Overheard in racing: Andy Ayres has the latest paddock gossip and picks out his Monday racing NAP
Andy Ayres is back and has the latest news fresh from the paddock
IT LOOKS like Mr Moore is finally starting to get his mojo back.
Even Ryan Moore’s number one fan would have to admit the great man hit more bum notes than a piano player wearing boxing gloves last season.
He’s got that old gunslingers swagger back though and bossed Lingfield’s Saturday card where his quick-draw treble included market drifter Anthony Van Dyck (6-4 to 2-1) in the Derby Trial.
Dynamo would struggle to shuffle the cards in Aidan O’Brien’s Epsom pack, but this fella is rock solid and will be hard to kick out of the frame come D-day.
They were wheelbarrowing money on John Gosden’s Anapurna (5-2 to 7-4) just before the Oaks Trial and she duly dotted-up under a well impressed Frankie Dettori.
Its dollars to doughnuts she’ll head to Epsom, but big John whispered that his Sparkle Roll is expected to swerve that engagement in favour of Royal Ascot’s Ribblesdale Stakes.
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By the way, Johnny G’s red-hot sprinter Calyx is reported in rude health and might be allowed to stretch his legs in the Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock before settling in the blocks for Royal Ascot’s Commonwealth Cup.
Roger Varian’s Khuzaam has been leaving scorch-marks on the gallops – he’s entered at Salisbury on Thursday – and his governor had a decent pay day when Cape Byron edged home in Ascot’s Victoria Cup.
Sylvester Kirk hogged the headlines though, nicking three decent pots and giving little Salouen a long overdue confidence booster.
Captain Kirk’s stable star was beaten by a well-worn pixel in the Coronation Cup at Epsom last season and won’t go down without a scrap when he heads back there in a couple of weeks’ time.
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What a ride William Buick gave Aweedram (11-2 to 3-1) to land a tickle for Alan King at Ascot on Friday.
This gelding hot-footed it to post, pulled harder than a Massey Ferguson for the first half of the race but still had enough left in the tank to get up close home.
He’s got more natural ability than Rocket Ronnie and there’s definitely a big race with his name on it provided Kingy can persuade him to take a chill-pill.
Top bloke Roger Teal hasn’t let many dinners go cold on him since his days as an amateur jockey, but that wasn’t going to stop him throwing some impressive shapes after Whelans Way (20-1) mullered punters in the 6f sprint.
Trackman's Monday Selection
BYE BYE HONG KONG (6.50 Windsor) saw off a decent field at Chelmsford last time and can win this before moving up a level.
Big Roger explained that this was his first winner at the track after plenty of tries and had the look of a fella who was determined to make sure it was a day to remember.
Smooth travelling TIDAL WATCH (4.50) is weighted to win over hurdles at Kempton today, while Andrew Balding’s SIMOON (8.20) has a big shout in the last at Windsor.
Best bet on that card is another Balding flyer, namely BYE BYE HONG KONG (6.50).
He looked hard as nails when winning a decent heat last time and gets lumps of weight from three old-timers.