Good morning/evening to you all, I hope we have recovered from the excitement of last week and are ready for another good weekend of racing. We had a successful day last weekend when both Muthmir and Marmalady won before Kings Fete disappointed and Bronze Angel was narrowly denied. We hope to carry forward that form into this week but it looks a bit harder this time around, nonetheless we shall give it a go!
As always we have a video preview prepared for tomorrow's racing as we cover all of Channel 4's action which comes from Newbury and Ayr. Joining me on the panel this week are @Adamwebb121 and @Calummadell. If you would like to tweet your questions or fancies into the show then you can tweet our new twitter page on @OnTheOtherHoof, while you are there why not give us a follow? Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ch81C3ZqW_g&feature=youtu.be - Live at 8pm
Now onto the all important selections!
2:55 Newbury - First Flight
We start today off with an 18 runner handicap, so you could say that we are starting off slowly and easing into the harder races... Ahem. First Flight is the selection however and if you are a regular reader of this blog then you will know that I am a big fan of his since a taking debut as a two year old.
He had been a bit unlucky in the early part of this year as he encountered bottomless conditions on his first two outings, but to his credit he still ran well enough on both occasions. Finally he got some faster ground at Royal Ascot but along with that he also got the worst draw possible and was readily outpaced over a mile, despite all that he stayed on for a promising ninth in the Britannia. He then stepped up in trip at Newmarket to today's distance where he duly obliged after being strongly backed into favouritism.
Since then he has been beaten at Goodwood which was a run that baffled me as everything seemed to be in his favour once more, albeit over a furlong less. To the naked eye he looked a non stayer that day which clearly isn't true after his Newmarket win, but he stopped alarmingly inside the final furlong. It could just be that there was an underlying problem that afternoon and it has clearly been corrected after a 27 day break. With the ground seemingly no problem this afternoon and a key three year old allowance, we will side with First Flight to get us off to a flyer with his second victory of the season. (14/1)
3:30 Newbury - Mecca's Angel
This seasons breakthrough sprinter has undoubtedly been the three year old Mecca's Angel after winning a handicap off a mark of 95 just three runs ago. She has shown great improvement since that day and in her two runs since has won a Conditions race and the Listed Scarborough Stakes at Doncaster.
This is another step up in class but on her latest performance in Listed company she could be too good for these once more. There was a worry about the ground being too fast that day which she proved wrong, but after sufficient rain at Newbury yesterday she will adore the ground. Despite her last run only being in Listed race, it was about as good a Listed race as you will find with the likes or Reckless Abandon and Steps chasing home her shadow.
Paul Mulrennan would usually be in the saddle, but as he switches to Moviesta the ride is taken today by Paul Hanagan, which is no negative. There were rumours that Meccas Angel will go to the Abbaye in France, and it could just be that they are using today as a stepping stone to keep her fit, however it is just as likely that this will be her last run this season. I would be disappointed if Meccas Angel were to be beaten today and she can earn her wings today (which completes today's blog title). (9/4)
5:25 Newmarket - Kikonga
The in form Luca Cumani has an interesting one here in Kikonga who runs in the same colours as Silk Sari who won a Group 2 for connections last week. The yard remains in good form on the whole with a double at Yarmouth on Thursday and they bring three horses to Newmarket today.
Kikonga has found life a bit tough lately due to her own success early on in her career but she has shown signs of a resurgence recently. Her handicap mark has slowly been dropping through a couple of poor runs and despite only finishing seventh last time, showed that the fire still burns. To make life easier she is partnered by Louis Steward who takes off a valuable five pounds and puts her level to her last winning mark and should be going close today. (10/1)
8:20 Wolverhampton - Halation
A rare visit to Wolverhampton now but first I have to commend them on their new Tapeta surface which has looked fantastic in the early days. Saying that, it did need it as the old surface was getting borderline dangerous, but now that it has been resolved I can see many more trainers supporting the course.
David Simcock is one of those trainers supporting them, however it will be impossible for him to match his success last week after Sheikhzayedroad and Trade Storm both won Grade One's at Woodbine. Halation can help keep the winners coming though after making good progress for Marco Botti before being purchased by Qatar Racing and sent to Trillium Place. He made a brilliant debut for the yard as he made a competitive field look ordinary at Sandown including Master The World who overturned the form at York. The race could not have been run to suit Halation less as they didn't particularly go a strong pace and he needs a break neck gallop from the outset.
He also steps up in trip to nine and a half furlongs for the first time which should suit him with a couple of pace angles in the race. Halation is also the second selection of the day that benefits from the five pound allowance that three year olds are allowed in these handicaps, although the majority of them are three year olds. We side with Halation to get the day rounded off in style for David Simcock and Jamie Spencer. (6/1)
NAP - Meccas Angel
Nb - First Flight
Good luck guys and as always, happy punting!
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