This is a major racing story, waiting to happen...!
Marked Card is set to come up trumps for successful owner, John Fretwell and beleaguered trainer, Peter Chapple-Hyam at Leicester today.
One of five decs for the opening Conditions Stakes over seven furlongs, this Kheleyf colt faces what should be a simple task, according to my time-handicap.Adopting solid business-like strategy, Fretwell has enjoyed an unbelievable season, even by his high standards.
He spends well but sells better and that's why he's able to persevere and upgrade his juvenile stocks annually.If Marked Card gains his second victory from four starts, by supplementing a recent Brighton victory, he'll probably be on his way to Hong Kong where, coincidentally, Chapple-Hyam spent about four years in the wilderness, as a contract trainer.
Frankly and realistically, Chapple-Hyam has been a disappointment.
Despite winning the Epsom Derby with Authorised and other major prizes, his Newmarket St Gatien yard is up for sale. Apparently, he can't get out of the place quick enough and take up another high-profile residence in the North.
Significantly, P C-H was active during Newmarket sales last week, on behalf of high-profile clients who have invested millions and are desperate for consistent success at graded level. It won't be difficult to guess whom and so, expect an announcement shortly.
Such a situation would be ideal for Peter, by his own admission, a moderate communicator. If allowed to ply his trade, he could quickly cream his way to the top.
A fine trainer who must not be lost to this game, and won't be!
At the risk of unsettling the present incumbent, I'm not able to announce, in print, where P C-H is probably headed, soon.
SELECTIONS
RACE 2 (#2) MARKED CARD
RACE 8 (#8) MARDEN (e.w.)
RACE 11(#10) TWINKLED (e.w.)
RACE 17 (#9) ZA ZA ZOOM (e.w.)
UK RESULTS
R1: 1 (8) History Note 8-1; 2 (12) Rose Bonheur 11-8; 3 (7) Diamond Brooch 5-2. NR 10.
R2: 1 (20) Port Elizabeth 12-1; 2 (5) Harrison's Cave 10-1; 3 (2) Jambalaya 11-2; 4 (18) Watch The Birdie 16-1. NR 15.
R3: 1 (6) Mountain Range 8-1; 2 (2) Jacobs Son 15-8; 3 (1) Bowermaster 8-1. NR 11.
R4: 1 (1) Chef 6-1; 2 (2) Songsmith 2-1; 3 (7) Standout 7-1. AR.
R5: 1 (8) Handassa 13-8; 2 (8) Deire Na Sli 4-1; 3 (1) Alayir 11-4. AR.
R6: 1 (5) April Fool 50-1; 2 (11) Lord Of The Dance 8-1; 3 (2) Swiftly Done 5-1. NR's 4, 8 & 12.
R7: 1 (4) Aldwick Bay 20-1; 2 (9) Dr Darcey 16-1; 3 (2) Majestic Dream 11-2. AR.
R8: 1 (8) Pandorea 6-1; 2 (2) Desert Shine 2-1; 3 (4) Follow My Dream 4-1. AR.
R9: 1 (11) Ultra Cool 10-1; 2 (8) Footprint 12-1; 3 (26) Arbiter 33-1; 4 (13) Badger Or Bust 11-1. NR's 7, 23 & 27.
R10: 1 (2) King Of quitaine 7-1; 2 (6) Right Said Fred 4-1; 3 (8) Water Ice 9-4. NR 4.
R11: 1 (13) Sensationl Love 9-1; 2 (2) Ceffyl Gwell 15-8; 3 (7) Tony Hollis 12-1. NR 10.
R12: 1 (5) Flood Plain 5-1; 2 (11) Super 10-3; 3 (3) Celani 11-2. AR.
R13: 1 (14) Riynaaz 11-4; 2 (17) Tupelo Honey 1-4; 3 (15) Sunsey Beauty 10-1. AR.
R14: 1 (3) Googlette 13-8; 2 (12) Strictly Pink 16-1; 3 (11) Sand Owl 8-1. NR 6.
R15: 1 (10) Cardinal 11-2; 2 (5) Ivory Silk 14-1; 3 (13) Bathwick Xaara 5-1; 4 (8) Kensington 16-1. AR.
R16: 1 (9) Sard 12-1; 2 (2) Imperial Delight 11-1; 3 (1) First Cat 9-2. AR.
R17: 1 (12) Boynagh Joy 9-1; 2 (11) Balladiene 12-1; 3 (27) Mrs Batt 25-1; 4 (4) Parc Aux Boules 22-1. AR.
R18: 1 (2) Hendersyde 16-1; 2 (11) Sea Change 7-1; 3 (5) Stand Guard 40-1. AR.
R19: 1 () ; 2 () ; 3 () . NR 10.
R20: 1 (3) Secrecy 1-2; 2 (6) Balducci 9-1. NR 5.
R21: 1 (10) Waydownsouth 9-2; 2 (1) Cuk A Dun 12-1-; 3 (7) Purple Land 14-1; 4 (13) Cullofane 25-1. AR.
R22: 1 (1) Green Park 8-1; 2 (2) Barq 3-1; 3 (4) Qudwah 12-1. NR 9.
R23: 1 (3) Launchpad 11-8; 2 (8) Gift Of Love 7-2; 3 (4) Loyaliste 12-1. NR's 1 & 10.
R24: 1 (3) Rosco Flyer 12-1; 2 (2) Captain Dancer 11-8. NR's 1 & 4.
R25: 1 (1) Battleoftrafalgar 11-4; 2 (17) Regresa A Mi 25-1; 3 (18) White Diamond 14-1. AR.
R26: 1 (7) Swiss Cross 4-1; 2 (4) Living It Large 11-1; 3 (9) Vhujon 8-1. AR.
R27: 1 (6) Constant Caving 25-1; 2 (8) Land And Sea 7-2; 3 (7) Jaldarshaan 33-1. AR.
R28: 1 (1) Woodfall Treasure 11-1; 2 (2) Lethal Glaze 8-1; 3 (8) Dakiyah 8-1. AR.
R29: 1 (3) Merchant Of Medici 4-1; (2) Noble Greek 50-1; 3 (13) Tislaam 15-2. NR 2.
R30: 1 (8) Ice Viking 9-1; 2 (13) Sancho Panza 8-1; 3 (5) Dr Finley 9-1. NR's 2 & 7.
R31: 1 (8) Sheer Force 14-1; 2 (13) Tiger Star 6-1; 3 (2) Slugger O'Toole 14-1. NR's 4 & 14
UK CARD
Today, UK racing comes from: LONGCHAMP @ 8.40; LEICESTER @ 9.10; HUNTINGDON @ 9.20.
RACE 2: WYMESWOLD CONDTIONS STKS (CL 3) �8,000 7F At LEICESTER At 9.10.
32 1 Blue Deer K Fallon 125
531 2 Marked Card R Mullen 125
6 3 Red Nercury C Catlin 125
623 4 Yair Hill T Durcan 125
- 5 Al Mayasah W Buick 120
RACE 8: E.B.F. REFERENCE POINT MDN STKS (DIV1)(CL 4) �6,500 7F At LEICESTER At 10.10.
90 1 Control Chief J Crowley 8126
- 2 Daddyow D Probert 126
5 3 Danadana K Fallon 126
78 4 Fire Fighter S Sanders 126
50 5 Hot Spice T Durcan 126
4 6 Indian Emperor P Robinson 126
09 7 Love Nest J Quinn 126
4 8 Marden SW Kelly 126
3 9 Muffraaj W Buick 126
- 10 Raahin R Hills 126
- 11 Waterford Star J Fanning 126
RACE 11: E.B.F. REFERENCE POINT MDN STKS (DIV 2)(CL 4) �6,500 7F At LEICESTER At 10.40.
5 1 Experimentalist S Drowne 126
- 2 Long Awaited P Robinson 126
- 3 Moonscape RL Moore 126
53 4 Mr Dream Maker S Golam 126
- 5 Mungo Park J Fanning 126
- 6 Naqshabbran K Fallon 126
735 7 Number Theory N Mackay 126
- 8 Silver Tiger J Mitchell 126
05 9 Spirit Of Gondree T Durcan 126
- 10 Twinkled Hayley Turner 126
RACE 17: WREAKE FILLIES' CONDITIONS STKS (RND)(CL 3) �9,000 1M At LEICESTER At 11.40.
1661 1 Croeso Cusan Doubtful 124
2224 2 Seradi, J Fortune 124
0-39 3 Super Sleuth K Fallon 124
0115 4 Titbit R Moore 124
8160 5 Whirly Dancer I Mongan 124
1-16 6 Decorative P Robinson 121
-420 7 Long Lashes L Dettori 121
401 8 Personified L Keniry 121
0420 9 Za Za Zoom M Hills 121