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 

My Attheraces Tracker Horses

I hope everyone had a fantastic time during Cheltenham Festival week, everything seems so slow the week after the Festival (almost like between Christmas and New Years). But hey we shall just have to look forward to Aintree now. Today i have decided to release the horses i have in my ATR tracker. For those of you who dont know what that is, you can have up to 50 horses in your tracker that you want to be alerted about its next run. The night before the race they send you an email with details of the horse and race so you will never miss a winner again. Here is the link, just so you know im not being asked to promote this i am doing so of my own accord as its just such a fantastic idea!

http://www.attheraces.com/tracker/myatrtracker.aspx

Ashdown Lad - This horse entered my tracker when he was 2nd to a 1/7 favourite at Lingfield by only half a length under hands and heels. That was only his second run and has since gone on to finish third at Kempton, but he didnt get the run of the race that day and i'd imagine that Lingfield will suit him much better. Definitely a winner in waiting.

Bally Gunner - I only put this one in my tracker yesterday when running at Exeter in a 2m1f Handicap hurdle. This was his first time in Handicap company but was staying on like a train and was screaming out for 2 and a half miles. The winner KATCHMORE also looks a very nice prospect from the race. But Bally Gunner will be winning before long.

Be My Light - If you read my blog a couple of weeks back you would have seen this one as the NAP of the day at a glamorous price, that day he was bang there before getting outpaced turning for home and looking well held back in the field. Up until then it looked a very ordinary run, However between the second last and last hurdle the penny seemed to drop and he stayed on in very taking fashion to land 5th place. A step up to 3 miles will be very welcome for him, should also be a very decent price.

Burke's Rock - This one has already won since being in my tracker on a Saturday meeting at Lingfield. But she entered the books for his debut run under Hayley Turner. She got absolutely murdered on the turn for home and lost all chance of a win, but Hayley rode him hands and heels to the line and she picked up to get third again. Even after winning her maiden there still looks more to come from her and she is definitely one to keep on the right side of.

Captain Sunshine - He has also won since being in the tracker, albeit at 4/9 in a weak race. But he entered my tracker due to his defeat by Balder Succes at Ascot when he was staying on very nicely over two miles, he won last time at Kempton over 2 and a half but will be contesting much hotter contests than that.

Red Inca - He was beaten soundly at Fakenham last friday but looks as if he would relish a step up in trip. Entered the books when staying on takingly to land 4th at Musselburgh 3 runs ago. He then won at Ludlow at 9/2 nicely, but as i say he was soundly beaten last time out.

Workbench - A Paul Nicholls horse that has only ran twice, the first time out was in a bumper over only an extended 1m4f. After that Ruby tweeted saying that he will be winning over 2 miles. He was stepped up to 2 miles at Chepstow last time out but seemed to get stuck in the mud under Harry Derham and was beaten comprehensively. Definitely one to consider on better ground.

I hope i can find you some winners through them lot, also a heads up, i have a very strong fancy tomorrow at carlisle so come back for a read.
Happy Punting guys