Mysteries – 3rd in 1.45 Curragh 28/05/23
Mysteries was given a beautiful introduction by jockey Gavin Ryan over 6 furlongs on good ground. She settled well and saw out this trip strongly, doing all her best work at the finish. She is bred to stay further in time but is well capable of winning a maiden before possibly looking for some black type to enhance her breeding value.
Canute – 4th in 4.15 Curragh 27/05/23
Canute was a huge eye-catcher finishing fourth on his first run in a handicap. He is definitely capable of winning a handicap off his current mark of 84. Ryan Moore was aboard the more fancied stablemate Farnborough but there was market support for Canute who opened up at 10/1 and went off at 6/1. He was repeatedly short of room over the last two furlongs before finding room with only 100 yards to go. The way he picked up from being snatched up to ridden out was obvious to see and he had loads left in the locker. He was running over 1 mile and he needs a strong pace over 7 furlongs to be seen at his best.
Burning Cash – 5th in 2.40 York 27/05/23
Burning Cash travelled strongly throughout this 5 furlong sprint and found plenty to suggest he is near to getting his head back in front. He won twice last summer off marks of 91 and 93. He is now rated 89 and it will be interesting to see if trainer Paul Midgley puts up a good claiming jockey that would give this horse every chance of going close in the next few runs. All his wins have come on good ground or faster so it’s the right time of year to follow him.
Exoplanet – 3rd in 3.00 Newbury 20/05/23
Exoplanet came from last to very nearly win this thrilling finish. He travelled strongly into contention and just took a false step or stumbled just at a time when he was making his move. He regathered and finished his race really strongly. That was only his fourth race and he looks like a horse that is progressing and should take another step forward from this.
Oops – 4th in 1.30 Newmarket 20/05/23
Oops was having his first run for trainer George Boughey and was given a lovely introduction by jockey David Probert. He broke from the stalls a little slowly (can be expected on his first start) making good headway over the final two furlongs to finish a closing fourth. That was over 6 furlongs and it looked like he would get further in time. With that experience he should go close next time out.
No Nay Nicki – 8th in 4.45 York 19/05/23
No Nay Nicki was given a very conservative ride by his jockey Oisin Orr. He was well supported in the market for this race having been backed from 12/1 into 11/2 but never got any luck in running. He was second twice last summer off marks of 82 and 84 the latter which he is on now. He is handicapped to go close soon. He needs a strong pace to aim at and the gaps to open at the right time.
The Big Chap – 3rd in 6.25 Killarney 15/05/23
I thought the Big Chap was desperately unlucky not to have followed up from his previous win after a long layoff for Pual Flynn. He just got squeezed for room on this tight track at a crucial time of the race coming into the final bend. It cost him a couple of lengths and he ended up losing by 1 ¼ lengths. Off his handicap mark of 115 he will go close in his next run as he is unexposed and still improving. Whatever he achieves as a hurdler handler Paul Flynn is convinced he will be a better Chaser.
Caradoc – 9th in 2.25 Killarney 14/05/23
Caradoc was bought for 22000 GNS by Eric McNamara at the Tatts Autumn sales after finishing fourth in the Cambridgeshire Handicap at Newmarket. This was his first run over Hurdles and he showed enough to suggest he will be given another two educational runs before going for a handicap. He jumped well in the whole bar, the last two when he was tiring. He travelled down the back on the final circuit like a horse that holds a touch of class and it will be interesting to see what handicap mark he gets. I’ll be keeping an eye on the markets with him as he is definitely capable of winning a race.
Law Of The Sea – 4th in 3.15 Chester 12/05/23
Law Of The Sea was an eyecatcher in the Chester Cup having his first run for new trainer Ian Williams. He just got lit up with a circuit to go when the pace steadied coming up past the stands. He was fighting jockey Franny Norton all through the final circuit but still saw out his race well to finish a 1 ¾ lengths fourth. He has a Handicap mark of 90 and looks capable of picking up a nice price on the back of this performance.
Royal Scotsman – 3rd in 4.40 Newmarket 06/05/23
Royal Scotsman just wouldn’t settle in the early stages of the race for Jim Crowley and it ultimately cost him the race in my opinion. The winner Chaldean settled perfectly and that racecourse gallop without Frankie (unseated at the stalls) might have just taken the freshness out of him. Hi Royal ran a big race in second after wandering all over the track but the energy Royal Scotsman used up in the early stages was decisive. He still showed a turn of foot at the two furlong pole and stayed on remarkably well all considered. He is the horse I would be taking out of the race.
Manaccan – 3rd in 4.00 Newmarket 06/05/23
Manaccan was drawn in stall 1 and Frankie Dettori had to let Manaccan drift to the stand side to find some company. Live The Dream ran a huge race from the front and gave Vadream a lovely target to aim at, running her down near the line. Manaccan seems to handle most ground conditions and was ultra consistent throughout last season. She seems to have carried that form forward and will run well in any of the 5 furlong sprints over the season.
Toshizou – 4th in 3.25 Newmarket 06/05/23
Toshizou had his third run for new trainer Roger Fell and he was staying on strongly over the 1m 1f trip. Prior to this run he was third again at Newmarket over 1 mile on good to soft ground. On that occasion Both Bopedro and Empirestateofmind were drawn away from him on the near side and he did well to finish third. Last Saturday jockey Jamie Spencer just had to sit up on him at a crucial time and he will need plenty of luck in running with his hold up style of racing. Still if he gets a clear run and a strong pace to aim at he is capable of picking up a race. He has form on good ground also.
Juan Les Pins – 11th in 2.50 Newmarket 06/05/23
Juan Les Pins has been dropped 1 lb by the handicapper for finishing 11th in the Howden Handicap over 6 furlongs. He was 6 lengths behind the winner Probe on ground that was softer than ideal. All his winning form is on good or good to firm ground. With Frederick Larson claiming 3 lbs Juan Les Pins can go close off this mark on better ground in his next few runs.