If anyone makes use of Timeform's free My Timeform Tracker these can be added simply by clicking a horse's name and then clicking the My Timeform icon. 28th January 2015 Eye-catchers from Cheltenham and Doncaster 21st January 2015 Three eyecatchers from the last week's racing 7th January 2015 Eyecatchers from the first week of 2015 31st December 2014 Eye-catchers from the Festive period 12th December 2014 Three horses to watch from Doncaster and Cheltenham 10th December 2014 Three to watch from the weekend's racing 26th November 2014 Eyecatchers from Haydock and Ascot 19th November 2014 Eye-catchers from Cheltenham's Open meeting Timeform Corner
My Timeform: Three Horses To Take Away From The Craven Meeting please log in to view this image Share this article By Ben Fearnley -- published 19th April 2015 Ben Fearnley picks out three horses from the Craven meeting deserving of a place in his My Timeform tracker. Hakam – Newmarket, Wednesday 15 April Hakam had his first run as a three-year-old in an inconspicuous Lingfield maiden and attracted plenty of support with both a Derby entry and Ryan Moore booked for a rare ride in the Hamdan Al Maktoum silks. He shaped best that day but greenness put paid to his chances of making a winning debut. Nevertheless, Hakam had shown enough to be sent off second favourite for the first race of the Newmarket Craven meeting of 2015. Although the first maiden run on the Rowely Mile this season will probably not go down as the best, with favourite Akeed Champion and standard setter Acaster Malbis appearing to run below form, there is no denying that Hakam was an unlucky loser. Paul Hanagan was going best of all two out when finding himself trapped on the heels of the pace setters, and Hakam was hampered and forced to switch while also conceding first run to the eventual winner Carnival King. Bred to stay further than seven furlongs, it will certainly not be long before Hakam gets off the mark in maiden company and he is one of a number of exciting three-year-old prospects for his owner. Golden Horn – Newmarket, Wednesday 15 April Golden Horn only won by a head on debut, but the manner in which he swept round the outside of the field (having missed the break and shown greenness in the early stages) and delivered a devastating turn of foot to draw well clear with the second, a promising horse in his own right, saw him entered in many-a-notebook at an early stage in his career. His second start saw him pitched in to the Listed Feilden Stakes on Wednesday at Newmarket and Golden Horn gave favourite backers no cause for concern as he ran in similar style to debut: dropped out, made wide headway from half way, quickened to take it up over one furlong out, asserted well for pressure. The form looks full of substance, too, as both the second and third had been placed in listed company as two-year-olds. He holds both Guineas and Dante entries, but the latter will likely be the plan with both his breeding and this performance suggesting the trip in the Dante will hold no fears. Exosphere - Newmarket, Thursday 16 April The latest renewal of the Wood Ditton was almost certainly an up-to-scratch edition, barely an ordinary pedigree on show and plenty of leading yards represented, and it should throw up plenty of winners. Sectionals suggest that the winner, Winter House, did well to make up so much ground and prevail, though there were plenty of other eye-catchers in behind, notably the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Exosphere. Exosphere is a half-brother to useful middle-distance performers Blog and Tuscan Light, so it bodes well for his future prospects that he shaped so well over a trip that is likely to prove short of his best. Slowly into stride, Exosphere raced off the pace and ran green when asked to make his effort, carrying his head to one side as his inexperience showed. He made good headway late on, though, without being given anything like a hard time, so will surely benefit enormously from the initial outing and should prove difficult to beat next time.
Salt Island is definitely one to take away from the Craven meeting - absolutely hosed up in the concluding handicap on Wednesday off 93 and could well make up into a group horse, this being his 2nd win from just 3 races (beaten on soft in a listed race at Donny).
I agree with Oddy, the last two winners on Wednesday should definitely be in the notebook: Salt Island won with plenty in hand and in the preceding race, Global Force won very cosily from the front. I wonder if the guy from Timeform was reading my mind as I noted Hakam (second) and Gossiping (fourth). The favourite ran a shocker but it did not look like a bad maiden even though the winner was 25/1 and unfancied. Like their man, I do think that Golden Horn needs a step up in trip and at 20/1 in the Derby betting he might be worth a couple of quid each-way. The unwritten rule is to always make a note of what runs well in the Wood Ditton because so many winners come out of the race later in the season. I did see Exosphere before the race but he was not amongst the ones that I noted from the race. Those were runner-up Mustaaqeem (just caught close home) and fourth Barreesh (needs to settle). No doubt Timeform’s man has watched the replay more than once!
My Timeform: Chester eye-catchers please log in to view this image By Tony McFadden -- published 10th May 2015 Following Chester’s May Meeting, Tony McFadden has updated his My Timeform tracker with three horses who put in eye-catching performances. In Haste, Chester, Wednesday May 6 The finish to the opening race of the May Meeting, the Lily Agnes Stakes, was fought out by two useful prospects in Rah Rah and Silver Wings, but fourth-placed In Haste also ran a race full of promise and should have no problem winning a race or two in the coming weeks. Having finished runner-up on debut, In Haste again shaped well, not seen to best effect having been caught behind weakening rivals at a crucial stage. The way in which In Haste ran on once in the clear suggests that he possesses a fair amount of ability, and a maiden win looks a formality. Cartmell Cleave, Chester, Thursday May 7 Cartmell Cleave was unable to complete the hat-trick when finishing sixth in a six-furlong handicap at Chester, but he did shape much better than the bare result, suggesting that his revised mark still underestimates his ability. Cartmell Cleave tanked through much of the contest, picking up the running two furlongs out as the long-time leader wilted, but he couldn’t maintain the gallop, headed a furlong out before weakening close home. Testing conditions took some of the emphasis away from speed, which wouldn’t have been ideal, but a greater issue was the overly-aggressive ride, and he’ll be worth backing to make amends next time. Showboating, Chester, Friday May 8 Showboating’s chances at Chester were badly hampered by a tardy start but the way in which he powered home in the closing stages to grab third suggests that he’s on a fair mark at present. Showboating has a tendency to start slowly, but that negative trait won’t always prove as costly as it did around Chester’s tight circuit, and it’s worth focusing on the positive aspects of the performance, notably his strong finishing effort. Showboating’s well treated based on his old form and he seems to have turned a corner for his new yard, so has to be of interest next time.
