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Tanya's Blog - Friday 28th September 2012

Richard Hughes ruled supreme on the Rowley Mile course yesterday with Telescope, who now has Epsom and next year’s Derby in his sights!

Meanwhile the champion jockey-elect rode a perfect race on Havana Gold, who to me didn’t look at home on the undulations, perhaps it’s because to the eye he hasn’t filled out yet appearing very gangly.

The Rowley Mile had none of its brisk, sharp cool breeze on Thursday. Instead it was relatively mild and the ground could indeed dry out. The sun shone on a lush inviting emerald green grass, highlighting for once its beauty.

Sea Of Heartbreak was noted as a non-runner at Newmarket yesterday, due to the ground. She is entered in today’s 4.00 at HQ and I’ll be keeping a close eye on whether she takes up her engagement.

Roger Charlton has chances with Thistle Bird, who was second in the Celebration Mile and followed that up with victory in the Superior Mile. James Doyle hopes to keep the 100% strike-rate on her.

Meanwhile in Kieran Fallon’s ‘Weekender’ column he was extremely bullish about the hopes and chances of Most Improved. I’m not going to argue and even without his confidence I can’t believe he is around 5-1!

Finally the selection of the day goes in the Silver Cambridgeshire, which should hopefully give us all a steer regarding the traits of the course for the big one. Evervescent has run abysmally since his second in the Royal Mile at Musselburgh back in April and I’m hoping he will bounce back to form in the cavalry charge.

The Twenty20 cricket proved to be a wonderful companion on the journey to Newmarket yesterday and at the course itself. No, I wasn’t on the mobile all day I was merely listening to the exploits of Malinga, McCullum, Gayle, and Southee. It was wonderful, as was the finish between Sri Lanka and the Kiwis. Wrong result for me, but when the match is superseded by the drama, who cares?

Today South Africa take on Pakistan, while there is a mouthwatering clash between India and Australia. My thoughts are a Pakistan/India double.

Most eyes will turn to Chicago in the early evening with Foursomes and Fourballs for the start of the 2012 Ryder Cup. The pairings are crucial within the team; get them wrong and the tournament is lost!
Ian Poulter and Justin Rose have the unbreakable bond of friendship, which proved key when paired up at the last Ryder Cup. They know how to motivate each other, and when either are playing badly the other just gets involved to stop the rot! They are going to have to be as one against Stricker and Woods. Mind you sometimes you sense there are two Steve Strickers in this world, what with his inconsistency.

Another good pairing could well be McIlroy and McDowell. You sense McIlroy wants to take on the whole of America’s team on his own. Not in a way which detracts from team camaraderie, instead the youngster is brimming with enthusiasm and confidence which, if channelled correctly, can rub off on his colleagues. McIlroy would have to be my selection for top European points scorer, with a little saver on McDowell.

Today's Selection:

1.45 Newmarket: Thistle Bird

2.20 Newmarket: Most Improved

Tanya's Pointers

Richard Hughes and Sir Michael Stoute have teamed up for six winners from their last 12 runners

Eighteen of the last 20 winners of the Oh So Sharp Stakes,

Newmarket’s 1.15pm had no more than three previous runs

Eighteen of the last 20 winners of the Oh So Sharp Stakes had only won once

James Doyle has won on Thistle Bird on all three occasions he has ridden her

Paul Hanagan has only finished out of the first three on Ladys First once in five rides

Liam Jones is unbeaten in three rides on Shena’s Dream

No horse older than five has won the Joel Stakes

The last six winners of the Joel Stakes have come from the first two in the betting

Silvestre de Sousa has ridden Fulbright seven times, winning on him five times

Jimmy Fortune and Side Glance have teamed up 11 times for five wins, a second and three thirds

Newmarket trainers have won nine of the last ten runnings of the Fillies’ Mile

Eight of the last ten winners of the Fillies’ Mile have come from the first two in the betting

Six of Aidan O’Brien’s last seven runners in the Fillies’ Mile have been beaten

John Gosden has won the Fillies’ Mile three times from his last six runners