Few for me tomorrow. Wont get time for write ups 2.05 York Honk Kong Island 16/1 2.15 Goodwood Grandeur 9/2 NAP 4.00 Chester Grissom 7/1 4.40 Haydock Greensward 25/1 NB
Best Terms 20-1 3.00 Haydock. Ignore form this year - she doesnt stay 7furlongs. Well it's more that she doesn't settle well enough to stay 7f. I'm not sure if 5f is preferable over 6 but she'll improve markedley for this trip and is quite simply far too big at 20s.
Interesting choice George, i was on her last week when she was withdrawn maybe because the connections thought she had a better chance here, market movement will be significant. Good luck
3.30 Haydock – HEAD SPACE 11/1 E.W I have been a fan of this horse since watching him make his debut for Jim Bolger back in April 2010. He looked a smashing prospect that day when sprinting right away from Lightening Thief who went on to be a high 90s performer. However an injury sustained soon after this race meant his juvenile career was over. He returned to the track 391 days later for Bolger but showed next to nothing when finishing 9th of 11 at Cork. Two subsequent starts seen this horse fail to beat a single rival home and it was becoming apparent that he wouldn’t be rediscovering the sparkle from his maiden win that had seen him touted as a lively outsider for the 2000 guineas not only by myself but by several others in the racing industry. Following a further 181 day absence Head Space had his first start for new trainer Ruth Carr and showed that he still does retain ability by finishing a creditable 3rd behind Island Legend at Wolverhampton. Head Space then produced a lacklustre effort 3 weeks later over the same course and distance and I vowed then never to back this horse again. Since then though he has returned to turf and has shown enough in two outings to suggest his current mark of 77 is workable. Firstly at Doncaster when finishing 4th of 14 in on Heavy ground and then a desperately unlucky effort at the same course over 6f when finishing 6th of 18. He had no luck in running that day and finished full of running. I think the 6f is perfect for him and he has been dropped 1lb for his run last time out. He seemed to relish the big fields in his latest racecourse appearances and I am hopeful if he gets luck in running he can produce a big effort tomorrow.
I was tempted to put this one up George and have included it in my Telegraph selections. It patently doesnt stay but was top drawer last year. Listening to Hannon junior at Windsor on Monday I certainly got the impression that more was expected. They are dissapointed that she doesnt get further but still could be a Group One sprinter.
I would love her to run a big race- cracking filly. What do you think of Head Space ? watched his lto run ?
3.15 Curragh – DADDY LONG LEGS 16/1 E.W Daddy Long Legs is way overpriced at 16/1 for tomorrows Irish 2000 guineas in my opinion. I was stunned that he was sent out to race in the Kentucky Derby as he clearly didn’t handle the dirt track at the Breeders Cup back in November. The fact he was pulled up once and only beat one horse home in the other certainly points towards him not handling the surface although his pedigree would indicate that the dirt shouldn’t have been a problem. He had previously shown he had trained on from 2-3 when winning a Group 2 at Meydan. He was also a Group 2 winner as a Juvenile landing the Royal Lodge stakes at Ascot by an impressive 3 ¼ lengths. He had previously been beaten fair and square by Trumpet Major but both horses have improved a lot since then and I think it would be wrong to say Trumpet Major holds my selection through that form line. Daddy Long Legs is a horse I always thought would be the type to improve from 2-3 and although he has done plenty of travelling already this season I expect a big effort tomorrow. I would also like to point out I don’t think it is significant that Joseph O’Brien rides Power as Colm has been on board Daddy Long Legs for both his Group 2 wins.
BET 3.15 Curragh: Born To Sea e.w It would be an understatement to say I'd be being optmistic on this one, but I do still think we will see a nice performance from this horse at some point or another. Jonny Murtagh is not on board (is that choice, or is it due to the owners of Takar?) which can be seen as a negative, and all in all it looks a tough one for Born To Sea to get involved in. That said though, he will have come on a fair bit from Newmarket. Remember he was injured on his final start last season and that was his first run for a long time, still very green, and still very keen. His trainer sais he has a good turn of foot, but we saw that blunted the last twice. I think the quick ground at the Curragh means he is worth chancing at the prices. Clearly he is nowhere near the level of his 3-parts brother, but on a sound surface, a chance to settle early with first time blinkers, and a course win to his name, there might be some value to be had, albeit probably each-way than for win purposes. And whatever else you analyse, John Oxx does not put horses in Group Ones for the sake of it, so I am of the opinion he has shown glimpses at home but we have yet to really see it on the track. The first quarter of a mile is key to his chances tomorrow and Smullen is going to have to hold on tight, and find cover. I could see a reversal with Trumpet Major and Hermival on the cards in Ireland and for the benefit of having had a run now, but fear one or two might just have enough to pull clear. Worth a mention 1.40 Curragh Delight- 4/1 looks a bit big and I suspect a few people will have a dabble on this. Excellent pedigree but market suggested it was not fully tuned on debut and certainly would have had more of an education, similar to Father of Science's debut, who went on to win well next time out at Chester. Will be a lot more clued up, and you would think a much bolder showins would be on the cards. I expect the price to shorten and to go off 5/2. 2.00 Haydock: Montaser- Travelled very well on soft ground at Chester but ran out of steam late- think there is a chance of a much improved finish on sounder surface at Haydock, and rates an interesting chance. 3.00 Haydock: Bated Breath 3/1 would look a very fair price for a horse who has mixed it with top level for a while now. Charltons team have been in really good order and Bated Breath would be looking for a confidence boosting win on the road to a clash with Black Caviar. The class act if he turns up. 4.20 Curragh Jamesie- Didnt have an easy time of it at Chester, no luck at all but I thought shaped with an abundence of promise and I was looking forward to seeing him on a track with a bit less draw bias! Interesting turned out quickly and I wondered if there was some compensation to be had for the owners Chester-day-out outlays? 16/1 might be interesting.
Owners of Takar Toppy he signed up to ride all of the Aga Khan horses in Ireland - he is not Oxx's stable jockey like many say - its just Oxx has most of his horses in Ireland. I imagine he would be pretty pissed if he even asked to get off a horse he was running in the guineas that had won its last two races.
Yeah watched it and does fall into the eyecatching category, I didnt like the way it carried it's head though, hanging a bit when it should have been going forward. Not a yard I like either but should go well.
Is Borderlescot really a 33/1 chance in the Temple tomorrow? I don't think so and have backed each way.
You just beat me in putting him up RV lol I really fancy him to run a big race tomorrow. You can excuse his last two runs in the usa, the ground underneath him was travellying which doesnt suit the horse so far. If you look at the race in meydan he beat eventual chester vase winner Mickdam, a very talented horse in Red Duke and also supposable ballydoyles 1st string Wrote. People overlook form across the seas for no reason what so ever, but the form he carries in to the race is massive His action will suit the ground tomorrow, the dryer it gets the more he will like it. Colm knows this horse inside out and a place tomorrow should be at the very least
I like TAKAR in the Irish race tomorrow. Improving fast and doesnt have much to improve to win this. I like the connections and they wouldnt be tilting at windmills. Night everyone and good luck to you all this weekend.....come on SAAMID and come on TAYLORS SKY!
3.10 York – CALICO CAT 16/1 This is going to look like a stupid selection but I am confident Calico Cat can continue his progress and run another blinder tomorrow. Unraced for Andre Fabre he was sold for just 3,200 gns and is now in training with Alastair Lidderdale. He showed immense promise on debut when finishing 3rd of 4 in the Ormonde (Group 3) at Chester. Calico Cat finished just 5 ¼ lengths behind the winner Memphis Tennessee who also finished 4th in the Epsom Derby last season and third in the Irish equivalent. The selection was beaten 1 ¼ lengths by the 100 rated Vivacious Vivienne. He finished in front of Brown Panther who underperformed on the day. Calico Cat went on to win at the second time of asking taking a maiden at Thirsk from a 82 rated horse. Although the winning distance was only ¾ of a length he was worth more than the distance suggests. There is no doubting this horse has plenty of ability and although it is a huge ask for him to win tomorrow my reason for backing him is that a couple of his main rivals come in to this way out of form and I think he could potentially take advantage of this.
I know after her first run over 7f this season connections were split over whether or not to try her over 7f again. They were pretty certain she didn't get the trip but decided that perhaps it was the ground. The thinking is that she should get the trip if she can settle but she is very free. The talk then was of the Jubilee - I don't know if this means 6 is her optimum and the aim might since have changed as it was all very open to change. She gets a nice weight for age and fillies allowance and I really believe 20s is too big! Also have her in telegraph comp and will probably feature in my league picks too She has an interesting entry on Monday in a listed race over 6 where the field is weaker than tomorrow and she gets in at 8stone. Cant imagine she'll run both but it's one to watch out for.
The one horse I forgot to stick up in my rush! Agree with RV completely and price is mad as I really rate this horse extremely highly
