Wednesday, 26th August 2026
In ATC today….
My bold betting strategy didn’t pay off at York last week….
…. but three placers at prices kept losses to a minimum….
…. and the meeting delivered some form handicappers to move forward with into the autumn….
Oh…. and check out this week’s target races….
Read on….
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I adopted a bold strategy at last week’s Ebor meeting at York – particularly on the first three days….
It didn’t quite work out as hoped with some horses running well short of expectations (or my assessments being off kilter)….
…. but I will always swing the bat at the big prices if or when I reckon there’s a case to be made – that’s the game at ATC….
Three placers saw to it that losses across the four days were kept to a minimum….
…. and we live to fight another day….
Moving on – there were a number of handicappers for the Watch List that can do the business this autumn….
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There are plenty of horses to take out of last week’s handicaps….
…. but before we get to those I want to draw your attention to a horse that ran at Newbury the previous week – Hucklesbrook….
Some readers will recall he won a big 3yo sprint handicap at York for this column back in 2024 – rising to a mark of 96 as a result….
….. but it’s fair to say that he’d been well off-the-boil since then – losing eight on the bounce without looking like breaking the sequence….
He might have had a problem with his breathing because trainer Roger Teal had his wind done in May….
…. and earlier this month – on his second go back since that procedure – he ran a promising race at Newbury – trying 5f for the first time in a while….
…. and he might very well be on his way back….
Down to a mark of 86 – that win at York came off 88 – he’s dangerously well-handicapped and worth keeping onside as the season progresses….
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Manxman ran a cracker in the Stayers Handicap at York off a break of 351 days….
He does have a back-record of going well when fresh but he was entitled to need the run and I’d expect him to strip fitter next time….
He’s very much one to keep onside for the autumn – because he certainly doesn’t mind a bit of dig underfoot….
…. as he showed when going down very narrowly in the 2024 edition of the Cesarewitch at Newmarket….
He’s got an entry in this year’s renewal of that same race – he’s up at 33s & 25s….
…. and off his mark of 93 he’s guaranteed to make the field….
He’s rated 7lb higher than when he went so close last time….
…. but he remains well-handicapped on the best of his form….
…. and I’d be surprised if there wasn’t more improvement to be tapped in him yet….
He’s also in the Irish version of the Cesarewitch at the end of next month….
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Blue Courvoisier set some quick early fractions in the Sky Bet Mile on Friday….
…. and I think the jockeys who dropped their mounts out behind the pace were entitled to think that Clive Cox’s charge would come back to them in the later stages….
…. but he didn’t….
Rossa Ryan got a breather into the leader on the straight before kicking on again….
…. and he had enough in hand to hold off the late charge of Eklleem….
Eklleem was the one that got going first from a held up position - William Buick alert to the situation….
…. Outback Heat was another that made some late progress….
…. but perhaps the most interesting of the closers was Storming Point….
He was having just his sixth run and has yet to win….
…. but that looks set to be just a matter of time off his revised mark of just 84….
This was the second decent big-field handicap on the bounce in which he’s shown up well….
At Goodwood he started wide on the track but charged home late in first-time cheekpieces….
The headgear was on again last week but Rob Hornby had to snatch him up and take him back early doors – which didn’t help….
…. he saw plenty of daylight on the wide outside up the straight….
…. and whilst he started to motor late it was too late – the bird had flown….
There’s a pot with his name on it at some point down the line….
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Low numbered stalls dominated the frame placings in Wednesday’s Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pool Handicap….
Lexington Blitz gave the far side horses a good tow into the race – setting some rapid fractions early doors….
…. and whilst Ed Bethell’s runner-up Corolla Point wasn’t a million miles away from that early speed….
…. he was closer to the stands side than the winner, the third, and the fourth – and his performance can be marked up a little on that basis….
He’s up another 3lb to 103 but he’s been improving all summer….
…. he’ still very lightly raced….
…. and I’m mindful that he’s two from two on soft ground – his best effort last season came late in September on soft ground at Hamilton….
I think he’s an interesting horse going into the autumn….
…. and I wonder if he might be one for the Portland at Doncaster in a couple of weeks’ time….
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That’s all for today….
…. check out this weekend’s target races here….
Back tomorrow….
Meantime – contact me at – nick.pullen@spapublishinggroup.co.uk
Stay tuned….
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