Hi all,
Inside today's main piece I have a two for the tracker.
End of season flat racing punting. Some like it, some hate it. I’m just about in the former camp. It’s not easy that’s for sure with horses starting to lose their form. However, on the plus side there’s less races that are worthy of investigation.
For National Hunt fans, the real start of the 2023-24 jumps season is almost upon us. On Friday its Persian War Day at Chepstow which now marks the start of the real jumps season.
The likes of Altior and Bravemansgame have both run on the day in the past so there could a be a future star on view.
Mind you final field sizes will be dependent on how the ground is riding and since 2015 good has been in the going description.
I had my first jump bet in ages on Sunday and it was a winner which given my selections on Saturday got me off the cold list. So, you could say I’m looking forward to getting stuck into jumps racing in the next few weeks.
Two For The Tracker:
It's the Chepstow’s Persian War meeting that sees me switch away from the flat for my weekly eyecatchers. Although 2-year-old maidens over 7f+ are races that I continue to look at with the following season in mind so the odd one will no doubt appear here between now and the end of the flat season.
For this week I’m still very much in flat mode as a far as eyecatchers go.
Illinois made a winning racecourse debut in the 1m 1f maiden that opened the card at the Curragh on Saturday. The son of Galileo and a half-brother to Arc winner Danedream overcame greenness to win and produced a really taking performance in doing so. He has got the size and scope to improve as a 3-year-old especially when her gets to race over middle distances. The front three pulled well clear of the rest so the form might turn out to be useful. It’s a long way to next year’s Derby but he’s another juvenile colt from the Aidan O’Brien yard who will be in contention for those sorts of races if he does train on, as expected, from two to three.
This week’s two tracker horses ran at Ascot on Friday and Saturday. The first of them is one more for next season.
English Oak – Ed Walker
The least exposed of the 16 runners, with just four previous starts, he'd disappointed on handicap debut at York’s Ebor Festival (1m) and looked interesting on his first start sprinting in Friday’s Class 2 handicap (6f). He ran a cracker being well suited by a strongly run 6f, only beaten a neck by well-treated C&D Rohaan. He’s capable of better as a 4-year-old and looks one for handicaps like the Wokingham over C&D at the royal meeting.
Blue For You – David O’Meara
A winner at York in July, looked back to form when a 3 length 7th of 17 in Ascot’s Howden Challenge Cup. Slowly away he wasn’t well enough positioned in the race to be threat, but he did finish his race off well. I’m yet to be convinced that a stiff mile is what he wants, and he may be better going round a bend. He disappointed when well fancied for last years’ Balmoral Handicap on Champions Day. However, despite last year’s run in the race he remains a leading contender for the Balmoral Handicap (1m) back at Ascot on Champions Day. Mind you he does likely need good ground if he’s to win.
Tuesday Preview
There's nothing of interest for me today.
Good luck with your Tuesday bets.
John