Well after last week’s “War and Peace” sized article a much shorter one this week. We are almost in September and a change from summer to autumn is about to take place and the horse racing also sees a change too as those horses that have been put away for an autumn campaign start to race again. Now is the time to look for those eyecatcher horses that will appreciate some juice in the ground and/or are being primed for some big prices in the coming months. Not many of the tracker horses ran last week and in truth there weren’t many eyecatchers last week either but as ever there were a couple of interesting ones.
No weekend review this week partly because the racing in all honestly wasn’t that great and also because I was away last weekend. I mentioned on the Race Advisor forum that I would share an interesting trainer micro angle with you.
Ed Vaughan Micro Angle
Ed Vaughan is a trainer that I like very much and he is a good trainer to build systems from and I posted on the forum an interesting micro angle examining Ed Vaughan’s runners returning from a 60 day + break. Well looking at his runners in sprint handicaps (5f to 7f) there is another interesting angle that is worth keeping an eye on and here are the rules:
Trainer: Ed Vaughan
Race Code – Turf
Race Type: Handicaps
Race Distance: 5f to 7f
Age: 3 year olds +
Race Class – 3, 4 & 5 only
Since 2011 the trainer is 13/39 33% +74.63 A/E 2.31 22 places 56% with such runners.
This Weeks Eyecatchers
There are four eyecatchers for you this week and I will be adding two more exclusively for Eyecatcher Pro subscribers in the few days.
Monday 22nd August
Kempton
Pointel – James Fanshawe – The three year old was, in all truth, no match for the improving winner Athlon but the step up to 1m 4f held no terrors for him and he and the winner pulled nicely clear of the rest of the field. This was the colt’s first run all the weather and given he has now only had 5 career starts there is every chance there will be more to come from him both on the synthetics and on turf this autumn. He had previously battled on well to win a conditions race at Nottingham on soft ground, so likes ease in the ground on turf. Can be placed to win a handicap by his shrewd trainer I am sure. It will be interesting to see if he brought out within 14 days of this run as his trainer does well with his non winning handicappers returning from such a layoff!
Thursday 25th August
Musselburgh
Hibou – Iain Jardine – Another trainer that I am watching with interest is Iain Jardine who is having a great season and his last time out winners are always worth a second look. This one wasn’t a winner but really caught the eye when finish 3rd in Class 3 handicap. Bought out of the Charlie Appleby this summer, the three year old was having his 3rd start for his new trainer and his first on quick ground. The ground was crucial for the horse and he could easily have won the race with stronger handling inside the final furlong, only been beaten ½ length at the finish. Looks the sort that his trainer can win with on the evidence of this run and he could well run up a sequence off his present mark this autumn. Will need the rain to stay away if he is to win on turf but he won on the polytrack for his previous trainer so the all weather will be a real option for this son of Street Cry. Has an entry for Haydock on Thursday!
Friday 26th August
Goodwood
Consulting – Martyn Meade – The three year continues to progress with racing and the step up to 7f. Travelled well behind the leader for most of the race and it looked two furlongs out like he would get to the front and win the race. Took him much longer to get past the leader than looked likely and although he did finally inside the final furlong he still had to settle for 2nd at the line. Stayed on well enough but his a big powerful colt that didn’t seem to handle Goodwood’s undulations and the quick ground might not have totally suited him either. A return to a flatter track will be in his favour and he might be worth a try on ground with some ease. He is 2/2 on Kempton’s polytrack surface and both his half siblings have won on the tapeta at Wolverhampton which is another option. Can win another handicap!
Saturday 27th August
Goodwood
Suzi’s Connoisseur – Stuart Williams – The gelding comes into the autumn fresher than most, as this was only his 4th start of the season, and his 2nd place in this valuable 7f handicap was a step in the right direction. Wasn’t that well drawn here in 13 and had to make his effort wider than the eventual winner but no horse was finishing stronger. Hasn’t won since October 2014 but has often run well in big field handicaps and had been very unlucky when ½ length, 2nd at Ascot last September, off a 2lb lower mark. Has run well on good to firm but is arguably better suited by some juice in the ground. There are a couple of 7f handicaps at Ascot in the coming month or so which will be ideal for him if he gets a decent draw and some ease in the ground. Entered in one at Ascot next Saturday.
That’s it for now, and now all that’s left is to wish you a profitable weeks betting!
