Wednesday's Meetings Beverley Flat 8 Races 1:50-5:40p.m. Listowel Flat 4 Races 1:55-3:35p.m. N/H 4 Races 4:10-5:50p.m. Sandown Flat 7 Races 2:05-5:30p.m. Yarmouth Flat 7 Races 2:15-5:35p.m. Kelso(E) N/H 6 Races 4:15-7:00p.m. Racecards At The Races Racing Post Sporting Life Good Luck
Cracking renewal of the John Musker Listed Stakes at Yarmouth with Arabian Queen taking on So Mi Dar.
I'm guessing that's because she's carrying the G3 penalty and Arabian Queen is known to go well fresh, but I'd be inclined to agree with you.
Chelsea - Is Big Time still intended for Saturday? I have a bet that needs to be used up and can't see anything else I'd rather punt.
I have a slight fancy at Listowel tomorrow and feel she's worth the punt at good odds. Misty Millie 25/1 Listowel 3.05 - the filly made her debut at the backend of last season before reappearing at Navan and winning by 14 lengths on her seasonal bow on Heavy ground over 1 mile. She then ran creditably stepping up in class without threatening before being alotted a mark of 95 for handicap debut where she ran a good 4th beaten 2L to General McArthur(102) before being eased off next time up when something was obviously amiss. Not given a hard time and being allowed to recover for 6 weeks before laying up in a useful handicap going down 3.25L to the progressive Eddystone Rock of Johnny Murtagh at Tipperary over 9f. The handicapper has kindly eased her 3 lb to 91 and I think that is very attractive still. She gets the allowance off the boys and elders tomorrow but crucially she will get Heavy ground which she will love. I hope Killian Leonard will bounce out and attempt to make it or at least track the pace closely. If she's ready she could prove a massive price to take this Listed event. She goes well fresh too and is lightly raced so she has a lot of positives going for her.
For those that are interested (and not following my Frankel thread!), there are 2 Frankel colts running at Sandown today: ATTY PERSSE (named after the trainer of The Tetrach) makes his debut in the 2.40. He holds entries in the Racing Post Trophy and the Derby ZEFFERINO runs in the 3.15. Second on debut at Newmarket, beaten by half a length, he holds entries in the Royal Lodge, the Dewhurst, the Racing Post Trophy and the Derby.
Atty Persse is nicely bred, though the damsire Norse Dancer is a bit of a surprise. But the dam comes from the family of that top filly Give Thanks, who in turn traces back to that super mare Horama owned by the Mollers (family of Teenoso and loads of others). Equally well bred is Godolphin's Hamada who is by Cape Cross out of a daughter of the tough top class filly Lailani. With the Frankel effect possibly skewing the odds Hamada may be the one to be on.
It's late for me; work just gets in the way. Amazing day on the Wirral, glorious sunshine. Just one that appeals for me today, at Kelso, Up and Go, 4.50. I think I'll leave the betting on the sideshow for today; both jockey's riding on the same card just upsets me! Good Luck
I'm willing to take a chance with Phil's Magic 33/1 in the Kerry National. He seems to travel nicely in all his races but doesn't ever seem to be able to quicken when it comes to the finish. He could improve for this longer trip on ground which should be quite grueling. It lashed rain down here all night on Sunday and has been dry since so I would think it would be quite tacky ground. Listowel would be very slow to dry out as it is effectively a flood plain.
The form of Via Serendipity looks to have the first at Yarmouth wrapped up, but if I was there I might take a bit of each way on Solomon's Bay (Boussac/Aga Khan breeding).. Sersar from the Vaguely Noble family is interesting too, but will probably need the run
Norse Dancer was a tough old boot (35 runs, 25 of them in G1 company and placed in 6 of those, but never got his head in front) but Dorcas Lane is one of only 3 black-type winners that he has managed to produce albeit from very small crops to race so far.
I have nothing against Norse Dancer as he is very well bred and could run over 8f one week and 12f the next. He was also 3rd in the 2000G and 4th in the Derby after not being a bad 2yo. He's by a good sire Halling, and I'd love to see one son of Halling carrying on the Sharpen Up line. And he's out of a mare called River Patrol whose dam is a half-sister to Bireme: so Hollingsworth's Felucca family dating back to his Ribot filly Ripeck. It's just no-one rates Norse Dancer so no-one but Jeff Smith and a few others used him. A bit late for Norse Dancer now so Halling's line probably depends on Jack Hobbs.
Didn't have to look too hard to see Champagne Or Waters claims on recent form. Won very well. Misty Millie a shade disappointing for me. She definitely has ability but she may be one that proves hard to catch right.
He's had comparatively small books: 2007 - 27 mares 2008 - 45 mares 2009 - 27 mares 2010 - 17 mares 2011 - 13 mares 2012 - 11 mares 2013 - 6 mares 2014 - 31 mares (moved to become dual purpose sire) 2015 - 56 mares 2016 - 51 mares Halling was a lovely old horse, his turnout paddock was behind my house when I worked at Darley so I often saw his nose poking above the 7ft fencing panels! He has just 5 stallion sons at stud across Europe from what I can find so yes the Sharpen Up sire line looks more or less done for in Europe as Selkirk hasn't left anything of note either.
