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Showing posts with label judge n jury. Show all posts
Showing posts with label judge n jury. Show all posts

Friday, 6 July 2012

Sandown Eclipse day

Sorry there was no blog last week but I was busy and had prior engagements, lets just hope that this week we are back with a bang this week. I'm not far away from Sandown and as off 10pm it isn't raining which means the going will be testing but not too bad. I'm off to Sandown today and will be hoping for a good days racing, even though its a huge shame So You Think doesn't and has been retired.

1:30 - Sandown Park -Rocky Reef - Andrew Balding will be hoping for a good start to the day with Bonfire running in the big one later on. This one scored last time out on his step up to this trip at Chepstow on very testing ground. Soft ground would aid his chances no end but it doesn't seem a necessity as he has run well on faster ground. He has to run from two pounds out of the handicap today but it isn't the end of the world and he is an improving horse. If the overnight rain comes then everything will be in his favour but he should go close regardless.

2:05 - Sandown Park - Judge n Jury - A bold front running horse who has been a revelation this year running in much better races going down half a length in a group 3 at the Curragh last time. A powerful jockey booking in Luke Morris today who is really coming into his own this year. The more rain in the ground the better for this lad, but again goes well on quicker ground also. A good draw for these sprints at Sandown as historically lower numbers do prevail and he is out of stall 3 today. Shouldn't be out of the places.

2:40 - Sandown Park - Spa's Dancer - Absolutely loves it here, in five visits to the course he has never been out of the first four recording 2 wins along the way. He is another one that will be doing a rain dance in his stable tonight after hitting a rich vein of form when discovering soft ground. The most eyecatching part of his entry today is the fact that Ed De Giles has booked Tom Queally for the first time which shouldn't go un-noticed. Another bold show expected.

3:10 - Sandown Park - Starscope - Ran a blinder in the Coronation Stakes at the Royal meeting and has been consistent all year without managing to get her head in front. Today should finally be the day she gets out on top and this would appear to be her distance. There doesn't look to be anything of the class she has been running against here today and she really should mop up here. John Gosden's stable is in good form as per always.

3:45 - Sandown Park - Crackerjack King - Probably the unknown quantity here in the sense that he has never ventured to these shores but in other countries he has some really smart form. In Cappanelle he had Sri Putra well beaten and also beat German Derby winner Waldpark that day. The going was much firmer that day but he should handle this ground fine and the booking of Ryan Moore really catches the eye. Everything points towards a big run today and should go close.

4:20 - Sandown Park - Thimaar - An absolute giant of a horse and one who will appreciate getting his toe in the ground. His form from the Sagaro last time is possibly the strongest staying form around from the early season, that day finishing behind Colour Vision and Red Cadeaux who have both gone on to much better things. The switch to turf will help the Gosden horse no end today and this could be the second John Gosden trained winner of the day.

4:55 - Sandown Park - Fortieth And Fifth - Very unlucky when a beaten favourite at Ripon the other week when Hayley Turner admitted wasn't her best ride. He was slow away that day and got no run till late on yet still ran on into a good third. Before that he was an impressive winner at Hamilton and a reproduction of that will see him in front at the line today.

Happy Punting today guys, lets hope for a couple of winners!

Friday, 1 June 2012

Epsom Derby Day

'Was' won the Oaks yesterday for Aidan O'Brien and Seamie Heffernan, but I have no doubt on that if the race was re-run on a flat track she wouldnt have won. That said she did win the oaks and must be respected for it. Vow, The Fugue and Maybe all hated the track and William Buick's mount was luckless in running when caught on heels numerous times. Vow hung down the camber the whole time down the home straight and should be better next time out.

As for the selections yesterday, it was nice to get a good priced double 42/1 in with Side Glance and Highland Knight. Personally for me it was great to see Side Glance winning as it is one I have been following for some time now. Highland Knight ran exactly the race I expected him to and looks one to stick with for the season after being so game in the finish.

Onto today and some strong selections for Derby Day.

1:35 - Epsom - Grandeur - He won at Goodwood last week in very good style going away to win by 2 and a quarter lengths. A slight step up in trip today but that will be no bother at all and the 4/1 price right now seems very overpriced. He has shown a love for fast ground and more importantly a distinct love for undulating tracks, he has won at Goodwood and at Brighton. The latter being one of the most demanding tracks in the world, let alone in England. He has been raised 8 pounds for his win last time out, but that shouldn't be too much of a burden after the style of his last win. One final point is that you must take note whenever William Buick rides for Jeremy Noseda, Mr Buick is in particularly good form as of late also.

2:05 - Epsom - Chilworth Icon - One thing is for sure in this 6 furlong race, that there will be a lot of pace on the cards today. Mick Channon's Colt just gets the vote here in a very hot contest. His one race on the turf resulted in a win, in good style at that. He ran a blinder last time out on the fibresand at Kempton behind Lyric Ace who is expected to rise to the very top level. The selection is also entered into a listed contest at Naas on Monday. The order of the day yesterday seemed to be front runners (except gatewood), in his only win he did it from the front but will need to be better out of the stalls today. Like I say this is a very tight race and Chilworth Icon was only just the selection ahead of liber. Mick Channon's yard are in fine form just now and Martin Harley is on a high after riding his first classic winner aboard Samitar.

2:40 - Epsom - Masked Marvel - He clearly needed the run first time up on very unfavourable ground at Newmarket. This will be more of a stamina test today which will be firmly in the John Gosden trained colts favour after last time it turned into a bit of a dash. Since his victory in the St. Leger last year he has been defeated twice but his entry in the Arc was never a good idea and he finished dead last. Robin Hood will be cutting out the early pace in an attempt to set it up for St. Nicholas Abbey who comes with his troubles. If he has an off day I fully expect the selection to take advantage of that. Just a silly thought that I am willing to be jeered for is the suggestion that Robin Hood could stick around long enough for a place, and it wouldn't be the biggest surprise in the world to see him steal it and win from the front. Worth a speculative 50p each way, most probably a better horse than his rating suggests of 97. (line up to laugh at me)

3:15 - Epsom - Judge 'N Jury - He won for me last time out at York when doing it all from the front and holding off stable mate Secret Witness. He seemed to have a lot in hand over the rest of the field as nothing but the runner up was really closing on him. I have already stressed the importance of a front runner on this course from yesterday's form. He would have a 4 pound penalty to carry but the very talented Darren Edward Egan takes off that penalty and an extra pound. He has ridden this horse twice and is yet to be unplaced aboard him finishing 2nd and 1st. His first run this year was completely against him in a sense that the ground was bottomless and his fitness gave out. He only has one run to his name at this course and he showed a liking for it when finishing 4th (denied third on the line). Should be thereabouts again.

4:00 - Epsom - Cavaleiro - Admittedly a bit of a speculative shout but really the others are only playing for place claims behind Camelot in my opinion. Marcus Tregoning's colt is one of the most experienced in the race but is still the lowest rated in the field as well. Hayley Turner also has her first ride in the Derby and is only the 2nd female rider in the Derby ever. He stayed on pretty well in the Derby trial at Lingfield but Main Sequence and Shantaram had already flown and he was looked after from then on in. He won a competitive race at Newbury in very game fashion at Newbury last year and he will come on a bundle for the run at Lingfield. Putting my neck on the line a bit with this next remark. Bonfire and Main Sequence will not place. A simple reason for the first mentioned in that he is a live wire and the atmosphere will most probably get to him tomorrow. As for the latter, he is unbeaten and has beaten the selection already today, but id have doubts about him handling the course too well.

4:50 - Epsom - Oceanway - A horse that never seems to stop running and is as tough as they come. He has been waiting for the faster ground this year which he finally gets today, one bonus from the fact he has been on unfavourable going is he is now at a winable mark. His last run was off a mark of 93 and today runs off of 91 which puts him right into the mix. Silvestre De Sousa is a notable jockey booking for his ex boss and Oceanway is taken to return to winning ways today.

lets hope to carry on the good form into today with some more winners. Happy Punting