RATTLE OWL, 9/2, ‘rattled’ home yesterday; what a wonderful month this has been and, of course, we’ve profited considerably.
Calm Skies will probably be a major target for ‘big-hitters’ to justify favouritism and make it fifth time lucky in the Fillies’ Novice Stakes over six furlongs of Kempton polytrack tonight but, for serious backers, this Godolphin-owned Shamardal juvenile must be wearing a bit thin and compromising their bank balances. Many will swerve!
Hopefully that’s the case because Charlie Appleby’s charge achieved her career-best time handicap mark in a nursery over a similar distance on ‘good to firm’ Goodwood to Outside World three weeks ago and my betting boots are laced.
Enough boxes are ticked, with a low draw another plus but, despite tremendous confidence in Calm Skies, I’m fearing Saliteh, third at Wolves nine days ago, because Richard Hannon’s two-year-olds often improve considerably second time out. The Marlborough-based ‘winning machine’ is particularly devastating at this time of year with juveniles. Monitor him.
My modus operandi is all about winners, prices take care of themselves, especially when played into others with trixies and daily patents; to prevent you from having too many bets these represent systematic investments from a column which strives to make profit every month, always the ultimate objective.
Half an hour later it will not be a surprise if twice-raced Heerathetrack causes one in the nine-runner Novice Stakes over a mile, which involves taking on a hot Sir Michael Stoute-trained favourite, course and distance winner, Migdam and Ryan Moore.
Obviously in such circumstances I’ll be playing one of three places with Mark Usher’s charge, creditable third to 8/11 winner, Tamra’s Rock, and second favourite, El Hibri, over seven furlongs of this unique right-handed circuit six weeks ago.
Heeratthetrack was a 28/1 chance, should have been 280/1 given the Heeraat gelding was drawn very wide throughout, racing under apprentice Ellie Mackenzie, replaced by Charlie Bennett who was aboard five weeks earlier at Wolves and often rides for Mark.
Migdam will probably oblige favourite-backers but a penalty brings them close on my time-handicap which also pinpoints consistent, hitherto luckless Ayling in a Nursery Handicap over five furlongs of ‘good to firm’ Catterick this afternoon. Definitely worth punting at huge odds, and following.
Tomorrow we move into the tenth month, my absolute favourite!
Selections, Catterick, 2.20 Ayling (e.w); Kempton, 5.00 Calm Skies; 5.30 Heeratthetrack (e.w).
Jeffrey Ross, horse-racing correspondent for WMN since 1983 when winning the most prestigious racing journalist award, Sporting Life Naps Table, before winning it a record number of six times collectively in the Racing Post, the current ‘trade’ paper, including 2019