"Did you see the outfit that Emma Spencer was wearing on Saturday?" (I'm allowed this question since I'm female)
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| Taking Colour Blocking to a Whole New Level |
I can only imagine that she was going straight from presenting at Newbury to her second job as a motorway maintenance person or some promotions work for Tango at Bluewater........certainly If you had been at Newbury and not noticed her beforehand, then once she fell in beside Ribena boy there, her tiny orangeness will have been visible to the guys in the space station.
However, it didn't distract from the true highlight of Saturday, Frankel. What a gorgeous, talented film star of a horse! I have to applaud Channel 4 for blowing the budget and bringing in the aerial photography for the race - it really conveyed the speed and strength of the horses. Great stuff!
I'm mixing it up today with an each way Lucky 15 review!
There is a most definite draw bias for the low to middle stalls over a mile here so any horse drawn higher than 10 has to be a bit more special. My Guardian Angel and Daddy Warbucks aren't blessed with great draws but have to be considered as they both have a good chance on paper. The draw may be too much of a negative for both of these though, given their style of racing.
Those that I like best with good draws are Forget Me Not Lane (1st) who could probably do with some rain but will appreciate this step up in trip and Double Cee who also may like some cut, who is already proven over a mile and has his stable just coming off of the cold list knocking in a few winners recently. Double Cee just edges it for me though - he is getting 6lb from FMNL with a jockey (Tony Hamilton) who has a good record in 3yo races here.
- Double Cee 3rd
Newton Abbot 15:20
Johnny Depp, Juno (film) and Newton Abbot race course all have one thing in common - they're Quirky! Which is probably why it's best to look for a horse or jockey with a good track record here. Only two of the horses in this field have placed here previously (Rampant Ronnie and Salontyre) so there's not much to go on there. The top three jockeys are McCoy, Maguire and Tinkler - two of whom would probably be in the top three on any course! Maguire's ride, The Strawberry One is an interesting runner having been contesting some far classier races than this. She has done most of her winning at Towcester - her only win away from here was at Market Rasen so it would appear that a right handed course is pretty essential to her. Oasis Knight (Tinkler) will be having his first return to a sharp track since his last win back in July 2011. He has come down the weights quite considerably since then but would appear to be the Henderson second string. Zama Zama (1st) is McCoys ride (Henderson) and has been a blog nap in the past. He has been beaten by several bus lengths the last twice though and even though the ground and distance can be used as an excuse to some degree, he should have finished closer than he did. I would prefer Oasis Knight in this race above Zama Zama. High Samana ran in the Fred Winter earlier this year and wasn't totally disgraced. He's on a decent mark here and Andrew Thornton knows him well and has won with him but has an abysmal record here (0-52) which is very hard to get past. Katchmore is after his hat trick but this better class of opponent coupled with his highest mark yet may be too much. Finally Salontyre is worth considering. He has form on sharper tracks and has won with this amateur rider in the past. The trip and ground should be fine but all of his winning has been done in the winter and he looks to be at the end of a tough season. I'm going to take a chance with Andrew Thornton getting his first win in over 5 years here on High Samana....and if Oasis Knight wins then I'll be kicking myself (it was a close call!!)
- High Samana UP
Leicester 19:50
Fabled City appears in his first handicap tongue tied. Since Clive Cox has a decent strike rate here with his 3yo runners, I thought him worth of a closer look but I think he's up against it here! Man of the moment, James Doyle is booked for Tight Lipped, who looks as though this season will be better over a mile. Fourth Of June (you won't believe how many times I've had to change this back to June from July - subliminal!) is the most exciting runner for me. He is lightly raced yet still has course, distance and form on good to soft. He was flying too high in a class 2 at Newmarket last time out and a mile seemed to stretch him so should be better back at 7f. He was an expensive purchase by an influential owner and is reunited with Tom McLaughlin who partnered him for his second on his only previous visit here and I can't see why he is the price he is (currently 8/1)!
- Fourth Of June UP
Windsor 20:10
First Avenue is a family affair - trained and owned by Laura Mongan and ridden by her husband Ian who has a good record here (and who was riding the last time FA won). This is a combination that has done well before for me when I've spotted it so for this reason only, I shall be on again (it has previously been a blog selection too - came 2nd).
- First Avenue UP
EACH WAY LUCKY 15
Redcar 15:10 Double Cee
Newton Abbot 15:20 High Samana
Leicester 19:50 Fourth Of June
Windsor 20:10 First Avenue
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