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Deira Mile placed at 25/1 in The Derby, returning some decent each-way money. City Of Troy bounced back to form and was a worthy winner in the end for trainer Aiden O'Brien, who of course has a smashing record in The Derby.
My other selection Astral Beau was unable to land a blow after being ridden prominently from the start. The race got very messy with those traveling in behind being denied a clear run due to a very compact field.
Royal Ascot is the next big meeting on the horizon but until then it's back to normality.
Kassaya 5/4 – Nottingham 1:40
I tipped Kassaya on debut a few weeks ago but she was unable to win on that occasion. She comes to Nottingham on Sunday in what looks like a good opportunity to get off the mark. She isn't the most exciting of prices but at 5/4, I think she is worth a play.
She went for 1,000,000 guineas as a foal and is related to several high-class types, none more so than Chaldean who went on to land the 2000 Guineas. I mentioned a few weeks ago in my write-up on this horse that I was surprised to see Kassaya run on debut over 5f as Chaldean debuted over 6f before stepping up to her optimum trips of 7f and a mile.
Trainer Andrew Balding is sticking to 5f for Kassaya's second outing which I was also surprised at, as she traveled like a horse who would appreciate a step up in trip. My selection was unlucky not to win on debut and bumped into a decent sort from the Eve Johnson yard in Pont Neuf who had already won on debut beforehand. The pair broke clear of the rest and Kassaya was beaten close to the line by 3/4 of a length.
My selection should come on bundles for that run and unless one of the newcomers is of any use she should be hard to beat.
American Affair 3/1 – Hamilton 5:10
If King's Lynn turns up and wins this race I will be kicking myself as he's cost me more money than gained in recent times and let me down on the thread recently when I put him up as a selection. He's been dropped a further 3lb which makes him a player but I told myself never again and I'm sticking to my word.
With plenty of pace on offer in this contest, this race is sure to be set up for those traveling off the pace and American Affair ticks all the boxes for me to be that horse.
My selection remains unexposed as a sprinter and a 10lb rise in the weights for a comfortable victory at Musselburgh in April seems more than fair. He traveled beautifully the entire race and sat nicely of the pace before drawing clear in the final furlong to win by over two lengths.
Brunch 7/1 – Nottingham 4:25
I've always had a soft spot for this horse over the years, he is probably starting to hit the decline stage of his career but at 7/1 I thought he was over-priced and worthy of a bet in this race.
Brunch has failed to land a blow since landing a Listed contest at Pontefract back in July 2021. As a result, he has dropped a long way in the weights and now competes in a race that is much less competitive than that he has been running in, over the last three to four years.
My selection is now only 3lb higher than his last handicap win which makes him a massive player in this race. He is versatile ground-wise, has a good record when running fresh and with trainer Michael Dods in great form this season, everything points to a big run.
In December 2020 we sadly 
Investisseur 6-10 Chantilly. 🇫🇷
8-1 win
2-1 top 3 finish
20-80 stake Both bet365.
Go fox 3-10 fakenham.
7-4 top 3 finish SKYBET NAP 🏇
7-1 ew 4 places SKYBET.
Won this race last year by 7 lengths off 1 pound higher.
Course form reads 3-2-2-1 the 1 last year’s race.
Also won on the flat in 2022 in this very day.
Rumi 4-50 listowel.
10-1 ew extra 6 places.
Formerly with roger Charlton in his younger days in the UK
Won a hurdle here in 2022 and won a 14 runner flat handicap at gowran park in April before disappointing at punchestown festival over hurdles.
Back on the flat today and claimers 7 pound claim drops him to the bottom of the handicap
FRENCH DERBY
3-05 CHANTILLY.
Tough race to find a winner from so going with 2 relative outsiders who both finished upside today’s favourite Diego valazquez in the french 2000.
alcantor 12-1 ew 4 places main bet
And
Ramadan 33-1 ew 4 places smaller bet
James Owen yard have a 38% strike rate with their hurdlers so far this season with 5 wins from 13.
3 of the last 4 runners for the yard have won, although they were all on the flat.
Yard have had 19 NH runners since May 1st with 6 winning, 6 second. Only 3 were out of the first 3. Yard have a RTF of 79% doubt there is anyone with higher currently.
They have a decent strike rate at the track with a 26% strike rate over the last 5 seasons. Last season they had a 31% strike rate.
Just thought these stats were worth a share. The yard have a number of runners tomorrow so hopefully they can be of use to others with their own bets.
The one I’m on tomorrow is King Otis in the 3.45 at Fakenham at 3/1. Yard have really improved this one since getting him last November, like they often do with their switchers. That run over this CD last month he was actually 9lb out of the handicap so that was obviously a very good win that day. His last run , last week, he bumped into a real improver from the Harry Derham yard only beaten half a length.
This gelding is currently up for sale, shares available to buy now so what they are doing is basically showcasing him trying to get buyers, so you just know they have had these runs all planned with him at the top of his game. You see this yard do this often with a lot of winners coming from it.
Also to top all that off the yard won this race last year with Too Friendly.
Think course form is really important here with it being the tightest track in the UK.
King Otis is versatile can make all or sit in behind.
The current favourite, Max Of Stars, likes to dictate and doesn’t like it when she doesn’t get her own way. James Owen obviously knows this so I’m expecting him to take her on for the lead.
In running punters will be looking to see who takes it up for sure.
For me course form here is so important as it’s such a unique track. They know how to get this favourite beat im sure, and I don’t see any of the others causing much trouble. Should be going very close tomorrow imo.
All the best with your own bets everyone. Have a lovely rest of the weekend, Chris.
Few quick stats for anyone heading to Nottingham today. I’m looking at this bet but need the ground to dry up. Warm sunny day forecasted up to 20 degrees so every chance it does. Needs to be riding on the fast side of good as well, this is the key.
Rae Guest 41% strike rate at the track over the last 5 seasons. That goes up to 50% strike rate with his handicap runners with 6 wins from 12 runs. Rae Guest and Callum Shepherd combine here they have a 60% strike rate.
War Chant in the 5.30 is the only runner for the yard today. Rattled off a hat trick of wins around this time last year. Very nice seasonal debut after 248 days off last month only beaten 3/4 of a length and that would have been even less if he wasn’t hampered by the eventual winner in the final furlong. Has won over the CD.
7/2 currently. Was even looking just at top 2 finish at around 6/4. It will shorten up if the ground drys up for sure. Will be keeping an eye on it
Rumi is my favourite poet. I’ll have to have 50p on that today. Have a painting at home with one of his quotes on, a gift from one of my grand daughters … it goes….” The spirit is so near that you can’t see it! But reach for it… don’t be a jar, full of water, whose rim is always dry. Don’t be the rider who gallops all night and never sees the horse that is beneath him.”
All the best
1 second ago
9:30 ooty – alpha domino 5/2 the pizza horse !!!
5:10 Hamilton- zarzyni 16/1 e/w
dolca vita 3.40 well done all winners yesterday
mabuzet 3.55
Thanks Hibee 1
Hibee loves a poem
He likes to rhyme
His fancy at Fakenham
Took the lead at the right time
On to Nottingham
And the lucky last
Let’s hope War Chant
Is too fast.
Well done Hibee 👏
I started with one bean
And now I have two
Thanks to Hibee
It’s a dream come true
People watched in horror as he crossed the road they couldn’t comprehend Hibee crossing that road !
Was it the cat he saw , no not the big toad …yet Hibee just had to cross that road?
He looked left, he looked right and it was quite a plight giving on lookers a terrible fright!
Why did he cross the road??
Answer on postcard and if your correct ill send you a goldfish 👍
🇺🇸
Havana rose 6.10 ew well done all winners today
where’s Jeff 6.40 ew
Hibee hibee at the double
Yo yo bookies, y’all in trouble
Rumi would be so proud
To sing Hibees name out aloud
It was tight it was tight!
Thought I might need a shi.. pint!
But it’s a vicious one – two
From the Hibee. Who knew!?!
So we’re all on the sherry tonight
🇺🇸 / 🇨🇦 🫡 🫎
Monmouth Park -Race 8…Goodstone 7/4 ****
His 3rd on debut at Gulfstream should br and is way above these others that ran at Monmouth on debut or haven’t ran at all.
Laurel Park -Race 8…#10 CAROLINE KRYSTYNA 2/1
Churchill Downs -Race 7…Delahaye 6/4
21:22 Churchill Downs -Race 9…Dragoon Guard 13/8 ***
Win or Each Way
Woodbine -Race 4…This Dude A Breeze. 7/4 ****
Got this and Basketball Jones in my Tracker but he best Basketball Jones at Gilfstream last year and is much lighter raced so it was dirt to the AW that was a concern..turns out he was bought from Woodbine so a return to his old AW stoppin ground and big class drop makes him well placed imo
Woodbine -Race 7 (Off TURF)….Deadpan 11/4 ***
Off turf but his workouts on AW are very good and if anything close to grass form he will be off and gone, it’s a slight worry but trained on AW recently and kept in the race for a reason I think by the trainer .
Copy n paste that I’ve tidied up BUT so I had time for write ups and get home! 🦶 ⬆️
GL all and well done winners today