With the flat season now in full swing here are ten horses I am expecting to win races this season. In the main they are not the obvious ones but unexposed types who have shown promise in their limited appearances to date.
ALWAARY (J.Gosden)
From the family of 1000 Guineas winner Lahan he ran 3rd to Crowded House on debut before winning a Yarmouth maiden. He held entries in races like the Racing Post Trophy and Royal Lodge at two and is still in both the Dante and the Derby. They are flying far too high but he should pay his way especially if he appears whilst his stable are in such good heart and should stay at least 10f.
BALAAGHA (M.Jarvis)
Travelled up well in a Newmarket maiden in October before lack of experience and condition told. Physically she looked to have well from two to three when narrowly beaten by Resort having still looked a bit green in the preliminaries. There is plenty more to come from her this season.
CAPE QUARTER (W.Haggas)
From a family which includes Dupont who won the German Guineas for this yard he showed immense promise in one run in a Lingfield maiden. He finished with a fair bit left in the tank and this stable place their horses really well so are likely to already have a game plan in mind for him. A maiden is certainly his for the taking with that experience under his belt.
COSMOPOLITAN (J.Gosden)
I am a big fan of horses who acquit themselves well in handicaps on their second career runs having won first time out. In Cosmopolitan’s case she was to subsequently lose her maiden success at Goodwood after failing a dope test but that takes nothing away from her excellent third to Izzibizzi at Newbury in a handicap on her next start. Indeed she would have gone close to winning but for meeting trouble. She has yet to race on anything quicker than soft.
FORGOTTEN VOICE (J.Noseda)
Forgotten Voice did manage to win in a handicap on his second career start, a full eighteen months after the first one resulted in a maiden victory at Lingfield. His short head victory at Kempton in no way reflects his superiority as under an almost over confident ride he quickened up well to lead on the post having found trouble. In raising him 8lbs for such a narrow win the handicapper has tried to reflect the amount he had in hand but will be chasing him for some time to come and he could well be an ideal type for the Hunt Cup.
KINGS DESTINY (M.Jarvis)
There are few better trainers than Michael Jarvis and in Kings Destiny he has a horse who should continue to progress well. A narrow winner on his return at Leicester he has plenty of size about him which should help him stay ahead of the handicapper as he strengthens up. Headline Act and Wilbury Star who were behind him at Leicester have already given the form a boost and it could be a race that throws up plenty of winners.
LA DE TWO (B.Hills)
The stable had a quiet time last year and so it was extra encouraging that La De Two should run so well on debut chasing home Kite Wood at Doncaster. Indeed having missed the break and taken a while to know what was required he looked sure to improve for the experience. Not that he needs to improve much to win good races with kite Wood winning in Group Company next time and Monitor Closely also performing well. He looks sure to be suited by at least 10f and could actually make up into a Leger horse with stout stayers like Anak Pekan in his family.
MRS BEETON (W.R.Swinburn)
A big eyecatcher on her only racecourse start when fourth to Redding Colliery at Kempton. A half sister to Stotsfold who progressed well at three she has the ingredients on making up into a useful handicapper herself especially when raised in trip.
STOIC (J.Noseda)
Backend Newmarket maidens are chock full of horses needing the experience but few caught my eye as much as Stoic. His fifth to Guineas hope Evasive has been made to look very solid form with the front three home all winning next time. Sent off at 12-1 this reflected the fact he was likely to need the experience but having been left behind when the race developed he picked up well late on without really ever being asked any sort of serious question. Potentially a smart horse in the making.
WING EXPRESS (L.Cumani)
Not seen out after winning at Salisbury in early May beating Tropical Strait (won November handicap later in the year). I asked Luca Cumani about the horse in late summer and he told me the horse had a setback but that he would be back this year. If all is well races like the Ebor would be right up his street and as the yard showed with the likes of Swop last season they can do well with lightly raced older horses.
