8.20 Hamilton Union Island 14/1 Union Island is one of the most interesting runners of the day for me, as he is stepped up markedly from 1m to 1m 5f on his 2nd start for the Brian Ellison yard. Union Island started off his career with Kevin Ryan and was the model of consistency as he posted 1 win and 6 placed efforts in the first 8 starts in his career. These runs included a win off a mark of 79 over 1m 1f, a shd 2nd over a mile off 84 and a head 2nd off a mark of 82 over 1m 2f. However, after these excellent efforts Union Island went off the boil, possibly finding his mark of 85 too challenging and left the Ryan yard to join Alan King in 2010, making his debut in June with a decent 2.75L defeat behind Agapanthus off a mark of 80 over 1m 2f and followed that effort up with a 0.75L defeat to Sparking Smile over 1m 4f off a mark of 79. Union Island was then campaigned over fences, placing once and winning once from 3 starts. After a 3 month break, Union Island returned to the flat where he finished 7th. That result is a bit better than it appears on paper, with Union Island challenging for the lead 2f out before fading badly. It is possible that he simply ran out of steam due to a lack of fitness, as it was 7 months since his last run on the flat with only 3 efforts over jumps in the interim period. LTO, Union Island was stepped down markedly in trip to 1m and although it was a trip he relished as a 2 year old, it appears fairly clear to me that he doesnât have the pace for that trip anymore as he was outpaced throughout. As a result, Ellison has entered him into a more testing trip that seems to be his forte nowadays. Although he has never been campaigned over this far, he posted a close up 3rd over 1m 4f so I think he shouldnât have a problem staying the trip. This effort was off a mark of 79 and Union Island has now dropped to a mark of 75, which is the lowest handicap mark he has ever had. Further to this, the talented Lee Topliss claims another 5lb so he is effectively racing off a mark of 70, which leads me to believe he is potentially very well handicapped on his old form. All in all, I think Union Island could run a very good race today. Although the Ellison yard is not in the same form as it was last month, they are still in relatively decent form with 2 winners and 5 places from his last 18 runners. Off a mark of effectively 70, if Union Island is fully wound up and retains the same ability as shown earlier in his career, he looks very well handicapped. I do have a bit of a concern as to whether Ellison wanted to campaign him over the shorter distances, or was it simply a way to allow him to gain race fitness. Union Island is Ellisonâs only runner of the day and I believe he is overpriced at 14/1. Although he hasnât won on the flat for over 2 years and only once, I think Union Island has demonstrated from his placed efforts he is a decent animal and if all things go to plan, he may prove too good for his rivals off this mark.
3.25 Haydock Whipphound 12/1 Going to take a chance on this Mark Brisbourne 4 year old. I remember Stick put this up 2 starts ago as info and he was duly backed all day from 16s into an SP of 10/1. That day, Whipphound ran a decent race to finish 1.19L behind Barkston Ash in 5th. The form of that race has worked out quite nicely, with the 2nd Restless Bay finishing 2nd by a neck in a race last night. Barkston Ash reopposes today on 4 lbs worse terms and with only just over a length in the difference in the last time they met and with todays selection twice the price of Barkston Ash, I believe not only is Whipphound the value between the pair but also the better treated animal. LTO, Whipphound ran off a mark of 72, which is the same mark he ran off 2 starts back and the same mark he runs off again today (although he did have a 5lb claimer on). Once again, there was a fair bit of money around for Whipphound and he was backed into 12s before drifting to 25s just before the off. There was a bit of late money again and once again and he finished 5th again only 1.12L behind the winner Louis the Pious after finishing the best of all the horses that came off the pace. In a race where the first 4 home were racing prominently, it was a very good effort from Whipphound. Mark Brisbourne’s yard have hit very good form recently, with 3 winners and 2 2nds from his last 9 runners. Although Whipphound has only won on the AW, he has shown that he is well capable of putting in good performances on the turf also. Whipphound seems to be an awkward ride who needs to be niggled at a long way from home. LTO he was running a bit all over the place when asked for a maximum effort. Franny Norton takes the ride for the first time on Whipphound and I have always found him to be one of the best jockeys on horses who need a less than straightforward ride. With the promise of his last two runs, the trainers form and the change to Norton lead me to believe he has a decent chance tomorrow and I’ll have a play at the double figure prices. 7.45 Hamilton Mister Hughie 16/1 Can't find my write up for this and really couldn't be bothered doing another 1. I'll give a few bullet points of why I fancy him though. -Ran an excellent 1L defeat 4th in Group 2 last year behind Borderlescott and is now back handicapping at Class 2 + Group 3 entry for next month -Looked as if finally coming back to form when finishing strong and late LTO -Will receive ideal cover in such a large race and Easterby makes a long trip for just 1 runner.
I have been waiting for this horse to make its racecourse debut for sometime and at last Freuhling runs at Newmarket tonight. What has held him up I have no idea but from a handful of Ballymacoll colts, including the promising Fiorente, he was the only one to be entered for the Irish Derby. He is attractively bred being by Azamour out of a half-sister to Conduit, and Ballymacoll have sent the dam back to Azamour this year which I always think a good sign (presume they liked the first result). He is himself a half-brother to Glass Harmonium, who often promised much but seldom delivered (though winning 3 times). The surprise is that his career starts in a mile maiden and not over further. Because of that I will just have a small investment on him today with the expectation that when stepped up in trip he will be more suited to the distance. (As I write this I am thinking why shouldnât an Azamour colt have the speed to win over a mile: he himself won the St James Palace as a 3yo). My hope is that this is a horse we will be talking about this time next summer. So my sporting bet of the day is one that smells better to me and thatâs Sir Henryâs Fragonard at Newmarket tonight: also fancy Drummond in the 3rd at Newbury.
Thanks for the DT Roto. Thought that Caspar Netscher in the 15:40 at Newbury would be hard to beat on an EW basis. 15:40 Caspar Nerscher EW. How about a bit of Billy Connolly to start off the day. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qenzQaXM6Pw&feature=related
Bustino75: You really had me going with Freuhling as I'd never heard of the word! The horse's name is actually Fruehling which means Spring in German, I believe. What a lovely name for a hoss?................
So much racing that by the time I have read the form it might be time to read the results!! My gg.com reminders first - Roker Park 7.45 Hamilton - Running under penalty but is in grand heart. I backed it EW. Gentleman Is Back 6.55 Newmarket - I think this is a very talented horse but I have to watch it on his return as a 3yo.
Then the 2yo racing 2.30 Gunner Will EW 2.50 Docs Legacy 3.40 North Star Boy EW 6.35 Vital Gold The rationale is on the BLOG
Thanks Filon d'Or: the old dyslexia creeping back in, I usually only suffer from fat fingers. Yes a beautiful name as Sir Barney would say ..............but for a colt. The dam is Spring Symphony and apparently Schumann's first Symphony was called the Spring Symphony.
Good Morning all, Nass can you equate Hidden Valley's AW form to the turf for me please, 415 Nby from my favourite yard. Thanks
That race is a nightmare, unless you have faith in one of them you can't exactly draw any sort of line through the race. The queens horse is 28/1 but to me has as much chance as any. That AW form isn't good, the horses penultimate run wasn't good and it should have won last time out too.
Lots of racing today and tomorrow but i get the impression winners are going to be extremely hards to come by! SDS did not excel with his riding of Hal of a Lover at Sunny Catterick on Wednesday and they turn him out very quickly, i did say to Danboro that he hadn't hardly had a race! With doubts over the others staying I think this could well go off favourite and hopefully win well for Dans mate Professional punter 'Lee Bolinbroke' has 2 runners today. In years gone by when he did this they were going for an EW double but today one of them is making his debut so this may not be the case, I will be keeping an eye on the early markets for: 325 Hay: Tom Sawyer 635 Pon: After Timer - making debut If you are brave enough to play today then best of luck
Golf fans: Anyone know how many make the 'cut' in the Open? Think it is about 70, that right? Thanks in advance
