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**The Duke** · **20-04-09**, **02:40 PM**

Recently I've been watching alot more races than normal and have noticed a few horses who have run better than their finishing positions suggest. So I thought I'd stick up my own thread much in the style of Mac's eyecatcher thread but with my own thoughts - hopefully this will be of use to some of you at some point throughout the season. I will also try to incorperate my variance figures to give you an idea of how the ground was riding, for future reference, they work on the following scale.

-5 to -3.5 = Heavy
-3.4 to -1.75 = Soft
-1.74 to -0.75 = Good To Soft
-0.74 to 1.75 = Good
1.76 to 2.5 = Good To Firm
2.6 to 4 = Firm
4.1 to 6.5 = Hard

State Fair
Age: 2
Trainer: Paul Cole
Venue: Newbury (17/04/2009)
Ground Condition: -2.36
Comment: This juvenile planted Jamie Spencer into the turf at the start before stalls entry, and proceeded to run upto the mile start before being caught by course staff. He was then allowed to take his chance in the race and ran an eyecatching race under Jamie Spencer. Switched to the far side upon leaving the stalls, he was held up off the pace before making good headway just after halfway, he then had to switch on heels before keeping on under hands and heels to secure 5th place and looks a smart colt to follow up next time with a win.

Edgeworth
Age: 3
Trainer: Brendan Powell
Venue: Doncaster (18/04/2009)
Ground Condition: +5.32
Comment: Held up early the Pyrus gelding made some eyecatching headway under George Baker in a race which favoured those drawn against the rails. He was trapped for room a furlong out and that allowed PJ McDonald to get first run on eventual winner Cornish Castle. When all was too late Edgeworth finally got half a gap to launch his assault and flashed home in good style to take third. Arguably had he not got into trouble he'd of won and is worth following again in similar sort of grade on this ground providing it's on a flat track like this.

Akmal
Age: 3
Trainer: John Dunlop
Venue: Doncaster (18/04/2009)
Ground Condition: +5.32
Comment: A horse that was strongly fancied by myself prior to his running in the closing race on Doncaster's Saturday card he got stuck in a pocket on the inside under Tadgh O'Shea behind a pedestrian gallop and couldn't extricate himself from that position until Chilly Filly had hit the front. One thing my race watching knowledge has taught me over the years if that when a Mark Johnston horse gets the advantage of first run, they're almost impossible to peg back (this also happend yesterday with Keenes Day at Lingfield). Akmal is by Selkirk so could be suited by the application of head gear in the future to help him focus, but he looks a horse capable of winning a race with the benefit of a stronger pace in the future.

Golden Games
Age: 3
Trainer: John Dunlop
Venue: Nottingham (18/04/2009)
Ground Condition: +4.37
Comment: A horse again which I'd backed on Saturday and thought would improve for the extra yardage and she was travelling well enough before taking what appeared to be a bad step under Tom Queally. She dropped out under minimal assistance in the saddle before keeping on again under hands and heels under the said jockey when all was too late. Not many people will have noticed this run as I kept my eye on her all the way to the line, but perhaps a little more juice in the ground over a similar trip next time could see this one score in similar class of race.

I will be updating this thread as and when I see anything that takes my eye in a race.

20-04-09, 02:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
The Duke The Iron Horse Join Date: Mar 2005 Twitter: @OHRacing Location: West Midlands	The Duke's Eyecatchers 2009 Recently I've been watching alot more races than normal and have noticed a few horses who have run better than their finishing positions suggest. So I thought I'd stick up my own thread much in the style of Mac's eyecatcher thread but with my own thoughts - hopefully this will be of use to some of you at some point throughout the season. I will also try to incorperate my variance figures to give you an idea of how the ground was riding, for future reference, they work on the following scale. -5 to -3.5 = Heavy -3.4 to -1.75 = Soft -1.74 to -0.75 = Good To Soft -0.74 to 1.75 = Good 1.76 to 2.5 = Good To Firm 2.6 to 4 = Firm 4.1 to 6.5 = Hard State Fair Age: 2 Trainer: Paul Cole Venue: Newbury (17/04/2009) Ground Condition: -2.36 Comment: This juvenile planted Jamie Spencer into the turf at the start before stalls entry, and proceeded to run upto the mile start before being caught by course staff. He was then allowed to take his chance in the race and ran an eyecatching race under Jamie Spencer. Switched to the far side upon leaving the stalls, he was held up off the pace before making good headway just after halfway, he then had to switch on heels before keeping on under hands and heels to secure 5th place and looks a smart colt to follow up next time with a win. Edgeworth Age: 3 Trainer: Brendan Powell Venue: Doncaster (18/04/2009) Ground Condition: +5.32 Comment: Held up early the Pyrus gelding made some eyecatching headway under George Baker in a race which favoured those drawn against the rails. He was trapped for room a furlong out and that allowed PJ McDonald to get first run on eventual winner Cornish Castle. When all was too late Edgeworth finally got half a gap to launch his assault and flashed home in good style to take third. Arguably had he not got into trouble he'd of won and is worth following again in similar sort of grade on this ground providing it's on a flat track like this. Akmal Age: 3 Trainer: John Dunlop Venue: Doncaster (18/04/2009) Ground Condition: +5.32 Comment: A horse that was strongly fancied by myself prior to his running in the closing race on Doncaster's Saturday card he got stuck in a pocket on the inside under Tadgh O'Shea behind a pedestrian gallop and couldn't extricate himself from that position until Chilly Filly had hit the front. One thing my race watching knowledge has taught me over the years if that when a Mark Johnston horse gets the advantage of first run, they're almost impossible to peg back (this also happend yesterday with Keenes Day at Lingfield). Akmal is by Selkirk so could be suited by the application of head gear in the future to help him focus, but he looks a horse capable of winning a race with the benefit of a stronger pace in the future. Golden Games Age: 3 Trainer: John Dunlop Venue: Nottingham (18/04/2009) Ground Condition: +4.37 Comment: A horse again which I'd backed on Saturday and thought would improve for the extra yardage and she was travelling well enough before taking what appeared to be a bad step under Tom Queally. She dropped out under minimal assistance in the saddle before keeping on again under hands and heels under the said jockey when all was too late. Not many people will have noticed this run as I kept my eye on her all the way to the line, but perhaps a little more juice in the ground over a similar trip next time could see this one score in similar class of race. I will be updating this thread as and when I see anything that takes my eye in a race.