Think M Johnston can have another winner with LANDAMAN 15/8 Goodwood 5.40, turned out quickly after his win here the other day he can take the closing contest.
I wouldn't be surprised if one of them was Scott Dixon trained. Though I see Lutine Bell is running. I think he follows that one.
Morning all! Four for me today Victories De Lyphar 3.55 Goodwood Mister Benedictine 3.00 Galway Mister Matt 3.45 Newt Abb Mont Ras 3.35 Thirsk All e/w but Mont Ras 4s from 10s already so may have missed the boat! Got family going to Donny today so any for there much appreciated! Good luck all
5.35 Galway Kick Start 16/1 NAP Vincent Ward's 7 year old is probably the most interesting runner at the festival in my eyes and I think he's going to run a huge race at a big price. Kick Start has only been seen once to date in his career so far and that came back in the festival in a similar event back in 2010. That day he opened at 33/1 in the morning and was very well backed all day. He opened at 12/1 in the ring before support continued as he was sent off at an SP of 7/1. At the time he was owned by the trainer so it was clearly money from the yard. In relation to the race, he was going as good as anything with 4f to go before he unfortunately slipped up and crashed through the rail in what was a visually horrendous incident. Although the horse was on his feet nearly straight away afterwards, he's clearly had his issues as he hasn't been seen since then. I think its very, very interesting that he returns to the festival and it seems as if this has been a target for quite a while. Although his fitness is a concern, he was thought to be fit enough on debut and he certainly shaped that way so I am not really concerned about this. Another very interesting aspect is that he has recently been purchased by MCR Bloodstock and run in their colours. MCR Bloodstock are certainly not a small operation with some notable purchases including Mehdi for 320,000 Guineas and I think its very interesting that they have recently acquired him. Further to this, Kick Start will only be the 3rd horse to carry their colours (trainers other runner Circus Act will be the 2nd in the race before) with the first horse being Willie Mullins Blue Bullet who won on debut over 5f and contested a Listed contest on 2nd start so this leads me to believe they don't want poor horses wearing their colours. Declan Lavery takes the ride today and is a very positive jockey booking as he will be making his first appearance for the Vincent Ward yard. Given that Ward's licence only allows him to train 4 horses at once I think its very significant that he has held onto this fella. I think he's been laid out for the festival and although the ground is an obvious concern I'm very confident about a big showing. 5.00 Galway Circus Act 40/1 Circus Act is another horse who I find very interesting from the Vincent Ward stable. This 4 year old gelding was formerly with Mahmood Al Zarooni and Godolphin and after not achieving the heights needed for their high class operation in 4 runs. I think it is interesting that they kept him for his handicap debut and although pretty disappointing overall I certainly think he has some ability. On his 2nd career start over 10f he shaped as if a step up in trip would definitely suit even though he was well beaten that day. He made his handicap debut for Godolphin off a mark of 70 when a well beaten 6th before being sold to Douglas Taylor and moved over to Ireland to Vincent Ward. For Ward to date, he has had 6 runs - 3 over hurdles and 3 on the flat and after analysing all the runs he seems to have been given extremely tender handling in all cases. His 3 runs over hurdles saw him never put into contention as he was allowed to come home at his own pace on each occasion and its clear that these 3 runs that occurred over a 21 day period in March were to get him a decent handicap mark. He was entered into a few hurdles races at the festival but he didn't get into any. In relation to his flat runs, he was campaigned at Dundalk over 7/8f with his last start coming over 7f at Gowran Park in May. Again, in each occasion he was dropped out the back over a trip that was clearly too short and was tenderly handled on all 3 occasions. Resultantly, he's plummeted down the weights very quickly from a mark of 67 to 51 and given he is a Darley bred former Godolphin horse its very hard to envisage that he couldn't be competitive off this basement mark. Circus Act's owner is now listed as MCR Bloodstock, the same as Kick Start, but after some investigation it appears that Douglas Taylor is the managing director of the company and the colours appear the same so it may simply be him maintaining ownership under a different name. Nevertheless, Douglas Taylor is a very interesting character as back in 2010 he landed a major punt on one of his horses called D Four Dave and reportedly picked up over â¬200,000 from the coup. I find this very interesting given that Circus Act appeared to be handled very tenderly in all his starts for his new yard. In relation to todays race, he's upped substantially to 2m for the first time and although its doubtful he'll stay this far he shaped as if a step up in trip would suit in the past. Ground is another concern but he made his racecourse debut on heavy ground so it at least suggests Al Zarooni thought he'd handle it. Talented claimer Conor Hoban takes the ride and takes a valuable 5lb off his back meaning he effectively is racing off a mark of 46. Including his claim, Circus Act has a racing weight of just 8-4 which I feel is rather useful in these long distance races in poor conditions. A very interesting contender, it looks as if he was laid out for a tilt at both codes at the festival and he definitely looks worth a bet at a massive price. Hopefully this represents the first leg of a very big priced double for connections.
That does look a shade optimistic. 9/2 Corals and best priced 6/1. And only 4.5 on the Exchange. Maybe it's a mistype.
I like vicor de lypher today. Despite the trainer not having the best of seasons. I founs his last run encouraging and given he has form over at the course I am willing to take chance in the 3.35 Also like Frog hollow in the 2.20 newmarket and Motivado in 2.40 at Goodwood. Best of luck!!!
Changed my mind. I think Victoire De Lyphar could be a plot dropped way down in weight and an improvement LTO. Still do like Seal Rock and also Borderlescott is interesting at 20s in handicap company but i'll be watching the Nicholls horse with interest given he somehow seems to save his best for races with nice prizemoney (no bet though)
Anyone who saw Buachaill Alainn (NAP) dot up at Southwell a couple of weeks ago on his handicap debut will have been eagerly awaiting his next run, and it comes today in the 4.20 at Newton Abbot. Peter Bowen's gelding had a couple of races under Shark Hanlon in Ireland, finishing 4th both times over a massively inadequate 2 miles, and made his debut for Bowen in a novice hurdle at Aintree over 2m4f. He finished 19L 2nd to a smart looking Rebecca Curtis horse in Vegas Cash, although he was not given a hard time when beaten and clearly didn't have the speed of the winner. He was then pitched straight into handicap company at Southwell and was allotted a mark of 108 and, although only winning by a length he was value for much, much more. Denis O'Regan was motionless coming to the last whereas Richard Johnson was throwing the kitchen sink at The Sloitar. One quick slap after the last and Buachaill Alainn put the race to bed. The Sloitar was beaten a week later by 13 lengths by Ogee (who had been dropped from 135 to 128) but given The Sloitar is 11 years old I'm not sure the quick reappearance was the best idea. The Sloitar is rated 118, the same mark to which Buachaill Alainn has been raised today. But the ease with which Buachaill Alainn beat The Sloitar makes me think he had at least 10lbs in hand that day and, given that he is still very unexposed and likely to come on again I think he holds a massive chance off 118 today. I certainly think he is capable of a 130 performance. I think the step up to 3m3f will suit, he is by Oscar and won a point-to-point over 3m on yld/soft at Monksgrange. He opened a general 5/1 this morning but is now best price 4/1 with some firms going only 3/1.
Win Fancies today: 1.40 Doncaster - Bedazzled 3/1 2.20 Newmarket - Usain Colt 4/1 2.35 Newton Abbott - Giant O Murchu 5/2 2.55 Newmarket - The Gold Cheongasm 7/2 EW Fancies today 2.05 Goodwood - Head Space 12/1 2.40 Goodwood - Life And Soul 9/1 3.15 Goodwood - Timepiece 12/1 3.55 Goodwood - Victoire De Lyphar 12/1
