Hello & welcome along to the first of this weeks blogs, after being spoilt in terms of quality for the last 2 weeks courtesy of Chester & York this week is much more sedate until Goodwood's 3 day meeting kicks off on Thursday, traditionally this meeting has heralded the last recognised Oaks & Derby trials; The Lupe & Predominate Stakes which are unrecognisable from the races they once were.
Rain is widely forecast over the next day or so, hopefully it does not materialise & it stays genuine good fast Flat racing ground.
Rain is widely forecast over the next day or so, hopefully it does not materialise & it stays genuine good fast Flat racing ground.
Thursday's feature is what us purists know as The Lupe Stakes now run as The Height of Fashion, Height Of Fashion is the dam of Nashwan & Unfuwain, she won The Lupe back in 1982. Two fillies have gone on to glory at Epsom Love Divine in 2000 & Snow Fairy who was un-considered for the event in 2010.
This year's running looks weak on paper, nearly all the field are chasing valuable Black type. Eastern Belle was due to contest last week's Musidora Stakes but was a late absentee, her maiden conqueror Haadatha was 3rd in a similar contest at Newbury last week so she needs to improve but this is weaker than that Newbury race so it is entirely possible. Emaratiya Ana ran 4th in The Tattersalls Millions Trophy at Newmarket a month ago against the boys, she needs to improve on what she has shown using that race as a guide.
Feedyah returns to the track with her stable at last starting to hit form although its notable that the recent winners had all had a run so far this season, she was 10 lengths behind Ihtimal on her last start in Dubai where it was hard to tell if she stayed the distance so that is still a worry on Thursday, she brings the best form into this race. Jordan Princess ran into Oaks favourite Taghrooda at Newmarket last time (Uchenna 4th), she ran respectably & her talented trainer won a similar race at Newbury last week, has ability so is respected in this event.
Marsh Daisy was well supported in her maiden at Ascot 2 weeks ago, she showed tenacity & staying power to get up on the line that night, looks wise, she is a decent filly & can go well up in grade.
Psychometry looked one paced in The Cheshire Oaks 2 weeks ago, the ground had started to change before that race & I can forgive her that, she remains with potential with that run behind her.
Secret Pursuit finished two places ahead of Psychometry at Chester, she stepped up on all her form that day, I would be wary to believe that it was her true running though as the race fell apart due to the heavy rain. Uchenna has to improve to get in front of Jordan Princess of there Newmarket run & I cannot see that forthcoming.
Feedyah returns to the track with her stable at last starting to hit form although its notable that the recent winners had all had a run so far this season, she was 10 lengths behind Ihtimal on her last start in Dubai where it was hard to tell if she stayed the distance so that is still a worry on Thursday, she brings the best form into this race. Jordan Princess ran into Oaks favourite Taghrooda at Newmarket last time (Uchenna 4th), she ran respectably & her talented trainer won a similar race at Newbury last week, has ability so is respected in this event.
Marsh Daisy was well supported in her maiden at Ascot 2 weeks ago, she showed tenacity & staying power to get up on the line that night, looks wise, she is a decent filly & can go well up in grade.
Psychometry looked one paced in The Cheshire Oaks 2 weeks ago, the ground had started to change before that race & I can forgive her that, she remains with potential with that run behind her.
Secret Pursuit finished two places ahead of Psychometry at Chester, she stepped up on all her form that day, I would be wary to believe that it was her true running though as the race fell apart due to the heavy rain. Uchenna has to improve to get in front of Jordan Princess of there Newmarket run & I cannot see that forthcoming.
The best race on the card in terms of quality is the 1m1f handicap for 3yo's at 14:40; Gothic well put together son of Danehill Dancer is my idea of the winner here, those regular readers will remember that Gothic is one of my 8 to follow for the season,
he looked to have done well from 2 - 3 at Sandown on his seasonal debut & looked set to take a hand had the heavy rain that plagued that meeting turned the ground into a bog, he laboured one paced home in 4th, he is better than that & with fitness a factor he can be winning from his reduced mark here.
Top weight Ocean Storm has a real job on on his 3yo return, at this distance he is also a doubtful stayer.
Fast Delivery steps into handicap company after proving little at Wolverhampton when breaking his maiden, the trip will be fine for him but the trip & he should be competitive from his mark but others look better handicapped.
Donny Rover steps up in company & will do well to get involved from his higher mark over this trip.
Loving Home steps into handicap company off a mark of 80, he will no doubt be popular after finishing 3rd to Cannock Chase at Windsor 2 starts back however he could struggle to hold off Early Morning who has been allocated a very favourable mark of 77 & was only 2 lengths ahead of the Harry Dunlop trainee at Nottingham last time when he had the benefit of a run; Early Morning is a scopey grey son of New Approach who has long looked as if handicaps would be his bag so it was surprising that he ran in a maiden for a fourth time at Leicester on his seasonal return, he faded at the finish but he is better than that & should be competitive from his nice looking mark, his trainer's form is the issue as he is not getting many winners & lacks the quality of previous seasons.
Emef Diamond looks quite a doubtful stayer on run style & breeding.
Best Kept from local trainer Amanda Perrett's stable was favourite on his first handicap start from a lowly mark but in truth was disappointing, on an unchanged mark here he should strip fitter but this is a better race.
Edge, Top Of The Glas, Officer Drivel & Solo Hunter look outclassed, Raise Your Gaze is a potential improver for the trip, he should turn the form around with Donny Rover & Emef Diamond, one to note.
Believe Gothic is handicapped to win & can take this on his way to a profitable season. (unlucky 2nd)
In the staying handicap locally trained Story Writer looks to hold excellent claims judged on his last run at the course, he does look a hard ride though but I am hoping that the hard driven staying on finish to his last race was to the word soft being in the going description, the extra distance here will be right up his street, as will the better ground he will hopefully encounter on Thursday (at the moment there is rain in the forecast but we can always hope it misses the course). Amanda Perrett is double handed with recent Kempton scorer Presto Volante heading the weights back on turf from a career high mark he is opposable, stablemate Lion Beacon remains unexposed as a stayer after a fine run at Doncaster last time behind a well handicapped old horse, he is steadily creeping up the weights but is respected. The others are all on marks that make life difficult with the majorities best form having come on the AWT.
Story Writer at I hope a reasonable price. (WON 9/2)
he looked to have done well from 2 - 3 at Sandown on his seasonal debut & looked set to take a hand had the heavy rain that plagued that meeting turned the ground into a bog, he laboured one paced home in 4th, he is better than that & with fitness a factor he can be winning from his reduced mark here.
Top weight Ocean Storm has a real job on on his 3yo return, at this distance he is also a doubtful stayer.
Fast Delivery steps into handicap company after proving little at Wolverhampton when breaking his maiden, the trip will be fine for him but the trip & he should be competitive from his mark but others look better handicapped.
Donny Rover steps up in company & will do well to get involved from his higher mark over this trip.
Loving Home steps into handicap company off a mark of 80, he will no doubt be popular after finishing 3rd to Cannock Chase at Windsor 2 starts back however he could struggle to hold off Early Morning who has been allocated a very favourable mark of 77 & was only 2 lengths ahead of the Harry Dunlop trainee at Nottingham last time when he had the benefit of a run; Early Morning is a scopey grey son of New Approach who has long looked as if handicaps would be his bag so it was surprising that he ran in a maiden for a fourth time at Leicester on his seasonal return, he faded at the finish but he is better than that & should be competitive from his nice looking mark, his trainer's form is the issue as he is not getting many winners & lacks the quality of previous seasons.
Emef Diamond looks quite a doubtful stayer on run style & breeding.
Best Kept from local trainer Amanda Perrett's stable was favourite on his first handicap start from a lowly mark but in truth was disappointing, on an unchanged mark here he should strip fitter but this is a better race.
Edge, Top Of The Glas, Officer Drivel & Solo Hunter look outclassed, Raise Your Gaze is a potential improver for the trip, he should turn the form around with Donny Rover & Emef Diamond, one to note.
Believe Gothic is handicapped to win & can take this on his way to a profitable season. (unlucky 2nd)
In the staying handicap locally trained Story Writer looks to hold excellent claims judged on his last run at the course, he does look a hard ride though but I am hoping that the hard driven staying on finish to his last race was to the word soft being in the going description, the extra distance here will be right up his street, as will the better ground he will hopefully encounter on Thursday (at the moment there is rain in the forecast but we can always hope it misses the course). Amanda Perrett is double handed with recent Kempton scorer Presto Volante heading the weights back on turf from a career high mark he is opposable, stablemate Lion Beacon remains unexposed as a stayer after a fine run at Doncaster last time behind a well handicapped old horse, he is steadily creeping up the weights but is respected. The others are all on marks that make life difficult with the majorities best form having come on the AWT.
Story Writer at I hope a reasonable price. (WON 9/2)
The drop back in trip should help Russian Realm in the 7f handicap, he looked one paced in a similar race over a mile on soft ground at Ascot a month ago, even though he is up in the weights a little bit more who should still be able to make his mark off 88 if looks alone are anything to go by, he has the form to be involved too although if the rain does change the ground I would be less interested.
The Rectifier is verging on Listed class on his day & ran well once more at Haydock recently, he can win but I would imagine this mark will hold him back on Thursday in a decent little race.
George Guru enters calculations as he remains in some of the best form of his life & has good course form, although he is higher than his last turf winning mark courtesy of a excellent winter campaign which should anchor his winning chances.
Mabait a regular in these 7f handicaps is given a chance by his apprentice jockey's claim, his return at Yarmouth suggested that he was still in decent form after ending last season on a high, passed over for win purposes. Magic City won 3 7f Goodwood handicaps last season & as a result shot up in the weights, this time around though he has shown very little & is best watched. So Beloved has much more in him than he has shown so far, he has disappointed me looking mulish on more than one occasion yet off a decent mark last time he popped up, up a further 3lbs on Thursday he could be a threat if he has turned a corner but I would rather leave him alone after following over the proverbial cliff last season. Pearl Ice is another to have not gone on as well as expected in his career to date, he looked a sprinter to follow 2 seasons back but has cut little ice since, he is now 1lb above his last winning mark so is getting there, 7 furlongs is a issue though.
Equity Risk returns to the track with the mercurial Italian Dettori on board, he remains a couple of lbs too high but has potential to improve again as a 4yo.
The Confessor is on a good mark & has some top course form to his name, made an encouraging return here last month & will strip fitter here, he is a threat. Everything went Verse Of Love's way at Chester recently & he duly obliged, this is tougher up in grade.
As long as the rain does not affect the ground drastically I will be with Russian Realm (WON 5/4) back in trip.
The Rectifier is verging on Listed class on his day & ran well once more at Haydock recently, he can win but I would imagine this mark will hold him back on Thursday in a decent little race.
George Guru enters calculations as he remains in some of the best form of his life & has good course form, although he is higher than his last turf winning mark courtesy of a excellent winter campaign which should anchor his winning chances.
Mabait a regular in these 7f handicaps is given a chance by his apprentice jockey's claim, his return at Yarmouth suggested that he was still in decent form after ending last season on a high, passed over for win purposes. Magic City won 3 7f Goodwood handicaps last season & as a result shot up in the weights, this time around though he has shown very little & is best watched. So Beloved has much more in him than he has shown so far, he has disappointed me looking mulish on more than one occasion yet off a decent mark last time he popped up, up a further 3lbs on Thursday he could be a threat if he has turned a corner but I would rather leave him alone after following over the proverbial cliff last season. Pearl Ice is another to have not gone on as well as expected in his career to date, he looked a sprinter to follow 2 seasons back but has cut little ice since, he is now 1lb above his last winning mark so is getting there, 7 furlongs is a issue though.
Equity Risk returns to the track with the mercurial Italian Dettori on board, he remains a couple of lbs too high but has potential to improve again as a 4yo.
The Confessor is on a good mark & has some top course form to his name, made an encouraging return here last month & will strip fitter here, he is a threat. Everything went Verse Of Love's way at Chester recently & he duly obliged, this is tougher up in grade.
As long as the rain does not affect the ground drastically I will be with Russian Realm (WON 5/4) back in trip.
The opening 2yo race is made up of some potentially nice sorts;
Dark Profit (Dark Angel X Goldthroat) half brother to Zafisio (Criterium International Group 1 plus multiple pattern races) made £258,695 at Goff's.
Emef Rock (Acclamation X Sveva) half brother to 1 winner, made £31,711 at Goff's.
Estidkhaar (Dark Angel X Danetime Out) half brother to Toormore (National Stakes Group 1, Vintage Group 2 & Craven Group 3) made £200,000 at DBS.
Pinter (Exceed And Excel X Pickle) half brother to multiple Listed winner Gusto, made £220,000 as a yearling.
Portamento (Shamardal X Octave) half-brother to US 1m dirt winner / Belmont 4th Incognito, made a decent start to his career over a trip that was never likely to suit, will know more here.
Quintus Cerialis (Vale Of York X Red Fox) half brother to 2 winners, made £15,750 Foal, Tattersalls, December Foal (Nov 2012),
£42,000 Yearling, Tattersalls, October Book 2 (2013)
Secret Journey (Sakhee's Secret X Hinokia) Dam of limited ability, best watched £8,835 Foal, Goffs, November Foal (2012),
£37,800 Yearling, Tattersalls, October Book 3 (2013).
Tansfeeq (Aqlaam X Qelaan) Dam minor winner, homebred, watch the market.
The Paco Kid (Paco Boy X Linea) Went backwards from useful debut when down the field at Ascot last time, work to do here.
Quintus Cerialis (Vale Of York X Red Fox) half brother to 2 winners, made £15,750 Foal, Tattersalls, December Foal (Nov 2012),
£42,000 Yearling, Tattersalls, October Book 2 (2013)
Secret Journey (Sakhee's Secret X Hinokia) Dam of limited ability, best watched £8,835 Foal, Goffs, November Foal (2012),
£37,800 Yearling, Tattersalls, October Book 3 (2013).
Tansfeeq (Aqlaam X Qelaan) Dam minor winner, homebred, watch the market.
The Paco Kid (Paco Boy X Linea) Went backwards from useful debut when down the field at Ascot last time, work to do here.
@fttfracing
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