Performance ratings & Top Of The Form

Performance ratings from the book last week:

PARK HILL STAKES – Allegretto 67

MAY HILL STAKES – Rainbow View 73

DONCASTER CUP – Honolulu 78

FLYING CHILDERS STAKES – Madame Trop Vite – 67

BLANDFORD STAKES – Katiyra 72

CHAMPAGNE STAKES – Westphalia 71

PORTLAND HANDICAP – Hogmaneigh 70

ST LEGER STAKES – Conduit 80

PARK STAKES – Arabian Gleam 75

IRISH ST LEGER – Septimus 80

SELECT STAKES - Lady Gloria 70

NATIONAL STAKES – Mastercraftsman 78


September 11 will always be remembered for obvious reasons, but I will now recall the 2008 anniversary as the year I finally completed the jumps book – Racing Trends Revealed 2008/09 ‘The road to Cheltenham’.

I’ll uncover more information about the jumps version over the next few weeks, and what races are featured, as it should be on sale in mid-October in time for the first race at Chepstow on October 25 – the Persian War Novices’ Hurdle.
The format is the same as the Flat version, although I have added the winner’s official rating, along with the running style - front, prom, held.
The bottom section of the page also reveals what winners and placed runners of the races went on to achieve at that season’s Cheltenham Festival, which is a valuable tool for ante-post punting.

Now that the book is complete, I’m hoping to be blogging more than time has allowed in the past month - as the Flat season reaches it’s final few months - with 36 races from the book still to go, including the Ayr Gold Cup on Saturday. I attended last year’s renewal with my wife, but never again will I attempt it all in one day as getting up at 5am for the early flight and returning at 10pm was a killer!
The horse I backed ante-post for the Gold Cup, Burning Incense, didn’t even run 12 months’ ago, but he should get in this year’s Silver Cup on Friday. I’ll probably have a few quid on him, although he has become a bit of a rogue and needs everything to fall right, but he has become well-handicapped and loves the mud.

One who doesn’t like the mud is Orpsie Boy - yes him - who looks to have missed his moment this Flat season as there isn’t much chance of fast ground helping him. It could be the all-weather for him.
Another name some of you may be tired of hearing is Opera Prince from my Top Of The Form column in the Racing and Football Outlook. He caught the eye in one of the best form races of the season at Goodwood back in June and finally reappeared on Friday at Sandown where he obliged at 15/2 - hope some of you spotted him.
That Goodwood sprint is a superb example of what the Top Of The Form method is all about - take a look at how the top seven of that race worked out subsequently:

June 13, Goodwood, Handicap, 6f

1. Shifting Star WON 5/1, WON 7/2, 4th
2. Fabreze WON 15/8, -
3. Brassini 3rd, 2nd, WON 6/1
4. Opera Prince WON 15/2
5. Masada WON 3/1, 2nd
6. Lodi WON 15/2, 10th, 3rd
7. Hadaf WON 8/1, 10th

Using the form book is one of the oldest methods in the book, but I often think punters try too hard these days with pace, draw etc, which are very en vogue, but concentrating on old fashioned form can find rewarding odds in the market.

I’ve mentioned here, also, that nominating the horse to follow from each race isn’t easy as I try to put forward the ‘sexy’ horse that catches the eye making up ground often into the places. However, those that are buried further back in mid division or beyond can go in at very big prices, as was the case a few weeks back when a bucketful of winners emerged.
The idea of Top Of The Form is to highlight the races currently working out well and leave it to people to look into the race for their own runners to consider backing – similar to Today’s Trainers in the Racing Post that shows which handlers are in form.

And so, onto this week’s entries from the ‘sexy’ list of horses to follow (my wife is currently waiting to back Head Down when it runs as our expectant baby is in place…gulp!)

Anosti (Tuesday) – Fine second at Pontefract has worked out and could score on a speedier track.

Doughnut – Weatherbys Super Sprit working out well, especially those from the lower-half of the field that are given reasonable targets next time.

Elijah Pepper – Form of Pontefract victory has worked out and trainer David Barron knows how to place progressive sprinters.

Hazzard County - Stayed on into third at Great Leighs and deserves to land one after some consistent efforts.

Head Down - Excellent second to Rose Diamond and could win a nursery.

Huntdown (Thursday & Friday) – Early days for this Newmarket maiden but has been franked twice, and a second here looks strong form.

Lucky Numbers– Thirsk maiden victory has been franked by horses in a better grade and could represent value from a small yard.

Make Amends - Was seen making late ground into eighth on just his third outing at Bath.

Mullglen - Weatherbys Super Sprit working out well, especially those from the lower-half of the field that are given reasonable targets next time.

Pacific Ocean - Decent fourth at Yarmouth and a repeat on soft ground could suffice.

Pan The Man (Sunday) - Career best when second to subsequent-winning William The Butler, and should pick up a race possibly dropped to a Class 4 – outclassed in Listed last time.

Park Lane (Friday) – Fourth at Newbury in a fast time bodes well.

Pay Time (Saturday) – Fifth at Carlisle not bad and ready to go well on fast ground possibly at big price.

Prospect Court - Sixth to Angus Newz was good form and is one to store away possibly for the autumn as he loves the mud and has slipped to a winning mark.

Red Lily (Tuesday & Friday) – Decent third at Yarmouth and a repeat on soft ground could suffice.

Shamwari Lodge - Picked up nicely on her debut at Newbury.

The Good Guy - Placed effort at Uttoxeter decent form.

Total Gallery (Friday & Saturday) - Beverley form worked out and possibly drawn too near the stands' rail at Goodwood as the race developed down the centre.

Wee Ziggy – Third in a Southwell handicap hurdle is decent form.