7:35 Beverley (29th May) Free Racing Tips

Hilary Needler Trophy Conditions Stakes for fillies over 5f on good to firm ground. Eleven two-year-olds take part, all raced. Good prize money with a purse of over £15,000. In truth, this doesn't look the strongest of renewals with a few talents missing from the first declaration stage. This factor is a shame because this race lost its Listed class status a few years back so a good few star fillies are needed to bring this back to the glory days. Even after a quick scan of this field, Lexington Rose caught my eye. A prime draw is a great starting point for this daughter of Captain Gerrard. Bryan Smart is a superb trainer of juveniles and after last season's poor performers he has already illustrated that the stable will have a few youngsters at Royal Ascot. Middleham Park Racing go from strength to strength with their syndicates and with over 400 members they continue to buy well. This bay filly is a good-looking sort: butty, strong through the neck and determined soul. She ran well on debut but excelled on second start at Ripon. With incentives, connections picked up about £15,000 for that win. She attained black type with a creditable fourth in the Marygate Stakes Listed Race on soft ground at York. That form makes most of this opposition look inferior. This March foal has plenty of speed to burn and from a low draw it will take a fair type to press on. Lexington Rose will take the beating although at this level she needs to be at the top of her game. At each way prices she looks a fair bet.

1:50 Ripon (27th April) Free Racing Tips

A Maiden Auction Fillies' Stakes over 5f on good ground. Thirteen two-year-olds take part,  eight with race experience.  A mix of juveniles from leading trainers and to some extent open-ended form lines. A fascinating race.


Hello Beautiful makes a quick appearance after making her debut at Pontefract less than a week ago. This daughter of Captain Rio looks an athletic type who knew her job after being quite well backed. Ann Duffield does well at this course and recent Stake entry indicates they expect a win sooner rather than later. Mops Angel is a fair horse so it wasn't any disgrace to finish second. She has fair claims but assessing the pecking order of form horses this early in the season is no easy task.

On form, Atlantic Affair holds Memory Styx on their Beverley contest. Mark Johnston's two-year-olds are forward this season and a number have won or shown potential. This daughter of Clodovil is a good-looking grey who has size and scope. She wasn't the most expensive but she looked well in her coat, showing good pace until tiring in the final furlong. In ways, her finishing position - especially lengths beaten - was a disappointment. It's possible she went a stride to fast or needed the run. There is little doubt improvement is needed. At this time, it is difficult to get a handle on that form, which brings question marks. However, this youngster has the physique to make most of these look inferior.

Bryan Smart is a fantastic trainer of two-year-olds and Lexington Rose will be primed for a big run today. This bay filly was relatively fancied at Newcastle and held every chance to be outpointed in the final furlong. Ffrench [jockey] rode as if this daughter of Captain Gerrard was fitter than not but without giving a hard introduction. The second horse, Princess Pheeny, has been entered for an Ascot Stakes race, which could boost the form, while the fourth has been noted as a fair horse. A wide draw may be a slight negative, unless they split in two groups, but experience is a plus. Smart doesn't hold back with juveniles on their second start and if priced 13/2 & less I would be surprised if she isn't placed. Although racing in the second colours of Middleham Park, this shouldn't detract.

The first colours are carried by Ventura Mist, trained by Tim Easterby. Her handler fielded two juveniles over course and distance last time out and this February foal beat her stablemate who was more fancied in the betting. Easterby has a fantastic strike rate in that race but in ways both horses didn't quite live up to expectation. This daughter of Pastoral Pursuits is a good looker and could improve a length or two after playing catch up. Blithe Spirit won quite comfortably but the form may have some weakness. However, if fancied in the betting she could have claims. 

Tim Walford doesn't train many two-year-olds but Lorimer's Lot ran well on debut and put up a much better performance that her 33/1 odds suggested. This daughter of Camacho was professional and given a determined ride but beaten at the line. From a high draw, she could well try to dictate. On balance, I would take a watching brief simply because that was quite a restricted race type and the second has been beaten.

The last of the form horses is Rough Courte, who is trained by Mick Channon. This little filly is a difficult horse to assess in ways because she has been entered for a Selling race, which to some extent is a negative. However, the form of that first start has been franked. This bay filly was quite well fancied at Newmarket next start but looked to disappoint. However, that could well be a strong race and a low draw wasn't the best part of the course. If touching speculative odds on the exchanges there could be worse bets. An outsider with a chance.

Of the debutantes, two trainers stand out Richard Fahey & Kevin Ryan. Both can send out winners on their racecourse bow.

Woodland Girl is trained by Richard Fahey and not best drawn, unless her jockey takes the bold move to race far rail. The betting is the best guide. If priced 13/2 & less she could have win and place claims. I would take a watching brief chiefly because of the draw.

Shamouti could go well if priced in single figures but once again has to be pretty smart to win this at the first time of asking. It would be a positive sign if substantially backed.

The others are best watched.

Conclusion: A number of form horses take their chance here and it will take a fair debutante to lower their flag. Hello Beautiful ran well on debut and must run a fair race here. Duffield has a good record at this course and this filly shouldn't have a problem sitting up with the pace. Fair each way claims if prices allow. Lexington Rose showed up well on debut at Newcastle. The betting is key. If priced 13/2 & less I would be surprised if she isn't placed at least. It is difficult to assess Atlantic Affair. Mark Johnston's filly needs to improve a few lengths which is a negative before she starts. On the plus side she is well drawn and has size and scope to progress with racing. Rough Courte gives conflicting messages with the Selling entry but fair debut effort. Channon's youngster could be better than her last effort and if touching speculative odds could run well. Hello Beautiful and Lexington Rose make most appeal. The latter especially so if fancied in the betting. 

2:30 Newcastle (15th April) Free Horse Racing Tips

An EBF Maiden Stakes over 5f on good ground (good to soft in places). Seven two-year-old debutantes take part, two colts against a handful of fillies. This looks out of four horses as three come from stables who feature a poor strike rate with juveniles.

Mark Johnston has sent out a couple of two-year-old winners this season. Pigeon Pie is a home bred filly from Coln valley Stud and part owned by Nicholas Jones who owned the mare. She was trained by Sir Mark Prescott and won both starts over 6f at two before being retired to stud. The sire, Bahamian Bounty, was lightly race but a talented horse, for Godolphin. The stable have a fair win rate at the course although I find them difficult to assess. Johnston's debutantes often leave a lot to be desired with slow starts or inexperience. Their youngster can win on debut, especially when short-priced favourite. However, I would rather watch and learn than put my hand in my pocket.

Middleham Park Racing achieve an enviable standard with their two-year-olds, who are placed with a number of talented trainers. They field two horses with Richard Fahey & Bryan Smart respectively. 

Princess Pheeny is a daughter of Tagula and a cheap yearling purchase at £6,000. The mare won but needed a trip. The Fahey stable are yet to send out a juvenile winner but they feature superb statistics with newcomers. The most interesting runner.

As far as racing silks go, Lexington Rose is second string, trained by Bryan Smart. He is excellent with two-year-olds although last year was surprisingly average. This bay filly was purchased by Middleham Park for £15,000 at the yearling sales. She is entered for a number of big sales races so connections will be hoping she has ability. Bryan Smart can win with his debutantes although his statistics are not as impressive as pundits' proclaim. He features about 10% strike. On the positive side, his early horses are often better prospects. 

One horse which catches the eye is Keith Dalgleish's Robynelle. The main reason for my enthusiasm is that this daughter of Royal Applause was entered to run in the Brocklesby Stakes but bypassed that engagement. The stable had success a couple of years back with Stonefield Flyer. If substantially backed it would be a positive.

Geniusinrhyme, Spring Willow & Hebridean Princess are best watched.

Conclusion: Some races appeal as betting mediums while others don't and I must admit this race falls into the latter category. I would be surprised if one of the major four doesn't win but each has their weakness. On statistics Princess Pheeny ticks the boxes although the mare needed a trip and I just wonder if a stiffer test of stamina would be a plus. Mark Johnston is difficult to assess and Bryan Smart, although capable of winning with debutantes, does much better with horses on their second start. I'm intrigued to see what Robynelle can achieve and money would give more confidence. I would definitely take a watching brief on this race.   



Other 2yo races:

2:10 Redcar
2:20 Windsor
2:40 Redcar