NAP: Tuesday the 29th of October...

19.10 Wolverhampton: No Win No Fee @ 4/1 Bet365 - 4pts win

No Win No Fee ran a huge race considering the circumstances last time out at Wolverhampton over 7f on his first start since May. Not only did he have to overcome the second widest draw in a 12-runners strong field, which is always a disadvantage at Wolverhampton as the first turn comes almost straight after the start, but in the case he got hampered before entering this first turn and in consequence lost ground and had to settle in rear. He travelled widest of all without cover the whole race and while he made a huge move from 4f out on the outside in order to be in a decent position turning for home, this manoeuvre cost loads of energy and he was forced to turn four wide on the extreme outside. It was impressive to see how determined he galloped all the way to the line to finish an excellent 3rd in the end. This was only his fifth start, his first on the All-Weather and there should be definitely more to come. He steps up in trip and on pedigree the extended 9f are not unlikely for him to get. He can race off the same mark as last time, which could be lenient and as the feather weight with a good draw he looks to have plenty in his favour tomorrow. 

Thursday the 24th of October...

21.10 Wolverhampton: Seaside Rock @ 9/1 Ladbrokes - 2pts win

Seaside Rock is back after break but I have little doubt that he'll be ready to run for his new trainer as Dalgleish is in excellent form lately and if he comes down to Wolverhampton his horses often run really well. He got this three year old gelding from the Hannon yard where it soon emerged that Seaside Rock won't be a Group horse. But he is still lightly raced and it wouldn't surprise if he would have a good bit of improvement left in him. He won well a Handicap over 1m at Kempton last winter on his Handicap debut and showed in his three subsequent starts that there is still more to come, as he finished 2nd at Lingfield over probably too short 7f when he was beaten for speed in the closing stages while is most recent performance at Newbury in June is the actual eye-catching one, as that day he had absolutely everything against himself: A poor start, he got hampered and unbalanced soon after and didn't travell at all for the rest of the race, yet looked in with a good chance 2f out but then was simply stuck in traffic and didn't find gaps. He got a pretty light ride as well in the end, but stayed on well in the final furlong only hands and heels ridden. He wasn't seen after that, now with Dalgleish though, and also slightly stepping up in trip, which probably should suit considering the way he finished off his races, as well as back on the All-Weather and older and stronger, I would like to think his mark is potentially lenient.

Wednesday the 23rd of October

19.50 Kempton: Martinas Delight @ 25/1 Ladbrokes - 1 pt win

 Really interesting to see this filly finally appearing on the All-Weather as her pedigree is pointing in that direction and the drop in trip should be in her favour as well as 10f might simply stretches her stamina a bit too far. She caught my eye on her penultimate run, on good ground over 10f at Newbury, though, when she was in with a big chance in the closing stages, making some good headway but got then suddenly badly hampered which resulted in her losing rhythm and every chance. If she would have won with a clear run, god knows, but she looked bound to go really close that day. Her most recent run on rain softened ground at Windsor is one to ignore as that's not her conditions, while she has done quite well in a couple of maidens last year, this season wasn't hers yet. But she could improve a good deal for the change of surface and if so then she could be easily really well handicapped. She is quite a big price, too big in my mind, with Fallon booked, suggesting connections are rather hopeful of a big run.

Tuesday the 22nd of October...

Interakt didn't run yesterday as the Bath card was abandoned after the fourth race due to flooding. 

18.40 Kempton: Lutine Bell @ 11/1 VC - 2pts win

Lutine Bell was really unlucky not to finish much closer than what the form reads the last time at Kempton. He travelled like a dream, still on the bridle approaching the 2f marker but didn't get the in-running luck as gaps weren't really opening for him. He was eased down and saved for another day but gave the impression he could be ready to strike soon, now down to a really good mark. He's yet to win at Kempton in five starts but was twice placed of much higher marks and he clearly is a very good All-Weather horse, even though he didn't get his head in front for quite a long time. If things go well for him tomorrow then he'll have a big chance and therefore is overpriced in my mind.

19.10 Kempton: Konzert @ 16/1 VC - 1pt win

 Konzert was backed like mad a couple of days ago at Wolverhampton, opening at 25/1 and starting at 7/1 but then didn't quite get the run of the race having to travel very wide from 4f out while making a big move from that point onwards  but having to turn widest of all for home and losing vital ground. The jockey soon realized entering the home straight that the horse wouldn't catch the leaders and eased him down, as it was pointless to beat the shit out of the horse only to finish fifth or something. He can race off the same mark tomorrow, and I would like to think Kempton could be a track that suits him much better. He looks a horse perfectly suited to the All-Weather surface anyway and he is still open the improvement, being generally lightly raced. While Konzert didn't show too much in his first five starts, he looked then very much improved on his All-Weather debut, when showing dramatic improvement for the new surface. That day he was slightly outpaced soon after the start, trailing the field for a long way, and as a result faced an impossible task turning for home, and in fact the eventual winner travelled all the way from the front and wasn't to catch. But Konzert really made some eye-catching ground once straighten up in the home straight suggesting there is more to come on this surface and that he's ready to strike sooner rather than later. He couldn't back up this performance the next time, switching back to turf, when he finished a disappointing last, but ignoring that performance, I can see a horse with a massive debut performance on the All-Weather and an unlucky second run on that surface. Considering he is in the same form, not getting a hard race three days ago, he should be competitive off a low weight tomorrow.

Sunday the 20th of October...

Bath 16.45: Interakt @ 33/1 SJ - 1pt win

 Comes down to a super low mark, has conditions very much in favour as she can't have it soft enough, and she is one from one over course and distance. On pure form she didn't show anything this year, but I though her penultimate run was clearly better than the bare form suggest. She travelled nicely in rear, but stumbled when the crossed over to the stands rail over 3f out and soon after she had nowhere to go, stuck in traffic while looking to have a bit more to give in the closing stages with a clear run. She didn't respond to 1st time cheek pieces at Yarmouth lto and was always behind. She drops another couple of pounds, has a good jockey on board and looks wide open. On her day she's capable of outrunning the price.

NAP of the Day: Sunday the 13th of October

13.55 Curragh: Bush Pilot @ 5/1 VC - 2pts win

Usually not my type of race but Bush Pilot was a massive eye-catcher on debut at the Curragh a couple of weeks ago and I feel he could be a bit special potentially, so this price could look foolish at some point - so can I with the case I make for the horse as well, of course. But Bush Pilot should be alright for the step up in trip on pedigree, where's speed on the sire side but plenty of stamina on the dam side, also the way he raced over 6f on debut indicates clearly that he'll relish further. That day he got a very educational ride, saw never the whip, and was really well looked after by Pat Smullen. He trailed the field while travelling super strongly, on the bridle almost until the 1f marker, even though he was slightly niggled half way through the race to keep up with the field. But then over 1f he switched to the right and picked up instantaneously, producing a nice turn of foot to finish in impressive style. That maiden wasn't the strongest but also not a bad form with the 2nd having finished 3rd to Sudirman and winning a Listed race subsequently. Bush Pilot looked above that lot in my mind and with more improvement to come he could be hard to beat here today despite facing some nicely bred horses in the line-up.

The Eye-Catcher: Saturday the 12th of October...

19.50 Wolverhampton: Elizabeth Coffee @ 14/1 William Hill - 2pts win

Judging Elizabeth Coffee's most recent performance it looks as if the drop in trip will suit as she comes down to 9f again, a trip she was a big eye-catcher over on her penultimate start. That day she got bumped at the start, she was then travelling well but was short of room turning for home which cost vital momentum as the leaders had first run and got a big break on the field. She motored nicely home once approaching the home straight, though, until she got hampered around 1f out, she had to switch slightly and pick up again, what she did in impressive fashion. Judged on that performance she is down to a really nice mark and therefore she looks too big in price here today. The assistance of a decent 5lb apprentice can be only a bonus. 

5 lessons we learned on Arc weekend!

Treve rocks the Arc! 

WOW! Is there anything more to say about wonder filly Treve? Well, yes and no I suppose. One thing is for sure, though: It was one of the best performances I've ever seen in my life anyway. The Criquette-Head Maarek trained three year old looks a filly for the ages! A serious talent, lifting the roof at Longchamp on Sunday with a sheer unbelievable performance. To be honest, the more I watch the race the more impressive her performance gets. You just have to consider how much this lightly raced filly had against herself. There is inexperience of course. Even though three year old's have a good record in the Arc,  haven't and with the little racing under her belt Treve was feared to find the hustle and bustle of the usually rough Arc too daunting. She also had to overcome a poor draw - 15, the third widest - and as a result had to travel wide all the time, then turning four wide around the home bend, while racing well off the pace in a rather slowly run race. As if that wasn't enough she was pulling the arms out of her jockey the first full minute of the race due to the lack of pace! 

To overcome one of these conditions takes a really good horse, but to meet all these things in a race and then even to overcome takes something special. Treve managed to do exactly that. She demonstrated to be equipped with an unbelievable cruising speed as it looked like the most normal thing in this world for her to make it from the back of the field to the top of field in a matter of strides. When Thierry Jarnet let her finally go it was all out and over soon after. Treve produced a blistering turn of foot and nothing was able to follow her and it's fair to say she simply slaughtered her rivals, despite many thinking this years Arc field was one of the strongest for many years. Sure there is only one word for this: WOW!

She probably stays in training and will then be aimed to defend her crown in 2014. She is already as low as 4/1 for next years Arc. While talk about it is pretty premature actually, it is hard to imagine that anyone can beat her, as long as she stays sound and injury free. One thing is for sure anyway: Treve is already now one of the all-time greats.

Moonlight Cloud flies to Foret glory!

Thierry Jarnet must have been pretty happy when he went to bed yesterday. Because not only did he steered home Treve to win the Arc but he went flying again just half an hour later as he was passenger on Air Moonlight Cloud. Well, it must have felt like flying if you have been sitting on this mare I suppose as it looked too good to be true what little Moonlight Cloud did in the Prix de la Foret to her high class rivals. She was trailing the field, which is nothing unusual for her. But when she was still held up in last approaching the 100 meter marker, while Gordon Lord Byron got a good break on the field, it looked as if Jarnet overplayed his cards. But then, he switched to the outside, gave the half asleep five year old mare a wake up call and off she was flying home passing one rival after another in the manner of a Concord. It looked all so easy and she won with astonishing ease in the end. Visually this must be one of the most stunning performances of all time. This tells us Moonlight Cloud is the fasted horse in training on the planet at the moment. Give her 7 furlongs and a good pace and she beats them all. It says allot if you know that Moonlight Cloud clocked a more than a second faster time for the last 200m than Maarek did over five furlongs on the same card. Hard to believe - but true!

Maarek almost unbeatable on soft ground!

Not that it needed any further prove but Maarek demonstrated on Sunday again that he's a completely different horse wit cut in the ground over five furlongs. Declan McDonagh waited exactly until the one furlong pole until he asked his mount for everything in the Prix de l'Abbaye and when he finally did so the reaction was instant as the six year old gelding cut back the deficit in ground to pipe Catcall on the line! This was the first Group 1 success for Maarek who improved late into an excellent top level performer making his way through the ranks, starting his Handicap career as a 70 rated miler and having been once even tried over 12 furlongs! At that point no one could have been even imagining that Maarek would turn out to be almost unbeatable over five furlongs on soft ground years later! In fact in the last two seasons he appeared four times over 5 furlongs, always with cut in the ground, and he won a Listed, a Group 3 and a Group 1 race. In between a second place in a Listed event at Cork, which was one of his rare off days actually as he was slowly into stride and was never travelling. It doesn't take anything away from his impressive record over the shortest possible trip anyway. You better don't bet against him if he has his conditions - that is for sure!

Sizing Europe back and as good as ever!

Sizing Europe on Saturday at Gowran Park

The now 11 year old two times Cheltenham Festival winner goes into his ninth season and made a winning reappearance at Gowran Park on Saturday in the Grade 2 Champion Chase. His task looked straightforward on the ratings but in reality it wasn't as easy actually as main rival Ruby Light is a very good horse in his own right and in fact did almost beat Sizing Europe in the same race two years ago if it wouldn't have been for a fall at the last! Quito De La Roque was also in the line-up who has beaten Sizing in the past already.  

The sun was out over County Kilkenny this Saturday and a good crowd was eagerly awaiting the feature on the card. Sizing Europe looked excellent in the parade ring before the race and went off the clear 4/5 favourite. Ruby Light, a confirmed front-runner, set a good pace while Sizing and Quito De La Roque tracked him all the way. Three out it looked as if Ruby Light would be travelling slightly the better than the big favourite but then from two out it was Sizing Europe all the way who took over the lead and kept on well to score by almost two lengths in the end. A very nice performance, considering that this was his first race after an almost half year long summer break. Connections weigh up their options now, whether  they should take on Sprinter Sacre or aiming Sizing over the 3 miles trip at the King George.   

Royal Empire huge value for Melbourne Cup!

"Royal Empire is improving with every race. ... The ground is usually good to firm at Melbourne, which will suit him, and I think two miles will be perfect. Kerrin McEvoy is set to ride him." - Saeed Bin Suroor. 

So it was confirmed yesterday that Royal Empire will head to Australia for the Melbourne Cup, a message I was happy to hear as I fancy this horse for quite a while for this race. Pretty much since he won the Group 3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury a couple of weeks ago actually, when he stepped up to 13f for the first time and beat Red Cadeaux as well as subsequent Group 2 winner and stablemate Lost In The Moment. He appeared to be outpaced from 4f out but kept going and found plenty under pressure to win in good style in the end. He stepped down to 12f in his next two starts, getting beaten a head at Kempton in a Group 3 and then finishing a strong second at Ascot last Saturday in the Cumberland Lodge Stakes. They didn't go a mad gallop there but he was badly outpaced when the pace increased turning for home, yet he run all the way to the line and stayed on in fine fashion. While Royal Empire's breeding isn't quite conclusive about his staying abilities, his running style clearly indicates he wants further. Around the 12f trip he usually gets outpaced 4-3f out, but he always gallops all the way the line, not stopping, shaping like a stayer, who could produce a bit of a turn of foot over further, though. 

Two miles is an extreme trip of course but Royal Empire got 13f easily and looked go go further, so I don't see a reason why he hasn't a decent chance of getting the trip. He also has the ability to quicken, he likes fast ground and has still potential for improvement. He's pretty much on the up the whole year. Godolphin looks to have some confidence in him either, as he'll be their only representative this year, while they look to have a couple of other nice candidates on hand actually. He has been allocated a weight of 54kg for the Melbourne Cup, which looks a pretty fair weight. After all he looks to have the right profile of a Melbourne Cup winner, which would be the first one for Godolphin. It is not an easy task, having no prep run in Australia before, but that aside, looking at the strong but far from unbeatable opposition, he has a really good chance to go close and 33/1 looks big enough. Surly he'll be much shorter on the Melbourne Cup itself. 

So I'll nominate Royal Empire as a rather confident ante-post selection for the race that stops a nation. 1pt win @ 33/1!

BBOTD: Tuesday the 8th of October...

16.50 Brighton: Copper Trade @ 13/2 PP - 2pts win

 Copper Trade was probably better than the bare result of his most recent run at Chepstow suggested. If he is he would have gone very close for a win that day if it wouldn't have been for his rivals that were crossing his line and which resulted in the situation that gaps closed and he was short of room from 3f out, while travelling very strongly. His jockey had to hold Copper Trade back, in fact relegated him to the rear of the field, in order to be able to switch around the whole field and get a clear run on the outside. Once straighten up he flew home to finish less then 2 lengths beaten in 2nd. On that evidence it looks as if he could get further, as he really stayed on nicely, while his pedigree is inconclusive. Surly Brighton over 1m on softish ground is a very much different test to Chepstow over 7f so it has to be seen if he can see out the trip in these kind of conditions at a track with a very testing final furlong. But it is far from impossible and the fact that he is lightly raced, open to improvement and can race off the same mark as done lto should ensure that he has a very good chance to close tomorrow.

A night at Dundalk - Ireland's only All-Weather track

I haven't been to Dundalk in over two years but last Friday it was time to go back to Ireland's one and only All-Weather track. While there is the occasional talk about the possibility of a second track of this nature, in reality it has never capitalized yet, which means big fields are no exception but rather normality on a race day at Dundalk. The main reason for this is the Irish climate, though. It's the rain who makes life difficult for trainers and horses as the going at the turf tracks can change pretty much every minute. This summer wasn't as bad in all fairness, but last summer it was wet all year long. And here comes the strengths of Dundalk's All-Weather surface into play. The polytrack provides reliable conditions 365 days a year. That's why Irish trainers embrace the track and send out their best horses. For example Aiden O'Brien's Declaration Of War, this years Juddmonte International winner, won a Group 3 here last season. While the quality drops during the winter time, Dundalk offers top class racing in Spring, Summer and Autumn with a wide range of Listed races, ultra competitive class 1 Handicaps and even Group racing as well as good prize money. That is the big difference to All-Weather racing across the Irish Sea over in the UK where largely poor animals contest for poor prize-money at Wolverhampton & Co. - a stark contrast to Dundalk. 

Dundalk Stadium is a completely new track since being rebuilt in 2007 and therefore offers top class facilities for horses and jockeys but also for everyone who comes racing. It's modern but still cosy, with a Restaurant overlooking the track as well as a bar and betting lounge. You never have to walk long to watch horses at the parade ring, place a bet or get a pint. Viewing is good from the stand, even though it can be a bit tricky if the place is packed. Nonetheless there isn't much negative to say about Dundalk and it certainly is worth the €15 entrance. 

Aussie Valentine - winner of the opener on Friday

Let's take a look on what happened at the racetrack last Friday: The highlight was clearly the Group 3 Diamond Stakes over 11 furlongs. The Aiden O'Brien trained Afonso De Sousa went off the 5/4 favouite after winning a Conditions race in good style the week before, overcoming an absence of more than a year. But it was the 2011 Dewhurst Stakes hero Parish Hall who was too strong in the end, securing his first Group victory since landing the big 2yo Group 1 at Newmarket more than two years ago. O'Brien had a winner earlier on the card, though, as the talented Cristoforo Colombo run out a fine success in the Conditions race. He beat a good field and will now step up to Group company again. The two maiden races saw nice performances from their respective winners. Aussie Valentine looks a gelding of decent quality running out a decisive victory. He was very unlucky at the Curragh a couple of weeks ago when he really caught the eye and it was no surprise to see him going so well with a clear run this time. There should be more to come from him when he goes handicapping next. The second maiden looked a very hot contest beforehand and it was a bit of a surprise when the Ger Lyons trained Miss Mousey got up, beating the well backed Dermot Weld filly Backdrop in second. The daughter of Camacho improved nicely for the step up in trip and this form should work out well in the future. R.P. Downey showed that he can be an apprentice with a future in the game after winning the Apprentice Handicap over 1 mile in a driving finish. Still a 7lb claimer but Downey could be interesting to follow as he looks well worth his claim. Another performances to note: Cardinal Palace won the class 1 Handicap over 11f. The lightly raced gelding looks sure to be competitive in pattern company when stepping up in class. 

I've put together a lovely photo gallery from Friday's racing at Dundalk:

BBOTD: Monday the 7th of October...

16.30 Wolverhampton: Sylvia Pankhurst @ 11/1 Bet365 - 2pts win

Since winning a good class 4 Handicap at Chester (form works out well) she lost her form, finishing down the field in three subsequent starts. However that's been really good races, as she contested even in a Listed race, and it is fair to say she is better than these forms suggest. She had a little break since August and is of high interest now returning to the All-Weather where she improved rapidly earlier this year, winning three times, including two course and distance wins. She looked to have loads in hand when appearing the last time on the All-Weather, when she won a handicap at Lingfield in really good style off a 6lb lower mark than the current one. She can probably improve on this surface again and it is interesting to see her coming back after her little break fitted with a visor for the first time. She has a nice draw tomorrow, which is important in these sprint races around Wolverhampton and this should play into her hands taking into account that she loves to race handily. All in all 11/1 looks too big, particularly with Martin Harley booked who rides Wolverhampton extremely well.

Selections: Friday the 4th of October

14.30 Ascot: Jodies Jem @ 9/1 Paddy Power - 2pts win

 I felt Jodies Jem was a shade unlucky not to finish closer than 3rd last time out at Sandown in awful conditions. This lovely progressive gelding travelled like a dream, on the bridle approaching the 2f marker, he was short of room and hampered, though, having a tough time finding a gap, when he switched widest of all eventually and finished well there. His only wins came on the All-Weather so far, but he was only neck beaten at Sandown earlier this year and produced then this lovely most recent performance, suggesting there is more to come. 

19.55 Wolverhampton: Malaysian Boleh @ 11/2 PaddyPower - 3pts win

 Living the Life is a strong favourite here, having been probably a shade unlucky recently, but looks not the most straightforward horse and is too short in my mind, while Malaysian Boleh doesn't get quite the respect he deserves. He won with a good deal in hand over course and distance in his penultimate run while dropping in trip to 6f at Kempton two weeks ago, which wasn't in his favour. While he travelled strongly in rear, he had to switch widest of all and it took him then a while to hit top gear while the first three kicked away in that stage. Once in full swing Malaysian Boleh finished fastest of all, though, cutting back the deficit in promising fashion. back over 7f he should have a major chance tomorrow.

NAP: Thursday 3rd October

Tammuz was a nice and easy winner at 7/1 SP today. Finally one again after a couple of disappoint results, particularly yesterday. He justified the optimism and confidence in his chance. Our second selection of the day didn't have a good run, was slowly into stride and bumped into the rails soon after and was never really travelling in the aftermath.

14.40 Warwick: Aspirant @ 10/1 VC - 2pts win

Looks a bit a harsh price, even if it a competitive race this here tomorrow. Aspirant is lightly raced, open to further improvement stepping up in trip, which should in fact be in his favour, and I thought he showed a good performance at Bath lto over 6f, when he finished very wide and run on well, even though the winner was simply too good - won subsequently a class 2 handicap at Haydock! This form looks strong not only for that reason but other horses from that race run really well subsequently too. I also liked Aspirant's performance at Kempton, when he won over clearly too short 5f. He showed a nice attitude that day, while being badly outpaced, to win nicely in the end.

Selections: Wednesday the 2nd of October...

18.40 Kempton: Tammuz @ 6/1 Bet365 - 2pts win

Lightly raced Tammuz caught the eye at Wolverhampton lto, when he had to overcome the 2nd widest draw, which is a difficult task over the 7f trip there. He settled in rear, travelling very well but had also loads to do turning for home. He really motored home in the closing stages while not looking the most straightforward ride, though. Over 1f out he had to switch in order to get run through a gap and the way he picked up quickly again was impressive. The step up in trip back to 1m looks in his favour tomorrow and I expect him to make use of his low looking mark.

21.10 Kempton: Sea Soldier @ 18/1 Bet365 - 1pt win

Thought Sea Soldier ran a fine race here at Kempton quite recently. He got a very light ride from an inexperienced apprentice and was in a pretty bad position for a long time, first trailing the field and then turning widest of all, four wide, he ran on really well though under a very light hands and heels ride and might soon ready to strike. If not tomorrow then the next time but he's down to a very low mark now and never have been able to show the same sort of form as he showed during his 2yo season. But this most recent performance suggest a return to form and while an inexperienced rider is booked again he claims valuable 7lb and I feel Sea Soldier is worth to have a small bet.