Weekend preview

Overview: Not a huge weekend in terms of stakes being run or even the overall quality of the horses running. But there are a few competitive races and a good load of nice looking maidens to mull over. We also have the returns of Clock Stopper and Private Vow at Churchill on Sunday. Should be a low key but enjoyable weekend.

Selections
Hollywood Prevue - Cheif's Magic/Belgravia
Mrs Revere - Quite A Bride
Stuyvesant - Carminooch

Hollywood Prevue
I think Notional is there to be bet against. I mean you're likely looking at even money or lower, but lets not fool ourselves. He isnt going to run a 105 Beyer on an All Weather surface. He is switching surfaces and thus his performance has to be viewed as a measure of his talent only, not as a true gauge for how he will perform this time. I'll let him beat me. One of the things that really stands out in this field is that almost no speed is entered. Maybe they were watching Keeneland and noticed that horses going to the front sucked it up. But Keeneland is the only AW surface that seems to be biased against front runners and I think it gives Bafferts Chief's Magic a big advantage. Speed has been holding quite well at Hollywood. It really is a shame he is coupled with Biancone's hot Belgravia because otherwise I think you'd get an excellent price on him. Belgravia could easily win this himself but I'd rather have seperate wagers on Chief's Lake and Belgravia than one on the both of them. It erodes value if the longer shot wins and I think he very easily could. I suppose complaining wont change anything though. The entry has the lone speed and one of the most visually impressive off the pace maiden winners of the year.

1) Cheif's Magic
2) Marked Warrior
3) Belgravia

Stuyvesant
I am very much hoping that the public focuses thier attention on the two hot horses in the race. Accountforthegold and Organizer. Because I think Carminooch is the horse to beat. The three horses I mentioned are NY breds and for Carminooch this could be seen as a big step outside statebred company. But in all honesty this might as well be a statebred because the others in here are fringe factors. Carminooch will adore the switch to the inner track. He prefers two turns and that's what he'll get here. He was always up against it trying to win the Empire Classic off a layoff like that. He'll be fitter here and the conditions are more to his liking. He seems to have come out of his last race in sterling shape and I'd be surprised if anyone in this field had an answer for him in the lane. Rain only helps as he is perhpas the best off track horse in the race. Accountforthegold is screaming regression. He got an easy lead and freaked in his last. I think Reverberate will keep tabs on him here as will the Empire 1-2 finishers. I see Organizer and Carminooch distancing themselves from the field as they enter the stretch and Carminooch getting the better of his rival. Reverberate should come in a lackluster third.

1) Carminooch
2) Organizer
3) Reverberate