Thursday 16th April

Newmarket
4.45 Balaagha 1.5pts win - 2nd, btn nse
5.20 Imposing 1pt win - 2nd, btn sh

Ripon
4.55 Leonid Glow 0.25pt E/W - unpl.

Wolverhampton
5.45 Shark Man 1.5pts win - WON 2/1 (adv) *15p R4
7.45 Never Ending Tale 0.5pt win - 2nd


A slight loss (less than a point) on the day, but that doesn't even tell half the story. I'll start with Newmarket where I was most unlucky.

Delegator was impressive in the Craven and must go close in the Guineas providing this hasn't taken the edge off him. My first bet came in the 4.45 where I expected Balaagha to improve greatly on her debut 5th of last season. She played up in the preliminaries and went to post very keenly. It was much the same during the early stages of the race as Richard Hills was unable to settle her. Despite this she cut through the field with relative ease and threw it down to the Ryan Moore ridden Resort. It looked as if she get the better of her rival in the finish but Richard Hills chose to hit her with the stick just once and she went down by the narrowest of margins. With so much going wrong for her, to get within millimetres of winning was as fine performance and maiden success looks a mere formality. She is a potentially pattern class.

The following race was the 10f 3y0 handicap that last year saw Bronze Cannon and Doctor Fremantle fight out a close finish. Michael Stoute targets this race well, over the past four years we have seen him run Doctor Fremantle (btn nk), Regal Flush (btn nk), Papal Bull (won), and Zalongo (btn hd). This year he was represented by Imposing, who looked sure to appreciate the step up 1m2f. He took my eye last season in that 7f sales race won by Donativum, he was tailed off at the mid point but when he hit the rising ground he flew, cutting threw half the field as if they were standing still. Imposing also holds a Derby entry and the fact that Doctor Fremantle, Regal Flush, Papal Bull, and Balakheri (won this 2002) all went on to contest a classic after faring well in this race, bode well for his chances.

Ryan Moore travelled well on Imposing before making what looked like a race winning challenge to take it up inside the last. He was undone however by Perpetually who, despite looking beat when passed by Imposing, got his head down at the line to record a short-head victory. The handicapper will probably have his say with Imposing but he still remains of great interest. Not the start I was looking for at HQ in 2009 but wrong with regards to judgement so can claim a moral victory. Much prefer immoral financial victories though.

The horse to take away from Ripon was the Willie Haggas trained Mutamaashi, who despite beaten at a short price, ran a race full of promise on handicap debut. He will not have to wait long to gain compensation.

There was justice at Wolverhampton thankfully, although he was joint strongest with regards to stake, I made Shark Man the NAP of the day for text service purposes and he became by 7th winning NAP in the past 9 racing days. He looked a good thing based on his Brocklesby 5th and 2nd to Soccer previously and despite looking like he'd improve for 6f he won comfortably enough come the finish. I advised taking the 2/1 and even with the rule4 it beat the SP (10/11) massively.

The following race saw Mark Johnston's Stagecoach Jade make it two from two winning by 3/4l on her handicap debut. The 2nd, Abu Dubai, was an alarming drifter all day (16 => 140 on the exchanges) but ran another solid race on polytrack and looks sure to find a similar event.

Never Ending Tale, now trained by Ed Vaughan, looks to have started the season on a fair mark and was well backed for his seasonal debut. He looked the winner on the turn for home, but doesn't find a great deal off the bridle. He will benefit from a more waiting ride and will get his head in front if he stays this well handicapped.


Will keep records of N.H. and A/W bets since the blog started, alongside the full Flat (turf) record.

All-Weather
Bets 12
Winners 5
P/L +8.22pts
ROI 61%

Flat (turf) 2009
Bets 31
Winners 11
P/L +8.19pts
ROI 21%

National Hunt
Bets 2
Winners 2
P/L +5.3pts
ROI 265%

All bets proofed to the Racing Post