June roster
With Roy Lasckut top-hatted and tailed, and rapping a silver
handled walking stick on my door, it’s time for another stock take on the flat
project.
I’ve been putting this off since Saturday. Another two
defeats for list horses mean I’m reporting a loss since the last update. We do,
however, cling with quick-bitten fingers to a slender overall profit. With many
entries to come over the next five days, Ascot will be pivotal in the overall
context of the project.
George Guru has been seen twice since the last update. A decent
2nd at Goodwood (a track he seems to like) paid a spawny each way
return. Rain on the day of the race reduced the field to 7 and thus my e-w bet
struck in the morning to two places. Normally I would never consider such terms.
The decision was out of my hands this time, so the few quid I picked up can be
considered a bonus. On Saturday at Sandown he was a much less convincing in 6th. I thought Queally gave him a poor positional ride.
He was trapped behind a wall of horses for too long, and particularly at the
business end of the race. He may have had a squeak of a place at best. But he's off the list now. Stay ruthless.
Roudee ran into a couple of good ones at Sandown’s Brigadier
Gerard meeting. We were there to see the race on rain-softened ground. Both Cock
Of The North and the winner Tiggy Wiggy showed class under the
conditions and have been added to the roster. Roudee ran well for a long way on
ground that appeared not to be ideal. More restrained tactics on better ground
may help. Stays on the list for the Windsor Castle tomorrow, though that will
be a tough ask.
We all had good winners that night and there was some fine
racing, drinking and banter to be
had. Nevertheless, the trashing of our carefully thought out win-double
entendre on the aforementioned Cock Of The North with Whiplash Willie was a
blow. The former shot his bolt in the stalls and the latter's effort drooped with some
flaccid penetration at the business end.
 |
| Inconsolable. The cock and the willie let us down. |
Mind of Madness, another 2yo old prospect found a sharp one in
Adaay from Haggis’ yard much too good at Yarmouth. I had fancied this in what
turned out to be a straight fight between the two market leaders. The strength
of his Chester win in May appealed, but the word before this race was that had
been a pretty soft victory. There may be some truth in that, but he hasn’t
finished improving yet, so holds his place in the line up until Ascot.
G Force has caught the eye in two previous runs. A lot was made
of his draw on Saturday in the Scurry Stakes and for my money, he was allowed
to run around too much. That said, he was beaten fair and square, though arguable
that the improvement has not peaked yet. Should pick up more races.
Graphic had a good run when backed into favouritism for the
Diomed at the Derby meeting. He was beaten by a proven Group 3 horse and probably
needs ground with a little more cut.
The roster was supplemented by a couple of high profile
types at the Epsom festival – Ihtimal, who surely wants a couple of
furlongs less and to settle better; and Ballymore Castle, another 2yo, who
ran well in defeat in the Woodcote and probably wants 7f.
The roster is up to 15 horses and here is the running
balance.
Date Horse Bet P/L R/T
[b/f 27.5]
[b/f 27.5]
22nd May George
Guru 5
e-w @ 8-1 5 32.5
30th May Roudee 5
win @ 7-1 -5 27.5
4th June Mind
of Madness 10
win @ 5-4 -10 17.5
6th June Graphic 5
win @ 9-4 -5 12.5
14th June George
Guru 2.5
e-w @ 16-1 -5 7.5
14th June G
Force 2.5
e-w @ 2-1 -5 2.5
This is the current list: Aljamaaheer, G Force, Gospel
Choir, Made with Love, Mind Of Madness, Graphic, George Guru, Telescope,
Roudee, Bright Approach, Es Que Love, Toofi, Cock Of The North, Tiggy Wiggy,
Ihtimal, Ballymore Castle.
Many of these will be out over the next five days. Defending
our small profit could be a big ask.
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