The Neighsayers

  3:10pm  -  NEWMARKET - RACECOURSES SUPPORTING RACING STAFF WEEK HANDICAP STAKES A typically competitive sprint at flat racing’s headquarters however I’m strong on one I think is absolutely rock solid down in grade. Crow’s Nest is definitely respected on handicap debut but I’m not sure there’s much juice in his mark (which feels strange to say with a George Boughey trained runner), Fox Master is still unexposed enough to improve, but I think last time out would’ve been the main aim for him, on the card his owners sponsored. He’s been doing his best work late so 7 furlongs could bring out further improvement in time.  The one I’m interested in is KNEBWORTH . His form is absolutely rock solid, 2 starts back over this course and distance is phenomenal. Quinalt, Washington Heights and Exigency who were 1 st ,2 nd and 3 rd here, came 1 st , 2 nd and 4 th in a class 2 heritage handicap at York. Funny Story won next time out at Nottingham and then was 5 th in a list...

19 th  June – 5:00 Lingfield    Spirit Of Breeze    Did very well to finish where he did, could have arguably won with a better ride. Held up last in slow run race, 1 st  2 nd  and 3 rd  were all handy, he came from last to run a close 4 th  under tender handling. Didn’t look the most straightforward but should have learnt a lot from that. Looks like a step back up in trip wouldn’t go a miss, and I will be keeping him onside wherever he goes, 5 or 6f.   20 th  June – 2:20 Thirsk    Cloud Cover    Weak enough to back, over raced at times, travelling strongly into the straight, making a big move round the outside but didn’t fully look in love with the soft ground and didn’t find as much as anticipated. Weakened out of things late. Will look to bet him back on the AW over 7f.   21 st  June – Ascot 2:30    Lady Pink Rose    Ran a great race in the circumstances. Was on the wrong side of ...

Weekly Eye-Catchers 12 th  – 18 th  June 2023   13 th  June – 6:45 Wetherby    Wowshesomethingelse   Caught my eye here outrunning her massive SP of 125/1. Keen hold in rear, made very smooth headway into a decent position, looked very green when asked for an effort (not the first time) , suggesting she may not have had much work before her novice runs. 3 qualifying runs in less than a month suggesting she is being prepped with handicaps in mind. I will be keeping her onside in handicaps.    14 th  June – 7:30 Limerick    Captain John Barry    Probably gone under the radar this one. Nice run out the back for a mark. Needed niggling to pick the bridle up but did respond, not knocked about much into the straight. 3 runs all coming on soft/heavy ground and with him being out of Saxon Warrior he should be much better on better ground. Will get a mark in the 50s what will be more than exploitable in low grade handicaps. ...

Norfolk Stakes 5f 2yo (Thursday) Loads of promising 2yo speedsters on show here, with the very fast Elite Status being general 6/4 fav after a very impressive National Stakes win at Sandown. He takes up a large chunk of the market here and it wouldn’t be my way of playing at them prices in what looks a very competitive race, so I am very keen to take him on with an alternative EW angle.   NOCHE MAGICA is who I will be siding with EW after showing ideal credentials for a race of this nature. Made a very good impression on debut after showing a very high cruising speed matched with a nice turn of foot, putting his race to bed with ease. Stepped up in grade for the Marble Hill G3, where he travelled with his usual zest to the furlong pole, but in my opinion was outbattled in the finish by a stronger stayer at the 6f trip. It didn’t come as a surprise to me that he would be stepped back down in trip for his Royal Ascot bid, with the stiff finish on the straight track more than likely ...

Weekly Eyecatchers 5 th  – 11 th  June 2023   6 th  June – Leicester 2:30    Diddy Man   Nice run for a mark here, travelled well for a long way , horses came to him and jockey has let him fall back through the pack without any real effort to give him a ride. Showed enough in all 3 runs to suggest he has a decent level of ability. Look to back him in Nursery’s.   6 th  June – Wetherby 6:45    Ninety Nine    Nicely bred type, out of a smart sprinter. Travelled well in rear, made nice headway through horses when short of room on rails, wasn’t knocked about subsequently, ran very well. Look to back throughout the season over 5-6f.   8 th  June – Chelmsford 8:50    Exigency   Keen but led, set fast pace, going easily but didn’t get home over 7f, was running on empty final 100yards. Cheekpeices and prominent tactics  have seemed to perk this one up and I will be looking to back him over 6f nex...

Weekly Eye-Catchers 29 th  May– 4 th  June 2023   29 th  May – 2:50 Redcar    Seven Questions    Nice sprinting pedigree. Ran well from a bad draw here. Tracked over far side, ran slightly green when asked for effort but showed decent enough response to pressure. Ran on into forth under decent educational ride. Yards horses tend to come on for a run so I can imagine he will be cherry ripe 2 nd  time up. Back over 5-6f.   1 st  June – 2:05 Roscommon    Bergamasco    Impressed me in barrier trial at Fairyhouse, has a nice cruising speed and pedigree to back it up. Backed him here and was happy with the result, ran a very nice 4 th . Showed lots of speed over the 7f, raced slightly on it but saved enough to play a part in the finish. Hes a half to Burning Cash (5f RPR 103), would love to see him dropped in trip to 6f, he will win plenty of races. Back over 6f.   1 st  June – 2:20 Ripon    Fast Lo...

Swanny has provided me with his thoughts on these 3 races on one of the best days racing of the calendar year. Good luck all. 13.30 - Betfred Epsom Derby Not the most fascinating renewal of the classic but that doesn’t shy away from the event its self. I cannot for the life of me see how Auguste Rodin has been put back into fav on the back of his Newmarket blow out. As much as a master is uncle Aidy, I can’t see him turning this horse round in these circumstances. They seem to be going through a bit of a rough patch, but my main selection would be Military Order . He’s shown enough in each of his runs to warrant his strong place in the market, and I would probably make him fav. He’s shown raw ability in his 2 runs this season, disposing Exoplanet in his novice, a horse given a “stinker” in the London cup, and showing his stamina and pace in the derby trial at Lingfield. His draw is perfect for him to sit prominent behind the leaders before taking it up 2 out and being sent for home and...

  Betfred Epsom Derby As we alluded to in yesterday’s oaks runner by runner preview, we haven’t the time to go live on Twitter spaces, but we couldn’t not preview one of the best race’s in the world, if not the best. Adelaide River – 66/1 Soundly beaten the last day by Arrest and it would be hard to see him getting close to overturning that form. His Dam, could it be love went best on quick ground so that could offer some confidence, but I’d be steering well clear here. She ran her best short of a mile and I think the trip will stretch him. Could pick up a Group 3 over 10 furlongs. Arrest – 9/2 I can’t see the market move for this one in all honesty? It has to be the Frankie factor. He looks a stayer out and out and his action suggests he wants soft ground, which he couldn’t be any further away from here. I’d definitely be more inclined to back him for the St Leger than this. Does have Group 1 form but I don’t think today will be his day. Wide draw should be against him. ...

Oaks Preview  No twitter spaces call this week from The Neighsayers due to availability from us all, so it would only be fair to do a blog going through every runner in-depth in this year’s Derby/Oaks, with recommended bets from us in each race. Enjoy reading, hope its informative for you all.   *Prices correct at time of publishing   Be Happy  Price - 33/1   Decent horse on the level but she was more than put in her place in the Lingfield Oaks Trial by Eternal Hope. Looked slow that day in my opinion and this test of the equine species at Epsom may not be ideal for her. Not on my radar   Bright Diamond  Price – 50/1   Interesting runner for the red-hot Karl Burke. Mightily impressive debut winner at HQ, but then was put in her place in group company since, but her 2yo form would put her in with a squeak of running well in what looks a weak Oaks. Was behind a few of these in comeback run at Lingfield but she did show promise that day and maybe sho...