Karoo Stables
Race 1 - Comtesse Caroline
Needs to set the pace or be up with it. May find it difficult to dominate in this field, however conditions are ideal and with numerous fancied horses with questions to answer You Serious ( ground ), Montbazon ( stable form ) and My Murphy ( jumping ). The main dangers are probably Hanks making his debut and Sunny Lane who ran well in a bumper. Quietly confident of a good run though as Sanctions performed well in her first run and she is a better horse.
Race 2 - Sanctions
The confidence from the Duke has made me think she has a strong chance. She is a brilliant jumper, strong traveller and the ground is almost ideal. See my write up for dangers.
Race 3 - Consistent
Ideally needs an extra furlong but hoping for some black type. A bit to find with Tequila Ridge, Chilli And Masg and Luck though and nothing suggests she can reverse the placings. This might be too far for Rockslide and a bigger threat may come from the unraced Blue Angel. She is very consistent though but a minor place is the best hope.
Race 4 - Didgeridoo
Potential stable star and headed for the Rynair. This distance will be fine but there are a number of unraced horses in the field and Rikard Eddard and Noland bring strong form to the table. She needs to run well here though to have any chance in the Rynair.
Race 5 - Dothraki
Really confident about his chances of winning this. The drop in trip will be fine and he has a strong chance. See my write up for dangers.
Race 6 - Wells Fargo
Trials really well and clearly found 3m1f too short on his first run. This distance will suit much better and there is nothing between him and Tyrion Lannister on their last run. There are a number of well bred new comers though in Cage Fighter, Casual Transgression, Cut The Crap, Odonimess and Velvet Touch. This race looks like it will be a good pointer for the gold cup and confident of a good run here.
Race 7 - Puff Adder
The extra distance will suit but the ground is still on the quick side for her. Should run a better race but unlikely to trouble the principles. Ideally needs soft or worse ground. Modern Soul may well go in again here.
Race 9 - Special Trade
Did not jump well on debut which is uncharacteristic and should put that behind him and improve here. If he jumps better he will be thereabouts. Nothing really stands out amongst the raced horses and the winner may well come from the unraced trio of California Swag, Dean Forest and Nothing But The Truth. I fancy Nothing But The Truth to win here.
Race 10 - Secret Symbol
Better than his sire Dothraki and will be a huge threat in these optimum conditions. Annaghbeg Oath, Upside and Warrior are interesting newcomers. On a line through my other hurdlers I should have the beating of most of the raced horses. Confident of a good run and will more than likely be world hurdle bound if he lives up to expectations.
Race 11 - Further Attacks
Although she gets the trip better she is better over shorter. There too many unknowns to make a prediction in this race. Not expecting her to set the world alight.
Race 12 - Aquila
Uploaded with this distance in mind. These are almost optimum conditions and with Manifest running well I am confident of a good run. One of my best and these are almost perfect conditions. See write up for dangers.
Race 13 - Gunman
This will be too short. Won't run badly but ideally needs it further and will be aimed at some of the nationals. But in all honesty he just is not that good and will struggle to win a race this season. Really struggled to improve my horses over 4miles plus. There are number of trainers with runners who are strong over this distance but if Silver Pond does not win I'm sure Hemz will be disappointed. Castletown Lyrics, Flames And Stars and Zoo York bring solid form to the race. However I'm hoping sentimental favourite Moores Minion wins here and goes on to great things. It will be a fitting tribute to Paul.
Race 15 - Overture
A place is the best hope as she needs it further. I can't really see Let Love Shine getting beaten here despite the credentials of Prospect World who is the only real danger.
Race 16 - Famous Duel
Believe it or not but this is too short. Will run on and probably just miss the places and the target with him is the grand national where the fences and distances are ideal. The winner is likely to come from the unraced horses and I fancy one of Viking Groove, Rose Pompadour , Kinglet and Kina. The ground should be too slow for New Design
Race 18 - Conversation Piece
A fact finding mission for the stable. He trials well over the gold cup distance but he is a monster over 3m3f and 3m4f and even more so on soft or heavy ground. If he runs well here then he will be gold cup bound. If not I will be kicking myself for not uploading Bridgeburner. See my write up for dangers.
Race 19 - Prequel
I don't think my 2 mile hurdlers or up to scratch and therefore she will more than likely be midfield. There is a lot of solid form here from Backdraft, Big Freeze and Nomakhanjani and a host of potential improvers including the likes of Boombastic , Golanbrook and Sundance. The race is best watched as it will be a good pointer for the season.
Race 21 - Walkaway
This is my best horse and he is a 3 mile monster. This shorter distance holds no fears and with ground conditions ok I'm expecting brilliant things. I won a grade 1 over 3 miles last season and she is much better. Trounces all my 3 mile horses on a regularly basis and they seem to have all run ok. Its difficult to find a danger in this field as it looks like a mine field with regards to picking a winner but Theon Sansa and Dazzling Dream look the chief dangers.
Race 22 - Rumours
Outsider here and unlikely to feature. Chosen One makes her debut and hails from the champion trainers yard and both Excelebration and Looking At You have solid form. A race to avoid for betting purposes as there are too many inknown variables. You can lay mine for a place though
Race 23 - Bring To Life
The distance may find her out. She is a handicapper and hoping to pick up one along the way. Needs a smaller field though as she needs to dominate. Although John Scatters isn't the same force in NH as on the flat Event Horizon should be good enough to win this although Uprising could be a danger.
Race 24 - Dollar Magic
Better than Manifest and can handle a slow pace. Probably one of the best in my stable and although this is a competitive race I will be disappointed if he does not go close. Grands Crus, Smoothie and Vindication all ran well on debut but a bigger danger may well be Ciao Luigi though. A big field suits Dollar Magic well though and he is a good each way bet.
Race 26 - Witchcraft
Did not set the world alight on debut but tends to throw in the odd stinker. Runs both Dothraki and Conversation Piece close in trials and this versatile mare should make her presence felt here. Artisan Harbour, Biohazard and Parthenian Krissi have the best form on offer but it does not really inspire confidence in there chances. Afef John is a dangerous newcomer but stables runners tend to need their first run. Witchcraft could win here and she will be a good price.
Race 7 - Prestigious
Really like her and although indications are she prefers firm wins all my trial on soft. Expecting a big run. Dangerous are numerous including Gold Rush, Last Monarch, Attitude Ask and Al Veloren but she is a good each way bet.