Here we are again and first up is the Symphony Group Hcap at York over 5f on 17th August. It was won by Hamish McGonagall at his beloved York where he stepped up once again on the form he had shown already this year. He won this in taking fashion by 1 1/2 lengths from Judge n' Jury who ran right up to his best. As a result Hamish has been raised 5lb to 109 and the 2nd is up 1lb to 96 which is 2lb below his last winning mark. Quest for Success in 3rd had run well the weekend before from a poor draw and he did well to get so close as he had a hard race at Ripon, he is left on the same mark of 100. In 4th Haajes probably ran his best race so far for this trainer and he goes up 1lb to 87, but if he were to run to this form in a lesser grade then he would take all the beating. Strike up the Band was at the head of affairs until tiring late on approaching the final furlong and he has been dropped a further 3lb to 87, if he gets a bit of cut then he can win off that mark.
The Class 6 3yo Hcap over 6f run at Folkestone (I dont usually go this low in the hcap) was run in a decent time and the winner Dream Number won quite cosily in the end by 2 1/2 lengths from Stratton Banker having been at the head of affairs throughout. Only rated 62 prior to this, she has been upped 4lb to 66 for this win and the William Muir stable has been showing signs of a revival lately. When the fairer sex start improving at this time of the year they usually show no stopping, so she is worth following next time and she is entered up in 3 races over the next week or so.
Later on in the week at York the Class 2 3yo Hcap over 5f went to Monsieur Joe who had run well at Ascot previously. He won this by a short head from La Fortunata and as a result has been raised 4lb to 101, however his improvement looks as though it can continue as he didnt have a very good draw (stall 2) in this and he was still able to get up. Of those behind Singeur ran well in 4th and the eyecatcher was Hoof It under Kieren Fallon who got no sort of run and compensation must surely await, even though he is now 11lb higher than his last win.
At Chester on the Saturday the Class 4 6f Hcap went to Great Charm by 1/2 length from Roker Park, who ran his best race for a while. The winner went up 4lb to 81 whilst the 2nd was raised 2lb to 84. The softish going would not have suited all and an old favourite of this blog Indian Trail was dropped another 1lb to 80 for finishing out the back.
At Ripon the Class 2 6f Hcap went the way of Tajneed whose form figures here now read 11121 and he led them a merry dance in this after his defeat by Damika last weekend in the Great St Wilfrid. As a result he has gone up 7lb to 104 and things may start to get tough, although he looks on top form right now. The consistent Parisian Pyramid was 2nd and he goes up 1lb to 99 and being 4 he is going to be figuring in these handicaps for quite a while to come. Medicean Man ran well in 5th and is down a pound to 95 and his trainer thinks a step up in trip to 7f will see him run better, whilst Sonny Red who already looked well handicapped is down a further 3lb to 89 and should go close soon.
At Sandown Sohraab managed to dictate matters from his rails draw in the 5f Class 2 Hcap and win by 1 length from Judge N'Jury who had chased home Hamish McGonagall at York (above) earlier in the week and ran off 95 in both races. Sohraab as a result has been raised 4lb to 89 but is still realtively well treated on his best form so he could easily win again now he has got his head in front.
Hope you all have a good weekend and keep watching the results of the races featured in this blog.
