Good morning all,

A good day for the sport yesterday with crowds returning to English racecourses for the first time since December. On the flip side the sport heard of the death of Joe Mercer at the age of 86. Joe was at the end of his career when I got into the sport but he always came across as a real gentleman when being interviewed on the TV. 

He was around at the time of Lester Piggott which means his talents tended to be over shadowed. A stylish jockey. During a 38-year career in the saddle, he was associated with some great racehorses such as Bustino, Kris, Le Moss and of course the brilliant Brigadier Gerard.

Stable jockey to both Dick Hern & Henry Cecil. It was the latter who provided him with his sole Champion Jockey title in 1979 at the age of 45.

Joe announced his retirement in the summer of 1985 and ended with a final day double at Doncaster. His last ride was aboard the John Dunlop trained Bold Rex who he steered to victory in the November Handicap. Not surprisingly he came back to a rousing reception from the Yorkshire crowd. That was his 2,810^th win in the saddle and he remains fourth on the British all-time jockey’s winners list.

After his retirement from the saddle Joe was appointed racing manager to Sheikh Maktoum Al Maktoum's Gainsborough Stud in 1987. It was a position he held for 19 years until the death of his boss.

RIP Joe Mercer.

York Eyecatchers

I have three for the tracker from last week’s Dante Meeting. One from each day.

Wednesday

Nahaarr – William Haggas

Last year’s Ayr Gold Cup made the step to Group company when finishing a neck 2^nd of 12 to Starman in Wednesday’s Group 2 Duke Of York Stakes. He came up against a notable improver in the winner Starman, now favourite for the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. It was a career best effort on RPR’s and there’s some nice sprint pots to be won with the 5-year-old. He will be suited by a stiffer 6f and has a good chance of reversing places with the winner in the Diamond Jubilee, if the ground isn’t too quick.

Thursday

Jawwaal – Michael Dods

The 6-year-old won twice over 5f last season. He travelled powerfully through the 5f handicap that opened day two of the Dante Festival and only faded inside the final furlong. He’s well suited to good ground and a very strong pace to chase down and it seems like trainer Michael Dods is preparing him for a decent sprint handicap.

Friday

Fishable – Tim Easterby

Fishable lost any chance he had when rearing up in the stalls and losing many lengths at the start of the 1m 2f handicap. The 4-year-old managed to get back in to the race but couldn’t recover when not getting a clear run a furlong out. He eventually finished a 12 ¼ length 8^th of 12 to Surrey Pride. He’s better than his final distance beaten suggests and this useful, ground versatile handicapper is on a winnable mark.

Tuesday Racing:

Punchbowl Flyer was a winning selection for the column at Windsor on Monday evening.  Today’s most enticing card is at Nottingham. However, the best race is at Wolverhampton.  I have had a look at several of today’s races from both tracks and one at Brighton.

Wolverhampton

4:10 – Several potential, improving 3-year-olds among the seven runners. Great King was beaten favourite on both his two juvenile starts but made a winning return to action when winning on the tapeta at Newcastle on his seasonal return 18-days ago. The extra 1 ½ furlongs will suit and although he doesn’t have the best of draws in stall 7. He’s the one to beat.

Ilza'Eem rates the main danger to Great King. The colt impressed when winning on his seasonal return at Redcar last month and was one of the ante-post favourites for the Esher Cup. A race which he had to miss due to a bruised foot. A nice draw in stall 1 for his handicap debut and can go close of what looks a good mark.

Brighton

3:20 – De Vegas Kid is 4-8 here at Brighton and his form figures over C&D 21411. A good 2^nd of 6 here over a furlong shorter last time. The 7-year-old is back down to a winnable mark but wouldn’t want the going to be worse than good.

Nottingham

2:55 – Myristica shaped with encouragement and ran better than the result suggests when an 8-length 9^th of 15 over C&D 11-days ago. Held up in the rear she made steady headway in the straight but didn’t get the best of passages between the final two furlongs. The filly is capable of better with that run under her belt and can get into the places from a handy low draw in 2.

Tuesday selection:

2:55 – Myristica – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes

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Good luck with your Tuesday bets.

John