Guineas Trials Day.

A cracking day yesterday, mildly let down by England's 10 wicket loss to Sri Lanka in the Cricket meaning they departed from the World Cup in poor fashion. I predicted that it would be an uphill struggle to win that game but I didn't expect to lose so heavily.

Elsewhere, smiles all around. England's Football team turned in a classy, comfortable performance to overturn Wales. 2-0 up within 15 minutes, and though we never scored again after we were always in control. I mentioned that I though Jermaine Defoe may score at anytime, he sat warming the bench and never came on so any bets on that were refunded. My other bet in that game came in as I advised England (-1.0) Handicap bet at 6/5, I was happy to wait for that money to come as as it never looked in doubt throughout.

There was plenty of good racing around the world yesterday. Meydan served up a cracking card, the first 6 favourites on the card proper all won and I'm surely there must have been an accumulator somewhere going onto Twice Over who was sent off favourite in the Dubai World Cup. Once again, making it 'Twice Over', he failed to get any sort of decent run from his wide draw. The race was a farce, ran at no pace, anything drawn above stall 7 had any chance of getting to the rail. The japanese dominated the finish as pace-maker Transcend finished 2nd at 40/1, beaten by country mate Victoire Pisa. I have to give credit to the winning jockey. Though drawn well in 6 he settled his mount right out the back, he sent his charge from first to last up the back straight in what turned out to be a race settling move. He kicked on in the straight and nothing could peg him back as he won by a half length. The Godolphin trained Monterosso was a 40/1 3rd with Jamie 'Frank' Spencer riding Cape Blanco into 4th.

The blog had 3 runners yesterday. Firstly an Ante-post bet on Twice Over which failed to return anything meaning a 2pt loss. The others were Dark Shadow, though Geraghty said in his blog he would be much better on quicker ground, he never made any sort of impact in the race and it's got to be a major doubt whether he even stays 16 furlongs. Unfortunately Geraghty got injured earlier in the day so couldn't ride the selection but either he nor David Bass who eventually rode could have done anything to get the horse across the line first. A 1pt loss fo the blog.

There was joy for our other runner though as 5/1 advised Skysurfers won the Godolphin Mile at his second attempt (3rd last year). He travelled ominously well and picked up in style to out battle Richard Hills' 25/1 Murfarrh by 1/2 length.

Selections:
Twice Over 2pts win @ 9/4. Result - Unpl. -2pts.
Dark Shadow 1pts win @ 4/1+. Result - 6th @ 8/1. -1pts.
Skysurfers 1pts win @ 5/1. Result - 1st @ 4/1. +5pts.

A total of 4pts spent a 6pts returned meant a 2pt profit for the day.

Ante-post Profit: -2pts.
Daily Profit: +2pts.
Overall Profit: +4.1pts.

Tomorrows races I did struggle to find a selection even though there are plenty of cards and races to choose from. The biggest races of the day are at Leopardstown in which Guineas hopefuls take part in Group 3 trials races. Dunboyne Express is the big talking horse in the 4 runner 2000 Guineas trial but Kevin Prendergast has stated that he may not be race fit so I wouldn't want to be taking the 4/6 being offer about him. He will come on for this and I would consider him a live contender for the actual 2000 Guineas. He flopped in the Racing Post Trophy, won by Casamento, but he had excuses and an interupted lead up to the race so I am willing to forgive that, hopefully we'll see him back to his best. The 1000 Guneas Trial has Wild Wind as favourite but I would rather be with History Note. John Oxx has his runners seemingly fit at the start of the season as his one runner so far was beaten just a short head. J Murtagh is booked for the ride so she looks the stables number one and the form of her debut win doesn't look too bad as second place when on to run well at the start of this season. She is goint to appreciate the longer trip, being out of Azamour and the ground will be no problem either. Drawn well in stall 2 I expect her to go close at around the 4/1 mark.

I did find one worth a small e/way chance I'm willing to put a bit on:

15:50 Downpatrick Bet With The Tote Handicap Chase
This race shouldn't take much winning, the favourite Hoochie Mama should be involved, sent off favourite last time at Navan. She could only manage to finish 3rd that day but suggested she could be winning off this mark soon enough. She's has blinkers reapplied today. Ruby Walsh takes the ride on Knocklayde Euro which looks fairly significant, top-weight may hinder the chances of that one but been running consistently enough of late to also suggest that this mark could be a winning one. The one I like the look of is p2p and Hunter Chase runner Carlanstown. Andrew Lynch rides for the first time for this trainer which took my eye at first but the form stands out in a weak race too. He had previous beaten Zemsky in an open p2p, that one went on to win a Hunter Chase by 7 lengths next time and then won the big Hunter Chase at Cheltenham in good style. In his Novice Chase days Zemsky was rated around the 130 mark, that looks a little high as it wasn't tested in handicaps but he did beat Theophrastus by 16 lengths off level weights, that one has won it's last two starts off marks of 98 and 109 quite convincingly. Carlanstown has had a run in February which should have sharpened him up for this first run in Handicap company off a mark of 81! He looks very well in based on his old p2p and Hunter Chase form, if he handles this slight drop in trip he must have a very good chance at what could be decent odds.

Selection:
Carlanstown 0.5pts e/way @ 8/1+

Good luck with all your bets.