rebelfm

Where in God’s name is Goodwood. Well thank your lucky stars it wasn’t named by the same committee that got their mits on Bath, Exeter and Folkestone because this could well have been called Chichester and that would have led to all sorts of issues. Goodwood is of course set in the Goodwood Estate in West Sussex not too much of a drive from Chichester, the administrative centre for the County of West Sussex. The estate has stacks of great stuff. Goodwood House is worth a visit as is very nice piece of a real estate if you can afford the light bill. The motor racing circuit is a really great drive and for a small amount of money to a man of my means you can whizz around in a single seater. Really fun, a fast circuit with a few twists to keep you concentrating fully. Set in really stunning South Downs topography making it one of the country’s most picturesque venues and thus emphasising the undulating nature of this idiosyncratic horse racing course.

The Paddock is a good size and has a nicely trimmed hedge which allows your racecard to be set out in front of you as you watch the horses parade. Always a nice touch that. However they did not plant any trees in the centre and therefore no challenge to threaten the Plumpton ladies dream of lifting The Dobbies as it has come to be known. There were though several nice trees set outside of the ring and one of these rustling in the wind spooked plenty of juveniles today.

No water features could be found on the course at all except some puddles on the paddock forecourt indicating some shoddy slab laying and these slabs looked a lot more expensive than your basic peak riven. I would get the contractors back and reset them before someone gets their tights wet or trips over.

Going today was pretty soft for flat horses and many struggled to get through it. There has been a lot of rain of late around here but I thought the topography and the chalk subsoil would combine to make this a fast draining track and therefore was a bit disappointed to see it as deep as it was.

Arty entrance feature was found near the entrance to the posh bit. It was a large head of about three foot in size and probably from Lord hoohar of Richmond or something like that. It is stuck in the grass Easter Islandesque. Quite bazaar and warrants a mention. Is it better than Ponte? Not really I think the art deco still lives in the memory.

Drab Entrance award prospect York is a difficult to overhaul leader. However the posh bit looked like a salesroom for a conservatory concession at a West of England garden centre. A bit poor really only spruced up by said three foot bust emerging from the sod like a well dressed zombie flesh-eater. The entry to the Richmond enclosure had all the hallmarks of a mid table league one out of town football stadium. Drab but not drab enough.

Architectural feature was the renovated old runners’ board. At least this is still in some use, not digitalised or masked with the banner of some sponsor like betteryoubetwithbetterbet.com. However Ripon sets a high bar here.


Edible molten fat was non existent. This is leafy Sussex and even the burgers are grilled with fat deposited into fat trays. The food was a bit pricy at £3.50 for a very small pasty and £4.50 for a toastie known as a Panini. Tea was alright but a bit tepid. Main food on offer to the proles was sarnies, pasties or seafood. Why do southerners particularly around London seem to love eating jellied bloody eels and whelks and cockles. The first looks like cat food, the second looks like a low grade bush tucker trial and third had so much grit in it that it takes the enamel off your hamsteads as they say around here.

Favourite Southern track on reflection is still Salisbury. There are a couple of reasons for it one is that the atmosphere here is not in the same class really as Salisbury, the value for money is much higher at Salisbury including the catering which is always excellent for the plebs over in Hampshire and in any case Richard Hughes has voted Goodwood his favourite and so they hardly need another accolade. Goodwood does have some great stands with good facilities and the design is eyecatching and modern. No utilitarianism here. So it really does push close but not quite.



Paddock view of the majestic stand

Entertainment on offer today was not too great for £17 and it would have been nice to have had another listed race alongside the featured Foundation Stakes. Also the going in general watered down the offer I think as it was pretty deep today

Racecard was the standard £3 at the big tracks. I still feel a bit queasy at paying that but I quite like having a souvenir. Today’s wasn’t bad including a few anecdotes from the past which add colour as this track does have a rich history. Had a couple of features on De Sousa and Bin Suroor which were informative. On the communication front the post race analysis and interviews were well handled and excellent almost in the Towcester league. Pity I didn’t include that in the prize area. In fact I will extend this prize now as a customer communication prize and the leader is Towcester.

Freemans stand. Well this is where Goodwood really comes to the fore. Up on the bank looking straight down the homestraight by the owners and trainers car park there is a viewing area with PA for absolutely free. It has been chiselled out of the rock chalk to provide a terrace with two levels to view from. The result is without doubt the best freemans so far and surely the best value in racing. On the slightly downside is the fact that the barriers are corroded to feck and you worry that someone is going to lean on them one day and fall down the ten foot drop. Another aspect to worry about is there is an inspection hole which is uncovered. I half expected to hear Lesley Whittle sobbing her little heart out. However despite this trivial tat Goodwood zooms into the lead in the Freemans Cup. Well done My Sir and Majesty Your Grace and Lord of Earls and Mariquishess the right reverential and benign benefactor Squire Richmond of Chichester the XVI. Or something like that.




The best Freemans there is ....

Distance from car park was made worse by my lack of attention. There is a perfectly decent and free car park right smack bang in front of the Richmond Stand. However I chose not to observe this and instead ended up in a free one which evidently was some form of festival overflow some half mile from the track. As I trudged up to the course I cursed the very sperm that spawned the Richmond dynasty. Their petulance in placing the car park for plebs leagues away from their rightful lowly viewing pitch. As I passed the posh entrance where some fat feckers head is stuck in the turf expressionless peering through piggy eyes like a  decapitated medeavil bonce on a pike to ward off those tieless oiks daring to venture in to OUR enclosure as if brousing for a lean-too cheap extension to add some sheckles to their pitiful hovels. I was brusquely sent on my way along a treacherous road to my station in life. On nearing the enclosure and racked with angst imagine my disappointment that there was a car park I should have used not a stone’s throw (underarm by a flabby biceped bingo loving fishwife) away. So no Goodwood did not replace Brighton in this respect.




I think I will call this work of art 'Head'

The Racing

It was a pretty boring card to be honest and had so many from Godolphin’s yard  that it looked like a March meeting in Dubai set up for the sheik’s personal  gallops. I got to the stage where I watched the last three from the freemans stand to break boredom.


First race was a seven furlong maidens for two year olds. It was won in good style by Godolphin trained Genius Step who built on his promising Newmarket debut. On the face of other race times today this was won in a good time so it would be no surprise to see him step up to a higher level and as seems well suited by a cut may well have another run in him this autumn. The positive though was stablemate Okimono. Looked very green he ran on his debut clearly benefiting from the experience as the race progressed.  He  got the hang of things and did his best work late on when staying on in good style. He looks a good prospect and will stay a mile next season. Expense Claim was quietly fancied and held every chance two out but could not go with the useful front pair. Still capable of winning a maiden in time. Sunley Pride had a chance following decent speed for five and may not be suited by this ground.



Home comes the Godolphin pair with debutant and runner up Okimodo (White Cap) is a positive

Next was a 9f maiden for babies and this seems a long way for an immature horse to slog through in the mud. It was won by Godolphin (whose original first string Sadma was withdrawn) as Welcome Gift sluiced through to win by ten lengths. I have absolutely no idea if he is a world beater or not but the two to chase him home were 66/1 shots. Another of the stable caught the eye in Samba King. A striking individual he looked ill at ease on the ground going down and was all over the place. However stayed on OK to finish fifth on the unfavoured far side.  I think he will be better on faster ground and I would be amazed if he is risked again on this sort of sludge, plus is likely to be better over a mile and quarter next season. I have him as a positive but it is a bit speculative. In the same vein the fourth home was the filly Good Morning Star who on the face of her form had to rank as a live contender. Problem was she appeared all at sea in the mud and you have to let her of this one as has ability to shed maiden tag sometime soon.



Samba King has the looks but hated the mud

The first handicap was a class 4 over the six and was the first and probably only race which was exciting. This involved a three way battle up the final two furlongs. The winner by a nod was the Richard Hughes ridden Silenzio. Held chance throughout and battled on very well. I would say he entered the straight in confident style but did not kick on as Hughes thought he might but did enough. Rash Judgement was the main protagonist and he stayed on very resolutely. The positive was the four year old Night Trade who is a model of consistency and goes well here. Just run out of it close home and I thought his action suggests that he is better on faster ground so I think he will win again soon when conditions assists. Wins have come at Catterick and Leicester, is a very reliable horse of late. Also of note was Sharpened Edge who missed the kick completely because the blindfold got snagged in the briddle as explained by Cathy Gannon. It is worthwhile remembering that he needs to be out fast as his three wins have been when he has made all. I am not saying he would have won if leading but certainly is unlikley to have run a much better race if he had. Discount this run if I were you.




Pulsating finish with Silenzio (red and white) the victor

The big race of the day was the Listed Foundation Stakes and was won in easy style by yet another Godolphin runner the third string and three year old Hunters Light who just stormed clear. How good is he? Problem is winning distances in the mud are often flattering so treat it with caution. Had some good group form beforehand so is a smart sort.  Biggest disappointment was the favourite Dubussy who completely floundered in the mud and is clearly a better horse on faster ground. However this season has not seen him anywhere near the heights he reached last year and this might be the last we see of him. Previous grade 1 winner of Arlington and group winner in GB. Did win a listed at Chester last run and has won on softish ground but this was very soft today.



Debussy not keen on coming into the pre parade ring



The disappointing Debussy didn’t handle the ground

Another race this time  a class 4 handicap over 11 furlongs, another race dominated by Godolphin. This time Sadusky took it up two out and out stayed the rest for a two and a bit victory over Billy Buttons. The pair were well clear of another Godolphin horse coming home in third being the Frankie ridden Estourah. Of the rest Neumark (who I had seen win a maiden easily at Epsom) led for a long time but did not stay and I think a 10 f plus limit will probably see her win again but this run did not ring out loudly and as such she did not come out as a strong positive.




Sadusky land a four timer for Godolphin

The Godolphin luck had to run dry at some stage today after four winners. In the class 3 handicap over one and a half miles the stable’s Tahaamah was beaten a neck showing a liking for tricky courses having been successful at Chester earlier in the year. The winner was the Hughes ridden Samsons Son who is a very lightly raced seven year old and has won at the twisty Windsor track but was disappointing on the galloping Newbury. That could be the clue to him. No real positives from this race.

We closed off with the relatively mundane class 5 handicap over five furlongs. It was reduced to six runners by a couple of defectors, Godolphin had long taken its convoy of garishly painted circus wagons home and the winner Mata Hari Blue came home by three parts in a fairly close finish. Much better over five than six. Seamus Shindig was second but better over the six and is on a nice mark of 70 at the moment. Almost rates a positive but see if his mark goes up following today.


Okimono (P)
Non runner so far but I will keep it open as I think has potential as a 3yo


Samba King (P)
3
Good third in the mud at Hatdock keep the faith with him

Night Trade (P) down £30
0 0 3
Ran OK but without threatening and I will bin him now

As promotions go the Kent Cricket Day was a bit flat. A bit like a drizzle affected final day of summer cricket between two middlish counties most of whose players of any modicum of talent  just want to get the cucumber sarnies out the way before they can get off to somewhere hot for the winter’s play, like South Africa for example. To sum up the extent that the county are behind this venture there was only one sleeveless sweater wearing player to be seen, the race sponsored was a class 6 worth about a grand to the winner and the biggest cheer of the afternoon was for some sponsoring Pharmaceutical firm whose employees were having a better time than most today. This was the closing fixture of the flat at Folkestone and even the summariser used the dreary weather to announce that today was a suitable preparation for the coming winter game. Thank-you for that rousing call to support the great sport of jumping. As the Americans say you sell the sizzle not the sausage. Kent is one of those places I rarely get to other than to speed through enroute in Eurostar so I was sort of in two minds about Folkestone having been here a couple of times I must say I prefer the atmosphere at the closing NH fixture which is the hunters evening in May to this lacklustre event.

It’s motorway all the way to get to Folkestone or better described as Westenhanger which is the village a few miles west of the town which houses this track. Making this a keen competitor for the Ryanair Scroll. However I think I still just about edge towards Bath on this one. The route for most is eventually the M20. Keep your eyes peeled for the turn off which highlights the racecourse as if you are not vigilant you can miss it. If in doubt look out for the enormous services which are set up for the freight traffic staying overnight before getting the channel tunnel route across to France. In fact the Eurostar line keeps you company for much of the run down to this part of Kent. The countryside is not that spectacular and you by pass the sprawls that are Maidstone and Ashford. I am not sure what the attraction is in Kent but I suppose in decades past it spelt holidays from the conurbations of London and Birmingham down to Margate, Ramsgate et al. It’s a pity that these resorts slipped from being aspirational resorts spiralling down to costa del dole and now viewed as a staging post for illegals from hellholes and migrants from the new EU entrant countries before they make the final bungy-jump leap of faith into the capital where everything is possible. Perhaps the deep recession will redress the balance and maybe the Margates of Britain will become a fortnight to look forward to rather than a bit of a joke. However Canterbury is not far and the Cathedral is worth a visit together with the ghoulish exhibit of the blood stains of Saint Thomas A’Beckett. Canterbury used to have a greyhound track which put on plenty of opens often for decent money. It have a good restaurant with a football pitch in the middle. I think the local Southern League side used to play there.

The track itself is quite spacious for the racegoer. Although not as modernly renovated as many I have visited recently it does retain some charm. The paddock / pre-parade ring is set in lawns with a decent sized fish-pond and this gives room to study the card and the horses in comfort. In fact I have upgraded the pond to lake as I have now entrusted the Tuperware Trophy over to the hands of the southern softies at Folkestone. Well done on a notable feature and praise be a white picket fence to provide a health and safety balance. Nice fountain. In terms of food there is a smallish restaurant which looked to have decent fish orientated meals at a fair price. There was a small coffee / tea bar (small cup made of paper and tea with an after-taste but at least some fresh milk. Coffee was fresh filter and probably tasted nice is drunk from a china cup I would guess) with pork baps (not bad taste and a touch pricey at $.50 but there you go). On the face of it a bit middlish on the catering from. Nice trees in the paddock but not in the Plumpton class. However a fine ancient pine outside the paddock would have been a worthy opponent as Sussex holds off the Kent challenge much to the delight of the Plumpton ladies and so the Dobbies Buddlia Cup remains in their grasp.



It’s coming home it’s coming home Tuperware’s coming home. Nice feature

The stands are well positioned and give a good view of the action in general although I would say sprints on the straight for flat racing may be a bit difficult to view from the main stand. However today was different.  Despite the rather heavy £17 entrance fee it did mean that even the club stand was accessible to all. A great idea; an open course with no fussy steward saying you can’t come in here. Something I’d like to see at say Thirsk. Toilets were not impressive and I can only hope that the one by the main grandstand was not the only one. Bijou would be too positive a term. The course is a mile and a bit right handed. It is similar to Kempton and I would imagine horses which are favoured there will do well at Folkestone. The fences caused some difficulties but I am not sure if that is a reflection on the course or the horse quality. The undulations were very minor and although there is a little rise off the back straight it is not enough to say the track is anything other than one which favours nippy short runners. The run from the final bend is about two furlongs and has two fences. The final jump leaves less than a furlong to the post and therefore you would think a lead into the straight of high importance. Horses bought up the centre seemed to get better ground and it could be that the stands rails would be favoured in flat sprints whereas on the round course a draw near the far rails would help a bit. The straight course on the flat is very undulating till it joins the round course at about a quarter of a mile out.


The main stand

The main topics that got me thinking during this visit to Kent with national hunt beginning to crank up a few gers as tracks dust off the hurdles again, were as follows. How do you judge hunter chases and get information as to how they are running in points? Do good old chasers find a new lease of life going hunting? Do racegoers get value form the racecards they buy? Kent has long been a holiday resort for Londoners, how are the principle locations coping?


The mid May meeting at Folkestone is traditionally given as an opportunity for the United Hunts to showcase hunter chasing at the finale to the season. There was a pretty good crowd when I first attended this fixture in 2009 for what was a damp night in deepest Kent. There was an interesting mixture of what appeared to be the tweed brigade and gypsies. The atmosphere was laid back and social without being besmirched by drunkards. This was relevant as the recent news of some unruly drink fuelled mis-conduct up at Thirsk the previous Saturday provided plenty of encouragement for letters to the Racing Post. The first race on the card was the famous two mile five Cuckoo Maiden Cup. The race featured a series of jumping blunders leading to two fallers and a seven pounds claimer Paul Blagg trying to steal (joke alert) the race by kicking on too early and was overhauled by the relatively well ridden 7/4 favourite Mysaynoway close home. A stayers maiden followed where the experience of P York just allowed the well fancied Euro Bleu to hold on from a strong challenge by Go North. The novice was won by the well bred mare Say Grace who was probably the most impressive winner of the evening by cantering home ahead of market rival Prince Rodney. The low price of which may have been at least part caused by the ‘Rodders’ factor which was clearly evident as his backers termed him approaching the last. The big race of the night was the champion hunter chase which is a bit of a grand title when set against the Foxhunters at Cheltenham and Aintree but nonetheless an important trophy in this sphere of racing. The race drew challengers from as far north as Warwickshire and as far east as Devon. In a good race the 5/1 chance Knighton Combe held on from the favourite Teeton Bollinger. In third place was a nicely made Presenting gelding who looked as if he needed softer ground but showed plenty of ability in this level. Although this was a four mile event they went no real gallop until the final mile and a quarter so quite whether the principles stay this far is debatable. The two miler was won by a useful looking French bred youngster in Oraniz. However he didn’t win as an 8/11 favourite would be expected to and just had enough class to thwart the challenge of the fancied Hatsnall. The final race was an open over two miles five furlongs and featured the previously high class handicap chaser Tikran. He ran in snatches often under persuasion and was not that clean over his fences. Yet still had enough class to worry the first two home with second favourite Highland Chief staying on resolutely to hold off Youlbesolucky. The race was run in increasingly murkey conditions making the evening based summer jump racing campaign kicking off perhaps recently as being perhaps a month too early.



Hunter chasers and point to point form guides

When I first went horse racing in the nineteen seventies the occasional hunter-chase was a complete new world to me. These beasts generally had little form under rules and there was no clue as to whether they had run recently in point to points and absolutely no idea if they had recently been racing in that sphere of how they had run. They fascinated me in a weird way. I went to two point to points to find out more. One of these was held in the Scottish border town of Hawick and the other in Sussex at Parham. I thought there must be a bit of word of mouth stuff going on here. In fact when I was up in Scotland in there was word that a really useful on was coming out of points and into hunter chases. His name was Queensbury Lad.


The Margate Challenge of ‘The Apprentice’

The popular television programme The Apprentice pitched some good tasks in the 2009 series. One of these was the efforts to rebrand the seaside resort of Margate. This was hilarious with the two teams tasked with taking Margate into the twenty-first century. One team went down the route of trying to make a pitch for the town as a gay resort and try to be the new Brighton. This was a disaster as this would take decades to achieve. In essence Margate is a very traditional resort and is not that easy to get to from London in comparison to Brighton making short trips or permanent residence for the upwardly mobile difficult. The long trip from the target conurbations lends itself to the big two week break for the family. With climate changing and the strength of the euro plus the proximity to the European market perhaps this might have been an interesting option for the new target market. The whole carry-on of the aim at the pink pound led to a real eye-opening rant by the team leader against gays which shocked the homosexual team member. It also transpired that the gay candidate has a long term partner who he met in the thriving Derby gay community (!). Perhaps highlighting the existence of such in an engineering and mill town in the industrial East Midlands makes the fact that Margate could be re-invented in such a way a possibility. The other team went on the line of pitching at families which is pretty safe territory. However it was a pretty uninspired approach and the team contains a prominent member who has all the business street-wise insight of the dozy sidekick to Dawn French’s Vicar of Dibley. In the end the female homophobe went. The point of this is that these wheeler dealer rising stars of British industry paraded as Sir Alan Sugar’s next top man are just not up to it. Many have quirky personalities which make for interesting TV but would have no chance in a well run organisation. This episode was an opportunity missed as the point of re-branding Margate is quite an important one as the town has a strong history and a lot going for it. So from the point of view of trying to get across an important point, when looking at how to rebrand or more accurately reposition a commodity a thorough marketing plan should have been drawn up. The science behind marketing has many detractors claiming this is bordering on the David Brent territory. But I have used this process myself and if you are entirely pragmatic, apply logic and are thorough with information gathering the conclusions drawn as to the options available are often radical and interesting.     


Racecard quality

Two pound fifty for a bloody racecard! What is going on? In the study period from 1978 we have seen a steady rise in prices and I would say that to an extent inflation has to be covered in the thirty year period. However the graph I have drawn up shows the difference in price between the excellent Timeform and the typical racecard produced by the course. The difference has moved from Timeform being ten times the price of the card to a general twice the price.  So what do you get that is different from the past and is this an area that the racecourses need to be mindful of in an increasingly tight market where value is key?

Racing

Today’s card opened up with a nursery over the minimum trip. There was a very hot 2/1 on  favourite. Billyrayvalentine had won a similar event less than a week ago and had just the win penalty before a likely steep rise in the weights and therefore connections decided to strike whilst the iron was hot and why not. There were a couple of negatives though, drawn out on the far rail at Folkestone is never the best of things and another thing is laying the odds in nurseries is quite often a short cut to the workhouse. However to be fair to frankie he rode a decent race and bought him to challenge before the furlong pole and pushed him out to win by around half a length. It was a shade cosier than the bear form suggests but did not urge to put as a positive as I would imagine that he is set to be a big bit more than today’s OR 74 and I would say a 78 plus would anchor. Still two wins a week and a winter off who knows how that mark might look in the spring. Second home was Invincible Dreamwho battled on well but had the stands rail to help. The pair were six lengths clear and you worry as to how this decent run will be viewed as in theory should be within 5 pound of the winner. So if less than OR 73 on reassessment would pay to have a quite interest I would say. Nice ride in the circumstances by Harry Bentley by the way. Of the rest the most notable was Royal Blush. Had won and run well in picking up a fair maiden at newmarket after catching the eye when a runner up at the same course beforehand on Craven Day back in the spring. After a fair second to preceed the win up she has now had five very poor runs. Today she looked well in the paddock but raced very mulishly and was very hard work for Chris Catlin who was going up and down nearly on the spot. She has had a variety of headgear on and I would say she is a significant negative as I think she has fallen out with racing. One to avoid at all cost. Of the others the lightly raced  Picura looked well but raced very green and may well come on for this next season and  Sister Guru ran well to be a remote third staying on fine to indicate that this trip may be a bit on the sharp side.



Frankie on the winner of the first

The Early Bird Handicap was sponsored by the pharmaceutical firm again. This was a class 6 event over the five. The winner was top weight Lord Of The Reins who come through from about the quarter mile to pull three lengths clear for a quite impressive win. Should be able to step up in class, suits these more testing courses. Carries a bit of condition which does not anchor him as he heads for middle age and who doesn’t have a bit of condition so to speak at that phase in life. Second home was the hot 5/4 favourite The Strig. He looked well in the padock but appeared sluggish today and rates a negative on this running. He was in a heap an the finish with the front running Cloth Ears (who showed good pace but may prefer a sharp sprint track like Epsom)  and Avonvalley (who got into traffic problems but still stayed on strongly to be fourth without having a hard time of it). In fact Avonvalley rates as a positive is on a decent mark especially if stepping down to claimer/sellers where she thrived last season. One to watch for in the right race as is in form now. Previous wins have been either on the sand or on the soft at sharp Catterick. So the going may have needed to be a little softer for her. Her current OR 48 is well below her 78 entry point so she must be respected. She is entered next at Bath which being on the stiff side may suit her. I noted Bateleur as a right dozy one and he ran like one, top weight three year old Chester Deelyte came from a bad draw and ran ok giving impression that in a low grade claimer somewhere might go close.



Note the mulish The Strig (red cap) and staying on Avonvally (green)



In comes Lord Of The Reins

The feature class 4 sponsored by the pillmakers again (thanks to them but then I suppose any form of drug in the current climate is going to be good business) this time over the straight seven.  The favourite Emkanaat had some encouraging form and looked tidy being in good nick. However after looking comfortable and leading coming to two out he seemed to stop galloping and in fact appeared a bit lame off fore when coming back into the ring. He was whisked off to a box presumably to be checked over by the vet. The fact that he also drifted from 11/8 to 2/1 in the market stunk a bit and I wait to hear what was the verdict but if prone tol breaking down rates as a negative. Turning to the race I was very glad to see Mingun Bell win on the basis that the lass leading around had a seriously near  under-carriage which was plonked straight in front of my view of the race. As a consequence I cannot remember much else.



Momentary weakness. Who won?

The cricketers were out in force for the fourth race which was a mediocre class 6 over one mile seven. This ended up in a pulsating finish between top weight and also last year’s winner of one of the corresponding fixture’s  divisions Marcus Antonius, with Rose of Sharratt. The winner in photo went to Marcus who then had to endure a stewards. I am not sure what the fuss was about, the two had been locked together from about 300 yards out, neither stopped racing and there appeared to be nothing to choose between them as they crossed the line. The stewards decided not to alter the placing but the winning jockey Pat Cosgrove got a day’s holiday for his trouble. Baffled me for one. I thought Rose of Sarratt looks under exposed and on a good mark, she seems to stay this sort of trip even though her pedigree suggests sprinty. Cost quite a lot of money at £65,000 and I think her actions suggests better with some cut. So I have her as a bit of  positive. Whilst I am in a happy mood I also thought the bought stands side Dhampas is likely to feature next run as galloped on well certainly staying two mile would be very likely. As such he too rates a positive.  Of the remainder I thought Barney Curley’s horse Sure Fire ran very poorly, Red Current needs a bit of a cut and perhaps he can switch back to the sticks, is in good heart after a decent summer’s work and Dark And Dangerous ran a good race to show he is holding his form well.



The stayers with a lap to go
The class 4 handicap over the 9 furlongs was won in an absolute canter by Danderek. Always on the premises he was booted clear from two out and finished a very comfortable five lengths to the good.  Of the rest Colinica’s Lad led for much but could stay on at only the one pace once headed 2 out. It was a fair run though. Battle Of Britain plodded on for third without ever really looking a threat and Miss Aix got second staying on suggesting that this trip may be a little sharp.



Nice trees in paddock frame Colinica’s Lad
The final race was a 9 furlong maiden class 5 with representatives from all sorts of fancy stable such as Godolphin, Stout and Johnson. There was an early incident when Tadgh O’Se was slung behind the stalls by Marhaba. The horse was withdrawn not under starters and hopefully Tadgh is OK. The race was won by 100/1 outsider Novirak who just got the photo verdict from gambled on Ela Ginda Muo. The warm 11/8 favourite Kahraba was a length back in third with the rest headed by April Bell strung out behind the winning trio. I doubt much will come from this race to be fair.



Possibly not my best photo. Ela Gonda Mou in white is challenging Novirak who is obscured by the bloke with the rucksack whist Kahraba in blue has settled for minor placing

Notebook

Royal Blush (N)
didn't run again this year but looked to have fallen out with the game

The Strig (N)down £25

0 1 9/2 0
Well beaten next race but then won well abd looks capable of better. Laid again for the third race and ran another goosd race. Appears I have underestiv=mated him and I will shelve after three


Avonvalley (P)
3
Good third on next outing running on well in soft over 5f. I think a stiffer track or 6f needed. Acts on sand so ewmains open for backing

Enkenaat (N)
Not seen out since but remains a negative


Rose Of Sarratt (P) up £35
1 7/2
Good win first time up but handicap now exposed and therefore binned

Dhampas (P)
0 0
On both last two runs he has been allowed to establish massive leads only to reeled in yet ran a fair race here when restrained. Mark has only come down two pounds. I will give him one last go

In the words (with a few added on that are my own) of the much maligned but also much missed Ken Paine in his epic autobiography ‘Coup’ was Newbury really  the sort of place with more touts selling information from a good source guv, more litter from the railway station adjacent    and more earthing cables / circuit integrity tags / rubber safety surfaces in the paddock than any other British track? So it was I arrived at Newbury eponymous with the biggest advert for not scrimping on racing plates. In fact the theory of electrical resistance in terms of distance between conductive surfaces was well presented by that professor of electrical theory, the worshipful company of magnetism and electroforce engineers’ very own Grand Master and Beadle himself. John Francombe. I am sure the greatest jockey would make a fair fist of wiring a plug but his explanation of horses with steel plates on a wet, reduced insulation surface was the mark of a true giant. He did not let on whether a bit of rust would also help out a bit. Or what are the various merits of using Aluminium alloy versus steel. I got the impression from his calculus as well as implied use of Ohm’s Law that the shiny alloy has worth a punt in similar circumstances. However he put it across to the non scientific community with a spin on the pigeon / tube line or crow/power cable staple with a degree of knowledge transfer some Tefal-head would have struggled with.

Newbury has had a fair amount of work done on it over the years and has very modern grandstand with good facilities befitting of a top grade course. The old stands had plenty of character but I must say for a new set of stands they are well designed and spacious. Plenty of places to sit down, have something to eat and drink. Overall this is a very decent course and one of my favourites. Although others may have thought it a bit anodyne I have always enjoyed going racing especially the big Hennesey days I have been too which has been won by some greats. Two stick in my mind being Bregawn despite clattering the last and Borough Hill Lad a very impressive horse and not always getting the praise for his efforts he deserves.
The Gerry Fielding was always a decent champion guide and good hurdlers like Ra Nova and Buck House have all done well in this event although it seems a bit down at heel comparatively speaking nowadays. I also like the second season hurdles race at the October meeting which I saw the flashy chestnut Royal Vulcan excel in during the early eighties.

Ra Nova is an interesting one as back in 1983 I remember a columnist for the Sporting Life writing that he had had a dream the week before where he was sure the winner of the Shweppes at Newbury would be something like early or new sun and that a runner called Amarach was qualified on his believe that this was Gaelic for dawn and that he was thrown in as a new sun is known as the dawn, so there you go completely logical and thought out. However a bit more lateral thinking would have led him to conclude that Nova is Latin for new and Ra is the Egyptian Sun God. Of course I spotted this and Ra Nova scooted in. However the downside was I only spotted this retrospectively having a distrust of all things psychic but a tingling realisation that greater forces than the electrics were at work in Berkshire that Saturday like a giant magnet turning hairs into dancing iron filings. 

The track is similar in many respects to Haydock having tightish turns but long galloping straights and almost entirely flat in topography.

Catering was good with a good range of food up for grabs at not bad prices and the cup of tea I bought was nice Darjeeling which if you really were compelled to put some milk in fresh milk was available. So plus points there. Entry at £15 was very very good value for a card containing several high quality races and only two of the eight being handicaps. This goes into the play offs as the best value card of the season. Fnatastic value particularly when set aside the dreadful effort from Chepstow the other week. The programme / racecard priced at pretty standard fare £3 and was considered OK.

The Racing

Berkshire Stand is one of two posh stands/ I have been in the Hampshire for a corporate event and the box was very good indeed with a panoramic view of the racing and a sort of head on view of the straight. I quite like the sort of nineties style quaint design of multi pitched roofs and the like. Not sure what the Berkshire is like inside but I am sure it is well thought through.



Dubai Duty Free Grandstand is a fairly utilitarian structure but houses plenty of betting, food and drink without it feeling cramped. Certainly one of the best newly built stands I ahve seen recently ikn the grade one tracks



Freemans Zone; here is where you can watch from the comfort of your car with only a chain-linked fence between you and the action. Not bad on the skinflints level



The Racing

The first race on the card was the first division of the split two year old maiden over six furlongs. There was an open look to this with the tissue favourite Fouth of June being a debutant. It was not a surprise that an improver from a green first run went on and won today. Mince had been well beaten on first run but put that behind her today with a half length victory over Swing It, the favourite .

The 10f class 4 handicap was the first of today’s races sponsored by airport retailers Dubai Duty Free and was a pretty competitive affair being won with a well timed run by Frankie on Sour Mash (a bit of a shock at 20/1 almost unheard of for Frankie) who had swerved wide from the start and had to be settled in and held up until produced from out three out to hold on by half a length. Good ride. However the positive is with Fine Threads who as a three year old and having only her fifth run is logically still open to improvement. Ayr winner in the mud last year has won this year at Windsor and has twice shown a liking to Newbury with two good places in highly competitive races. Was very unlucky to be hampered at a vital stage of the race and her run was trumped by Detorri today as pair were comfortably holding the rest by around two lengths. Looked well today and was staying on well for second but not overly pushed once chance had gone. She can win off this 80 OR soon and may even stay a bit further although 10f suits fine. One for the shortlist. Third home was Licence To Till who tried to make most but was headed around the furlong marker and could not do more than stay on at the one pace. Often races up with the pace and has won over this trip although if probably better on the sand.  Fourth home was The Only Key who was the main cause of bother to Fine Threads and led to a caution for Adam Kirby. She is a good marker as is very consistent which augers well for the first two today. Of the remainder the fancied Elraabeya cost a lot of money but is still very weak and despite racing prominently soon disappeared. May be better put to filly maidens. Corsican Boy looked well but again failed to impress and looks abit of an awkward one. Great Shot was tetchy beforehand and never really featured. Nazreef ran and looked like he needed the run today. Shallow Bay looked fit but is a bit disappointing this season. Spectait carried a bit of condition today and is probably getting ready for a jumps campaign with Johnjo. Laughing Jack has not followed up on spring win at Windsor and sweated a bit beforehand being soon beaten. Best left.

To get us under orders for the conditions races ahead we started with the Dubai Duty Free Conditions Stakes over nine furlongs. This was not that strongly contested so other than the winner there are question marks over going and distance going forward in terms of potential. It was won by the 4/6 odds on favourite Dubai Prince in absolutely emphatic style by a very easy three lengths. He had looked fit in the paddock despite a near twelve month lay-off and despite a slight flat spot three out quickened up in the manner of a useful colt and the three year old then glided past. Looked classic quality as a juvenile and has had some problems this season but appears to have put those behind him and it would be good to see him compete as a four year old. The experienced Penitent tried to do a wait from the front effort to protect his failure to really see out beyond a mile and was found wanting some way out so needs to be covered up over a mile to been seen to best effect. Jet Away ran with credit to be second and had sweated a bit beforehand which didn’t help. Suits softish ground and this trip.

Dubai Prince shows he is back to his best with facile condition stakes vistory

The second of the conditions races was the HH + C for two year old colts over a mile. It has a long a brilliant heritage with the great Shergar and the Derby winner Henbit onits roll of honour. Other notable winners were Unfuwain, the brilliant Rainbow Quest (one of my all time favourite flat horses) and Nayef. The race has also featured Shahrastani, Snurge and Authorised. So it is well worth a serious review this one. In the end we were treated to a fantastic battle up the straight with the favourite Harvard N Yale being nodded out of it by Caveleiro with a neck the judges verdict and the pair three lengths clear of the rest. To my eye they were both fully genuine articles staying on well and I feel the pair will be very useful over 10f plus next season. The winner Cavaleiro eventually broke his duck at third time of asking in facile fashion at Chepstow. Clearly going the right way and I liked his very genuine attitude. Harvard N Yale was noted as green on both his opening efforts and still looked a little behind the rest today so this was a fine run battling hard and he would have learnt a lot from this effort. Keep him onside next season. Whilst I was impressed by the winning two I think that the third may sneak under the radar in the future and pop up at rewarding odds. That was Spoke To Carlo and although this was his third effort I can see him landing a modest maiden as this was no poor effort today. There were two flashy ones behind him in Oscan (who had won over 7f at Leicester but did not see trip out today) and Linkable (every chance on debut but weakened  before furlong stick). The other two were Mysterious Man who was on his toes today and raced prominently only to stay on at the one pace to finish fourth and Performing Pocket who looked well in the preliminaries but I think may be best over seven in modest maiden company if to have any chance of competing.



The  Haynes Hanson and Clark Stakes third Spoke To Carlo (red and black) looks ready to pick up a maiden

Division two of the divided six furlongs two year old maiden stakes was won in fairly comfortable style by Accession with over two lengths the winning distance flattering the rest somewhat. Was a justifiable 5/4 favourite and is still not in tip top condition as appeared to need race. Clearly on the upgrade and could well step up on this win. Second home for the third consecutive time was Glen Moss. He looks to need softish ground to my eye so although disposed off well by Accession he is entered in some flash two year old races at the end of the year and with likely benefiting from underfoot conditions may pop in higher level than group. Sure to lose maiden tag before end of the season but always likely to go off shortish price. Third home was the one for my notebook and that was one of the debutants Our Merv who  stayed on well despite being a bit tetchy in the paddock and running a bit green as of course he was entitled to be first time out. I think he can win a maiden and possibly at fair odds. May just suit seven. Of the remainder Coup De Grace looked well and forward on his debut. Showed good speed to be remain prominent until before the furlong pole, enough promise to keep an eye on.  The Richard Hannon trained Royal Prospector was weak in the market and ran green.



Inside the final furlong and Accession (red/yellow with green cap) has then on the stretch

The big race for two year old fillies today was the Pivotal Fillies condition stakes over seven furlongs and again sponsored by Dubai Duty free. Tis was won in the manner of a very useful filly and I have Hazel Lavery down as a big positive going forward. The good consistent marker My Queenie again raced with merit to finish fourth but her near six length thrashing albeit giving four pounds acts as a sound bellweather here. My view is that Hazel Lavery quickened up approaching the last eighth and then smoothly put this race to bed. Clearly classy and should be a very good middle distance classic filly next season. Looks the sort to suit galloping courses. A definite positive. Second home was debutant Dank who looked a bit green and ran with promise to chase home a very good one. A Hannon middle distance prospect ran well to be third on her first outing. Others to keep an eye on are Westwiththenight who was a bit taken off her hooves on debut  but is very nicely related and is likely to progress from this so should be able to pick up races next season over 10f plus, and Intense Pink could have been fancied to do well on debut based on decent two year old lines but got worked up a bit beforehand so may be worth another chance. This could be a very useful renewal.



In comes the winner Hazel Lavery one to shine in next year’s classic generation




Westwiththenight was not disgraced on debut and should do fine next year over 10f plus

The most valuable race of the day was the listed Dubai Duty Free Cup over seven furlongs. There was a strong field assembled with favourite being Beacon Lodge. The admirably consistent specialist seven furlong horse just never seemed to get going and was soon beaten. Perhaps he has had enough for the year. The second favourite was the well fancied Colonial who looked very well today and seemed to have the race in the bag entering the final quarter mile but could not live with the acceleration from the winner. It remains a good run by Colonial. The winner was the three year old Chilworth Lad who quickened up nicely to lead inside the final quarter and looked the winner some way out . He won by less than a length but was reasonably comfortable. Biggest disappointment was the 11/8 favourite Beacon Lodge who weakened before two out never really looking like a challenger.



Colonial in the parade ring


The very good card finished off with an eighth race (less than £2 a race by the way) in the form of a difficult to de-cipher class 4 handicap over one and a half miles. In a blanket finish Albert Bridge held on from the three way photo to separate Sugar Hiccup, Shubaat. An entertaining end to the day but not much in the way of pointers for the future

Notebook

Fine Threads (P)

Spoke To Carlo (P)

Our Merv (P)

Hazel Lavery (P) down £10
2
Ran very well but without any luck in 300k race over 7f she can go group as a three year old very nice type and kept as a positive

‘You’re English and you know you are’ rang out of the terraces as Newport County’s brave new world began to take shape. Sponsorship of flat racing levitates The Exiles into a new level of perception as maybe yesterday’s boys but tomorrows men. With The Exiles v backdrop of some serious basement action befitting of the donor’s status we can only wait in frozen anticipation to the return of the Welsh Derby and its inevitable ascension to Group One status as the ambers and blacks grace the champions’ league or whatever the marketing shrewdies at EUFA will call it in 2060. Newport once reached the quarter finals of the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1980 after winning the Welsh Cup... Out of the league in 1988 out of business 1989 no doubt the American owner of the time had no small part to play in this asset stripping ( alleged ), the reformed club are now back at the level left at and the curve is on the up. The team roster has the famous name of Yakubu although this is ‘only’ the nephew of The Yak. However Ismail has been capped by the England Semi-professional team.



The main grandstand at Chepstow is not quite the dream of a romantic being starkly utilitarian with nodding appreciation of a down on its luck Sofia suburb

Chepstow set just into the Monmouthshire or Gwent as it is called these days. It is a stone’s throw from the Severn Bridge and hence is closer to Bristol than Cardiff. It lies close to the poor man’s run into Wales which means from the Midlands a sneaky avoidance for the extortionate entry fee charged by the crossing operators. Surely this cannot continue as our taxes pay for infrastructure. Or is this part of the long term for driver, pay tax on fuel, pay tax on your car and now pay tax to drive on the road through tolls. By taking the scenic route you get the chance to drive through the Wye Valley and The Forest of Dene which are great to visit. If you do take this path to Chepstow spend a bit of time at Symonds Yat and take a view form Yat Rock. Worth the stop I would say especially on a clear day.



Symonds Yat view worth a visit

I have been here five times over the years and it is a nicely laid out track in terms of facilities and stands. The undulating stiff course is a real test and is set in nice countryside haveing the hills and rivers of the English / Welsh border counties as a backdrop.. I think in general on the straight course the draw favurs the higher numbers to an extend; however the draw greatly places low numbers at a disadvantage. However I was stunned at the £21 entry fee which very nearly deposed Epsom for the worst value meeting. It was a meritous effort but that drizzly night with those screaming females (especially the over thirties) still leaves me shuddering. But come off it six class sixes was ridiculous and we need more quality I feel or if not let’s have some variety.



The field for the second about a quarter mile out with the mountainous background providing am attractive aspect

The set up is a bit of a mish mash mainly because of the natural fold in the topography. This makes the pre parade area and saddling baoxes a fair bit away from the main throng and difficult to access. However is rather unique giving a deceny view of things. The main paddock has a tiered effect for viewing and is set right by the winning line making the vire from the paddock steps right by the winning line the best vantage spot in my mind. There was pretty expebsive scran n offer with a pasty costy £4 a typical offer. The tea was OK certainly better than Salisbury. The archetecture  was nothing too grand or distictive. I didn;t see a lake and the food appeared of a decent quality but too pricey fr me to be tempted to test.



Saddling boxes are quite remote from the main throng

The crowd was a not too bad size and pretty good natured. Amongst them was Willie Carson who was of course one of the all time greats. In the seventies flat racing was very fortunate with Willie had rivals such as Lester, Pat Eddery, Joe Mercer, Ron Hutchinson to name bt four. In those days Willie riding at under eight stone was a big plus and he won many handicaps that way. It is always woth keeping an eye on jockies and the weight they race most successfully at.



Willie seen here supervising some bloke with a bucket of water was presumably at Chepstow to see his son wltz off with the top pot of the day

The Racing

This was about as modest as you can get and to be honest I got a bit bored today. First up was a two year old auction stakes over a mile. On the face of it the key races were a couple of divided maidens of similar event as today held at Salisbury. I saw these on 11th August over the seven. Both Beau Duke and Lone Foot Laddie came out of the first division about even as one showing a bit more potential than on his debut and as the latter was only having his debut run and ran with plenty of promise I had him down as the positive. Today Beau Duke was a warm 15/8 favourite and ran creditably. Leading into the final two and only giving best close home with the leading pair well clear. Not a bad run but this was quite moderate and will be a bit exposed on this run if switching to nurseries. Not exactly a negative but I would better watch future runs. The other Salisbury runner today from that first division was Lone Foot Laddie who today looked like he would take a hand in the finish and a quarter of a mile out looked the most likely winner. But his head was all over the place, looked difficult to point in the right direction and is as green as grass. He has potential to pick up a nursery and will stay this trip but is very immature so whilst I will keep him as a positive it’s anyone’s guess when he starts to grow up a bit, but when he does he looks a good shout in a moderate handicap. The winner Titus Star was also at Salisbury but ran in the second division behind the tough Frog Hollow. Today the gelding came with a well timed run to score readily nicely ridden by James Doyle. This win franks form and my positive from that race Blue Surf can pick up a race soon (currently racing off 80) therefore anything more than 73 will be difficult to shoulder. The filly Strictly Mine ran with much more potential than shown in her first two runs to finish a staying on third. Cost next to nothing but can find a modest race. There is plenty of stamina in the family and may well stay a mile and a half in time. She was well clear of the rest who looked in general very poor. The only possible one to keep an eye on is Grande Illusion who was fancied a bit in the market (7/1 from 12/1) showed some speed but soon ran out of puff. Very green and sure to improve with time. Clearly had shown a bit at home but pedigree suggest will be better being targeted to racing over the sticks with time.

Next up was another class 6 event (get used to it as this becomes a recurring theme) this time a handicap but again down the straight mile. No race today was on the round course, presumably because the executive thought putting a turn in might be beyond the general ability of today’s participants. However I think that the higher the speed the greater the centrifugal force therefore the less chance of taking the bend and flying off. Anyhow it was a quite a tight and exciting finish in a similar way that Afghan Hound racing is interesting if you’ve staked enough money on it. The race because a tussle between a Hamdan Al Makoum owned three year old Makyaal (who looked by far the most talented but appeared to be what could be termed a bit of a dog therefore worth avoiding at all cost) and a winner last time out of a Leicester seller over a similar trip in the Portman trained Quite A Catch (battled on in the most dogged of fashion to get a head verdict allowing the terms dog and dogged to be exemplified in one race). Cathy Gannon (who seems to do well here) gave Duquesa a good ride but got into a bit of traffic and was finishing to good effect. It would not be surprise to see her slip in soon if kept to this moderate class and not overrated by the assessor (currently off OR 64)



Quite A Catch led back into the winners enclosure having battled hard to win

Next up was a class 6 (theme continues) handicap over seven, inevitably on the straight track which was won by the top weight Ellies Image. Previously she looked the sort to need a sharp track as was thrice a winner over this trip at Catterick. However ‘good’ second at Carlisle provides evidence that she does run well at tough courses and the straight course at Chepstow is very undulating.



Ellies Imsge kicks on

Fourth race was a seven furlong class 6 stakes but at least it was a seller therefore justifiably class 6 as bottom of the ladder. It was won easily by the three year old gelding Barista who failed to get a bid even at the opening three grand. To be honest the auctioneer was less than persuasive feeding off the total apathy around the ring when the winner was up for grabs. This may have been a potential little bargain as could not really have won easier and looks to have the build to make a hurdler in time. Current mark of 67 needs to be exploited as can win off it and is a little bit of a positive.





Winner attracted no bid not a mumer and that could be a bargain gone. One for the sticks in a year or two???

We waited all day for the feature event sponsored by sleeping giant of a local football club in Newport County. Younger readers will be amazed to know that County were a fully fledged football league club for many years till going out of business in the late eighties. The race was a Class 5 no less handicap for fillies over seven furlongs or there abouts. The field was almost entirely comprised of three year olds and the first three home were from the classic generation. The winner was ridden by William Carson who has struck up a good report with Mrs Greeley (the filly not some MILF I stress) having won over six at Yarmouth in a maiden last run. Confidently ridden produced from the quarter mile out stick and led a furlong out was punched clear for a pretty facile victory. She is still on the upgrade and given not subject to a violent over-reaction by the assessor in respect of her current 70 mark may well land a hatrick. Second home was top weight Song Of The Siren who met one today who was in form and well weighted. She was highly tried as a youngster after a Folkestone maiden victory including a good third in a Newmarket class 3. Is well capable of a win in class 5 off the 75 OR and this run marks as a positive as was racing alone up the far rails which I do not think was that an advantage today. She is a positive and I think giving weight in class 5 will suit better than getting weight in class 3 or 4 (if racecourses still have such a race for fillies these days). The favourite Swift Breeze was switched from her far rails stall one position onto the stands side soon after the start and made much more use of than her last race where held up over seven. She has won a maiden over six and maybe a return to that trip in handicap company would serve her better.



Easy winner of the feature handicap

My heart then sank as I looked at the fare presented for the remainder of the day. It had as its sixth race a class 6 this time over six furlongs. It was won by Darcey in a favourable twelve of twelve box in a battling finish by a short’un as they say. The mare has now won seven times from six to a mile and in fact this 60 mark today was the lowest she has won off as last win previously was off 68. Flaxen Lake ran a decent race up the centre of the track just being nodded out of it close to the line. Two wins out of thirty tells its own sorry tale. Athaakeel raced on the unfavoured far side and led for much being outpaced inside the final furlong. The five year old mare is racing off a 58 mark which is quite attractive and given she runs well at Brighton is a positive in basement grade if returning to that track especially if there is a decent cut.



Winning trio led back to the saddling boxes

Mercifully the final race was run over the minimum trip but inevitably it was a class six. It was won by Griffin Point who got a bit of a bang out the stalls got into the lead around a quarter mile out and held on under strong driving. She had previously run well here and as such probably likes the place. The second was Best One who could not make the stands rails quite help enough to win this. Little Perisher raced alone on the far rails from one box and this did the gelding no favours at all. I think he comes out as a bit of a positive here. On a very nice mark of 47 I think he ran up to his best today. Won a good maiden at Ascot and stays six on AW. My guess is a stiff five on fastish ground is optimal. Madam Isshe was a major move in the market backed into 2/1 favourite/not knocked about at all and easily beaten. Is difficult to know what to make of this as was on a decent mark, ran well in class 5 a couple of races ago over five at Windsor.

Horses noted today

Makyaal (N) down £20
4 1 4/1 3
Continued to look less than resolute next time but then with blinkers on first time he came in at 4/1 which was a blow. Hpwever looks such an awkward one to time the run right I still have him as a negatve although I admit blinkers were much more effective than I thought likely

Barista (P) down £40
3 2 4 2
Did not run badly but after three runs over 7f was returned to 8f and at Chepstow in grade 6 but was btn  a head. That was when the white flag went up

Somg Of The Siren (P)


Little Perisher (P) down £30
3 4 2
First run was a sound 20/1 each wayer but subsequently couldn't quite deliver and when OR went up 3lbs I folded

I have now completed the journey all that remains is to name the winners and visit each catagory winner in 2012 as a postscript

2011 Grumpy Quarryman Awards
Ryanair Scroll for most inappropriate name of a racecourse BATH
Dobbies Buddlia Cup for best paddock Tree PLUMPTON
Tupperware Trophy for best water feature CATTERICK
The Hercules Cup for best effort by groundstaff to get a meeting on CHELTENHAM
Minsk Tractor Factory Shovel Bearing for must downbeat entrance YORK
Bauhaus Manuscript for most arty entrance PONTEFRACT
Rogers’ Steeple for best architectural feature RIPON
Rodin snog for the best bit of art feature current leader GOODWOOD
Homa Simpson bargain bucket for most edible molten fat FFOS LAS
Pierre thingy whatsits Cloche for best value scran SEDGEFIELD
Favourite  Scottish Racecourse MUSSELBURGH
Favourite Northern Racecourse     AINTREE
Favourite Midland racecourse  UTTOXETER
Favourite Southern racecourse ASCTOR
Favourite Yorkshire racecourse WETHERBY
Lawrence of Arabia award for best all weather track LINGFIELD
The chimps mug for worst cup of tea SALISBURY
The Jam’s That’s Entertainment Award for best day’s racing NEWBURY
The Virgin Rail Cup for the worst value for money EPSOM
The BBC News 24 Plate for the best customer communication  TOWCESTER
The Deep Pockets Short Arms Cup for the best freemans on offer GOODWOOD
The Kip Keano Award for excess distance of entrance from Car Park BRIGHTON
The Colonel Blimp Medal for excessive enclosures THIRSK
The Margate Sandcastle Flag for most run down course PLUMPTON
The Bell End Gate for the most interestingly named stand HEREFORD
Doris Stokes that’s right odd that for unusual features WETHERBY

Ones to follow still live

Lingfield 5th January 2012

Henry Clay (P) up £12.50
Can win maiden in a good size field. Better for a mile I would say. Nicely placed at Wolvo and fancied 9/1 when winning at 5/4.

City Legend (P) up £20
1 (2/1)
As expected won next time up but only deat heated. Limited appeal if mark goes up too much from 69

Marvo (N)
Has a few entries in claimers 12 and 13th jan.

Kidlat (P)
On a good hcap mark of 70.

Ariyfa (P)
On a good mark of 76 and I think a mile would suit better.

Pale Orchid (P)
Five furlongs and 73 mark is a strong plus and could be decent on turf


Leicester 28th December 2011

Surf And Turf (P)
Suit 20f.

Hilton Indiana (P)
Decent staying novice in making be even better jumping fences

Loose Performer (P)
A very good staying novice chaser in the making and entered in a similar event at donc on 11th so worth a sniff.


Grammes And Ounces (P) up £19
1 (5/6)
Ran up his hat-trick at Ludlow over two miles as expectd. Up 8lbs and looked to have had a hard race this time so ecpect him to have a bit of a break. Can win off this new mark though as still not stopped improving

Royal Opera (P)


Ascot 16th December

Hadrians Approach (P)
Entered in a kempt 2m5 event which looks right up  his street at 13 / 14 jan weekend

Winning Habit (P)


Molotof (P)
Form of this race looks a bit suspect with Binend running very poorly at Leicester so treat with caution

Peckhamecho (P)

Nazeef (P)
Entered in a conditions race at Kempton AW and was best watched in that one but ran very well to be beaten only a length. I think that would put him straight He went well in blinkers and t-strap at Kempton.

Zaynar (N)

Our Father (P)
I am still positive but has gone up a stone in the weights for this win and is now 143. Looking at going forward is in a Pertemps qualifier so I would say might be raced judiciously with a view to the Cheltenham race when could be a classic Pipe plot. Worth a tickle.

Shutthefrontdoor (P)

Bangor on Dee 14th December

Ultimate (P)

Skint (N) up £10
P (2/1)
Ran poor and a great lay price of 3.00. Entered at huntingdon and looks another good lay option


Jeanry (P)
Had two entries for 10th jan and given that he has gone up 4 lbs and QDP is running way above his bangor mark this horse must be a stand out bet.

Dermatologiste (N)
Up 8lbs makes him a big negative going forward and catterick entry on 12/1 looks step too far so a good lay

Magnifique Etoile (P)
3
Is entered in the Tolworth on Saturday and although has a bit to do on the book against one of Hobbs’ I think will run a big race if taking the option up. Ran well to be third in such a hot race.
Oranegaday (P)

Amron Lad (P) down £10
3
Third place at Ayr was a bit disappointing but I think he didn’t handle the mud so only back when there is a good in the description

Aachen (P)
Retains 128 OR and with the stable beginning to hit some form would look out for entries closely. Is in the Lanzarote at kemp as well as the longer dist pertemps qualifier. I think the 20/1 for the Lanzerote is a sound each way punt.

Share Option  (N)
Entered in a chase at Leicester and a hurdle at Doncaster in w/c 9/1 and is a lay on both counts

Pampelonne (N)
13/1 hunt 14/1 warw entries

Dorset Naga (P)

Nelsons Bridge (P) 
Entered hunt 13/1

Aintree 3rd December 2011 Very Soft

Ile De Re(P) down £10
2
Ran well despite one error and being hampered to finish second over 20f at Doncaster. Needs 3 miles really

Featherbed Lane(P)
Up 15lbs for this Aintree win and 8/1 for Saturday’s Lanzerote which he might be a little exposed but worth an interest


Bonnie Burnett (P) down £10
4
Entered in a nice mares event at Newcastle which should be well winthin the scope of her ability however was outpaced when the muddling pace led to the race being a sprint. Needs a well run bumper to be seen to best advantage.

Niche Market (P)

Shalimar Fromentro(P)

Nacarat (N) up £10
0
Well  beaten in the king George. Ran OK but still out of his depth and continues to be a lay

Buffalo Bob(P)

Uttoxeter 30th November 2011 Good to Soft

Double Silver (P)
0
Ran well to be 5th at 18/1 in a tow novice and I would like to see her in a mares event over around the 20f mark



Off The Ground (P) down £20
4 2
Ran OK next time out when 4th at Hereford. Good second on handicap debut at Exeter. Remains a positive

Group Leader (P)
2
Not fancied when tried over 20f and await return to 2 milesish. Is entered in two races at Leicester on10/1 one of which is a 2m4 seller where I do not think he is in with much chance but I think he does have a squeak in the 2m class 4 handicap. Opted for the seller so not backed.

Ebony River (P) down £10
2
Just failed to hold on after an error at Bangor by a head.

Qualitee.  (P) up £30
1 3/1
Easy winner over 20f. Although up 10lbs on Uttoxeter effort still a positive as hasn't stopped improving

Acosta (P) down £10
2 3
Well placed in 3m2 at Hereford on a good mark and was suited by track, distance and going. Ran good race and priced up at attractive each way of 16/1 at a time finished 2nd; if  not badly assessed is still capable of winning and suits Hereford where is a CD. Was then stepped up to 85 when third at Uttoxeter so not backed. Will now wait till at Hereford as will need that track to generate interest from me.

Sedgefield 22nd November 2011 Good to Soft

Rosewin (P)


Tristan Times (N) up £10
2
Made numerous mistakes at wetherby when7/4 fav and continues to be a lay

Dodgey Dream (P)
P
Tried over 3m and as I have him down as a 20f was not backed. Can winover an appropriate trip

Eagle Rock (P) down £20
2 2
Great run in top notch juvenile at Donacaster when 12/1 behind another of my one to follow Royal Bonsai at 16/1, Nice each way but guess what no forecast. Clearly capable of winning a juvenile soon as hurdling is very good for one so inexperienced. Hit first and was beateb less than a neck on new years day becoming a bit frustrating but is worth one more try

Otto Quercus (P) £10 down
2
Ran a decent second only being hauled in on run to last when 6l behind at Musselburgh 6/1. Still positive for a run at catterick on 12 th as per entry up 4lbs but not a compete stopping weight

Royal Mile (P)
P
Didnt seem to stay 20f next run and made a couple of mistakes.I was not expecting being upped in trip so did not back and await slip back to 2 miles. 

Mansonnen L’as (P) 
0
Not backed when racing over 20f next run. made errors but showed some pace. Better over the extreme distances and is no mug retains positive 


Hereford 17th November 2011 Good to Soft


Marju King (P) UP £35
B 1 9/2
Only got as far as he second next time when unluckily bought down. Next run was when forcing the pace and then very easily winning and as long as mark does not go up too far can win again. Entered in novice hcap even at warw on 14th

Reyamour (P) down £10
0
Very disappointing next run cannot believe that is her form and perhaps the run came too quick or Leicester is a stiff test and she prefers something easier. Now in a fair event at kemp on 14/1 and this could very well suit so will back

Davena (P) down £10
3
Her engagement at Font over 2m2 on boxing day was suspected that it  might be too short a trip and so it proved. However we did back her and I think will restrict to backing only when over 20f + ie  longer trips



Doeslessthanme (N) up £20
2 2
blundered any chance away and still not confident that he has brushed up on his jumping. Another good lay next run when again made errors and 2/1 was far too short. Now entered at fontwell where he has won over fences and they are a bit on the soft side in my opinion. Getting cold feet about laying and will only do so if trades 3.00 or shorter

Invictus (P) up £7.50
1 (7/4) 3
ran up his hattrick with another impressive win this time at Plumpton. Good third at Chelt in grade 2 big dipper chase. Bit novicey but safe can win again

Fakenham 15th November 2011 Good to Firm

Helpston (p) down £10
2
Brilliant ruin a grade 3 handicap chase at weth and was seen as worth taking a chance with as the stiff fences are likely to be no worry. So it proved and from 7lbs more than usual he was only done a length. Needs stiff course / fences and off his 128 is a snip and even if upped to this 135 has sound claims

Bottman (n) up £10
0
Jumped poorly and what a great lay this one was at 6/5. Will take some more time to get close to winning again so I will keep laying him for a while yet

Diamond Twister (p) down £10
0
Ran poorly next but at 100/1 I suppose was worth taking a chance with. Will keep in as the form was boosted the other day. Had a late dec spin on flat.

Kelso 5th Novemeber 2011 Good



Chicago Outfit (P) down £10
2 0
Fair second where a couple of novicey jumps at Doncaster did his chances in. He has ability on was on a good mark in comparison to the first and second out of the Kelso race so I am confident he can win a novice handicap chase before long. I know he is a bit chancey with his jumping but that can improve and is worth a few more goes but at weth boxing day the fences are stiff there so  we avoided which was sensible. Now await step down in mission but still on the list


Tchicos Polos (N) up £10
0
Thrashed next run


Baaher (N) down £30
1 (4/1) 0
Got that one wrong as a step up to 20f seemed to help despite missing a few out won at 4/1 but upped a bit now in the weights and was well beaten next run when making a blunder. Off 104 and will find winning again hard entered Mussel 14/1

Primrose Time (P) up £100
0 1 (11/1)
Placed well at Catterick 12/12 but was a bit outpaced giving impression needs a return to Kelso where he ran well before. I continued to persevere and he won well next run at Kelso. We are well up now and I will ditch

Hexham 4th Novemebr 2011 Soft

Palomar (N)

Banoge (N) up £10
4
Well beaten next run and remains a negative

Lyrical Intent (P) down £10
P
Forget about this next run as was 20lbs higher due to overweight so now back off 79 and if racing off that mark has a pretty good chance.

Rolecarr (P) up £50
U 1 (6/1)
Still positive about his chances going forward and I will keep backing. Next run was a very game handicap debut. He was sticky at two successive fences on the final circuit but jumped the last six very well when pace quickened and if not overly tried (7lbs max) can win again in handicaps and can defy novice pen.

Lively Baron (P) down £7
1 (1/3) 3
Easy win next followed by a decent third in fair novice hcap event at Doncaster where jumped well in the main and still a positive particularly off 120 over 3 miles form stamped by Rolecarr recent win at Kelso. Has two interesting entries coming up 13/1 at Mussel and 14/1 at kemp over 3m and I very much like the former. Worth a serious punt.

Aland Islands (P)

Riskier (P) down £10
2 2
Good second (better than bare bones of the result in well contested race at Sedgefield and remains a positive) entered at Sedge 22/12 but over 2m4 which is interesting as appeared to be ok over 3m so not backed. Best over 3 miles and worth a bet when over an appropriate trip

STRATFORD 27th October 2011

Pumboo (N)

Erdeli (P) down £10
3
Was fancied and backed today but made a series of mistakes. Capable of winning more sellers so still a positive


Johns Spirit (P) down £20
2 2
Bar an error would have won on handicap debut up 7lbs now but that is still a winnable (if the word exists) mark.Disappointng close second at towcester over Christmas but still worth one more chance.

Syberite (P)
4 2
Not disgraced but not backed either when pitched against Grand Crus. Next run was in another high class Cheltenham novice. Keeps running in too high a class and has not been backed so I am going to bin him

Themilanhorse (P)  up £70
1 (7/1)
Nice win over the prescribed drop in distance. See what handicap mark is but may struggle to defy penalty unless modest field

Exeter 18th October 2011 Firm


Soulad (N)
NR
Has not reappeared yet

Resplendent Night (P)
NR
Has not reappeared yet


Coach Lane (P) up £45
1 9/2 B 0
Won off 97 on next run. Has now gone above the 100 line and will not be backed until is below 100. At the moment is running OK (despite a bought down and an unseated when OR in excess of 100 so now binned

Royal Windsor 3rd October 2011 Good to Firm

Rosedale (P)
Midfield next run over CD and out for winter I would say. Still a positive


Crystal Etoille (N) up £10
0
Stone last and thrashed. I doubt we will see her again but if we do she can be laid at almost any price


Yaa Salam (P) down £10
3
Not a bad run when close up third in competitive Newmarket maiden. Remains a positive as will be very likely a better proposition as a three year old
Bank Bonus (P)



Blanc De Chine (P)
2 2 1 2/9
Very consistent on the all weather since Windsor run. Hardly the most rewarding of odds when winning but remains on OR70 so can win yet again on the AW

Flying Power (P)



Hamilton Park 26th September 2011 Soft

Saranapalus (N)


Secrecy (P) up £35
2 1 9/2
Fair second but then revitalised in peices when winning at Newmarket. Good enough to win again

Penitent (P)


Strong Man (N)
3
Not a bad run at reasonable 8/1 each way odds



Kempton Park 28th September 2011 Standard

Tahaamah (n)


Tindaro (p)
2 0 3
Promising runs over hurdles as hoped for and can win before too long and remains a positive but not backed yet as really is a flat horse so keeping fit for the flat I think.

Yannabeeaa (p)


Yours Ever (p) down £10
3
Good third at nice each way of 12/1 and looks capable of winning maiden soon


Blink of an Eye (n) up £10
0
Still not a winning proposition yet



Goodwood 21st September 2011 Soft

Okimono (P)
Non runner so far but I will keep it open as I think has potential as a 3yo


Samba King (P)
3
Good third in the mud at Hatdock keep the faith with him



Folkestone 20th September 2011 Good

Royal Blush (N)
didn't run again this year but looked to have fallen out with the game

The Strig (N)down £25

0 1 9/2 0
Well beaten next race but then won well abd looks capable of better. Laid again for the third race and ran another goosd race. Appears I have underestimated him and I will shelve after three


Avonvalley (P)
3
Good third on next outing running on well in soft over 5f. I think a stiffer track or 6f needed. Acts on sand so remains open for backing and is entered this week at Kempton on the sand worth a flutter especially on 12/1 over 6f

Enkenaat (N)
Not seen out since but remains a negative



Newbury 16th September 2011 Good to Soft

Fine Threads (P)

Spoke To Carlo (P)

Our Merv (P)

Hazel Lavery (P) down £10
2
Ran very well but without any luck in 300k race over 7f she can go group as a three year old very nice type and kept as a positive

CHEPSTOW 2nd September 2011 Good

Makyaal (N) down £20
4 1 4/1 3
Continued to look less than resolute next time but then with blinkers on first time he came in at 4/1 which was a blow. However looks such an awkward one to time the run right I still have him as a negatve although I admit blinkers were much more effective than I thought likely


Song Of The Siren (P)



Salisbury 11th August

Maccabees (N) up £30
0 0 0
still a negative

Lone Foot Laddie (P) down £10
4
Still a bit green but improving and I will stick with him

Blue Surf (P) down £10
2
Good effort when plugging on over a mile. OR of 80 is very fair is entered in the derby and I think he has to be retained as can and is very likley to win as a 3yo and is entered in the derby

Amistress (N) up £30
4 0 0
As expected has been well beaten last three runs and I still doubt she can win next time out as well

Premio Loco (N) up £11
0 1 15/8 2 0
Did win a group 2 which is fair enough but was still on balance a profitable lay and hopefully he’ll run in the spring to give me some more money

Side Glance (P) down £10
4
Great run when beaten around 2 lengths in big mile race worth £350k in Canada. Couldn't get on and then finished season off tamely at Ascot when over tried and not backed. Keep for next season


Aristiea (N) up £20
0 0
Hopelessly handicapped and continue to lay untill closer to winning mark

Beverley 10th August 2011 Soft



Ghalaa  (P) £10 down
2
Much improved on second run when a 2l runner up here. Capable of a 3yo mdn next year on fastish ground



Ingleby Star (P) £95 up
3 1 6/1 1 9/2
Fair third followed by two good wins. Mark on turf then up to 80 which appeared too high. Yet to appear again on sand so I will keep him live for such a chance as I think sand OR is still tempting


Brighton 3rd August


Sea Odyssey (P) down £10
3
I backed him in a classs 2 nursery over 5f at Ascot. But was then campaigned over too far and I did not back. Will stay further when more mature but never looked like running well in excess of the minimum as a baby. Keep in mind for next season.

Ripon 1st August 2011 Good


Tancred Spirit (P) down £30
0 4 3 0
Not backed on second run on the basis that he was trying 6f which I do not think he stays. Still a chance if over 5f and kept. 22/12 in 5f AW class 6 and has a very nice each way chance at 33/1

Royal Bonsai (P) up £245
1 13/8 4 2 4 1 10/1 3 1 16/1
won over the sticks straight away and then we followed him on flat where he ran with promise but he is turning into a decent juvenile as he showed when stepping up in class at Haydock. He needs regular races. His run whem third on the flat was not backed but he then stepped up to a graded hurdle at Doncaster and fought hard to win. Kept as a positive.

Midnight Martini (P) down £10
0 0
Unlucky and finished in pack when hampered 2 out over 5f at York stepped up and failed to stay next run over 6f (not backed) still a positive over 5f


Newton Abbott 4th July

Miss Tanacious (N) up £20
P 4
That 112 OR is a milestone around her neck and she has no chance till it drops to 100 at most. Still remains above 100 after being 4th on boxing day

Caravan Queen (P)
0
Poor return but still a positive

Vico (P)
3
Fair run when a bit unlucky next run. 125 is a handy mark and the horse he beat at Newton Abbot Karasenir has gone on to win well. He looks decent and I am sure he will win a handicap chase before long



Sagredo (N) up £20
3 0
Well beaten down to 7lbs off winning mark now but is still a lay

Worcester 29th June



Crystal Rock (N) level
Not seen out since


Suburban Bay (P) down £10
0
Every chance next run when mistake and stumble knocked the stuffing out of win. Then went novice chasing despite looking chancey still over timber. Madness in my opinion Time to go


Barton Stacy (P) £20 down
3 2
Good run on hurdling debut when a scond as probably should have won bar the error. One to keep positive about as can win a maiden / novice


Market Rasen 24th June

Hucking Hero (N) up £10
2
Strong in the market next time in Uttoxeter seller at 6/4 held up but again looked like was inlikely to stay. Still a negative

Royal Bonsai (P) up £267
1 13/8 1 10/1 1 16/1
Has been running well on flat to keep fresh and his two hurdle victories have been very good indeed and even off 130 I expect even more especially if tried over further. Worth taking on the top juveniles and is entered in a grade 2 at Donny at the weekend. Best on flat tracks by the looks of it. Went on to win a listed juvenile nect run at big odds. Still a positive





Wincanton 21st bApril

Miss Overdrive (Negative) up £10
0
showed speed on reappearance but jumping let her down. Still unlikely to win any time soon



Ludlow 31st March

Seren Cwmtundo (Negative)
Not been seen out since 





Sizing India down £10
0
Fifth in good bumper at Punchestown festival. Keeping him alive as I am sure he will make a hurdler and now being trained in Ireland




Carlisle 10th March

Vivona Hall down £10
3 P
Ran OK after long lay off in December at mkt rsn when 3rd at good each way odds of 20/1. Rted 105 which looks a bit tough so mdn hur in scope and remain positive. Ignored when tried over 3 mile plus over xmas at kelso as looks a 20f horse

Armedanddangerous (Negative) up £10
F
Well btn in dec when  hit 4th. Looks out of sorts off poor mark



Downpatrick 2nd March


Nutin Fancy
3 2
Fair third and second (beaten by a real good one in Ambion Wood so no disgrace) on initial hurdling efforts for hobbs over 2m4 in the mud. Expect to prefer better ground and as Chepstow when deep is very difficult take this into account. Advice continues to back on better ground.



Sandown 25th February



Make A Track £37.50 up 
1(7/4) 1 (5/2) 2 3 1 (2/1)
Ended up being a pretty decent bumper runner and now over in Ireland. Hurdle debut in a decent field got going after not being fluent early and then finished well once hurdling got together. Good third in grade 2 over 2m4 which I am not conviced he stays. Then won at Gowran over 2m. I am keeping the faith with him as he may yet developed into a decent irish novice Entered in a grade B over 2m at leaopardstown on 28/1.


Ambion Wood up £27.50
1(3/1) 3 2 1 (7/4)
Won as expected in subsequent bumper. Ran with plenty of promise on debut over hurdles and then improved a bit more next run at Exeter when second so remained one to watch. Broke hurdle debut very easily at Chepstow and is one to follow so I will keep alive . Now entered in a grade 2 at Warwick on 14/1 which I think he can win




Cheltenham 29th January


Rock on Ruby up £15
2 3 1 (7/2) 2
one of top novice hurdlers last season and comes out with a good mark and I will continue to back, won the Gerry Fielding so I am keeping him for now as can make into a top hurdler this season. In the Christmas hurdle which I am not mad about as I think he needs a stiffer track however I like him and think he may be champion quality. He ran very well to be close second at Kempton and was not backed as the track does not suit. He is a live champion candidate in my book as is a lot better at chelt and stiff tracks than this tight Kempton circuit

Another course nowhere near the town it’s named after but the Ryanair Award is still in the safe hands of Bath. However Salisbury put itself right in the running for two prestigious awards. In the first instance they are now current leader in the Favourite Southern Course Trophy after another thoroughly enjoyable day out where value for money was right up there in almost all respects including entry price, quality of racing on offer and another very decent beef pie mash and gravy meal. Well done all concerned. On the other side of the scales Salisbury are now current leaders of the Chimp’s Mug for worst cup of tea. This was on the basis of a polystyrene container holding some tepid water, a value teabag and an insect of the winged variety still flexing its hind legs in the last throws by the look of it caused by either scalding (20/1) incision from human eye tooth (6/4) or tannin poison (4/6). The catalogue entry of the insect appears to be between Fly (3.50), Mosquito/Midgy (2.0) and Infant Horsefly (2.5). Extra points goes to the catering assistant dispatching said tea who looked vacantly as I handed polystyrene in his general direction and informed that there was some kind of insect in the brew.   


I travelled to Salisbury from the south coast town of Fareham. The route was along the M27 and then up the A36 with signs around the south of the town with the course in Netherhampton a couple of miles towards the south-west of Salisbury. The racecourse is well signposted and you should not get too lost if you remember that the course is outside of the town. The countryside of the Wilshire / Hampshire border  is soothing and makes the trip easy. The roads themselves are not bad with some decent swadges of dual carriageway, Car parking was free as it usually is at the more modern courses. The entry to the Tattestalls was less than Yarmouth. You could park up and picnic around the furlong pole on the far rails. If you were particularly stumped for money you can watch the racing for free by standing next to the winning post on the far rails. Amazingly there were no freeloaders on the day I was there. The Tattestalls badge gave access to a very large paddock, plenty of bars and a double decker grandstand. The grandstand gives a brilliant view of the racing especially from the top tier.



The double decker stand is the place to watch the races from

From here you can see the spire of Salisbury Cathedral in the distance which amongst the rolling hills provides a brilliant backdrop. However if your view is not perfect the management has secured a giant video screen. The standard of catering under the grandstand was of a high standard and of good value. Outside of the bar there was plenty of space on benches and tables from which to eat. The atmosphere was good and the crowd healthy. Which is little surprise at what is a gem of a course. Looking through the card where the future fixtures are listed it is clear that a high quality of racing is often provided. There are a number of good prize money feature  handicaps, a series of listed races and the historic Bibury meeting. Top prize of the year is a Group 3 event. The Bibury is worth discussing because of its tradition. The racecourse is a bit like a squash racquette. Races of a mile and a quarter and beyond race away from the stand until a left hand turn leads them to a fairly circular section which is run right handed. At the top of the straight, which is about seven furlongs from home, there is a steep decent. At the bottom there is a slight dip as runners begin an uphill finish for the majority of the final six furlongs. This is a tricky course because of the tight circular section, a good gallop home from seven out with the final threequarters of a mile being a stiff finish putting the emphasis on stamina. It is this issue of stamina which is a chief aspect of the track. The stalls were placed on the far side and in general the higher numbers had a bit of an advantage in sprints, however this course puts a premium on the jockey’s tactical awareness and there were a number of good rides and also some high profile poor ones. In conclusion I would put Salisbury as an attractive venue in terms of facilities, value and racing during the year in my top six.



The excellent value for money facilities at Salisbury

The Racing

Today was the big race of the year for Salisbury in the form of the Group three Sovereign Stakes. The rest of the card was a highly entertaining mixture of maiden stakes and handicaps and pushes Newmarket on Craven day close.

Race 1; Maiden stakes for two year olds over the seven, which was won by Goodwood Atlantis who benefited from a previous run when green at Sandown. Still running off the pace was produced from about halfway and in a bit of messy race got into some traffic problems. He was driven out to just hold on. Is reasonably well bred and is likely to make a miler next year on breeding with this run showing as being at the end of his tether at this trip this year. Not sure if he has the scope to improve this season as this was a hard fought victory in fairly modest company. The runner up was debutant colt Presburg  who missed the kick and ran green but stayed on in good style and very nearly got up. Very encouraging debut but moderately bred. Can improve but not sure of the general level of quality in this race to be honest. Poisson D’Or who finished third ran with good early speed but appeared to lack stamina on her first race as despite leading two out faded a little. However pedigree suggests middle distance and therefore should have been OK. Perhaps needs to learn to settle but showed some potential with a fair bit of speed early on. Takeitfromalady looks a lazy gelding and needed waking up three out to show any level of interest. This was not that good a run and perhaps his future ultimately lies over the sticks as there is a bit of fair evidence in the pedigree that he may thrive better. Beau Duke continues to look paceless as he did on his debut and to be fair looks less like a future  winner than most here today. Maccabees was a fairly warm order favourite at 7/4 but continues to flatter to deceive and having a mark of 72 looks a bit highly tried even on that level. Leading three out but weakening once put under pressure quarter of a mile out. Represents a negative. Lone Foot Laddie ran better than finishing position indicated having taken time to come to himself during the early exchanges stayed on in good style to be beaten just over four lengths. I thought this was a very useful debut. If bred for middle distances and a step up to a mile may very well see him going in if left to auction / seller arena. A positive. There was an Authorised clt in the race on his debut. Showed speed to lead up to two out when fell down a hole never to be seen again. Not heard that there has been much in his first crop but maybe they should try him at six as not certain he stayed



Leading pair just enter the final two furlong Poisson Dor (green) and Maccabees



View from behind of the field as they cross the line.

Race 2 was the second division of the two year old maiden auction stakes over the seven which was won in workmanlike style by Frog Hollow. Had to battle a bit but I felt he looked a little reluctant or else lacked a turn of foot. Looks suited by short of a mile at the moment although there is a bit of stamina in the family. I am not sure about him and will not be rushing to back him next run. Second home was the better of the two Hannon entries My Queenie. She has plenty of experience for this level and stayed on in fair style looking to have some battling quality but having led into the final furlong was run out of it inside the distance. Third home was Blue Surf didn’t run badly and improved on his debut at Goodwood. Not much room but staying on strongly and had his run interrupted, once he got going again was plugging on without too much driving giving impression that benefited from run and will stay more than a mile with time. Rates a positive. Tight Lipped is hugely experienced in comparison to most in this field and didn’t really impress despite just failing to hold on to third. Has been handicapping well so far this year but a jack up to 81 has scared connections off as looks at present a 74ish horse. Zamarelle ran moderately again and I do not expect much from her.



Frog Hollow collared My Queenie and gallops on to win


Race 3 there was a three and four year old maiden stakes in memory of Mary Wort. This was the first of three races sponsored by friends and relatives of a deceased racegoer which was very touching really a nice to see. Much better to have a race dedicated to someone like Mary than yet another advert for a bookies website. Still I suppose any harbour in a storm. Three year olds dominated as they often seem to at this time of year with the first four all from the classic generation. It was won in commanding style by the Richard Hughes ridden Orpen Arry who pushed clear two out. Had been improving as shown by fair third in similar Chepstow event recently. Unexposed and I suppose will be reasonably treated by the assessor and if so could well pick up a handicap again some time soon. Second home was Obiter Dicta who has had seven runs without success and is coming down the weights. This wasn’t a bad run and with her 65 rating beaten over two lengths was getting five pounds so the winner is likely to be well in if racing off less than 74.




Orpen Arry forges ahead of Obiter Dicta as the pair finish clear

Race 4 was a fillies handicap class 4 over one mile and a half. As expected the first seven places were filled by the seven three year old fillies. First home in good style was Dubai Glory who was bouncing back to form after a modest summer which itself had followed a hat-trick in the spring. Decent filly, goes well here at Salisbury and could handle a modest rise in the weights. Not a resounding positive but on the basis of having put a run together when on song before hardly one to be negative about. The runner up is the less exposed Sugar Hiccup who was staying on in reasonable fashion inside the final furlong. I would say she may yet stay even further as there is some stamina in the family. A good effort this but may be a bit more use could be made of her such as being ridden handy as she lacks acceleration but has stamina. I would like to see a more aggressive run over this sort of trip as I think she can win in this sort of company.  Doesn’t rate as a positive though. Third home was Japanese bred Sunday Bess who was prominent without being a major threat inside the final couple of furlongs. Weakening inside last 200 yards giving the impression that a shift to ten furlongs would be optimal and on the basis of her tumble to 75 in the OR she is on a theoretical winning mark. Lady Gabriella is a one eyed filly as there is no off side eye at all. Bizarre to see but not off putting. Decent run being pulled wide into the straight and staying on well. This meant that her offside was nearest the field and therefore was she ‘blinkered’ in a way? If this is an advantage then perhaps she needs a right hander or does seeing them clearly help keep the herd instinct and therefore lefthanded is an advantage. Interestingly her two wins have come at idiosyncratic tracks. Brighton (where one eyed Belper was a standing dish in the 1970s) and the figure of eight Windsor. Either way on balance she is well handicapped on the AW and has run reasonably well there when she ran her best race as a two year at Lingfield. I have her as a positive coming out of this race. Favourite Amistress looked an absolute pig of a ride was on and off the bridle and  I have her down as one to give a wide berth to and she is a negative coming out of this race.



Winner Dubai Glory (far side)
being led form the winners enclosure

Race 5 was the Group 3 Sovereign Stakes for colts and geldings over a mile. No three year olds which was a surprise I would have given the craven winner a shot at this but there you go. Looked a good renewal and several come out as eyecatchers one way or another. One or two may be going off the boil such as Primio Loco (who although on the barebones of finishing distance looks to have run OK is well held in group 3 and listed nowadays plus with a quite high OR does not attract in handicap sphere) or may be viewed as unlucky and therefore lower odds than they deserve and as such rate negative (based on Fanunalter awkwardness when held up pulling to the left as if fighting the bit and looks to need excessive waiting tactics to the extent that is the sort who can be a decent lay opportunity). Others did impressed not least the winner Side Glance who not only showed a decent bit of pace to forge ahead also showed resilience when challenged to stay on and win. This is a decent colt and can step up to higher group level on this basis of this run. Celebration Mile looks right grade and track than QEII. Positive in the right race. Second home was the remarkable Dance and Dance who has slowly but surely gone up through the handicaps winning on Derby Day, second in the Royal Hunt Cup and a decent third in the Hambleton. Now a staying on and eyecatching runner up to a listed winner in a Group race with a Group 3 winner behind him. Certainly up to winning in listed company and may yet make group. Third was The Rectifier who again ran his consistent race he has been doing all season in listed and Group 3 events being close to adding to his listed win last year. Bit outpaced by the first two but was nonetheless plugging on gamely. A good benchmark this which emphasises to me that this is probably a decent Group 3 and its form should stake up as the season progresses. I thought Secrecy was a bit of an eyecatcher in that was not given a hard race when a bit squeezed approaching the furlong stick. Looked a good sort beforehand and is not overly exposed for a five year old. Has some fair form in conditions race and looks the sort to pick up a seven furlong or mile listed at some time. Rates a positive.



Side Glance in yellow going on to do the business

Race 6 was a handicap class 5 for fillies over six furlongs. This was won by a three year old Aristeia who was held up and produced with a reasonable turn off foot. Looks decent in this class. Clobbered when reassessed as is seven pounds up for the win so cannot rate a positive looks a Wsixtimes sort. A negative at the moment until better rated. To be honest nothing positive comes to mind from the rest.



Aristiea is getting up with good turn off foot a classic WSixtimes (waited with will win when wanted) sort

Race 7 was a 1m6 handicap
Flag start was a change so difficult to work out if the draw was respected. I did hear it being belten out but not much lining up and rejigging position occurred. Maybe the jockeys were that disciplined they already knew where to line up. Yet again three year olds dominated and the adage of backing three year olds in August couldn’t have been much better exemplified than today. It was won by Maycontainnuts who stayed on gamely to assert by three lengths with a bunched finish behind him. Not sure of the value of the race and cannot rate him a positive but was certainly a fair bit better in on the weights at the moment than the remainder.



Milling around before the last



At the tapes for the unfamiliar sight of a flat race flag start.

Notebook

Maccabees (N) up £30
0 0 0
still a negative

Lone Foot Laddie (P) down £10
4
Still a bit green but improving and I will stick with him

Blue Surf (P) down £10
2
Good effort when plugging on over a mile. OR of 80 is very fair is entered in the derby and I think he has to be retained as can and is very likley to win as a 3yo

Lady Gabriella (P) down £20
0 0
Not run well at really and will fold on her

Amistress (N) up £30
4 0 0
As expected has been well beaten last three runs and I still doubt she can win next time out  as well
Premio Loco (N)

Fanunalter (N) up £10
4
In truth being beaten only 2 lengths by **** Turpin was a much improved showing so I will fold with an edge

Side Glance (P) down £10
4
Great run when beaten around 2 lengths in big mile race worth £350k in Canada. Couldn't get on and thenfinished season off tamely at Ascoy when over tried and not backed

Secrecy (P) up £25
2 2 1 9/2
Ran well at Nmkt and Ham but then forst time in blinkers and up to listed level scooted in. Left alone now

Aristiea (N) up £20
0 0
Hopessly handicapped and continue to lay untill closer to winning mark

It was a real up and down day for me at Beverley today. I have been here a couple of times in the past and its a decent venue if something of an outpost for some stuck on the East Riding of Yorkshire coast in what is called nowadays Humberside.

I travelled across from Sheffield and the route is virtually all motorway as such for me it's a pretty easy run. Beverley itself is an intersting town with a smart bit of archetecture in the form of a minster built around 700 in the main of gothic style. Worth a look from the outsideif you have time.

First issue which sent alarm bells ringing was a sign around about a mile from the track saying it was an all ticket event and all tickets in all enclosures had been sold. That was a shock to me because for a meeting almost entirely consisting of class 5 and 6 events did not shout buy in advance. Of course I didn't buy in advance so dilema number one ; should I turn back. Well I am going to the races at Beverley and thats that.

So I parked up and walked down towards town about half an hour before the first. Touts were flogging tickets at twice face value so I was adamant I was not going to pay such an amount for such poor fare. The crowd was massive, it was a ladies day and there were throngs of people walking up from Beverley town, quite impressive particularly as it was absolutely chucking it down for most of the day. The first great result for me was that I managed to drop a tenner from my pocket and a very honest young man in a group of friends picked it up called me and gave it back. In the light of the current anti youth feelings from old gits like me this was a little gesture, but to me significant sign that this new generation may not be rotten to the core as commentators seem to think. A serious plus for the day.

At the three furlong pole there is a gate into a field which gives a view of racing. Despite not having a ticket I still managed to get a free and at that sort of price not an unreasonable spot for the first. However soon after the race had past me and made its way down the home straigh,t a herd of cattle suddenly entered the enclosure I was in, some looked a bit menacing, some had some serious feck off horns and all of them were deficating on the move. Clearly I was in their sh$tehouse at dumping hour. I made my excuses and left.



Never trust something with sharp horns and a tonne of gristle when you are in their sh$tehouse

Between the first two races I had a walk back to the main grandstand. Checked that the touts were now down to face value. Not bad but I could see they had quite a few 'spares'  left for sale and not many punters. Therefore supply and demand means I am sure the price will come down if I leave it for a couple of races. Things were looking up. I then coould see that the entry to the centre of the course meant a good view on the old freemans zone down to the furlong pole. So if the price didn't come down as yet for the main grandstand at least I had a good vantage point to see the entertainmnet for the day.

After the second race I checked the tout market, still face. On taht news I then thought best have a scout round. During this pottering in the by now pissistent rain  I found a score in the gutter. It was not clear who it belonged to, there was virtually no-one around so I thought I was justified in picking it up. A young girl saw mw pick it up and said how lucky I was. I thought at the time that I would have preferred to have an obvious recipient following the earlier incident where I had a lost tenner returned. It was an up for me financially but in a funny way I felt a bit guilty.



As this shot captured the rain did give way to a fine mist which was almost like being lightly doused with angels tears

So I returned to my new viewing place for the third. Here I saw a ocuple of lads who could not understand why they couldn't pay to get into the centre of the course despite it being clear that the centre was not teaming with people as the weather conditions had persuaded people to stay in town. They watched the race from the freemans enclosure where I was before they were last seen trudging off to town. It was not in my view a great advert for the game as I cannot understand why more people could not have been allowed in the cheap enclosure. I am sure there will some talk of safety limits but I for one could not see packed areas bursting at the seams.



Straight out of the 'Its more than my jobs worth to let you two drowned lads into the half empty course enclosure on the grounds (inevitably) of H and S so feck off back down town'

Back to check on the tout market. It's down to a fiver for the premier enclosure, time to buy it won't get any cheaper and the touts looked like drwoned rats and I think the white flag was up. The price would not go down any further so I availed myself and just caught the fourth.

Racing

Symptematic of the day due to the rain leading to testing ground there were a few absentees in the opening claimer over seven and a bit furlongs. Mark Anthony tried to make all and was clear coming into the straight but folded. He has some decent form over six and I am not sure he stays. If he gets fastish ground and stuck over six his 67 mark (which I suppose could come down on the basis of his detatched finishing place) is a winning one. So I have him as a bit of a positive. The fast pace played right into the hands of favourite Bolodanka  whose stamina and clear preference for a mile was ideal for today's race. I think this was a touch fortunate and I doubt he will be so lucky so that marks him down as a neagative in my mind. The rest of the field were caught flatfooted and when ridden could not quicken so difficult to make any serious comments about them. Certainly not on the positive.



Leading pair at around three out



Backmarker detatched and hopeless as well as conveniently identity masked by poor photography

The seven and a bit furlong maidens was won by 25/1 outsider Swift Encounter who built on an encouoraging Redcar debut and battled on well to win after an awkward start he made headway at the two to get close up and then came through strngly to lead near the line. He appears to prefer a cut in the ground but I have some dooubts that he will be able to step up to handicapping. Venturs Spirit ran well to be second. Cost 70k and is nicely bred suited to this sort of mile trip. Tried to make all and showed resolution being just nutted out of it. I think he has a good chance over this sort of trip but I think better ground would help. Gahlaa was a short priced favurite and had a good chance a quarter mile out but did not stay on in these cnditions. Ran well if very green on debut to finish second but today was very dissappointing. I think this Mark Johnson horse is much better than this and on better ground will win a maiden and I make him the main positive from this race.



Exciting finish as amny in with a chance coming into the final furlong

The two year old auction stakes over five furlongs was won by Key Ambition who showed a decent turn of foot in these conditions to put this race to bed in the final quarter mile. The field was well strung out and this juvenille was a reasnable winner although I have dounts as to the quality of this race. Backed down favourite Baltic Bomber was well beaten and lacks protential well exposed so even an effort in nursury level can be viewed too optimistically and I have him down as a negative on that basis.



Out of the Humberside gloom came some horses as the drizzle pissistantly turned elegant ladies day frocks into something almost destressingly vulgar

The ckass 5 handicap over  five furlongs was a competitive afair with amny in with a chance late on. Caranbola won the race when the wall of horses all tried to qiucken it took him a bit of time to get into stride but he got going and just led inside the last 100 yeards. The secconfd and third home respectively Hajees and Sleepy Blue Ocean who are consitent sorts and often do well at this level. However there were two other runners today worth noting, sands Of Dee had to switch around for space and came dwn the stands side. Suits soft ground but is better suited by a straight track like Hamilton and/or back over six. Ihave him down as a positive given he races on the right going and he gets down a bit from today's 71 mark (has won off 67). Also of note was the six year old Ingleby Star who was prominent for much but just couldnt quicken in soft. I think his 62 AW mark is tempting and he has won at Wolvo so I have him as my noteworthy and on this occassion positive to take from tis race.

The grade 4 handicap was the big race of the meeting and  was racedd over  ten furlongs was won by Ailsa Craig who beat favourite Licence To Thrill in a tight battle up the home straight. The pair were clear. They both ran well but my positive goes to the Johnson trained 15/8 fav. Has run very well on fastish ground, is on a winning turf mark of 81 and I think he is better carrying lightweights in class 2s (he has some good form including a 10f win at Ponte in class 2) and today he would not have been suited especially by the ground, was top weight with nearly ten stone. He is entirely genuine and in good heart at the moment so I think another win for this four year old to break his seasonal duck is on the card. He is a positive.

Carragold won the class 5 handicap over one mile two furlongs.He won well enough and has been successful two of last three runs with the defeat over a too short a trip seven furlongs. Not sure has much scope, Of more interest is the runner up Philharmonic Hall who found plenty of trouble having to switch when not much room, In the circumstances did well. I thin this three year old is on a fair mark but is better tried over shy of this trip as on running and pedigree I am nt sure he stays. Old stager Hurlingham appears on a handy mark and if often close up (was third today and I saw him run soound fourth at Musselburgh) this should mark him as ne to keep a bit of an eye on at the least. My view is that he has had plenty of chances but is just not up to winning races any more and I have to say I am a bit on the negative side to be honest.

We ened the day with a divided Class 6 one and a half mile handicap. The first division had a tight finish with fivve in with chances late on and the winner Ferny Boy benefited by coming stand side which seamed in general to have the better ground today. A five year old maiden I think was lucky today and I cannot see him shouldering successfully a penalty and even a 3 pound hike by the assessor will be more than enough to anchor him. I have him as a negative. Maybeene was second beatnen less than a length but 27 runs and still a maiden shows that this was no great shakes as a race and this marfe can be watched without worry as unlikely to win. Favurite at 9/4 was the three year old Kims Delight who finished a not totally out of it fifth. His mark of 57 is one he can win off and looking at his form he will benefit from good ground and I think he ahs a great chance of winning in this class when underfoot conditions suit.

The other division was wn much quicker than the first division and very easily by Grey Command. This horse cmes out as a positive but I am worried as to where his mark will go. Suits this trip and has run up a Wolvo hat-trick. Is on a fair AW mark and I would took to back him next run particularly if it is soon and on the poly. Of the rest watch out for Operareur when he goes fr a juvenille hurdle as ran fine and clearly in good heart and had run well at Sedgefield on hurdle debut a few weeks ago.  Favourite Kodicil looks like he s on a good mark but best returning to 1,2 as I am not convinced he stayed this trip. Runner up Politbureau ran ok staying on strongly and clearly stays this trip but probably met a well handicapped opponent today.

Notebook

Boladanka (N)£22.50 up
1 4/6 0 0 4
Won a soft one and then was easily dispatched in three races. I think will be warmed up for a shot over hurdles soon. However we're ahead on this one and will fold.

Ghalaa (P) £10 down
2
Much improved on second run when a 2l runner up here. Capable of a 3yo mdn next year on fastish ground

Baltic Bomber (N) £20 up
0 4
Well btn but mark has now come down a lot and would not be wanting to lay fancy odds first time up next season so I will shelve


Ingleby Star (P) £95 up
3 1 6/1 1 9/2
Fair third followeed by two good wins. Mark on turf then up to 80 which appeared too high. Yet to appear again on sand I will keep him lve for such a chance as I think sand OR is still tempting

Licence To Thrill (P) up £60
3 0 3 0 1 4/1 1 5/1
Nezxt three runs were on softish ground (backed when I should have known better) then a runover an inadequate 9f (left alone) . Bounced back on the AW at Dundalk (11k race over 10f  and then a good ground victory at York. Owes me nothing

Brighton in the summer as you drive through the town cntre en route to the course appears to be populated by angst ridden souped up mini drivers, gaypride march advertisements and sturdy thighed women in short denim skirts and pitboots. It is clearly a strange and challenging town suffering from some sort of identity crises of gentile georgian splendour and I predict a riot youth culture posturing coupled with inteligensia pretentions.  bit like Limerick without the gay pride bit, or the inteligensia bit and the minis are more likely to be Fitzy's Mitzy.

Unsure of exactly what of the multi-cultural offerings the place has in store. Or what I would encounter if I went into one of the alehouses listed in the racecard under the drink in Brighton Stakes considerately positioned map, I decided that instead I would have a quick look around the famous Victorian aquarium and dolphinarium near the old coast road. I sort of remember this place from doing some special asphalt surfacing here in early 1990s and hankered after another look at the old place. However probably due to being destracted by a particularly sturdy thighed young brightonian female this time black skirted I sort of missed it. However I am sure it's still there and is a lovely bit of archetecture to enhance your day at Brighton.

I am not very keen on Brighton as a racecourse. It was £20 to get in, the car park I was directed to led to a half mile hike to get in and the facilities are not very good really. However on the plus side you get a great seaside view from the stands, the staff are absolutely fantastic (One gave me their own racecard as I had difficulty fiding a kiosk selling the things) and Derek Thompson must have had been employed down the road today before racing  at Southampton to test the cocaine seizure as he was just on the best of form especially a touch of foot in muth self-deprication which shows his down to earth style. The thiing I like about him is I do not get the impression he is up his own aris. He is asked for his favourite restaurant so he names the swanky one in Newmarket. But then saves himself by saying he saves up and then books a table once a month. You can just see him wandering around building sites looking for Vimto bottles and then putting the tanners into a piggy bank until enough is saved for the big night out.




At least you get to see the sea I suppose

Conversations from Thommo in the winner's enclosure today

Winning ticket for free meal for two and entry to Friday's meeting is for Alan Taylor (pause) is alan Taylor here (Pause) Alan Taylor anyone? Yes someone calls. Who are you enquires our announcer. I'm his mate.

To wheelchair-bound lady in the paddock ' may I ask what is wrong with you?' the answer comes back 'I've got cancer' (not what I think he thought the was going to be. Maybe fell off a horse was what he was sort of expecting. So wrongfooted he steadies himself hoping no doubt to retrieve a delicate situation he sympathetically asks 'how bad is it' no doubt hoping the response would be 'chemo's kicking in and I think I am on the right sidenow God willing' but no just a punchy and blunt 'very bad'.

Follwing yet another ticket draw he grandly proclaims 'The winner is William Pee' (prolonged pause followed by several enquireis as to his whereabouts) when a suggestion comes 'I think he's in the gents'

But fair play to him he did tip at big odds the Brighton Mile winner.

We started the August festival off with a selling handicap for three year olds and up run over one and a half miles. It was won by the only filly in the race, What About Now, who kicked on two out after racing in the pack and was soon clear being eased down in the last half furlong for a facile victory. She had shown nothing to suggest suitability to win this race other than a fair run when sixth in a Windsor seller when made too much use of early on. Blinkers first time seemed to help settle better and this together with her 53 mark (which is down to 52 for her Beverley entry on Wednesday) suggests she is well positioned to follow up on this excellent easy win. This left the tactics of Barbirolli in disarray as I am sure they would not have expected this sort of performance from the filly. Barbirolli is a knarred old stager but ran today as if without the winner’s improvement would have been the likely winner himself having been held up and produced he knicked second close home without really having to try too hard. The favourite Easydoesit who appeared well backed from 3/1 to 7/4 lacked the pace of the winner and failed to quicken. He stayed ok but pieces first time didn’t generate any further pace! Expensive loss and I think the connections may be on a recovery mission next time out so rates a negative on this showing as well worth opposing as I think he is a lot worse than the connections think. Of the remainder Alhaque looks mulish, Le Couvee pulled far too hard for his own good but this was probably keeping the engine turning for some jumps action, Senor Tibor looks a dog.

There was a seven furlong maiden event for two year olds which was won in very impressive fashion by Godolphin / Al Zarooni trained newcomer  in the form of Counterglow. Moved smoothly and ran on in great style to overhaul the even money favourite Royal Academician. Dealt with the downhill run and cambered nature of Brighton well and looks a potential listed / group horse with time. Didn’t cost much and looks sprinty bred but is entered in next year’s Derby so you never know as style of running temperament and conformation gives plenty of pluses for middle distance races. He comes out as a strong positive. Royal Academician (looked well in the paddock) was made favourite and looked to be worthy of that on the basis of a promising Epsom run. However he was well outpaced today and also did not handle the camber too well giving the impression that he will be better off on a flat galloping track despite having run ok on a similar track in the past. It is possible that he found this race’s finishing speed beyond his ability and rolled about when knackered. Either way I think he is capable of winning a maiden but not with my money on his back. Third home was the Hannon trained Marcus Augustus who had shown enough promise with seconds at Sandown and Salisbury to be the stable choice for the Norfolk at Royal Ascot. Was bit squeezed for room when the favourite was rolling about like a drunken rugby fan on the Temple Bar but was still outpaced. It could well be that this winner is high class and in hindsight Marcus Augustus  needs a stiff uphill finish to be seen at best advantage. I think he comes out a bit stronger than the favourite and  I would like to see him tried over the mile sometime soon. Not a bad prospect. The other Godolphin runner was shorter priced on opening than his stablemate and then walked in the market from 4/1 to 13/2. Cost an absolutely mint to buy and was very green. Lacks scope to my eye in comparison to this field in general and the winner n particular. I doubt we will see him out again this season.



Impressive Counterglow in blue about to steam in

A well contested feature race the Brighton Mile followed which had prize money of £15,000 added and pitched as a class 4 event. There have been plenty of decent winners of this in the past and when I first visited the course in 1978 I saw Andy Rew win this race. This year’s renewal was won in cosy style by Newmarket based Conciliatory who was placed racing in mid field for the first half mile or so and then produced with a smooth run from 2 out to lead 110 yards from the stick. Had shown plenty of promise as a three year old in debut season winning at York and Kempton including at the prestigious Ebor meeting. Started this season slowly but on a good 80 mark today and over the mile trip that she is ideally suited to came good today. Seams certain that the assessor will have noted such a good run in a well contested handicap so could see a considerable hike. Second home Green Earth ran with credit after a 5 pound increase in rating after a CD win a few weeks ago. Tends to take it up 2 out and hope he can outstay them which is difficult at the best of times and almost impossible in such a well contested race as this one was today. Likely to run with credit again in the near future but maybe he would be better off running with high weights in class 5 than low weights in class 4. Third home Eastern Gift is an interesting one as was making a bit of ground without haring down the track about a quarter mile out but then got into traffic and was forced to switch to find a gap, eventually got going again as was staying on well at the finish with his chance obviously gone. His record of five wins and 14 seconds tells you this is a difficult horse to win with as probably needs holding up till the last second. I think he will go close off this mark again soon over his favoured mile but  I cannot have him as a positive on the basis of this issue of timing but he could easily win in the near future at good odds so would not be a lay opportunity. Fourth home was one eyed First Cat (just like that course standing dish of yesteryear Belper). Ran with credit today and I would love to see him have a shot at 1m2f around here. This was his first effort at Brighton and I think he can win at this track. Keep an eye on him and if you do maybe you can lend him your other one. Boom Boom. One to note as a positive is the favourite Night Lily. She was in with a chance two out, a bit chopped for room as many were at that stage, but once it was clear winning chance had gone she was eased to my eye and finished a not bad fifth. She had won in listed company on the all weather where she is rated about a stone better. I am not sure that is accurate reflection as she runs well on the turf and off this 82 mark I am sure she will win again soon particularly on a straight mile track and especially on fastish ground over the mile that she prefers. Of the rest Mujood showed some speed but was a bit of a disappointment again and looks to be over rated needing to come down in the weights a bit. Several looked a bit unsettled on this camber specifically Capitalize (may well be better suited by all weather and is on a 59 AW mark which looks winnable; has won at Salisbury), Rock Anthem (better suited by Sandown type tracks) and Dazeen (suited by flat fast tracks).



Decent race for the Brighton Mile as the grey comes in

We then drifted down in quality to a class 6 over six furlongs Silca Congeliano just hung on in a desperate finish having had some difficulty in getting a clear run entering the final furlong. Tumbled down the weights 47 from 75 but first win out of 23 efforts. Not one to worry about as you can afford to see him win again I would say. Deslaya was having her handicap debut and for an inexperienced three year old she ran with credit in this grade,  handled the track fine and was just not quite able to get up. I think she could very well win soon off this mark but I am not sure of the relative merit of this winner / other competitors so I cannot have her as a positive. None of the others stood out for me and looked modest having a bit of daylight behind the leading pair.



Deslaya (orange) good handicap debut

The nursery over five furlongs was won in imperious style by the top-weight and well odds on shot Sea Odyssey. Current mark of 79 is only 2 pounds up on this winning level and this grey colt looks well able to carry a bit more weight in this level. Looks to prefer sharp tracks and clearly handles cambers well. Now he has come to hand there must be at least another prize in him before we close for the year in similar company. Pedigree suggests will stay further however style to date and conformation suggests sprinter. Will be interesting how he develops as a three year old. I have him as a positive. Hannon’s Leenavesta ran fine but clearly second best whilst the other two were thrashed. Selinda (better off going to Yarmouth where has been a success before) and Clarkson (looks modest) both appeared to be inconvenienced by the camber.



Shelling peas

The day rounded off with a very competitive class 5 sprint even though only five turned up it was an interesting race with three lengths covering the field it was a good race to end the day for the assessor. Clear Ice won the event making all and battling on very well under pressure showing a genuine nature. I know he has a lot of seconds but you can only base your assessment on what you see and I would not see him as a dodge-pot. Is very well suited by Southwell so watch out if he runs over the five in the autumn. The runner up Highland Harvest did look an awkward ride and may be the one not necessarily going through with his challenge today as was outbattled in the closing stages in my view. He has seven wins but none by more than a length and most buy a neck or shorter. I rest my case. Oppose whenever the odds make sense. Safari Mischief showed first signs of a return to form with this third place as his mark of 72 is much more competitive than it has been of late, Loiusa Tartrazzini has now had 20 runs but is still a maiden having been racing off about the same mark for all those races and is as far away from her first win as when she first set foot on a racecourse. Finally we had the standing dish here at Brighton which was top weight Magical Speedfit. He now looks better suited to six than five as age is beginning to take the edge off his pace which is not good news for a hold up horse.

Horses noted

Counterglow (P)

Night Lily (P)

Sea Odyssey (P)

The garden racecourse? That is how Ripon is positioned and all on the basis of a few flowers by a bandstand, some border perennials in the paddock and a GPO telephone box overgrown with weeds in bloom. There you go that's all it takes. Still better that than yet another theme day, better a big crowd of relaxed tykes providing good natured atmosphaere than hormonal early pubity girls their very beings coursing with adrenaline pumped anticipartion of hearing a boy band play some tunes, better £14 to get in than £30 to park your car. Ripon is certainly a decent day out and with the St Wilfred coming up soon try and get along if you can.



No more flowers pleae we have got the point

There were many good pluses today. The card was varied, pretty well contested and the big race was a valuable sponsored event with one decent feck off cup to commemorate the considerable contribution of Yorkshire family Armstrong to local racing. Suitably won by local connections.



Tell me where a class 4 has a better pot then

The course is a right hander not dissimilar in layout bar orientation to local sister track Thirsk. It has a brilliant old fashioned number board where the close circuit TV is set in the middle and the day's results and going are set around it. Looks really good. The paddock position means that you can go straight there and then view down the track for the  finishing straight and then see the horses back into the winners' enclosure. The main stand gives good views and there are plenty of fast food outlets although to be honest the scran didn't look too appetising.



Old fashioned number board one of the best seen to date

The paddock was well stocked with trees which is always a plus but surely far too far north for the good ladies of Plumpton to appreciate and as such they will have to take my word for the quality as I forgot to capture with a photo. Very remiss. However the  'Dobbies Buddlia Cup' for best paddock tree is still in Plumpton's grasp. There is also a decent size pond but not as impressive as Catterick Bridge which continues to hold 'Best Racecource Lake Award 2011' I am sure the exec at the squaddies heaven will be sweating with anticipaton as the final 20 courses are ticked off. The 'Tuperware Trophy' inaugeral presntation could be winding its way to Yorkshire. Whereas the ' Brisket Dripping Plate' for most edible molten fat is still clearly bound for South West Wales.   



Bandstand niced up with flowers in a garden course stylee

Nearby to the track there are a good number of historic and cultural venues to perk up your visit. I took time out to have a look at the brilliant Ripon Cathedral which is well worth a viewing. Dates back to Saxon times and was founded by the early Christian pioneer St Wilfred. It is very restful inside with fantastic stained glass windows and it was here I lit a candle in a silent confession to having laid the 1/5 favourite Mehdi in the first for some obscure reason, the logic of which still escapes me long since the tallow supporting the burning wick has melted and fallen into the tray. Why oh why did I do it? Surely a scintilla of evidence to support Bapak Pintar had ignited the greed gene with predictable consequences. I wonded if St Wilfred will take pity and ensure that my investments at Slisbury and Beverley next week will be rewarded for such contrition?

Racing

First up was a two year old maiden over six which has won in an absolute canter by Mehdi making all and eased clear. Had been promising in three previous efforts and has a current mark of 87 which looks promising from a nursery perspective. Has a wide range of good class entries and is aiming at stepping up to conditions class at Windsor later in the week. You have to be impressed because second home Bapak Pintar looked to have run a promising debut effort and I still think he has the ability to pick up a small maiden. However pretty predictably the winner rates a positive off anything under 92 but I remain cautious as to whether he can make condition / listed class on the evidence of the four runs. The rest were not impressive really.

We then had a three year old selling sprint handicap which was won in fairly comfortable fashion by top weight Melodize who atracted no bid (there were also no claims for any of the runners). Was positioned in the chasing group, produced about two out  and took it up around the furlong pole being ridden out to score well but in workmanlike fashion suggesting that the 52 mark is around optimal. The runner up was the early paced Tancred Spirit who I had seen caught at a similar stage of a race at Musselburgh a couple of weeks ago. She is off 47 and may just go down a bit further. Her pluses are good speed and very consistent. Ideally I think she needs fast ground and given that conditions suit (maybe another shot at the quick Catterick) I think she is ready to win now and rates a positive. She certainly saw off the other speedster Vintage Grape who looks a short runner. Of the rest Brian Sprout stayed on well for minor honours looking like six on top of the ground is needed.



On the way back to the winners' enclosure

A fair class 4 over ten furlongs handicap event followed with a good ride by Philip Makin who made all and won in commanding style by San Cassiano (looked very calm in preceedings)indicating that the gelding is is on a noce mark and as only a four year old could improve a bit. Looking at the form you have to say if the current 78 goes up much above 80. Second home was Kensei who showed ability but was edgy beforehand, pulled to post and as running a bit too free. Needs to settle better I would say. Has won over the distance at testing Sandown but looks a bit toppy off 78. Jonny Lester Hair looked well beforehand and looked to hold every chance two out but failed to quicken. However it could be penalty to 80 has weighed him down and looks particularly well suit by Beverley configuration stays this 10f well. Third home was the tetchy sort Rios Rosanna. Took keen hold and held up produced to hold a fair chance two out but failed to quicken up. Best form has been at tssting track Pontefract. Oneofapair looked very well in the paddock but has been well beaten since being hampered second runof the year. Had previously run well in class 2 and first time out at Dncaster over this trip had been a very encouraging runner up. Difficult to weigh up but best avoided until showing glipse of form return.



Entering the final furlong


The Six Furlongs Armstrong Memorial for a very nice cup (much better than some much more valuable group races I could mention ) was the feature of the day attracting sixteen who split into two groups of eight for this £10,500 class 3 handicap which is great news. It was won in great style by Pepper Lane with trainer O'Mearah. Missed the kick a touch, held up and then produced before the furlong pole for a well ridden by the continually impressive Silvertre De Souza. Carried an eight pound penalty to success and it is certainly a possibility that this four year old can run up a hat-trick. I am not sure there was much more of note. Old stager Mango Music won the stand side race staying on through beaten horses. Gap Princess ran with credit to be second and may be better aimed at Catterick suited by six. Midnight Martini showed very good pace but could not go with the winner when Pepper Lane quickened two out. I would like to see her returned to five (good second at York when badly handicapped and well beaten at Beverley when badly drawn) as has not been disgraced on both starts ovefr this trip since winning twice over the trip. Now on 88 whih looks attractive compared to York second off 94 so rates a positve.



Yorkshire hold the Armstrong Cup for another year

The class 4 five furlong handicap for three year olds was won in a driving finish by the filly Lady Royale. Blinkered in the last three runs have produced form figures of 211 and suggests this has been a major factor. Despite this her mark has only gone up 5 pounds and I would expect this 81 level to be spanked and despite improvement I think she is now exposed and thus worrth opposing so rates a negative. Second home Crimson Knot suffers from extreme consistency as rating hardly shifts and is nearly always in the first four. Frustrating but genuine. The third was another consitent handicappe who has suffered from a continued high mark. The conclusion is that the winners current mark is at best fair and therefore any uplift puts Lady Royale increasingly  into the badly handicapped zone

The one mile four maiden for three year olds was won in the style of a decent filly by Cape Rising. Clearly the best of this mob but at four it is a bit late to be this unexposed. It would be interesting to see where they pitch her mark as there were not much to act as benchmarks so I leave as a watch. Of the fancily trained Africaans agin looks moderate, the debutante Millennium Star was very green looked backwards beforehand and may not be ready till next season to lose maiden tag.



Gratuitous shot of another fine Yorkshire lake

Final race was a class 5 over one mile four, It was won by Fossgate who had run with credit when I saw him at Musselburgh recently. He is in brilliant form over 12 furlongs with recent frm figures of 21151. He was clear by six lengths which is sure to attract the attention of the assesssor. As good as this run was I have Roayl Bonsai as the positive in this race. I was impressed with his juvenille hurdle debut at Market Rasen and had him as a positive which has not been badly returned with two flat places at 10/1 and 12/1 each way returns. Again he looks in good nick, has the conformation to suit surdling and I expect him to continue to run close, maybe able to pick up a 12f handicap on the flat but I think he can now go on and win a hurdle and I would not baulk at backing if there is a suitable novice / juvenille in excess of two miles even up to 20f. 
 


Good thing next run Royal Bonsai especially if over the sticks

Noted Horses

Tancred Spirit (P) down £10
0 4
Not backed on seocond run on the basis that he was trying 6f which I do not think he stays. Still a chance if over 5f and kept.

Royal Bonsai (P) up £245
1 13/8 4 2 4 1 10/1 3 1 16/1
won over the sticks straight away and then we folowed him on flat where he ran with promise but he is turning into a decent juvenile as he showed when stepping up in class at Haydock. He needs regular races. His run whem third on the flat was not backed but he then stepped up to a graded hurdle at Doncaster and hought hard to win. Kept as a positve.

Midnight Martini (P) down £10
0 0
Unlucky and fioished in pack when hampered 2 out over 5f at York stepped up and failed to stay next run over 6f (not backed) still a positive over 5f

Lady Royale (N) up £30
0 0 0
As expected anchored by ratcheted up but close to a competitive mark now and is left

A dry warm spell had led to firm ground here at Perth for my visit. This led to a low number of runners and a plethora of withdrawals on the day of the racing. The course itself is set in the grounds of the famous Scone Palace, which can be seen from the course itself. As such this makes a picturesque setting.

Although the facilities in the main enclosures are pretty standard country track fare, I prefer to spend £10 plus £2 for a racecard and park up in the middle which makes for very decent value. The track is pretty well flat throughout, quite tight in geometry and a right hander. This makes it an easy trip to get. The fences are quite testing so is a decent test of jumping ability.

In the centre of the track are two polo pitches which are used by the Perth and Dundee Polo Club. They have an interesting clubhouse come portacabin which is basic but lets you get an idea of the kit they use for their game. The pitches themselves where very spongy and flat and to my feel of the track compared to the pitches much more forgiving almost good in nature. The pitches had obviously been used recently as about eight polo ponies where corralled up in the centre of the track awaiting collection. This is the first time that I have been close up to these animals and they are sturdy decent size for ponies, have their manes clipped right back and were all mares. The lack of a mane is probably for practical reasons during the games but the ponies were clearly inconvenienced by flies around them which they could brush aside to an extent with a mane. The demeanour was in general pretty laid back.



Nearby Scone Palace is accessible through the national trust so can be cheap. Is a very good day out with plenty for kids to do including a zip wire and adventure playground. The place contains some fascinating artifacts and paintings making it interesting. Couple this with the fact that Scottish kings were crowned here it has a lot of significance to the re-establishment of the Scottish nation. The crowning ceremony was traditionally performed on the so called Stone of Destiny or the Stone of Scone. When the Scots where defeated the stone was seized and taken south to Westminster Abbey where it was used for years as part of the English crowning rites. The stone was originally anointed by The Pope and was carved out of Middle Eastern sandstone. This makes it strange that the protestant English still hankered after papal approval of their monarchs otherwise why the significance of the stone? However as ever in Scotland there is a twist and that is that the stone was swopped before the English could grab it and substituted with a locally hewn alternative. This can be proven by local geologist examination which shows that the stone is in fact a local Grampian granite and not sandstone as legend would decree. No-one knows the whereabouts of the original which makes the 1960s students stealing the stone from London a bit pointless. With the establishment of a modern Scottish parliament and with great ceremony the Stone of Scone was bought back to it homeland. But wait more controversy, it ended up in Edinburgh and not Perth not pleasing the northerners as many of Cumberland’s troops amassed at Culloden were from the lowlands. Scone then commissioned its own stone which sits in front of the palace’s chapel enabling visitors to sit and image being Robert The Bruce or Duncan being anointed as the Scottish king. But of course this stone is in fact the replica of a fake!   



The Racing

The first race was a novice hurdle over two miles and was won by one of a number of Irish raiders today. The mare Brave Beauty hurdled very and made all to have the other two runners thrashed a long way out.  She has now run up a hat-trick at Perth clearly relishing right handed tracks. I had noted her as one to follow back in March when I saw here beat a decent novice at Downpartick and here form since has been very good except when beaten at Fairyhouse. Her handicap mark of 125 is likely to go up a bit more but I think she could well do OK when stepping up to handicapping. The other two were That’ll Do Nicely (who probably prefers a bit of a cut) who was second and the detached Wild Geese who was a bit outpaced.

Next up was a two mile claiming hurdle which was a poorly supported four  runner event. It was won in commanding style by Folk Tune who holds his own in claimers / sellers at the minimum. However is no better than this level really and a 116 mark looks challenging. The others were Fools Wildcat (who came to challenge coming to the final couple of hurdles but just failed to quicken and is much better with a cut and can win in this grade when underfoot conditions assist) Casco Bay (very poor maiden with little prospect of that changing) and the even worse Munnings (jumping was about as static as if posing for a painting by his namesake)

The third race was a fair novice chase three going to post. It was won in the tradition of the old racing adage by the outsider of three. Slip was prominent and jumped well just battling on well to hold by a head the challenge of Al Qeddaaf. I think both have potential as the winner was returning to jumping after a long break and had not run at all for nearly a year. The runner up makes even more appeal. Carrying nearly a stone more than his adversaries he jumped very nicely and could not put his stamina advantage to best benefit still only went down by a head. I have Al Qeddaaf as positive today and am sure over a stiffer test or maybe a touch more ease in the ground can win again and even though currently on a 130 mark can step up to handicap territory. Third and not disgraced in a thrilling finish to the race was Definite All Star over from Ireland and running well just outpaced on the run in although hung a bit



The first handicap of the day was a class 4 chase over two and a half miles. This was a five runner event which was won by the gambling stable of Tony Martin over from Ireland. Was not though heavily backed but won in workmanlike style. May have been a bit lucky as the runner up Steel Magnate (jumped nicely throughout) who is in very decent form suffered from a slipping saddle which would have given him no help at all. Held up and jumped well I think despite a spate of wins recently he is still reasonable handicapped and can do well back in Ireland especially with some easier ground. Of the rest Storm Prospect tried to make most but looked like better suited by less than 20f and in any case would not have appreciated being taken on for the lead so a bit of cutting their own throats and leaving it clear for the holdup horses may have come in to play here. Big Burrows fell early on when disputing the lead. Qeuchua Des Obeaux (bit novice in the main) looks to be better off returning to points where she has been quite successful as jumping is sketchy.





We had a fair turnout of six for the conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle over twenty furlongs which was quite a fair event for this level as set at class 4. Two of the horses got very warm and as such ran no kind of race. Patriot (always plodding along off the pace) and Lets Go Girls (pulled and led for much before blowing up a mile out).  It was won in a good finish by Solway Star who had the race in the bag coming to the last but was a bit one paced and blundered a bit at the last thus  had to be driven out, this was to thwart the late challenge from Swiss Guard. Of the reminder Castletown Boy ran midfield and failed to quicken being ridden home in patient fashion and is on a good mark, goes well here and with the mark looked after today is one I think can pop up in a Perth handicap.

The final race was won by the odds on favourite Brompton Brow who is on a good mark for a handicap novice hurdle of 91. Saw out this stayers trip of three miles when winning recently at CD and followed up again. Surely the handicapped will ratchet him up a fair amount for this although of the other two beaten competitors the runner up Bannellie (has form over this distance was outstayed by the winner)  is modest.

Horses Noted

Fools Wildcat (P) £30 down
0 0 2
Not really showing much mow and handicap mark still a bit too high really.

Al Qeddaaf (P) down £20
4
Well beaten and on refl;ection his mark of 130 is in excess of where he needs to be from a handicapping posiiton

Steel Magnate (P) down £30
F 2 3
Went back to Ireland and didn't really do that well