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George's 2026 Selection Thread
George's 2026 Selection Thread
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A bad day at the office...
Francophone wasn't well positioned based on how this panned out but kept on well into fourth place, finishing a length behind the second. I was anticipating a typically no-nonsense ride from Wayne Lordan, who was taking over on Absoluteassignment, given this one can be keen and was dropping in trip, but the reality was that the selection was soon behind, and although he did make some headway into midfield, wasn't given a hard time from that point and soon dropped away. Renewable Dream, back from a break and starting out for a new yard, was stood in the stalls for a while, and doubt was suited by the tactical nature of this 7f contest given he appears to stay a mile, but ultimately, probably was in need of the run. 2026 Running P/L: +40.42 pts |
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Vauntingly, 1pt EW @ 9-1, 3.22 Gowran Park
A Lady Forever, 1pt EW @ 14-1, 5.10 Newcastle |
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Vauntingly
Vauntingly doesn't face an easy task on official ratings upped in class to Listed level, and Dylan Browne McMonagle has opted to jump ship and ride a higher-rated stablemate, but there was a lot to like about the manner in which this scopey filly won a Killarney maiden 12 days ago, when encountering a sound surface for the first time and upped in trip to 11.5f, albeit she had the run of things on the front-end. She's out of a Galileo mare so hopefully there's more to come at middle distances now upped slightly further in trip to 12f, and isn't badly drawn in three if the plan is to go forward again. |
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A Lady Forever
A Lady Forever faded to finish last of seven just nine days ago at Hamilton on quick ground having been pestered for the lead, but perhaps she'll be more effective back at this track where she has a record of a win (6f) and three places from ten starts. It looked a fair effort over C&D two starts back when although no match for the conservatively-ridden winner who had a good 7lb claimer on board, she kept on okay to finish second having made the running into a slight headwind. The visor she wore then is again left off, she's having to race from out of the handicap, and it remains to be seen how her low draw pans out, but she looks worth chancing at a double-figure price back at Newcastle. |
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Wd George
 ( )  gl ... |
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Cheers Virgin.
It looked like Vauntingly just needed another stride or two and would have got there. Unfortunately a losing day as my other selection A Lady Forever was a poor one, being the first beaten having gone from the front on a day at Newcastle when the surface was on the slow side and there was reportedly a stiff headwind. 5p Rule 4. 2026 Running P/L: +39.56 pts |
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Box Clever, 1pt EW @ 11-1, 8.00 Windsor
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Box Clever
Box Clever made an encouraging start to her season when finishing runner-up at Nottingham (8.5f, good) in April to one who would follow-up off a 3lb higher mark (admittedly with a good 7lb claimer on board), and perhaps Box Clever's effort can be marked up having been slow to stride from the widest draw and then used up some gas on the outer of the field to get into a prominent position. Her two efforts since have been disappointing but I think excuses can be made for both, having been caught flat-footed and lost her position off a steady pace at Newbury (one mile, g-s), and last time at Kempton (where she dwelt at the start) the drop back to 7f didn't seem to suit and she could never get competitive when cheekpieces were tried for the first time. The selection could do with being sharper from the gate particularly as she has the inside draw this evening, but having gone up a pound for her Nottingham effort she's now looking fairly handicapped off a 3lb lower mark, so hopefully can give a good account back on turf provided she doesn't blow it at the start. |
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I noticed that Box Clever was being backed in the early markets. Good luck with her.
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Cheers Brian. If the markets are too sharp for Hugh Taylor nowadays, what chance have we mere mortals got?
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Wd George
gl … |
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Cheers Virgin, Box Clever took a while to pick up but was going on well at the finish into a closing third.
5p Rule 4. 2026 Running P/L: +40.65 pts |
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Highwind, 1pt EW @ 14-1, 1.50 Goodwood (5 PLACES)
It looked a decent effort from Highwind last time when finishing fourth at the Curragh over the stretch-two mile trip on his first encounter on officially good to firm ground, and although he was unable match the first three home inside the final furlong, he'd been keen on the front-end in what was the only race on the card to dip inside the RP standard time, on a day when the wind was described as "fresh, half against", and it paid to be held up in that contest with the first two home emerging from the rear. The winner has followed up over hurdles since, and the third won a 19-runner handicap at Galway on Wednesday, where he pulled clear with the runner-up. The selection could do with settling better now trying this extended 20f trip for the first time, but has shaped as though worth a try it over with his previous form including a staying on 4th over 2m2.5f last September in the Ulster Cesarewitch Handicap at Down Royal. The starting stalls will be in use for the first time in this contest so it remains to be seen how the draw pans out, but hopefully a draw in two will help him get an inside trip and some cover. |
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Highwind, 1pt EW @ 14-1, 1.50 Goodwood (5 PLACES)
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Wd George
...if still got 5 places  gl ... |
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WD GB..most still paying 5 places..
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Cheers Virgin. A couple of the main firms have still paid 5 places so I am going to claim it.
Having proved easy enough to back (14-1 ISP), he was again keen through the early stages, but plugged on to press for a place, having lacked a gear change on the downhill run when it mattered. He's yet to race beyond 2m1f over hurdles so may have some scope for improvement in that sphere when stepped up in trip given he appears to stay well on the Flat. 2026 Running P/L: +42.45 pts |
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Thanks lead on.
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Cairdeas, 1pt EW @ 18-1, 7.16 Southwell
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Cairdeas
Cairdeas has posted a couple of decent efforts on turf this season, finishing runner-up at both Doncaster (6f, g-s) and Nottingham (6f, good), but the switch back to the all-weather ten days ago over this C&D backfired as he finished last of the 12 runners, beaten just over 6L, with Pickersgill (who also runs in this), finishing 6L ahead of him in second place. However, Cairdeas had taken quite a grip through the early stages and then didn't seem to get much of a run up the home straight, though admittedly he might not have found much anyway given the energy wastage. His jockey might be keen to get him switched off at the back this time, which may not be ideal round here, particularly if the pace is controlled up front, but a chance is taken at the prices as he seemed to have excuses last time, and this represents a slight ease in grade. |
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A three-wide trip for Cairdeas who seemed to do well in the circumstances to keep on for 4th place.
2026 Running P/L: +40.45 pts |
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Draupnir, 1pt EW @ 16-1, 6.30 Ayr (4 PLACES)
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Draupnir
Draupnir hasn't exactly looked a winner waiting judging from his last two starts which both came at York over vastly different trips - never involved when upped markedly in trip to 14f, and last time over a mile when not seeing his race out having been ridden forward from a wide draw. However, he's now 2lb lower than for decent frame efforts earlier this season at both Thirsk (7f, good) and Hamilton (9f, good, Mr Lincoln in behind), and perhaps a drop in class combined with getting back on an easier surface can prove the catalyst for a return to form, provided he's effective over tonight's trip of 10f. |
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* waiting to happen...
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Draupnir went from the front and, whilst he kept on well, he wasn't able to hang on for a place, ultimately finishing fifth.
He has a pedigree to stay four miles, but can be effective over 7f, so who knows what his optimum trip is? |
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2026 Running P/L: +38.45 pts
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Tribeca, 1pt EW @ 20-1, 4.00 Curragh
Weston Court, 1pt @ 22-1, 4.26 Chepstow (4 PLACES) |
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Tribeca
Tribeca ultimately wasn't any match last time for Celeron in the Railway Stakes over C&D when they finished first and second, but I thought there was a lot to like about his effort given he'd sat closer to the trailblazing Carry The Flag, whilst racing alone towards the stands' rail, and this physically nice type by Blue Point, kept on well to hold on to the runner-up spot from the short-priced Ballydoyle favourite, Confucius, for whom the pacemaker had tried to set the race up for. Tribeca is currently around ten times the price of Celeron, but not impossible he could get nearer to that rival if ridden with a tad more restraint this time. |
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Weston Court
Weston Court had been in the doldrums for quite a while but has been running better of late, and while it may be back at Bath, the scene of his two career wins, if he is to get his head back in front again, he has posted a couple of okay efforts here latterly in classified stakes company, and he's just a play at the prices now back into a handicap. |
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A poor day...
I thought Tribeca looked a big price relative to Celeron, and he did reverse the Railway Stakes form, with the latter not running much of a race for whatever reason, but Tribeca couldn't even get past the Ballydoyle pacemaker on this occasion. The less said about Weston Court the better. 2026 Running P/L: +34.45 pts |
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Due Respect, 1pt EW @ 20-1, 2.15 Ayr
Kurious Lady, 1pt EW @ 16-1, 4.30 Kempton |
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Due Respect
Due Respect has her stamina for one mile to prove and she hasn't looked in much form on quicker ground recently, but she's of a little interest here at the prices back on ground which might have some give in it following seven mm of rain over the past 24 hours. Her sole win to date came on good to soft last summer at Redcar (7f) off a 6lb higher mark, and she's run okay this season on a couple of occasions over 6/7f when the ground has been described as good. She's drawn widest but that might not be a bad thing if the track plays like it did here on Saturday evening when there appeared to be an advantage in coming stands' side, though admittedly that apparent bias may change following the recent rain, and Due Respect may be ridden forward to lead anyway. |
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Kurious Lady
Kurious Lady is still lightly-raced but wasn't progressing for her previous yard, and her finishing effort was particularly disappointing when last seen at Doncaster (12f, g-f) in June, after which she was sold for just 6,000 gns. However, she's off interest back on the all-weather, as it was over today's C&D in March when she caught the eye finishing off well from a poor position to be beaten just over 2L into 6th, in what admittedly was a bunch finish. She had also made the frame twice at Southwell over a mile when qualifying for a mark. It remains to be seen which way she goes for her new yard, but interesting to see how she goes back in this sphere, and she's off a mark 4lb lower than for that previous course effort. |
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WD,Due Respect..nice place,moved the price too..
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Wd George
 gl .... |
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Cheers lead on & Virgin.
Due Respect gave it a good shot from the front, but unfortunately for her backers, one had to emerge from the pack to reel her in. Kurious Lady, in contrast, was friendless in the betting. She appears to be a sizable but gawky filly, and there wasn't much encouragement to be gleaned from this stable debut. Perhaps some form of headgear may benefit. 2026 Running P/L: +35.45 pts |
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Cotai Starlight, 1pt EW @ 12-1, 5.30 Hamilton
Tommo's Ginjaninja, 1pt EW @ 14-1, 7.15 Nottingham |
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Cotai Starlight
Cotai Starlight was the outsider of the field when scoring at 28-1 at Ayr (6f, g-f) last month, and showed that was no fluke by running respectably under a 6lb penalty a week later back over that C&D (g-f) to finish a 2L 4th of 9; the runner-up from the latter contest has won subsequently. She's been weak in the betting this morning ahead of being tried at 5f and running at Hamilton for the first time, with easier ground forecast, but a chance is taken at a double-figure price in this hands-and-heels race, with her still being open to improvement after just six starts. |
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Tommo's Ginjaninja
Tommo's Ginjaninja was a selection back in May at York when I wrote: Tommo's Ginjaninja doesn't face an easy task here to reverse Doncaster form with Cotton Bud whom he finished third and 4.5L behind at Doncaster (10f, g-f) last month, while this is a step up grade for them both, however, he does have a 6lb pull and perhaps his Doncaster effort can be marked up having sat closer to the pace than the first two and found himself in front over 2f out before giving way over a furlong out, but he did stick on which gives some encouragement for the step up in trip today to 12f. The selection was having his first start on turf last time having only made his debut in January so hopefully has more to offer on grass. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Tommo's Ginjaninja put in a shocker at York, and last time at Wetherby when dropped back in class, the combination of the drop in trip to a mile and wide draw failed to see him get competitive; the visor tried then is quickly discarded. He races off a mark 5lb lower than for his Doncaster effort, a contest from which the second has since won, and while fitness could be an issue back from two months off, a chance is taken at the odds now back at 10f. |
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Cotai Starlight was squeezed out at the start and that was pretty much game over for her chance, straight away on the backfoot and only able to make some late headway.
Tommo's Ginjaninja ran well on his return from a two-month break. He was produced to have a winning chance, but perhaps being just in need of the run, he was ultimately run out of a place late on. 2026 Running P/L: +31.45 pts |