Thursday's Meetings Salisbury Flat 8 Races 1:40-5:20p.m. Haydock Flat 7 Races 2:00-5:10p.m. Sedgefield N/H 7 Races 2:20-5:25p.m. Clonmel (E) N/H 7 Races 4:30-7:30p.m. Chelmsford (E) A/W 8 Races 5:45-9:15p.m. Racecards At The Races Racing Post Sporting Life Good Luck
Hello, pilgrims. Really decent card in the county tomorrow and I’ll nominate one in the Group contest for 2YO fillies. I’ve put her up on both her previous racecourse appearances and really think she can take the next step forward of the morrow. LA RIOJA (3.45 Salisbury) – created a very good impression on her debut with a close 2nd behind a more experienced Richard Hannon hotpot. La Rioja learned a lot from this outing and built on that to run out a devastatingly impressive scorer at Newbury next time. Easily brushing aside her opponents by 5 lengths and more. That form looks very solid as well as the 3rd and 4th home, across the county line in Royal Berkshire, have both won since. La Rioja will need to improve to figure at this elevated level but I would imagine that she would be more than capable of achieving this. Also looks more than competent on breeding as her half sisters include Lilbourne Lass (Listed placed and finished 2nd in Newbury’s ‘Super Sprint’) and Pastoral Girl (Listed and Group placed). Both these fillies also won with the word ‘soft’ in the going descriptor so conditions should not faze La Rioja at all. A very exciting filly who could be on the brink of being classed very good indeed. Good luck all.
Mrs Windsor has the enviable record of having had 4 2yos run for her this year and all 4 of them have won. This includes the admirable Recorder (already a winner of the Acomb and entered for 3 Group 1s this Autumn), Husbandry (who has an entry in a Group 1) and the useful looking filly Diploma. Salisbury sees the debut of her 5th youngster, the filly Light Music. She is a full-brother to the 5-times winner Sea Shanty who seemed to like a bit of give. Their dam, Medley, was a pretty good Danehill Dancer 2yo who won as a 2yo over 6f and was 4th in the Albany: she went on to win twice more and was very consistent. Trainer Haggas has a 25% strike rate overall this year, having a 31% strike rate with his 2yos and can get them ready first time out (of his 31 2yo runners this year 7 won FTO). Worth a few shillings of your hard earned money (at least each way if the price is worth it) I'd have thought. Apparently Stoute has two nice 2yo colts in the same ownership called Clear Evidence and Midstream. Don't confuse the latter with Midterm, who he also trains, and happens to be a Galileo out of Midday colt!!
Good luck, Bustino. In today’s ‘Weekender’ there is a decent word, in that heat, for the Barrington Hills horse – Dheyya who cost 210,000 gns. Her dam won Newbury’s ‘Super Sprint’ and has already produced the Group winners Burnt Sugar and Brown Sugar. I would, myself, though have thought enthusiasm re Dheyya must be somewhat muted as Dane O’Neill rides due to Paul Hannagan deciding to give the meeting a miss and head to Haydock Park instead.
I like the look of Dolce Strega in that one Barney. Won cosily in a decent time on soft going over 5f. Should appreciate the extra furlong.
Some decent racing tomorrow, just hope the weather holds. I like three short ones... Richard Pankhurst 4.05pm this fella should simply be far too good and classy for the opposition. Pulled out last time in a hot handicap because of ground but was a short price for that. Should very tough to beat on last year's form. Mayfair lady 3.45pm- very impressive last time and form has been boosted since with Whitman winning at Ripon. Dal Harraild 3.00pm 2nd in a class 4 race last time, winner has since run well. This should be easier. Haggas has a good record at Haydock with 2yos.
I am pretty sure that is not what you meant... he could be a full-brother to her. As he is a gelding, I could dispute the ‘full’ bit! For what it is worth, I will not be touching the Dick Poole (Salisbury 3:45) as I like the short-priced favourite Mayfair Lady but I am not prepared to trust the York form and I do not bet when the ground is soft. Hopefully it stays dry at Haydock or this weekend could be a write off as it is soft everywhere else and even Kempton is “standard to slow”.
Sedgefield 4.25: LITTLE POP STD travels all the way up there for just this one ride, for his Dad, and the stable usually do well with Chasers on debut. Certainly worth taking on the short-priced favourite with this one!
1.40 Salisbury Bell Heather 5/1 Looked above average when a very easy winner at Lingfield. Handles conditions and the 2nd has won since already so I suspect it might be a better maiden than the market gives it credit.
Cracking race that Toppy I prefer Zodiakos who looked very good first time out, will be a cracking race to watch
Certainly is Cityhull, very good indeed. The conditions mean that the form needs careful consideration next year when they are all 3 year olds but its a lovely little race to kick off with.
I can't get a bet on from work but thought it worth mentioning the 40/1 available about Sailors Warn in the 3.55 at Sedgefield. Having left Edward O'Grady he is now with Ronald Thompson (who? I hear you say - I don't know either) and it isn't all that long ago that he won a Grade 2 juvenile hurdle and finished 9 lengths 6th behind Zarkandar in the Triumph. Having also finished 2nd in the County Hurdle off 143 in 2012 he surely has to be worth a small e/w dabble here off 122, especially with 8 runners.
Suspiciously big price Oddy! Talking of big prices, FRAP at 38s on the exchanges caught my attention in the 2:30 maiden at Haydock. I've noted this season that MAKFI progeny are improving on second start (considerably) and also that under Richard Hannon jr, the Hannon yard now tend to come on for a run as opposed to waltzking in first time like they did with his father. Given that he is dropped to a sprint trip in line with breeding, on ground that suited his sire and with improvement to come, I've dabbled.
