Sunday, June 29, 2014

BBOTD - Sunday 29th June

15.40 Salisbury: Among Angels @ 3/1 StanJames - 4pts win

Among Angels won well a maiden on his 2nd start at Windsor and was thrown into deep water in the Windsor Castle where he ran an absolute cracker in my mind. He came from the rear, travelling on the far side well enough, and stayed on super strongly to win the race on his side, while it was a huge advantage to be with the pace on the stands side which was the reason why he finished only 9th overall. But this performance should easily be good enough to win a Listed race in the future, so today could be a good opportunity to prove future prospects. Step up in trip should suit, considering the way he stayed on.

Friday, June 27, 2014

BBOTD: Saturday 28th June 2014

17.15 Newmarket: Urban Dance @ 4/1 PP - 4pts win

Classy individual, lightly raced, and caught my eye on couple of occasions. Most notably lto at Newmarket over 12f when he travelled extremely strongly until the 2f marker, but faded badly soon after on his seasonal reappearance. No surprise for me, as he might not have been fully wound up and also doesn't appear to stay that far as on his two other starts over this trip he faded badly too. Most impressively also a Newmarket last year, when he travelled like the winner until almost the final furlong marker, but didn't find anything once off the bridle, which is very much unlike what Urban Dance showed over 10f before. He should definitely improve from the drop in trip, as on his debut he won at Newmarket nicely over this distance, after being extremely green throughout the whole race, while on handicap debut he found plenty once off the bridle in the closing stages.

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Bets: Friday 27th June 2014

18.55 Curragh: 2pt win Won Diamond @10/1 PP + 1pt win Breathe Easy @ 14/1 Coral

Big and competitive handicap but I really like two horses. Won Diamond was a big eye-catcher lto at Naas over 7f on his seasonal reappearance. He didn't get a run on the inside for quite a while in the home straight and just got out late over 1f out, and had to quicken instantaniously. He found quickly his stride and finished the race very strongly in 3rd. Form works out well already. Won Diamond has only won a maiden to date but doesn't have too many miles on the clock, and showed a couple of nice performances last season of higher or similar mark than the current one. Ground and trip won't be an issue and he should have still room for improvement as his sire's offspring progresses often well with age. Only slight worry for me is tongue tied 1st time tomorrow, something I don't like to see as I feel horses hate it and it can be an indicator for breathing problems. But he ran so well earlier this month, it might simply lead to more improvement. 

Breathe Easy is a lightly raced four year old in excellent form. He won/dead heated a nice Handicap at the Curragh in May and followed up with a very strong performance at Leopardstown when he made all from the front, set a decent pace and seemed to go strongly still 2f out, he just tired late and finished 3rd in the end. Drop in trip to a mile might be a good thing after all, since he stays a bit further, something I like in a front-runner and which can be a vital advantage in the stiff and testing Curragh finish. More improvement is likely to come.

Sunday, June 22, 2014

BBOTD - Sunday 22nd June

15.45 Gowran Park: Six Of Hearts @ 10/1 VC - 2pts win

The veteran comes down to a good mark and his latest run at Naas over 6f suggested he might be ready to win finally a race again. He was held up, appeared to be slightly outpaced, didn't get a proper run through then having to wait for gaps and finished eventually strongly in the final furlong. He is back over 7f today, which is probably his ideal trip. He has won over course and distance in the past and the fast ground will surly suit as his best form in the past came on ground where the word firm appeared in.

Thursday, June 12, 2014

BBOTD - Friday 13th of June

15.40 York: Kalk Bay @ 7/1 PP - 2pts win

Kalk Bay was desperately unlucky on his two starts this year and judged those performances appears to be well poised to win anytime soon. At Poni on his seasonal reappearance he was far off the pace which is always a disadvantage there, was then short of room while travelling best of all, got badly hampered around the final furlong marker, yet found his stride back quickly and charged home in impressive style. More or less the same story at Musselburgh, where he had loads to do from off the pace, and got locked on the inside again. If this horse gets a clear run, it must be hard to beat tomorrow.

Monday, June 9, 2014

BBOTD - Monday 9th of June

19.30 Roscommon: Balmont Flyer @ 11/1 VC - 2pt win

Never one or placed on the flat, never won over todays trip - not exactly encouraging. But there are some encouraging signs still. Mostly his most recent performance at Fairyhouse when he had an awkward start and had to take up a less than ideal position in the field. He travelled well enough for a long time and seemed to be in with every chance over 2f out, however didn't get any run whatsoever being locked there on the inside rail. He made late progress when in the clear, without being any nearer than sixth in the end. He gets another pound off the mark and is extremely well handicapped now in my mind as he showed some promise last year of much higher in hot and competitive handicaps on Turf, most notably off a mark off 70 in a big Leopardstown handicap. The good ground should certainly help, so should the assistance from Wayne Lordan in the saddle.

Sunday, June 8, 2014

BBOTD - Sunday 8th of June

15.40 Curragh: Nonchalant @ 15/2 VC 2pts win

Have seen Nonchalant at Cork on his winning debut. Looked forward in the parade ring before like a strong 3yo colt. This is a massive step up in class today, thrown into Listed class and seasoned older horses. But he receives loads of weight which will clearly help and the form of his maiden win works out well with the 2nd being an nto winner. Ground is fine, trip is unknown but the way he stayed on at Cork gives hope that an additional furlong won't be a problem. He is clearly an interesting contender with potential.