Foreword by William HAGGAS
“One of the excitements of the new Flat season is this excellent book, written with great insight by its author Mark Howard.”
Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, Andrew Balding, David Barron, Marco Botti (New), Roger Charlton, Luca Cumant, James Fanshawe (New), William Haggas, Mark Johnston, David O’Meara, Roger Varian.
Price:
£7.99
including postageMark Howard Publications Ltd. 69 Fairgarth Drive, Kirkby Lonsdale, Carnforth, Lancashire. LA6 2FB.
WH SMITH Ltd (ISBN: 978-0-9564615-6-8) or online from whmsith.co.uk
TINDALLS (Newmarket)
Once again, I shall be producing 3 Ahead On The Flat Updates.
Please note, the Updates are ONLY AVAILABLE VIA EMAIL (Not Post).
The first Update will be a preview of the prestigious Royal Ascot meeting in June, the second will be a preview of the historic four day York Ebor meeting in August and the third will concentrate on the major Autumn races. There will be an in-depth analysis of races such as the Cambridgeshire and the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe.
£6.00/update
or £15 for ALL 3 via EMAIL.
Many thanks for another fantastic Update for the Ebor Festival. You produced some outstanding results yet again.
DAWN APPROACH (5/4),
ESTIMATE (7/2),
RIPOSTE (9/2),
plus PEARL SECRET (E/W 3rd @ 10/1)
FROG HOLLOW (6/1),
THOMAS HOBSON (9/2, 9/4, 7/2, 9/2)
“Paul Cole doesn’t have the firepower of old but the Derby winning trainer boasts an excellent record in this race. Fair Cop (1991), Montjoy (1994) and Central Park (1997) have all provided him with victories. I would suggest this has been the target for BERKSHIRE for some time. Purchased for 60,000gns as a yearling, he is a son of Mount Nelson out of Group 1 winning mare Kinnaird. He made his debut in the same six furlongs maiden at Newbury in May which Canford Cliffs and Strong Suit contested en route to Coventry Stakes success. Beaten a length in third behind Championship (fifth has won since), he kept on nicely late on and is a fine prospect. He has each-way claims.”
“HILLSTAR is trained by Sir Michael Stoute who has won this event five times since 1983. Having been beaten in handicaps off marks of 83 and 92 at Newmarket and Newbury respectively, he looks to have plenty on his plate. However, the Danehill Dancer colt has yet to encounter his favoured slower ground this season and, being a half-sister to Crystal Capella, ought to improve over this trip. He is a live outsider.”
“Kevin Ryan and Neil Callan (rides for the first time) combined to win this in 2006 with Uhoomagoo and the pair field an interesting runner in LIGHTNING CLOUD. A five times winner during his career, the Sleeping Indian gelding has course form of 1259030. An eyecatcher at Thirsk on his seasonal reappearance in April, he is better than he showed in the Victoria Cup over C&D the following month. The five year old can go well at a big price.”
“THOMAS HOBSON was ridden with the future in mind on his most recent outing at Sandown. The son of Halling had finished fourth and third at Kempton and Windsor respectively on his first two outing. Despite only filling eighth position at the Esher track last time, he kept on in the closing stages under a hand ride. His education in maidens is now complete and I would expect him to be a different proposition in middle distances handicaps. Related to useful hurdler/chaser Torphichen, an extra two furlongs wouldn’t go amiss either.”
BOGART (7/1),
CHANCERY (7/1),
GOLDEN TOWN (4/1),
OUR OBSESSION (3/1),
TELESCOPE (5/4),
THE FUGUE (2/1)
BOP IT (4/1)
“As regular readers of Ahead On The Flat will be aware, I ask each trainer for a horse to follow. When I visited Luca Cumani in February, he nominated AJMAN BRIDGE. However, a few days later he emailed me to say the Dubawi colt had suffered an injury and wouldn’t be running until much later in the season. With that in mind, he could be one to look out for over the next couple of months.”
BOGART is an interesting contender on the basis that Neil Callan will be riding him for the first time. Callan has ridden 13 winners for Kevin Ryan this year at a strike-rate of 23% and he rode Lightning Cloud for the first time when he won the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot this summer. The four year old was a high-class juvenile, winning the sales race at this Festival in 2011 and the 2yo Trophy at Redcar. Without a win since (11 races), he is on his lowest mark ever and it is worth recalling his two runs in the Group 2 Duke of York Stakes. Beaten less than a length when fourth in 2012, he only faded late on in this year’s renewal in eighth. This intermediate trip looks ideal and he was in the process of running well in the Skybet Dash at York last time when the saddle slipped. A horse who likes to race close to the pace, he can go well with the assistance of Callan.”
“CHANCERY will be more at home over this trip having been tapped for speed at Haydock last time. He was poorly positioned throughout under David Nolan and will benefit from the return of Danny Tudhope (223011), too. Twice a winner this summer, including at York his record over twelve furlongs is 22331. He is racing off a career high mark of 95 but the handicapper has given him a chance by dropping him four pounds since his last run.”
“His trainer nominated the Cambridgeshire as a possible target with the trip looking ideal. The fact he handles any ground is a bonus. His age group have won three of the last seven renewals.”
“GOLDEN TOWN was a major eyecatcher on his debut at ‘Glorious’ Goodwood this month. Green early on, he only had one rival behind him turning for home. However, once the penny dropped, he flew at the finish to fill fourth position behind Snow Trouble. The Invincible Spirit colt is bound to have learned plenty.”
“OUR OBSESSION is another representative from the William Haggas yard and she was considered a possible Oaks filly during the winter. Unfortunately, she was held up by minor problems and didn’t make her reappearance until last month. Making the most of a lenient handicap rating (84), she was reportedly in need of the run that day but still prevailed by three and a quarter lengths. Her dam won the Cheshire Oaks so the longer trip ought to bring about further improvement. William Haggas was adamant she would improve from York and she is a leading contender even though she has a bit to find on figures.”
ARCHIBALD THORBURN (7/4),
CONDUCT (8/1),
VORDA (11/8).
CODE OF HONOR (Advised e/w @ 20/1 for the Cambridgeshire – 2nd)
“William Haggas has yet to win the November Handicap at Doncaster (9th November) but the Newmarket trainer may have a prime contender this year in the shape of CONDUCT. The six year old has had his share of problems during his career, hence he has only raced a handful of times. However, the Selkirk gelding has plenty of ability, as his rating of 96 suggests. Previously handled by Sir Michael Stoute, he didn’t race during 2011 and was only seen once last term. Switched to Somerville Lodge this year, he has run two creditable races over ten furlongs at Newmarket and Doncaster. Beaten a length by the Zetland Gold Cup winner Clon Brulee at Town Moor this month, Conduct gives the impression he is crying out for a step up to a mile and a half. He is bred to stay well, too, with his dam Coventina winning over two miles for John Dunlop in 2004. Suited by some cut in the ground, he will be an interesting proposition in the final big race of the turf campaign.”
"As discussed on page 4, has been aimed at the race for sometime by Henry Candy. A winner at Sandown in July off a mark of 90, he is nine pounds higher but has run two sound races at Goodwood since. A dual winner at this time of year last season, he will be reunited with Fergus Sweeney for the first time since October 2012. Unexposed, he has only had eight races and there is every chance we still haven’t seen the best of him.”
BEST TRIP (11/4),
MONTEFELTRO (8/1),
TOP NOTCH TONTO (5/1),
TWELVE STRINGS (7/2)
“I bought him cheaply (10,000gns) at the Doncaster August Sales and he is developing into a nice staying horse. He has already won twice at York and Yarmouth. I wasn’t surprised when he won at the former and then he was well treated off the same mark at the latter. I could see him developing into a Northumberland Plate type horse next year but, more immediately, we are aiming him at the Irish Cesarewitch (13th October). Despite winning over hurdles for John Ferguson, we are going to concentrate on the Flat with him because I think he has a lot more to offer.”
“While he has failed to live up to expectations, he is one to look out for because he is fresh and still lightly raced.”
“An official rating of 85 looks favourable and he is of definite interest in a middle distance handicap in the remaining weeks of the season.”
Price:
£6.00
per Update
£7.99
£15.00
£6.00
ROYAL ASCOT£6.00
YORK EBOR FESTIVAL£6.00
AUTUMN£15.00
ALL 3 UPDATES