A shorter article than normal this week as there wasn’t much top class horse racing to look back at last week or over the weekend with the Shergar Cup taking centre stage. Love it or loath it the Shergar Cup does attract a decent crowd with 30,000 in attendance. As for betting it’s really not a meeting that I take much notice of let alone have abet on, but there are usually one or two eyecatchers for our trackers.
There are four eyecatchers for you this week and I will be adding a couple more eyecatchers to the software for Eyecatcher Pro subscribers. On the subject of the extra horses that I add to the service, yesterday was a good example of the sort of nice priced winners subscribers get, with Bunce winning at 9/ 1. Hopefully plenty of you got on at early morning 10/1 like I did. This is what I wrote for subscribers after the horses recent run at Musselburgh:
“The eight year old is well handicapped at present being 8lb lower than his last winning mark back in May 2015… Knocking on the door but needs everything falls’s right if he is to get back into the winners enclosure”.
If this August is as good as last years we can look forward to more big priced winners like Bunce before the month is out.
Before looking at this week’s tracker horses I thought I would share something with all you loyal readers of this column. As I have mentioned in the past I like to work with a portfolio of micro systems, in addition to my eye-catchers. Here is just one of 25 micro systems that I have on the go at the moment and the great thing about this one is its simplicity. Here are the rules:
- Owner: Al Shaqab Racing
- Country: UK only
- Group 1, Group 2 and Group 3 races only
- 21 wins/59 bets/36%/+98.31/A/E 1.76/33 places/56%/+116.30
With the last 10 form figures being 1212012111
As a big thanks to all subscribers I will be adding any qualifiers to the software as and when they run so if you haven’t joined yet now would be a great time, as I fully expect plenty of winners to come out of that micro angle in the couple of months.
This Weeks Eyecatchers
Monday August 1st
Windsor
Hathfa – Richard Hughes – It’s that time of the year when more and more two year olds are added to my tracker. This daughter of Dark Angel was well backed before the race from an early 16/1 going off only 4/1. The gamble never really looked like being landed as the filly was very inexperienced on her first start on the racecourse. Took time to get organised and understand what was expected of here and by the time she did the race was all over. Staying on nicely inside the final furlong she almost managed to snatch 3rd on the line. A very expensive filly with a nice pedigree, the market suggested she was highly regarded by connections although trainer Richard Hughes had indicated before the race that she would need the experience. Probably wont be much of a price on her next start but she can surely win races on the evidence of this promising run.
Friday August 5th
Newmarket
Bequia – Martyn Meade – This week’s second eyecatcher is also a two year old. Trainer usually sends a nice two year old to headquarters and I think this one will be no exception. In what looks like it could be a decent maiden with the winner being highly regarded by her trainer. Bequia filly was held up at the back and made her effort later than the eventual winner but was running on well at the finish and managed to grab 2nd place on the line. A speedy pedigree and from a family that has produced plenty of winners. The filly can win a maiden on the evidence of this run!
Saturday August 6th
Ascot
Real Dominion – Andrew Balding – Was a very easy winner of a handicap on his previous start at Ascot over 1m 4f. He showed that he is well suited to good to firm going that day and his preference for fast going showed again here. He was racing off a 9lb higher mark in this race but still looked like his new mark could be workable even though he was beaten 5 lengths at the finish. His jockey made her move on the colt fully four furlongs out which in hindsight was too early. If he had been held on to a bit longer he would have finished much closer to the eventual winner. Clearly he is well suited by a strong pace and he can continue to progress when he gets his favoured quick ground.
Haydock
Flying Bear – Jeremy Gask – The five year old has become a well handicapped horse being 2lb lower than his last winning mark on the all weather and 4lb lower than his last winning mark on the turf. Was well backed to make a return to the winner’s enclosure in this 5f handicap but had to settle for 3rd at the finish. If the gelding had been racing closer to the stands side like the first two home he may have done better but he made his effort down the middle. Trainer Jeremy Gask is really struggling for winners at present but when the stable hits the winning groove then Flying Bear will be able to capitalise on his mark. Needs a flat track and good quick ground on turf and also is very effective on the polytrack at Lingfield where his last win came in May 2015.
That’s it for now, and now all that’s left is to wish you a profitable weeks betting.
