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Tanya's Blog - 7th July 2011

Showery rain at Newmarket at the time of writing at 9.30am, there’s a strong breeze, but it’s not cold, despite the fact I will be wearing a hat and coat today. The course is splendid, grass lush but this is not the weather for delicate frocks and high heels. The filter coffee is getting a hammering in the press room already with sausage and mash priced up at odds-on to be the lunch offering. The press room at Newmarket’s July course is reminiscent of a classroom, not that I can remember them too well as I wasn’t in them long enough. Lots of wooden desks, uncomfortable chairs, great for the posture as they make you sit up straight when normally slouching with disappointment having backed a loser. And like a classroom there is plenty of studying and work going on. The occasional disruptive personnel and the prankster.

I’m in the betting ring at Newmarket’s July course, where the bookmakers would take more money if they sold umbrellas! It’s not a place with a high on-course turnover, instead the majority in attendance come to be seen or just relax in the picturesque surroundings. The going in the betting ring will be heavy, it is grass so not great if tottering around in heels.

This time last year I came up with Circumvent in the 2.25 at 40-1, there’s more of a chance of me winning the Open than that happening again but I do like GLENCADAM GOLD. Ignore his last run at Royal Ascot, I can’t believe he can run that bad and he was progressive prior to that. Last night there was money for Fadhaa, on his form with Brown Panther it is not hard to see why, so he might also be worth a sneaky each-way in the race and a small forecast with Mijhaar.

I find Duckworth-Lewis easier to work out than the remainder of the card but I have as always done the selections in the racecard and they are 1.20 Census, 1.50 Roman Soldier, 3.00 Redwood, 3.35 Citizen’s Charter, 4.05 Cai Shen, 4.40 Apace.

The sun has just come out so off to walk part of the course, that is the press room to the near the paddock for a cappuccino!

POINTERS

Roger Varian has had three winners from his four Newmarket July course runners

Four of the last six favourites have won the Bahrain Trophy

Only 3 of the last 20 winners of the Bahrain Trophy had won on their previous start

10 of the last 20 winners of the Bahrain Trophy had run in the Queen’s Vase

14 of the last 20 winners of the Bahrain Trophy had run at Royal Ascot

16 of the last 20 winners of the July Stakes had won on their racecourse debut

15 of the last 20 winners of the July Stakes had won their last start

14 of the last 15 July Stakes winners had no more than 2 races prior

Only one favourite has won Newmarket’s 2.25pm in the last ten years

Only one favourite has won the Princess Of Wales’s Stakes in the last 18 years.

Just four three-year-olds have won the Princess Of Wales’s Stakes in the last 20 years

Sir Michael Stoute has won the Princess Of Wales’s Stakes seven times.

In the last ten years his eleven runners in the race have produced four wins, four seconds and a third.

Just 5 of the last 20 winners of the Princess Of Wales’s Stakes had won on their previous start.