Cold Storage

300th post today and an opportune moment to put matters into "Cold Storage" in an attempt to refresh a stale racing brain. Many thanks to everyone who has taken the time to read one's musings over the past few years and hopefully followed some of the winning advice proffered. A few months break ought to recharge the batteries!

Nonetheless, looking to go out on a winning note with old friend, Bated Breath in the Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock. He has his ideal conditions this afternoon; track, distance and going and if reproducing the same level of form as in last season's renewal (chinned on the line by the excellent Dream Ahead), Roger Charlton's charge should finally garner the long awaited Group 1 victory. He does not face the same level of opposition this time and at 3/1 looks a great bet.

ciao for now.....

Bullet Sprint Stakes 2012

Beverley is not normally at the centre of Saturday racing's attention but on quiet day, the Yorkshire track's highlight, the Bullet Sprint is perhaps the most interesting race of the afternoon. In an open contest, like the chances of Brian Smart's 3 year old, Free Zone who caught the eye on two occasions in hot sprints at Sandown. Already a course and distance winner, he should be well prepared by his shrewd trainer and despite an unfavourable draw, could be thereabouts.

Good luck.... 

Ebor 2012

After the excellent fare this week, today's card at York looks somewhat lob sided with 3 long distance races featuring. The highlight is the Tote Ebor over 1m 6f. This year's renewal looks even more competitive than usual, with the large purse on offer attracting plenty of interest. Changeable weather and the unpredictability of the draw, add to the confusion and will be looking to a shortlist of Icon Dream, Hurricane Higgins and Sense of Purpose (Mr Weld plying his Galway magic touch at York?) for a run and bit of luck.

Racing headlines however have been dominated by Frankel (not for the first time) following his saunter in the Juddmonte International. Not wishing to carp, but there are better horses on the circuit than those vanquished on the Knavesmire. Nevertheless, freakishly brilliant, what's next for Sir Henry's machine? The Arc? a showdown with Danedream, Nathaniel and Camelot and the opportunity to cement his place on the Pantheon?

Doubtful that he will make it to Paris, but here's hoping...

good luck..

Great St Wilfrid 2012

A low draw generally prevails in the Great St. Wilfrid on the idiosyncratic track at Ripon. With the leading lights mostly drawn here, seven furlong specialist Captain Ramius, may run on to good effect at the business end. However in these highly competitive heats it always wise to split stakes and the lightly raced, Singeur is definitely worth a look. This speedster appears to have been laid out for this by his astute local connections and will have strong claims particularly on quickish ground.

good luck..

Sweet Solera Stakes 2012

An interesting renewal of the always informative Sweet Solera at Newmarket this afternoon. The market leaders, Certify and Sky Lantern, have solid claims but prefer the chances of Reyaadah who showed plenty of potential when winning a strong maiden on her debut. The subsequent decent showings of those in behind suggest that this 2 year old will be in the mould of her owner's (Hamdan Al Maktoum) fine tradition of producing quality fillies, whilst giving Paul Hanagan the opportunity to show his talent at this level.

On a relatively quiet weekend, an extraorinary field will line up at Deauville on Sunday for the Jacques La Marois. All seeking a Group 1, while obviously avoiding Frankel, it looks impossible to call but definitely one to savour.

enjoy...

Princess Margaret Stakes 2012

Racing like everything today will be overshadowed  by the Olympics. Nevertheless there are three decent cards at Ascot, Newmarket and York. Perhaps the most interesting race is the Princess Margaret Stakes for two year old fillies, which should shed some light on the pecking order before we enter the Autumn. Favourite, Maureen was deemed an unlucky loser last time and Richard Hannon's charge looks the one to beat with Hoyam (a good second  in the Queen Mary) her main rival. However it is noteworthy that David Wachman's filly, Mironica is being travelled again (better ground?) and she may be worth a look in the market.

Elsewhere, Wigmore Hall might prosper back down in grade at York and promising sprinter, Rex Imperator should run well at Newmarket.

enjoy...

King George 2012

Fascinating renewal of the King George today at Ascot. The market is finding it difficult to separate the leading three protagonists, which hopefully signals a tremendous contest. Nathaniel beat St. Nicholas Abbey in last year's race and with both horses improving since, it is highly likely that they will be in the mix. The ground will be highly influential with softer going favouring John Gosden's Eclipse winner. Nevertheless find it very hard to split them!! Sea Moon, whilst equally fancied, has to improve on the book to be involved and one is very interested to see if he can lift master trainer, Sir Michael Stoute, out of the doldrums. No better man to progress a talented four year old and while current odds look unattractive, it would be no surprise if he is the one to prevail. A tricast!? The impressive international contingent containing four Group 1 winners adds great depth to the race and should not be overlooked, for there within may lie the value. A race to savour!

No less riveting a contest, is the Irish Oaks on Sunday. At this stage, ground conditions favour Great  Heavens, but it would unwise to dismiss top class fillies, Princess Highway and Was.



enjoy...

July Cup 2012

The July Cup at Newmarket is the main feature of a busy day, which also includes some of the summer's more important handicaps and an intriguing Grand Prix De Paris at Longchamp. Followed Bated Breath over the cliff last season and it would be great to see him finally land a well merited Group 1. However with the conditions against him, I think I will wait until Haydock to go again. Indeed it looks likely that he will be missing and if so, the race will be a much poorer affair. On the prevailing going, Fire Lily might be worth an each way bet. David Wachman's filly has been very consistent racing against the best of her class and while seven furlongs may be her optimum trip, that won't be a drawback this afternoon. She will like the ground, and her age and gender weight allowance ought to give her a fighting chance.

best of luck...

Coral Eclipse 2012

Following So You Think's injury, today's Coral Eclipse at Sandown looks quite open. Nathaniel is the best horse, but this appears to be a pipe opener for targets over further later in the season. Thirsk Hunt Cup winner Farhh, subsequently a tad unlucky at Ascot, is likely to go off favourite but needs to improve. Others worth considering are veteran Twice Over and Italian multiple winner, Crackerjack King (beat track/meeting winner Afsare last time). However, with an eye to the future an each way bet on lightly raced, Cogito (course winner and hampered last time in hot race) might be at least, informative!

good luck...

Royal Ascot 2012

Forsaking the Royal meeting this term for the delights of Tuscany. However will be keeping an eye on matters from afar and in particular on the week's nap, Born to Sea in the St. James Palace Stakes. Very well bred with astute connections (Oxx and Murtagh), he appeared to finally to get the hang of things, when running on well in the Irish 2,000 and is the value bet in an open renewal.

enjoy.....

Mud larking

The seemingly incessant rain leads to rather dull fare this afternoon. Interested to see how progressive sprinter Pearl Secret goes on the reported soft going in the usually informative Scurry Stakes at Sandown. His class should tell but not a betting proposition on the prevailing conditions. Plenty of his fellow three year old speedsters line up in a six furlong handicap at York. Quite a few notebook entrants here, but on the going, Kevin Ryan's Dam Beautiful may be worth an each way wager.

good luck..

Looking back?

After last week's equine excellence, this weekend's fare look pretty dull and uninspiring. Rather than muddling through a myriad of handicaps, one is going to take another peek at the action on the Downs. Camelot's smooth win in the Derby was undoubtedly the highlight. Plaudits to his young Jockey and hopefully his normally wise connections will eschew the Triple Crown nonsense and plot a route to Longchamp via Leopardstown, emulating Sea The Stars triumphant march in 2009.

St Nicholas Abbey also impressed and looks set for the King George, while Was completed Ballydoyle's trio of Group 1 wins at Epsom. Have to admit to a small wager here at long odds having been taken with her debut win in a Curragh maiden last summer. She should progress and will be of obvious interest in the Irish Oaks.

Golden summer for Aidan O'Brien and the Boys???

good luck...

Derby 2012

Everything points to Camelot winning this year's Derby. Form, breeding and connections suggest that the 2,000 Guineas winner looks home and hosed with the only possible chink in his armour being his ability to handle quick going at Epsom. Too short for a bet at 4/6, it may be worth considering playing the winning distance market, as his Stallion fees would be boosted by a spectacular performance. Alternatively the field of nine runners make an each way wager attractive and the underrated Thought Worthy could offer some value.

enjoy......

Irish 2,000 2012

Pity that Parish Hall is under the weather and misses both targets. Probably makes Power the leading choice now assuming he will be more at home on the quicker going.

good luck..

Irish Guineas 2012

The final brace of Guineas take place at the Curragh this weekend. The fine weather will ensure good ground at least and we should be in for fine fare. The 2,000 today is an intriguing contest albeit lacking a potential super miler. Jim Bolger, as his wont, is attempting to defy normal practice by aiming his Dewhurst victor, Parish Hall at this and the Derby next weekend. There is no Camelot to reckon with today and his Group One form entitles him to be a clear favourite, making the 4/1 currently available an attractive bet. Aidan O'Brien has a very strong hand of 3 year old colts this season but none of his representatives convince and with question marks over the Oxx pair, Parish Hall gets the nod.

On Sunday, Homecoming Queen seeks to reprise her stunning Newmarket win. That however, along with her winning form was on soft ground which leads one to surmise that she may be vulnerable. She does not have a lot to contend with from a moderate line up but Yellow Rosebud showed enough at Leopardstown to suggest she may up to the task in a race where her trainer (Dermot Weld) has had plenty of recent success.

enjoy.....

Lockinge Stakes 2012

Looking forward to seeing Frankel return to the track today in the Lockinge at Newbury. Racing's superstar had a satisfactory racetrack gallop on Guineas Day and is fully expected to maintain his unbeaten record. However a few shrewd observers are questioning his chance. Perhaps taking into consideration his recent injury scare or the fact that his seasonal bow on this track last season was less than inspirational. However I doubt his formidable connections would be taking any risks and expect him to overcome his old rival, Excelebration now domiciled at Ballydoyle. Of more interest is what route he will take throughout the summer?

Got to see plenty of York this week and two worthy Epsom candidates emerged. The Fugue impressive in the Muisidora now heads the Oaks market but she will have her work cut out to beat whoever represents Aidan O'Brien. Bonfire did enough to justify his place in the Derby but can't see him thwarting Camelot at this stage.

Nothing stands out for a bet this afternoon so watching brief will continue ....

good luck..

Classic Trials

Always like this time of the year with the series of trial races for the classic generation. Whilst they may not always signal winners at Epsom, a pecking order and form lines are usually constructed. So far this week, we have had Chester's input (albeit blighted somewhat by the weather) and with Lingfield, the Derrinstown and the Dante to follow, hopefully a credible alternative to Ballydoyle's brigade will emerge. However at this stage it looks very much that last week's 2000 Guineas winner, Camelot will take all the beating. His almost languorous winning surge looked to have the Derby very much in mind and it would take a brave man to oppose him. Nevertheless 5/4 is poor value and the search for an each way candidate continues.

cheers....

Guineas Weekend 2012

Intriguing renewal of the 2,000 Guineas this afternoon at Newmarket. Plenty of potentially high class colts go to post in what promises to be an informative, but difficult to call contest. Therefore going to focus on how five of the eighteen runners will fare rather than attempting to identify a winner. Here goes:

1) Camelot could well take this en route to the Derby but he is bred for further and represents poor value at current odds (may well be a different story at Epsom however).

2) Power acquitted himself well as a 2 year old but two defeats at Group 1 level suggest he may not be good enough for this and being by Oasis Dancer, could well turn out to be a July Cup candidate.

3) Born to Sea has very strong connections and is priced accordingly. However John Oxx will have him ready for a good run and expect better to come at the Curragh and Royal Ascot.

4) Top Story has only one run (albeit very promising) under his belt. Doubts about the going lessen his chances but he will definitely come on for the experience.

5) Fencing has little chance against Camelot on the book, but his trainer is a master at bringing colts on from these tests and he is one who could progress nicely over the season.

The French contingent are also worth noting particularly with the first three from the Djebel running-Abtaal is probably best of these.

All in all, a race to savour and study. For a bet, will hope to get Born to Sea at 10s or higher, with the summer more in mind than today.

The 1,000 Guineas on Sunday is much more straightforward. Maybe was a top class 2 year old and assuming she has trained on, she will take all the beating in a lop sided contest. One for the watching brief is The Fugue trained by John Gosden.

enjoy....

Punchestown Gold Cup 2012

The National Hunt season culminates this afternoon on both sides of the Irish Sea. A disappointing punting experience for this corner, hopefully today will bring a bit of luck. Punchestown has been discommoded by the unseasonable weather but it does bring the main event, the Punchestown Gold cup, to our screens on a Saturday afternoon. Quel Esprit is entitled to go off favourite and expect him to maintain his stable's predominance. However, it is interesting to note that Magnaminity, is the sole representative from Gigginstown's batallion of staying chasers and at the prices he might be worth a small wager.

Over at Sandown the main feature is the Bet 365 Gold Cup. Always like to have a bet in this race but struggling to find one in this year's uninspiring field. Le Beau Bai , if the ground does dry out too much, looks the safest option.


enjoy...

Scottish Grand National 2012

Typical open and competitive Scottish Grand National this year at Ayr. Cases can be made for those at the head of the market including distance specialist, Portrait King. However going to go with notebook horse, Any Currency. A decent level form over extreme trips at Sandown and Cheltenahm (2011), fairly treated at the weights, expect his stamina to give him a sporting chance this afternoon and he is worth an each way wager at value odds (25s or bigger).

good luck...