The Large Fields at Lunchtime Blog

Having had some success with the large field races at York yesterday, I thought I would concentrate on these today and leave the smaller races to Aiden's gang.....by the way, in case you were wondering, Joseph isn't riding at York today because he can't do less than 9st.

13:55

DBS PREMIER YEARLING STAKES (CLASS 2) (2yo)

There are a number of runners here who have been contesting pattern class races running in this but they are mainly drawn on the ‘wrong’ side of the track (low).  Kevin Ryan come mob-handed with five runners and given he has won the past two runnings, you have to give these serious consideration but Tim Easterby won it in 2009 and it’s one of his two runners, Ventura Mist who I’ve opted for.  The move up to 6f worked wonders last time out when he came a very close 2^nd in a listed race and if anything might need further.  So his stamina isn’t in question and even in this large field, we might just see taken straight to the front and stay there but more likely he will come thundering up the left hand side of your screens in the last half furlong!

Win	Ventura Mist
Next Best	Rufford
Each Way	Touch The Clouds

15:05

CLIPPER LOGISTICS STAKES (Handicap) (CLASS 2) (3yo+)

This race has been won by a 4 or 5 year old the past ten years and that’s where I started! Favourites don’t have a good record either with only one winner in 10 years but despite this stat, this year’s favourite Queensberry Rules has too much going for him to forsake him just yet. He is trained by William Haggas who has an exceptional 25% (21/83) strike rate at this track and ridden by Johnny Murtagh with an equally impressive record riding here.  The worry would be that he has also only ever won on right handed tracks. 

A new stat to add to the mix at this point is the fact that all winners in the past 10 years have had a RPR of between 103 and 113, so this would appear to lead us to Hot Bed! Hot Bed had only ever won on the all weather at Dundalk but David Wachman isn’t the sort of trainer to send just one horse over for the scenery so we have to assume that he will act on the turf as well and indeed he has two 2^nds on good to firm to his name so he could well go one better.  David O’Meara has the same approach to this race that Kevin Ryan has in the first with 5 runners and of his five, Frog Hollow looks his best chance although Mont Ras could offer the best value.  A mile on good to firm at a left handed galloping track is just his thing.

Win	Hot Bed 3rd
Next Best	Queensberry Rules
Each Way	Mont Ras 1st

16:55

EVENTMASTERS.CO.UK EBF FILLIES´ STAKES (Handicap) (CLASS 2) (3yo+ 0-100)

Nurpur’s past six races in a hood (2-1-2-2-1-1)have been at either 6f or 8f and she has never been unplaced on going given as good to firm so back against her own sex over 7f on good to firm with the hood retained and Ryan Moore booked, ought to see her up there.  However, all of those aforementioned places and wins were in small single figured fields but her (newish) style of running should suit today.

Dutch Rose hasn’t won since taking this a year ago and is up 6lb from that day so I can’t see a repeat performance on the cards and Shesastar beat her albeit by ½ length although the slight weights adjustment this time would seem to give her back control. 

Patrona Ciana is an intriguing runner having joined the O’Meara stable from France for Middleham Park Racing (& partner) just a week ago.  Buick is booked so they must be expecting a decent showing.  So my three final picks are the O’Meara runners – can he get a 1-2-3 ?

Win	Nurpur
Next Best	Dutch Rose 1st
Each Way	Patrona Ciana

The Green, Pink and White Blog (Day 1 Ebor Meeting)

Caption not Required !

Let's hope that we see Sir Henry alongside Frankel at York after his recent illness.  Fingers crossed that he's well enough to watch at the course.

I got so excited when looking at the York card for Wednesday to 'selectively' choose which races to look at in more depth that I got no further than the first race......

14:00 Symphony Group Stakes (Handicap) Class 2 5f 
Stats
With only three previous runnings, there isn't a lot in the way of stats to guide.  A 5yo or 6yo carrying between 9-4 and 9-6 and with a two word name is not going to be a very scientific method of attempting to select a winner!  Mister Manannan is the only runner to tick these 3 boxes and (sprint king) trainer Dandy Nichols assures us that his one or two issues have been sorted out and the owners are coming from the Isle Of Man to watch the race so you never know.
Draw/Running
I have discounted any middle drawn runners as this isn't advantageous.  There is a slight bias towards a high draw and even more for a hold up horse drawn high (unsurprisingly). There is plenty of front running speed with high drawn Le Toreador and Fitz Flyer to ensure a good tow for any closers.  I would suggest that Mass Rally is the likely beneficiary of this scenario.  He is turned out in a hood (known in our house as a gimp mask ever since a horse called Bondage was seen wearing one - true!) as well as blinkers to help him get his head in front at the business end and also has big field form.  Any overnight showers to take the sting out of the ground will be a plus as well.  
Obs
When I see Fallon booked for a Mick Easterby runner in a handicap at a big meeting like the Ebor, my senses click onto full alert.  The pair are teaming up with Ancient Cross in this race and although his last few placings (9-10-8-8) don't look earth shattering (two of these races he was hampered), he has at least been running in class 2s and is now back down to his last winning mark for the first time.  

Skybet are paying out on the first five places which means that I'll be each way on:

• Mass Rally  2nd  (needed a longer neck!)
• Ancient Cross  UP
• Mister Manannan  UP (not quite last - there was one behind him)

15:05 Great Voltigeur Stakes Class 1 Group 2 (3yo)

Stats

Only 3 favourites have won in the past 10 runnings but 9 winners have been in the top three of the betting.  Nine from ten winners have been sired by a group 1 winner. This would leave us with Noble Mission (Frankel's baby brother - full brother).

Draw/Running

With only 6 going to post, the draw isn't so important in this race.  At this level, horses tend to be able to run a race in a variety of ways so the fact that all of them except Thought Worthy have apparently performed best when held up should perhaps not be given too much importance.

Thoughts

I am not convinced that Main Sequence (or his '0/14 in 3yo' and '5/76 overall' at York jockey!) are suited to York.
Al Zarooni and Cecil are both double handed here and both are the top trainers (in this race) at the track.   Thomas Chippendale would need a huge step forward so I can't seriously consider him.  Energizer is the mount of Frankie D who is struggling to ride a winner lately (just 2 from his last 41 rides).  This leaves me pondering between Noble Mission who would be a most popular winner and Encke, the Barzalona booked adversary.  These two are so closely matched it's almost impossible to split them. Noble Mission is a group (3) winner who beat Encke on the nod last time out at Goodwood.  Then again Encke has more potential to improve this time.  They both go on good, good to firm or soft.  So at decent(ish) prices, I shall dutch them and put a reverse forecast (how's that for a cop out?) and if they dead heat then I will gloat forever.

• Noble Mission  UP
• Encke  UP

Note to self - if you going to read the race correctly then back the right horse doh!

PS:  Really I want Noble Mission to win....but I was always taught "I want doesn't get" so "please may Noble Mission win, please"?

When the Betfair server sent down on Sunday afternoon (again!), it prompted me to revisit my opened but never used Betdaq account.  A revelation!  Once you get used to the exchange layout it's really quite usable.  For those wanting to put small stakes on, the minimum bet on the exchanges is 0.50p and the best feature of all is that you can watch any race when logged in with a bet on at least one race so put a bet on the last race of the day!

Day 2 of the Viking Raid - 17 May

Some very close calls at big prices but no cigar yesterday (well one cheroot such was it's price!) so the angles need a tad more refining!  The Cheka, Society Rock, Van Der Art, Three Am Tour and Swinging Hawk all placed but they need longer necks....and who the heck let Tiddliwinks play?  Ruined my 1-2 so he did!

Anyway, I 'celebrated' my 4800th racing tissue/sheet yesterday....I've declined the offer of an anorak from my kids to mark the occasion! 


Onto more of the Jorvik stuff .....
Distance and galloping track winners will be the order of the day (for those races that aren't 2yo maidens) - which may sound obvious but would have discounted Flag Officer and The Fun Crusher on Wednesday which were both blog picks.


13:30  I will be looking for something coming from low to mid draw here - the previous four renewals have given us three low drawn winners and one mid draw - which correlates with the 'everyday' draw bias so this means 1-10.  I like Ancient Cross (Michael Easterby) who has inexplicably (?) been running at 6f since last September without much success and is now reverting back to 5f - the distance he last won at in June 2011.  Therein lies the problem - his older legs may not be so speedy enough any longer to repeat his win from last year.  Steps is very interesting and although his trainer (Roger Varian) doesn't like his draw in stall 1, Tournedos won from here with a hold up ride in 2008 so it's been done!  The final shortlister is Doctor Parkes but I have a niggle that he is still too high in the weights to get his nose in front.

• Steps UP (8th)
• Ancient Cross UP (10th)
• Doctor Parkes  UP (5th)

14:00 This is a favourites race!  It's been won six times in the last ten renewals by the SP favourite which looks set to be Izzi Top adding to the Gosden/Buick stampede.  You can see why she should be favourite with a good draw, proven stamina for the trip, a group win under her belt this season already (carrying 3lbs more and beating Timepiece on what was both their seasonal debuts) and the stable already have two meeting winners (from two!).  Sea Of Heartbreak could be extremely good value though - she came 5th at Woodbine in the valuable EP Taylor stakes last October and won on her first outing of 2010 with a 2nd last year...if she manages 3rd this year at 14/1 then that wouldn't be sniffed at ...she also has the help of James Doyle fresh from his win here yesterday aboard Secret Witness.

• Izzi Top 1st (7/2)
• Sea Of Heartbreak  UP (9th)

14:30  The big one!  The Dante Stakes.  All but two (Ptoloemaic and Ektihaam) hold Derby entries.  This is a race which Ballydoyle, Stoutey and Godolphin have monopolised between them, winning 7 of the past 10 renewals.  This year O'Brien has Ernest Hemingway and Godolphin have Mandaean - Sir Michael has no entry.  I would suggest that these two have the prize between them with only Bonfire having enough class to give them any worries.  Now Bonfire hasn't won at this distance so I have to throw him off my shortlist (see above!) which is either a brave or foolish thing to do.  We've only seen Ernest Hemingway once before when he made all but he would have to be spectacular to run that way today (there are at least 2 other front runners in the field) so I would hope that we could see a Camelot style ride from young Joseph...but perhaps not leaving it until tooooo late please!  I have a feeling that this colt could be very special and so am going with my guts on this one.

• Ernest Hemingway  UP (7th)
• Mandaean   UP (6th)

15:00    I see that Fallon has lost another ride to Ryan Moore in Fury (what has he been doing/saying/up to?) but unlike Wednesday when he could sail past Hoof It on Society Rock, this time he's stuck with a Cumani horse with a lousy draw, Bezique who has been off the track for well over a year.  Ten of the last 15 winners over a mile here at York have been drawn low so there  would appear to be a distinct advantage for the 1-6 stalls. Mijhaar is a very skinny price for a horse who has been off for almost a year with an unknown injury and also at a trip that's probably 2f on the short side.  Fury is becoming expensive to follow but does seem to shine in larger fields and I think a place may be the best scenario for him but certainly I prefer him to Mijhaar.  Justonefortheroad may find himself outclassed here and he's 4lb higher than he was last year - although he has a much better draw this time - he has possibilities!  Stevie Thunder is interesting at a big price with Ryan Clark up (six rides, two wins and one 2nd) and although this is ambitious, he could manage a place.  Trade Storm is not ticking my distance win box but the Buick booking catches the eye and he made a winning reappearance last April after some time off.  He's been raced over 6f, 7f, 9f, 10f but all his best placed efforts have been on left handed flat, galloping tracks and although he could do with it drying out some more, I like him.

• Trade Storm  UP (7th)
• Fury 1st (3/1)
• Stevie Thunder NR

15:35  Pearl Secret is the hot favourite and has the form on paper to warrant all respect. I have misgivings about the current stable form though - 18 runners without a winner in the past fortnight.  Not just without a winner but without a 2nd and the two 3rds they've managed were each over a length behind.  Not an odds on sort of punt for me this!  Es Que Love is a puzzle running at 5f when all of his best results have been at 6f on a testing track.  I can only think that he'll shoot from the stalls like a bat out of hell and attempt to make all but will he have the speed?  Ponty Acclaim may have something to say about it and was last seen winning a group 3 in October.  The lack of a recent run is a concern but 10/1 is an each price to take a chance with.  

• Ponty Acclaim 2nd (14/1)
• Es Que Love UP (4th)

16:10  A 'potential' race or rather a race that has to be evaluated on the possibilities and potential of each runner......pin please!   Only three of these have ever been on a racecourse before so eleven of them really could be anything and one has to look at the trainers' success with complete beginners, their breeding, sale price, entries and even owner.  The draw could be a factor if the runners can be certain to gallop in a straight line and a high stall number (9-14) would appear to have the advantage.  Hannon had two 2yo debutante winners at Bath yesterday and runs Dust Whirl - one of the three here with race experience.  Dust Whirl comes out of stall 11 which is a positive and he holds a handful of entries for some decent races.  He won't be the most expensive horse on the Knavesmire track at just gone 4pm - that will be the as-yet-unraced Skytrain trained by Mark Johnston, one of of his two runners and apparently his first string on jockey bookings.  He would look to need further that 6f on breeding however.  The other runner of interest is Funk Soul Brother trained by Charles Hills who isn't particularly noted for his juveniles (although he has had a 2yo winner these past few weeks) and he's bred for this trip and also bred to do well as a 2yo so probably has the most potential of the débutantes to my mind.  Unless they have been disastrous on debut, then I think experience on the racetrack is all important so:

• Dust Whirl  UP (13th)
• Funk Soul Brother 1st (8/1)

16:45  The marathon!  It ought to be renamed the Kayf Aramis race since he's won it three times before and is back again this year for another try.  

Dark Ranger and Hollins are also previous winners back for another try but I would suggest only Dark Ranger has a realistic chance this year.  All but one previous winners have had a spin at least once over hurdles (Graham Lee might be the man to have up top for this?), none have been over the age of 7 nor carried more than 9-6 and none have won from a middle draw so if you were guided by stats alone then you'd be looking at Alsahil, Cloudy Spirit and Sohcahtoa.  Stats are just a guide though so I've widened the net but left these three in the mix and it will be interesting to see how they do.  Cloudy Spirit won an 18f at Pontefract last month off just a 1lb lower (same jockey) so looks to have a fighting chance.

Secret Tune is an interesting runner, having won on the flat over 17f this year at Doncaster (heavy) but he is lumbered with one of the top weights.

Micky Hammond has a decent enough record here and runs three:  Hollins, Mr Crystal and Alsahil. Of the three, I would suggest Mr Crystal who won the 22f marathon at Pontefract last months (carrying 6lbs more) would look to have the best chance but Alsahil is also in with a shout if his stamina holds out.  Cape Tribulation would be of more interest with a few less pounds and I think is set to struggle.

Back to Dark Ranger and he is Eddie Ahern’s only ride of the day – the three times they have partnered up has resulted in a win, a 2^nd and a UP.  He’s has a very different prep this year – no hurdling and just a couple of 2 mile races at Kempton this year and will arrive fresher.  I’m sure this race will have been targeted and for this reason he tops my list. 

• Dark Ranger 2nd (8/1)
• Cloudy Spirit  1st (13/2)
• Secret Tune  UP (13th)

Oh yes!  The Funk Soul Brother

Viking Victories Day 1 - 16 May

The first day of the York Dante meeting and it looks as though we may be in for some good racing on good ground at last!  

Those in touch with (and also those hiding under rocks because there has been no escape) may have noticed the name Brooks in the papers recently.  Rebekah and her "renowned racehorse trainer" (according to the Mail!) husband are a tad peeved at "being turned into scapegoats" apparently and have been venting their anger to all and sundry!  I keep reading and hearing about this here "renowned racehorse trainer" but despite daily form and racecard study, his extensive string of runners has so far eluded me so I thought I would research where he has been running them....Jamaica, Barbados, Mongolia, Iceland?  Nope!  His extensive stable runs to six horses - three of which are owned by himself, T Lacey and the Pudlicote Partnership (could this be himself, wife, David Cameron and Jeremy Clarkson?!) and none of which have ever won more than a couple of hundred in prize money which all rather smacks of giving the little chap something to do!   One of these six horses in training is named Harris (cost a respectable £20K) and holds four entries to various bumpers over the next few days and another (Cavite Gamma £9K) holds an entry into a novice chase at Stratford on Sunday.......now I just need to teach my cat to bark and dance and I shall call myself the winner of Britain's Got Talent!

Back to proper horseracing now and York!  I've put my shortlists below each review/thoughts and will be on each way in most cases...


13:30 I've noted that you need to concentrate on runners drawn mid to high and that have been progressively improving their placings...(e.g. 8-5-3) in 10f races at York and the only one in the field that ticks these two boxes is Area Fifty One - who belongs to that collector of northern races, Dr Marwan Koukash.  I admit to a soft spot for Space War who I saw win his maiden at Newmarket but who sadly had never gone on to fulfil his initial potential and since left John Gosden for Mick Easterby (big handicap race king). I've vowed to keep away from Cumani's runners first time out this season so this removes Kirthill.  The one who appears at the top of my tissue though is Flag Officer and while I have no qualms about selecting a bin Suroor runner coming back to the track after nigh on a year but my misgivings lie with the jockey!  Frankie's flying dismount has been noticeably absent lately ..... but the winners he has ridden have  all been for Godolphin so I am tempted to put my reservations to one side.  However,it should be noted that bin Suroor has said that Flag Officer will improve from the run and that he is also entered into the Jorvik Stakes on Friday so it may be carrying my £££s only if available at an each way price.  One who I think will do well at a price is Right Step.  Alan Jarvis has a good record here at York and Jim Crowley who won on him at Epsom last time out is coming here for the one ride.

• Flag Officer UP (Pulled Up) 4/1 f
• Right Step UP (10th) 9/1
• Area Fifty One  UP (8th) 10/1

14:00  Only two favourites have won this in the past 10 years and they were joint fav and co-fav and only one 7yo (none over this age) has won during this time which bodes not well for Baby Strange.  New Planet looks interesting in that like Right Step in the previous race, he is partnered by the jockey who teamed up with him to win last time out, Tom Queally who takes just the one ride today.  He has course (although this isn't at all important here - it's probably the fairest track in Britain), distance and going form with a good (high) draw too!  The one I like most for this though is Instance who is lightly raced, both trainer and jockey (Noseda/Buick) both have excellent strike rates here and has a good draw to boot.  

• Instance  UP (15th) 14/1
• New Planet  UP (13th) 12/1

14:30  It really is difficult to look beyond Twirl in this but (as for the first) the one glaring stat in this (10f) race is the frequency of an ‘improving position’ horse but the only runner in the field to tick this box is Aniseed - a 40/1 chance whose last run was in a class 5 at Wolverhampton and whose only redeeming feature (that I can find) is William Haggas’s record with 3yo here (4-17) …and her sale price of 60K!  Aniseed’s Oaks (currently 100/1) entry along with her Ribblesdale entry looks optimistic to say the least and her Thirsk maiden entry for next week may be more realistic!  Twirl is a Galileo filly also with an Oaks entry and who seemed to be in need of the extra couple of furlongs when last seen.  The other pair that have warranted any time spent on them are The Fugue who wasn’t totally disgraced in fourth position in the 1000 Guineas and Good Morning Star (no Oaks entry) who is more exposed than most but has proven stamina for the distance and may just fall short of the class required…but you never know with a Johnston runner! Twirl seems value at just a shade under evens.

•      Twirl  2nd 5/6f
•      The Fugue  1st 15/8

….and perhaps 50p each way on Aniseed for the hell (and stats) of it!!

15:00  The money has been steadily flowing towards Hoof It these past few days to such an extent that any value is gone.  He did win on his seasonal reappearance at this meeting last year so we know he can go well fresh BUT HE HAS NEVER WON A GROUP RACE or indeed anything other than a handicap which makes the 4/1 currently on offer look stingy – although this doesn’t mean he won’t win of course (he comes top of my tissue) but he just won’t be carrying my £££s (no value)!  Society Rock on the other hand has won a group 1 and is available at double figures – mainly due to his poor form at the end of last season but I have an inkling that a certain jockey might be hell bent on gaining revenge for being jocked off Hoof It.  It’s been some while since a 3yo has won this race so I’ve discounted Bannock, Bogart and Restiadargent.  Eve Johnson Houghton doesn’t run many of hers at York but when she does, her win rate is 2 from 5 and she runs The Cheka today.  However he’ll have to improve massively again to win from his current mark but it’s not beyond the realms of possibility.  Mayson is very interesting but all his wins have been right handed. 

• Hoof It (but he can win without my £££S) 
• UP (5th) 2/1f
• The Cheka 2nd 9/1
• Society Rock 3rd 8/1

15:30  Tim Easterby has won this race twice in the past 5 years and I do love his capacity for targetting (and winning) big field handicaps at the important meetings – there’s a trainer who knows how to keep his owners happy!  He is fielding Bollin Felix and The Fun Crusher in this race with The Fun Crusher the stable number one…..Bollin Felix hasn’t been seen on a racecourse since May 2011 and is owned by one Mrs Sarah Easterby by the way!  Mika Mica is one of only a handful with recent form but he has a not great draw and would prefer some rain.  Mulaqen is very lightly races and interesting - again, he has a low draw which isn't perfect.  It might be worth noting that the past 5 winners of this race were (very lucky in running and/or with talented jockeys!) hold up horses and the majority from high draws! This had me looking more closely at Eagle Rock, Tartan Gigha The Fun Crusher and Swinging Hawk (who is incidentally part owned by Lee Westwood of Hoof It ownership) and it is the last three who are of most interest at each way prices.  

• The Fun Crusher 
• UP (10th) 4/1f
• Tartan Gigha 
• UP (16th) 33/1
• Swinging Hawk 
• 4th  33/1

...and perhaps 50p each way on Bollin Felix (14th) because I'm intrigued!

16:10  You can never ignore a Hannon 2yo and Citius is a very classy (and expensive) colt but Richard Fahey has a better win ratio with his 2yos here than Hannon does (it surprised me too!) so this adds to the appeal of Tatlisu.  All the runners in this field come with their own jockeys!  That is, the only jockey who has race ridden them previously (in most cases only once) is on board today so they’ll know them and of them all, Paul Hanagan does best with his 2yo rides here…if it seems I’m grasping at straws here then I am – not a lot to go on – so more appeal added to Tatlisu who also happens to come out top of my sheet/tissue.  Citius seems a good price for an each way pop so I’ll be on these two.

• Tatlisu 
• UP (4th) 9/4f
• Citius 
• UP (7th) 7/1

 

16:45  And on to the last cavalry charge of the day!  Over 7f at York, the jockey is more important than at any other distance and the top four in this race (3yo only) are Hughsie (Three Am Tour), Ryan (Intuition), Frank (Parc De Launay) and SDS (Kinloch Castle).  On overall figures (2yo, 3yo, 4yo+) you can add Frankie (Grizzle) and Fallon (Van Der Art) to this list and these are the six I’ll concentrate on (well this race is a lottery so I’ve picked six!).  From this shortlist, I am narrowing down the field further to a low draw (trust me on this!) so this discounts Grizzle.  Three Am Tour had a nice close second just 10 days ago and should be primed, Van Der Art also had a seasonal warm up on ground that would have been softer than ideal and Parc De Launay has been contesting class 2 while giving a hint that the step up may suit so these make my final three!

• Three Am Tour 3rd 8/1
• Van Der Art 2nd 10/1
• Parc De Launay 
• UP (9th) 16/1

Saturday’s Selections & Results – 08 October

 Saturday's Selections are:
                      
                        Newmarket

15:10  Bronterre UP
16:25  Pimpernel 2nd 

York

16:40  Astromagic UP

Guess who owns the 16:40 selection....and it's not Jessie J !!

A loss of -3 today

 

I did back Parish Hall in the Dewhurst each way as well as Bronterre (and stuck a combi tricast with Power &Bronterre) - tweeted it, posted it on RUK forum and tipped on GG.COM competitions so not completely after timed!  

Wolves 18:30 - I am double handed in this and have gone with Lily Wood (ew) as it comes out top row of my spreadsheet and also Circuitous (again ew) as Dalgleish has a fab strike rate here and I like the high draw over 6f (50% win rate despite popular misconception)
Circuitous   13/2 each way UP
Lily Wood    12/1 each way UP


Wolves 19:00 - past observations have flagged up that 2nd string Al Zarooni runners in maidens do well, especially with a good jockey up, a decent draw and a Derby entry!
Captivate      8/1 each way 2nd (now don't be surprised but Fallon didn't make it on time and Fanning took the ride)

It’s all about the Cesarewitch today – 34 horses over 2 miles 2 furlongs is an incredible sight to behold!  History lesson follows:

Cruiskeen

The name of the race comes from Tsesarevich which is the title of the heir to the throne in old Russia and was named for Tsar Alexander II who donated £300 to the jockey club.  
The first running was back in 1839 when it was won by Cruiskeen who also won the Chester Cup.  Last year it was won by Aaim To Prosper.  

No horse has ever won this more than once and in recent years only Willie Carson, Lester Piggott, Gary Carter and Royston Ffrench have ridden the winner on more than one occasion.

Aaim To Prosper

Only 2 favourites have won from the last 10 running and all but 2 have been drawn high (don’t forget that since it’s a right hand course, the stall numberings changed this March so when you look at past runnings and see the winner came from stall 1, this would equate to 34 today!).  The one winner who came from a low draw was given an excellent (and lucky in running) ride by Eddie Ahern for Nicky Henderson who is aboard Veiled today which bodes well.  
All of the past 10 winners had previously won at 2m whether this be flat or jumps.  


I'm going double handed on Veiled and Keys for this - both each way at 14/1 with a small (lively outsider bet - as if they aren't all in this race!) on Cosimo De Medici at 16/1


My darts weren't sharp enough today!  The winner was Never Can Tell ridden by Frankie (who was one of the few who walked the course before racing) and drawn stall 36 (see notes above)

   143                      135                    130  

     56                          56                   25