Right, Only two races interest me today as betting heats: The 2.40 at Sandown is a sprint handicap which has cut up with non runners being declared. Italian Tom is the selection, a course and distance winner with 2 from 2 strike rate at the course, he has been running really well all season and last time he probably failed because of the extended trip. He is back down to the sprint trips and after a little 20 day break I expect him to be fresh for this race. He has won on soft ground at this track so I don't think the ground is too much of an issue and I also think he has a superb draw to attack from. He is below his highest winning handicap mark and as a four year old I still think he has potential to improve a little more. Its not much of a race and at 4/1 I think he is the bet of the day. The 3.50 looks a race which you need an unexposed horse and we have a couple of very interesting three year olds taking on their elders. Top Diktat is probably the three year old that is open to the most improvement and last time out he showed that he was finally coming to hand and looked like a racehorse at long last. He won what looks to be a terrible race but I think it will be the starting point for a successful handicap career, and on this softer ground I think he is the one to be with. Dysios isn't as unexposed but is more reliable and could be the one to test him the most. 2.40 Italian Tom 3.50 Top Diktat (plus forecast with Dysios and Bloodsweatandtears)
DIAMOND HEAD ,who won us oodles and noodles over the years. BATED BREATH,need i say more,it won us riches and riches beyond our wildest dreams when it won,yes won bundles and bundles and bundles on it.
The more i look at the Nunthorpe the more i like the chances of Prohibit! Hoof It sets the standard after his masterful win in the Stewards Cup off a big weight! However as much as he will be finishing fast surely 6f suits him better. Captain Dunne will ensure a fast pace backed up by Masamah who will take over once the Captain tires. Requinto is the one that could surprise them all and be another Kingsgate Native and win this as a 2yo however the non stop, flat out pace will without any doubt suit Prohibit more than most! Since concentrating on these 5f races rather than 6f he has improved and is extremely consistent. 66 days off does not worry me at all as he goes well fresh and the trainer is happy with him.
Nowt at York for me today but two at Bangor. Kim Bailey has a great record here this year so is worth backing his two in the first and second race on the card for small stakes at decent prices and i'll do the double just in case lady luck is shining on me. Rannoch Moor 2.20 Bangor Good Old Days 2.55 Bangor
3.40 Bangor-on-Dee Ostland (NAP) Charlie Longsdon's prolific gelding get's a confident nap vote today, not only because he has racked up a hat-trick and looks capable of more, but also because his opponents look eminently beatable for one reason or another. Ostland had both Postmaster (7lbs pull for 15 lengths and since disappointed over hurdles) and Midnight Gold (pulled up) behind on his latest victory and I see no reason for either to reverse the form today. Jonjo's horse Sea Wall still looks a touch high in the weights but rates the biggest danger dropping back in trip. Culahill I think is still coming to terms with his 114 rating and will again struggle. Star Beat has plenty of weight and a long absence to overcome, and Solway Bay is up 9lbs for his win last time when receiving plenty of weight from Sun Tzu. Soulard's form when with Tom George would give him a squeak but his new trainer has not yet found the key. Ostland was a fairly moderate hurdler, his best novice performance over the smaller obstacles probably being his 3rd to Cheshire Prince (Osric in behind) but he didn't really go on from there, possibly due to the fact that he looks a lot more comfortable on summer ground. His last run over hurdles at Cheltenham in April on good ground was a decent 4th in a Class 2 handicap and connections clearly decided that chasing would be his game. Ostland's first chase appearance was in May at Fontwell (gd/fm, 2m6f) where he scored a bloodless victory over Straw Bear by 25 lengths. He then went to a very similar race at Towcester and was sent off the 4/5 fav. However he was made to work all the way to the line by Arkose (subsequently ran a very good 2nd to Earth Planet) and also had subsequent easy winner Cat Six in behind. Ostland then made his handicap debut off a mark of 128 at Market Rasen (gd/fm, 2m6f) where he showed a very likeable attitude in giving Henry Daly's Rockiteer 11lbs (that one has not really franked the form since but seems a horse that has either good days or very bad days). Ostland is up 5lbs for that victory which seems fair enough to me - this is only his 4th start over fences so there should be more to come, and I also think he won a shade cosily last time. At 5/2 he looks a decent bet to me.
Morning all! Not a bad day yesterday, could have done wi Fallon getting Crystal Capella into 3rd for a nice e/w round robin up! Anyway, nap of day is HOOF IT in the 3.40 at York. Fallon has said in the weekender he'll be devestated if this doesn't win so thats good enough for me! Also, a mate gave me CRYING WOLF in the 4.15 at York. He gets good info at times but I dont like races like this cos anything can come out of em which turn out good. I'll be backing it e/w just in case but thought id pass it on! Also gunna have a couple of doubles with the T. Vaughan/R. Johnson runners at Bangor, he had a nice 95/1 four timer last night! Good luck all!
Serena Brotherton is head and shoulders above her counterparts in these lady amateur races as she proved in the first race at Catterick last Friday! Tonight in the 525 Salisbury she rides GALLEGO for Richard Price who absolutely skated up at Newbury last Friday and escapes a penalty for that easy success due to it being another amateur race! The 5s on offer will tumble IMO as people are slowly realising what an asset she is and the horse won easily LTO!! The combination of the 2 makes for a good bet
Big field sprints are a total lottery imho, so I'll be leaving the Nunthorpe well alone. When do favourites ever win these races? The last fav to win the Nunthorpe was Oasis Dream 8 years ago, and he was 4/9. Every year you hear all this stuff about how great York is, how cheap the Champagne is, and how the northern yokels are going to show us shandy drinking southerners how to have fun properly. But I can never back a winner on the appropriately named Knavesmire. As far as I'm concerned, the only good thing about this meeting is the chance to hear Mick Easterby say c**t on tv. In times of trouble, I frequently turn to Messrs Hannon and Stoute. So I'll be chucking a few of my slender shekels at Lilbourne Lad in the Gimcrack and Dux Scholar in the Strensall Stakes. I'm starting to get desperate tho.
Tia: Yes saw that, best available now is 4s BOG with BetFred! That is a nice card at Salisbury, another that stands out is The Noble Ord who was very slowly away on debut but ran a nice race, could go well at a price in the 555. Like the look of Fire Ship in 630 who will enjoy the ground and Look Left in the 735 first time in a handicap after winning on debut.
Await the Dawn was beaten fair and sqaure in the Juddmonte, the jockey had nowt to do with it. A combination of Ruby Walsh, Lester Piggott and Pat Eddery in the saddle wouldn't have won on it. 3.05 York Tazahum 10-1 e/w
One from me today LIFE AND SOUL 16/1, big things were expected this year, however, he runs today off a 2lb higher mark than his race here last year in the same race and is 2lb worse off with the winner The Fonz. Because I have banged on about this one all year I have to stay with him and hope that he can realise his potential in winning a decent race this year.
Despite my better judgement I fancy Burwaaz with Richard Hills in the Gimcrack - I know I'll live to regret it.
3.05 Nationalism 7/1 A horse who has soft ground form, is by a soft ground sire and looks very progressive. He needs to find a bit on official marks but this looks perfect for him and I take him to beat this field.
Good old Caspar Netscher deserved that win, ran a cracker on Derby Day Hmm now why did i not do the RFC!! Nass: I am totally with you on Nationalism and my 365 free bet is on it
