Friday's Meetings Epsom Downs Flat 7 Races 2:00-5:50p.m. The Oaks Off @ 4:30p.m. Market Rasen N/H 7 Races 1:40-5:20p.m. Catterick Flat 8 Races 1:50-6:05p.m. Tramore(E) N/H 7 Races 5:40-8:45p.m. Bath(E) Flat 7 Races 5:45-8:50p.m. Doncaster(E) Flat 6 Races 6:00-8:30p.m. Goodwood(E) Flat 6 Races 6:10-8:40p.m. Racecards At The Races Racing Post Bloodstock Sporting Life Good Luck
I'm happy enough to have a bit on Daddys Lil Darling also. Very solid form in group 1 company in America, obviously a whole different setup here, but I like the cut of this trainers jib and confidence - It's also a big positive that he has an undulating grass gallops at home. Definitely worth a small punt at 40/1 as it's another open race
3.10 Epsom- HAWKBILL- 10/1 EW A huge price imo didn't seem to me to be crying out for a mile and half but absolutely took to it! Is a horse they have always thought highly of! Can't have Highland Reel haven't gone round Epsom and after his performance in Dubai and the same happened last year was saved for the king George and got beat. Found got beat in this last year too and the fact Obrien has chucked a few horses at this race where as usually he chucks a SNA and a pacemaker, he's not obviously that confident! Journey doesn't have a good record first time out which leaves Hawkbill a genuine group one performer and if it does rain as forecasted I will be going in again!!
Whilst O'Brien will likely take the top prize home again with him in the Epsom Oaks, I am going to have an each way bet on Natavia @ 14/1 in Abdullah 2nd string colours for Roger Charlton. I think her win lto was really good form and it put her right up there with the best of the season rating wise in my book and on that form she is entitled to go close here. Isabel De Urina was one which caught the eye previously too, she's a big price at 33's, the step up in trip should see more improvement, but perhaps that will be just shy of what is required. Fancy her strongly to overturn the Horseplay form from their last meeting and she's double the price almost. She could fill the minor placings but very unlikely to win.
3.45 EPSOM- WHAT ABOUT CARLO- 14/1 Had a go over hurdles and unfortunately that failed quite miserably so back to the flat but You have to back this horse at Epsom! The horse is a really a course specialist! The stable always seem to targEt this meeting for him and Ran 3rd in this race off this mark last year. Has had the benefit of a run on the all weather to prime him up for this race and with a bit rain forecasted that will be right up his street and 14/1 imo is a cracking ew price in which I can't see him out the top 3!
Not So Sleepy 3.45 Epsom 20/1 4 places with pp and skybet He won the Dee Stakes in 2015 and has been stuck in pattern races since. He finally got into a handicap in October where he was two lenghts behind What About Carlo. He is 7lbs better of with him now. He finished a lenght behind Innocent Touch and Final and a lenght ahead of Speedy Company at York and is a pound better off with all of them here. This is a tricky handicap but I feel this one will win one of these this year. He may want a bit of ease in the ground.
Horseplay for me in the oaks. I was really taken by this filly at Newmarket and she is on the upgrade for a trainer that does well at Epsom Cheers.
Me too, i took the 33s when Boris put it up before its last run. Win only though, i haven't played each way
2 35 Epsom - Calvado's Spirit 20/1 3 10 Epsom - Hawkbill 10/1 3 45 Epsom - What About Carlo 12/1 4 30 Epsom Daddy's Little Darling 40/1 e/w lucky 15
In the first at Bath tonight - Imphal A Nathaniel out of a Rainbow Quest mare who was poor over 7f in maidens last year. However you look at that breeding and it shouts two things, stamina and can he jump a twig. Today he gets a trip, and with the yard having a winner yesterday at Wolverhampton, he looks a fair bet.
Top class day of action at Epsom today - good to see the Coronation Cup back on Oaks day. Spring Offensive in the 2.35 I would add to the bets already put up. I'm still also a little tempted by a Ryan Moore treble (de Bruyne horse, highland reel & Rhododendrum)
Morning, morning. Rare visit from me today due to the raising of the firewall (I’ll pretend I know what that means and the specifics involved!). I see the forum has been mega exciting this past week, yawn, yawn – ‘In the next I fancy…’, ‘my new beau the workrider has told me…’, etc, etc. As someone once said people – more research required. I think, these days, it’s a bit last decade, dull and passé to list horses that you actually fancy or think will win. What I will say though is that I see in the concluding contests on Epsom Downs we have 2 ‘James Bond villians’ running – old boy Mr Scaramanga (5.15) and Dr Julius No (5.50). Now there is a double that if the Racing Gods are smiling will come off – and its currently paying over 700/1! Although re Mr Scaramanga that particular Bond episode has to be one of the campest things I’ve ever seen – almost on a par with the ‘Carry On’s’ and that Boxing thread on here! Being serious for a minute though you might want to put in your notebook the Alan King 3YO filly PERCIPO. She makes her debut at Goodwood this evening (8.40) and could be one for juvenile hurdles later in the campaign. The dam was a multiple winner on the level at distances up to 17 furlongs and Percipo is seen as a very interesting, and potentially useful, one for hurdles from late Autumn onwards. Today will be all about ‘education, education, education’, as old boy Tony Blair used to say, so a watching brief only is advised today. Good luck me old loves.
The O'Brien filly obviously is a very worthy Oaks favourite and will take all the beating in this. The only thing beats her is if she's given a ride as bad as she got in the Guineas and I also recall Ryan Moore had MINDING to thank for getting him out of bother in last year's race. On the assumption he's learned from his Guineas shocker and there's no dirty blocking in tactics she should stay the trip and win easily. The Guineas winner franked the English form at the Curragh in no uncertain terms, both look well above above 3 year olds. Skybet are offering 5/1 that RHODODENDRON wins by 2l or more, I think that's a fair bit overpriced and worth a bet.
There seems to be a few horses with names ending in or incorporating the letters "ron" According to Timeform ratings (see my post in the Derby Oaks thread for all ratings) she should win easily. 5lb clear on ratings, with a "p" and "has more improvement in her now upped in trip."
