5:00 Lingfield sees Silvestre De Sousa for his only ride on ORPSIE BOY 15/2 and that horse should strip much fitter for its return. He is nicely treated but to counter that we have to remember he is a ten year old. Drawn well to attack if they decide to take the bold route around Lingfield. Aside from that, with the Derby fast approaching I wanted to post a video of a proper Champion 3 year old. Sometimes we underestimate this fellow, but he won a Guineas, Derby, Eclipse, Irish Champion, Juddmonte, and Arc De Triomphe all in the space of around 150 days. When you think about how some of these get wrapped in cotton wool, he really was a truly amazing horse and brilliantly campaigned by John Oxx. [video=youtube;4M-bqX8XVdE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M-bqX8XVdE[/video]
BOOGIE DANCER 4-1 4.40 Huntingdon having first outing for Best yard and is primed for a winning debut!
I'm in the middle of a write up for Orpsie Boy at the moment myself. De Sousa must be getting a chopper to go from this sole ride at Lingfield to his book of rides at Kempton as its a 3 hour + drive between the two courses. With regards to Sea The Stars, its a shame that Frankel came along and stole all his thunder (and I mean that in the nicest way possible!). His incredible list of achievements as you mentioned above have been completely overshadowed by Frankel coming along on his coattails. Least not we forget he is the only horse ever to have won the Guineas, Derby and L'Arc De Triomphe as a 3 year old and that is an absolutely tremendous feat that we may never see again in our lifetime. The fact STS only just did enough and wasn't as emphatic in his manner of victory certainly detracts away from his phenomenal talent to some people - and I think very unjustly. Before people go nuts and start lambasting me read this next part properly I don't think anyone can argue that Sea The Stars achieved a great deal more on the racecourse that Frankel and he certainly doesn't get the recognition he deserves.
Thanks Toppy Sea The Stars was/is one of my favourite horses of all time, good to watch those again brings back a lot of good memories.
Yep, to be bold enough to take on those races was amazing. ROTO i fancy it to go off fav if I'm honest, but the distance worries me slightly having never won over 8f. Has shaped well though and Lingfields sharp bend into the shortish home straight should slingshot him into the lead if SDS rides him positively. Hoping he pings it and allows one from wide to cross and give him a lead in 2nd or 3rd to settle him and then slingshot them on the turn.
I think Orpsie Boy may be held up to get the trip Toppy. I don't mind what tactics he uses if he wins though!
5.00 Lingfield Orpsie Boy 13/2 There is a definite concern about Orpsie Boy's ability to stay a mile but this well handicapped 10 year old has a very eye catching booking in Silvestre De Sousa who has this sole ride at Lingfield before heading to Kempton for his book of rides for which he will surely need a helicopter to get to and this looks a huge indication that a massive run is expected by the Ruth Carr stable. Last season Orpsie Boy started off the season in tremendous fashion when winning on his seasonal reappearance off a mark of 81 before 2 very decent efforts followed off marks of 87 on his next couple of starts. His form largely tailed off for the most part for the rest of the season (he did chase home the very well handicapped Idler off a mark of 80 back in September) but resultantly he has become a very well handicapped horse as he is now rated 75 having been dropped 2lb for an encouraging reappearance which should have put him spot on for this. This represents a rare runner at Lingfield at Ruth Carr and the booking of De Sousa, who was successful on his sole start on Orpsie Boy, looks a very eye catching booking with the jockey going to Lingfield for this one engagement. Tactics will be very interesting given that Orpsie Boy is unproven at the distance but there seems a fair bit of pace in the race so it is possible that he will be held up in the rear for a late run. Similarly, he is well drawn in stall 4 so De Sousa may try and get a decent position near the pace on the rail before attacking into the home straight but I don't really mind which tactic is employed as long as he wins! Ruth Carr's string has gradually started to get into top gear recently and with De Sousa needing to make his way to Kempton via aerial means I am sure a very big run is forecast on what is the yards only runner of the day.
Google Maps lied to me then lol. Must not have been the right locations it showed me. Not familiar with either racecourse's locations as I reside on the other side of the Irish Sea.
8.00 Kempton Grayswood 16/1 NAP I am absolutely stunned to see such a big price available about William Muir's handicap debutant who looks on a very nice opening mark of 66 upped in trip to 1m4f which will suit this 3 year old tremendously and if fully fit for his first start in 6 months I think he's bound to go very close to winning this. A 75,000 Gns purchase as a yearling, Grayswood is a half brother to 5 winners including the US Grade 1 winning Ticker Tape who is bred to be a middle distance horse and I think he showed considerable promise on his two all weather starts as a 2 year old over inadequate trips when seen staying on late to good effect. Having bombed out on his racecourse debut on soft ground at York last October, Grayswood showed a lot more encouragement when beaten 4L in 5th on his 2nd start over 7f at Kempton. Settled on the rail in mid division in a steadily run contest, Grayswood was still travelling well under Martin Dwyer at the 2f pole but got outpaced when the eventual winner Lilac Tree suddenly injected pace in the contest before Grayswood stayed on in the final furlong although he never troubled the leaders. The form of that race isn't too bad with the winner running a decent enough race on his 3 year old debut off a mark of 79 whilst the runner up Swift Bounty was a very eye catching 4th on his handicap debut off the same mark on his his only subsequent outing. Grayswood again put in an improved performance on his final start back in November when upped to an extended 1m at Wolves when again staying on late to finish 3rd. In another steadily run contest, Grayswood was held up in the midfield and travelled into the race well once more but was again found wanting when the winner Tight Knit quickened up off the front heading into the home straight and although Grayswood didn't have the speed to go with that rival he did finish strongly to come 3rd. The form of that race is decent if not superb but one telling thing to note from that race is that the favourite Grendisar, who was also having his 3rd start, finished back in 7th and although that rival has appreciated the step up in trip since then (which Grayswood will no doubt relish as well) he faces Grayswood on 8lb worse terms for that outing and the price disparity between between the pair is absolutely astronomical to me. He's been put away since then and I am not at all surprised to see him up significantly in trip to 12f for his handicap debut given that it should suit ideally when looking at his pedigree. Although the only horse in the race not to run in 2013, you've got to take his fitness on trust but I think the fact he's not starting off the season over a shorter trip indicates he is fully wound up for his reappearance. Additionally the booking of Silvestre De Sousa, who has a good record for the yard, certainly gives a strong indication of Grayswood's readiness and I'm confident he'll be fit enough to do himself justice today. Although William Muir hasn't had a good 2013 with only two winners so far, he did have a winner with his only runner Yesterday so I'm hoping its a sign of better things to come for the yard starting with Grayswood today. Looking at this contest, there doesn't seem to be any out and out front runner which is a bit of a concern as I am sure Grayswood would appreciate a race run at a decent clip but hopefully this 7 runner contest is run at a decent clip. Judged on what he has shown on the track and looking at his breeding, I am very confident that Grayswood has more than enough ability to win off a mark of 66 over middle distances and if fully wound up it would not surprise me in the slightest to see Grayswood start single figures off bottom weight of 8-12. If ready to do himself justice, I am very confident of a big performance from Grayswood and if he wins this in good style I won't be the least bit surprised as I strongly feel he'll end up to be considerably better than a mark of 66.
Every time I see that clip of STS' Guineas win, I think for a few moments that Delegator has it in the bag. Is he still in training? Hadn't realised Cityscape was in that Guineas also. Not a bad renewal by any means.
Lingfield is just at the bottom ofthe M25 and Kempton is about a quarter of the way up! (near Ali G town - Staines innit )
Yep, always found that striking when Delegator looms up. Then Sea The Stars did what became his trademark- had kidded us all again and lengthened once he saw another rival. He looks so relaxed at the end of his races, even the Arc win he looks so at ease with himself and that was after pulling for half a mile and then quickening clear of a smart field.
lol indeed.....i m sure De Sousa can get there in time on a Raleigh Chopper ...! P.S off day for most yesterday with some poor runs by selections esp persian peril -donkey! Lets hope for a change of luck today for those of you that play.
Southwell being supported by Cheveley Park Stud by the look of it. I am fond of those silks, some good horses have run under those colours. Forgot to thank Ron for his Arc advice, so thanks Ron! Anyone got some painkillers for me?
Marvellous clips TopClass thanks for posting them up. Sea the Stars = all time great. Just reading McCoys book and he reckons Kinane was a close to the perfect jockey as you could get. That Arc win was amazing, showed nerves of steel there. As for today's offerings I reckon Donnas Palm is worth an each way speculation at 14s in the handicap chase at Worcester. Good luck all today
3 all weather meetings in the middle of May? (OK, 2.5 as half the Lingfield card is on turf). Is this really what racing needs? Generally uninspiring stuff today but I would offer up Peter Bowen's Dineur as a solid prospect in the 6.50 at Worcester this evening - won on reappearance off a mark of 110 and raised just 5lbs for that. Bowen's animals usually come on for their first run so I think he will go very close in this and at 5/1 looks a solid e/w bet to nothing. Meanwhile I see zee Germans will be supplementing Chopin - I'll be scouting the local media for any gems of information
No help Ron, can't see it. I hear Mr King is getting First Mohican at the end of the season, that is very interesting.
