40/1 Ollie Olga To Shine – 1000 Guineas Preview

The 1000 Guineas is the highlight of Sunday’s racing and the race has a much more open feel than the 2000 Guineas. Sir Henry Cecil’s Hot Snap looks to be a very smart prospect judged on her Nell Gwyn victory last time out and there should be plenty more to come. She’s a half sister to the very useful Midday and she could well exceed what her sibling achieved. Just The Judge won the Rockfel Stakes on his final two year old start and looks the type to thrive over a mile this year. However, I am willing to take a chance on Mick Channon’s Ollie Olga. She had Sky Lantern well beaten into second when winning the Prestige Stakes at Goodwood. Despite her poor performance in the Fillies Mile she was sent off second favourite that day and the lack of pace in the race probably put paid to her chances. At 40/1 she looks tremendous each way value in a race where plenty have chances.

Earlier on the card, Dank has an outstanding chance in the Dahlia Stakes at 2-35. Already a Group Three winner, she was possibly feeling the effects of a long season when disappointing at Newmaket at the end of September. The step up in trip looks sure to suit and she is likely to have improved with another winter on her back.

Hamilton Selections: Pelmanism 1-40, Flipping 2-15, Paradise Spectre 2-45, Hairy Rocket 3-25, Ultimate 4-00, Maputo 4-35, Koo And The Gang 5-10 and Lees Anthem 5-45

Newmarket Selections: Sir John Hawkwood 2-05, Dank 2-35, Goldream 3-10, Ollie Olga 3-50, Nathr 4-25, Talent 5-00 and High Troja 5-35

Salisbury Selections: Ovatory 1-50, Scatter Dice 2-20, Lady Frances 2-55, Royal Prize 3-35, Baihas 4-10, Lightning Lunch 4-45 and Storm Runner 5-20

No Grand Denial For Cox At Kempton – Thursday Selections

It may not have been the strongest of Newbury maidens that Clive Cox introduced Grand Denial in but he showed plenty that day. He shaped green and in need of a step up in trip, of which he receives today, granted normal improvement he shouldn’t be far away.

Hamilton Selections: Willie The Whipper 2-10, Lollypop Lady 2-40, Haajes 3-10, Another For Joe 3-40, Legal Bond 4-10, Terenzium 4-45 and Praxios 5-15

Kempton Selections: Run It Twice 6-20, Dana’s Present 6-50, Grand Denial 7-20 (NAP), Openly 7-50, Rub Of The Relic 8-20, Discoverer 8-50 and Triple Charm 9-20

Lingfield Selections: Suedehead 2-30, Iron Butterfly 3-00, Saborido 3-30, Melbourne Memories 4-00, The Titchborne 4-35, Wiltshire Life 5-05 and Easter Chorus 5-35

Stratford Selections: Cool Hand Luke 2-20, Presenting Paddy 2-50, Farleigh House 3-20, Health Is Wealth 3-50, Tyrana 4-20 and Dark Oasis 4-50

Monday Selections

Kempton Selections: Young Prince 2-30, Traveller’s Tales 3-00, Trois Vallees 3-30, Ganas 4-00, Kepler’s Law 4-30, Gobama 5-00 and Trumpington Street 5-30

Hamilton Selections: Switzerland 2-10, Mission Impossible 2-40, Sioux Rising 3-10, Tadabeer 3-40, Ella Woodcock 4-10, Captain Scooby 4-40 and Tongalooma 5-10

Leicester Selections: Mezmaar 2-20, Three Sugars 2-50, Catalyze 3-20, Waking Warrior 3-50, El Djebena 4-20, Effigy 4-50, Russian Affair 5-20 and Twinkled 5-50

Welcome Return Of National Hunt Racing – Sunday Selections

After a 10 day break National Hunt racing returns today at Plumpton and Uttoxeter. This is always an exciting part of the season as the best youngsters begin to appear in juvenile or novice hurdles, NH flat races and promising hurdlers switch to fences. My list of horses to follow for the forthcoming season is now online!

There are some potential useful recruits to hurdling in the 2-30 at Plumpton. Arab League was an 80 rated stayer on the flat and this 2m test may not be enough for him. Trovare made his hurdling debut a couple of weeks ago at Fontwell and was travelling really well until unseating Colin Bolger with a circuit to go. He was very useful on the flat and with jumping errors ironed out he can go very close.

Ladyvie was no match for runaway winner Intac at Hereford last time out. That was her first start in England since arriving from France and she will have learnt plenty. With nothing of Intac’s calibre in the 4-00 at Plumpton she can score for David Pipe. It is also interesting she holds an entry at Perth next Thursday so the Pipe team could be lining up a quick double.

Nick Gifford is one of my favourite trainers and his only runner at his local track is Murphy. He has some useful bumper form when splitting Riverside Theatre and Dee Ee Williams at Kempton in 2008. This keen going sort has yet to race over hurdles on quick ground and despite an absence of nearly 600 days the yard is more than capable at readying one. If he can get to the lead and settle he could prove hard to catch.

Hamilton Selections: Celestial Dawn 2-10, Hyperlink 2-40, Golden Creek 3-10, Spinatrix 3-40, Hills Of Dakota 4-10, Jonny Delta 4-40 and Srimenanti 5-10

Plumpton Selections: Bathwick Scanno 2-00, Trovare 2-30, Aghill 3-00, Beaubrav 3-30, Ladyvie 4-00, Murphy 4-30 and Surfboard 5-00

Uttoxeter Selections: Know The Rules 2-20, American Art 2-50, Teshali 3-20, Kikos 3-50, Castlerock 4-20, Pumboo 4-50 and Upper Deck 5-20

Fairyhouse Selections: Empress Of Rome 2-15, Cabin 2-45, Haseen 3-15, Raphael Santi/ Tamaam Namoose 3-45, No Trimmings 4-15, Apolskapart 4-45 and Sailors Warn 5-15

Do You Dare To Bare?

Dare To Bare has become rather disappointing for Amanda Perrett since moving into handicap company. His last run can be ignored on account of the soft going and the return to the polytrack can help, given that his sire has a 24% strike rate on the all weather. He is definitely not a horse to place great faith in but there are more factors in his favour this time than his previous two runs.

Hamilton Selections: Avoncreek 2-30, Kimbali 3-00, George Adamson 3-30, Quails Hollow 4-00, Blown It 4-30, Botham 5-05 (at 33-1) and Way Chief 5-40

Kempton Selections: Arabian Flight 2-15, Sweet Lavender 2-45, Dare To Bare (16-1) 3-15, Anjaz 4-15, Cantor 4-45 and Kawssaj 5-15

Windsor Selections: Beach Candy 5-20, Bewilder 5-50, King Kenobi 6-20, The Mongoose 7-20 and The Cayterers 7-50