How do you blow away the cobwebs of a terrible Chester and awful Saturday just gone, by putting up a 40+ point profit day on the opening day of the Dante Festival.
After a ropey start with nothing much working, albeit the each-way money keeping us on track, our day got going with SNOWFALL for the O’Brien yard, got out and just get going, a lovely winner at 14s.
WOBWOBWOB the horse with the best name in training, in the next race does the business at 9s and in the final race it really went a bit bonkers, we landed a 3.5 point each way on the winner Flying Solo and picked up place for money for excellent runs by Bollin Joan at 33s and Dubai Instinct who was flying when finishing third at 80s.
What a difference a week makes, fantastic day yesterday and I hope you were on.
If so, think about chucking us a pint.
Onto today, Day 2.
13:40 – In the opener, on good to soft ground, COUNT D’ORSAY is the selection, proven over distance, with the best speed figures out of all of these and weighing a pound less when performing very well last summer. If trained on over the winter, we should be in for a decent run today with the Easterby yard in decent fettle. A horse that likes to attack something weakening from the front, let us hope the pace is set for a winning start to day 2.
COUNT D’ORSAY 9/2 3 point each way
14:10 – SILENCE PLEASE looks very attractive for the John Harrington yard with Shane Foley on board. Performing well in Ireland carrying heavier and last seen at Christmas at Leopardstown. The ground should not be an issue with him performing well over distance (a win and a place) last summer on firm and soft.
Looks an obvious Irish raider.
SILENCE PLEASE 5/2 2.5 point each way
Double with COUNT D’ORSAY 18/1 – 2 Point each way
14:40 – ARTISTIC RIFLES proven over distance and carrying 5 pounds less when victorious in stunning style at Ripon a few weeks back is the starting point. The horse after a 161 day break has looked stunning this season, hitting speeds that should concern most of these, a repeat of Ripon would be enough today.
Brunch further has obvious claims but the price may be gone and Johan is probably in the grip of the handicapper. HARTSWOOD will be another selection, down in the weights and given a warm-up over a mile a few weeks back to blow the cobwebs off before this today.
ARTISTIC RIFLES 17/2 2 point each way
HARTSWOOD 13/2 2 point each way
15:10 – The Dante Stakes, can High Definition do it? And then go on to Derby success at Epsom?
UNCLE BRYN stands out for Gosden and Dettori, having produced the best speed rating and well drawn from stall 1.
Hurricane Lane is as good as High Definition from what we have seen so far but is 6/1.
Pythagoras for Richard Fahey should not be 33/1 (had him at 15s on my tissue).
UNCLE BRYN 11/1 1.5 point each way
Pythagoras 33/1 1 point each way
15:40 – WINTER POWER for Easterby and SDS, flew out the blocks over 5f towards teh end of last season when winning at Newmarket and Ayr. If he can replicate anything like that pace today he will not be caught.
First Company is also of interest down in the weights.
WINTER POWER 7/2 3.5 point each way
FIRST COMPANY 9/1 1 point each way
Add Winter Power to a treble with Count D’orsay and Silence Please – 86/1 1pt ew
16:15 – watching brief lots of newcomers – anyone named after the track should win.
16:50 – POLISH for the O’Brien yard might just be off a flyer of a mark here today having won a hurdle at Newbury last time out carrying 2stone and 4 pounds higher setting fractions as good as any of these.
POLISH 4/1 3 point each way.
Also available as a podcast in audio form:
https://anchor.fm/michael-cotter/episodes/Thursday-13-May-2021-e10q2j1
Horse Racing Selections 