Waiting for a miracle

[NoChanceToDance]

Potentially very well handicapped today, and we know he likes Goodwood. Wouldn't be at all surprised to see him run very well, but I couldn't bet him with any confidence.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by NoChanceToDance

Potentially very well handicapped today, and we know he likes Goodwood. Wouldn't be at all surprised to see him run very well, but I couldn't bet him with any confidence.

Yeah I understand that.

Kinda the story of his life but hey..... maybe it'll be his day.

edit - Oh okay... results... (A little out of it this morning).

Friday August 1 2008
Goodwood 14:50 - Result
Rolf Group Stewards' Sprint Handicap
£30000 added, 3yo plus, 6f, Class 2, £18693 penalty,
19 ran

Going: Good to Firm
Race Report »
Winning Time: 1m 11.2s 14:15 14:50 15:30 16:05 16:40 17:15 17:50 Pos. Dr. Dist. Horse Wt Jockey Trainer Age SP
1 13 Pearly Wey 9-10 P Robinson C G Cox 5 10/1
in touch, effort over 1f out, driven and ran on inside final furlong, led post opened 12/1 £5000-£400 Each Way
2 21 nse Baby Strange 9-9 Martin Dwyer D Shaw 4 8/1
in touch, headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, caught post opened 9/1 touched 10/1 £5000-£500 Each Way (x2) £3000-£330 Each Way
3 10 1 Joseph Henry 9-4 J Quinn D Nicholls 6 14/1
with leaders, every chance entering final furlong, not quicken towards finish opened 16/1 £10000-£600 Each Way
4 20 hd Osiris Way 9-1 Jim Crowley P R Chamings 6 11/1
with leaders, ridden to lead 1f out, headed inside final furlong, not quicken towards finish opened 12/1
5 19 nk Ajigolo 9-9 T P O'Shea M R Channon 5 33/1
held up well in rear, good headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, nearest finish
6 16 nk Harrison George (IRE) (ex3) 8-12 P Hanagan R A Fahey 3 8/1
in touch, ridden over 2f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong touched 17/2 £3600-£400 Each Way
7 18 ½ Gift Horse 9-1 R Hughes D Nicholls 8 12/1
steadied start, held up in rear, headway final furlong, nearest finish opened 11/1
8 5 ¾ Northern Dare (IRE) 9-3 F Norton D Nicholls 4 10/1
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, one pace and no impression on leaders final furlong
9 2 1 Dream Theme 9-6 P Doe D Nicholls 5 20/1
took keen hold, held up, ridden and no danger final 2f opened 25/1
10 12 ½ Valery Borzov (IRE) 9-10 A Nicholls D Nicholls 4 9/1
narrow lead, headed 1f out, weakened touched 10/1 £4000-£400
11 7 2 Express Wish 9-7 L Dettori J Noseda 4 4/1 f
with leaders, edged right under pressure and weakened over 1f out opened 6/1 £5000-£800 £2500-£400 £5000-£1000 (x5) £4500-£1000 (x2)
12 8 ¾ Obe Gold 9-7 A Munro D Nicholls 6 20/1
mid-division, one pace and no impression when hampered over 1f out opened 25/1
13 3 1¾ Swinbrook (USA) 8-4 R Ffrench R A Fahey 7 33/1
mid-division, pushed along halfway, soon beaten
14 4 hd Sand Cat 8-8 R L Moore G L Moore 5 33/1
behind most of way
15 14 3½ Golden Dixie (USA) 9-4 S Drowne R Harris 9 25/1
outpaced and always behind £5000-£200 Each Way
16 6 3½ Flying Goose (IRE) 8-8 K Ghunowa (3) R Harris 4 50/1
slowly away and always in rear touched 40/1
17 11 3 Dubai Princess (IRE) 9-9 S W Kelly J A Osborne 3 16/1
mid-division, making no impression when hung right inside final 2f, weakened opened 20/1
18 17 4 Rocker (ex3) 7-12 Natalia Gemelova (5) G L Moore 4 25/1
steadied start, raced keenly and soon prominent, weakened rapidly over 2f out
UR 15 Pusey Street Lady 9-7 T E Durcan J Gallagher 4 25/1
fractious, reared and unseated rider as stalls opened --------------- naughty!

Non-Runners
WD Idle Power (IRE) 9-0 A Quinn J R Boyle 10
NR Best One 8-5 M Nem (7) R Harris 4

[my miss storm cat]

Oh wow. He could actually win this one.


4:15Nottingham 4:45


Newmarket (July) 15 August 2008
6:00 NGK SPARK PLUGS HANDICAP (CLASS 4) (3yo+,0-85) Winner £ 6f SOFT


No. Form Horse Trainer RTF % Wgt Jockey
1 -70367 Gift Horse 14 D Nicholls 26 8 9-11 84 92 82 0-4 3-22
2 237844 Glasshoughton 7 M Dods 71 5 9-7 80 96 96 0-6 0-10
3 162204 Requisite 6 I A Wood 58 3 9-6 83 91 86 0-1 2-7
4 513304 John Keats 14 J S Goldie 57 5 9-5 78 95 90 0-5 6-27
5 421535 Baunagain 7 M J Wallace 71 3 9-5 82 90 88 0-0 2-6
6 660523 Cornus 7 A J McCabe 22 6 9-4 77 93 77 1-10 4-44
7 346103 Lodi 6 J Akehurst 100 3 9-3 80 92 88 0-1 2-8
8 230061 The Game 21 Tom Dascombe 20 3 9-3 Richard Kingscote 80 93 75 0-0 3-10
9 418 Yahwudhee 33 P W Chapple-Hyam 75 3 9-3 Alan Munro 80 87 76 0-0 0-1
10 600057 Fantasy Believer 11 J J Quinn 40 10 9-2 75 85 69 0-15 12-81
11 060455 Buxton 9 R Ingram 100 4 9-2 75 91 74 0-0 2-9
12 0-10 Restless Genius 103 A M Balding 60 3 9-2 L P Keniry 79 86 81 0-0 1-3
13 -71070 Brunelleschi 7 P L Gilligan — 5 9-1 74 95 95 0-2 4-19
14 088167 Imperial Echo 84 P Howling 67 7 9-0 Jimmy Quinn 73 93 78 0-7 2-29
15 -12246 Realt Na Mara 6 H Morrison 38 5 9-0 73 91 91 0-1 3-6
16 782416 Resplendent Alpha 7 P Howling 67 4 9-0 Jimmy Quinn 73 93 91 0-0 2-27
17 581 Myanmar 35 J Noseda 58 3 8-12 75 91 59 1-1 1-1
18 074-40 Piece Of My Heart 7 R W Price 100 3 8-12 75 18 - 0-0 0-4
19 264611 Steel Blue 14 R M Whitaker 50 8 8-12 71 91 91 1-7 8-65
20 62/12 Amicus Meus 7 A Bailey 25 4 8-12 Dominic Fox(3) 71 95 86 0-0 1-2
21 321 3Without Prejudice 13 J Noseda 58 3 8-11 74 92 80 0-0 1-2
22 855251 2Earlsmedic 13 S C Williams 33 3 8-7 70 95 92 0-1 1-1
23 897305 1Trimlestown 6 K A Ryan 67 5 8-7 N Callan 66 91 76 1-1 0-2

[my miss storm cat]

That's what I'm talking about!

http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/n...ubstitute.html


DON'T OVERLOOK GIFT HORSE


By Jonathan Mullin, PA Sport

FRIDAY'S SELECTIONS:

CATTERICK: 5.45 Marvo, 6.15 Dougie Peel, 6.45 City Stable, 7.15 Annapolis, 7.45 Colorus, 8.15 King Harson.

DUNDALK: 2.25 The Emperor Nero, 3.00 Excellent Girl, 3.35 Double Ex, 4.10 Kingsdale Ocean, 4.40 Andalucia Lady, 5.10 Turk 5.40 Quai Du Roy, 6.10 Art Sleuth.

KEMPTON: 5.55 Bluebok, 6.25 Aboriginie, 6.55 Damini, 7.25 Crafty Dealer, 7.55 Bazguy, 8.25 Bomber Command, 8.55 Greystoke Prince.

NEWBURY: 1.20 Absent Pleasure, 1.50 Manyriverstocross, 2.20 Excellerator, 2.55 Muftarres, 3.30 Party Frock, 4.05 Mae Cigan, 4.35 Merrymadcap.

NEWMARKET: 5.30 Stevie Junior, 6.00 GIFT HORSE (NAP), 6.35 Satwa Gold, 7.05 Govenor Eliott, 7.35 Drumfire, 8.05 Naughty Frida.

NOTTINGHAM: 2.00 Satwa Laird, 2.35 Badweia, 3.10 Town House, 3.45 Quirina, 4.15 Mohathab, 4.45 China Pink.

TRAMORE: 5.20 Le Taravo, 5.50 Carran Rose, 6.40 Born High, 6.50 Korem, 7.20 Tough Enough, 7.50 El Jo, 8.20 Elaine's Twinkle.

DOUBLE: Gift Horse and Satwa Laird.

Gift Horse has not visited the winner's enclosure since his Stewards' Cup victory of 2005 but faces by far his easiest task since that triumph in the NGK Spark Plugs Handicap at Newmarket.

David Nicholls' eight-year old is clearly not the force of old, but the handicapper has relented accordingly and his effort in this year's Stewards' Cup indicated he is no back-number just yet.

He was going on at the finish at Goodwood, having been tapped for toe early on, and was eventually beaten just over two lengths into seventh.

A reproduction of that effort would be good enough to land this contest, with any cut in the ground also in his favour.

Drumfire has been knocking on the door for Mark Johnston this season but he can finally triumph in the Young & Pure Beauty Conditions Stakes.

He was not beaten far by Dijeerr after effectively racing on the wrong side over a mile at this track earlier in the month and looks ready to end his near two-year barren spell.

King Harson is another who can end a long losing run in the Tennants Fine Art Auctioneers Handicap at Catterick.

Although he has not won for almost two years, he has turned in some decent efforts at this track and can record his second course-and-distance win on ground which is guaranteed to suit.

He has dropped 12lb since the start of this season and will not find many better opportunities to end his losing sequence.

Bazguy is a most interesting contender in the Mix Business With Pleasure Claiming Stakes at Kempton.

David Evans' dual winner will appreciate a return to his favoured all-weather surface, having contested a slightly better race than this last time out at Bath, and the booking of Ryan Moore catches the eye.

Muftarres is on a hat-trick after following his maiden victory with a workmanlike handicap success at Bath over an inadequate five furlongs.

The return to six furlongs in the Christopher Smith Associates Handicap at Newbury looks ideal.

He could also be well handicapped, having only been raised 4lb for his Bath success, and is proven on a soft surface.

Satwa Laird made an eyecatching debut at Windsor and Ed Dunlop's 2009 Derby entry can lose his maiden tag at the second attempt in the Paddocks Conference Centre @Nottingham Racecourse Maiden Stakes.

The Johannesburg colt was well supported on his debut and may have won, but for a tardy start.

He will know more this time round and can score under Ted Durcan.

[my miss storm cat]

Oh well... good boy anyway.


Friday August 15 2008
Newmarket 18:00 - Result
Ngk Spark Plugs Handicap
£10000 added, 3yo plus, 6f, Class 4, £6476 penalty,
13 ran

Going: Good
Winning Time: 1m 11.74s 17:30 18:00 18:35 19:05 19:35 20:05 Pos. Dr. Dist. Horse Wt Jockey Trainer Age SP

1 12 Earlsmedic 8-7 Saleem Golam S C Williams 3 5/1
went right start, made all, ridden 2f out, edged left and ridden clear final furlong opened 13/2 touched 7/1
2 11 4 John Keats 9-5 D Tudhope J S Goldie 5 14/1
held up in touch, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and headway over 1f out, edged left and chased winner inside final furlong, kept on opened 11/1
3 4 nse Gift Horse 9-11 Dane O'Neill D Nicholls 8 9/1
held up in touch, ridden and not much room over 1f out, squeezed through inside final furlong, ran on to take 3rd towards finish opened 10/1
4 13 ¾ Amicus Meus (IRE) 8-12 D Fox (3) A Bailey 4 7/2 f
hampered start, soon switched left, mid-division, pushed along from halfway, ridden to go 4th inside final furlong, not pace to challenge opened 9/2 £2250-£500 £1800-£400 £4000-£1000 £2000-£500 £2100-£600 £1750-£500
5 9 nk Baunagain (IRE) 9-5 P Cosgrave M Wallace 3 16/1
slowly into stride, soon held up in touch, effort to dispute 2nd over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong opened 14/1 £3200-£200 Each Way
6 10 ½ Cornus 9-4 L Dettori A J Mccabe 6 7/1
held up, headway to dispute 2nd over 1f out, ridden and kept on same pace final furlong opened 13/2 touched 15/2
7 1 nk Brunelleschi 9-1 E Ahern P L Gilligan 5 25/1
held up, ridden over 1f out, never dangerous
8 6 nk Glasshoughton 9-7 D Holland M Dods 5 8/1
with winner until over 1f out, ridden and weakened final furlong opened 13/2 £3200-£400 Each Way
9 7 hd Resplendent Alpha 9-0 J Quinn P Howling 4 10/1
towards rear, ridden 2f out, never dangerous opened 12/1
10 5 1 Restless Genius (IRE) 9-2 L Keniry A M Balding 3 20/1
keen, in touch, ridden and weakened 1f out opened 16/1
11 2 ¾ Fantasy Believer 9-2 S Drowne J J Quinn 10 16/1
in rear, pushed along over 2f out, switched left over 1f out, no impression touched 12/1
12 3 ½ Steel Blue 8-12 A Munro R M Whitaker 8 10/1
prominent, ridden 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong touched 9/1
13 8 1 Buxton 9-2 R Havlin R Ingram 4 14/1
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened over 1f out opened 16/1


edit - He was 2nd at hamilton on the 1st..... I didn't know till now!

[my miss storm cat]

Updating...

He's been busy busy!

5th at Newmarket (8/22), 2nd at Hamilton (9/1), and this... nice!

(Possible to run again this weekend).

DONCASTER
11 September 2008
Soft

4:50 State Club Handicap (Class 3) (3yo+,0-90) 6f


1 Main Aim 16 Sir Michael Stoute 3 9-4 Ryan Moore 5/1F 90 104 108+
2 1½ Gift Horse 18 D Nicholls 8 8-10 p Neil Brown(3) 12/1 83 92 96
3 3½ Joseph Henry 2 D Nicholls 6 9-3 Silvestre De Sousa 10/1 87 85 89
4 hd Grazeon Gold Blend 17 J J Quinn 5 8-10 p Graham Gibbons 20/1 80 78 81
5 nk Atlantic Story (USA) 10 M W Easterby 6 9-6 tb Alan Munro 16/1 90 87 90
6 ½ El Dececy (USA) 8 S Parr 4 8-12 David Probert(5) 40/1 87 82 86
7 ¾ Stevie Gee (IRE) 22 G A Swinbank 4 9-3 b1 Robert Winston 10/1 87 80 83
8 ½ Wyatt Earp (IRE) 12 R A Fahey 7 8-11 b Jamie Moriarty 25/1 81 72 76
9 1¾ Bonnie Prince Blue 20 B W Hills 5 8-10 b Michael Hills 16/1 80 65 69
10 ¾ Earlsmedic 1 S C Williams 3 8-10 v Saleem Golam 8/1 82 65 69
11 ¾ Great Charm (IRE) 15 M L W Bell 3 9-2 Jamie Spencer 10/1 88 69 72
12 ½ Majuro (IRE) 11 M W Easterby 4 9-5 Paul Mulrennan 33/1 89 68 72
13 ¾ Mister Hardy 13 R A Fahey 3 8-5 B McHugh(7) 20/1 84 60 64
14 ¾ Total Impact 6 R A Fahey 5 9-2 Paul Hanagan 20/1 86 60 64
15 ½ Northern Dare (IRE) 21 D Nicholls 4 9-4 Adrian T Nicholls 8/1 88 60 64
16 ¾ Obe Gold 14 D Nicholls 6 9-5 p Joe Fanning 33/1 89 59 63
17 1½ Not My Choice (IRE) 4 S Parr 3 9-0 t Francis Norton 66/1 86 51 55
18 1½ The Nifty Fox 9 T D Easterby 4 8-12 David Allan 28/1 82 42 46
19 1¾ Luscivious 3 A J McCabe 4 9-1 b Martin Dwyer 40/1 85 39 44
20 ¾ Swift Princess (IRE) 7 K R Burke 4 9-1 v Andrew Elliott 11/1 85 36 41
21 8 Roker Park (IRE) 5 K R Burke 3 9-4 Darren Williams 66/1 90 14 21

This was a very tight sprint with 8lb covering the field and it was very competitive. Not that surprisingly the main action eventually developed down the centre of the track and the first pair came clear late on.
It went the way of the least exposed runner in the line-up MAIN AIM, who made it three wins from four career starts and did the job in great style. He was given a patient ride and had to wait for his challenge in between the final 2f, but once seeing daylight he found an immediate turn offoot to settle the issue. This was his first run on soft ground and obviously it proved no hindrance, if anything it really suited him over this shorter trip. It will be interesting to see how the handicapper now assesses this effort as this son of OasisDream is no doubt open to more progression and is in the right hands to keep climbing the sprinting ladder.
Gift Horse, just denied in a claimer ten days previously, was travelling as well as any passing the 2f pole, but he then hit a bit of a flat spot and allowed the winner first run. He evidently has his own ideas about racing these days, but the engine evidently remains and he was nicely clear of the remainder. This should put him spot on for the Ayr Gold Cup later this month.
His stable companion Joseph Henry ran his usual sort of race and, holding no secrets from the handicapper, rates the best guide to this form.
Grazeon Gold Blend, 3lb higher for finishing fourth last time, showed improved form in the first-time cheekpieces and is up to winning from this sort of mark when encountering a sounder surface once again.
Atlantic Story ran a very encouraging race on the back of a 118-day break and was not at all disgraced under top weight. He should come on nicely for the outing.
El Decency showed a much-improved form over a trip he would have found plenty sharp enough.
It was a somewhat disappointing display for Earlsmedic, who was racing from a 6lb higher mark in this quest for the four-timer. He was not allowed to dominate, however, and this would have been his hardest task to date by someway so it is probably wise not to write him off just yet.
*Andrew Elliott reported that Swift Princess lost her action.
*Adrian Nicholls reported that Northern Dare hung right.[DO]

[my miss storm cat]

Friday September 19 2008
Ayr 16:40

John Smith's Ayr Silver Cup Handicap£50000.00 added, 3yo plus, 6f, Class 2, £31155.00 penalty 27 runnersGoing: Heavy

1 (10) 780003 Sunrise Safari (IRE) 19 5 9-10 R A Fahey B McHugh (7) 92 SP SP SP
2 (27) 297-000 Protector (SAF) 34 7 9-8 p1 A G Foster R Winston 90 1 SP SP SP
3 (4) 113616 Marvellous Value (IRE) 34 3 9-8 M Dods T Hamilton 92 SP SP SP
4 (11) 009021 Green Park (IRE) (ex6) 6 5 9-8 b R A Fahey C I Gillies (7) 88 SP SP SP
5 (17) 1-20023 Kaldoun Kingdom (IRE) 41 3 9-7 R A Fahey Jamie Moriarty 91 2 SP SP SP
6 (12) 001543 Thebes 12 3 9-7 M Johnston R Ffrench 93 SP SP SP
7 (26) 0/52980- Trafalgar Bay (IRE) 419 5 9-7 K R Burke Darren Williams 89 SP SP SP
8 (16) 120600 Obe Gold 8 6 9-7 v D Nicholls F Norton 87 SP SP SP
9 (3) 385121 Bel Cantor (ex6) 20 5 9-7 p W J H Ratcliffe Kelly Harrison (5) 83 2 SP SP SP
10 (25) 034943 Joseph Henry 8 6 9-6 D Nicholls S De Sousa 87 SP SP SP
11 (9) 425800 Northern Dare (IRE) 8 4 9-6 D Nicholls A Nicholls 85 SP SP SP
12 (6) 367507 Stevie Gee (IRE) 8 4 9-6 G A Swinbank P J McDonald 85 SP SP SP
13 (20) 500905 Dream Theme 3 5 9-6 D Nicholls M Fenton 88 SP SP SP
14 (21) 54-4863 Burning Incense (IRE) 41 5 9-5 M Dods P Mulrennan 87 3 SP SP SP
15 (1) 131162 Harrison George (IRE) 9 3 9-4 R A Fahey P Hanagan 89 2 SP SP SP
16 (13) 308980 Luscivious 8 4 9-3 b A J Mccabe T Dean (3) 82 SP SP SP
17 (2) 111283 Methaaly (IRE) 3 5 9-2 be M Mullineaux D Heslop (7) 84 SP SP SP
18 (22) 215006 He's A Humbug (IRE) 9 4 9-2 p K A Ryan P Donaghy (5) 82 SP SP SP
19 (18) 091460 Geojimali 19 6 9-1 J S Goldie Saleem Golam 81 SP SP SP
20 (14) 673522 Gift Horse 8 8 9-1 p D Nicholls L Betts (7) 88 1 SP SP SP
21 (7) 300/145 Against The Grain 75 5 9-0 L Lungo J Fanning 82 2 SP SP SP
22 (24) 7-14621 Mullein 39 3 9-0 R M Beckett R Kingscote 85 SP SP SP
23 (5) 268710 Mister Hardy 8 3 9-0 R A Fahey Frederik Tylicki (5) 84 SP SP SP
24 (8) 212339 Cha Cha Cha 35 4 8-12 K A Ryan N Callan 80 SP SP SP
25 (15) 150020 The Nifty Fox 8 4 8-12 T D Easterby D Allan 82 1 SP SP SP
26 (23) 775096 Dickie Le Davoir 7 4 8-11 John A Harris A Elliott 77 1 SP SP SP
27 (19) 844865 Glasshoughton 7 5 8-11 M Dods D Tudhope 76 SP SP SP


Betting Forecast: 6/1 Gift Horse, 8/1 Mister Hardy, 9/1 Burning Incense (IRE), 10/1 Green Park (IRE), 10/1 Harrison George (IRE), 10/1 Mullein, 10/1 Dickie Le Davoir, 14/1 Thebes, 14/1 Bel Cantor, 14/1 Methaaly (IRE), 14/1 Geojimali, 16/1 Marvellous Value (IRE), 16/1 Joseph Henry, 20/1 Sunrise Safari (IRE), 20/1 Protector (SAF), 20/1 Kaldoun Kingdom (IRE), 20/1 Northern Dare (IRE), 20/1 He's A Humbug (IRE), 20/1 The Nifty Fox, 25/1 Trafalgar Bay (IRE), 25/1 Obe Gold, 25/1 Dream Theme, 33/1 Stevie Gee (IRE), 33/1 Luscivious, 33/1 Against The Grain, 33/1 Cha Cha Cha, 33/1 Glasshoughton

GREEN PARK likes a strong pace and will get one here so Richard Fahey's gelding gets the nod over Thebes, Harrison George and Bel Cantor. Richard Fahey won the race last year with the progressive Utmost Respect who has since gone on to be a Group winner. His brigade this year is led by a completely different sort in the nine-year-old Green Park. Successful recently at Chester, he has form on the ground and has a good apprentice taking off seven pounds. Stablemates Harrison George, Mister Hardy and Kaldoun Kingdom look major players, with the former having very solid form on a soft surface and he won¿t mind this drop in trip. Methaaly is a course and distance winner but he is high enough in the weights now and his natural speed is blunted by this ground, so a bigger danger may be Mullein who is a very progressive filly. The Nifty Fox is hit and miss, whilst Stevie Gee has had easier chances this season than this. Bel Cantor is a dangerous front-runner who looks sure to blaze a trail on the far rail and he is very much of interest. Others to catch the eye include the frustrating Gift Horse , Marvellous Value and Joseph Henry, however in a tough renewal we will stick with Green Park.