paddock picks
Andrew Ayres has been travelling the country searching for future winners
Andrew Ayres travels the country looking for future winners
KEMPTON OCTOBER 18 (STANDARD-SLOW) 7f two-year-old fillies novice (Class 5) Ordinary contest
ALACRITAS (David Simcock) was having her third start but still didn’t look fully fit. She travelled strongly until being snatched-up when clipping heels at the furlong pole and faded into seventh.This well-bred grey – her grand-dam is the top class Alborada – looks capable of better and will be extremely interesting in nurseries/handicaps.
WINDSOR OCTOBER 23( SOFT) 5f two-year-old novice (Class 5) Modest form
LORD RIDDIFORD (John Quinn) is a bonny, sprint-type who was returning to action after a couple of promising efforts in the spring. He was heavily backed near the off and looked sure to figure after showing blistering early pace. Unfortunately the combination of a lengthy absence and soft ground told close home and he weakened to finish fourth.Speed is this colt’s forte and he would be interesting if allowed to take his chance in a modest AW handicap.
NEWBURY OCTOBER 27( SOFT) 6f110y two-year-old novice (Class 4) Ordinary race for the track
BALLYQUIN (Andrew Balding) didn’t look wound up for this debut – as is often the case for horses from this excellent yard – but impressed as a muscular,relaxed indi- vidual who moved well to post.He shaped encouragingly to finish fourth and this half-brother to eight winners should enhance his families’ reputation.
1m two-year-old novice (Class 4) Fair form
KASBAAN (Owen Burrows) is out of a Listed winner and looked a classy individual in the paddock. He wasn’t sharp enough to figure after a sluggish start but shaped with definite promise in fourth. This handsome colt will improve and win races.
SHARJA SILK (Roger Varian) cost 850,000gns (he’s a half-brother to the middle-distance Group 2 winner Silk Sari) but proved easy to back and needed the run. He shaped well just behind the placed horses and can leave this form behind when moved up in trip.
NEWBURY OCTOBER 28( SOFT) 1m two-year-old fillies (Class 4) Ordinary race
HAZARFIYA (Sir Michael Stoute) is a halfsister to the dual Derby winner Harzand and really took the eye in the paddock on this debut. She looked short of pace and experience when the tempo picked-up just after halfway, but came home well once the dust had started to settle and wound-up an eye-catching third. She’ll improve for this and could develop into a useful middle-distance performer.
BIRCH GROVE (David Simcock) looked burly for this debut but hails from a decent family – half-sister to four winners – and showed a deal of natural ability to nab fourth. She can be made sharper and will be a different proposition next time.
LINGFIELD NOVEMBER 2( STANDARD) 7f two-year-old novice (Class 5) Fair form
SHERIFF (Michael Bell) really does look the part and had hinted at ability on both his previous outings.He did so again here, running on into sixth after being restrained and then hampered early in the race. There's absolutely no doubt this good-looking colt is capable of much better and he will be of massive interest when pitched into handicaps.
NEWMARKET NOVEMBER 3 (GOOD-FIRM) 1m2f handicap (Class 4) Useful contest
GARRICK (John Gosden) looked much sharper than when unplaced atWindsor in mid-October (his first start for 254-days) and ran a cracker to chase home the useful Celestial Spheres. He won his only previous outing on the AW and would be interesting if returned to that surface.
ASCOT NOVEMBER 4( GOOD) 2m3f novice handicap chase (Class 3) Above average race
BENATAR (Gary Moore) could not have looked any better and was still sporting a summer coat.He was clumsy over the first few fences but found a couple of extra gears turning for home and ran right away from some smart rivals before idling when clear.He’s good value for his winning margin (three and three-quarter lengths) and looks a smart chasing recruit.
KEMPTON NOVEMBER 7( STANDARD) 1m two-year-old novice (Class 5) Race run in a two-year-old track record
PODEMOS (Ralph Beckett) is a strapping individual who looked as if the run would bring him on. He flew out of the stalls and set a searing gallop that had the field strung out by halfway. Unsurprisingly he couldn’t maintain the pace but stuck on stoutly for second behind the race-fit favourite Bow Street.This was a fine debut and he will be even more effective back in trip.There are races in this pacey sort.
HIGHBROW (David Simcock) is an attractive colt who shaped well in third under a considerate ride from Jim Crowley. He’s a half-brother to a decent winner and will improve significantly for this outing. Support him next time.
SLEEPING LION (James Fanshawe) is a big,attractive colt who really impressed in the paddock. He wasn’t sharp enough to figure after a slow start but stayed on strongly into fourth and looks above average. Horses from this yard can improve dramatically for an outing and he might be smart.
KEMPTON NOVEMBER 8( STANDARD) 1m two-year-old fillies novice (Class 5) Fair form
BLUE REFLECTION (James Fanshawe) still looks a tad unfurnished and is definitely bred to stay further (half-sister to a 1m4f winner). She was held-up in rear before staying on strongly into fourth, shaping like a surefire future winner. Middle-distances will suit and she could develop into a decent three-year-old.
7f two-year-old fillies novice (Class 5) Ordinary form
CATOCA (EdWalker) is a big,scopey filly who really grabbed the eye in the prelims.
She was never really put into the race by Liam Keniry and was a massive eye-catcher back in fourth. She’s the first foal of a useful winner in the USA and could be above average.
NEWBURY NOVEMBER 9( GOOD-SOFT) 2m69y mares novice hurdle (Class 2) Race dominated by the first two
CAP SOLEIL (Fergal O’Brien) looked in tremendous shape and attracted heavy support near the off.She pulled clear with Countister between the last two and found far more than that rival to record a decisive success. This is a top class mare in the making and she will be hard to beat against her own sex.
COUNTISTER (Nicky Henderson) is a lovely looking mare but was not quite as fit as the well backed Cap Soleil. She appeared threatening jumping the second last but ran out of gas on the run-in and came home a highly creditable second. There’s a valuable prize in this French import.
2m national hunt flat (Class 5) Above average event
TIDAL FLOW (Philip Hobbs) was just about the most attractive member of the field and won decisively despite being hampered two-furlongs from home, This was a classy effort from a big, raw individual and he could take high rank when sent hurdling.
BURROWS EDGE (Nicky Henderson) looked sharper than most of these and shaped with plenty of promise in second. He’ll stay much further – already been placed in point-to-points – and will come into his own over hurdles.
CUDDLES MCGRAW (Fergal O’Brien) looked in great shape but was never really travelling and failed to get competitive. He’s got plenty of scope and is one to keep an eye on.
KEMPTON NOVEMBER 13 (GOOD-SOFT) 2m5f novice hurdle (Class 4) Fair form
SECRET INVESTOR (Paul Nicholls) is a real bull of a horse and probably would have won this but for ploughing through the penultimate flight.This former point-topointer has the scope to make a smart chaser but will surely collect a couple of novice hurdles first.
FONTWELL NOVEMBER 19 (GOOD-SOFT) 2m1f162y juvenile hurdle (Class 4) Above average race for the track
JUKEBOX JIVE (Anthony Honeyball) is a close-coupled,gritty looking gelding who developed into a smart stayer on the Flat in 2017. Sensibly ridden from the front on this hurdling debut, he jumped impeccably and ran out a ready winner. He’ll stay much further but isn’t devoid of pace and will pick-up another race or two this winter.
LISP (Alan King) is a handsome gelding who had shown a modicum of ability in a light Flat career. He left that form behind here, finishing second despite running freely for the first mile and a half of the contest.It’s testament to the gelding’s raw ability that he finished close-up and he will win a decent prize if connections can teach him to settle.
3m3f149y handicap chase (Class 3) Competitive event
COOLKING (Gary Moore) thrived in marathons last term but looked in need of the outing on this return from a 239-day break. He jumped soundly at the head of affairs before running out of gas on the home turn and eventually being pulled-up. This was a better effort than the bare form implies and he remains one to side with in long distance handicaps on testing ground.