Hello & welcome along to my blog, with Britain bathed in glorious sunshine we are all anticipating a Saturday of disposable BBQ's, a bit too much drinking & another massive Scoop6 rollover, that I am sure we will all be attempting to win. Now an estimated £10 million unlike last week it will be all Flat races which is much more my cup of tea, as usual I will aim for the place fund & if the Gods are smiling then who knows what else.
The feature meeting is at Newbury with the tracks only Group 1 Flat race The Lockinge taking centre stage, in truth it is well below the quality of some years, the ground has dried out throughout the week so it should be genuine good fast ground come Saturday.
Olympic Glory returns as a 4yo which i am surprised about as I thought I had read somewhere that he was being retired at the end of last season, his best form is on soft or heavy ground, he waltzed away with the QEII on awful ground but was then well & truly put in his place in The Breeders Cup Mile.
It's no secret that I believe he is an overrated horse.
Verrazano is a fascinating contender, one who you would never have imagined would come to Europe to race, he is a dual Grade 1 winner in the US at trips up to 9 furlongs, fancied for a Kentucky Derby he disappointed at Churchill Downs before coming back to winnings ways & then once again disappointing at the end of last season, he has never raced on a track like Newbury before or on turf, his recent work at the Curragh will have helped that experience is nothing like a race, he is incredibly short with all these doubts.
Tullius is a useful horse who has returned from injury in form, but he is nowhere genuine Group 1 class which of course he may not need to be on Saturday however his best form is on soft & he does need to prove that better ground suits as well in this grade, I can't really see him being up to it.
Tullius is a useful horse who has returned from injury in form, but he is nowhere genuine Group 1 class which of course he may not need to be on Saturday however his best form is on soft & he does need to prove that better ground suits as well in this grade, I can't really see him being up to it.
Montiridge is actually quite a confident selection for me as he finally gets a chance at Group 1 level, he hated the ground first time out at Sandown behind Tullius but still ran well, he looked in need of the race that day. Some of his best form has come on better ground & in a race that lacks depth the 9/1 on offer is insulting for a horse that his trainer rated on a par with Olympic Glory last year.
Chopin travels over from Germany just like he did unsuccessfully twice last year in The Derby & at The Royal Meeting, he was beaten fair & square on debut behind Amaron (who is just Group 3 class at his best), ground is the issue & I doubt he is good enough.
Top Notch Tonto looked very fit for Sandown even allowing for being a wiry sort but in truth really didn't fire, his very best form is on softer ground but he can handle faster. Needs to step up on his seasonal debut but that's entirely possible.
Sruthan came out this season to win The Gladness at The Curragh which was another step in the right direction but in truth he is a long way below what is required to win an average Lockinge,
the same applies to Empire Storm despite the useful early form he showed in Dubai he failed to go on from that, he nearly caused a shock in the first leg of The Al Maktoum Challenge when Fallon gave him a peach to almost nick it so you wouldn't want to allow him an easy lead on ground that will suit, of course he is 100/1 & that does reflect his chance but of things went his way I wouldn't be surprised if he nicked a place.
Montiridge at 9/1 Bet365 / BetVictor / SkyBet is overpriced & will do for me
the same applies to Empire Storm despite the useful early form he showed in Dubai he failed to go on from that, he nearly caused a shock in the first leg of The Al Maktoum Challenge when Fallon gave him a peach to almost nick it so you wouldn't want to allow him an easy lead on ground that will suit, of course he is 100/1 & that does reflect his chance but of things went his way I wouldn't be surprised if he nicked a place.
Montiridge at 9/1 Bet365 / BetVictor / SkyBet is overpriced & will do for me
The Listed Aston Park Stakes has attracted a useful looking field, Brass Ring ran ok stepped up to Group 2 company at Newmarket on his latest start, the step up should suit & the drop in grade is a plus. Biographer has been declared for this, he was a N/R at yesterday, the ground here is no better for him.
Battalion continued his progression winning in the style of a lower level pattern performer at Ripon on his seasonal debut & he is respected up in grade.
Elkaayed does not strike me as a stayer so I am surprised with the step up to 1m5f, better ground will suit him & I still feel the US is where his future lies.
Battalion continued his progression winning in the style of a lower level pattern performer at Ripon on his seasonal debut & he is respected up in grade.
Elkaayed does not strike me as a stayer so I am surprised with the step up to 1m5f, better ground will suit him & I still feel the US is where his future lies.
First Mohican will appreciate the step back up after looking outpaced on his flat return at HQ, he didn't achieve much over hurdles in the winter & on his flat form from last year he must step up to be involved. Forgotten Voice had a stunning season last year winning at Royal Ascot & Goodwood, he then took a trip down under when the ground never came for him in 2 quick starts, on both runs he looked as if not in the same form. He is 9 & it remains to be seen whether he can return in that form after a long trip to Australia.
Litigant improved all winter culminating in a win in the Stayers final on Good Friday, he is well worth a try in this grade with the ground in his favour.
Mount Athos faces his easiest task for a very long time, he was ready to run at Chester last week but the ground went against him, has to go well on a track he goes well at.
Sky Hunter has better ground which judging by his action will help him, he got bogged down at Sandown & looked in need of the run, 3rd in last season's French Derby it will be very disappointing if he cannot win this.
Cocktail Queen continues to run in races she cannot, connections are chasing Black type but at least give her a chance to win first.
Not a race I would have a financial interest in singularly.
Cocktail Queen continues to run in races she cannot, connections are chasing Black type but at least give her a chance to win first.
Not a race I would have a financial interest in singularly.
A new classy looking 7f handicap has been added to the card, Morache Music is a useful sprint handicapper, he heads the weights, soft ground is more his bag & is too high at present.
Chil The Kite had a shocking Dubai campaign & is now on a retrieval mission, last year at this meeting he finished 4th in The Lockinge, he never truly made the transition to pattern class though, back in this grade should help & with so many horse that ran in Dubai running well he is not without hope.
Fort Knox had a good reputation when trained by Johnny Murtagh last year, he won a Listed race first time out but then disappointed in the Irish Guineas & thereafter, he starts his 4yo career off a mark of 104 which is far too high on what he has shown so far, his new stables runners have been pretty disappointing so far so I would leave him alone tomorrow. Set The Trend will appreciate the ground & has been given a chance by the handicapper. Burano struggles to win in any grade, Indignant has had a decent winter & is a little too high against the boys back on turf.
Chil The Kite had a shocking Dubai campaign & is now on a retrieval mission, last year at this meeting he finished 4th in The Lockinge, he never truly made the transition to pattern class though, back in this grade should help & with so many horse that ran in Dubai running well he is not without hope.
Fort Knox had a good reputation when trained by Johnny Murtagh last year, he won a Listed race first time out but then disappointed in the Irish Guineas & thereafter, he starts his 4yo career off a mark of 104 which is far too high on what he has shown so far, his new stables runners have been pretty disappointing so far so I would leave him alone tomorrow. Set The Trend will appreciate the ground & has been given a chance by the handicapper. Burano struggles to win in any grade, Indignant has had a decent winter & is a little too high against the boys back on turf.
Kenny Powers has not added to his one Wolverhampton win & remains in the handicappers grip. Bronze Angel is handicapped to win as he is now off the same mark that he won the Cambridgeshire back in 2012, his first run back this year at Newbury was promising, chances. Modern Tutor's best form has come on soft he has now switched from Sir Michael Stoute to Andrew Balding & looks pretty well handicapped taking into account Oisin Murphy's claim, type to progress at 4. Tellovoi has been in grand form recently on the AWT but this is a better race than he is really used to on turf.
Sir Reginald remains a few lbs higher than ideal & has shown little so far this term.
Monsieur Chevalier has been a good horse over the years & he always runs well but tends to find one or two that are better than him.
Dream Walker's best form is on a softer surface & this is a step up in class, similar comments apply to Trader Jack.
Interesting race & another tough addition to a already hard looking Scoop6.
Interesting race & another tough addition to a already hard looking Scoop6.
The London Gold Cup usually produces a decent animal in recent years; Triple Group 1 winner Al Kazeem 2011, Melbourne Cup winner Green Moon 2010 plus 4 x Group 3 (3 x Huxley Stakes) & Dual Hardwicke Stakes winner Marrahel was 2nd in 2004.
This year's race has attracted 8 runners, Extra Noble looked as if in need of further at Musselburgh last time so the step up will suit but he could also have just a little too much weight against some unexposed rivals.
Aussie Valentine's rating looks a little harsh judged on his seasonal debut win over 9f at Tipperary, he needs to show better ground will suit him.
Aussie Valentine's rating looks a little harsh judged on his seasonal debut win over 9f at Tipperary, he needs to show better ground will suit him.
Windshear handled the very soft ground at Sandown well last time, he was very well in that day & is much higher tomorrow so may struggle to confIrm form
with the 2nd that day Collaboration who has a huge pull in the weights, he ran a nice race upped in grade that day & should be ok on this better surface.
with the 2nd that day Collaboration who has a huge pull in the weights, he ran a nice race upped in grade that day & should be ok on this better surface.
Cannock Chase won an average Windsor maiden in taking style first time up & has what looks a very fair rating, I see no reason why he won't be involved.
Arantes is thoroughly exposed & faces a tough task here.
Satellite is a decent stamp of a horse who despite showing greenness won comfortably at Ripon, he must step up on that on Saturday but a rating of 86 could well underestimate him.
Master Of Finance won a 3 runner race at Musselburgh, this requires a step up & you would never know how far a Mark Johnston trainee will go, trainer has a decent record in this race as well.
Was quite taken by Satellite on debut so depending on the price I may have a dabble on him.
Was quite taken by Satellite on debut so depending on the price I may have a dabble on him.
The big race at Newmarket on Saturday is The Coral Sprint Trophy, usually by a big field this time it is a relatively small one with just 12 runners.
Sleeper King a speedy juvenile heads the weights, first time in a handicap he faces a tough task. Expert ran into a well handicapped horse over course & distance at the Craven Meeting, with ground to suit last time he ran below par upped in grade, tough horse who should run his race. Deeds Not Words comes from a race that is working out well at Thirsk on his latest start, the winner has won easily again since as have the 2nd & 4th, looks on a decent mark allowing for his jockeys claim.
Sleeper King a speedy juvenile heads the weights, first time in a handicap he faces a tough task. Expert ran into a well handicapped horse over course & distance at the Craven Meeting, with ground to suit last time he ran below par upped in grade, tough horse who should run his race. Deeds Not Words comes from a race that is working out well at Thirsk on his latest start, the winner has won easily again since as have the 2nd & 4th, looks on a decent mark allowing for his jockeys claim.
Stars Above Me ran a cracking race on his first start of the year giving weight but not being beaten far, he has gone up again slightly for that but remains with potential to improve.
Eastern Impact has a chance with the turnaround on weights with Stars Above Me & Deeds Not Words on latest runs. Charles Molson never got much of a run last time at Sandown, he remains with potential to improve from a trainer who excels with this type of horse. Stomp is on a hat trick, his weight rise if offset by the claim of his decent apprentice & is another who will be on the premises.
Meritocracy didn't go on from his first run, he is slowly coming down the weights but needs to find more. Peterkin needs to find more in this grade as does Master Of Suspense. Fear Of Favour is very unexposed, he won well at Bath first time out this year & has a big pull in the weights with Deeds Not Words on 2yo form, player.
Nova Champ beat 3 of these last time out at the course, he is still well weighted & is yet another to think about in this extremely competitive race.
Charles Molson 12/1 E/W SkyBet / BetVictor / Stan James at a decent price would be the horse I will back in this.
The King Charles Stakes Listed has been added to the Scoop6 roster for Saturday, it has perennially been used as a trial for The Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot, aimed at 3yo's who fall between two trips sprinting & the mile division.
This year's race is more competitive than normal but less on quality.
Miracle Of Medinah showed little on his return & faces a huge task conceding a double penalty to his rivals. Aeolus was well in front of Miracle Of Medinah that day, he needed his first run back & his Doncaster 2nd last backend looks pretty good now as the horse who finished in front of him was 2000 Guineas winner Night Of Thunder, previous to that run he had beaten the useful Musical Comedy, is one to take seriously.
Brazos won quite a competitive Ascot handicap well the other week, it was a decent performance from his mark, he looked to have done well from 2 - 3 & back up in grade he has chances. Complicit has had a good winter on the AWT in England & France but his limitations were badly exposed last time.
Coulsty shouldn't be good enough on what he has shown so far.
Gamesome is unexposed & won a Nottingham maiden last term, the 2nd that day has been out already this season finishing well behind Musical Comedy at Ascot so on that form he has a lot to do here. Parbold is a big horse who should have come on from his disappointing run in the Free Handicap behind Aeolus, worth another chance to show he can reverse that form though.
Toofi has been running well in sales races & now goes up in grade, useful horse but needs more in this. Windfast has only been seen once since early April as a 2yo & that was a 7th in The Greenham where to be fair he travelled ok for a long way, he was Brian Meehan's Coventry horse last season & is well regarded, needed that run at Newbury so will strip fitter here. Alutiq is a speedy filly but exposed at her level while Dorothy B has to show she has trained on after a disappointing run in The Nell Gwyn.
Other than being a Scoop6 leg it is a non betting race for me.
Eastern Impact has a chance with the turnaround on weights with Stars Above Me & Deeds Not Words on latest runs. Charles Molson never got much of a run last time at Sandown, he remains with potential to improve from a trainer who excels with this type of horse. Stomp is on a hat trick, his weight rise if offset by the claim of his decent apprentice & is another who will be on the premises.
Meritocracy didn't go on from his first run, he is slowly coming down the weights but needs to find more. Peterkin needs to find more in this grade as does Master Of Suspense. Fear Of Favour is very unexposed, he won well at Bath first time out this year & has a big pull in the weights with Deeds Not Words on 2yo form, player.
Nova Champ beat 3 of these last time out at the course, he is still well weighted & is yet another to think about in this extremely competitive race.
Charles Molson 12/1 E/W SkyBet / BetVictor / Stan James at a decent price would be the horse I will back in this.
The King Charles Stakes Listed has been added to the Scoop6 roster for Saturday, it has perennially been used as a trial for The Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot, aimed at 3yo's who fall between two trips sprinting & the mile division.
This year's race is more competitive than normal but less on quality.
Miracle Of Medinah showed little on his return & faces a huge task conceding a double penalty to his rivals. Aeolus was well in front of Miracle Of Medinah that day, he needed his first run back & his Doncaster 2nd last backend looks pretty good now as the horse who finished in front of him was 2000 Guineas winner Night Of Thunder, previous to that run he had beaten the useful Musical Comedy, is one to take seriously.
Brazos won quite a competitive Ascot handicap well the other week, it was a decent performance from his mark, he looked to have done well from 2 - 3 & back up in grade he has chances. Complicit has had a good winter on the AWT in England & France but his limitations were badly exposed last time.
Coulsty shouldn't be good enough on what he has shown so far.
Gamesome is unexposed & won a Nottingham maiden last term, the 2nd that day has been out already this season finishing well behind Musical Comedy at Ascot so on that form he has a lot to do here. Parbold is a big horse who should have come on from his disappointing run in the Free Handicap behind Aeolus, worth another chance to show he can reverse that form though.
Toofi has been running well in sales races & now goes up in grade, useful horse but needs more in this. Windfast has only been seen once since early April as a 2yo & that was a 7th in The Greenham where to be fair he travelled ok for a long way, he was Brian Meehan's Coventry horse last season & is well regarded, needed that run at Newbury so will strip fitter here. Alutiq is a speedy filly but exposed at her level while Dorothy B has to show she has trained on after a disappointing run in The Nell Gwyn.
Other than being a Scoop6 leg it is a non betting race for me.
@fttfracing
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