Not too many trainers will admit they watch their own strike rates but racegoers and punters alike put great store by them and John Gosden has among the strongest in the country.
Over the past six years his Newmarket team have run at over 20% and this season the rate stands at an impressive 26% – better than one in four runners are winners.
One area that particularly stands out among Gosden’s runners is his success with juveniles and this year he has produced some exciting winners, including Calyx and King of Comedy.
On Friday evening he has three in the Lyon maiden at Newmarket – Albert Finney, Damon Runyon and Kick On. My preference is for Rab Havlin’s mount Albert Finney (6.35), who was bred by Rachel Hood (Mrs John Gosden).
But the banker of the day is another Gosden youngster, Beatboxer (6.15), who runs at Haydock. This talented son of Scat Daddy was expected to go in first time at Sandown and he readily obliged. He has a penalty of 6lb to defy at the Lancashire track but looks an exciting prospect and is worthy of the nap selection.
Brighton 2.00 Cent Flying 2.30 No More Regrets 3.00 Poetic Steps 3.30 Danzay 4.00 Big Lachie 4.30 Kachumbo 5.00 Time Medicean
Musselburgh 2.10 Lady Lavinia 2.40 Deputise 3.10 Markhan 3.40 Arabian Jazz 4.10 Timoshenko 4.40 Trautmann 5.15 Kuiper Belt
Wolverhampton 1.50 Be Like Me 2.20 Ingleby Molly 2.50 Go Annie Go 3.20 Jaguar (next best) 3.50 Lexington Garden 4.20 Conkering Hero 4.50 Celtic Artisan 5.20 Misu Pete
Newmarket 5.25 Assembly Of Truth, 6.00 Capla Gilda 6.35 Albert Finney 7.10 Majrooh 7.40 Red Starlight 8.15 Wentworth Falls
Haydock 5.45 Akamanto 6.15 Beatboxer (nap) 6.50 Bullion Boss 7.20 Treasure Quest 7.55 Paddy A 8.30 Fumbo Jumbo
Chelmsford 5.55 First Thought 6.25 Buckingham 7.00 Broken Spear 7.30 Island Of Life 8.05 King Of Dreams 8.40 Fitzwilly 9.10 Chloellie
Tips by John O’Hara
My next best is Jaguar (3.20) who was second last time out, although well held, but looks a horse crying out for a step up in trip. The novice stakes at Wolverhampton is over 1m4f, a quarter-mile further than his most recent run, and he should relish every extra yard.
