Saturday's Selection

Morale is low after what has been a very tough week at York. Three places in three days is a poor return and some of the selections ran absolute stinkers. I think Excessable could have got closer to the principals in the opener if he had got a clear run. He had to be switched a couple of times as the pace lifted and by the time the gaps came the race was over.

Twizell at least ran a solid race and at one point entering the final furlong she looked as though she might go on and win. She stayed on well but she couldn't hold on for place money, coming home in 4th. Our Joy faded badly after making the running and she doesn't look as though she is going to live up to her pedigree. 

Innocent Touch was another that didn't get a clear run but he probably wouldn't have won even if he did. He would have gone close to a place but he ended up in 6th. He likely needs more help from the handicapper. Breakable was our only success of the day and he also looked as though he might win. He just ran out of puff in the last 100yds but at least he held on for 3rd. Sporty Yankee ran no sort of race and like many of Karl Burke's horses at the moment he just didn't look right. 

I put Mountain Kingdom up on Twitter and that was the final insult. What Ger Fox and the horse were doing at the start I will never know and on a tight track like Kilbeggan it is nigh on impossible to make ground from out the back. The horses were dropping like flies in the last half mile but Mountain Kingdom never made it out of mid division.

 What made the run even more puzzling was the fact that he was backed from 25s into 12s before the off. My small bets are nowhere near big enough to create those kind of market moves and you have to wonder was it genuine money or were the bookies playing games. I know which one I suspect to be true. 

The highlight of the week for the blog was undoubtedly Red Pike placing at 50/1 on Day 1 and I am going back to the Smart yard for today's selection. His horses have been knocking on the door and he has a 2yo at Thirsk in the opener that has a very attractive pedigree. Frozen Kiss is by Exceed and Excel and out of a well related Pivotal mare, so she is bred to be speedy. 

Her dam is a half sister to the speedy Hooray, a fast mare that completed the set of Group races as a 2yo. His grand-dam Hypnotize won a listed heat as a 2yo and her half sister Dazzle was a 2yo Group 2 winner. It is a speedy pedigree and it is enough to convince me that this filly could be set to outrun her odds. 

She has a decent draw in stall 8 as high numbers are seen to have an advantage at Thirsk on the straight course. Connor Beasley takes the ride and he has an encouraging record for these connections. He has had two rides for these owners and his only previous ride on a 2yo for them resulted in a win. He is 7/49 (17%) overall for Smart and he is 2/9 on 2yos for the stable. 

Only two of the runners in the field have form and it is not too taxing a standard for Frozen Kiss to reach. She is a late March foal and the only filly in the field with a significant advantage in that regard is the Johnston filly. She has to be feared after the start her yard has had with their juveniles. However, I would much rather be with Frozen Kiss at the current prices and she is worthy of a small each way bet at odds of 25/1.

STEVOS' SELECTION: 1.45 THIRSK-FROZEN KISS E/W 25/1