2013 Flat Dark Horses Half Term report

I felt it was time to give an update on our ten dark horses that I advised back at the end of March. As with the jumpers, we got off to a very bright start with a few winners and we have had a Derby runner, a Goodwood Cup runner and a couple of Royal Ascot runners, which is fantastic. I will try to go for around a paragraph for each horse, telling how they have been getting on and what they might be doing before the jumpers (horses and clothes!) reappear in November.

1) Cannizaro House (T Clement) - Form this season:

Cannizaro House has not been seen or entered up this season so far. I think he is well handicapped but unfortunately I do not know of his fitness or whereabouts so we will wait and see whether any updates appear in the near future.

2) Our Obsession (W Haggas) - Form this season: 1

Our Obsession winning at York

As anyone on Twitter knows, I love this filly. She was entered in the British and Irish Guineas and Oaks', but didn't make any of those engagements, instead running in a fillies handicap at York. She won this decisively despite pulling hard early on and taking a little bit of nudging to close in, but she did it really well by over three lengths. She has been entered in the Champion Fillies & Mares Stakes on Champions Day, which is a clear sign of the way she is rated by her trainer. I am very excited to see where she goes next and is a very good horse.

3) Number One London (B Meehan) - Form this season: 3322066

He is becoming extremely frustrating to say the least. I am convinced he can win off his current mark of 78, but with his quirks, it doesn't make it very easy for us followers. I would be interested if he was purchased to go jumping as well. He reminds me of Gleann Na Ndochais on the jumps dark horses list from last season who placed a lot without winning. I will continue to watch him but he's never a confident bet!

4) Trucanini (C Wall) - Form this season: 321

This likeable filly got off the mark for us only last night at Yarmouth by a short head under George Baker which was pleasing. She has a good attitude and bumped into a good one at Haydock on her previous start, who is entered in a Listed race on Saturday. I'm sure she will continue to run well once she has been re-assessed and is definitely one to follow.

5) Mirsaale (J Tate) - Form this season: 197

Mirsaale has been a flag bearer for us this season, with his win in the Derby Trial at Epsom in April setting off dreams of the big one itself. He couldn't land a blow there and neither could he in a Group race against older horses at Sandown last time dropped to a mile and a quarter. I'd like to see him return to Epsom for a conditions/Listed race if the schedule allows in the future as he looks hard to place given his mark of 105.

6) If So (J Fanshawe) - Form this season: 1130

This filly won a brace of Lingfield sprint handicaps against her own sex back in May and ran very well at Kempton behind a couple of progressive types next time. I'm tempted to forgive her last run at Newmarket on the July course as she got no cover and I would imagine she would be winning again for us before the end of the season.

7) Twenty One Choice (E De Giles) - Form this season: 153

I really like this horse, and reckon he could be above a handicapper on Polytrack in particular. He won decisively at Kempton back in April, and followed that up with a huge run at Ascot in a big field, where he just failed to see out the mile trip. He ran okay at Ayr next time and remains one to follow closely.

8) Self Employed (G Woodward) - Form this season: 69

There are positives and negatives with this lightly raced six year old. He is from a yard who doesn't have many winners at all, and therefore we may never know fully how good this horse is. However, he stayed on quite nicely last time at Thirsk and has dropped to a mark of 69, which is much more realistic. I think he may be able to win a soft ground handicap before the winter is out, and could be a Fibresand horse too.

9) Mister Impatience (M Johnston) - Form this season: 1424430

After an absolute rout at Doncaster on the opening day of the Flat turf season in March, his mark went up 11lbs. He didn't like Epsom much at all next time, before a second to the subsequent Derby winner at Chester in the Chester Vase. Fourth in the Queens Vase was a great effort before a third to stablemates Maputo and Alta Lilea at Hamilton which was fine. He ran a great race in the Goodwood Cup for a long way as well. I'd give him a break and bring him back fresh on soft ground which he adores.

10) Hassle (C Cox) - Form this season: 42 (RUNS TONIGHT AT SANDOWN)

This colt by Montjeu has ran two races full of promise so far this season in maiden company and tonight goes in handicap company for the first time off a mark of 79. I think he will be very competitive and if tonight isn't the night, I don't think he will have to wait very long to get off the mark. He is also in next Wednesday at Ffos Las (under a penalty?!)

So 7 wins so far from six different horses is great, let's hope all ten can win before the end of the season.

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Be lucky,
Will