Thundering On to take The Oaks

 Thundering On is hauntingly beautiful and will win The Oaks

Paddock Note Newbury Saturday May 16th 2026

 Paddock Note Newbury Saturday May 16th 2026

Weather cool dry and very cloudy

1.30 Aston Park Stakes All Age Group 3

I kept hearing from other paddock judges that Kalpana would come on for the run. I swear I must be looking at something else as she looked fine to me. Without her sex allowance and conceding 4lb to West Wind Blows I thought she gave her running and bar her effort in the King George VI, produced a pb here.

2.00 3yo Listed Fillies 10F

Having backed Esna at HQ I was wary this time but forgave her as she was the paddock pick and duly obliged under Ryan. Although her trainer RTF was only 17%, I joked that that may have been high as he doesn’t have any good horses. Lady Roisia impressed, being a fine specimen and out of the Oaks winner Talent, will improve again for a step up in trip.

2.35 Lockinge Stakes AA Group One 8F.

More Thunder looked outstanding and his running reflected it. On a particularly dull day where nothing shone in their coats, Notable Speech looked noticeably well. Zeus Olympic a nice big rangy workman. Lion in Winter underwhelmed and failed to convince.

3.10 Carnarvon Stakes 3yo Listed 6F

Albert Einstein again the pick although he did not impose as much this time around. Song of The Clyde second best being an attractive lengthy sort. I had left a price on for Royal Fixation but she must have shrunk since last year. I was aghast to see that the bet had been matched and spent several minutes trying to get out . Time wasted and a shame as sotc returned 26bfsp and I missed an ew play with a rev exacta of £73!!!! Sotc will prove to be better than stablemate Coppull. They bumped up Aqpan from 92 to 101 following the Greenham and a striking, good bodied sort could still be one for a tidy sprint handicap being by Blue Point. He is better than this. The owner – Nurlan Bizakov had turned up to watch.

3.45 London Cup Handicap 10F

The batting order was reflected in the finish. I just took a shine to Lost Boys over Sahara King with Port of Spain likely to progress. I didn’t get to see Spyce properly and would like another look. He may have been ok.

With rain on the way and always a fair weather sportsman, I drew stumps.

Nb. Lady Roisia gets a bhb of 92 and could be for the KGV Ascot Thursday.

Royal Ascot Day One

Tuesday 17 June 2025

Royal Ascot

2.30  Rosallion had done particularly well at Newbury and looked magnificent. He is only 5/2 at time of writing and I will sit it out at those odds.

3.05  We will know a lot more after the Coventry than before. Nothing done.

3.40  I backed Asfoora last year but cannot have it this time around. Believing and Regional for the exactas.

4.20  Field of Gold will be the best backed horse of the meeting. I have already noted Rashabar and expect a huge run.

5.35  Haunted Dream was second in the race last year behind good thing Israr. He has improved since then, gets his fast ground and has Michael Barzalona booked. Wait on the exchanges as there may be Rule 4s i.e Ecureuil Secret etc.

 

Saturday 14 June 2025

Sandown 2.40

Star of Mehmas is a fast filly and can score with Ryan up

York 3.00

Alsakib has his best form at York and can enhance his latest Knavemire effort

Irish 2,000 Guineas 24 May 2025

 

Of all the horses that ran at the early trial meetings Rashabar impressed me the most. He looked particularly backward but had made tremendous progress as an individual.

Before the 2,000 Guineas I thought I had all the bases pretty much covered but then Expanded strolled in to add another component to the contest. The son of Wootton Basset has made up into a very impressive colt and is every inch a Group One performer. He has a real width to his hamstring muscles and should leave his Newmarket form way behind. Unfancied in the market at the time of writing, my experience is that it’s the good ones who win at prices. 

Field of Gold was different class before the Craven and I backed him accordingly.

Kieren and the 2,000 Guineas. Field of Gold was too slow!!

I can’t believe the rush of pundits to nail Kieren Shoemark to the cross for his ride on Field of Gold in the 2,000 Guineas.

First of all am I speaking through my pocket? Not really. I had a good bet on FoG to win the Craven and saved on the colt having backed Shadow of Light ante post for the colts classic.

When I am at the races I like to watch the horses canter to start to see how they use themselves before the race.

At Newmarket watching horses go to post is like watching the race actions in reverse. From the winning post they go downhill as the proceed to the start. They then meet the rising ground i.e. the ‘Dip’ in reverse.

Before the Craven FoG was rather short when on the course going to post. Only when he hit the rising ground did he change his legs and lengthen in a pleasing manner. I knew then he would extend and quicken in style in the final furlong.

The same before the Guineas and the same scenario played out in the contest. Ruling Court quickened superbly into the dip but FoG did not fully stride out and could not go the pace. Once again, only when he hit the rising ground did he begin to catch up.

Just because Buick went for home sooner is irrelevant. Shoemark correctly waited on the horse with the known turn of foot but he lacked the wherewithal going downhill.

Shoemark took one for the team by saying he was at fault. He was wrong. The horse did not have the speed when needed.

Should the Gosdens have trained the horse to handle the gradients better?

Maybe that is the more pertinent question to ask in the post mortems. 

Newmarket November 2013

Friday 1^st November:    The closing of the M25 did nothing to help my journey and I missed the first two maidens. The going was very soft. The consensus of the cognoscenti was that Authenticity and Born To Reign were worth noting in the first. In the second, Pantolini, Ragged Robin, Stetchworth and Warbrook could take a race.

Before the Listed Bosra Sham Stakes, despite very mild weather they all wore the poxy full/light blanket and a full viewing was cursory. There was little to report on what I saw with the inform Cape Factor taking the spoils.

In the 6f Conditions heat the 2yo’s were once again favoured by the weights. The 3yo filly Mar Mar looked in good nick but could not concede the advantage.

The Warrens of Warwick Fillies Handicap was a strong heat and won well by the Sakhee filly Tweed. The form of the race might be useful.

Saturday 2^nd November:         The Fillies Maiden known historically as the Balaton Lodge Stakes, again divided this time but failed to highlight anything special at this stage. Angelic Air stayed on despite the ground and will improve on better going. Excellent View was plenty fit but pulled in the race and blew hard afterwards.   

In the second division Eastern Belle was fancied and made favourite but she too blew hard after.

If they made the Zetland Stakes a Listed event then they might get runners. Why they downgraded the race is a mystery. Hartnell had a facile win. He looks the part and will make a 3yo.

Majeyda is a good sort and followed up her second in the May Hill with a fine win here. She should train on and improve again. Surcingle drifted badly in the betting and the BHB really should investigate exactly who is laying these horses on the Exchanges and report back to the Betting Public. Without the Exchanges we would know what Bookmaker was doing the Laying on the racecourse. Despite moving well to post Surcingle was never going. She has a deal of scope and well bred could be a real contender next term. Hopefully nothing was amiss. With the racing delayed I drew stumps.