Posted: Saturday August 5th 11.00am
GOODWOOD GOING Soft, Good to Soft in places
(Going Stick: Round 6.7 Straight Stand: 6.4 Centre:6.5 Far:6.6. on Saturday at 09:00)
Stalls: Straight course Stand side Round course Inside except 1m4f which is outside.
WEATHER Forecast; Dry with sunny spells. Going/Weather/Other last updated @Sat 05 Aug 9:14am
NEWMARKET GOING Good (Going Stick: 7.6 on Saturday at 09:00)
Stalls: Far Side Course 12f Centre Remainder Stand Side
WEATHER 6mm of rain on Wednesday. No measurable rainfall on Thursday & Friday. Saturday; Sunny spells and afternoon showers. Going/Weather/Other last updated @Sat 05 Aug 9:20am
DONCASTER GOING Good to Soft, Good in Places (Going Stick: 7.5 on Saturday at 06:30)
Stalls: Straight course centre Round course inside
THIRSK Good, Good to Soft in Places (Going Stick: 7.4 on Friday at 11:00)
Stalls: Straight Course: Centre Round Course: Inside 1M4F Start: Stands’ Side
Goodwood 3.35 AL QAHWA Exactly why I try to post the blog before 7pm Friday for Saturday as he’s a Pricewise selection and now a top priced on the High Street 14/1. SkyBet are offering an amazing seven places 1/5 odds if you fancy one at a big price.
I had hoped Ryan Moore might give us a clue to the draw in his BetFair blog as he is on the 3yo Sir Dancealot and now 7/1 favourite to give David Elsworth the Goodwood big handicap double but all Moore says is, “I don’t know how his draw in 24 will pan out….” Cheers!
There is money about (6/1-7/2) for a 2yo at Lingfield 6.45 LITTLELORDCONFORD ridden by Fran Berry who says in his sportinglife.com blog “It’s then off to Lingfield where I start off on two more newcomers in Littlelordconford and Rosedale Topping who was a breeze-up purchase. The former’s trained by Richard Spencer who is capable of readying one and who has got some smart juveniles in his yard this season, this Intikhab colt’s a half-brother to Battaash and it would be nice if he turned out as good!”
Also flagged up by Newmarket correspondent David Milnes with the two-year-olds to watch 6:00PM, JUL 20 2017
Littlelordconford (c. Intikhab – Anna Law) Richard Spencer He may not be quite as good as his Royal Ascot-winning stablemate Rajasinghe but he is talked of in the same terms at Spencer’s up-and-coming Albert House Stables. The stocky youngster is certainly bred for the job as he’s a half-brother to rising sprint star Battaash.
Here’s Franks thoughts on his Newmarket rides
Jamie Spencer Published August 4, 2017 Saturday 5th August
2.05pm Newmarket Pleasant Surprise She impressed me when winning a handicap at Doncaster last time. That only came off a mark of 84 but the form has worked out very well, with the second, third and fifth winning next time, so it makes sense to step up her to Listed company here. She has something to find on official marks in a very deep field but I’d be hopeful she will go well. I certainly don’t think we have seen the best of her yet.
3.15pm Newmarket Dark Rose Angel I don’t know anything about her at the moment but she is by Dark Angel out of a mare who won on her debut and was Group 3-placed at two, so hopefully she will be able to go a bit. Simon had a decent 2yo winner here last week, too.
3.50pm Newmarket Esprit De Corps This looks a trappy little 7f handicap but he bumped into a horse that was well-handicapped on his old form at Ascot last time and ran well to be beaten only ½ length. A 2lb rise is what was to be expected, and he looks to have solid enough claims in a race in which you can give them all a chance.
4.25pm Newmarket Realize He didn’t run well in what was testing ground at Newbury last time and hopefully it won’t be as soft here. If it is decent ground then he obviously has chances if coming back to his early victories that came on a quick surface. And his turf mark remains 10lb lower than that of his all-weather level, so hopefully there is still some mileage in him off 92.
5.00pm Newmarket Castilo Del Diablo His best efforts have come on an all-weather surface, and some time ago, too. And he finished last of six at Epsom last time. But at least he has plummeted down to a mark of 74 and he hadn’t been running too badly before that. If he can show a glimmer of his old ability then he is weighted to win this. But that’s a big if.
5.30pm Newmarket Zymran His record tells you that he wants decent ground, so any rain won’t help his cause. He hasn’t raced since a modest run at Goodwood in June but at least he has dropped 2lb and a first-time hood could spark him back to form.
SimpleSimonSays49 