Timmy's on a Just Mark

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There were five (4) and (5) graded races, Sunday, four of them being successful. Three were won by the clear top rated, one by the joint 2nd top rated, and one was unsuccessful.

Rainbow View pleased the cynics but all she showed me was the fact she hated the firm ground. She's trained on well and is not done with yet. On more suitable ground, I am sure she will produce.

Bank Holiday Monday's are not what they used to be. Low grade racing has become the order of Bank Holiday days. It seems the race planners are not enamoured with May Day. The racing bigwigs are mainly from the aristocratic class - or from Oxbridge. I wonder if they assume May Day is communistic. They used to hate it in medieval times when ordinary folks used to celebrate it every year regardless of their masters. Horse racing enthusiasts want to celebrate May Day with quality racing, not with the run-of-the-mill offerings we have had the past few years. Racing is quick to put on pop concerts to encourage the youth to go racing more. What about the old stagers like me. Shouldn't they also - and, arguably, more importantly so - encourage people like me to go racing more by offering quality racing during Bank Holidays?

Anyway....

I was a little surprised to see African Cheetah (4-45 Newcastle) still in maiden company. I thought a mark in the mid-70s was a winnable mark - and the handicapper gave him just that at 76. Maybe Mark Johnston feels he needs more experience before going handicapping. That is encouraging if it is the case because he obviously thinks the horse will repay his bringing him along more slowly than some trainers would. Unfortunately, he meets a very promising horse in Taarab, Monday. Taarab ran second in an average maiden at Yarmouth on the soft late last year but looked as though a winter's growth would do him good. He still has a Derby entry so he will have to win well to justify that. But it is his seasonal debut against the progressive African Cheetah. It will be a fascinating race. If Taarab begins to drift a fair bit, I will bet African Cheetah. If not, I will watch the race for fun.

I can't help feeling that Just Timmy Marcus (3-15 Newcastle) would have been given a harsher ten to fifteen pound handicap mark had his two wins been under trainers like Gosden, Jarvis, Noseda, or Cecil. He did remarkably well to win last time after clipping heels and looking as if his race was over. The way he knuckled down was impressive for the grade. Had he enjoyed a trouble free run he would have won much more easily and would now probably have a mark in the 70s.

The horse he beat on his debut run, Trade Center, beat a Johnston horse next time out and was given a mark of 77. The four length fifth that day, Circle Dance, won next time out and was given a mark of 64 (one length lower than Timmy). The sixth, Location, ran three furlongs further next time and got beaten easily, but returned to a furlong further than Timmy's race and won. The seventh, Villaruz ran second to Location and eventually won last time out.

Okay, Timmy's form is the dreaded All Weather (though his sires progeny go well on the soft), but with a page of form like he has, he should be rated much higher than he is. I will be disappointed if he is beaten.

Have a good Bank Holiday. If you see someone with egg on their face, it might very well be me....