Flat Trackers #2

Redcar 02/04/12
0-85 6f: nothing to get excited about here, except to note that old boy HAMOODY (8) (85) ran pretty well and was just about in front after 5f. He's interesting because (1) he's trained by "Dandy" ("Ham Shandy") Nicholls, and (2) he's posted some nice looking form at Goodwood down the years.  The irritatingly chippy Nicholls likes to target the inglorious meeting, and we can already see that in 2010 Hamoody duly delivered (20s into 14s), just getting up over the minimum trip. His season was cut short in June last year, but this effort suggests he still knows how to run and it'll be interesting to see what the Chubby Brown of the northern racing circuit does with him next.

Maisons-Laffitte 05/04/12
Prix Imprudence 7f: quite a smart looking performance from MASHOORA here, who was able to win this eased down.  Afterwards her trainer Rouget said: "She's magnificent. She's improved a lot since last season. I think she will go for the [1,000] Guineas, I think so. I'll discuss it with Sheikh Hamdan's entourage." She has a fair bit to find on last year's form, and Aidan O'Brien's best filly Maybe has set a formidable 2yo standard. At around the 12/1 to 14/1 mark, though, she shouldn't be overlooked if confirmed for the English Classic.

Musselburgh 08/04/12
0-85 5f: in the second division of this sprint, BLOWN IT (6) (71) looked briefly threatening but wasn't asked to do much. Since moving to the interesting Keith Dalgleish in June last year, he's been kept very busy. His mark has risen from 52 to 71 and he's picked up 3 wins along the way, all over 5f.  Horses like this are usually unable to sustain such improvement, but given today's "effort" and the trainer's impressive career start, we'll keep a watching brief.