Sweet Solera 2010

The rain has changed the prevailing going and directed one's thoughts towards the Autumn 2 year old contests. The Sweet Solera at Newmarket usually provides an early indicator to the juvenile filly standings and today's renewal looks as if it will be quite informative. Khor Sheed was impressive last time but Clinical (from the always worth watching Sir Mark Prescott yard) and Musharakaat shaped as if they could be improve considerably. The Godolphin filly caught the eye at Ascot but perhaps was flattered by her rail passage. A race for study rather than betting however!!!

The weather has certainly changed in the north of England and it is strange to see it being declared soft at Haydock. It is here where today's fancy runs, namely Magaling (3.25). Running on well to a solid horse (Cappioni) at York recently, after there was decent money looking for value before the off on Betfair, he looks the sort who could do well in this type of contest. From a canny stable, unexposed at trip and with a win on soft, he could be worth a wager.

Today's other racing attraction is the Shergar Cup, which I suppose will be diverting, but in an age of limited resources, one wonders why go to the bother, particularly with punter's attention focussed on the bulging Scoop 6 pot!

best of luck...

Irish 2000

Heading to the Curragh this afternoon for the Irish 2000 Guineas and hoping to spend a pleasant day in good company with the welcome improvement in the weather enhancing matters. The main feature is a very tight affair with many imponderables. Steinbeck looks to be the potential superstar in the field but one wonders if he will be fully primed today and furthermore, I am wary of supporting him at the price particularly as his career so far evokes that of Rip Van Winkle! Canford Cliffs is a smashing horse but I doubt if he will be at his best over the mile here, unless none of the Ballydoyle legions make it a true test. Aidan O'Brien's number two, Fencing Master, (ran well in the Dewhurst, but poorly in the English Guineas) along with Keredari (John Oxx) offer little value and look slightly below Group 1 standard. That leaves us again with Xtension (good run for our money at Newmarket), who I expect to be placed and with luck on the day may land the spoils for Clive Cox. He put in a solid effort for his first outing and although faltering slightly at the dip, he picked up again to run on strongly to suggest he will improve for the stiffer track.

The supporting card looks competitive with an interesting and hopefully informative 2yo race and a hot sprint where Velvet Flicker may go in again.

Across the water, there is a plethora of racing at a selection of top tracks including Goodwood, Haydock and York. It's probably not the day to be trying my luck with the Scoop 6 but one can hardly not be tempted by the bulging pot! Selections (for what it's worth) as follows:

1. Mac Gille Eoin, Parisian Pyramid, 2. Balducci, Huygens, 3. Perpetually, 4. Equiano, 5. Aajel, 6. Discanti

Good luck and enjoy....