Paddock picks
Andrew Ayres describes some more eye-catchimg horses
SANDOWN July 21 (good-firm)
1m2f handicap (Class 5)
FAIR EVENT
C’MON KENNY (Ian Williams) is a big, scopey gelding who looked a million dollars in the paddock. He needed every yard of the trip to get on top and left the distinct impression that there is more to come over further. This fella could be a money spinner on the Flat and watch out if he’s allowed to chance his arm over hurdles.
5f two-year-old fillies’ maiden (Class 4) RUN-OF-THE-MILL CONTEST
LADY FANTASIA (Roger Varian) is built like a sprinter but showed a round-action to post and will be happier on a soft surface. Bearing that in mind, she ran a cracker to finish third and is one to bear in mind off a handy mark of 70 in nurseries.
WINDSOR July 26 (good-firm)
5f two-year-old maiden (Class 5) ORDINARY CONTEST
ABOVE IT ALL (Ed Walker) is a goodlooking colt but took a walk in the betting (14s to 20-1) after looking green on his way to post. He was never competitive here but looks the part and could be an autumn improver.
SANDOWN July 28 (good-soft)
7f two-year-old novice (Class 4) RACE RUN IN A HEAVY DOWNPOUR HOO YA MAL (Andrew Balding) looked a tad backward in the prelims but shaped with bags of promise to finish third. He was wet behind the ears here and will be hard to beat in a similar race next time.
DARK MYSTERY (Ian Williams) is related to some handy middle-distance winners but was probably the most backward-looking horse in the paddock. That considered, he ran a solid race to finish in mid-division. Some shrewd faces are steering this fella’s career and he might be a decent long-term prospect.
GOODWOOD July 30 (goodsoft, good in places)
2m4f110y handicap (Class 2) CRACKING RENEWAL
ELYSIAN FLAME (Michael & David Easterby) looks a proper hard nut and did well to finish third after being given plenty to do by Daniel Tudhope. This fella would stay six miles uphill and must have a decent each-way squeak in the Cesarewitch.
GOODWOOD July 31 (soft)
7f two-year-old maiden (Class 2) EYE-GRABBER
RING OF BEARA (Richard Hughes) cost 200,000gns and certainly looks the part. He was a massive eye-grabber finishing second behind the highly rated Imperial Fighter and is a smart prospect. There’s a decent race in this colt.
KEMPTON August 2 (standard to slow)
1m two-year-old fillies’ maiden (Class 4)
USEFUL FORM
SPEAK (Andrew Balding) is a big, heavy-set filly who looked a couple of press-ups short of peak fitness. However, she travelled like a class act and ran out a ready winner despite seeming green. Improvement is guaranteed and she could be a Listed/Group performer in the making.
7f two-year-old fillies’ novice (Class 4) ABOVE AVERAGE FORM CONVECTION (Ralph Beckett) has got bags of scope but looked very raw in the prelims. Bearing that in mind, she ran a race full of promise to finish fifth. There’s plenty more to come and she’s nailed on to go close next time.
6f two-year-old nursery (Class 4) FAIR FORM
CLAIM THE STARS (Mark Johnston) really is a handsome individual and showed bags of pace before being mugged on the wire. He wouldn’t be fazed by a drop back to 5f and will nick a race or two.
KEMPTON August 4 (standard to slow)
1m novice (Class 4)
IMPRESSIVE WINNER MUTAFAWWIG (Saeed Bin Suroor)
was hammered near the off (4s to 158) despite looking badly in need of the run after a 718-day break. He duly bolted-up, much to the surprise of Oisin Murphy who said he thought the horse looked “as big as a bull”. This fella could be smart if our champion jockey is any sort of judge.
7f two-year-old novice (Class 4)
RACE THAT WILL PRODUCE WINNERS
BLUEBERRY HILL (John & Thady Gosden) is a handsome colt who looked pretty straight for this debut. He ran a blinder to chase the smart winner Noisy Night home and should open his account next time.
AEGIS POWER (Andrew Balding) is a lengthy, scopey individual who cost a few quid at the sales (200,000gns). He was never sharp enough to get into contention but hinted at ability and will be significantly slicker with this under his belt.
ADJUDICATOR (Joseph Tuite) showed a bit of ability on his debut at Ascot and built on that to finish a creditable fifth. He wasn’t fully tuned up here and looks the sort who will make a mark in backend nurseries.
WINDSOR August 9 (heavy)
6f two-year-old fillies (Class 5) ORDINARY EVENT ON TESTING GROUND
LOVES ME LIKEAROCK (Charles Hills) is bred for speed (dam won over 5f as a juvenile) but weighed-in heavy for this debut. You couldn’t give her away in the ring (7s to 11-1) but that didn’t stop her running odds-on jolly Daiquiri Francais close. Connections will surely find a race or two for this likeable filly.
LINGFIELD August 10 (standard to slow)
5f two-year-old novice (Class 4)
FAIR FORM
CORAZON (George Boughey) has got muscles on her eyebrows and won this a shade cosily under red-hot William Buick. She’ll get six furlongs standing on her head and will be competitive in better company than this.
KEMPTON August 11 (standard to slow)
7f two-year-old fillies (Class 5) ABOVE AVERAGE RACE FOR TRACK SILK ROMANCE (Charlie Appleby) is bred to be a star (dam won the Fillies Mile) and impressed as a tall, athletic individual in the paddock. However, she was never going to be knocked about on this debut and was still sitting in position Z turning for home.
The filly made up a colossal amount of ground from there to nick second spot and is a high-class prospect.
DESIGNER (John Butler) cost less than a second-hand Skoda but has got a bit of presence about her and looks the part. She ran an absolute nailer to stay on into fourth and must win a race or two for her shrewd connections.
LADY SHOTGUN (Ralph Beckett) was well-backed (6s to 9-2) despite looking distinctly burly. She lacked the basic pace to get involved at the sharp end – her dam won over 1m6f – but showed more than enough to suggest she will be a money maker when connections move up in trip.
NEWBURY August 13 (good)
6f two-year-old fillies (Class 4)
FAIR FORM
CLITHEROE (David Simcock) cost a fortune (£590,000) and looks a proper racehorse. She was only beaten by inexperience, will improve mentally and physically for the outing and is one to follow closely.