The Newmarket trainer has been short of winners in recent days and two of his fancied runners today appear vulnerableI take quite a keen interest in trainer form, so it was a surprise to find that I’d missed the recent dip in form suffered by the Roger Varian stable. My attention was drawn to it by the Racing Post’s Spotlight analyst who noted “stable quiet” in relation to a Varian runner this week. Related: BHA comes under fire after John Wainwright is cleared in corruption case Continue reading...
The veteran jockey will try to repeat his 2015 Geoffrey Freer success aboard Agent Murphy on SaturdayWhat a pleasure to see Jimmy Fortune booked for four rides at Newbury tomorrow, having been absent since May with back trouble. The years have evidently taken some kind of toll on the 45-year-old but he still has big days in him, as he proved by winning the Cambridgeshire last year. Related: News and tips: BHA to publish non-runner league table in October Continue reading...
Wesley Ward’s first Royal Ascot winner is still helping the US trainer with his raids on Britain’s top Flat prizesAny punter who managed to collect at 33-1 when Strike The Tiger won at Royal Ascot eight years ago might be interested to know that the horse, now 10, is back at a British racecourse for the first time since that heady day. Now working as a ‘companion thoroughbred’, the gelding travelled over from the US to York with Lady Aurelia at the end of last week and is settled there alongside the filly who is favourite for next week’s Nunthorpe Stakes. Related: John Gosden’s plea fails to move BHA panel on Rab Havlin French drug ban Continue reading...
We’ve had mixed messages from his owner but there’s grounds for hope that Neil Mulholland’s charge may have found a winnable raceFor the first time ever, I was contacted last night by the owner of a horse that I’ve tipped. I was hoping for something along the lines of ‘You’re a shrewd one, this has been the plan since Magna Carta!’ Alas... Related: Racing news and tips: Michelle Payne too ill for Newbury comeback Continue reading...
Kevin Stott’s appearance in the saddle is a notable pointer towards our nap in the first at the Yorkshire trackA 2-1 shot for Ripon’s opener, Bungee Jump (2.00) is a far less risky proposition than her name would suggest. Apart from being well-named (her sire is Canford Cliffs), this two year-old ran well on her debut on Newcastle’s all-weather surface at the end of July. It was a well-contested novice stakes and Bungee Jump was an unfancied 25-1 shot, yet she finished fourth, a length behind the winner. Related: Racing news and tips: Sioux Nation on the rise for Aidan O’Brien at The Curragh Continue reading...