Thursday's Meetings Worcester N/H 8 Races 1:10-5:17p.m. Doncaster Flat 8 Races 1:25-5:30p.m. Sandown Flat 6 Races 2:10-5:00p.m. Wexford(E) N/H 8 Races 4:35-8:17p.m. Leopardstown(E) Flat 7 Races 5:25-8:27p.m Yarmouth(E) Flat 7 Races 5:40-8:40p.m. Newbury(E) Flat 6 Races 5:50-8:33p.m. Racecards At The Races Sporting Life Racing Post Good Luck
2.45 Sandown PUBLISH... given a Stevie Wonder ride by Keane on its debut and would have won 5 minutes. 4/9 and shorter tomorrow so instead have backed it again at 20 for the 2000gns...
I am on him for the Guineas as well. Not worth backing at the odds today and that was why I went in for the Guineas instead. It is essential that Publish wins well today and thereafter he should contest a Group race of some sort. I was looking at Dark Wing from the Gosden stable as well today. She faces a Ralph Beckett runner with a previous run under her belt in Crystal Pier. Obviously experience counts for a lot but Dark Wing is by Frankel out of a Group 2 winning mare. Crystal Pier has decent, rather than stellar form so a chance was given to the Gosden Filly on debut. Market support would bolster confidence. 6.22 Newbury Dark Wing 9/4 I had a speculative few quid on her for the 1000 Guineas as an early dart at 50/1 In the following Nursery my eye was taken to Richard Hannon's Indigo Dawn. The filly won on debut but was then plunged into the Albany at Royal Ascot, where she was out of her depth at 80/1. Back into calmer waters where she is top rated on a handicap mark of 78 it is hoped that she may prove equal to conceding weight to her rivals. 7.02 Newbury Indigo Dawn 9/2 ps the filly who finished a couple of places in front of her at Ascot, Green Sense, won the Group 2 Prix Robert Papin on Sunday.
In the 3.20 Sandown I had expected Orion's Belt to be about 2/1. Hayynah has good form but had been second twice,while Karl Burke's Hope Queen won her only start but that didn't look much of a race at Beverly. I was surprised to see Orion's Belt at 3/1 and I think she is very much the one to beat. Had her race in control from a good way out last time travelling well before staying on to score with plenty in hand. She looks the type to progress well. 3.20 Sandown Orion's Belt 3/1 to hopefully star.
Satisfactory from Publish in winning by about a length from Cattullus. He was strong in the last furlong and jockey James Doyle explained that the horse wasn't concentrating in front, looking all around at paths and groundsmen. He was always confident he would hold the runner-up. I think the second will prove a decent sort but Publish looks the one who has the scope to improve and make a good 3YO. Generally only cut into 16/1 but I reckon the phones may be ringing later today with Ladbroke and Coral only going 8/1 now.
Orion's Belt didn't travel as well today. She was unable to hold as prominent a position and in the end she weakened in the closing stages. I had read that the Hannons were bullish about her but unless the ground ended up softer than ideal today I think another word with bull in it might be appropriate. I was disappointed in that effort today.
What didnt go unnoticed by me was that Publish was loaded first... it wouldn't have happened if Ryan 'I'm going in last' Moore had ridden it. Then whilst some unraced were playing up ( 3 minutes plus since loaded) it spent its time pawing the ground in its stall and getting very restless. I think the horse learnt a lot today and physically has catching up to do with its size. I dont think its unfair to describe him as a bit of a boat... The time was a touch slower than the fillies listed however.
Watching this Racing League. I have to turn the sound off. This woman Vanessa Ryles or something has the worst high pitch monotone voice on TV. Spoils the coverage. So thought...'good' its on ITV 4... turned over at that Muppet Harvey is on air...
Dark Wing was well backed but came out of the stalls very slowly and did little to suggest she had any right to have started as short as she did first time out (6/5 Fav) Indigo Dawn simply ran poorly and you have to wonder what Hannon was thinking about running her in an Albany when she can't even get competitive off 78 in Handicap. Watch her pop up later in the season off a similar mark. The following headline from the Racing Post website- Juddmonte colt surges in 2,000 Guineas betting after impressive maiden win Is complete bollocks. The colt was already a 20/1 shot for the race and is still available at 16/1, so that is hardly a surge. These aftertiming headline hype artists should pay more attention before spouting off total inaccuracies to dupe their readership.
