Thursday 9th July

Doncaster
7.10
Interdiamonds 1pt win - 2nd

9.15
First Swallow 0.5pt E/W - 3rd 9/1 (adv)

Newmarket (July)
2.00
Arcano 0.5pt win - WON 9/4 (adv)

2.35
Changing The Guard 0.25pt E/W - 5th
Eastern Aria 0.25pt E/W - 9th
High Severa 0.25pt E/W - unplaced

Warwick
3.30
Kristallo 0.25pt E/W - 7th

4.40
Secret Hero 0.5pt win - 5th

All bets proofed to Racing Post

A fairly quiet day considering the quality of the racing. I was very impressed with the Arcano and Showcasing when they filled the 1-2 spots in their Newbury maiden on debut.

Every now and again you see a maiden, usually at Newmarket or Newbury, where you know the 1-2 or 1-2-3 (rather than just the winner) are decent. I saw it with Spout/Dance A Dream (1994), Bahhare/Equal Rights (1996), Soviet Song/Airwave (2002 although at Kempton), Hala Bek/Dragon Dancer (2006), and Delegator/Palavicini/Four Winds (2008). I'm sure there were more (and I'm sure there have been one or two I got wrong) but these are the ones that stick in my head, where I thought the 1-2(-3) were potential pattern performers as soon as they crossed the line.

I formed the same opinion when I saw Arcano and Showcasing fight out the finish on their debut. With Showcasing and others winning maidens since and the 3rd (Party Doctor) finishing 3rd in the Chesham I could be on the right track. Therefore Arcano was a rare bet for me in a 2yo Group race. He travelled smoothly throughout the race and took the July Stakes without much fuss.

Eastern Aria and High Severra turned out to be outclassed in the 2.35 although Changing The Guard put in another consistent performance in 5th.

Green Beret was desperate in the 4.55, he is a smart 3yo.

At Doncaster, Interdiamonds ran a fine race in the 7.10 considering the ground went against him.

First Swallow is weighted to strike at any moment and was well supported before the 9.15. He was off the bridle early but kept on well to snatch a place. He will win soon over 6f.