Saturday 2nd May

Newmarket
2.00
Deep Winter 0.25pt E/W - unpl
Mohathab 0.25pt E/W - unpl

3.10
Monitor Closely 0.25pt E/W - 8th
Lord Shanakill 0.25pt E/W - unpl

4.55
Sopranist 1pt win - 7th
Spring Of Fame 0.5pt win - 3rd

5.30
Photographic 1pt win - WON 3/1

Goodwood
2.20
King Olav 0.5pt win - 2nd

2.55
Born Tobouggie 1pt win - 3rd
Sawab 0.25pt E/W - 8th

4.40
Devil To Pay 1pt win - WON 4/1 (adv)

Doncaster
5.40
Empowered 1pt win - WON 15/8 (adv) 10p R4

8.5pts stakes, 11.7pts returned (+3.2pts).

Mohathab was well backed for the opener but finished tailed off and eased, obviously feeling the effects of the ground - clearly better was expected. The combination of ground and some harsh handicapping seemed to stop Deep Winter's progress.

Full marks to Channel 4 for their explanation of how horses can be ground dependent due to their action. It's common knowledge that Casual Conquest wouldn't want fast ground, but the TV close-ups on Saturday really showed how "shouldery" this horse's action is. He never looked comfortably hitting this firm ground as hard as his action forces him to and the over priced Bronze Cannon took full advantage. Spanish Moon blotted his copybook yet again, refusing to enter the stalls.

Unlike some pundits, who believe we saw a superstar of Saturday, the 2000 Guineas left me cold. I see no reason to suggest this is even an average renewal, especially as I cannot help but think that perhaps Delegator left a bit on the course back on Craven day. Monitor Closely ran a cracker in 8th, one of the first off the bridle he stayed on well after the dip. He will do well over 10f plus this season. Sea The Star is now as short of 5/2 for the Derby - there will be a separate post on this matter in a few days.

In the 4.55, Sopranist looked all at sea on this fast going and Spring Of Fame failed to show his form for Godolphin and/or on turf.

The handicapper was lenient with Photographic given the manner of her debut success and she won the last comfortably. Connections may now try their luck in pattern company. Ave, back in 3rd will be winning soon, she looks well handicapped on last years form which included the sole defeat of the since improved Ghanaati.

At Goodwood, King Olav ran a solid race in the first but was no match for the winner.

Born Tobouggie confirmed Kempton placings with those who re-opposed her here but could only manage 3rd overall. She travelled well and I won't be writing her off.

The early bird catches the worm and I was that was indeed the case with the 4.40. Devil To Pay looked a horse potentially in the wrong grade and the 4/1 morning price looked huge. Those odds lasted until around 11:20am and he shortened further throughout the day and went off 13/8! He looked a little awkward on the turn and when Seb Sanders looked down soon after I feared the worse, he was then hampered by the runner-up which resulted in his losing his place (traded at 38 in-running at this point), however he picked up and stayed on well to score. Everything went wrong for this horse so he deserves plenty of credit for this win and should win more races.

The Thirsk Hunt Cup went to Flawed Genius, on this blog after his last run I made the following comments:

"although he isn't totally straightforward Flawed Genius was never put in the race. They were strung out at halfway due to a frantic pace and the horse did not receive the cover a horse of his type needs. "

He was given a much better ride by Neil Callan in this race and being short of room momentarily late on even helped his cause. The return of the tongue-tie also helped and his win came as no surprise.

It was always going to be a matter of time before Empowered won a handicap and Willie Haggas' well handicapped 4yo made no mistake in the opener at Doncaster, despite veering right when making his challenge. He has unlimited potential and should be one to follow.

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

Combined
Bets 121
Winners 46
P/L +43.27pts
ROI 30%

All-Weather
Bets 30
Winners 12
P/L +17.10pts
ROI 50%

Flat (turf) 2009
Bets 82
Winners 29
P/L +17.16pts
ROI 17%

National Hunt
Bets 9
Winners 5
P/L +9.01pts
ROI 90%

All bets proofed to Racing Post