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George's 2026 Selection Thread
George's 2026 Selection Thread
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Rival, 1pt EW @ 5.10 Ffos Las
Chapel Island, 1pt EW @ 9-1, 5.52 Gowran (5 PLACES) |
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Rival, 1pt EW @ 11-1, 5.10 Ffos Las
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Rival
Rival hasn't won for nearly four years, but he ran well to make the frame on four occasions last season off slightly higher marks, and following a couple of runs back this season at Chepstow that might have been needed, he was in the process of running a better race last time at Bath, when he had to be eased off. I thought his saddle had slipped, but apparently the gelding lost his action, according to his jockey. His yard also run the current favourite for this, Nammos, but Daniel Muscatt is a reasonably positive booking being 12/102 for the yard (including when John Flint was the sole trainer), +£17.25, and hopefully Rival can at least be a frame contender, with his fitness now more assured. |
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Chapel Island
It looked a mark-up effort from Chapel Island two starts back at Navan (good) when he was tried beyond 10f for just the second time, having had a tough trip from the widest draw in a field of sixteen, in a contest where the three who finished ahead of him had all been ridden more conservatively. He finished well held last time, however, in a field of seven at Down Royal, when tried over 13f, so while it's possible the trip might have stretched him, the race might have come soon enough thirteen days on. The concern today is the drop back in trip to 9.5f on what may be the quickest ground he has encountered, but that penultimate effort suggested he should be up to winning in this 0-60 grade when things pan out more favourably, so a chance is taken in the hope that this doesn't prove to be too sharp a test for him. |
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  Wd George well backed place gl .... |
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Ta Virgin. Unfortunately there was a chunky 30p Rule 4.
Rival was very much the weaker of the Flint pair in the betting, and having forced the pace, he was beating a retreat from under 2f out, in a contest where there was a Barney-style punt landed, with the winner having dropped 46lb down the ratings for his current yard. They tried to make it a test on Chapel Island, who was dropping in trip, but he was headed 2f out, and the way he kept going for third place would suggest imo that he probably does want more of a test. 2026 Running P/L: +29.71 pts |
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Zoustar Dreams, 1pt EW @ 11-1, 4.25 Yarmouth
My Mate Beattie, 1pt EW @ 14-1, 5.00 Yarmouth |
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Zoustar Dreams
Zoustar Dreams was gaining her third success of the year when winning at Nottingham (5f, g-f) two starts back, and while it's possible it was the 5lb rise in the ratings that found her out at Ripon (5f, good, finished 0.75L behind Creative Queen) last time, it's also possible that the track might not have suited. She's generally been progressive since the cheekpieces went on and that was a career-best effort at Nottingham, so a chance is taken at the odds that she can resume her progress back on a less undulating track. |
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My Mate Beattie
My Mate Beattie is still a maiden after 26 starts, but only 9 of those have been on turf, and she showed enough last time at Ffos Las (6f, good), from out of the handicap, when finishing a close third, to suggest a basement-grade race can fall her way. The winner has since run well to make the frame in a slightly higher grade at Windsor. It's a slight concern that the selection has generally been kept away from quick ground on turf, and she does appear to have a bit of a knee action, but I'm going to take a chance at the prices that she back that latest effort up, returned to 0-50 classified stakes company. |
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Zoustar Dreams was beaten under 2L at the finish having forced the pace, but that was only good enough for 4th place, and it would seem that the 5lb rise she got for winning at Nottingham has seen her reach the ceiling of her ability.
Scott Dixon did win the finale at Yarmouth but with the 'wrong' one as far as I was concerned. I was aware that Mikkel Mortensen and his 5lb claim had jumped ship to the selection's stablemate, and that proved key, as the positive ride the winner got suited given how the race panned out with the pace holding up, whereas the jockey on mine decided to take a lead but ended up having to switch towards the far side and was never able to get on terms, eventually getting done for 4th on the bob close home. 2026 Running P/L: +25.71 pts |
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dattes #rum#lucjke there George, withe ur 2dayes picjkes... hardde whenne dey go close butte no #collecktte :( P&L lookin #ayokaye
 wd on yer fredde:) |
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Thank you vonclausewitz, and good luck with your picks too.
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Master Garvey, 1pt EW @ 14-1, 4.00 Dundalk (4 PLACES)
Apercu, 1pt EW @ 18-1, 4.35 Dundalk (4 PLACES) |
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Master Garvey
Master Garvey could only finish in midfield just nine days ago in a 17-runner handicap at Leopardstown (7f, good), but he has run well on occasions this year, including last month when headgear was applied, finishing 3rd of 13 at Gowran (9.5f, good), and before that 5th of 22, beaten less than 2L at Leopardstown (9f, good). This C&D winner is of a little interest at the prices back at this venue, having run respectably twice here in January over the extended 10f trip, and in April over the mile trip when finishing third in a contest that produced subsequent winners. |
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Apercu
Apercu reportedly stopped quickly when fading out of it at Leopardstown (9f, good) on her latest start, when the drop in trip on a sound surface wasn't sure to suit anyway, but prior to that she had posted a decent effort when finishing runner-up in the Ulster Oaks Fillies Handicap, and although she was no match for the winner who clearly relished being back on softer ground, she stuck to her task in what had been a well-run contest. Apercu's four starts over today's C&D include a maiden win and a respectable 5th of 13 in Listed company. She's landed the inside stall which may not be ideal if they come stands' side in the home straight, but granted a fair crack at things, then hopefully she can give a good account off the same mark she raced off at Down Royal. |
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didde ew dble on them two, George; plusse bacjkedde bothe for 3/4 places as welle as place doubles... cudde gette decentte returnne for smallishhe outlaye... ta for ye picjkes & #writeuppes, G.B..... gL evrybody :)
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Sadly a couple of poor ones at Dundalk.
Judging by some of the times, the track might have been riding a bit slicker than it usually does, which I doubt would have suited either. Master Garvey might ideally want the 10.5 trip round here nowadays, but he doesn't always help himself by taking a grip, whatever, he's only officially rated 40 and consistency isn't his strong point. Apercu, who not for the first time had to be rousted away from the stalls, had proved weak in the betting, and this was a laboured effort. 2026 Running P/L: +21.71 pts |
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Killavia, 1pt EW @ 50-1, 4.45 Pontefract (4 PLACES)
April Mist, 1pt EW @ 28-1, 4.55 Curragh (4 PLACES) |
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Killavia
A couple of the main firms are offering four places on this fillies' Listed contest, and at big odds I'm going to have a speculative pick on Killavia. It was only a class 4 fillies' handicap that she won last time at Ascot and a 6lb rise for that tidy success only puts her on a mark of 87, but the third has won a competitive Hamilton handicap since against mainly male opposition, and hopefully there is more to come from the selection, now she has struck form. |
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April Mist
April Mist was disappointing last time when tried at Listed level at Naas (5f, good), and although connections are having another go today, she's been very weak in the betting this morning. It could be that's as good as she is, but it's possible the draw played a part last time as she was drawn 9/9 in a contest where the three of the first four home came from the lowest three stalls, though admittedly the runner-up did finish off well once switched to the stands' side. April Mist had started her career over that C&D with a promising second to Brazilian Diva (who subsequently went close in Listed company, before not being disgraced in the Moleomb Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, and also runs here), and confirmed a decent level of ability when readily seeing off a couple of colts owned by the Coolmore partners, who admittedly are proving to be lesser-lights for that operation, with initial ratings in the 80s. The selection has a bit to find on official ratings, but a chance is taken at the odds, as she looks worth at least one chance to show that all might not have been right last time at Naas. |
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A poor of run of form continues...
A couple of wild ones today with fillies rated in the 80s tilting at windmills in the hope of nicking some black type. Killavia's tough task was made even harder when she was soon caught three wide and, not looking at ease on the track, found this all too much. April Mist was taken to the nearside rail, perhaps looking to find a quicker strip of ground, but the with the action unfolding down the centre, it wasn't any help. A step up to 6f may help, but not up to this level on this evidence, as the market confidently predicted. 2026 Running P/L: +17.71 pts |
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Regally Blonde, 1pt EW @ 33-1, 3.30 Lingfield
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Regally Blonde
Regally Blonde is the big outsider of five here, but she's of a little interest being tried on all-weather again for just the fifth time. She only ran once at Dundalk back in the day when trained by Andy Oliver, and it was a respectable effort in a 10.5f maiden, finishing runner-up to Ceallach, who would subsequently prove himself to be a useful course performer, reaching an official rating of over 100. Regally Blonde has only run three times on the all-weather for her current yard and each time she was either returning from a break or just wasn't in any form. She hasn't been running too badly on turf of late, and interesting to see how she gets on here, for all this might turn out to be a slowly-run, tactical affair. |
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I’ve punted regally blonde a few times George,I’ll leave it out today,don’t want it to jinks your bet lol
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Good luck with it…
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Wd George
 gl ...formoftherace  |
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wd gb....boom kerching, beers n takeawy for the night sorted
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got 55.o on ere just b4 ko
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WD George……me
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Very nice, George..well played
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WD George...and thank you,aceform
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stellar call !! wd George!
wow usse #plebbes is in #awe.. congrats :) |
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WD George.
Mind you,it had the 10 lb Aceform penalty removed today |
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Unlucky 'ace, what can I say other than...Tames lions this game.
Thanks all for the kind words, a much-needed boost following a confidence-draining barren spell. Regally Blonde couldn't be given away in the betting, going off at a Betfair SP of 80. 2026 Running P/L: +58.96 pts |
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What a cracker. Well done George.
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Well done George, nice price as well.
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Regal pick GB
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Well done George, fantastic pick
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Top bombing George
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VWD GB
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