3.10 Doncaster Aviator 20/1 James Eustace's 6 year old is a bit of a speculative punt but I think he looks very interesting on his 3rd start in Britain and well worth a play at 20/1. A winner in both France and Germany, Aviator arrived at the James Eustace yard in April off a rating of 92 and having run very poorly when held up in two competitive handicaps he has dropped down 10lb to a mark of 82 and he faces a much easier task today. What looks very interesting is that he sports blinkers today for the first time since moving to England but all his best form came wearing them in the past and I'm hoping their return can certainly perk him up. When trained in Germany by Paul Harley, his best effort probably came in a French Listed contest at Saint Cloud when going down by a short head to Hughie Morrison's talented Quiz Mistress in October 2012 and a replication of that performance would surely see him outclass this field. With any rain sure to help and Luke Morris (14% for the yard) booked, I think Aviator will be ridden more aggressively over today's 12f trip and if the blinkers spark a revival (trainer reports on his site he's been working well at home) then he could go close at a big price. 3.15 Epsom Even Stevens 12/1 Scott Dixon's 6 year old showed blistering pace over 5f at York LTO when probably going off in front a little too fast but I think a mark of 90 is workable and he's bagged the plum draw in stall 20. Testing conditions won't be any problem for him and Matthew Hopkins takes an extremely valuable 7lb off getting him down to a featherweight 8 stone and at 12/1 with 5 places paid with PP he definitely looks worth an each way play to me as he should prove hard to catch over the world's fastest 5f. 4.50 Epsom Open Eagle 25/1 Although a lot of improving types line up here, I'm taking a chance with David O'Meara's 5 year old Open Eagle in what looks a wide open contest. Formerly trained by J C Rouget in France, Open Eagle made a big first impression when running out an impressive winner of a handicap at Carlisle off a mark of 88 when an eased down 3L scorer and he backed that up with a fine effort when 3rd in the November handicap off a mark of 95. Having run poorly twice late last year on the AW, Open Eagle made his seasonal reappearance in the Chester Cup when shaping much better than the bare result in a first time hood (retained) as he just didn't seem to stay the 2m2f trip and eased 1lb to a mark of 93 and dropped to a more suitable 1m4f I think he could certainly surprise a few for the blistering Tudhope/O'Meara partnership. Likely testing conditions shouldn't bother him having one on them in France. 8.15 Newcastle Gala Casino Star 7/1 Gala Casino Star made an encouraging stable debut for Deborah Sanderson on the back of an 8 month absence over an inadequate trip at Pontefract last month and with a further 2lb ease in the weights to a mark of 68, the step back up to 10f, the reapplication of a visor which was worn for his 3 wins and the run sure to have done him a world of good I'm hoping this well handicapped 9 year old can record his first win since running up a hat trick which culminated back in August 2012. That win was a very ready 9L success off an 11lb higher mark and although he remained winless since then for former trainer Geoff Harker he did run well in defeat on a few occasions last year off higher marks than this. Regular pilot Jordan Nason takes a handy 7lb off and if the change of yard has reinvigorated Gala Casino Star he could prove tough to beat at a venue where he recorded a victory on his sole start. 8.45 Newcastle New Story The Ismail Mohammed yard is a stable I follow very closely and I was very taken by this 3 year old's recent debut when a ridiculous eye catcher in a Maiden at Newbury and I had him pegged as a guaranteed NTO winner that day. In a traditionally hot maiden won by the talented pair Remote and Fiorente in 2 of the past 3 seasons, New Story (sent off an unfancied 33/1 shot) was held up last under Jamie Spencer in the 16 runner contest where he was racing a little freely for much of the contest. Swinging into the home straight, New Story still remained at the rear of the field and he met some interference when he was just starting his run 2f and having been switched out wide with 1f to go he made up some really good headway under absolutely minimal coaxing from Spencer as he looked like he finished with a boat load in the tank as he was a never nearer 5.5L beaten 7th. I thought that day he looked like he had a very bright future ahead of him and this son of New Approach is certainly bred to be decent being a half brother to the French and Italian Listed winning pair of Tennenbaum and Aischa. Given that Ismail Mohammed normally leaves plenty of horse to work with, I expect New Story to come on a lot for the run and he should take an awful lot of beating in my book. Likely favourite Mange All actually finished 3rd in that Maiden and was about 2.5L in front of of this colt but I definitely think the experience and a more charmed run will see New Story overturn that form and I think its going to take a very decent sort to prevent New Story from winning today. With likely soft ground at Newcastle, New Story faces vastly different conditions than the good to firm ground he encountered on debut but two half brothers won on soft/heavy and the unraced Dam's full sister handled it too so I don't think he'll be disadvantaged by give underfoot. Paul Mulrennan takes the ride today and I feel his style will suit New Story quite well and for an in form yard who are 2-5 at the track I think he's going to take a truck load of beating as long as this 9 runner contest isn't too tactical an affair as I firmly believe this is a Pattern Class horse in the making and he'll hopefully be about 3/1 or bigger in the morning.
I have done Kingston e/w the other day -but I am waiting for confirmation of the going before getting stuck in -if it stays fast I will be transferring my powder onto Flintshire in the coronation.... Like many will have to wait until near the Off time! The fav is no value in either race!
Changed again now! Heavy rain shower currently in the Epsom area. I need to have a look at Fascinating Rock again! Cirrus des Aigles wins the Coronation Cup I am also going for Caspian Prince in the dash and Pasaka Boy in the 4.50
I'll be there Stick, wearing almost Godolphin blue. About 10 miles from the course and there's light rain at the moment.
Morning Lads Just can't get away from Australia in the Derby, but looking for a bit of each way value elsewhere and William Buick seems quite keen on the chances of Western Hymn so that will be my each way shout. My main fancies for today run in the 3.15 Epsom Dash and that is the Peter Crate trained pair of Elusivity & Taajub. Elusivity has been in great form of late and has run over course and distance while Taajub was 4th in this back in 2012 and this time has a high draw. So at 12/1 & 20/1 and 5 places available with Bet365 that will be my play.
In the first at Epsom I like Double Bluff 16-1 EW. This horse will have no issue with the distance or the ground, being out of Double Trigger I can see him leading from box 1 and trying to run all the way to the line from the start.
Morning All. Today's lucky 15. Epsom,2-05.Baitha Alga. Epsom,2-40.Cirrus Des Aigles. Epsom,4-00.Western Hymn. Doncaster,4-45.Wannabe Yours. Good luck to all.
Duke of yorkshire should go well today and theres an uncle running that should go close not me though uncle brit
Afternoon all, in a rush today so I have had to do a screen shot of my 2yr old selections. Confident on them all especially at Epson: 200- True Colours 205- Ballymore Castle 555- Arcennios Leap 220- Migiolono
Tohugo 14/1 Limerick 8:05 - was a big eyecatcher last week at Fairyhouse where he ran wide off the bend and stormed home late on to finish a close up 5th , on a winnable mark still with Robbie Downey taking 4lb off his back tonight i ex pect them to be on the sharp end from the beginning as they drop back in trip I hope he makes use of Tohugo and gains another overdue success. Talitha Kum 15/8 Limerick 7:35 - won very easily at Listowel last week having gave the field 10 lengths at the start and was given a good ride by Chris Hayes to sweep around the bend and win comfortably in the end by 3l. Upped 9lbs to 92 now but back against her own sex it look's like she's been given another good chance to strike and should prove tough to beat.
Post Shower Epsom Clerk of the Course Andrew Cooper Reports..... "It looks like we have had the worst of the forecast rain and we should be getting better, clear weather from now on. We have had 6mm in total today, 5mm in that heavy shower, I reckon the first word in the new going description will still be Good.
Ultimate looks a good ew bet at 9s the jumper has gone well in the past on the flat , if claimer Megan can get in front early the rest may struggle the one I'm concerned about would be heros story but heros hasn't seen the track for over 200 days. PUSH ME with 11/2 available looks stunning value
