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Thursday 29 January 2015

Better show from Ahtoug



Hopefully Ahtoug will perform better at Meydan this afternoon than he did on his last run when he finished a tame 6th, You couldn't back him with any certainty that he will be able to turn it around even though his trainer reported post race that he was the most behind of his horses and dull in his coat.
With a winning pot of £67k its going to be competitive for the assembled field of runners but there doesn't seem to be much depth to the race and we don't really know what the fav Banaadeer is capable of so with 6/1 available for Ahtoug he is an ew option but I will just be watching.

AHTOUG - 1st

Charlie Appleby post race comments : "We were pleased with Ahtoug's first run three weeks ago but we were confident that he would come on for it, which was very noticeable at home.
We brought him out to Dubai a little later compared to last season, so it has taken a little bit more time for him to come to hand. It was a pleasing effort and a great ride by James Doyle.
We will head on to the Meydan Sprint on Super Saturday and then hopefully on to World Cup night for the Al Quoz Sprint.
He thrives in Dubai and the quick, flat five furlongs suits him down to the ground. He is in good nick and enjoying himself over here again."

Wednesday 28 January 2015

No Use Pretending !



Pretend made a mug of me the other week when showing improved form and today he goes for his hat trick of wins in the 3.10 at Chelmsford over 6f.
It's only the Godolphin owned geldings seventh start and on his performances in December at Wolverhampton he should take all the beating.
His first win, when beating Boom The Groom and Secondo, was a good an all weather sprint as you can get and although there are a few in the field who are capable of improvement such as Fear Or Favour, Guishan and Fairway To Heaven(in that order) you would hope that the all weather experience he has gained and his race fitness will be enough to see him home.
Clive Cox's Fear Or Favour could be favourably handicapped as he finished second to Eastern Impact on his last start at Newmarket in May after which he obviously had a problem. Eastern Impact then went on to run very well in two very competitive 3yo handicaps and as this is only Fear Or Favours 6th start he could be a thorn in the side of Pretend.
Guishan won over the course and distance last time is another improver but she maybe destined for minor honours today.

Selections
Pretend to win - 2/1 Ladbrokes
Fear or Favour ew 11/2 William Hill and Paddy Power

On another note there have been several conversations on social media since the weekend about whether Dynaste should go for the Gold Cup. His trial at the weekend was as good as any we have seen, granted he didn't win but there was less than two lengths separating the first 3 and any comments about him not staying the trip are nonsense. If Dynaste had won and Many Clouds had finished 3rd would we be saying he didn't stay ? I don't think so.
We don't question winning distances over sprint distances and yet we quibble over 3m+ when one gets beat narrowly in a driving finish - different day different result in my view.

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Well it just goes to show, you can never presume anything in racing - who would have forecast Trojan Rocket the winner of a Class 6 handicap race two starts ago winning a Class 2 at 20/1 and the second at 33/1, making an exacta payout of £385.60 a CSF of £527.69 and the trifecta of £3,119.90 !!.
This was the highest rating the winner had ever won off at the age of 7 and his owners must have been over the moon !
Pretend was unfortunately all at sea at this track.

Tuesday 20 January 2015

Go Zac !



The application of a hood worked the trick for Zac Brown last time and the headgear will be in place once again as he bids for a quickfire double in the Daily Enhanced "Magic Multiples" At Unibet Handicap at Southwell.

He was switched to the all-weather in October and has since finished 314 at Wolverhampton before winning easily at Chelmsford last time out over 5f.

David Barron appears to have a nice 5f prospect on his hands and while the Fibresand surface is an unknown quantity for him, he clearly has a touch of class and is an improver having only had 11 starts.

Course and Distance winner last time out Scarborough(5/2) probably represents his biggest threat, her course form reading 151131. She was up at the front throughout last time and really dug deep to grind the others down and win going away putting in her best figures to date on RPR and Topspeed. Her trainer thought afterwards that there may be further improvement to come.

Woolfall Sovereign also won over course and distance last time out but he should not get the better of Scarborough on there C and D form.

Selection

2.30 Southwell - ZAC BROWN to win - 2/1

Thursday 8 January 2015

Dubai World Cup Carnival Begins



The Dubai World Cup Carnival begins today at Meydan racecourse and the 5f handicap sprint at 3.55 worth £46,153.85 will be run on the new turf track.

Last years first and second Ahtoug and Hototo line up once again and the latter is 2lb better off. Hototo, Caspian Prince and Ajjaadd should ensure there is a fast pace and hopefully that will play into the hands of Ahtoug who won going away last year and needs something to aim at.

He doesn't look badly treated at the weights and he is the proven class horse in the race.

Altough 7 he has only had 23 races which is light for a sprinter of his age. He ran here 5 times last winter and thrived (15222) culminating in a second in the Group 1 Al Quoz sprint when an unlucky second in course record time to Amber Sky, his rider having dropped his whip a furlong and a half from the finish.

He finished 5th in the Kings Stand on his next start some 3 months later so clearly goes well fresh as his win at Meydan came after a 5 month break.

Selection

3.55 Meydan - AHTOUG to win 7/2 Coral, 32 Red and 888sport. - Finished 6th

Race went as expected with Caspian Prince and Hototo leading except James Doyle didnt have Ahtoug on the pace. According to RP Charlie Appleby reportedly felt that Ahtoug would come on for the outing. It may well be that after coming so close to G1 glory last season at Meydan  that the stables eyes are fixed on that prize this time around.