Joss’s Jewels – Glorious Goodwood Day 1 – Mountain Hunter Can Pounce To Victory For Fallon And Godolphin
NAP – Mountain Hunter 1:50 Goodwood 16/1 NB (Next Best) – Sir Dancealot 3:00 Goodwood 13/2 Read this post to find my thoughts on each selection.
Joss’s Jewels Result – No Luck This Week At Ascot, But Enable Was Queen Once Again
NAP – So Sharp 1:50 Ascot (12/1 Advised) 8/1 7th So Sharp could only manage 7th in the Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot on Saturday. She raced keenly and without cover for the early part of the race, and once she started to make a move coming to the 2f pole, those early exertions seemed to take their toll on her finishing effort. It was a promising run for a filly who had only had one previous run under her belt. The favourite for the race ultimately proved to be worth taking on in this race and she put up a very disappointing performance finishing 6th, she was keen to post and dismounted at the start and was never really at the races. Under the stars was the horse that came home in front and showed a major chunk of improvement for James Tate's team. It will be interesting to see how the form of this race stacks up with the market leaders not running to form but you cannot fault the way she did it and she should progress further from this. However, So Sharp is definitely not one to give up on going forward and it could pay to follow her as she begins to learn a bit more,
Funny Man Completes The Hat Trick At Lingfield
Funny Man completes the hat trick on Saturday night when winning the Strong Recruitment Group Handicap at Lingfield. He was held up last of four in a race that was ran at a generous pace even in a small field by David Nolan. He ran a bit in snatches on the soft ground and got a bit caught on heels turning into the home straight, but he responded well to pressure to reel in leader Arthur Pendragon by 2 1/4 lengths at the line. Hopefully there is more improvement yet to come from him, and he can aspire to more valuable targets in the future.
Joss’s Jewels – Saturday 27th July – So Sharp can put her rivals to the sword at Ascot for Watson and Doyle
NAP – So Sharp 1:50 Ascot 12/1 My Nap this weekend comes in the first race at Ascot on Saturday in So Sharp. Archie Watson's daughter of Bated Breath put up a very professional performance to win first time up at Newbury 23 days ago beating the re opposing Dark Lady by 1 length, who has since gone on and won next start at Lingfield very readily. So Sharp was bit green once under pressure but responded well and the first and second were well clear of the rest. She is from a family the trainer knows well, being a half sister to the stables smart two year old Nate The Great and she looks as though she could be every inch as good as him, even at this stage of her career. She needs to improve to trouble Godolphins smart filly Summer Romance, an expensive breeze up purchase who has looked a group winner in waiting in her two starts to date. She is as short at 10/11 to win on Saturday, but a chance is worth taking on So Sharp at a much juicier 12/1. I feel she is a strong each way selection if showing any natural improvement from her first run. Hollie Doyle retains the ride and hopefully a first group race success for her is on the cards.
Funny Man Declared – Saturday Lingfield 6:00
Funny Man is declared Saturday evening at Lingfield for the 6:00 Strong Recruitment Group Handicap 1m6f. He will be facing three rivals as he bids to make it three on the bounce after an impressive win at Doncaster last weekend on first start for David O'Meara. That run was over 1m4f and Funny Man steps up in distance again to 1m6f, a trip he won over at Yarmouth two starts ago. David Nolan takes the ride and will be wearing reapplied blinkers. We are very hopeful that Funny Man can keep the winning thread going.
Joss’s Jewels Result – Fleeting Just Touched Off By Frankie And Star Catcher
NAP – Fleeting 5:10 Curragh (7/1 Advised) 9/2 2nd Fleeting was just touched off in the Kerrygold Irish Oaks on Saturday by John Gosden's Star Catcher and Frankie Dettori. Star Catcher was given a Dettori Masterclass off the front with Fleeting closing all the way to the line to be beaten a 1/2 length. There was not many excuses for Fleeting this time and as she came to win the race, you always felt Star Catcher was going to pull out more. The Ribblesdale form from Royal Ascot came to the fore and if the two were to meet again, it would make for an interesting rematch. At least followers had a run for their each way money with Fleeting being advised at 7/1 on Friday and was quite well supported being backed into 9/2 2nd favourite at the off. Fleeting strikes me as a horse that could run well in an Arc getting a fillies and 3 year old allowance. She enjoys coming off a strong pace and providing the ground is not too soft come October (which it often can be), 40/1 at the moment is juicy enough price.
Funny Man Follows Up His Yarmouth Victory At Doncaster
Funny Man (Distorted Humor x Midnight Thoughts) followed up his Yarmouth victory when winning Donate £5 Text Fly5 to 70800 handicap stakes at Doncaster on Saturday night. His first start for David O'Meara, the horse has took time coming to hand and seems to be getting to grips with racing. Lets hope the handicapper is not to hard on him and gives him a chance to progress further. He has come out of his race well and he will have an entry for Lingfield in the Strong Recruitment Group Handicap Stakes over 1m6f this coming Saturday night. Check the website later in the week for confirmation of his declaration.
Joss’s Jewels – Saturday 20th July – Compensation awaits Fleeting after her Royal Ascot defeat
Joss's Jewels - Saturday 20th July - Compensation awaits Fleeting after her Royal Ascot defeat
Funny Man Declared – Saturday 20th July Doncaster 8:45
We have Funny Man heading to Doncaster on Saturday for the 8:45 Donate £5 Text Fly5 To 80800 Handicap 1m4f. This will be his first run for trainer David O'Meara after winning a Yarmouth 1m6f handicap last time out for William Haggas. William advised that a change of scenery may help him stay fresh and sharp, so hopefully he will have learned a bit from getting his head in front. While he is dropping in trip on this occasion we are hopeful this will not inconvenience him after looking as though he needed every yard of the 1m6f last time. He is in the reapplied blinkers and Daniel Tudhope takes the ride.
Joss’s Jewels Result – Newmarket July Meeting – 10/1 Winning Nap
WINNER NAP - WALKINTHESAND 1:50 NEWMARKET FRIDAY (10/1 advised) 9/1 Walkinthesand put up a strong weight carrying performance to win the valuable 1m2f bet365 handicap at Newmarket on Friday. Trained by Richard Hannon and ridden by Ryan moore, he got a good position tracking the early leaders who went a fairly quick gallop for the distance. Even though he was challenged strongly in the final furlong he pulled out more to secure a gutsy 1 length win over his rivals. I imagine this horse will not be having to many more starts in handicaps in the future and is every inch a pattern performer for the end of this season and the next.