Good morning all,

The flat season has finally started and I’m still trying to get my head around the fact the first two Classics have been run, albeit a month by schedule, in the first week of the sports resumption.

Racing behind closed doors seemed to go without any major hitches.  It still seems strange to see the parade rings devoid of connections, never mind empty stands. But at least it’s happening which is the important thing.

Not sure what the older horses make of it all. They must be wondering where the crowd and the all the noise is. We know that horses are intelligent animals and I’m sure some get some extra energy from the excitement of a big race day crowd. On the other side of the coin, those horses of a more nervous dispensation could put in a better performance due to the lack of pre-race ‘buzz'.

Inside today’s piece I’m going to take a look back at both Classics. Oh, and I have also taken a look at Monday’s action.

It was a slow burn on the betting front last week but yesterday West End Charmer & Jabbarockie gave Victor Value subscribers a good profit over the weekend.

Osin lands first British classic

On Saturday it was the first English Classic run behind closed doors. It was a surreal experience to say the least but it still produced an exciting race.

The top-rated juvenile of the last 25-years, Pinatubo was sent off the 5/6 favourite. Unfortunately for his backers he wasn’t able to live up his superstar status and had to settle for third.

It wasn’t a bad run but according to Racing Post Ratings he ran 10lb below his best juvenile form. He doesn’t seem to have grown over the winter and it looks like some last season’s later maturing juveniles have caught up and passed him in development.

On the day he was just beaten by two very good horses in Kameko and Wichita. The latter looked to me last year like a colt who would improve plenty over the winter and so he has. He was always up with the pace and ran on all the way to the line. He just found one in Kameko, just a little bit quicker on the day.

Kameko who had won last season’s Futurity on the tapeta, showed that he has trained on well. He also put to bed any doubts as to whether he could be Group 1 winner on turf. Always travelling powerfully in midfield, he really found his stride when hitting the rising ground to win by neck.

The winner returned to just a ripple of applause rather than the tumultuous reception he would normally have got. That won’t bother winning jockey Osin Murphy who was riding his first winner of a British Classic. And it was appropriate it was for his old boss Andrew Balding and owner Sheikh Fahad.

Will he go for the Derby?

Kameko's not really bred for 1m 4f although should get 1m 2f well on the evidence of this run. Mind you there’s only one Derby, so no doubt connections will be tempted by a trip to Epsom.

What next for the rest?

Wichita will surely now head to Royal Ascot at the St James Palace Stakes. He will take some beating there.

Pinatubo didn’t seem to stay a mile. Perhaps connections will switch him back to sprinting? 

Military March ran a respectable Derby Trial in finishing 4^th. He was plenty keen during the race and hopefully that will have taken the freshness out of him. He’s certainly bred for the Derby distance.

Connections of the 5^th home, Juan Elcano, will also be tempted by Epsom. The colt raced like he needs 1m 2f+ and ran well above market expectations.

It's all about Love

Yesterday saw the first Fillies Classic of the new season.

Quadrilateral was sent off the 11/4 favourite at the off. She was a bit keen in the early stages of the race and that compromised her chance. Still she ran well as could be expected in the circumstances in finishing third. There will be other days for her although trainer Roger Charlton has got to get her to settle better if she's to stay beyond a mile.

Cloak Of Spirits had led from the off and raced against the far rail. It was a good run by the Richard Hannon trained filly who just found one too good.

The well fancied Millisle was up there to half way but coming to the bushes lost her place and could never get back into the race. Probably best to draw a line through this run.

Love was the only filly that Aidan O'Brien sent over for the race. The daughter of Galileo had finished third to Quadrilateral in last years Fillies Mile but was expected to get closer on quicker ground.

Unlike the favourite, Ryan Moore got her settled beautifully and she made good headway to take the lead off Cloak Of Spirits at the furlong mark running on strongly all the way to the line to win by 4 ½ lengths.

I doubt she will have any problems with a further 4f or the Epsom undulations. She now heads to the Oaks for which she is a best priced 11/8.

It was a very professional performance by the winner. Only time will tell but I think we have seen an above average winner of this years 1000 Guineas. The Oaks looks her's for the taking!

Palace looks high class

Unbeaten on his two starts as 2-year-old, Palace Pier had been expected to run in the 2000 Guineas. Sadly, for those who backed him ante post he had taken longer than expected to mature in the spring. So instead of running in the first colts Classic, he turned out in handicap at Newcastle.

I was very impressed by the son of Kingman's victory.  Three lengths behind the eventual runner-up coming to the furlong mark he quickened up in the style of a very smart colt to win by 3 ½ lengths at the line. The runner-up Acquitted is a decent horse who can win a nice pot this season. He would have won the race comfortably but for Palace Pier being in the field.

Palace Pier should come on a bundle for the run and I think he will make up into a really high class performer this season. Trainer John Gosden’s decision not to throw him into the deep end of the 2000 Guineas for his seasonal return will I’m sure be rewarded. Indeed, it wouldn’t surprise me if he turns out to be one of the best 3-year-old colts by the end of the season.

Monday's racing:

Racing returns in Ireland on Monday, with an eight-race card at Naas. This side of the Irish Sea we have three meetings at Haydock, Chelmsford and Lingfield.

I have had a good look at today’s cards and there are a handful I like.

Haydock

1:15 – Galadriel a winner over 5f at Beverley last year before putting in a career best when 5^th of 13, beaten just a length, in a valuable 6 ½ f nursery at Doncaster in September. Looks the sort to improve as a 3-year-old and the drop back to the minimum trip should suit as her stamina seemed stretched at Doncaster.

Lingfield

7:20 – The unbeaten Desert Caravan will be a short price in this 1m 4f handicap. However, I prefer the claims of Zuba. The 4-year-old is 2 from 4 on the all-weather and has been gelded over the winter. Just 2lb higher than his last winning mark, he looks on a fair mark If the gelding operation has the desired effect.

Naas

4:30 – The inexperienced Yale is sure to be a short price which provides an opportunity for each way punters in this 6f handicap. Twenty Minutes has won only 1 of his 22 starts but he’s got plenty of form in big field handicaps, including when 2^nd of 16 at the Curragh 12 months ago. The 5-year-old's sole career win came over C&D and he can get into the money on a track that suits.

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Until next week.

John Burke is the tipster behind the long standing Victor Value service you can join himhere – https://victorvalue.uk