A good few races so I will detail a few live chances as I review:
2:00 Ayr - Ontoawinner racing syndicate do well with their two-year-olds. Tabikat Elle has been mentioned in dispatches. This daughter of Showcasing wasn't overly fancied on debut and needed the experience. In fairness, that may have been a tougher race that it looked on the day. I'd expect this chestnut filly to be more professional today - looking a progressive type physically. The betting is key. If starting 13/2 & less SP I'd give her decent each-way claims. If weak in the betting take a watching brief.
6:00 Thirsk - Interesting to see Kevin Ryan's Laughton making a quick return after disappointing at Haydock over 6f. That was a decent race and perhaps his defeat simply showed this colt's limitations. However, this son of Acclamation is held in high regard at home and may appreciate this drop back to the minimum trip. It does give the impression he didn't show his running last time out. It's last chance saloon as a betting proposition. The classic easy winner or dismal loser. I'll take a watching brief, such is my nature.
6:30 Thirsk - Quite a restricted race type which gives preference to form horses. Dark Confidant is a consistent horse who travels well over 7f. I had an each-way bet on this juvenile last time out. This son of Royal Applause ran well, touched odds-on in-running, before tiring in the final half furlong. It was a respectable effort. Guest's charge will run there about and should hit the frame. I would try to lay my bet in-running at shorter odds, as he may well lead.
Midnight Macchiato would get the nod. This son of Dark Angel wasn't fancied on debut at Doncaster but run well to finish fourth of eleven. The stable rate this youngster and he should go well. At 5/2 [written Sunday evening] there isn't too much fat on the butcher's pencil so may be the type to put in an each-way double/treble if you feel like a dabble. Decent win and place claims if odds allow.
Small ew treble
Fair win double Tabikat Elle & Midnight Macchiato [bet late to make sure the former is in best betting guide, if not, no bet)
Tabikat Elle - Dismally poor
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
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.
