All in all I think we have seen a great week of racing since
the return last Monday. It has been hit and miss for me personally but as I
mentioned last week, it was always going to be tough the first week back. When
I said that I meant the struggle finding a horse who is fit to win a race not
trying to find a horse who isn't going to fall out of the stalls and blow their
chance in the first 50 yards.
However, Love and Liberty Beach
provided me with a fantastic boost yesterday and for someone who is holding a
betting slip for Love to win the Guineas and Oaks at 40/1 it could not have
worked out any better. The way she powered away in the final furlong was really
impressive and although we have seen a couple of nice fillies this week
including one of dark horses, Miss Yoda, you have to think Love is only going
to improve again for stepping up to 1m 4f but time will tell.
Kameko was a good winner of the
Guineas and I freely admit I didn't think he would be anywhere near but you
could tell in the paddock before hand, he was some horse. Connections will be
keen to head to the Derby now but I do think he could be a bit of a Roaring
Lion and really dominate the 10f division but again we will see.
Back to the bread and butter and
today sees Haydock, Chelmsford, Lingfield and Naas all host cards. I simply
have to tip BHARANI STAR in the
finale at Haydock due to the fact she was due to be running yesterday in the
Pretty Polly at Newmarket. No basis for a tip I know, but this is interesting
because Peter Chapple-Hyam's filly is rated just 71!!
She showed some promise in a couple of starts
last season and she is bred to be much better than 71 given she cost a cool
£270k. Her trainer has enlisted Andrea Atzeni to do the steering and the pair
boast a decent record when teaming up so everything suggests this filly should
be going very close. At the time of writing (Sunday evening) she is 3/1 but I
fear once the early risers click onto the fact she was due to run in a Listed
Oaks trial yesterday, her price will contract sharply.
I respect Themaxwecan at Haydock
today but he is giving lumps of weight away to JUST HUBERT who screams ‘progressive stayer'. William Muir's horse
was an improver last year before going off the boil towards the end of the year
but he really impressed me when he tried 2 miles for the first time at
Musselburgh. He won a shade cosy that day from a 4lb lower mark and he looks
very well weighted today with just 8'9 on his back against some ‘exposed'
horses. However, if Themaxwecan gets on the front end and gets an easy lead I
fear they are going to have to work to get to him. Hopefully, Graeme Lee is
switched on to the danger and he can use his weight advantage to good effect.
Bharani Star – 2pt win
Just Hubert – 2pt win
