6.40 Kempton Mitie Mouse 9/2 I like the look of Mike Murphy's relatively unexposed 3 year old who I'm hoping he can repeat the exploits of his debut over C+D by landing this event. Murphy's colt made his debut as a 2 year old at Kempton in June of last year when running out a neck victor when beating odds on favourite Excavator by a neck. After running a bit free in the early stages of the race, Mitie Mouse came alongside the front running favourite coming into the home straight and put in a game performance to land the Class 6 event. The form of this race is pretty decent, with the 3rd Lupo Doro, who had the benefit of a run prior to this race, finishing 2nd 5 times and 3rd twice in his 7 handicap starts between marks of 71 to 78. After this Mitie Mouse was switched to the turf where he ran at Royal Ascot in the Windsor Stakes. Although last of the field, it demonstrated to me that connections believe he has a bit of ability about him. On his 3rd start and handicap debut off a mark of 74 in July, Mitie Mouse ran an excellent race to finish a head 2nd in a Class 3 handicap as he was denied on the line by Guru Girl. It was a a good effort and demonstrated that his debut effort was no flash in the pan. The form of that race has worked out pretty well with the winner Guru Girl finishing a 0.25L beaten 2nd on her next start off a 5lb higher mark. Furthermore, the 3rd Kool Henry ran a very promising 4th in a Listed race subsequently and the 6th See Clearly won off the same mark on her next start. On his final 2 starts, Mitie Mouse was pretty disappointing finishing well beaten in Class 4 and Class 2 events although I think something may have been wrong with the horse as on his 2nd last start jockey Neil Callan can be seen looking down and restraining his mount soon after. Tomorrow Mitie Mouse makes his seasonal reappearance having been off the track since September and given he won on debut I have absolutely no concerns that he will need the run to be seen at best effect. Now a 3 year old, I'm hoping Murphy will have been able to strengthen him up over the winter period. He returns to the scene of his only success off a mark of 75 in a Class 5 event and given his 2nd off only a 1lb lower mark in a higher grade I'll be pretty surprised if he's not good enough to defy this mark in his career, given he has been campaigned in Listed, Class 2 and Class 3 events in his brief career. Furthermore, as most of trainer Mike Murphy's runners are campaigned on the AW I think its significant he has kept Mitie Mouse for the turf season which I am sure he will be campaigned over after this event. The talented Jim Crowley takes the ride for the first time and although he's 0-8 for Muprhy, this will be his first time riding for the trainer since 2010 so I think its an eye catching booking. With Murphy in great form at the moment, I am pretty confident Mitie Mouse can repeat the exploits of his debut and maintain his 100% strike rate on the AW. Got to have saver on that Macdonald Mor yoke now at 8s as like Nass has pointed out he could be absolutely thrown in off 74.
6.10 Lady Mandy Bred to appreciate this step up in trip and on her juvenile season she looks in need of this trip. She is very lightly raced and interestingly handicapped on sprint maiden form. She runs for the brilliant Fahey yard for the powerful Koukash and with Hanagan in the saddle. 48 is a lenient mark for her second season, now up in trip. 4/1 6.40 Macdonald Mor A horse who steps down drastically in trip, and that interests me on his first run for one of my favourite yards, the shrewd yard of Mssr Wigham. He is bred to be a sprinter and his strongest form came in a six furlong maiden at Goodwood, where he showed really good speed before being outstayed by the very useful Trumpet Major. He now goes handicapping off a lenient mark and this gelding can start his stay with Wigham with a win. 8/1.
7.25 Leopardstown Regal Tramp FC 5/1 After putting her up on Friday at Dundalk when gaining her elusive first victory at the 17th time of asking, I'm confident Regal Tramp can make it 2 on the bounce now returned to turf. On her last start, Vincent Ward's 4 year old landed a pretty poor contest on the AW at Dundalk in impressive fashion to win by 1.5L over 12f. After breaking from a wide stall extremely well, Regal Tramp raced a bit closer to the pace than I envisaged but was given a lovely ride by Fran Berry to win. She travelled into the race beautifully and I don't think she was ever fully extended to win. It was just the sort of performance I was hoping to see and I'm convinced theres more to come. She's been raised only 5lb to a mark of 70 and I think the handicapper has been pretty lenient. Prior to this, Regal Tramp put in a number of good performances off higher handicap marks, including a 0.5L defeat at the Galway Festival off a mark of 73 over trip as well as consecutive 2nds (although both 5L defeats) off marks of 75. It certainly demonstrates her ability to act on the turf and I have no doubt that she's better on this surface. Furthermore, her best effort on turf at Galway was her 3rd run in 8 days which is extremely encouraging as there are no doubts about her ability to perform when turned out again quickly. I'm very happy to see Fran Berry retained for the ride as he appears to be Ward's jockey of choice as he was the regular partner to the trainers Listed winner Fictional Account. Although stepped up in grade from a 47-65 handicap to a 55-80 handicap, my own personal opinion of her abilities coupled with her narrow defeat at Galway in the same company lead me to believe she'll have no problem with the tougher competition. She's stepped up to 14f which I think is her ideal trip and she shaped as if the extra distance would bring about improvement on her last start. It is also very important to note that on the back of her victory Vincent Ward said his horses have been coughing for the past 8 weeks so I think theres a definite possibility she will be fitter again on the back of her last run. Although I'm not as bullish as I was the last day, I am very confident that she can make it two wins from two tomorrow and I certainly think she is up to winning off her current mark of 70.
PARQUE ATLANTICO 8.40 Kempton 9-1 already in from 12-1. Shown little in three starts and subsequently has an official rating of 45. 1lb out of the handicap but the application of a visor is significant for me ont his handicap debut. I will be surprised if he doesnt improve markedly on what he has shown so far. Agree with NASS' verdict on MacDonald Mor also. Has been running over the wrong trip and back sprinting he could be absolutely thrown in. Has shown up well in all starts over sprint distances. Mum won the L'Abbaye and Wigham may have picked up a real steal with this one. The only question is will the money come for him.
Seems to be quite a few pretty decent gambles going on tonight! Some interesting selections already on here. Have got the Wigham horses on my GG so was delighted to find one that fits the bill as highlighted by Nass. Worth taking a chance tonight at the price I think as if the gamble is on price will collapse instantly.
8.10 Kempton Ducal 5/1 Another horse I put up LTO and I'm hoping this will be the last leg of a very successful day of punting which will hopefully round of a nice treble and a double for trainer Mike Murphy. Ducal is an unexposed 4 year old who has made a bright start to his career for trainer Mike Murphy after previously being with Sir Mark Prescott. After winning once from 6 starts as 3 year old for Prescott, Ducal was very well backed on his debut for his current yard back in December over 7f to be sent off favourite. He had to travel very wide that day and the trainer said afterwards that as a result he ran out of gas. He was beaten by 2.25Land the form of that race has worked out nicely with the winner getting narrowly beaten twice off 4lb and 7lb higher marks and the 3rd Lastkingofscotland has won since off a 4lb higher mark. On his last start off a mark of 75, Ducal landed his 2nd career success over C+D on the 1st of March to run out a 0.5L winner on the back of a 4month break. Under the handling of tomorrow's jockey John Fahy, Ducal was dropped out the back before being given a very, very confident ride to get up close home after travelling into the race very well. To my eyes, Ducal had a lot left in the tank that day and his 5lb rise to a mark of 80 looks pretty lenient in my eyes. Tomorrow, Ducal is stepped up into Class 4 company for the first time and I am 100% convinced that he will be able to defy this mark in the near future. The only concern I have in relation to tomorrow's contest is that the race is full of unexposed types, most notably the favourite Haamaat, so there is a chance he could run into an even better handicapped horse tomorrow. That said, I feel Ducal is well handicapped himself and I will be surprised if he doesn't at least fill the frame. I'm very happy with his draw in Stall 4 as it will ensure he shouldn't have the issue of travelling wide which cost him two starts back. I think it also very worth noting that Murphy said after his win that "this was his first run after a break but he was sharp enough to win" which indicates to me he should be fitter. Having never being beaten by more than 2.25L in his 6 starts in a handicap and with only 9 career starts to date, I am confident that Ducal can defy his 5lb rise and make it 2 wins in a row as a 4 year old.
Dont worry Stick, patience! A clever ploy given its not the exact usual Wigham tactics, but will get hammered at some point!!
Also I read this morning that My Way De Solzen won a p2p the other day with a 17 year old lad on board, must have been a great thrill for him to ride what is such a good horse.
Morning chaps... Another glorious day. How long can this heat wave stay with us... Global Warming eh...!!! I see that the forum has already put a few up for consideration, many thanks ... So i will put some up to avoid then... Back in a bit...
Hello lads. Wish it would rain as Phil Collins once crooned.Getting bored of this good weather and the widespread outbreak of bonhomie. Nothing takes my eye today,although I might take the lazy option and stick some of the selections already posted in a combination of sorts.Haven't done one of those for yonks. Decent card at L'town tonight and some beautifully bred fillies line up for the first,none more so than Along.Her half sister was turned over in this race last year at evens after being gioven a shocker by SH.Rdiing arrangements at B'doyle this year don't seem to help the punter much...again. The first two races both feature three AO'B runners with the usual suspects up top in no discernible pecking order.
Macdonald Mor - 6.40 Kempton - 14/1 Young Mags - 2.50 Ludlow - 10/11 Right Option - 4.20 Ludlow - 4/1 Enfant Terrible - 5.20 Ludlow - 6/1 Tin Pot Man - 2.10 Taunton - 5/2 Caravel - 4.10 Taunton - 3/1 Lucky 63 for interest in a boring day at work!!
Ladbrokes and Betvictor go 11/8 as of 12.30. I put this one up on yesterday's thread at 10s and got on first thing this morning at 5s . 2s in places if you shop around and I still think there's a little bit value in that.
Afternoon All, a few to avoid from me today Ludlow 2.20 Ponte Di Rosa Ludlow 3.50 Tyup Pompey Lingfield 4.00 Copper Canyon Leop 5.55 Fairy Wing Kempton7.40 Dynastic Taunton 4.10 Aine's Delight
Some gamble that GG - I'll be looking for the result later with great interest. Best of luck with it.
Afternoon all. What a good card at Leopardstown tonight. GLOR NA MARA upped to 1m2f tonight. Looks as if he may need the extra distance these days. Ran a real good race over 6f on Sunday mind. Anyways he is my fun selection for today. Good luck all.
Seems to be a bit of a favs day today, or 4 runner races where all 4 have a chance... Anyway no bets but... Ludlow... 2.20 - Arguam, 5/2 2.50 - Young Mags, 10/11 3.20 - Ajzal, 2/1 3.50 - Tyup Pompey, 3/1 4.20 - Changing The Gaurd, 7/2 5.20 - Court Mnstrel, 2/5 Taunton... 2.10 - Tin Pot Man, 13/8 2.40 - Arab League, 1/6 3.10 - Douryna,13/8 3.40 - Woodlark Island, 11/10 4.10 - Caravel, 5/2 4.40 - Thunder Child, 5/4 5.10 - The Wee Lass, 9/2 Ling... 2.30 - Cryptic Choice, 7/2 3.00 - Catalyze, 13/8 3.30 - Dorothys Dancing, 7/2 4.00 - Kiss A Prince, 7/1 4.30 - Red Senor, 6/4 5.00 - Estonia, 3/1 5.30 - Spin Again, 6/4 Cheers and good luck if you play...
