Remember Peter Winkworth? I Do...

It’s definitely TIME FOR A TOOT now as she wins well @haydockraces very many congratulations to Peter Winkworth @PiersWinkworth @CallumSheppy and all the team at home 👏👏🏆🏆🥂🥂🍾🍾 pic.twitter.com/AhZUJfi2bs

— Charlie Hills (@cbhills) October 19, 2018

The title of this post...

I guess there are many, many...many, Peter Winkworth's in the world. 

I've calculated there are 510 in the United Kingdom!

I'm joking, of course. However, I am a fan of Peter Winkworth who, these days, is known as a racehorse owner. I know he breeds a number of thoroughbred racehorses, too. Readers may remember that not so many years ago he was a racehorse trainer.    

I was sad the day he retired from training because he was a very good handler and I used to make the most of his two-year-olds which often went very well at huge prices on their second start.   

Anyway, time moves on. He's still a great man in my estimations because he knows his horses. 

My niche within this sport of kings is two-year-old racing. Well, guess what I noticed today? Talk about an open-ended question, hey. 

3:00 Nottingham - 

EBF Stallions Oath Restricted Maiden Stakes (Plus 10 Race) (Sire And Dam Restricted Race) (Div II)

Surfman. I know what you're thinking...who or what is surfman? Is it about a man surfing? No! It's a two-year-old horse owned (surprise, surprise) by Mr Winkworth (Peter).  

This bay colt is a son of Kingman out of a Group 3 winning mare who was in training back in 2008 by the man himself. In fact, Shimmering Surf may have won just once in thirteen starts but total prize winnings over £100,000 detail a smart performer. In addition, she achieved an official rating of 107. Sadly, the mare died in 2017 at the age of 10.  

Surfman, bred by Winkworth, was the last of the mare's offspring. Interesting to note that he was sent through the sale's ring and fetched 140,000 guineas. 

Looking at this bay colt today, he is a big, strong horse. Varian has done a good job getting him ready for his debut over today's distance of 1m 1/2f. Backed from 6-1 - 9-2, connections clearly fancied this February foal to go well. He didn't disappoint finishing a worthy third place losing by a head and a neck. 

I really like the look of this colt. He has size and substance. There's no doubt he was ring rusty, inexperienced but showed an equal measure of ability. 

Just like the good, old days, I'm sure Peter was hoping for a winning debut. But you can bet he will be even more determined to see a win on Surfman's second start. 

A great reminder that even though so much changes in horse racing - often little changes at all.  

Surfman has Peter Winkworth dreaming of Derby success https://t.co/BTj1fGYqta pic.twitter.com/WT5yFjyTB9

— Horse Racing News (@HorseRacingUK) May 28, 2019

1:00 Nottingham Racing Tips (1st November)

An EBF Maiden stakes (Plus 10) over 1m 1/2f on good to soft going.  

Ten two-year-olds take part: an equal measure of debutante and horses with a smattering of form. 

Charlie Appleby has proven a powerhouse all season and Ispolini is priced 5/4f at the time of writing. This bay colt is a son of Dubawi purchased at the yearling sales for 1,200,000G. It is worth noting he was given a National Stakes (Group 1) entry many months ago. It is likely this February foal has been a little slow to come to hand. I would keep an eye on the betting because there is a chance he may be a little ring rusty or even in need of the run. This hasn't been the case for their juveniles all season, but in the closing throws of the turf campaign, it pays to be careful. If strong in the market, it would be a positive. 

One of the main rivals has to be Rich Identity who hails from Roger Varian's stable. Another son of Dubawi, this grey colt has raced twice and been pretty fancied in the betting. He ran well on debut when runner-up at Yarmouth. However, punters got their fingers burned when returning for action at Redcar finishing third, beaten half a length, at 4/7f. Bookmakers were smiling after he dwelt and then pushed along someway from home. This April foal never looked to be going or an odds-on shot. De Sousa didn't give up the ghost and the horse ran on in the closing furlong to give backers a slight hope for a stride or two until coming to the conclusion it was a bad day at the office. Perhaps the debut effort wasn't as good as it seemed or maybe Rich Identity just ran below par second start. Varian gave this colt a couple of significant entries which give hope. This step up in distance looks a good move and I would suspect he will travel much better today.

Come On Tier ran well on debut even though he was priced 20/1. David Simcock is a class trainer and I always respect his fancied two-year-olds on their second start. This French-bred son of Kendergent was a cheap yearling purchase whose price rose to 65,000E when acquired at the breeze-up sales (2yo). There was plenty of promise shown on that debut run at Windsor. The form of the race looks solid and there could be more to come. 

John Gosden can unearth a quality debutante any time of the year. Petit Palais cost 220,000G at the yearling sales and half-brother to Galileo Gold. The betting is a decent guide to this chestnut colt's chances. If priced 13/2 & less SP hold fair each-way claims. If weak in the market it may suggest he needs the run. 

Agar's Plough defied his odds of 100/1 on debut when seventh in a hot Newmarket maiden. He did little wrong next time out at Ascot when runner-up. Punters may have been a little disappointed when a beaten favourite at York finishing fifth. 

The Lincoln Lawyer makes his debut for Mark Johnston. If priced 16/1 and less SP could figure but the betting suggests he has his work cut out. 

Dawn Dancer is worth noting in the betting. If seriously backed it would bring greater hope. 

Trevithick, Chikoko Trail and Seaborough are best watched. 

Conclusion: These end of season maidens can be difficult to call. Debutante may be class horses and ready to take a maiden before a sleepy winter or already for hibernation and send for a little bit of experience. Ispolini cost a lot of money and that in itself suggests his son of Dubawi will be primed. I would let the betting settle just in case there is a marked drift in the market which would be a concern. Rich Identity didn't look good at Redcar. He was always a touch outpaced and will appreciate this step up in trip. With valuable experience on his side, we could see a better performance today. If the favourite is very short priced, he could be a fair price for each-way backers. I still have a slight concern about that last run as he just looked hard work. Come On Tier holds fair each-way claims if priced 13/2 & less SP. Agar's Plough has possibilities. The betting will help detail the ability of Petit Palais. If strong in the market, it would add to the strength of this race. A race of ifs and buts in many ways. If the favourite is strong in the market I would respect his chance but betting debutantes can seem very hard work if they lack experience. Rich Identity, Come On Tier and Agar's Plough could make decent each-way alternatives but a couple of those have slight question marks. David Simcock's charge is likely to go well in his second start. I would have to take a watching brief unless the favourite is very short and one of the form horses drifted to a big price, which may just give a touch of value. 

ATP Aegon Open - Nottingham Outright

12/1 Baghdatis set to shine in Nottingham.

The Aegon Open from Nottingham is the last opportunity for players to fine tune their grass court skills ahead of the big one at Wimbledon starting next Monday. A shorter week is scheduled with the final on Saturday and we have much brighter weather forecasted in the midlands this week compared to last weeks on/off court disruptions in Birmingham.

We have live coverage all week on Eurosport and top seed Kevin Anderson is still too early in his comeback from injury to justify favouritism at 15/2. The big-serving South African is a long way off his quarter-final form of the US Open in early last September and is hard to win with anyway. Anderson has won the week prior to a Grand Slam however when he took the Winston Salem title prior to that US Open run to the last eight however a repeat here is unlikely. 

Second and third seeds Pablo Cuevas 33/1 & Joao Soasa are easily opposed on grass, and Alexandra Dolgopolov the fourth seed 14/1, despite being able to handle this surface is reportedly injured and not played any tennis for a while, so that leaves fifth seed Sam Querrey as the most likely winner of the eight seeds at 8/1. 

Last year's runner-up to Denis Istomin is enjoying his best season for some time now free from injury and the former Queens winner looks like being the chief threat to my selection this week in the unseeded Marcus Baghdatis of Cyprus at 12/1. 

Baghdatis loves the quick conditions here in Nottingham which is very similar to next week's major in which he has made a semi-final here. withdrew injured last year prior to semi-final). He is the class act on this surface in what is a field build up of one-dimensional big server and serve-volleyers and will be highly motivated to defend points from last year and go better. 

Eighth seed Gilles Muller 8/1 would be the main threat in this bottom half, however, Baghdatis leads Muller 3-0 in this head to head series and is taken to excel in Nottingham this week having proven he is in good form and health on what is now his favourite terrain.

Recommendation 

ATP Aegon Open - Nottingham. Marcus Baghdatis to win Outright @ 12/1 Bet365 & Betfred.

2:10 Nottingham (17th May) BETVICTOR MILLION POUND GOAL EBF NOVICE STAKES (CLASS 5) (2yo)

An EBF Novice Stakes race of 6f 15y on good to firm going. The betting suggests this is a two-horse race. Form horses Book Of Poetry & Hakeem set a fair challenge for the a field which mainly comprises of debutantes. 

Richard Hannon's two-year-olds have not been as successful as previous years although the like of Mehmas bring hope for a fruitful Royal Ascot. Hakeem, a son of Wootton Bassett,  ran well on debut when second to Global Applause, who has a reputation, but put firmly in his place by Mehmas at Newbury. The form of that Newmarket debut has been franked by Top Score winning in style at Ripon, although that was a pretty ordinary affair. Hakeem cost 80,000E at the yearling sales and an entrant fro the Phoenix Stakes Group 1 and recently entered to run at stakes class [a true stakes races if people think I have gone bonkers]. He sets the standard but pretty valueless odds at 4/7. 

Book Of Poetry was relatively fancied on debut at Beverley when third behind previous winner Orewa. This son of Poet's Voice cost 160,000E at the yearling sales. He seemed very ring rusty in the early stages and had  amounting to climb because caught the eye in the closing stages when making healthy progress. This extra furlong and experience are guaranteed to bring a smarter performance. This January foal has been entered for a stakes race which gives confidence. Looks the type to have in a decent each-way double if you have something you fancy to go well.  

Mesmeric Moment looks outclasses by these two, potentially,  smarter horses but will enjoy this step up in distance. David Evans' filly was made favourite at Wolverhampton but slightly lacked enough pace to gain a favourable position and had to run wide for most on this turning course which didn't help at all. 

Man About Town is worth considering for Karl Burke's Spigot Lodge.This Irish-bred son of Dandy Man races in the familiar silks of Clipper Logistics who are no stranger to talented juveniles. This chestnut colt cost £85,000 at the yearling sales when purchased by the trainer. If fancied in te betting has fair place claims. 

The rest are best watched. 

Conclusion: Not much to talk about in many ways with the two favourites looking to set the bar pretty high for the opposition. Hakeem looks to have winning form and will take the beating. It is very unlikely Johnston's charge will be an each-way price [next to impossible] but if so a great bet. Man About Town could be the dark horse of this race and if priced in single figures, I'd take it as a sign connection fancy hitting the frame.  

NR - Man About Town, Mesmeric Moment, Book Of Poetry


  

5:10 Nottingham - RACINGUK.COM FILLIES´ NOVICE MEDIAN AUCTION STAKES (Plus 10 Race) (CLASS 5) (2yo)

A few nonrunners here but we have our eye on a mega-priced two-year-old for this in Kristin Stubbs' Roy's Dream. This Irish-bred daughter of Monsieur Bond finished last on debut but didn't have the best introduction suffering a slow start and no much went right thereafter. She looks a tidy juvenile and made some headway in the closing stages to suggest there was better to come. Some bookmakers are offering 66/1 and that is plainly a ridiculous price. In some respects, the price is so bit it almost puts me off taking an interest. However, you should never let a big price put you off as they only come back to haunt you. There a couple of fancied runners here but this January foal is worth a small each-way wager and fingers crossed she can hit the frame. 

Roy's Dream 66/1 (adv) 8th