Yesterday’s Review
No Investments
Today’s Advice
A day where plenty of horses are having their seasonal debut, and I will be mostly watching.
MAW LAM (7f Group 3) – Adrian Nicholls ventures south with this tough filly for the (2.00) Newbury, and while she steps up to seven furlongs for the first time, she may be worth a small interest today considering she has been given very little chance by both the market and the Racing Post write-up. She may be 0-6 since her debut win last season, but that doesn’t tell the full story. Her late running style didn’t do her many favours, and a third place finish over the minimum trip in the Queen Mary behind Leovanni was an excellent effort. She was put in her place behind two of today’s rivals Mountain Breeze and Heaven’s Gate in a Group 2 over six furlongs at Newmarket on just the fourth race of her career. The step back to five furlongs for a Listed race in Deauville didn’t work out for her as she fly-jumped the start and failed by a quarter of a length, staying on at the finish. It was her final race of the season over six furlongs at Ayr, when selected by this column at 28/1, which showed that she might have more to her game than many anticipated. Again, she travelled from the rear before finishing with a wet sail to be beaten a neck by Sky Majesty in the Group 3 Firth Of Clyde while recording a (113) speed figure, which has only been matched by today’s joint favourite Simmering at Deauville last season over seven furlongs. There is a bit of stamina in her pedigree which gives cause for optimism for today’s extra furlong with Big Bad Bob and Saying Grace (who has form over a mile and further) present.
I BID YOU AJOU (7f Hcap) – This four-year-old falls into the above category, but I will be having a minimum stake on him as he does have a few things in his favour. Looking at his overall profile as a thirteen race maiden it would be easy to pass him over for today’s (4.00) Curragh. However, when looked at a bit more in-depth a few things stood out. He looked to be a slow learner last year with his two best efforts on the clock coming at the end of the season. A fourth placed effort at Cork over seven furlongs under 9-12 while recording a (98) speed figure was a decent effort, despite not hitting the line as strongly as one would have liked, having led over two furlongs from home. His next effort at Down Royal was another step forward on the clock while recording a (101) figure when just finding Alex Belardo too good on a Yielding to Soft surface. He did disappoint on his final run of the season while wearing first time cheekpieces, and we will have to allow him for that. A second place finish over course and distance behind Goldmoyne last August adds to the case for his selection today. It may well be that he simply struggles to put his best foot forward, but on a quiet day I decided to have a small interest on him with Shane Foley in the plate from a kind draw in stall two.
0.5pt e/way Maw Lam (35/1 Paddy Power, 33/1 General 4 places) 2.00 Newbury
0.5pt e/way I Bid You Ajou (13/2 William Hill, 6/1 General 4 places) 4.00 Curragh