Saturday's Meetings Limerick Flat 8 Races 1:10-5:05p.m. Newmarket Flat 7 Races 1:45-5:20p.m. Hexham N/H 7 Races 1:50-5:10p.m. Fairyhouse N/H 8 Races 1:55-5:55p.m. York Flat 7 Races 2:00-5:30p.m. Chepstow N/H 7 Races 2:05-5:35p.m. Newcastle(E) A/W 8 Races 5:40-9:15p.m. Racecards At The Races Racing Post Sporting Life Good Luck
Gwaaaaaaan Nass I haven't had a bet since Aintree and still don't feel inclined, but very much looking forward to the NH season.
Off to HQ tomorrow. I must say I wasn't a fan when the champion stakes was moved to ascot and vowed never to attend HQ again, but have since relented. I went last year and have to admit I enjoyed the day but sorry the champion stakes should be run at HQ . I'll put up some selections to avoid tomorrow Cheers.
The abridged version for Swanny: Newmarket 4:45 FLY AT DAWN ---------- I have convinced myself that the winner of the opener at HQ will be one of the fancied runners near the bottom of the card. The two William Haggas runners, Symposium and Gravity Flow both take the step up from handicap company, as does Mick Channon’s Kassia and I think they all have live chances; however, Mise En Rose went down narrowly in a Group 3 last time and may still have enough in hand on the improvers to win today. Having just failed to land the Royal Lodge over course and distance, The Anvil drops slightly in class in the Autumn Stakes and has good prospects of losing his maiden tag. Many will be watching Lockheed’s efforts closely because he was third in the National Stakes behind the Dewhurst favourite but he was also beaten in a Group 3 before. I will be interested to see if there is any market support for the two unexposed maiden winners Zainhom and Solomon’s Bay but otherwise this looks a notebook race. The betting for the Dewhurst is a total reflection of how the market is dictated by trainers and jockey bookings. If this were a handicap, Churchill would not be the top weight, but being a Ballydoyle blueblood he is odds on favourite. Reasonable to presume that Lancaster Bomber is here to make sure there is no hanging around but there is plenty to like about three or four of these colts, so whoever wins there should be races for all of them to win next term. I am not expecting any of these to win by a substantial margin but it would not be the first time I was wrong! I am sure that the Zetland Stakes used to be later in the year (end of October?) but it is always fascinating to see the staying two year olds going over ten furlongs. Cunco has to be the Gosden second string but he is no forlorn hope although Frankie favours the filly Coronet. Wings of Eagles looks an interesting Ballydoyle contender but the two that interest me most are Defoe, runner up at Epsom where he may not have handled the track, and FLY AT DAWN, unbeaten on turf and winner of a decent HQ nursery last time. The closing Darley Stakes looks like a good opportunity for very-late seasonal debutant Johannes Vermeer, as on form this looks a match between him and Custom Cut, who has failed to win all season. I would back the Ballydoyle colt but all his top juvenile form is on easier ground. Ancient History is a curious choice of runner for Andre Fabre but would be preferred to Abdon, whose sole success this year was a five-runner handicap.
Much appreciated, QMII, thank you and good luck! My usual Saturday bet is The Cashel Man e/w in the marathon cavalry charge called the Cesarewitch!
A few views on the Chepstow races (although I am still not betting). Generally I expect it will pay to follow Paul Nicholls (well it is Saturday after all) but here a few from elsewhere that interest me: 2.05 Major Hindrance - one for the future this, being out of Ten Dollar Bill (dam of Monbeg Dude) by Kris Kin. Ever since I saw Empiracle win that bumper all those years ago I've been a fan of Kris Kin progency (although there aren't that many). They are usually resolute types and I expect Major Hindrance will have his work cut out against some speedier types today but I will be keeping a close eye on his run. 3.15 Cracking contest this and Clan Des Obeaux will be a warm order with his weight allowances. But Mr Henderson chucks 2 arrows and won it last year so I am drawn to Hammersly Lake who offers a bit of value at 13/2. He won very readily at Market Rasen last time out and track and trip should be ideal for him. 3.50 Gibralfaro was my ante post Triumph hurdle horse last season but never really got into that race at the business end. I expect him to run a big race here but top weight just puts me off him slightly and I think the McNeills might have more to shout about at Newmarket today . I am very keen to see the Twister's French import El Terremoto who is out of an American mare and sees goodish ground for the first time. 4.25 Tea In Transvaal won on the card last year and is dropped 3lbs for a slightly disappointing effort at Perth is August where she may have needed the run. 14/1 available this morning. 5.00 Buachaill Alainn finished a fine 2nd in this last year and is 2lbs lower in the handicap this time around for summer jumps specialist Peter Bowen. 25/1. Best of luck to those of you venturing a wager with those bookie chaps
blog is on - http://nassauboard.blogspot.co.uk/ and hopefully pictures from the course will be popping up on my twitter as the day goes on. Stick, unlucky with Pure Poteen, I've already highlighted it!
Have a good one Nass - my first trip to the races won't be until the 'The Open Meeting' unfortunately. You are right in saying it's a good card and I've put 3 you should probably stay away from into a trixie... FLYING ANGEL 9/4 (Looked a natural on chase debut) GIBRALFARO 4/1 (Hoping he lives up to last seasons early promise) A GOOD SKIN 14/1 (Only up 1lb after finishing 2nd at the Festival) Good luck all!!
Morning all. I've looked up and down the Cesarewitch entries and have come up with 2 to waste my dough on. Nakeeta @ 20s who has run well in defeat in a number of big staying handicaps this season without always get a clear run. He'd have certainly finished much closer in the Northumberland Plate but got stopped twice. The other is Always Resolute @ 66s at the bottom of the weights for master fiddler Brian Ellison. He could be very well handicapped but also has to overcome stall 36. Each way speculation on both. Good luck all.
QM, with regards the Zetland I don't think the jockey bookings are an indicator for the Gosden horses on this occasion. Rab Havlin has ridden CUNCO in all bar 1 start and is his regular partner at home as he's such a hard puller. Obviously hoping SEAVEN HEAVENS can deliver in The Dewhurst but he's up against it on all known form right now.
Nice write-up Nass, good to see we agree on a couple Have a great day, looking forward to the pics. I'll be watching on ATR with a fridge full of cold beer
Chepstow 205 Capeland 315 Clan Des Obeaux 350 Diego Du Charmil ------ 3 singles and a treble Newmarket 145 Misse En Rose 255 The Anvil 520 Johannes Vermeer ----- 3 singles doubles and a treble York 235 Great Order 310 Sir Dancealot 420 Gulliver ----- 3 singles doubles and a treble Newmarket 410 Sweet Selection and Seismos e/w singles Hexham 300 Ethelwyn win single Bradford Gillingham Scunthorpe Colchester fourfold Happy Punting!
2:20 Flying North 12/1 2:55 Solomans Bay 16/1 3:15 Our Kaempfer 8/1 . 3:30 Seven Heavens 9/1 4:15 Nakeeta 25/1 & Sea Of Heaven 10/1 Flying North stayed on lovely behind UNFORGETTABLE FILLY (placed yesterday in a Group event) and SPATIAL, who disappointed yesterday but has Group 1 form ties with WUHEIDA. Flying North has been brought along steadily and gets a perch of 77- a full 17lb lower than the official rating of Unforgettable Filly for the best part of 2L defeat, and that horse is probably rated 100 now after yesterday. He looks to have a right fair mark here in my view. Solomans Bay was a real eyecatcher in the Ascot maiden won by SEVEN HEAVENS, staying on steadily and then stepped forward to stay on strongly to win a decent enough Yarmouth maiden. The step up to a mile is interesting and we have unusually quick ground for this time of year- which will suit this son of Exceed and Excel. Our Kaempfer has some sharp hurdles form to his name, and with the ground on the quicker side I think this son of Oscar can go well early in the season for quick starter Charlie Longsdon. Seven Heavens will need to learn to settle as he's been a bit crazy upon leaving the stalls, but if Frankie can calm him in the opening furlong I do fancy this step up in trip is what he needs. Lancaster Bomber should ensure a decent clip for stablemate Churchill and that should help. Nakeeta is a horse I love to bits and saw him run a mighty eyecatcher of a race at Cheseter in 2015 and thought she would go on the march up the handicap ladder. She's been mighty unluclky not to win more races and has had her run blocked on a couple of occasions (including in the Northumberland plate). However, Sea Of Heaven has edged this one twice this season and meets on better terms than at York, and he does definitely seem to have the edge on staying power. Nakeeta will need to have some luck and find a gap at the right time to burst clear as I just don't quite feel convinced she'll win a battle. But I like both of them and they are both progressive.
Afternoon troopers Going to throw a few cards today! Limerick 3.25-I'm told Duck Egg Blue is expected to go close.Running off top weight though but is working well at home I hear.9/2 win. Nmt-2.55-Aob can do no wrong at the minute and the Anvil can take this after going close in the Royal Lodge over c&d two weeks ago.In the big one Sweet Selection should make a bold bid running off a lovely mark of 87 and should stay the trip.Starchtect is another that jumps out and has been out away for this after winning impressively at Salisbury in May. Has plot job written all over it. York 3.45-Really fancy Captain Colby in the Sprint running from stall one.Very impressive at Doncastor lto and still looks to be on a nice mark
Ordinary World. 3.05. Fairyhouse. Been following this fella for some time now. Thought he'd take one of the end of season handicap hurdles, but ran well enough in defeat to be of interest here. Think he'll improve for a fence and stable always to be feared at this time of year. Took the 8/1 last night with VC. Looks like he's been backed. The favourite will be hard to beat, but doesn't look bullet proof to me! Seismos. 4.10. Newmarket. Another I've been following for a while without success, but could run a big race here. Group winning horse in his pomp in Germany and was running on well at the finish in the Pitmans derby. 66/1 is a tasty e/w bet to sneak in the frame...or dare I say it...win!!! Stable also going well. Good luck all!!
