Friday's Meetings Thirsk Flat 7 Races 1-00-4:30p.m. Brighton Flat 7 Races 1:50-5:10p.m. Musselburgh Flat 7 Races 2:00-5:25p.m. Tipperary(E) Flat 7 Races 4:25-7:30p.m. Wexford(E) N/H 7 Races 4:45-7:45p.m. Newmarket(E) Flat 6 Races 5:05-7:38p.m. Haydock(E) Flat 7 Races 5:20-8:25p.m. Racecards At The Races Sporting Life Racing Post Good Luck
Not a bad sprint race at Musselburgh today. The 3.45 sees Lord Riddiford favourite as he arrives with a 5 lb penalty but his new handicap mark is actually 7lbs higher than his previous one, so he is 2 lbs well in in theory. Sometimes that doesn't work out though. I like Jabbarockie here. He is 8YO but has been better than ever this season, reaching a rating of 100. He was last of six on his previous start but that was a Group 2 contest on Heavy ground, so he is back in calmer waters now. He has won over course and distance this season and also on good ground, so a decent run seems assured. I thought he was the value at 4/1. 3.45 Musselburgh Jabbarockie 4/1
The third race at Newmarket tonight is for newcomers: a graveyard for backers. This race used to be run at the Ascot KG meeting but transferred to Newmarket a few years back (two winners I can remember were Grundy and Grand Lodge). Some interesting debutants tonight. A horse that has captured the imagination is the miler Baaeed, who is a Sea the Stars full brother to the useful stayer Hukum. Their dam is half-sister to tonight's debutant Laasudood. Owned by Shadwell and trained by Stoute, he's probably one for the future but worth a look. Dane O'Neill rides which doesn't put me off. It does make you wonder what Crowley's up to at Haydock. . .
Embarrassing effort from Jabbarockie there, he was away a little awkward at the start but did get to the front but he weakened really badly in a dismal effort. Original favourite Lord Riddiford was replaced by Mokaatil at the head of the market and the money talked but only by a short head. Jabbarockie ran a long way from his best there and runs like that make you want to pack the game in. Lord Riddiford didn't run as if he were 2 lbs well in on ratings and was the other big disappointment of the race.
Hafit, who is favourite for the race cost £2.1 Million and is a best priced Evens fav but there are promising ones from other stables. I had a token each-way on the Invincible Spirit colt Viadelamore from the James Ferguson yard. A bargain basement buy in comparison at £120,000 I had a poke each-way at 14/1 given little confidence in much outside the Fav. 6.08 Newmarket Viadelamore 14/1
Not your fault at all, Grendel. Someone, I have no idea who, put a 'stop' on it. Just kidding. My last effort was last but one at Yarmouth the other day, dreadful performance. I will never learn that anything can win in these 'every-day' races. Your selections in the better-class events have been admirable; wouldn't worry about the 'hard-to-understand' results. I have noticed that it is much much worse in France with the harness racing (not Vincennes), in which the trainers/drivers seem to me to have many of the races at the 'country' meetings all worked out?
Laasudood is one for the notebook. Took a lot of time to work out what was needed but ran on OK in the last furlong. Unlikely to be a Hukum.
