1:30 Wolverhampton 2YO Racing Tips (20th November)

With the turf concluded the 2yo racing can seem a little quiet at times but Saturday featured a few decent juveniles. I posted on Sky Equine. 

The 7:45 Wolverhampton was interesting. Three or four of the runners caught the eye and worthy of respect in future races. 

The winner, Two Weeks won in gutsy style. This daughter of Mayson was fancied in the betting when making her debut at Newbury back in August when finishing fifth. She had received a couple of significant entries which subscribers of the excellence Group Horse had noted. Well, such was the strength of this race, Clive Cox's charge opened at 11/1 and backed to 8/1. A front-running performance holding the late challenge of Rizzle Dizzle who was expected to go well by Karl Burke. 

Burke's good-looking daughter of Foxwedge will be winning soon. John Dance has a number of talented juveniles in training via numerous handlers but an owner who has his finger on the pulse. 

Another horse from this race who really deserves a sentence or two is Roger Varian's Sooda. Prince Fasal's home-bred, an Irish-bred daughter of Street Cry was well backed but struggled to be competitive after a slow start. However, we can detail that this March foal is one of the best juveniles in the stable and expect a big run second start. 

Finally, getting to the 1:30 Wolverhampton - 

I'm writing this post before any betting so not ideal. I'm not crazy on Handicaps and I won't be betting here but thought Sylvester Kirk's Sauchiehall Street. Rated just 59 on official rating we are talking about a poor horse in a poor race. However, this bay gelding has won a race and competitive at this grade. He was running on in style when beaten favourite at Kempton. He ran out of real estate and this step up in distance will benefit. 

2:55 Wolverhampton Racing Tips (12th July) Novice Auction Stakes

A restricted race type which often falls to a form horse.  Mrs Teasdale has run well on her last two starts and sets a fair standard. From a statistical point of view, Danzan is another who holds respectable claims. Interesting to see how the only significantly entered two-year-old goes here. Sylvester Kirk has a decent string of juveniles this season and it is intriguing to consider why this able handler gave Sauciehall Street an entry for Royal Ascot. This could be a sign of ability although I am always slightly careful with the entries at the Royal meeting. This son of Mastercraftsman was a relatively cheap yearling purchase at just 16.000G. He was entered to run a while back but withdrawn. She seemed weak in the market which wasn't the best indicator although Kirk can pop up with debutantes who win at big odds. A wide draw isn't ideal and I have a sneaking impression this bay colt may be a non-runner. I can't say I am confident about this colt but very interested in seeing how he fairs. 

Monday's Racing Tips (3rd July)

4:45 Wolverhampton - 

Ed Dunlop doesn't overrate his juveniles but the stable is keen on Global Humor. They expected to win on debut but he bumped into a couple of talents. A step up in distance to 7f looks mores suiting. With a couple of winners in opposition, this will not be a walkover but he should take the beating. In an ideal world, this two-year-old would be an each-way price but that look impossible. I would want bigger than 6/4 to be betting. Interesting. 

6:00 Windsor - 

An intriguing puzzle. Dusty, trained by Mick Channon, received a Royal Ascot entry but then made her debut at Lingfield. She was a huge price that day which suggests little was expected. In truth, this daughter of Paco Boy didn't achieve a great deal. I thought she was given the Ascot entry on a whim so it was a surprise to see she has been given a Listed entry. The mystery deepens. A wide draw looks hard work at Windsor unless they stay on the far rail which is unlikely with the ground drying. She is priced 20/1 for this race. I wouldn't worry about the price because Channon can win a big odds second start. I would imagine if the stable feel this chestnut filly has any major hope she will be backed. It is intriguing to consider. However, if this April foal has ability she will show it today. I would feel more optimistic if better drawn. A 16 birth is hellishly difficult to negate unless staying on the far rail but that looks very unlikely. If drifting to incredible prices on the exchanges I may have a small speculative each-way bet but we have many ifs and buts floating around. 

6:45 Hamilton - 

Palmer has been knocking on the door. This tiny son of Acclamation is battling type who has been denied a win simply because he has been against strong opponents. He will probably enjoy this going. There is always a worry that he may regress because he has been given a few hard races and they can sour a juvenile in a race if they decide enough is enough. A form horse with some ability is Ventura Gold. He needs in excess of 5f but this stiff course and softer going may see him to better advantage. I would still have concerns he will be outpaced in the early stage so if betting you would be wise to bet in-running on the exchanges because you will secure greater odds. There is a concern he may be running over this trip to look disappointing with regard to a handicap rating. This could be a distinct possibility. I have little doubt this horse will be better over a stiffer trip and if disappointing today will be a very good bet if given a lowly official rating. 

3:20 Wolverhampton Racing Tips (6th February) BETWAY MEDIAN AUCTION MAIDEN STAKES (CLASS 6) (3-5yo)

A Median Auction Maiden Stakes over 5f 216y on Standard going. 

Eleven runners, predominantly three-year-olds, although a couple aged four and one five who carry penalties. 

A restricted race type based on yearlings with a median price of less than £20,000. At a push, five horse are found in the betting. Beyond that point, the price is upwards of 20/1. 

Mark Johnston has the favourite in Blue Bahia who hasn't been seen for just over a month. This Irish-bred daughter of Big Bad Bob has raced seven times, hitting the frame with some regularity. She started her career in Ireland with Dermot Weld before heading to Kingsley Park just after Christmas. She has placed in these last two starts and has an official rating of 73 [was as high as 83]. She isn't no world beater but shown ability and on race type is dropped in class. 

Richard Fahey fields Right Action for Middleham Park Racing. This son of Dandy Man hasn't been seen since late August. This gelding has shown a glimmer of ability although racing at this level. Racing over a distance ranging from 5-7f, this six furlongs looks the best trip on the previous form. This will be the first assault on the all-weather course. Right Action hasn't been disgraced on a number of occasions although looks limited. He too has dropped down in the handicap to an official rating of 73.  

Ebitda is once race, which may give punters a chance of latching onto an improving horse. Scott Dixon didn't have much to celebrate with his juveniles in 2016. This daughter of Compton Place cost just 12,500G when purchased by the trainer at the yearling sales. Now in the ownership of Chesterfield Estates, she belied her odds of 25/1 on debut when racing at Southwell over 5f. A slow start and inexperience proved costly, although I imagine she needed the race and connections must have known the minimum trip would be a shade too short. This step up in distance will help. Horses often make huge improvement first to the second start, and I can see this filly going well. 

I've always been a fan of Eric Alston, who has made his name training sprinters. It's a shame, like so many of the smaller yards, that they are not given the opportunity to show their craft. Poetic Queen is a homebred for loyal patrons Mr & Mrs Middlebrook. This bay filly is a daughter of Dylan Thomas. She has raced five times and not been particularly fancied in the betting. She finished second last time out of over 5f in a restricted race at Newcastle. An official rating of just 55 doesn't set the greatest of standard and you have to consider something will go better.

This race type often favours form horses even if they look pretty limited. It is understandable to search for a debutante because at least they haven't proven themselves to be poor at this time. Dean Ivory doesn't have too many debut winners although if he has a talented horse they are not usually shrinking violets. Harlequin Storm is a bay son of Clodovil who cost 42,000G when purchased at the yearling sales. He was originally purchased by Peter & Ross Doyle Bloodstock. From a low draw [1] he is worth watching in the betting. 

Conclusion: No strong views about this race. Form horses are usually favoured over debutantes in this race type. Blue Bahia has shown ability and connections will be fancying their claims. They may be fearful of Ebitda who is likely to improve a good deal for that first start. Dixon is a wise trainer and I can imagine this filly will be fit and ready. The stable are not against bold front-running performances. If priced 13/2 & less SP it would hold fair each-way claims. Harlequin Storm is interesting although I am generally against debutantes at this level. He was quite an expensive purchase. I would definitely keep an eye on the betting. If substantially backed, I would give this debutante fair claims of hitting the frame. If exceptionally weak in the market, take a watching brief.