Friday 5.6.20
Yesterday was marred with the lack of luck for best bet
Malotru and the near miss for Zabeel Star. The race looked tailor made for him
and it was disappointing Luke Morris couldn't find a path for him. If Luke
could ride that race again I'm sure he would do in a flash.
Best
not to dwell on these instances of bad fortune, especially so early into the
year as there is plenty of time to make it up and we will do (I think).
With a
big weekend ahead, it's probably best not to blow your brains today so again I
advise a watching brief for most of the day. Loyal supporters of mine, will
know I quite fancy MISS YODA to have
a good year this year as I tipped her up as a dark horse to follow. It makes me
look pretty stingy though as she is 11/8 today but at the time she was 33/1 for
the Oaks which I think justifies my selection as a dark horse.
She
looks to have been found an ideal trial at Lingfield and although we won't get
rich off backing her, I do think she will take a lot of beating. On ratings she
is clear and the form of her Zetland run was boosted the other day as Berlin
Tango took Kempton's Derby trial. Hopefully Miss Yoda can follow suit and gain
us some much needed returns.
I
backed Luke Morris yesterday and although I called him a few names in the
immediate aftermath, I'm giving him the chance to make it back up to me today.
He rides BRIGHTON PIER at Lingfield
for Harry Dunlop, who is a horse who could just have a bit of mileage in his
mark of 78. A lightly raced four year old, he certainly catches the eye in a
field of relatively exposed handicappers. But he has the form in the book to
match his sexy profile as he beat a next time out winner at Wolverhampton when
he was last seen. Farhh's progeny always catch my eye and this lad is out if a
mare whose family stays well as a general rule. The selection has already
proven he stays and therefore he looks a good bet in a ‘weakish' race.
The
1.50 at Newmarket looks a competitive race and I am going to throw two
outsiders into the mix. By doing this I am not showing TOTAL COMMITMENT but I do fancy this horse to run well. A
progressive sprinter for Roger Charlton last season, he has moved stables to
Peter Hedger's yard over the winter and has been running well on the all
weather. I think the plan will be to try and get into the Wokingham at Royal
Ascot but he may just need a couple more pound to guarantee a run there and
therefore I think he should be tuned up to go well here. Ben Curtis is booked
and I expect this horse to benefit for the switch to turf and a proper pace to
run at.
My
other selection is PASS THE VINO who
despite losing his way last year, does boast good course form and an excellent
record fresh. It was for those reasons that I couldn't leave him unbacked at
around 12/1. He was progressive in the early part of last year and I hope he
can progress again as a four year old.
Miss Yoda – 3pt win
Brighton Pier – 1 pt win
Total Commitment – 1 pt win
Pass The Vino – 1pt win
SAT 6.6.20
2000 Guineas day is upon us and we must be very grateful to
the BHA and everyone involved in getting this race back in the calendar a month
after it's intended date.
All
eyes will be on Pinatubo, has he trained on? Is he the same horse as last year?
These are all questions that we should have answers to by the end of play
Saturday. At the prices I can't be a backer of him but I hope he has trained on
because it will be some spectacle if he has.
I like
the O'Brien pair Arizona and Wichita and preference would be for the former but
at his price, he doesn't offer me much value. Therefore I'm going to plump for KENZAI WARRIOR each way. Roger Teal
couldn't come across more confident than he already has done and after he
proved he can ready one for the Guineas 2 years ago with Tip Two Win, this lad
won't be underestimated I'm sure.
His
form stands up to close inspection and he has proven he likes the track after
his win in the Horris Hill. That was on ground that he wouldn't have been in
love with and he will be much more at home on this sounder surface. If you can
find a bookmaker paying 4 places then at 20/1, he's the value bet of the race.
Earlier
on the card, I'm backing an old friend, MOSS
GILL, to take the step up in grade in his stride in the Palace House
stakes. James Bethell's horse has done nothing but improve throughout his
career and he impressed me when coasting home on season debut last time out.
That performance took his rating to 105 which means he simply has to have a
tilt at one of these good races. The sprint division doesn't look all that
strong this year and this race in particular could be there for the taking. I'd
like him to be a shade bigger price but I'm willing to take what I can get my
hands on.
Later
in the card, Andrea Atzeni is an interesting jockey booking on BLACK LOTUS for Chris Wall. This mare
has proved to be steadily progressive and has shot up the handicap in recent
seasons. She is on a career high mark but could well have more to offer as a 5
year old and with such a positive jockey booking is definitely worth a poke at
10/1.
Kenzai Warrior – 1pt e/w
Moss Gill – 1pt win
Black Lotus – 1pt win
Sunday 7.6.20
Most of the hype over the winter has been about
Quadrilateral after her impressive performance in the Fillies Mile last year.
However, there has been really strong vibes for LOVE in the last few weeks and I am a big fan of Aidan O'Brien's
filly. The fact she is his only runner in here suggests they are very happy
with her and I do fully expect her to have improved from two to three. There is
no doubt she will excel over further like all her family have done in the past
and I really fancy her chances for the Oaks, but she could just be good enough
to gain Classic glory here too.
The
favourite won't be able to hit a flatspot here and still expect to win so I do
think she is vulnerable and although the price has gone about Love, I do think
she is the filly to put it up to the favourite.
I will
give a good mention to ROSE OF KILDARE who
is as tough as they come and could well outrun her huge odds.
The
Buckhounds Stakes looks a good race and I am siding with FLOATING ARTIST who looks to have been overlooked in the market. I
was onboard when he came in at Ascot at 25/1 last season and he proved that was
no fluke by running well at Goodwood in a Group 3. He is lightly raced and
could have so much more to offer this year, therefore, in a race where you are
taking a chance on most of them being tuned up, I think he could offer some
real value and is well worth a chance.
Up at
Haydock, the form of KIPPS' debut
effort has been boosted more than once now and it looks to be a strong race.
Celestran came out and won off 82 this week (a shade cosily in my view) and my
selection here goes off 83 so it's very possible she could be better than that.
Hughie Morrison knows what time of day it is and I am surprised she isn't
favourite here.
I can't not back LIBERTY BEACH here as I hope she could
be a bit of superstar this year. She was a real speedball last year and you can
argue she should really be unbeaten as you can make valid excuses for both her
defeats. There isn't any reason why she shouldn't have trained on this year and
although I think she will be more effective over 5f and this is probably a prep
run, I do hope she can go well on Sunday.
Love – 2pts win
Rose Of Kildare 0.5pts e/w
Floating Artist – 1pt e/w
Kipps – 2pt win
Liberty Beach – 1pt win
