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George's 2026 Selection Thread
George's 2026 Selection Thread
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Cheers Virgin.
Unfortunately nothing from Baby Rover on this occasion. 2026 Running P/L: +22.67 pts |
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Padua, 1pt EW @ 17-2, 4.50 Yarmouth (4 PLACES)
Shaw's Phoenix, 1pt EW @ 18-1, 5.20 Yarmouth No Return, 1pt EW @ 17-2, 8.30 Hamilton (3 PLACES) |
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Padua
Padua appreciated the switch to turf over 7f at Haydock last summer on what was his fifth career start, when keen enough but finding plenty to repel challengers. He was only seen once more last year, at Sandown (7f, good) in August where he didn't see his race out having again been keen. He appears to have physical scope so hopefully there's more to come as a 4YO, and for one who tended to race with the choke out a gelding operation might settle him down, which would help now back up in trip to a mile. He had been due to reappear in a stronger race than this at the recent Haydock meeting that had to be abandoned, when forecast to be a big price, so he hopefully he's not going to lack for fitness here having had a bit more time to be readied. |
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Shaw's Phoenix
Shaw's Phoenix, formerly trained by Alice Haynes, hasn't offered much for her new connections following wind surgery in a couple of starts on the all-weather this season but the runs will have at least served to advance her fitness ahead of this return to turf. According to RPRs her best effort to date came on soft ground over 7f here in 2024, when she wore cheekpieces for the first time and went down by a neck to a George Boughey-trained handicap debutante, who would comfortably follow-up under a 6lb penalty three days later. Interestingly, Shaw's Phoenix missed an engagement last season due to easing ground at Doncaster, so perhaps former connections weren't convinced that she wants an ease, but the form book would seem to suggest that she handles softer ground fine. The selection hasn't shown much for a while and is eligible for this 0-50 classified stakes having dropped in the ratings, so needs to show that some ability remains, but interesting to see how she goes returned to this venue with cheekpieces reapplied. |
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No Return
No Return hasn't shaped too badly the last twice at Catterick (6f, good) and Lingfield (6f, good), finding himself a little outpaced before not getting the clearest of runs and then not knocked about once his chance had gone. A further drop in the weights allows him into this 0-70 and perhaps the stiffer finish here can help. |
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Shaws Phoenix's peak RPR from 17 starts came on soft ground, but evidently her previous and now current connections not convinced by that piece of form as she was once again withdrawn because of ground with "soft" in the going description.
Padua has been gelded since he was last seen but the operation doesn't appear to have curbed his free-going tendencies as he once again took a grip and on this occasion stopped quickly around 2f out. He was weak in the betting so whether he'd been keen to post, not sure, and perhaps the ground was an issue too, but he could do with settling better in his races whatever the going. I'm not sure the ground was ideal for No Return either, but he was only beaten under 2L by the winner despite only finishing fifth of the six runners, and didn't help his chance by wanting to hang right inside the final furlong. 2026 Running P/L: +18.67 pts |
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Mister S0x, 1pt EW @ 20-1, 1.50 York (5 PLACES)
Castle Stuart, 1pt EW @ 16-1, 4.10 York (5 PLACES) Triple Force, 1pt EW @ 40-1, 5.18 York (5 PLACES) Paradise Lost, 1pt EW @ 16-1, 7.20 Fairyhouse (5 PLACES) |
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Mister S0x
A couple of today's selections ran at the televised meeting at Carlisle last time, on a day when generally being on the pace and challenging up the centre were favourable tactics. Mister S0x probably ran better than his finishing position (7th of 14) would suggest considering he stuck more towards the inner up the home straight. He'd previously been running okay, finishing runner-up at Thirsk (6f, g-f) early last month, where he had a subsequent winner behind him in third place, and then at York over 6f when he wasn't disgraced from a high draw in finishing 8th of the 20 runners, beaten just over five lengths. Most of his career wins have come at 6f, so 7f on ground that may ride a bit quicker than he ideally prefers is a potential negative, but although he's yet to place in six previous visits to York, he was only beaten just over 2L over C&D last summer off a 2lb higher mark when from a wide draw he finished 7th of 22 and not too far behind today's rivals Quest For Fun and Feel The Need, so a chance is taken each-way with five places on offer, being potentially better drawn on this occasion. |
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Castle Stuart
Castle Stuart was disappointing on that same Carlisle card, but he was drawn wide and took a keen hold, and then went more towards the inner up the home straight, so he probably had excuses. He had previously run okay to finish 6th of 15 over todays c&d under Barry McHugh (who's back aboard today), when he kept on steadily up the home straight; that form admittedly leaves him with work to do with Altareq, who came from an unpromising position to make the frame, and appeals as the sort Jim Goldie is going to do well with, but a chance is taken each-way at the prices with five places on offer, with a hood a potential help given he has been taking a grip in his races. |
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Triple Force
Triple Force faces a tough task to reverse recent Beverley form with Mao Shang Wong and Dawn Of Liberation, being only 5lb better off for 9.25L beating by the winner, and only being a pound better off with the latter for a 7L beating. However, if the selection can run his race more economically then not impossible he could give a good account at big odds. He appeared to do too much on the front-end last time in a contest where the principals were waited with, and then compromised his chance further by hanging across the track up the home straight, with Sam James quick to accept the situation once headed. He's got a low draw to work from today and going left-handed may help based on that latest evidence, so hopefully if more amenable he won't be disgraced, with cheekpieces tried again (made the frame at Newcastle the only previous time he wore them). |
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Paradise Lost
Paradise Lost was a selection last time at Gowran when I wrote: The market is cold on the chance of Paradise Lost but he hasn't been running too badly over hurdles this year, and he's not badly handicapped on some of his form from 2024, such as finishing runner-up over 12f here on soft-heavy to a filly who would follow up off a 10lb higher mark and go on to be Listed-placed. The selection didn't offer much in just a couple of starts on the level last year but they came off a break so perhaps fitness was an issue. He's drawn wide here and probably wouldn't want the ground to dry out too much, but a chance is taken back on the level now that fitness shouldn't be an issue. =========== Paradise Lost was obliged to race three-wide on that occasion and then was wider still round into the home straight on a day when being caught wide was no help whatsoever so seemed to do well in the circumstances to finish 5th, and he's given another chance in the hope of a kinder trip on this occasion. |
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castle stuart, just ...
nice place |
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Great stuff GB, Triple @ 40/1 pl.
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well done george
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Well done George, a winner must be just around the corner.
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Wd George
   gl ... |
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Cheers all.
As for the one that let the side down...Mister S0x, who took his York record to 0-0-7 today, it turned out his draw in one was probably a negative with the principals being drawn high (first five drawn: 16,14,19,12 and 17) and challenging down the centre of the track. 2026 Running P/L: +28.47 pts |
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stick to scratch cards George imo
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Given the topical "great bums" thread, I tempted to make a comment about a$$holes now that chavman has turned up, but I'm not going to.
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Do Bronxs, 1pt EW @ 28-1, 2.10 Chester
Our Cody, 1pt EW @ 50-1, 2.42 Sandown Marty Hopkirk, 1pt EW @ 25-1, 4.00 Chester Grant Wood, 1pt EW @ 28-1, 5.25 York (5 PLACES) |
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Do Bronxs
Do Bronxs has to bounce back from a disappointing run last time at Leicester (when faster ground might not have suited), has his stamina for 7.5f to prove, and has a tricky draw to overcome, but he had shaped well on his reappearance here over 6f (good) when finishing his race off on the front foot to be only beaten 1.5L into fifth place having been dropped in from a wide draw. The form of that race has worked out with the first two having since returned here to again occupy the first two positions in a 6f handicap, the third has won subsequently, while the 4th made the frame next time in a competitive Sunday Series handicap at Hamilton. The selection's dam won a 7f Group 3 and a one mile Royal Ascot handicap, and is a half-sister to an 8.5f winner, to give encouragement for longer trips for her son, and hopefully he can return to form here granted a reasonable trip. |
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Our Cody
Our Cody faces a tough task on official ratings back up in class to Listed company, particularly against mainly male opposition, but I'm going to have a speculative pick at big odds with her having run well in a handicap over C&D on her reappearance to finish third, given her effort can be marked up having not had much cover from her outside draw into a headwind. The runner-up has been a beaten favourite since but would have finished closer with a clearer run. Tha selection has a lower draw this time, and did finish runner-up in 2YO Listed company at Ayr last autumn (though admittedly this looks a stronger heat), so hopefully won't be disgraced here if building on her encouraging return. |
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Marty Hopkirk
I had a couple of selections yesterday which I thought had been disadvantaged by where they had raced on the track at the recent televised Carlisle meeting, and Marty Hopkirk is another. It has to be said that he ended up dropping right away having led until over 2f out, but he probably had an excuse as the inner part of the home straight that day did not look the place to be. He had previously run okay to finish a keeping-on 4th at Windsor (5f, good )in a class 2 handicap, albeit beaten 3.5L, having reportedly lost a shoe, and the second has won subsequently. The selection has been dropped 3lb following his Carlisle run, which leaves him on a mark 7lb lower than he started the season on, so while there is a query regarding ground on the softer side of good for him, a chance is taken that he can show his Carlisle effort to be all wrong, with cheekpieces given a try. |
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Grant Wood
Grant Wood was actually a selection on that Carlisle card when I wrote: Grant Wood doesn't face an easy task here being 2lb higher than his peak winning mark and up in class, but he looked in good nick last time at Ripon (6f, good), sticking to his task well having been on a contested pace, in a contest where he pulled clear with two who had been ridden more patiently. This is his first visit to Carlisle, but having won three times at Newcastle the stiffer track shouldn't hold any fears for him. ======= He also finished well beaten having raced towards the inner, but it has to be said that as one who tends to be backed when he wins, the market vibes hadn't been great beforehand. He's a pound lower than for his Ripon effort, and David Nolan being back aboard looks a positive, so while his draw and ability to act at York (only previous try came at 7f) are queries, he's given another chance now back down in class. |
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Wd George
 gl ... |
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WD with DB GB
 I'll take V's word for it that the others were no good. |
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Cheers Virgin and PHS.
Unfortunately it all went downhill after a promising start. Do Bronxs (33-1) appeared to get an easy lead, and although no match for the winner, held on for second place. I might have been a tad unlucky for a place with Our Cody who didn't get the clearest of runs against the rail before not being beaten far into 4th place. Marty Hopkirk got a nice tracking position but folded tamely, so unless he needs a sounder surface then he looks to be going the wrong way. Grant Wood, who tends be backed when he's going to win, was soon in rear and fair to say wasn't given a hard time, imo. 2026 Running P/L: +28.07 pts |
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Molly's Valentine, 1pt EW @ 80-1, 5.15 Wolverhampton (4 PLACES)
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Molly's Valentine
Molly's Valentine was a selection last time out when I wrote: Molly Valentine was having her second run back off a break here last time over the 8.5f trip, on what was her stable debut, and although she faded to finish 7th of the 11 runners and beaten just over ten lengths behind the easy winner, she had a notably wide trip from the widest draw in that amateur riders' contest and in the circumstances wasn't disgraced. She's a C&D winner so the step back up in trip shouldn't be an issue, and has a lower draw this time, with Jack Doughty taking over in the plate. ============== She could never get involved from off the pace last time under a professional jockey, but is given another chance here in the hope that the amateur (who owns her and is back on board) has a kinder trip on this occasion, with the inside draw to help. |
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2026 Running P/L: +26.07 pts
Ravenspire, 1pt EW @ 10-1, 3.05 Ascot |
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Ravenspire
Ravenspire has a chunk to find on the figures here, and on the face of it his defeat of the 80-rated and Derby also-ran Poker in a Haydock (12f, g-f) novice requires him to take a leap forward now up in class, but I thought there was a lot to like about his win under a penalty last time in what was a well-run contest despite the small field, racing lazily behind the bridle at times and having to be bumped along some way out but finding plenty off the bridle to be well on top at the finish and being eased down close home, finishing well clear of a Godolphin odds-on shot back in third place. The manner of his victory there would suggest that this well-bred sort could have improvement to come over 14f, and while it would be a concern if this were to become tactical given the shorter home straight and bearing in mind he took some winding up at Haydock, a chance is taken that this promising colt who has yet to have his limitations exposed can prove up to the task. |
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As it turned out, Ravenspire had no trouble being up on the pace, albeit what didn't appear to be strong fractions, so it's disappointing he only ended up finishing fifth, beaten just under two lengths, given he had looked the likeliest to reel in the leader from over a furlong out (traded around evens in the run), but not sure Clifford Lee was fully able to get after him in the closing stages as the leader hung into his path, otherwise he might least have hung on for a place.
2026 Running P/L: +24.07 pts |
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In A Hurry, 1pt EW @ 9-1, 4.00 Catterick
Golden Prosperity, 1pt EW @ 8-1, 4.15 Musselburgh (4 PLACES) |
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In A Hurry
In A Hurry was a selection last time at Beverley when I wrote: A speculative pick on In A Hurry, from a yard which has a much more obvious chance in this with Rajapour. The selection needs to bounce back from three disappointing runs, but it's possible easier ground wasn't ideal on her penultimate start of last year at Musselburgh, and perhaps her reappearance at Wetherby was needed, where she was prominent until over a furlong out and then wasn't persevered with once weakening having become bit short of room. She's of interest on her second-place at Carlisle (7f, good) in September, when although no match for One Night Thunder, that rival had become well-handicapped and was well-backed, and duly followed up under a 5lb penalty. In A Hurry needs to show that she hasn't just gone the wrong way, and as a free-going filly will need to get into a good rhythm from a tricky draw, but a chance is taken here at big odds, being 3lb below the mark she ran off for that good effort at Carlisle. ============== In A Hurry faded out of it at Beverley but had endured a three-wide trip and had been in 4th position entering the final furlong. She still needs to show that she can be competitive at the business end of her races, but a tongue-tie may help, the hood is removed, she's down a further 3lb in the ratings, is potentially better drawn this time now back into fillies and mares' company, and ran well to make the frame over C&D last summer off a 6lb higher mark. |
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Golden Prosperity
Jake Dickson looked good value for his 7lb claim when squeezing through a gap against the far rail at York recently to go on and land a big-field handicap, and he's currently in good form having won on his last two mounts. He has just one ride today, Golden Prosperity, who he might have finished closer on last time at Wetherby (5.5f, g-f) had the gelding not reared and lost several lengths at the start, and then not enjoyed the clearest of passages. Golden Prosperity wouldn't want to be doing that here over this sharp 5f, particularly with a potentially tricky draw to overcome, but two previous visits to this C&D have produced a win and a close second, albeit in classified company, so hopefully he can give another good account here, off a mark 2lb lower than he won off at Catterick (5f, good) in April. |
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Wd George
 gl ... |
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Cheers Virgin.
In A Hurry gave it a good shot from the front but unfortunately for her backers one had to emerge from the pack to run her down. Golden Prosperity wasn't done any favours by being caught on the outer but kept on well to finish 4th. A couple of the main firms were offering four places and I thought the late withdrawal might have scuppered the extra place with one of them, but both firms did pay out on the fourth place. 2026 Running P/L: +25.92 pts |
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Degale, 1pt EW @ 20-1, 4.35 Carlisle (5 PLACES)
Caught U Sleeping, 1pt EW @ 10-1, 6.40 Naas |
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Degale
It looked a fair effort from Degale to finish third in a 0-87 contest at Nottingham three starts back, having made the running from the widest draw and kept on well once headed to finish a close third, and although there are mixed messages from that form, the winner finished a respectable fifth on 18 next time in a Class 2 Epsom handicap. Degale hasn't built on that effort in two starts since but he patently did too much on the sharp-end at Ayr from another wide draw (one mile, g-f), and last time at Thirsk when dropped back in trip (7f, good) he was again keen in what appeared a well-run contest but didn't shape too badly in finishing fifth. It's a concern that he hung left last time but his only win to date came the only the time he's raced right-handed (at Ripon, one mile novice, good ) so hopefully it's not an issue going this way round. He clearly could do with settling better, but if he does then the return to a mile looks a positive, and he does have form that ties him in with the current favourite Leadenhall, having finished a neck second to that rival at Haydock (one mile, g-f) last summer on similar terms, though Leadenhall today does have the benefit of having a 7lb claimer on board who has impressed of late. William Pyle, who was aboard at Nottingham and Ayr, rides another for the yard in this, but no concern to have the in-form David Nolan taking over in the plate. |
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Caught U Sleeping
Caught U Sleeping has been weak in the betting today, being tried again at Group 3 level, but she looks open to further improvement having won a Listed contest over C&D last time from La Fogata when trying the trip for the first time and still looking on the green side, and that came just five days after running in a one mile Group 3 at the Curragh where she had kept on to be beaten just under 5L when finishing 8th of 12, when described as "still looking raw". The market weakness is a concern given her revised official rating puts her second-best in here behind the favourite of those that have a rating, and perhaps there has been a reason why she hasn't been seen for nearly seven weeks, but granted fitness isn't an issue back from a short break then hopefully she can take another step forward this evening. |