Urban Artist has plenty of soft ground form on her record but I hope this won't be like Goodwood yesterday where Stay Well got stuck in the mud. She will need to be at her best on this return in what looks a very strong Group 3 for mares. A place would be great.
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22/05/21 – 1st 5/4 – Ultimate Fame – Fergal O’Brien – Stratford upon Avon
Ultimate Fame is a Fame And Glory half-sister to our Ultimate Getaway. Hopefully the ground will not have deteriorated too much by the time of her race at the end of the evening.
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22/05/21 – 1st 13/2 – Spanish Kiss – William Knight – York
We have to treat Spanish Kiss with kid gloves a bit and this will be his first run on turf. The Lope De Vega's usually handle slow ground and I think he should too. He's in with a shout and an each-way chance in a wide-open handicap.
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21/05/21 – 1st 11/5 – East Asia – Ian Williams – Goodwood
To say East Asia surprised me by the manner of his win at Newbury is an understatement. It certainly impressed the handicapper and he goes up 12lb from tomorrow. With a 5lb penalty for last week he's 7lb well in theoretically and we have to be hopeful he can follow up, as long as the…
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21/05/21 – 1t 11/5 – East Asia – Ian Williams – Goodwood
To say East Asia surprised me by the manner of his win at Newbury is an understatement. It certainly impressed the handicapper and he goes up 12lb from tomorrow. With a 5lb penalty for last week he's 7lb well in theoretically and we have to be hopeful he can follow up, as long as the…
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20/05/21 – 1st 12/1 – High Noon – Micky Hammond – Market Rasen
High Noon has come down in the handicap and I thought he had a strong each-way chance at what looks a nice price. His owner lives near Market Rasen, hence the regular appearances around there and while he has yet to win on the course, I think today could be the day.
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20/05/21 – 2nd 33/1 – Who’s The Guv’Nor – Micky Hammond – Market Rasen
Who's The Guv'Nor put in a much-improved showing last time at Carlisle when he was second at 100-1, albeit some way behind an impressive winner. He has come on in the interim and I'm hopeful he will prove it was no fluke.
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20/05/21 – 1st 13/2 – Design Icon – Kim Bailey – Market Rasen
Design Icon has taken time to get his act together but has improved for every run and for the experiece. We have applied a tongue-tie and with that to help he has place chances
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18/05/21 – 1st – 100/30 – Ravens Ark – Hughie Morrison – Brighton
I wouldn't necessarily have nominated Brighton for Ravens Ark but he was perhaps surprisingly dropped 3lb for an okay first run that gets him into this 0-70. Charlie Bennett rode him yesterday and said he's fine so let's hope he's right. Good chance on last year's form.
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18/05/21 – 1st 7/2 – Holme Abbey – Nicky Richards – Hexham
To be blunt about it Holme Abbey is an average horse in a very average race, so it's probably now or never for him. He still had a chance last time here when unseating four from home. We'll see tonight whether he would have won or not!
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17/05/21 – 1st 100/30 – Ravens Ark – Hughie Morrison – Brighton
I wouldn't necessarily have nominated Brighton for Ravens Ark but he was perhaps surprisingly dropped 3lb for an okay first run that gets him into this 0-70. Charlie Bennett rode him yesterday and said he's fine so let's hope he's right. Good chance on last year's form.
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17/05/21 – 1st 4/1 – The Macon Lugnatic – Ben Pauling – Ffos Las
The Macon Lugnatic ran a much better race at Worcester when a respectable third the other day. Hopefully he can build on that and go close but he's only a couple pounds lower than a horse chasing a four-timer so it won't be easy.
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15/05/21 – 1st 9/1 – Typical Man – Ian Williams – Doncaster
Typical Man ran well enough at Beverley on his first run back. This is pretty competitive but if you take the favourite out he should be there or thereabouts.
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15/05/21 – 3rd 20/1 – Frankelio – Micky Hammond – Thirsk
Every drop of rain that falls on Thirsk will improve Frankelio's chance just as it will lessen confidence in Irv. He won first time last year on good ground at Pontefract when Graham Lee said afterwards: "We got away with it!" He's been working nicely and back on that mark he has to be a…
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14/05/21 – 2nd 5/1 – Lordsbridge Boy – William Knight – Newmarket
Lordsbridge Boy was caught on the line at Salisbury on stable debut and I think he's come on a bit from that. He'll need to have done so as he's up 3lb. Our very inexperienced apprentice claims 10lb in this hands and heels race and basically needs to point him in the right direction and…
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14/05/21 – 1st 11/2 – Surrey Gold – Hughie Morrison – Newbury
Surrey Gold ran very well on his comeback after almost five months off at Lingfield and runs from the same mark today. He should have every chance with the run behind him.
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14/05/21 – 1st 16/1 – East Asia – Ian Williams – Newbury
East Asia has been placed in more than half his 14 runs in the UAE and was sent to me by his owner. He's not done anything sensational on the gallops since he arrived and this will be a marker as to where he is in relation to his handicap rating. I think he'll be…
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13/05/21 – 1st 4/1 – Northern Bound – Ben Pauling – Fontwell Park
Northern Bound is in great order but too much rain will not help us at all. I'll be looking at the ground to see if we can run him.
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13/05/21 – 1st 14/1 – Bellazada – Brian Meehan – Newmarket
Bellazada showed a lot of promise last year and starts handicapping on a fair mark. She found heavy ground unsuitable on her final run in a Listed race here in the autumn but she has been working very well. Great chance.
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13/05/21 – 1st 13/8 – City Derby – Fergal O’Brien – Perth
City Derby ran very well over this course and distance on hurdling debut. He is ready for another good run and could go close.
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