First of all can I just add in all of our thoughts, prayers and courage be passed on to JT McNamara, who has suffered paralysis from his horrendous fall at the Cheltenham Festival. Just remember that betting today is worthless, meaningless, and nothing in comparison to what really matters. 1.55 Doncaster Spring Mile: MR SPIGOTT 16/1 e.w Only had the ten career starts to date and is only a 4 year old, and you get the impression there might still be a bit of improvement left to come here. There are two things why I think he could run very well: 1) His form on ground with any bit of cut in is excellent (won a soft ground 6f maiden at Newcastle before winning a 1m heavy ground handicap at Haydock- proving his stamina), and has since gone on to place in good races on similar surfaces. 2) Darren Egans 3lb claim means he runs off effectively 77 tomorrow- a career low mark, and Egan is 2 from 7 for this trainer- suggesting he certainly not an afterthought when booking him for a ride. Mr Spigott tends to do his best work late on and the big field can really play to his strengths here- a good pace to aim at and can outstay them late on hopefully to pounce into the money at a nice price. There is more chance of me winning the Lincoln myself than picking the winner of it so I'll leave that alone thanks. 3.40 SPACE SHIP This horse is about to end up with an array of formlines to its name through being behind the likes of Telescope, Snow King, and in front of Autun (winner since), Soviet Rock (winner since), Tawhid (winner since). He should win this maiden fairly convincingly and if he doesn't- he needs following in handicaps! 1.45 Dubai Gold Cup IMPERIAL MONARCH 9/4 Looks to like a horse choc full of stamina (out of Slip Anchor- who produced successful stayer Mount Athos) but also has a bit of class about him. He could end up a seriously interesting Ascot Gold Cup horse and with Fame And Glory now done and dusted, Ballydoyle will be looking to a new staying star and this may be it. The concern is simply the venue- not all horses like Meydan or run to their best but I'll take a chance that he is too good and from his draw he could take some beating, especially if he gets in front. One to watch later in the season regardless. 6.05: Dubai World Cup ANIMAL KINGDOM 5/1 Kentucky Derby winner who has only ever ran one 'bad' race- when bumped coming out of the stalls and trailing 15L off the pace before making 'rapid headway' and weakening near the finish into 6th. The concern is the draw, but how many of these horses will really want to go from the front? I think he could get across into a handy position and if they get him into a rhythm, he might blow these away with tactical speed with his first time blinkers. He ran on well for 2nd in a red hot Breeders Cup mile and a tactical 10f here can play right to his strengths. I would think this is the type of race to suit the American horses, and therefore Royal Delta should also be considered. £0.20p e/w Lucky 15 for £6, should keep it interesting on a Saturday before the top class jumps at Aintree next week.
3.15 Haydock SIDNEY PAGET 7-1 is a most progressive chaser. The drop back in trip is not ideal but shouldnt inconvemience him too greatly. His defeat was over slightly too far and to another very progressive sort in Emperors Choice. This boy WILL go off favourite tomorrow. Bag the best price 7-1 with Bet365 and then work out what you will do with your free bet!
Just looking again at Space Ship here- he has earned a rating of 78 from his 3 runs- surely if they wanted to win a handicap they would and it is telling that they keep him to maiden company here. Hopefully he will win this before going on to contest good races.
Haven't looked at the UK racing yet but have had a small double in Dubai. St Nicholas Abbey is a horse I have a real soft spot for. He's so much better going left handed and a huge run in the Sheema Classic last year when a close second to Cirrus Des Aigles shows he can run to top form at this meeting/track. 7/2 looks too big for me. Then I've stuck him in a double with easy UAE Oaks winner Shuruq who shouldn't be 8/1 I don't feel.
2 things stand out for me at the dubai World cup meeting. Firstly, I'm amazed that Trinniberg is 8s in the sprint. Are there really 3 horses that will beat a Breeders cup winner on that surface? secondly, Treasure Beach looks huge given the way De Kock can get the best out of Coolmore cast offs
SNA is my fav horse in training George but is he **** getting another one of my quids on him. He isn't good enough simple as that. The Japanese filly will piss that. Shareta is better than SNA as well Nahhh she isn't actually
Good picks at meydan toppy! Have just this minute put those two in a double and done 2 single. I feel AK could go off fav 2moro, its not a strong field imo and he is easily the classiest horse in the field! Would love to see SNA win tomorrow but will only be watching that race no bet for me! But would like to dee him win!
She hasn't travelled well apparently RV and she's unknown on the surface. SNA has a decent run on this surface/climate/occasion behind one of, if not the best middle distance horse in the world in Cirrus DA. On known form it's a two horse race and I'm siding with SNA who I'm a fan of just because I think he could have been considered a whole lot better if he'd been sparingly run (exact same reason why I had a soft spot for Fame and Glory). Why they have insisted upon 10f races and repeated attempts at going right-handed I don't know but tomorrow we should see him at his best and deep down I know you know there's one heck of a horse in there.
I agree on Animal Kingdom very good price and I have backed accordingly. It's only been 1 day without racing and i cannot wait until the action starts tomorrow. Also looking forward to seeing one of my favourite horses Sole Power tackle Shea Shea I reckon he will really put it up to him tomorrow having needed the run lto.
1.20 Doncaster Colonel Mak 10/1 I'd have preferred if he had come here with a run under his belt but I think David Barron's 6 year old has a tremendous chance of landing this event for the 2nd year running. Colonel Mak comes here on the back of a 140 day absence and he was out of form at the end of last season but he comes here looking a well handicapped horse off a mark of 95 which is 3lb below the mark he was successful in this last year. He took a very different path before last years renewal as he was fit from the all weather but he ran out a very impressive winner that day off a mark of 98. Sitting just in behind the pace that day, tomorrow's pilot Luke McNiff took up the running with about 1.5f left to go and nothing in behind could muster a challenge as he ran out a ready winner. He proved that effort was no fluke when running an absolute belter on his next start off a 6lb higher mark of 104 when finishing under top weight of 9-10 when 3rd in a very competitive handicap at Newmarket last May won by subsequent Group 2 winning Maarek. Additionally, the runner up Shropshire (who reopposses tomorrow off 25lb worse terms if taking claims into account), won subsequently off a 4lb higher mark and he was also not beaten all that far off a 10lb higher mark in the Stewards Cup at Goodwood and if reproducing that effort tomorrow then surely he will take the world of beating. Although he won a weak enough Conditions Race in July, Colonel Mak struggled to make an impact for the rest of last season but resultantly has fallen to a lovely mark of 95 which I think he has a superb chance of winning off. Although his record fresh is a little bit of an unknown, he ran a very eye catching 4L beaten 10th in this race in 2011 on seasonal reappearance when running on under tender handling late on and I certainly think the Barron yard have purposely aimed him at landing this race for the 2nd year running. Luke McNiff, who was on board when winning last years renewal, takes the ride and a very handy 5lb off and I think this 6 year old has a superb chance if fully wound up for this. Clearly well handicapped off a mark of 95 when looking at some of his efforts last year, I'm very confident of a very big showing from Colonel Mak and hopefully he can repeat history and land this for the 2nd year running. Current favourite King Of Jazz also looks a well handicapped horse and I've done the RFC and had a saver. 1.55 Doncaster Educate 8/1 I had a very large bet on Educate last week and although there is no doubting my belief that he is more than capable of winning an event of this nature of 88 my enthusiasm has been tempered slightly and I have scaled down by stake. The reason for this is that Ismail Mohammed's yard planner Terry Norman has blogged about his chances and stated a few concerns. Firstly, he stated that he hasn't been working overly well as of late but that could be down to him not liking the AW gallops which he has been confined to (Echo Of Light progeny don't seem to like the surface). Furthermore, he isn't at peak physical fitness and will improve for the run and his summation that the yard are hopeful rather than confident would be the sentiments I'd share with him. Looking at Educate from a form perspective, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that he is significantly better than an 88 rated horse and a gelding operation last year turned him from a maniac who had immense potential into a horse that is able to showcase those talents on the racecourse. On countless occasions prior to the snip, he wasn't beaten all that far despite veering all over the place when asked to quicken and this very unexposed 4 year old is 2-2 since the operation allowed him to showcase his true ability. Firstly, he scored off a mark of 76 at Sandown over a mile on good to firm ground when winning decisively in the end in a pretty poor looking race but he clearly improved significantly again when running out a supremely impressive winner on his final start when thumping a competitive field over 10f at York in October off a mark of 80 in heavy ground under top weight. A step slow and held up in the final pair under Jamie Spencer, Educate was still at the rear of the field when swinging into the home straight but he made persistent progress through the field before coming with a long, sustained challenge in the final 3f which saw Spencer never resort to using the whip and he was well on top to score by 1.5L. I felt that was an extremely impressive performance (apparently he hated the ground) and there is no doubt in my mind that he is better than his 8lb higher mark of 88. The form of that race is quite hard to decipher given that a lot of the horses in behind have gone hurdling since but the 7th Nameitwhatyoulike, who is battling for favouritism tomorrow and was beaten 13L that day, has won both his subsequent starts and meets Educate on identical terms as he did that day (although Mick Easterby's charge may not have stayed 10f). Looking at tomorrow's contest, you can only hope that he is drawn on the right side in stall 16 but I'm hoping Ocean Tempest goes off very quickly and ensure Educate gets a strong pace to aim at which should prove crucial. Connections feel the soft ground is far from ideal but I personally think it won't be a factor in whether or not he's able to win tomorrow and I won't be blaming the ground if he is unsuccessful. Reports from the yard planner are that he has grown up significantly over the winter which he was entitled to do and 4 year olds have a very good record in this race. Liam Jones, who was on board for his Sandown success, takes the ride and apparently will ride him for the rest of the season when available and this represents his only action of the day. Ismail Mohammed's yard have been in red hot form with an outstanding 6-8 record in 2013 and its clear Educate is coming from a yard that are in fantastic shape at the moment. Described by the yard planner as "amazingly well handicapped", I fully agree with that assessment and even if he doesn't run well tomorrow I will be following him religiously for the rest of the season and I strongly feel he's going to continue the rapid progression we saw last season. Despite reports not as encouraging as you'd hope, I think Educate when not even 100% is good enough to win this and I have utter belief in his ability and I'm hoping his season is very similar to that of Maarek's last year. All in all I would recommend to perhaps air on the side of caution and I would describe myself as very hopeful as opposed to very confident. I have utter faith in the ability of this 4 year old and if he runs to the level I know he can he'll win this tomorrow. Regardless of the result, Educate is a name I recommend everybody notebooking and I really hope this is the start of a superb season for him. I'm also backing 2.40 Haydock Fleet Dawn 14/1, 3.15 Haydock Cloudy Too 10/1 and 4.25 Haydock Oscar Magic 5/1 as well and hopefully I get time to do write ups for them tomorrow.
St Nic, Imperial Monarch and Animal Kingdom no chance I have a couple in mind for tomorrow but nothing overly strong. I would like to just take a minute to laugh at the mugs who where shouting about Imperial Monarch tho, I told them he wanted 2 miles, they told me he should have won the French Derby Agree with Dan, I mentioned Treasure Beach before his prep, he ran a nice race, actually has a decent record at 10f and he does look a huge price at 25s last time I checked considering De Kocks record with ex Obrien horses, I dont see a horse in the race with any form better than his best anyway. The one I have a sneaky fancy for is Dullahan, bit hit and miss but its a joke of a race on a joke of a surface, hes a nice horse on his day.
Cork 2.35 Gathering Power 7/2 I have been waiting for this horse for a while now, she caught my eye big style last season and was very unlucky when running from out of the handicap on her last start. Unfortunately it didnt go unnoticed by the handicapper and her mark was raised from 76 to 81 for finishing 4rth which on the face of it doesnt look good but im not at all worried. She would have been absolutely bomb proof off 76 today but she is a high 90s horse at the very least so its not a problem. The yard won this last year with a similar type and I fully expect them to follow up here. Rapid Approach just does not have the gears to go with this horse at 6f, and Ballyorban, as much as I like him, should be comfortably held at the weights. Its probably the best 7/2 shot ive seen for a long, long time, not even Fran Berry can get this beat. Lump On Be amazed if it goes off any bigger than 9/4
Going to follow glee at donny today meanwhile up at haydock i like captain americo,sydney paget and cape york and at carlisle i like rupert bear, tyrone house trouble in paris (which richie mac travels back from haydock to ride) and twentypoundluck stay frosty
Morning all Sticks in a double with Royal Delta for me to cover my expenses for ma boy Tony Bellews tear up tonight Also a brown envelope job on Memory Cloth in the Lincoln Great action to warm me up for Aintree this week
DONCASTER 16:50 HANDICAP (0-85) 1m 2f 60yds 30-03-2013 16:50 Win or E/W Each Way Odds: 1/5 places 1,2,3 Hillview Boy @ 13/2 (GP) DONCASTER 15:40 MAIDEN STAKES 1m 2f 60yds 30-03-2013 15:40 Win or E/W Each Way Odds: 1/5 places 1,2,3 The Welsh Wizard @ 9/4 (GP) DONCASTER 15:05 LINCOLN HANDICAP 1m 30-03-2013 15:05 Win or E/W Each Way Odds: 1/4 places 1,2,3,4,5 Chapter Seven @ 11/1 (GP) DONCASTER 14:30 CAMMIDGE TROPHY 6f 30-03-2013 14:30 Win or E/W Each Way Odds: 1/5 places 1,2,3 Jack Dexter @ 9/4 (GP) DONCASTER 13:55 SPRING MILE 1m 30-03-2013 13:55 Win or E/W Each Way Odds: 1/4 places 1,2,3,4 Frog Hollow @ 14/1 (GP) DONCASTER 13:20 HANDICAP (0-100) 6f 30-03-2013 13:20 Win or E/W Each Way Odds: 1/4 places 1,2,3,4 Ancient Cross @ 10/1 (GP) EW Acca and a Lucky 63 on the GLee CARLISLE 16:20 HANDICAP HURDLE 3m 1f 30-03-2013 16:20 Win or E/W Each Way Odds: 1/4 places 1,2,3 Trouble In Paris @ 7/1 (GP) CARLISLE 15:45 HANDICAP CHASE 2m 4f 30-03-2013 15:45 Win or E/W Each Way Odds: 1/5 places 1,2,3 Tyrone House @ 14/1 (GP) CARLISLE 14:00 HANDICAP HURDLE 2m 1f 30-03-2013 14:00 Win or E/W Each Way Odds: 1/5 places 1,2,3 Rupert Bear @ 9/2 (GP) EW acca Trixie and Patent CARLISLE 16:55 HANDICAP CHASE 2m 30-03-2013 16:55 Win or E/W Each Way Odds: 1/5 places 1,2,3 Twentypoundluck @ 10/1 (GP) HAYDOCK 17:35 FLAT 2m 30-03-2013 17:35 Win or E/W Each Way Odds: 1/5 places 1,2,3 Cape York @ SP HAYDOCK 15:15 LEVY BOARD HCAP CHASE 2m 4f 30-03-2013 15:15 Win or E/W Each Way Odds: 1/4 places 1,2,3 Sydney Paget @ 11/2 (GP) HAYDOCK 14:05 HANDICAP CHASE 3m 4f 30-03-2013 14:05 Win or E/W Each Way Odds: 1/4 places 1,2,3 Captain Americo @ 8/1 (GP) EW Acca and L15 stay frosty my friends
