2013 Flat Dark Horses

After a really good first attempt at compiling a dark horses list in the current jumps season, I thought I would have a dabble at the Flat too. The following list is in no fixed order at all. I would advise TWO things to start with, firstly, watch the previous races with these horses if possible, with Sportinglife the best source providing you have a SkyBet account. The other is to set up a tracker service, either Attheraces or the one I use, nagme.com.

I hope you enjoy following these ten throughout the season, and hope we can get them all to win if possible. 

Cannizaro House (T Clement) - Nice horse from an underrated yard. Showed plenty of promise on debut when finishing fifth at Lingfield, before drawing away nicely to win a Windsor maiden, beating some horses who have done well on the AW this winter, Cool Sky and Admiralty to name a couple, comfortably by nearly 4 lengths. He has a mark of 85, which is workable without being lenient, and I expect he can find a few suitable races over a mile and even a little further to win this season.

 

Our Obsession (W Haggas) - Our Obsession is a horse I’ve always liked, ever since I saw her make a really pleasing debut on the July Course last August. She finished a never nearer sixth, with decent filly Mar Mar a further four lengths behind her. She learnt plenty, and despite being very green and not liking the dip too much, she broke her maiden on the Rowley Mile in really nice style in October. She is entered in the Guineas, Oaks and the Irish Oaks, and could be a real star.

Number One London (B Meehan) – Funnily enough, Number One London was third behind Our Obsession at Newmarket in October on his second start, and if Our Obsession didn’t like the dip, Number One London detested it. He was all over the place, but when he met the rising ground, he sprouted wings for a minor placing. If he doesn’t win in 2013 I’ll be amazed. He has gears and should have strengthened up over the winter, and I hope he can reach a mark around or above the 90 mark by November.

Trucanini (C Wall)  - Trucanini is another whose form ties in with a fellow Dark Horse, as she was third in the race where Our Obsession was third at Newmarket. That was her second start, before a battling narrow second to Ghanaian at Lingfield, a good performance. She has been given a mark of 75, which to me looks lenient and she should also be able to win off that mark in a three year old handicap somewhere on quick ground.

Mirsaale (J Tate)  - Mirsaale is a horse I really like. I saw him break his maiden at Brighton last August, and albeit in a three runner race, he was visually imposing to look at and by far the nicest horse I saw all day. He was then a very good third in the Ascendant Stakes at Haydock before a heavy defeat in a hot race at Newmarket, where the track and soft ground probably didn’t help. He is by Sir Percy, whose progeny always improve from 2 to 3, and I think he is a name we will hear plenty more of this year.

If So (J Fanshawe)  - If So is a filly I think will win her fair share this year. The Fanshawe stable are fantastic, and probably worth following blind. She is a half sister to the yards brilliant Deacon Blues, who improved dramatically at 4. This filly starts 2013 off a mark of 67 on turf and 64 on the all weather, which is a very good set of marks to start with. Deacon Blues improved 25lbs in the season he turned 4, and hopefully If So can do the same. A hood has certainly helped her development as well.

Twenty One Choice (E De Giles) – Twenty One Choice is a horse I am becoming more and more fond of. He improved hugely last year for two main reasons, firstly going handicapping and secondly being gelded. He ran well at Wolverhampton before three wins, at Kempton, Musselburgh and back at Dunstall Park last September, all with a little bit more up his sleeve. He started off 49 and is now rated 73, but I still think he is one to follow.

Self Employed (G Woodward) – Self Employed hails from the small yard of Garry Woodward in Nottinghamshire. This horse has obviously had plenty of problems, as he has only raced 6 times and he is a 6 year old, but I wanted to include him nonetheless. He ran a screamer in a conditions event at Doncaster last July after a year off the course, before a poor run in Group company at Haydock. He bounced back and won a maiden at Thirsk, where he beat a Godolphin horse called Volcanic Wind, now rated 87. Self Employed however has been given a mark of 73, which baffles me and a mark he should be able to be very competitive off. I had him in mind for the Lincoln but he isn’t amongst the entries, let’s hope he’s not injured again.

Mister Impatience (M Johnston) – I witnessed Mister Impatience break his maiden at Nottingham at the back end of last year, and was really taken by him, both in the preliminaries and in the race itself. He was big and gross, and he surprised me with the way he lengthened away in the soft, sticky ground to win by six lengths. Jock Bennett said afterwards he’d be a much better three year old and I think an opening mark of 82 is perfectly reasonable.

**RUNS DONCASTER 22/3/13 2.00 1m2f 3yo Handicap**

Hassle (C Cox)  - Hassle is a 4 year old colt trained by Clive Cox. I saw him make his belated debut at Nottingham last year, where he raced very green and was only a half length away from a smart Godolphin horse in Last Fighter, who had more experience and has since gone on to win in Meydan. He is closely related to a horse called Red Merlin, who this trainer did very well with before he moved to Donald McCain, and I think he will be a nice horse to keep on side throughout this season.

Any feedback? Either tweet me @willbowler2k12 or fill in the box below.

Will