Musselburgh - August Evening Meeting

MUSSELBURGH – Friday August 1^st 2014

Going – Good to Firm

The promised rain did materialise in East Lothian and Musselburgh’s second evening meeting of the season took place on quick ground. A fair crowd in for Carnival night, the ears being tested by Thommo at one end of the enclosures and the DJ at the other end!

6.10 1m 5f Rebecca Wilson Hen Party Amateur Riders’ Handicap(49-67)

A run of the mill event, but won by a very interesting sort in the lightly-raced Alan Swinbank gelding GIOVANNI JACK. He’s a nice strong sort who looks all over a jumper, a factor that put me off him tweeted paddock picks, but I’d be really surprised if he can’t go to make a mark over the winter. (He has since run a close fourth in a more competitive event at Carlisle, looking like a stayer)

Always travelling comfortably, Giovanni Jack took over two out and race was comfortably in safe keeping by the furlong pole.

Megan Nicholls flew up for this ride and had a flight booked for 7.30 back to Bristol but, with taxi waiting, she had time for a quick interview with Derek Thompson. Her horse to follow from her father’s yard is SAPHIR DU RHEU who is reported as doing very well over the summer.

The remainder finished in a bunch led by GEANIE MAC, a mare who often runs passably well but only has a single win to her credit.

Veteran GRAND DIAMOND kept on through the field in his customary style without ever threatening. Often thereabouts but another who is not diamond betting material.

GOLDEN FUTURE kept on into fourth place, while DUKE OF YORKSHIRE faded in the final three furlongs having raced prominently and is probably better at a stiffer track. Jockey William Easterby confirmed that the ground was ‘on the quick side’.

6.45 5f Wilkinson and Associates Nursery Handicap (49-62)

A very moderate contest but one or two at least showed a glimmer of speed.

BOWSON FRED found this company a good deal easier than that he had encountered at York. He raced prominently and asserted in the final furlong. He is half-brother to a couple of winning sprinters and may pick up another handicap in the coming weeks.

WESTHOUGHTON stayed on in the latter stages to take second place.

PENALTY SCORER showed decent speed but was run out of it in the closing stages. She subsequently ran a fair second over an extra furlong at Hamilton the next evening and there should be a small contest for her in the north.

PICKLE LILLY PEARL, not one who impressed in the paddock, showed up for a long way but faded in the final furlong.

7.20 1m 1f PMD Ltd Handicap (55-70)

The seven runners know their way around a racecourse, with 540 runs between them before this race, yielding 44 wins and 92 places.

CAMEROONEY retains enthusiasm and from at the age of 11. He’s difficult to pass when in the mood and, having set the pace under claimer Jordan Nason, he found plenty when asked in the latter stages. He’s now 3 wins form 5 races at Musselburgh and won off his highest mark since April 2012 here.

ELLAAL has been kept busy this year and run pretty consistently. He pestered the leader from two out but was held close home.

CALL OF DUTY runs an honest race and has not been beaten far in any of his turf races since joining Dianne Sayer. He kept on but was held in the final furlong and a stiffer track is probably best these days.

JANAAB is a maiden who recently came over from France and has shown a degree of promise. He chased the leader but was held in the final furlong. There should be a similar race for him with more UK race time under his belt.

DHAULAR DHAR couldn’t get to grips with the leader from two out. Though putting in a number of sound performances of late, he last won in 2011.

ROYAL STRAIGHT and OUTLAW TORN didn’t get in a blow.

7.50 5f Mabanaft Maba-Dash Handicap (74-86)

ALGAR LAD has crept steadily up the handicap of late but was rewarded for consistency. He hit the front over a furlong out and only just held on, but his jockey confirmed the impression that he had idled in front. There may be more to come.

BUNCE performed admirably on ground possibly a little on the quick side. Driven to challenge in the final furlong he was closing and only just touched off.

RED LADY ran a cracker off bottom weight. She was just held after putting in a sustained challenge in the closing stages. Dropped in class she should be capable of winning a sprint handicap in the coming weeks.

ALASKAN BULLET made an effort on the outside over a furlong out but couldn’t sustain the challenge.

8.20 5f Wilkinson & Associates Handicap (45-61)

A moderate event won in encouraging style by SCRELINE, who is lightly raced compared to others at this level. He took it up inside the final furlong and ran on well. He reported as unsuited by the fast going when disappointing at Leicester, but maybe the linksland turf provides more of a cushion.

TADALAVIL ran to his best recent form in second place.

PAVERS STAR won a similar race here in May 2013 but, though running well on occasion, hasn’t won since. He led until headed inside the final furlong.

MANDY LAYLA looked to have good opportunity to follow up her Hamilton win and looked very well, but was held from the furlong pole.

8.50 7f 30yds Thomson Anniversary Handicap (Betfair Mile Series Qualifier) (56-75)

A qualifier for the series which has its finale at Ayr on September 30^th.

The leaders went too quick and the winner came from well off the pace.

STRONG MAN was under the pump and going nowhere over two out, but the rest came back to him and he came through to win a shade cosily. A decent effort off a break but the race went his way.

SMART ALEC did best of those up with the pace and arguably achieved the most on the day. He led inside the final furlong but was denied in the final 50 yards. He has not had much racing and may have performed better than the bare result suggests.

OPT OUT made progress on the outside from three furlongs out and kept on to finish a close third. This was only his second attempt over seven furlongs and he saw out the trip well enough.

MOWHOOB and SNOW BAY contested the strong pace but faded in the latter stages.

FUNDING DEFICIT ran a fair race in fourth having chased the leaders, but he hasn’t made a habit of winning in 20 races.

Lysa Nad Labem Racecourse (Czech Republic)

Saturday July 5th 2014

LYSA NAD LABEM

When we fix a holiday you can be pretty sure that I will be on to the internet investigating the possibilities of fitting in a race meeting somewhere. Frustratingly our schedule taking in Prague, Vienna and Budapest just missed the Czech and Magyar Derbys, but the Czech racing scene shows something most weekends and Lysa Nad Labem held a mixed meeting during our Prague leg.

The racecourse is some 35km out from the centre of Prague just outside the small town from which it takes its name. The town is served by two trains an hour, one from the main Prague station Praha Hlavni nadrazi and one from Praha Masarykovo nadrazi. The latter station is a bit of a dump, but Lysa Nad Labem is served from here by rather swish CityElefant double decker trains. The fare is about the equivalent of £3 return which is dirt cheap compared with the UK.

Transport from the station at Lysa Nad Labem isn’t quite so straight forward and if you are thinking of visiting then it might be worth doing a bit of spade work in advance.  There’s a big advert in the street for ‘Horse Racing’, but no obvious means of travelling to the track and it doesn’t seem a place taxis wait for fares. There are very few buses in the town and nothing direct to the course. I couldn’t get the taxi number to work on my phone, and it was difficult to find English speakers amongst the locals, though one guy in a bar did understand enough to arrange a taxi. He apologised for his poor English, but it was a darned sight better than my Czech! The word ‘zavodiste’ (racecourse) will come in handy. Taxi turned up 10 minutes later and we were at the course half an hour before the 1pm start. Fare was 150Kc which is about £4.50, which is quite expensive but we were just glad to get there. If you get a taxi in the Czech Republic, and Prague in particular, make sure the fare is agreed before leaving. For a trip from our hotel to the station we were quoted prices varying between 117Kc (just over £3) to 500Kc (£14)!

We arranged for the taxi driver to return at 5 o’clock. I think we made it clear enough, but he didn’t turn up and we had to walk back. The locals don’t seem to do talking and nobody even asked about our plight as we waited for the taxi. Eventually we walked back and it is about 2 miles if you follow the footpaths which run alongside the railway. A reasonable option if you are fit and allow the time.

Admission was 100Kc (about £2.75) and an excellent full colour glossy programme is 60Kc (£1.70). The programme is not difficult to follow as form summaries are pretty much the same across the racing world and a decent course map is particularly helpful for the steeplechases.

Details of Czech racing and meeting schedule can be found at the Czech Jockey Club website www.dostihy.cz which translates reasonably well. The course website can be found at www.dostihylysa.cz/ .

The course is set in a very pleasant forest area and is a mix between Cartmel, Fontwell and the cross-country bit at Cheltenham, holding a mix of jumps and flat with races for unregistered horses and ponies slotted in the card. The main course is around 7 furlongs per circuit, so very tight, a steeplechase course inside the flat track with a cross-country course cutting across the middle. The going was very firm, no obvious signs of watering, and jumping on that surface would have raised eyebrows in the UK. There appears to be a trotting track running inside the main steeplechase track.

  

Note the obstacle in the second picture, which is a quaintly named ‘wickerwork obstacle’ which is brush hurdle with plastic brush set on top of a wooden frame. The steeplechase fences are natural hedges with cross-country including a double fence in front of the stands, a bank and a water jump.

Spectator facilities are at the basic end of the scale. The two stands, one just past the finish and one on the bend away from the finish, are fairly basic affairs which are essentially planks on raised scaffolding. There are permanent buildings for officials, jockeys changing and betting booths under the stand as well as wooden buildings for refreshments. There is a fair bit of seating provided behind the stands for eating and drinking. A good range of soft drinks and beers, though the food seemed to consist of a selection of sausages with different types of bread, though it must be said the ones we tried were really tasty. Sign language required to order food as English seems a no go!

Betting facilities are via the Betino booths at the rear of the stands. The over-round seems very big so there’s not much room for making money, but palce bettors will be happy as there were markets for 1^st and 2^nd, 1^st to 3^rd, 1^st to 4^th and 1^st to 5^th in all races.

The paddock area is easily accessible some way past the winning post. In terms of competing horses there does seem to be a variation in fitness reflecting the range of quite professional stables to one horse amateurs that are competing. That said the most horses are well turned out and the steeplechasers for the feature were a decent bunch. Field sizes were good, mostly double figures and some races over-subscribed.

      

Those involved in Czech racing must be in it for love of the game as the prize money levels are low measured by our own standards. The prizepot for the feature chase was 120000Kc, which is around £3,400, while the Category 5 closing event had a total pot of 15,000Kc (£420).

13.00 3200m (2m) Hurdle Race (Category 4)

The card opened with the single hurdle race for largely inexperienced jumpers. There are five hurdles per circuit, 10 jumped in this contest with the one just before the finish line removed on the final circuit. The runners jump the hurdle in front of the stands before the race as a trial hurdle.

My paddock observations picked out two here and they filled the first two places. French-bred SUNSHINE OF GRACIE was well in charge after two out and ran on to an easy victory under Jakub Kocman, a name familiar to some in the UK. The winner is only four and probably has ability to become a chaser.

BRISK MOOS(GB) sweated profusely before the race, though it should be pointed out that the weather was hot and sticky. This one kept on for second place having raced prominently.

BLACKANDGREEN raced in a single cheekpiece on the right-hand side which is a new one on me. He led to the eighth before fading quickly.

JAZZ BARON finished lame and was walked back to stables, though really looking in need of a horse ambulance.

13:30 2200m (1m 3f) 3yo Maiden Race (Category 4)

WELL RISK caused my hilarity before the race, getting loose and evading attempts to capture him for some while. When eventually cornered he was withdrawn and led back to the stable block in disgrace!

Polish-bred TURDUS raced prominently, and seemed likely to outstay the remainder from the home turn, only to be headed close home by persistent challenger RABBIT EMPEROR, an Irish-bred half-sister to a fair middle distance performer in the UK in Aldwick Bay. POLONAISE was held in the latter stages back in third.

14:00 3500m (2m 1½f) Steeplechase (Category 4)

A low grade steeplechase contest run principally on the main steeplechase course with an outer cross-country loop…, at least my scribbled notes seem to suggest that! There are helpful maps posted on the wall outside the officials’ room by the finish.

The fences are in the main natural hedges which are brushed through rather than the more solid birch that we are used to. The run-in on the chase course is around three furlongs, the final fence being taken on the final bend with the runners then directed on to the flat course for the finish. Not quite a Cartmel run-in but still a fair gallop after the last.

A decent battle from the last, GOLD DANCER clear from the twelfth but worn down close home by AMERICKY SEN.

HOLLYBEAR led to the tenth but his jockey battled against wonky steering and his mount quickly gave way once headed.

14:15 400m Pony Race

I didn’t see this one as my wife who had been sat relaxing with a drink decided it was time to recce the course! Riders were 10 to 13 and all female and, although I can’t understand the detail, the section of the programme covering this race suggests there is a well organised series of pony races, the Pony Ligy 2014 sponsored by www.controlcz.com.

14:30 1700m (1m 1½f) Stakes (Category 4)

A competitive event, a beautifully judged ride by the distinctly capable Jan Verner seeing seven-year-old KIND GIRL put her head in front in the closing stages. She looked the best in the paddock. In behind it was pretty tight with Irish-bred ECHO RULES, out of a mare who won 4 times at middle distances on UK all-weather, taking second and blinkered LATRIB in third.

The runners leave the stalls. Visenya (blue, centre) breaks well along with Ibar from stall 1 and Quirly in the light blue. Lakar(black & white on the far left) rears on leaving the stalls, while the winner is just out of the picture on the left.

I stood by the start for this contest and woman starter took no nonsense from anyone. Plenty of shouting and jockeys did as they were told.

14:30 1700m (1m 1½f) Stakes (Category 3)

Same start but up a grade from the previous race and run two and half seconds faster. There was a false start as it appeared one of the runners forced the gate. The recall flagman did a fine job and stayed at his post until the runners were almost upon him.

Polish-bred DUPLO was in command from the home turn and won easily. He has plenty of the miles on the clock but really has been running well recently.

CLASA CAFÉ, one who makes a bit of noise suggesting a breathing problem, ran creditably in second, held but clear of the remainder, with ADDISON third having raced prominently.

Sponsor here was the Prague tour company Martin Tour whose buses we saw around the city during our trip. If you like churches you will love Prague, there’s one around every corner, but be prepared to put in a bit of legwork as most tours seem to include walking.

15:40 4600m (2m 7f)  Evy Palyzove Steeplechase (Category 1)

The feature event of the afternoon and the runners paraded before the start to a generous reception from the crowd in the ‘main stand’. I would imagine the better runners in this would figure in the 130-140 if they came over to the UK.

The route, over the longest distance used at the course, took in two circuits of the main steeplechase course plus both an inner and outer loop of the cross-country. This meant a grandstand view of the runners streaming over the water on one circuit and then taking the double next time round. There was double unseat at the double, AMARAGON depositing Martin Liska at the first part and the favourite BLESK dumping Thomas Boyer at the second part. The jockeys got together after to decide where it had gone wrong!

The winner was HAWA BALI, twice a winner at Dundalk earlier in his career, then pitched up over hurdles in Italy before settling in the Czech Republic. This was a battle of attrition which saw horses gradually drop off the pace, leaving the winner well clear on the final circuit. He’s not been heavily raced, is only a seven-year-old and might be worth noting if travelling abroad for cross-country events.

I last saw KYSHANTY running on the all-weather in a nursery at Kempton in 2006 having previously won at Salisbury and Chepstow in the charge of Richard Hannon. He’s got a decent record in these events of late and ran well to fill a clear second place.

BELMONT plugged on into a well beaten third, with BE JAPE(fourth), TARO and LOIRE well behind for the final mile.

Five-year-old REAPER’s form suggests he’s a decent young chaser, but he went lame and was pulled up before the water jump.

16:10 1300m (6½f) Handicap (Category 4)

This is bit like Chester at this sort of distance, so tight is the track. The draw unsurprisingly favoured low numbers.

QUAFF raced prominently from trap 1 and led down the centre in the straight to take this race.

 ARTAGAN(stall 5) broke the stalls before the start, but the remainder were held awaiting his return. He ran creditably to take second place with VALMONT third from stall 6.

16:25 1300mm Unregistered Horses

Only two runners listed in the programme but five took part. BARACKA ridden by Vratislav Caslavka won this and connections seemed well chuffed!

16:40 1300m (6½f) Handicap (Category 5)

I believe this is the lowest grade and they are running for prize money similar to the point-to-points.

On looks PRAGMATIK was outstanding seemed to have this at his mercy and his form in better grades looked good more than good enough. His odds were very low though, a shade of odds-on and no advantage to be had. He showed good speed early and had the race won from the home turn.

He was followed home by PULP FICTION, lightly raced and running creditably dropped in class, and veteran NEXTREME was a well held third.

The facilities are not quite what we would expect in the UK, the racing probably would be the lower end of the ability scale, but the meeting was well run and there was plenty of enthusiasm from the 2,000 crowd. I’d certainly not turn down the chance to see other Czech meetings if the chance was there. I do have Pardubice down as a must visit!

Lands Of Burns Day at Ayr

Ayr - Saturday June 21^st

Going – Good to Firm

A decent card as a support to the final day of Royal Ascot with fair weather and a decent turn out. The prize money for this meeting is very good, though field sizes were a little disappointing for such decent rewards.

1.50 6f Sunsport EBF 2yo Maiden (Class 4)

Two pulled clear here with the winner’s experience perhaps making the difference in a close contest.

SQUATS caught the eye most of these in the paddock, though he was a little fizzy pre-race. A fourth at Sandown on debut looked sound enough and he built on that to take this contest. Having raced prominently he led over a furlong out and was then challenged, but he showed plenty of resolution to rally and win perhaps slightly more comfortably than the head margin suggests. Last year’s winner was a Group performer, and though he doesn’t look in that class but he’s going the right way.

SUREWECAN looked fit enough on debut and came with a challenge to look the likely winner inside the final furlong. He couldn’t quite respond to the winner’s rally, but is plenty good enough to win a maiden.

SALATEEN was up with the pace most of the way but held from the furlong pole. His dam won from 1m 1f up to 1m 5f and a longer trip may not do any harm.

ZUZINIA was most exposed of these and her previous record didn’t look exciting enough to justify opening as favourite. She was weak in the market and found wanting form over a furlong out.

Newcomers SANDGATE and SPIRIT OF THE SEA both showed inexperience in the rear, but picked up a place or two late on and should come on for the experience.

CLASSIC FLYER showed early paced but was well spent before the furlong pole.

TECUMSEH was backed from 13/2 in to 100/30, but those backers didn’t see this one in the paddock. He was playing up and looked a bit headstrong to me. In the race he raced very keenly early on and had nothing left by the two furlong pole.

SIR ACCLAM was outpaced from two out. He’s a half-bother to stayer and hurdler Mamlook so may need a fair bit more ground to cover.

2.20 1m Scottish Sun on Sunday 3yo Handicap (76-95)

A nice looking bunch in the paddock and there’s probably more to come going forward from a number of these.

Lightly raced PRETZEL was impressive, taking it up shortly after the two furlong pole and quickly putting the race to bed. He’s clearly a good deal better than the 90 mark he ran off here, and will likely turn out to be better than a handicapper. He may have one more pot at a handicap before moving up in grade.

BRAIDLEY is a rangy sort who performed very creditably in second place. He chased the winner in the final two furlongs and stayed on honestly enough.

Under a 6lb penalty SIR GUY PORTEOUS performed soundly enough, outpointed for second in the closing stages. He like to lead but was perhaps a little keen early on.

MIME DANCE kept on for fourth without getting near the lead and ran a similar race to HOMESTRETCH who pretty much accompanied him through the final two furlongs.

ARAGAL looked very well but could offer disappointingly little when asked the question in the straight.

MR MATTHEWS was held up and could never match the others.

2.55 1m Slaters Handicap (85-97)

The winner TWO FOR TWO is quite well exposed, but was recording a highest winning mark and has been competitive in Class 2 events. Running off near top weight here probably gave him that class edge he needed. He’s pretty much forced now into running in the top handicaps around one mile.

DUBAI DYNAMO ran second in this contest last year and has been thereabouts on most of his outings this term. Moved up 4lbs after his win at Chester, he remains very much competitive.

TRAIL BLAZE pressed the leader and led two furlongs out before being passed inside the final furlong. This was a fair enough effort and he would be of interest if able to get a comfortable lead.

NORSE BLUES got a bit squeezed up two furlongs and couldn’t get to the leaders afterwards. He has won off similar marks.

BALTY BOYS was perhaps fortunate when winning at Nottingham and didn’t get into a position to seriously threaten in the straight.

CAPO ROSSO set the pace but was found wanting from two out, as was LAWMANS THUNDER who was a stand out on looks but found disappointingly little when ridden and is perhaps better on the all-weather.

STONEFIELD FLYER was going well two furlongs out but emptied rather quickly and didn’t see out the trip.

3.35 1m Arnold Clark Handicap (75-93)

STRICTLY SILVER raced prominently and built on the promise he had shown last time at Chester. He led three out, stretched the field form there and was driven out to hold the advantage. This was the first time he had raced below a Class 2 event for a couple of years and the easier task clearly suited.

ONE PEKAN went honestly after the winner from two out without looking like catching him. He’s relatively lightly raced and appears to be coming to hand.

ARGAKI put in an effort from three out but appeared to be hanging a bit from that point and third was always going to be as close as he would be from a furlong out. He handles quick ground, so that presumably wasn’t a problem, and I’m told connections were pleased enough with this run if adding a rider that it may have come a little soon, being only three days after a decent effort at Hamilton.

MUHARRER had every chance was held from the furlong marker. Conditions suited here and he couldn’t quite overcome the 7lb rise in the weights, though he didn’t actually weaken and might be better with a stiffer finish.

COSMIC HALO didn’t have an awful lot of room in the latter stages and was ridden with hands and heels once his chance had gone. This run did give a degree of encouragement. To show how hectic a life jockeys lead, no more than 5 minutes after dismounting Samantha Bell was off to the car park ready for the journey to Haydock for a single ride.

LOVE MARMALADE made moderate late progress from the rear but was never seriously competitive.

BEAUMONT’S PARTY had every chance three but wasn’t good enough from that point.

SAN CASSIANO led until three out and then steadily faded.

4.15 5f Scottish Sun Miss Scotland Handicap (74-93)

BURNING THREAD runs in some competitive sprints and is at his best on fast ground. This wouldn’t have been the toughest event he’s taken part in of late and he came with a late rattle to lead on the line.

BEAR BEHIND set the pace, was briefly headed by Alaskan Bullet and then rallied determinedly only to be done right in the shadow of the post. He won’t go up more than a pound or two for this, is in really good heart and capable at this level.

ALASKAN BULLET looks to be a tough ride. Missing the break, he worked his way into the race on the far rail, forced his way through a gap inside the final furlong but then lacked the resolution of the second and was headed in the last 50 yards. Capable but probably not easy to win with.

DOCTOR PARKES was a length and a half back and that was as good as he was on the day. Not bad but not quite good enough.

NEW FFOREST led briefly at the furlong pole but capitulated rather quickly.

4.50 5f Scottish Sun EBF Land O’ Burns Fillies’ Stakes (Listed)

This contest is a neat bit of planning that fills a niche in a week when most Pattern action is concentrated on Ascot. Once again it drew a competitive field but it’s a pity that Channel 4 couldn’t see fit to squeezing the race into their coverage.

SWAN SONG was made favourite and looked very calm in the preliminaries. However, she blotted her copybook at the start and was withdrawn, never looking remotely like consenting to entering the stalls.

HAY CHEWED went close in open listed company at Sandown last time and made no mistake against fellow fillies. One of a host of fillies on their toes in the preliminaries, she made smooth headway from two out , soon led and had the race in safe keeping inside the final furlong. The time of this race was a shade slower than the preceding handicap though suggesting it won’t be a given that the winner can step up to Group 3 level.

INYORDREAMS, one who looked a bit headstrong in the paddock, was always on the premises and stepped on previous performances which had merited a rating of 80. This was her first try back at this distance since fifth at York on her racecourse bow.

REROUTE was produced to have every chance over a furlong out but could make no further impression. She’s more lightly raced than some though has only once raced at a lower level than this.

SURVIVED, a bit revved up before the start, was outpaced mid-race but stayed on again to take fourth place.

VALONIA raced up with a strong pace but was held from the furlong pole.

RISKIT FOR A BISKIT set the pace but had nothing to repel challengers approaching the final furlong.

5.25 6f Leith 3yo Handicap (55-80)

A difficult race to assess since only two got competitive and one of those was out of the weights.

SPIRIT OF ALSACE chased the clear leader and closed approaching the final furlong. Leading inside the final furlong he had to hold off a challenge from the pacemaker. This one was really revved up before the start, which is unusual for a Jim Goldie animal, but did at least manage to channel his energies in the right direction. This race was run almost a second slower than the opening two-year-old event.

SIGNORE PICCOLO set a strong pace and was five lengths clear after two furlongs. Distress signals were showing approaching the furlong pole and he was passed, but rallied to good enough effect to make the winner pull out the stops. Blistering pace is this one’s style so a good draw on a sharp track will aid his chances.

HEROIQUE was never nearer than at the finish and she may be just a little better with cut in the ground.

SLEEPER CLASS was taken off her feet early on and couldn’t get in a challenge.

SANDRA’S DIAMOND went sharply right at the start and lost any chance at that point.

ASPIRANT looked very well but was well beaten and is off his game, the application of blinkers having no effect.

What a Wow at Ascot!

THE WOW SIGNAL duly obliged in the Coventry Stakes on Tuesday in most convincing fashion, with JUNGLE CAT getting closer this time having won at Goodwood in the meantime in a race from which the second and fourth have already come out and won. The form is absolutely splitting at the seams with winners and DOC CHARM is now aimed at the July Stakes.

Diverting slightly from the Scottish scene, I note that CURSORY GLANCE won the opener at Ascot today after winning on debut in a Class 5 maiden at Kempton. Some useful animals appear in maidens on the all-weather, particularly at Kempton and to a lesser extent at Lingfield, and a number of decent animals have progressed to turf Group company after appearing on the all-weather. There's a bias in some quarters against the all-weather, damned monotonously as 'dross' by one particular regular on The Racing Forum, but top trainers now regularly use the Polytrack to introduce their animals to racing. I suspect the bias against 'the artificial' might be something that is prevalent enough to affect the market and it's worth looking for decent animals moving from artificial surface to turf.

I'll be tweeting brief reports form Ayr tomorrow via @Scotracing including paddock selections. It looks a pretty decent card as a support to Royal Ascot with very good prize money, the £40,000 Listed Land O' Burns Stakes being the feature, a race which may well be within the compass of the Andrew Balding trained SWAN SONG. Earlier on the card look out for ARGAKI who hit form at around this time last season, looks well enough weighted and hails from a stable doing 'very nicely, thank you' of late.

Report for that meeting should be up early next week. I shall then be venturing to totally different territory to take in a meeting at Lysa Nad Labem in the Czech Republic on Saturday July 5th, a meeting which as far as I can gather takes in  flat races, trotters, pony races, steeplechases and a race over 'wicker obstacles' which I presume are something like hurdles. Should be a very interesting place to visit and I looking forward  to posting a report on return from our jaunt taking in Prague, Vienna and Budapest. Slightly galling that the schedule just misses the Magyar Derby, but hopefully I can get a look at Budapest's Kincsem Park even though there's no meeting when we are in the city.