Saturday's Meetings Sandown Flat 7 Races 12:20-3:55p.m. Haydock Flat 7 Races 12:35-4:05p.m. Chelmsford A/W 8 Races 1:35-5:25p.m. Leicester Flat 7 Races 1:50-5:10p.m. Beverley Flat 7 Races 2:00-5:20p.m. Naas Flat 7 Races 2:15-5:35p.m. Bellewstown(E) N/H 7 Races 4:45-7:50p.m. Nottingham(E) Flat 7 Races 5:40-8:40p.m. Carlisle(E) Flat 7 Races 6:00-9:00p.m. Racecards At The Races Racing Post Sporting Life Good Luck
Punting over for me now however if there was a half decent 'older' horse running in the Coral Eclipse Stakes at Sandown I would be going 'in' fairly heavily.
Evening, all. I don't often post on Saturdays because the interesting races have all been fully analysed elsewhere and I wouldn't have anything original or helpful to say. But the Old Newton Cup (1.45 Hay) has caught my eye, mainly because of the Roger Charlton factor. I study the great man's entry and jockey-booking patterns carefully (a dull hobby, I grant you, but it can be rewarding), and he's got two in this. Now, a Charlton double-entry is a truly rare event, and worthy of close inspection. The two are Atty Persse (off 99) with Jamie Spencer, and Blakeney Point (105) with the 7-lb claiming Harry Burns. There's been steady money for AP all week, which has brought it in from about 8-1 to around 7-2, but BP is very steady at about 9-1 in a big field. Coupled, that's about 2-1, which is a lot shorter than I'd want in a race like this. The first theory is that BP is in there to act as a front-running spoiler to stop Teodora (Dascombe) getting a soft lead, then Jamie swoops through in the last furlong. BP's high draw (16) rather reinforces that. But....if BP should get clear, he's a pretty high-class animal in his own right - top-weight in this race - and he could well see them all off. Word of caution here: there's a distressing tendency on this forum to regard any apprentice allowance as an unqualified bonus. 7lb is a big allowance, but having watched Burns ride Rock Icon at Epsom on Thursday evening, I'm not convinced of either his positional skills or his judgement of pace. All in all, intriguing but difficult: I'll be backing Jamie to come through and nail the leaders late. On lesser matters, Masar looks a very high-grade galloper, and you'd expect him to win an average-looking Eclipse without too many problems if Buick gets the pace right (which he's good at). Sweden to qualify look much too big at 2-1, but my household will never allow me to have that bet, so I'll just be watching.
Morning After the match can settle down and have these bets tonight 6.00 Carlisle- Geoff Potts @ 7-1 7.40 Nottingham-Mushtaq @ 9-4 8.00 Carlisle-Mesquite @ 3-1 8.30 Carlisle-Equitant @ 9-2 8.40 Nottingham-Danzay @ 6-1 9.00 Carlisle-Mokhles @ 13-2 1pt Win on each Best Odds Guaranteed
My arrows for today. 1.10 Hay God Given 1.45 Hay Atty Persse 2.10 San Saxon Warrior Singles, doubles & treble. Good luck all, lets hope it’s an enjoyable weekend
They have moved the two big meetings forward 90 minutes to avoid the big races clashing with the football. Glad I was not going to Sandown anyway as it would be a way too early start. I expect attendances will be hit at the other three ordinary meetings anyway. I was offered a free ticket for Beverley by a mate of mine who is being dragged there by his missus on a group booking where some have dropped out. I was doubly glad when I read the unfortunate news that Masar has been withdrawn from the Eclipse, leaving Ballydoyle with three of the seven: Cliffs Of Moher simply is not a Group 1 performer and was beaten twice at Royal Ascot; Happily has been placed in three classics but it is hard to see her beating Saxon Warrior unless his exertions a week ago in the Irish Derby dent his ability to reproduce his 2000 Guineas run. He holds Roaring Lion on their meetings at less than twelve furlongs and his Dante win looks very hollow on the subsequent efforts of those behind him. Hawkbill was well beaten at Royal Ascot and he won this race on soft ground. I hope that Forest Ranger runs a big race for Richard Fahey but this is surely too big a step up in class. In the Sandown opener, I opposed James Tate’s HADDAF last time when he won over course and distance but I see no reason why the re-opposing Koditime (who I backed) or Sound And Silence should reverse that form. Puzzled how the second that day Tricksy Spirit is the rank outsider today. I was tipped Dream Of Dreams at Newcastle but it clearly did not like having sand kicked in its face (who would?) and dropping to five furlongs here on quick ground may not suit. Fellow hold-up horse Muthmir is the best horse in the race on ratings but I think the eight year old is susceptible to an improving three year old. In the second race, I am surprised that Roger Varian’s DAIRA PRINCE is not a lot shorter because it does have the profile of an improving horse from that yard, winning a five-runner affair last time despite managing to find traffic trouble. Hopefully, Atzeni can steer a clear path in today’s big field. Atzeni could be on for a double (at least) as he partners David Elsworth’s COSMOPOLITAN QUEEN in the fifth race, dropping back to the course and distance of her win two starts ago but in a much hotter race. The Lancashire Oaks looks like an excellent opportunity for Horseplay to open her 2018 account in what does not look like a strong Group 2 race with her three main rivals all stepping up in class. The Old Newton Cup is generally not a very favourite-friendly race, so I will oppose Atty Persse with TEODORO, Tom Dascombe’s charge clearly on an upward curve with an easy win last time. Of the Johnston quartet, I think Rainbow Rebel could be the danger if allowed a soft lead under Joe Fanning. With lots of small fields, this really looks like being a good day for those who like doing the jollies in multiple bets.
Depending on how you look at things I have either made a horrendous mistake or a stroke of genius! I am normally a 10p each way lucky 15 type of person no more than 10 pounds. For a few weeks I have upped the ante and had10p lucky 63. To day (Feeling slightly under the weather due to Thatcher Gold), I have just placed a 126 pound lucky 63 Dream of dreams Attey peerse Pouviour Mangue Don armardo King Robert Surrey blaze I also like sexy beast in the 12 45. Love fat fingers and a small keyboard Let's hope by the time of kick off I will already have something to cheer about!
Tell him he needs to be far more assertive - women like that. He should be down the pub with his mates watching the match
I haven't been betting much the last couple of months but putting my punting pants back on today due to the nice weather and World Cup fever. 4.00 Naas- Rattling Jewell has hit the cross bar his last two runs and this slight step down in class should suit and he looks the one to beat at 3/1 In the football I'm going to have a decent punt on Croatia 5/4 to beat the Russkies who have been very lucky to get this far in my opinion. Russia will be parking a big ass tank at the back to try to keep Modric and co at bay but I expect Crotia to have a lot more joy than the tippy tappy Spaniards did .In the other game I expect England to come through a scrappy match against the Swedes but happy to watch that one play out without having a wager.
Got offered a ticket for the Eclipse. Saturday racing and an England quarter final? Um no thank you. Anyway, am off to Hyde Park for the Cure which should be a signicantly more sedate affair Good luck all and here's hoping England do the business.
Great race there, shame Masar didnt make it. And some knocking the Racing Post form earlier in the season as well, was the best 2yo race run last season. Not sure how strong the race is with Cliffs Of Moher and Hawkbill being well beaten recently, but at least the two 3yo's have pulled clear of them, it looked quite a high level race to my eye. Roaring Lion will surely go for the Juddmonte now and maybe a match with Study of Man in the Irish Champion. Who knows what they will do with Saxon Warrior, could drop back for the Sussex or stick to a 1m2, he might have won today if he had not run a Derby 7 days ago. Donnacha will be up for an oscar after that performance in the stewards room, had Oisin starting to get worried.
