2016 Flat Issue 21 - No winners and no news

So no update!

The jump competition will start on Friday 11th November and some of us will be going as usual, if you are intending to join us please let me know so I can sort transport arrangements.

Secondly closing date for jump strings will be midnight Monday 7th November.

2016 Flat Issue 20 - Lesser lights keep the scoreboard ticking over

Headlines

Blakeney point at the Double

Bess Of Hardwick is Bonny at Donny

So Mi Dar scores at Yarmouth

Vazirabad slays rivals at Chantilly

Report

We start at Kempton recently where in the 2m handicap Blakeney Point ( Martin)  went to post, tracked leaders, effort on inner entering final 2f , led over 1 out, clear inside last, ran on strongly winning by 3l. He gets 27.4 points.

He followed up at Chester on Saturday in a similar event, tracked leading pair, effort 3 out, not clear run over 1 out, switched inside soon led, stayed on strongly winning by 3l. He gets another 27.4 points.

At Doncaster in the 1m 4f fillies handicap Bess Of Hardwick ( Martin), took her chance, tracked leaders, headway 3 out, led narrowly over 1 out, soon ridden edged left, and driven inside last, kept on strongly close home, winning by 1 ¾ l. She gets 28.8 points.

At Chantilly on Sunday in the 1m 7f group 3, Vazirabad ( Bob) went to post, waited with in rear, headway on outer over 2 out, stayed on to lead over 1 out, driven final furlong and held on , winning by a short neck. He gets 33.2 points.

At The Curragh in the 1m 2f Group 1 Irish Champion stakes Found ( Bob), took her chance, held up towards rear, quickend well over 1out, led entering final furlong, strongly pressed and headed close home, no extra finishing 2^nd beaten ¾ l. She gets 24 points.

At Yarmouth on Wednesday So Mi Dar ( Cliff, Lee, Martin, Steve), made a belated reappearance in the 1m 2f listed fillies stakes, Tracked leaders, headway to lead over 1f out, pushed out, winning comfortably by ½ l. She gets 14.1 points.

The  John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                             September    Total

Tony                  00                667.8

Neil                   65                 640

Bob                    79.8             638.9

Cliff                   14.1               568

Cod                    24                524.3

Lee                     51.5               441.3

Peej                   00                  439.3

Martin                97.7            417.6

Steve                  14.1              301.3

News

The Grey Gatsby headlines six runners for the Group Three Dubai Legacy Cup at Newbury on Saturday over 11 furlongs Adam Ryan, assistant to his father and trainer Kevin, said: "They Grey Gatsby came out of York great and the plan was to go for the Irish Champion Stakes but unfortunately the ground went against him. "The Newbury race looks a good back-up option, dropping back in class. Apart from one run this season, he has been competing at the top level for the last three years and, if he comes back to his best form, he should be the one to beat."It does look a good renewal though with the likes of Dartmouth in there."The Grey Gatsby has got the Arc, Breeders' Cup and Champions Day as options after this. But he is a ground dependent horse and we will go wherever the ground tells us to."As well as Hardwicke Stakes winner Dartmouth, last seen finishing third behind Highland Reel in the King George, the field also includes Algometer, Robin Of Navan and Listed scorers Ayrad and Tashaar.

2016 Flat Issue 19 - Latest edition

Headlines

Simple Verse Lands Park Hill

Ustinov wins at Haydock

Cymro Lands Haydock Handicap

Eye Shines Bright at Kempton

Report

We start at Haydock last Friday where in the 6f handicap  Ustinov ( Lee), went to post, held up, headway over 2 out, ridden and ran on well to lead well inside last, winning by ¾ l. He gets 37.4 points.

In the 1m 4f handicap Cymro (Neil), took his chance, tracked leaders , effort 2 out, led over 1 out, kept on inside last, held on gamely winning by a neck. He gets 41 points.

 At Kempton on Wednesday in the 1m 4f maiden fillies stakes Eyeshine (Bob) took her chance, Made all, clear over 2f out, kept on well , winning by an impressive 8l. She gets 22.6 points.

At Doncaster today in the 1m 7f fillies group 2 Simple Verse ( Cod, Neil), went to post, Held up mid-division, smooth headway on inside over 3f out, chased clear leader over 1f out, soon ridden, ran on well inside final furlong, led final stride, winning by a neck. She gets 24 points.

The  John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                             September    Total

Tony                  00                667.8

Neil                   65                 640

Bob                    22.6             581.7

Cliff                   00                553.9

Cod                    24                524.3

Peej                   00                  439.3

Lee                     37.4               427.2

Martin                00              319.9

Steve                  00               287.2

News

Lumiere bids to get her career back on track in the Japan Racing Association Sceptre Stakes at Doncaster.

Last season's Cheveley Park Stakes heroine was bitterly disappointing when trailing home last of 16 runners on her seasonal reappearance in the 1000 Guineas, but showed her true colours on her return from a two-month break when bolting up in a Listed event at Newmarket's July Festival.

That scintillating display earned her a return to the highest level in the Prix Rothschild at Deauville, but Mark Johnston's charge again come up a long way short.

The clash between Oaks and Derby winners Minding and Harzand in the Irish Champion Stakes is on - but Fascinating Rock was taken out of the Qipco-backed contest at the final declaration stage. New Bay, Found and The Grey Gatsby also take their chances.

Idaho will start a short priced favourite for the St Leger on Saturday, where Muntahaa will also take his chance.

Mizzou can claim the major staying prize his talent deserves in the 250th Doncaster Cup on Friday.

Luca Cumani's five-year-old is one of the more lightly-raced runners in the field with just 10 starts under his belt, five of which have ended in victory while he has been placed on a further three occasions

2016 Flat Issue 18 - short one this week

Headline

Miss is a Hit at Goodwood

Report

At Goodwood last Friday in the 7f handicap  Little Miss Kodi  ( Cod) took her chance, chased leading pair, ridden to close on inner 2 out, led inside last driven out, winning by ¾ l. She gets 29.8 points.

The  John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                             August       Total

Tony                  183.9            667.8

Neil                   148.8             575

Bob                    42.4           559.1

Cliff                   106.9           553.9

Cod                    98.4              500.3

Peej                   50.7             439.3

Lee                     56.3               389.8

Martin                26.3              319.9

Steve                  38.3               287.2

Congratulations to Tony who is trainer of the month

News

Henry Candy will rely upon July Cup hero Limato rather than last year's winner Twilight Son in the 32Red Sprint Cup at Haydock on Saturday

Aidan O'Brien revealed there is a good chance Minding will take on the colts and classy older horses in the Qipco Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday week.

Stormy Antarctic is a possible for the Group Two Shadwell Joel Stakes at Newmarket on September 23.

2016 Flat Issue 17 - Barsanti Scores at York

Report

We start at York last Friday where in the 1m 4f handicap Barsanti ( Lee), took his chance, held up towards rear , smooth headway 3 out, close up 2 out, ridden to lead narrowly 1 out, driven inside last, kept on well close home winning by a neck. He gets 30 points.

In the 5f group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes, Mecca’s Angel ( Neil, Tony), Limato (  Cliff, Steve) went to post. Mecca;’s Angel, warm at start, close up, shaken up 2 out, soon led, ridden 1 out, kept on strongly, winning impressively by 2l. She gets 55.4 points.

Limato tracked leaders headway and switched left over 1 out, ridden to chase winner inside last, soon driven and no improvement, 2^nd beaten 2l. He gets 12 points.

At Chester on Saturday in the 1m 5f handicap Muntahaa( Neil) took his chance, went right start, soon led, pushed along over 3 out, kept on inside last, all out, just held on winning by a short head. He gets 24.8 points.

At the Curragh, Order of St George ( Bob, Cliff, Cod, Neil), went to post in the 1m 6f group 3,

Settled in 4^th, travelled well to close on leading pair over 1 out, led just inside last, soon in command, ridden out hands and heels, winning comfortably by 1 1/2l.l He gets 16.1 points.

The  John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                             August       Total

Tony                  183.9            667.8

Neil                   148.8             575

Bob                    42.4           559.1

Cliff                   106.9           553.9

Cod                    68.6              470.5

Peej                   50.7             439.3

Lee                     56.3               389.8

Martin                26.3              319.9

Steve                  38.3               287.2

News

Last year's Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby winner Jack Hobbs is nearing a return to the racecourse The John Gosden-trained four-year-old has not been seen since pulling up in the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket at the end of April.

Gosden will look for opportunities next month for the Godolphin-owned colt, who ended last season with third in the Qipco Champion Stakes won by Fascinating Rock at Ascot.

Gosden said: "I am very pleased with Jack Hobbs at this minute in time. He's in good order and moving well.

. "He is likely to run in the second or third week in September."

Joseph Tuite's injury-plagued stayer Litigant is on course to return to action at Ascot on Champions Day

Owen Burrows has not ruled out the possibility of 2000 Guineas runner-up Massaat returning to the track before the end of the season. Although tests carried out on the three-year-old following his tame effort in the Sovereign Stakes earlier this month in which he was virtually pulled up have so far proven to be inconclusive, the Lambourn handler is refusing to call it a day on his campaign just yet. "It is a bit of a head-scratcher as when they virtually stop and run as disappointingly as that you automatically think that you should find something wrong.

"Because we have not finished all the tests yet it is hard to say if it is the end of his season. Once we have done all the tests I will be in a position to make a decision, but I could not give a straight answer at this time."

 

2016 Flat Issue 16 - doesn't take much to shake things up

Headlines

New Bay wins at Deauville

Postponed lands Juddmonte

Idaho

Report

On Monday at Deauville New Bay ( Tony), went to post in the 1m 2f group 3, tracked leaders, smooth headway to lead over 1 out, soon clear winning comfortably by 1 ½ l. He gets 32.6 Points.

At York on Wednesday in the 1m4 f group 2 Idaho (Tony), took his chance, Held up, in last pair, ridden and headway 2f out, stayed on to challenge inside final furlong, led inside final 100 yards, driven out, winning by 1 ¾ l. He gets 43.4 points.

In the 1m 2f group 1 Juddmonte International stakes Postponed ( Cliff, Cod, Neil, Tony) went to post, Tracked front pair, led 3f out, ridden and edged right towards stands side rail from over 1f out, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong, held on well winning by 1 ¼ l. He gets 52.5 points.

The  John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                             August       Total

Tony                  128.5            612.4

Bob                    26.3           543

Cliff                   78.8           525.8

Neil                   52.5              478.7

Cod                    52.5               454.4

Peej                   50.7             439.3

Lee                     26.3               359.8

Martin                26.3              319.9

Steve                  26.3               275.2

News

Henry Candy is far from confident about the chances of Limato in the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York on Friday He seems to be in good form. Mr (Paul) Jacobs (owner) has parted with a huge amount of money to supplement him, so we hope for the best," said Candy.

"I'm in favour of giving it a try, (but) I'm not at all confident. I think a very fast, very flat five (furlongs) might just find him out, but it's worth a try. He'll run well

Michael Dods fires a formidable twin assault with last year's winner Mecca's Angel Dods told  The Punter: "She (Mecca's Angel) is in great form. Paul (Mulrennan) sat on her last week and he's delighted with her

Muthmir was sixth at Goodwood, but has won and run well at York in the past.

Angus Gold, racing manager for owner Hamdan Al Maktoum, said: "He's a good, solid horse who just needs to find a length or so. I'm sure he'll be thereabouts. We were a little bit disappointed with him at Goodwood, but that's the way it goes with these sprinters sometimes. He's capable on his day and we hope one of his days might be at York."

Danzeno has run well at Group One level on a few occasions without managing to get his head in front