Flat horses to keep an eye on.

I’ve been caught up with commitments to other activities lately so not able to do as much horse racing stuff as I would like. The local Rotary Club has taken up a fair bit of time, but does give me a excuse to run a race night which was very popular and also taken parties to Perth and Hamilton in recent times.

I thought I would try to put up a few horses that I spot this season on the northern flat circuit.

My flat season started with a visit to Hamilton where I picked up a couple of interesting horses both of which have run since.

RARE GROOVE came clear in good style in the 1m 5f Class 3 Buttonhook Handicap. He subsequently ran midfield in a hot looking Class 2 event over 1m 4f at York which doesn’t look bad form as he was held up and unable to get in a blow. He’s currently on a mark of 94 which should be workable for a Class 3 event of the weaker Class 2 handicaps. Well held when running over 1m 6f, but I see no reason why he shouldn’t be suited by the slightly stiffer test.

Second in the above race was CHARLES KINGSLEY who has yet to win a race, but might be a typical Mark Jophnston horse that toughs it out and wins races by having more determination than his rivals. Currently on a mark of 87 and there should be a handicap or two to be won in the coming months on the northern circuit.

Six-year-old sprinters are not normally my cup of tea, but LATHOM caught my eye chasing home Spirit Of Wedza in the opening Class 5 sprint handicap. He hasn’t won a race since the Super Sprint at Newbury in 2015, and was off the track last season. He stuck his head down determinedly and chased home a winner that got a jump on him, clearly retaining ability and enthusiasm. He subsequently ran a cracker when a neck second to rejuvenated Duke Of Firenze at Thirsk and the latter franked the form impressively in better company at York yesterday. Lathom really ought to pick up a 0-75 or 0-80 event to start with and may progress from there.

Fourth horse to keep an eye on is Richard Fahey’s MR DIAMOND who opened the season with a narrow win a 7 furlong Class 4 handicap at Wetherby. He then ran a creditable fifth in a Class 2 event at Goodwood. He was held up and his rider looked for the gap at the cutaway two out, but the end result favoured those coming down the centre so the form might be better than initial impression suggests. A mark of 82 gives room for manoeuvre class wise so his trainer should find another race soon.