No luck in the 2,000, in fact quite an annoying result. I backed Cockney Rebel twice last year, losing out both times – it’s one of those occasions where I often have a saver for sanity’s sake, but this time I didn’t. It’s the 1,000 today, but I won’t be having a bet. I think the favourite will go extremely well and is probably the one to be on, but I don’t have any reason to assume I have an edge.
In my years at Betfair I’ve gone through long periods when I haven’t bet at all – I’m off betting far more often than on. I’m very much on at the moment – I’ve had a bit more time and I’ve been betting in good form, so I’m happy to carry it on. Doing this blog probably makes me bet more as I need to find things to say. I’ve been through tomorrow’s card and I’ll be backing a few, but probably not at Newmarket.
Salisbury is a course I’ve done very well on over the years.
In the first I like Prince of Delphi, a full brother to Acclamation. As a 4yo with only two runs he must have had a few problems, but he was well supported both times. He won’t be as green now as he was as a 3yo – his stable is in good form and he’s up against a favourite who is a perpetual bridesmaid.
Flying Indian runs in the 2.55. Andrew Balding tipped this horse up at a poker night I attended recently – she ran reasonably well behind Winker Watson at a big price. The third and fifth from that race run at Newmarket – I’ll watch them but I won’t be backing them. I’ll back Flying Indian as I think she’ll come on a ton for that run.
I’ve been following Amanda Perrett as I think her stable is in better form than it’s been for the last couple of years, and some of her horses can be expected to show significant progression. I was thinking about Night Crescendo in the first at Newmarket, an interesting spare ride for Mick Kinane, but decided to pass on that. More interesting is Intiquilla in the 4.05. This half sister to Bandama would be crying out for the extra distance on breeding, and could have been running on unsuitably soft ground at the back end of last year. Her two runs in Oct/Nov are valuable experience, but not necessarily a proper indication of her ability. I suspect she’ll be an altogether different horse now.
Finally in the 4.40 I’m keen on Peppertree. James Fanshawe often boots his older horses in first time up, and there are strong indications that Peppertree is both ready and able. She is entered in the Group 2 Henry II stakes at Sandown at the end of this month – that’s a pretty bold entry for a horse with a meagre rating of 85. It’s an expensive race to go for – there is a £5k entry stage on May 23 – and it would be very tight to fit another race in before then. I would think that Peppertree has to win tomorrow to justify taking part. Fanshawe had a nice winner in Cesare the other day and plenty of his have been running well – Peppertree may be the solution to quite a difficult race.