Busy. Busy. Busy. Feel as though I've been stuck on an escalator and some nutter found a go-fast button just to give me grief. Clearly no amount of work is going to stop me detailing more juicy peaches of wonderment.
Quite a big field for this maiden. Laughton ran well enough on debut behind a talent in Wayward Hoof. Kevin Ryan's bay colt, a son of Acclamation, will be primed today and I can confirm this two-year-old is high in the pecking order at Hambleton. A good bet if touching each-ways prices but that does seem a touch optimistic (time will tell).
Spanish City could be a strong challenger from Roger Varian's stable. Their juveniles have been a little disappointing and I'm sure their string isn't as strong as previous years. This chestnut colt is held in high regard. He held an entry for the Gimcrack Stakes (Group 2), Mill Reef Stakes (Group 2) & Middle Park Stakes (Group 1). That list brings confidence.
This home bred was meant to run the other week but withdrawn. It is worth noting that day the colt was extremely weak in the betting. That may simply have been due to the word getting out he was to be withdrawn but it is worth considering. Varian's charge will need to be primed to beat Laughton who has valuable race experience. I would certainly watch the betting just in case there is a weakness. Conversely, this may be good reason for bettors to take the earlier prices on Laughton. I respect Spanish City but whether I want to take 2/1 [at time of writing] against Ryan's talent I'm not so sure. Interesting. I'd be looking for an each way bet on Laughton, if available.
6:35 Newcastle - Bryan Smart is a talented trainer and Extortion ran well when finishing second on debut at Redcar. This American bred colt was a cheap foal at 5,000gns, withdrawn as a yearling. This home bred was most likely sent through the sales to gain entry to these limited races. Strong win and place claims if each-way prices are available.
6:50 Sandown - Seven lightly raced or unraced two-year-olds. Couple of interesting horses: Shahbar & Brorocco. The former is trained by Marco Botti for Al Shaqab Racing and an expensive yearling purchase at 320,000gns. He ran a fine race when second on debut at Leicester over 6f. Stepping up to one mile should see improvement. One of the best juveniles at Prestige Place. The downside, there is little meat on the bone at 8/11. Brorocco is trained by Andrew Balding for the Kingsclere Racing Club. This home bred has been going well at home. It should be noted that Balding's two-year-olds just don't seem to be running well, especially the debutantes, many of which have disappointed when relatively fancied in the betting. Their youngsters can go well when priced 10/1 on debut. However, I would have to take a watching brief until the stable hits form.
2:40 Haydock - Laughton - strong each-way claims 5th (disappointed)
6:35 Newcastle - Extortion - strong win and place claims 4/1 2nd (drifted across track)
6:50 Sandown - Shahbar - worth a bet if 1/1 1st
Small ew treble
Another long day so I won't give an in-depth review. An EBF Maiden Stakes over 7f on good to firm going. Ten colts/geldings - no fillies taking the plunge although eligible. A few of these have shown ability: John Splendid, Cymric & Hairdryer. Andrew Balding's two-year-olds haven't been firing on all cylinders especially a number of debutantes who have been backed and run horribly. *Both Sides wasn't overly fancied on debut but ran a respectable enough race when finishing fifth over 7f at Sandown. This son of Lawman is out of a debut-winning mare who was highly tried including a narrow loser in the Moyglare Stud Stakes (Group 1), Curragh, Ireland.
The mare was trained by John Gosden racing in the familiar silks of George Strawbridge, this bay colt a sibling and home bred.
The form of that race has been franked and this February foal didn't have the best of races: slowly away, outpaced, then kept on in the final furlong.
With over a month off course it is likely this colt will be primed for his second start. It is encouraging to see Balding has given this horse a stakes race entry. He has been incredibly sparse on such pointers this season - a lot to do with their two-year-olds not showing an abundance of ability. However, I would take this entry as a positive sign which suggests to me they consider he is up to winning a race.
The betting is important here. If backed to a single-figure starting price it would bring more interest. If priced 9/1 & less must have fair each-way claims. If very weak in the betting I'd take a watching brief.
2:45 Ripon - Sign Of The Kodiac [eachway claims] 3rd
6:10 Lingfield - Chief Entertainer [eachway claims if priced 13/2 & less sp] 4th [7/1] outside betting guide
*Both Sides NR
A busy day so not so much time to give an in depth review but a couple of races worth noting.
2:40 Haydock - Quite a sizable field and a few juveniles which have run well or have something of a reputation. Edification is on a recover mission after a disappointing effort at Windsor. Blinkers first time bring concern. Laughton has been given a Gimcrack Stakes (Group 2) entry for Kevin Ryan. This son of Acclamation was purchased privately for 8,000euro and recently sold at the breeze-up sales for 150,000euor. Fancied in the betting which brings encouragement. Karl Burke is a class trainer and Wayward Hoof could go well. This son of Equiano was purchased by the trainer at the yearling sales for 40,000GNS. It is worth noting this bay colt was fielded at Stakes class on debut and backed. He showed ability against more experienced/talented rivals but far from disgraced. He is another horse to hold a Gimcrack entry and only one of two for the stable.
6:15 Newmarket - No strong views here but just wanted to give Luca Cumani's two-year-old debutante a mention. Beautiful Morning is a daughter of Galileo out of a debut-winning mare who was Listed placed and Group raced. This bay filly cost a whopping 650,000GNS at the yearling sales. She runs under the ownership of Jon S Kelly.
6:30 Pontefract - Mark Tompkins isn't the first trainer who springs to mind with talented two-year-olds but Jack Carter showed promise when making his debut at Leicester over 6f. This son of Medicean wasn't fancied in the betting but showed good pace, traveling with menace until fading in the final furlong. This January foal touched short odds in-running and his trainer spoke well of this youngster detailing that he would improve for that first start. The betting is important and if priced 13/2 & less SP I would consider this chestnut colt to hold strong each-way claims. If outside this betting guide, I would take a watching brief. Flying Pursuit is getting his act together and is another horse who must have respectable win and place hopes.
An EBF Maiden Stakes for colts & geldings over 6f on good ground. Twelve two-year-olds take part: the majority lightly race with three debutantes. Henry Candy has been in fantastic form with his juveniles this season and Lacock was very much a talking horse when making his debut at Newbury over today's distance. This son of Compton Place is out of a winning mare who showed up well in her formative races, similarly owned and trained. This home bred runs is the familiar silks of Girsonfield Ltd. He started 4/1 co-favourite when racing on soft ground but had little luck that day. A mixture of inexperience and trouble in running meant that his followers watched frustrated when denied a clear run on a couple of occasions. It would have been a stiff task for this April foal to have won when racing someway off the pace but there was still plenty of promise shown. Candy's juveniles can win on debut although that is usually the reserve of his true talents and for me the time to strike is second start. The betting is key to this runner and if particularly weak in the betting it would be a negative. However, the opposite is likely to the case with this bay colt. If available at each way prices I would expect a bold show.
