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Banana, one of only two juveniles with experience in a nine-runner 2-y-o Novice Stakes over five furlongs at Salisbury this afternoon, shaped encouragingly when a close fifth, beaten two and a quarter lengths, at Newmarket eleven days ago; ridden by former champion apprentice David Egan, for Martyn Meade’s quality Manton yard, this Aclaim filly went off an unconsidered 11/1 chance and was soon in rear after a tardy start. That was soon remedied and Banana had joined a leading group just after halfway; her early dramatic burst to join issue told in the closing stages but she maintained a prominent position, staying on well up the famous final climb of the Rowley Mile. Apparently Meade was delighted. HQ maidens areContinue Reading

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General Sago is fancied to overcome inexperience in an intriguing eight-runner Novice Stakes over five furlongs of Wolverhampton tapeta tonight; the time-handicap mark, achieved by David O’Meara’s charge on debut at Pontefract eighteen days ago, is good enough to see this Fascinating Rock gelding in the Dunstall Park winners’ enclosure. Realistically General Sago was given an impossible first-up task but was far from disgraced; third, beaten less than three lengths by 4/9 Karl Burke-trained Spycatcher, represented an encouraging effort and fitness-wise there will surely be improvement. Dropping back in trip is interesting, doubtless suggested by jockey Shane Grey, again aboard for his guv’nor. Twice-raced, progressive Equality, and penalised Good Listener from Richard Hannon’s in-form Marlborough yard, are bound to beContinue Reading

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Credence Star, dropped in trip, represents a stand-out for the nine-runner Novice Stakes over six furlongs of ‘good to firm’ Doncaster today when there are several opportunities based on our time-handicap selections which have been profitable these past few days. It’s a measure of my endeavour in the knowledge ‘the harder you work, the luckier you become!’ Commitment to the cause of profiting means burning the midnight oil, satisfaction stems from achieving and knowing readers are able to enhance their financial status by following this column rigidly. A patient approach has been adopted with Credence Star and this Simon/Ed Crisford-trained American Pharoah colt didn’t make his debut until four weeks ago when a creditable third to our subsequent ‘super-Saturday’ napContinue Reading

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SPANTIK, 13/2 Tuesday has to be described by myself as a ‘shot in the arm’ becasue I had my second Covid-19 jab earlier! National Treasure and Yankee Stadium are set to stage a ‘battle of expensive rejects’ in an extremely weak ‘aged’ class 5 Novices’ Stakes over ten furlongs of ‘good to firm’ Beverley today; their five rivals have only raced four times between them (two over jumps!) and so experience will surely be a major factor when punters analyse prospects. It’s 312 days since National Treasure, trained for Godolphin by Charlie Appleby at Newmarket, was odds-on and finished second to John Gosden’s Jane Marple over a mile and a half of the famous Cambridgeshire venue; this resulted in aContinue Reading

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Scampi looks a tasty betting proposition in the Novices’ Stakes over twelve furlongs of Lingfield polytrack today and Andrew Balding’s charge, mount of his former apprentice Oisin Murphy, should start at relatively decent odds, always a major factor when punting seriously. So many boxes are ticked for the twice-raced Nayef gelding; trained by my absolute ‘favourite’, ridden by our champion jockey, whose grip on the title looks extremely tight, and clear ‘best-in’ on the time-handicap which continues to produce an impressive level of consistency due to my total dedication computing electrically-recorded race-times. Four of six rivals are un-raced, Reverend Hubert has shown little and Godolphin-owned, Frankie Dettori-ridden Polling Day, needs to improve considerably on a first-up course success over aContinue Reading

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Percy’s Pride will not be a surprise if causing one against better-fancied, more high-profile rivals in a six-runner Fillies’ Novice Stakes over twelve furlongs of Wolverhampton tapeta tonight and it’s my intention to get on ‘early doors’ for a good price. Once-raced Haykal (John and Thady Gosden) and Mark Johnston-trained, 74-rated New Day are certain to be well supported by so-called ‘favourite-backers’ but neither has any chance with Percy’s Pride, on my time-handicap; if William Knight’s charge hits anything like the mark achieved under Callum Shepherd, when five lengths fifth to Pythagoras in listed company over a mile of ‘soft’ Pontefract six months ago, this could be a procession. Given her breeding, by Epsom Derby winner, Sir Percy it’s obviousContinue Reading

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Eagle Terrace and In The Breeze are twice-raced maidens in an enthralling Novice Stakes over ten furlongs of ‘good to firm’ Windsor today, when four of seven rivals are penalised 5lbs, which equates to at least two lengths, and will probably weigh heavily. The term similarly-profiled is often used in this column and the aforementioned duo certainly are with time-handicap marks which should definitely see them ‘on the premises’ despite absences of six months or more; my preference is Eagle Terrace representing the recently-formed dynamic ‘A Team’ of trainer John Gosden and his son Thady who will take over in the not too distant future from the 70-year-old Champion Trainer. Placing is the key to a successful, business-like training operation;Continue Reading

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Raging Rascal needs only to replicate an eye-catching debut at Glorious Goodwood last August to make it third time lucky in division two the Maiden Stakes over a straight mile of ‘good’ Newbury ground today; Tom Ward’s charge has been beaten since but, significantly, champion all-weather jockey Richard Kingscote keeps the faith with this Coulsty colt. After failing by only half a length to bring off a 66/1 shock at the glorious Arundel venue, under Harry Bentley, it was more than six months before Raging Rascal reappeared on Kempton polytrack with ‘Kingy’ on board the heavily-backed odds-on favourite; it turned out to be a nightmare for serious ‘big-hitters!’ At no stage did Raging Rascal threaten to oblige even though ‘earlyContinue Reading

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Devilwala is no forlorn hope for what appears to be a sub-standard group three Craven Stakes over the famous Newmarket Rowley Mile today when ‘good’ ground is guaranteed; any place ‘result’ for Ralph Beckett’s charge would be uncomfortable viewing for trainer Archie Watson! After winning first-up at Haydock and shaping well in two group two sprints, all over six furlongs with Rossa Ryan aboard, Devilwala was moved to Beckett who saddled this Kodiac colt three weeks later for the group one Dewhurst Stakes over seven furlongs at HQ; fourth to Aidan O’Brien-trained St Mark’s Basilica was indeed good business. On my time-handicap Devilwala improved considerably to finish less than three lengths off the highly-regarded winner in what is always recognisedContinue Reading

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THOMAS TUCHEL will never forget the day his dinner date with Pep Guardiola turned Messi. But today he plans to turn the tables on his managerial mentor. Thomas Tuchel and Pep Guardiola enjoyed dinner together in 2014[/caption] In December 2014, Tuchel was invited to a Munich restaurant by the man who was the king of German football at the time. Tuchel was between jobs after walking out of Mainz and jumped at the opportunity to pick the brains of then Bayern boss Guardiola. As the duo prepare for a Wembley reunion this afternoon, Tuchel asked: “When you are out for dinner with Pep, why not talk about football? What else was there for me to talk about? “For me, heContinue Reading