Trends & form...mostly form!

Performance ratings

HACKWOOD STAKES – Intrepid Jack 75

My aim is to get through this blog without mentioning that I was ill with a bug or that my wife is expecting a baby – which seems to have been the theme for the past fortnight – and get down to some racing analysis.

This week’s trends action centres on the three-day King George meeting at Ascot, and I’ll be giving my thoughts on that later in the week – can’t believe there’s been so much money for Lucarno, mainly owing to Mark Winstanley having ‘five-stars’ each-way on it in Monday’s Racing Post. Somebody remind me again, how much exactly is ‘five-stars’ each-way? Exactly. The staking used in paper tipping columns really annoys me as the year is 2008 and times have changed, just a shame mindsets of those involved in such columns are still stuck in 1990 mode.
I know what I’d do if I was writing a tipping column from a stakes perspective as I’ve had an idea up my sleeve for years, and may be one day I’ll get the chance to do it. Move things on a bit, boy does it need it – 1 point win…do me a favour!
So that’s my moan out the way, let’s look at the formbook.

Those of you that have been following the Top Of The Form since it begun during the spring may recall me advising Katie’s Tuitor for the Swinton Hurdle after it won a tasty handicap hurdle at the Cheltenham April meeting, an event that appeared in the Top 20. Unfortunately Katie’s flopped in the Swinton, possibly as he needed a break before bouncing back to land a big race at Market Rasen on Saturday. Anyway, the point of all this is to mention a horse from that Cheltenham race to store away for the long-term – Light Yield.
Lucy Wadham’s four-year-old was a big improver last year and did very well to get within two lengths of Katies Tuitor on his handicap debut. Apart from the winner’s subsequent victory, others to score from that quality Cheltenham event since include Moon Star, Bureaucrat, Mous Of Men, Poquelin and Iffy, confirming its strength.
Light Yield looks set for a good jumps season in 2008/09, so put him on any list to follow now.

A horse I gave a quick mention to on Friday, Jaconet, almost scored at Ayr when runner-up on Monday, and though one length not good enough, the event he took previously at Ayr looks decent at a low level with both the second and third scoring in the past week. This race hasn’t made the Top 20 but the sixth-placed, Many Welcomes, is one to keep an eye on. This filly already appeared in Top Of The Form after running well in a Redcar event won by Ursus, and she should be scoring soon when faced with a stiff 6f or may be even 7f – gets outpaced and finishes strongly. She is on the list of runners below that I’ve mentioned in copy over the past month, along with this week’s entries up to Sunday. Aggravation was disappointing at Newmarket, but I’ve retained him on the last for another chance back at Windsor with a good high draw.

I’ll be back on Friday with a preview of one of the races from the trends book – I gave Marchand D’Or for the July Cup last time – so tune in then for an update.


TOP OF THE FORM

Aggravation
Berry Baby
Bulwark
Drawn Gold (Sunday)
Golden Prospect (Friday)
Head Down
Honolulu
Judgethemoment (Thursday)
Kyllachy Star (Friday & Saturday)
Many Welcomes
Navajo Joe (Saturday)
On Offer
Opera Prince
Prospect Court
Rose Diamond (Saturday)
Sharp Sovereign (Saturday)
Sundowner
Visions Of Johanna (Thursday & Sunday)