Ascot is on the horizon

A pretty good week by all accounts last week, one winner and 3 other places at nice enough prices. But the poorer quality racing continues this week ahead of Royal Ascot with handicaps looking the order of the day all round. 

As I'm sure everybody knows, Black Caviar is here and is reportedly well ahead of her crack at the Diamond Jubilee. She is around a 2/5 favourite now and it looks as if the value has gone, personally I like Bated Breath each way still available at around 10/1. But onto the racing today.

2:50 Sandown - Sam Sharp - Second the last two times, each by under a length. I was there for his Sandown defeat to todays rival Weapon of Choice, he looked to have his measure but for idling in the final strides. He was probably lacking in the fitness department from the winner as it was his first run since December. Only raised a pound for his last two efforts and coming out just better on the ratings over Weapon of Choice, he can finally get his head in front. Disappointing if out of the places.

3:45 York - Doncaster Rover - Steps up to a mile for the first time today which for me is nothing but a positive. He goes on any ground so getting his toe in here shouldn't phase him in the slightest, neither will the course as he is a winner round here and seems to enjoy it. He usually gets the definition of running on late over 7 furlongs. With that in mind a mile should be right up his street with others in the field looking a touch out of form. The danger could well be Ptolemaic getting heaps of weight from his elders.

4:20 Bath - Selinda - Backing Mick Channon's charge blind right now isn't a bad idea and this one looks to  be his best bet of the day. She ran well on her return to come fourth at Ayr when probably needing the run and will strip much fitter for that experience. She is a winner of two races (both at Yarmouth) on fast ground and todays ground will be fine for her. Matthew Davies takes the ride today and has been riding a few winners for this stable as of late. This could be another one.

5:30 Sandown - Bolivia - At face value this one seems an odd selection, but delve a bit deeper and you will discover her a bit more. She has been out of her depth running in class ones the whole time and if memory serves me right she had an entry at Royal Ascot last year for a long time. Today is a class four and will be much more to her standard. In the bigger races she has been running well behind horses such as Barbican (beaten 12 lengths) and if repeating that form she is sure to go close. Today is the lowest mark she has run off of but also the longest distance she has run over, which is no negative. Could well go close.

8:15 Leicester - Red Inca - Brian Ellison will be praying that the meeting today passes the 7am inspection as Red Inca will love the ground today. He first caught my eye over hurdles at Musselburgh staying on over 2 miles, he won next time out and went on to run a blinder at Sandown in a hot handicap behind Lexi's boy. He was right up there till just after two from home when the stamina gauge emptied. He was well looked after by Felix De Giles that day and has since ran a good 5th at Beverley on ground probably too fast for him. There was a runaway winner that day and the form is better than the numbers say. Should improve this time.

Hopefully this gives us a few pennies for Royal Ascot next week, I'll be back on Tuesday when we will be hoping Frankel can supply us with another mesmerizing performance.

Happy Punting as always 

The Return Of Frankel

Well William Buick appreciation didn't go to plan with Arctic Cosmos getting beat miles out of sight. We did however get one winner with Laugh Out Loud who was 3/1 when I put the blog up, but went off at an SP of 15/8. Daneking almost gave us a nice double but just being outstayed and beaten a neck on the line. If i'm perfectly honest about today, there isn't alot that I fancy in today's racing so it will be a shorter one and also a bit different today.

If you aren't excited about the return of Frankel then you have something wrong with you, but today may be where he is most vulnerable on his return from injury. It's nice to see that he hasn't scared the class acts away with his old friend Excelebration taking him on again but now of course for Ballydoyle. For some reason Sir Henry Cecil still believes Frankel needs a Pacemaker which is why Bullet Train is there even though Ransom Note will probably be more than happy to lead. Excelebration has his own pacemaker in the race and has already left Joseph O'Brien red faced once this year, when leaving it too late on St. Nicholas Abbey. But for me Strong Suit could well be the one to chase home Frankel, he was a much improved horse last year and his Breeders Cup attempt was never going well. Lets hope Frankel can show us another fantastic performance and show us why he is the best horse in the world.

The race before that is a wide open handicap and this spells the return of a horse I have been very keen on seeing this year. He entered my notebook last year at Sandown when 7th behind Martin Chuzzlewit, he was running well when inexperience kicked in, and he threw away a place in the last 50 yards. It wasnt that, that caught my eye though. Before hand in the parade ring is where he caught my eye, his frame was alot bigger than any other horse in the field. He went on to score twice in two races on the turf at Lingfield and then at Goodwood before running into Main Sequence at Newmarket. He was beaten 5 lengths that day and gave the winner heaps of weight, since then Main Sequence has won a Derby trial and is now one of the main protagonists in the betting for the Derby. As long as Poetic Lord is racefit he will take all the beating today and is a fantastic bet at 14/1 (as tonight's prices are).

That really is my only fancy of the day but the only other horse I would consider backing with confidence is Thought Worthy. He gets 5 pounds from Frankel's brother Noble Mission and that should be enough to see him beaten today.

Sorry about the lack of selections today but hopefully Poetic Lord can land us a nice win at 14/1.
Happy Punting as always guys

Ascot and Haydock Handicaps

Its been a great week of racing at Chester, but the highlight of the week for me was Overturn running yet another fantastic race when coming second in the Chester Cup under top weight. Donald McCain had the first two home with Ile De Re passing overturn just under 2 furlongs out under Jim Crowley.

The Jumpers seemed to dominate the week with Donald McCain also training the hurdler Absinthe to win the first race on Thursday in the hands of ex jump jockey Graham Lee. Lee went on to score a double that day with a later winner. But in a hope that all race meetings will be on come Saturday morning we shall crack on with the weekends racing.

Ascot - 2:50
One of the races that will be on today on the straight course and a competitive one with the ground being so testing. MOONE'S MY NAME looks the likely favourite, she is a rapidly improving filly but she has never encountered ground like this. With that being a massive gamble on whether she handles today others are easily preferred. CERTRAL ran well on her reappearance at Nottingham but has done all her winning on fast ground, for that reason she isnt fancied to go one better today. The humourously named FORK HANDLES has the burden of carrying top weight, that will be no easy task today with the ground being this soft. She was considered good enough to contest in the Oaks last year but never really figured. If she is able to build on an encouraging reappearance she will go close today and could be the each way value. MAKING EYES was tried in top Handicaps as a three year old but seemed well short in that class. This is a weaker race today but is still hard enough to fancy. DIVERTING was well ahead of Ian Mongan's mount today the last time out at Newmarket. But like many others in the field she is an unknown on the ground and may just struggle to get competitive today. COCHABAMBA was well out of her depth last time behind Penitent at Sandown. She has already had 4 runs this year and in good company, however three of them were on the all weather. In her early two year old days she had some very smart form and looked a useful prospect. If she returns today that today she will be a big player, but its a big if. SHESASTAR must overcome the longest layoff in the field of 248 days. She went well first time out last year and also landed a valuable Fillies Handicap at York last season. Her stamina will have to be proven over the mile trip and that will be no easy task today. IMAGINARY WORLD didnt get home over the mile at Doncaster on soft ground last time but still until the final furlong was bang in contention so must be considered as must RUSSIAN RAVE who has some good form on softer ground but has to prove stamina over the trip on testing ground today. If she does stay then she could be a major player. A trio of 3 year olds go to post today and powerful stables are represented. CHATTERATI carries the lowest weight in the field and Dominic Fox takes off a further three. But all of Mark Johnston's filly's better form is on the polytrack and not on turf therefore has something to prove today. The other two 3 year olds belong to Richard Hannon with FREE VERSE seeming the first string after winning on Softer ground last year in a nursery. She may just need the run today and the selection is the other Hannon horse. MY QUEENIE had a pipe opener at Kempton where she was running on in third under a pretty tender ride from Richard Hughes. She also ran a credible race in a top two year old contest at Goodwood last year. Her only win has come on quick ground but has run well on more testing ground. She will have to improve to win today and should go close.

Ascot - 3:25
Jim Goldie is going for back to back wins in this race with HAWKEYETHENOO who hasn't been seen since fourth Behind PASTORAL PLAYER last year over Course and Distance. Both would need firmer ground to perform to their best today. MABAIT is dropped a furlong in trip today after a disappointing first run for David Simcock he needs firm ground to win and is opposed today. BONNIE BRAE won a competitive handicap at Doncaster in November but may just need this run, Ryan Moore is a very interesting jockey booking for today. KING OF JAZZ ran a cracker on debut for Michael Bell but goes well on better ground. NASRI has some decent form to his name and some of that on softer ground so cant be dismissed easily today, however his last run was on testing ground and left something to be desired. LIGHTNING CLOUD is an ultra consistent type but needs faster ground and is left alone today. ADVANCED is the other Kevin Ryan runner in the race and is an admirable veteran, if he can put his best foot forward he will go close but has place claims at best. EXCELLENT GUEST will have to overcome a long layoff and a career high mark which means improvement will be needed. WHITE FROST is inexperienced compared to others in this field and enjoys softer ground it would be no surprise to see him go well today. FATHSTA has showed form on soft ground before but would be a surprise winner today, although he has been slipping down the weights as of late. GLOBAL VILLAGE is a confirmed mudlark but must overcome a career high mark, if he can overcome that then he will be right there when it counts. BRAE HILL won the Lincoln last time out but performs best on firmer ground and others are preferred. TARIQ TOO is one out of one for Amy Weaver and loves testing ground. He is the selection today after winning his last two and being a fast improving horse. Id be surprised if he isnt at least placed.

Haydock - 3:50
It's a shame that winner of the last two years isn't in it as Eradicate seems to come into his own in this race each year. Nicky Henderson is still very strong handed in this race with 3 fancied horses. LIFESTYLE looks to be the most fancied one off top weight but after seeing her in the flesh, id have my doubts that she can carry top weight in a handicap like this as she is very small framed. PETIT ROBIN has struggled since coming back from injury and is best watched right now. The last of the Henderson trio is ALL THE ACES who disappointed when i fancied him last time at Aintree. He will appreciate the softer ground today though. SAPHIR RIVER has form on soft ground in France and improved at Aintree from his fall at Cheltenham. He has to be in with a chance today. ARAB LEAGUE is in good form with himself and seems to improve on soft ground, Frances Hayes gets on very well with him and it would be no surprise were he good enough to win today. IFYOULETMEFINISH was outpaced the whole time in the County Hurdle, the softer ground will ensure he has enough pace today and id fancy he will get on with soft ground. DOUBLE ROSS was beaten two and a half lengths by Cinders and Ashes on bottomless ground over course and distance. He could go well off a low weight today. PAINTBALL won the Imperial Cup really well then disappointed at Aintree when fancied to follow up. He is best watched right now as it remains a thought that his win at Sandown is a flash in the pan. Darryl Jacob is a positive jockey booking. DREAM ESTEEM is improving this year and loves softer ground, both of David Pipe's should go well today. CHARM SCHOOL is a tough horse but may come up short today. SECRET EDGE stays further but has had some tough races as of late and they may catch up with him today. Real place claims though. UBI ACE has disappointed on two runs since switching to Jonjo O'Neill but on his day is very talented, a return to his best will put him right there at the end. The selection today is DREAMBROOK LADY who travelled well into the race last time at Cheltenham behind Une Artiste on softer ground but was hampered before the turn for home and could never quicken afterwards. She looks very well handicapped today and Nick Scholfield prefers her to the other Jeremy Scott runner.

Nap - Dreambrook Lady
NB - My Queenie
But id just like to say that there really isnt much between the three selections and i fancy all three fairly strongly.

As always Happy Punting. I usually try and put up some ante post selections on my twitter account, if you dont follow me but would like to its @lukeyboy1325

Have a Good day