarket - Grandeur
Ever since Grandeur won his maiden at Brighton I have been certain he was a group horse, after last year that has been justified as he won two handicaps and a conditions race. His season culminated in a win at Santa Anita and Hollywood Park with a second in between when unlucky in running. The latest victory coming in the Hollywood Cup over todays trip which he saw out well winning easily in the Grade 2. A bit more is needed today on his return to action but should be fit after a racecourse gallop here last week in which he impressed. As William Buick said lately, 'We haven't seen the best of Grandeur yet', a statement I fully agree with and by the end of the year I imagine he'd be contesting top races. Grandeur is taken to find the improvement in a race which he looks overpriced in completely. (9/1)
NAP - Figure Of Speech
Nb - Grandeur
A patent on the three should return a profit but also an each way treble will also be rewarding as the three should all be thereabouts.
Happy Punting!
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