Daily Earner

Seldom is it possible to back a certainty but that’s the case at Redcar today, or should be!

Once-raced Seldom has the proverbial ‘ton in hand’ for the ten-runner Maiden Stakes over seven furlongs,  judged on his agonisingly close second to Paddy Bear over a furlong less at Thirsk; that was a fortnight ago and considerable improvement is expected but, it wont be needed!

Another bonus is the full 7lbs claim of apprentice, John Kavanagh, who partnered Seldom at the North Yorkshire course.

Realistically this just has to be a certainty; hopefully the aforementioned statement doesn’t come back to haunt me!

Just as solid is the second leg of my each-way double, Hyades, in the eight-runner Maiden Stakes over the straight Yarmouth mile.

‘If’ they all go to post Hyades is nigh on certain to occupy one of three places, along with Dukes’ Art and Ithbaat; others have a mountain to climb and are simply not coloured.

There is a also yet another turf-flat fixture scheduled for Folkestone where Billy Beetroot and History Lesson are ‘best-in’ for the respective maiden races, easily the best betting medium given the complexity of sorting out computerised handicaps.

Selections, Folkestone, 2.45 Billy Beetroot (e.w); 5.40 History Lesson; Redcar, 3.05 Seldom (nap); Yarmouth, 6.30 Hyades (e.w).

if you fancy backing Cuis Ghaire wait until Saturday; apparently she is NOT certain to run.

Just passing on relevant information which also suggests Richard Hills will probably choose Ouqba in preference to Finjaan (my choice, each-way!) for the 2000 Guineas.

Free Handicap winner, Ouqba, worked particularly well this morning and Finjaan hasn’t raced in 2009…!

Mind you that wont worry me as I’ve got colossal respect for trainer, Marcus Tregoning, who gave an upbeat bulletin on the welfare of his horses in a conversation a few minutes ago.

Professionals will be getting ’stuck in’ to Red Jazz in the Ascot opener; expect him to shorten due to weight of money countrywide.

NATIVE RULER, 2.55 PONTEFRACT is 1.64 BETDAQ/BETFAIR!!!

‘Class will out’ and that’s why Red Jazz is set to dominate centre stage at Ascot today.
Once-raced Red Jazz made a colossal impression ‘just down the road’ at Windsor earlier this month; Barry Hills’ charge spreadeagled opposition and romped home, in good time, for an unchallenged five lengths victory. ‘Coventry’ was my first thought.
Hills, apparently, was of the same mind; Red Jazz needs this extra experience in the seven-runner Conditions Stakes, also over five furlongs, as a ‘prep’ for the highly-prestigious Royal Ascot ‘juvenile classic!’.
Despite being opposed by three previous winners Red Jazz is definitely the one to beat; clear ‘best-in’ on the time-handicap and yet another exciting juvenile prospect for one-time Hong Kong racing supremo, Ronnie Arculli, whose Red Clubs was a real ‘beaut!’
Stable-companion, Damien, is ‘expected’ in the £40000 Listed Stakes over six furlongs.
Although progeny of Namid seem best on an easy surface this ‘new’ Berkshire course has a sand bias, much like Doncaster, and smacks of an all-weather track; Damien therefore should be ideally suited because he ran satisfactorily at Lingfield last month and achieved one of two ‘career-best’ marks on Town Moor in 2008.
It’s difficult to envisage Damien not filling one of three places, he’s much better than form figures suggest, according to Hills and each-way looks a ’special!’

Later Henry Cecil-trained Invincible Isle will probably carry my ‘ard earned’ in the Maiden Fillies’ Stakes over a mile and what beats Always Best in the Maiden Hurdle at Kelso will win!

Always Best is not an obvious selection but, potentially, a good ‘meal ticket’ and worth following.

Selections, Ascot, 2.10 Red Jazz (nap); 4.30 Damien (e.w); Kelso, 6.00 Always Best (e.w); Kempton, 7.20 Invincible Isle.