Hoist The Colours runs in a maiden at Windsor tonight, the stable still seems out of sorts and I am expecting him to need the run, finish down the field and get a nice mark but I still expect to see potential and I wouldnt be surprised if he showed a bit more than he has in two runs so far. Hes a nice looking horse and good to see him get started for the season.
Everything went as expected for Hoist The Colours, he still looks clueless and I thought it was a really nice run, id be hoping for a mark in the high 60s and I think when the penny drops he is going to be very nicely handicapped, hopefully the handicapper is feeling generous.
They are doing a right number with the horse Boris. Full of running but Durcan kept steering him into trouble. 3 out he could easily have come down the outside and probably made the frame. It will be interesting to see what mark he gets now but if its lenient then we all know what to expect next and I doubt we will get much of a price!
Yeah noticed Durcan messing around, racing post form comments will not help with the price next time, might need the first run in a handicap as well though he should have learned a bit from that last run.
Mutakayyef runs in the Tercentenary tomorrow, probably the race ive been looking forward to most of the meeting with a few improving 3yos. He has been progressing well and won a weak maiden as he liked last time, his form with Barley Mow just about sets the standard, I expect him to improve past that one and I think he might just be the one to beat. Cannock Chase won the London Gold Cup which is always a good race and he looks an improver, he needs to step up again but you would be surprised if he didnt. Cloudscape is a horse I really like this year and id hoped he would be aimed at the Cambridgeshire but it doesnt look like they are too concerned with protecting his mark, I think he could be a big danger to all tomorrow and ive got a saver on him but hoping Mutakayyef can do the business.
Mutakayyef ran another good race, not good enough unfortunately and bumped into a very good winner who was given a strong ride. He did not settle at all early in the race and that probably cost him a bit at the end but I think the best horse won. He has turned out to be a very nice horse though so happy with him.
My Titania looks set to finally get her season underway in the Coronation tomorrow. Its going to be difficult to win first time out but while it looks competitive, there doesnt appear to be a real top Group 1 filly in opposition so if she is the real deal then she must have a very good chance.
Folk Melody runs in the last at Newmarket, dropping into handicap company and she doesnt look particularly well in on anything she has shown so far. I dont know why but still they persevere at a mile, she is by Street Cry out of a mare who was beaten a short head in the Lillie Langtry and has looked in need of at least 10f. Not sure what to expect today but with the drop in class hopefully she can at least get involved in the race, I have not given up on her just yet and I want to see her over further.
Yip, should have stuck with her but fell for Telescope. 3 runners from here yesterday Taghrooda, im sure you all seen it! Munaaser has been gelded and it looks to have helped him, he finally put it together and made a mockery of is mark of 82, he never came off the bridle and won by 3 lengths hard held. Hopefully he has turned the corner now and can start realising his potential. Hooded also put in a much better performance in a handicap at Ascot, hes a big horse who has probably needed time but that was much more like it from him and he will be very interesting next time. Hoist The Colours ran in another maiden on Friday and was well beaten behind an easy winner, he was eased down a mile out and never even had a race, handicaps should be next.
Hoist The Colours ended up going for a maiden rather than the handicap, stepped up to 1m5 in first time blinkers. Durcan had to get serious with him from quite a long way out and the response was not immediate, I imagine he was in a state of shock after the "gentle" introduction he had to the sport. He looked in trouble but he responded well and had the race won turning in, he looks to be all about stamina and maybe staying handicaps could be his game. He will now be running off 85 instead of the initial 74 he was given, which sadly was not exploited, but Lanigan has done well to get him winning at a price, he put us away. I thought 74 was harsh on the bare form but the handicapper was having none of it and maybe they thought the maiden was just as good a chance and a better price than he would have been in a handicap. Will be interesting to see where they go and how he does off 85, he doesnt do anything fast and he was only a handicap job for me so not sure what to expect now! Taghrooda runs in the Yorkshire Oaks, she has even surpassed my expectation this season, lets hope everything goes smoothly and she has a nice prep for the Arc. Munaaser has an entry for a 1m handicap at York on Friday, its a much stronger race than he won last time but hopefully he is going the right way now after the gelding. He also has an entry for the Cambridgeshire, never thought about it before, probably because he was starting to look a nightmare, but the 9f could be perfect for him. Went to check the prices expecting carnival odds but he has been put in as 12/1 fav! I did think maybe he could be a Group horse in time so if im right he might be the ideal type for the race, not sure if he would get in off 94 or if he would need a penalty so will see what happens, he could still be well in off his current mark. Hooded is entered in a couple on Saturday, the Melrose at York which he wont get into and a 1m4 handicap at Goodwood where he would be top weight but it could be a good spot for him. The 2nd and 4rth from the Ascot race have won next time and 5th has run well. If he turns up in a 0-80 on decent fast ground he will destroy that mark of 80.
