Hi all,
Well the operation went well. Granted I’m still dosed up with painkillers and I get tired easily but at least I have started to walk about, and the pain does lessen each day. In all truth I can’t wait to get back to a more normal routine but it’s still my intention to ease myself back into work.
The 2018/19 British NH season ended at Sandown on Saturday. Although over the Irish Sea there’s still five days of top class racing to complete with the Punchestown Festival which starts on Tuesday.
My enforced absence means I’ve had a chance to sort my tracker out and I have removed all the jumps horses, apart from a few a few possible runners at Punchestown, to solely concentrate on the flat.
Here a few eyecatchers from the recent Craven & Greenham Meetings and another couple from action over the Easter Weekend.
Let’s begin by looking at the two eyecatchers from the Greenham Meeting.
Last Week’s Horses to Follow
Friday 12th April
Newbury
Kaloor, trained by Brian Meehan, had caught my eye when putting in a strong finish to win on his racecourse debut, over a mile at Salisbury back in October.
Making his seasonal reappearance over 1m 4f on Newbury’s Friday’s card. The colt was held up, ridden three out he ran on nicely all the way to the line to finish third. Although he never looked like he would catch the two that finished in front of him.
He was blowing after the race which suggests the run was needed and he would also have preferred a sounder surface. The way the son of Nathanial finished of his race showed that he should also appreciate a step up 1m 4f or further. It’s early days but he already looks like a St Leger horse to me. I’m sure trainer Brian Meehan will have been delighted by the horse’s effort. He has a nice prospect on his hands that’s for sure.
Saturday 13th April
Newbury
History Writer, trained by David Menuisier, just the one win from ten starts but the gelding remains capable of winning more races. Best performance last year came when winning a 1m, Class 3 handicap at Sandown last August. The 4-year-old ended last season with a ¾ length 4th at Newmarket off his present mark of 91.
Returning from a winter gelding operation in the Spring Cup. He raced like the run was needed. Employing the usual hold up tactics he was still well behind coming to two-furlong mark but started to make some good headway from out of the pack. Granted his effort slightly flattened out inside the final furlong, but he still ran well to finish 7th of 26.
Should be all the fitter for this reappearance and looks a horse that’s a head of the handicapper and can be placed to advantage in the coming weeks.
Tuesday 16th April
The first of three days of high class racing that took place at Newmarket.
Newmarket
Ice Lord, trained by Chris Wall. The 7-year-old holds no secrets from the handicapper, but he’s won his fair share of races during his career having had 5 wins from 25 runs on turf, including 5 wins from 15 runs 8 placed over 6f. Ended last season with a win at Doncaster at the end of October. This was the geldings first start since that win and He showed here that he remains on a competitive handicap mark off 3lb higher.
Held up, he was making his effort on the stands rail two furlongs out but couldn’t get a clear run and his jockey had to wait for a gap to appear. Once in the clear he was finishing off his race as well anything
Another who will be all the better with this race under his belt as he’s 0 wins from 6 runs 2 placed when returning form, a 121+day layoff. He’s ground versatile having won on going from soft to good to firm. Four of his five career wins have now come over 6f and having had 2 or 3 runs in the previous 90-days with form figures 1121 since switching to his present trainer.
Wednesday 17th April
Newmarket
Ojooba, trained by Owen Burrows. The filly was well backed sent off 2/1 on her racecourse debut. The well-bred daughter of Dubawi whose related to three horses who gained Racing Post Ratings (RPR’s) between 111 to 119. She looked the best of field, appearance wise, before the 7f fillies’ maiden race.
She wasn’t given a hard race and ran on nicely enough to grab 3rd in the shadow of the post. Given her strength in the market before the race she’s a highly regarded filly who can win races with more experience.
The way she finished her race off suggests another furlong will suit the 3-year-old and her full brother Muntazah won two-Group 3 races over a mile on the dirt at Meydan in February/March.
The Corporal, another trained by Chris Wall. The 3-year-old, a 20,000gns purchase out of the Aidan O’Brien stable had four starts as a juvenile putting in his best performance when 3rd of 15 in a Naas maiden on his third start.
Gelded over the winter the son of Dansili made a highly encouraging first start for trainer Chris Wall in the 1m handicap on day two. A bit keen in the early stages of the race and sent off a very unfancied 66/1. He didn’t have the clearest of runs when making his effort two out and eventually finished a 5 ½ length 7th of 14 behind winner Aweedram.
Bred for 1m 2f and possibly maybe better with more juice in the ground than he faced at Newmarket. He’s been dropped 2lb for this effort. His trainer looks to have a horse whose capable of winning a race or two this season at a modest level.
Thursday 18th April
Newmarket
Electrical Storm, trained by Saeed Bin Suroor. The son of Dubawi, a half brother to Group 1 winner Ribchester, made a highly promising racecourse debut in the 5f novice stakes on day three. He was a shade slowly away from the stalls and was probably a bit unlucky not to make a winning debut. He made steady headway but didn’t get the best of runs twice in the final two furlongs. Despite this he looked like he had the race won when taking the lead inside the final furlong, but he was headed on the line by another Godolphin owned runner Well Of Wisdom.
He’s clearly a sharp juvenile but he’s bred to be an even better colt over an extra furlong. The form of the race looks worth following as the first three home were well bred newcomers. He will surely win a race like this before moving into better company. He already looks a potential Royal Ascot 2-year-old.
Abel Handy, trained by Declan Carroll, could be a well handicapped horse if he bounces back to his best this season. The 4-year-old won the Group 3 Cornwallis Stakes at Newmarket as a juvenile. Not at that level of form as a 3-year-old but he wasn’t disgraced when a 3 length, 6th of 21 in the Portland Handicap at Doncaster last September
He started this season off a 7lb lower mark than in the Portland and looked too well handicapped to ignore on his return in the 5f handicap that concluded the Craven Meeting.
He was well backed before the off, sent off the 5/2 favourite. He was shade keen in the early stages, always up with the pace, he ran well for a long way and eventually finished 4th of 11, beaten just 2 ¾ lengths at the line.
The handicapper has dropped the gelding a further 2lb on the back of this run which Is a bonus. This run should have taken the freshness out of him and he will probably head to York for a sprint handicap at next months Dante meeting.
Friday 19th April
Bath
Fearless Warrior, trained by Ralph Beckett, a son of Sea The Stars had looked like a horse who would do better as a 3-year-old than a juvenile. The colt won on his third attempt as 2-year-old when winning over 1m 2f at Kempton last September. Before finishing runner-up in a Newmarket nursery handicap a month later.
Making his seasonal return, after a 177-day break, in a Class 2 handicap over an extended 1m 3f at Bath. He was slowly away and always playing catch up. Allowed to find his feet he was bought into the race the slowly and grabbed third place in the final few strides.
Trainer Ralph Beckett has yet to hit form this season so in the circumstances this was a decent effort. He shapes like a real stayer who can improve further for a step up to 1m 4f+. Handicapper has put him up 3lb for this run, but he remains a work in progress in handicaps and with this race under his belt looks capable of better in staying handicaps.
Saturday 20th April
Kempton
Rawdaa, trained by Sir Michael Stoute, who first ran as a 3-year-old last summer. Improved with racing on her five starts last season, winning a Newmarket novice on her second career start and ended the season with decisive win in a 1m 2f fillies handicap back at Newbury in October. The daughter of Teofilo had looked a filly worth following in her second season.
The 4-year-old returned from a 196-day break over a mile in the Listed Snowdrop Fillies Stakes. Held up as she had been at Newmarket, but she wasn’t able to really get into the race from the rear. Making good headway in the final two furlongs she was keeping on best of all on the outside to take 3rd in the final few strides.
Will come on for this run and a step up in trip. This ground versatile filly should be placed to advantage by her trainer, who’s made a good start the new season, in the coming months.
That’s all for now. Fingers crossed there will be a few selections from Punchestown next week, all building up to Guineas weekend.
Cheers
John