Friday May 8th

Small profits yesterday but we hit the crossbar yet again.


2.55 Nottingham Infanta 2pts each-way @ 11/2 (Generally, get guaranteed!)

Copper Penny is entitled to come on for her seasonal debut, but does anyone remember the race she came second in at Windsor? It was the race won by Circus Girl, the Beckett horse I thought was fairly moderate, and also the race in which we backed Starclass only for her to be withdrawn. Basically, I don't think she achieved that much in winning that race, it wasn't all that strong a contest. This race is usually won by an OR80+ type, and I'm not sure Copper Penny is all that good - she might touch on OR80 at some stage but looks beatable to me here.

The Gosden newcomer has attracted cash this morning but his first time out horses are not usually subjected to a hard race, and if she wins she is sure to be quite talented indeed. I am happy to oppose.

Mahmood Al Zarooni has made a good start as a trainer for Godolphin. He has had a couple win, and a couple assert themselves well in good races. His horses are still being underestimated by the market, which is what I always look for. Infanta made her debut at Musselburgh last backed but was very green to post and in the race. She will have matured during the winter and hopefully will put in a more professional performance today if so. What interested me most is the video of the Musselburgh race. She is all over the shop on the softish ground and also doesn't seem to know what is required of her. However, right in the last 200yds she seems to realise what the game is all about and starts to move more fluently, putting her mind to it and gaining on the eventual second. She did move nicely and it was a tell tale sign for me that she has plenty more ability than she has shown thus far. At 11/2, she looks an excellent bet to run into a place at least today and I expect her to win if she is ready to go, as most of the Al Zarooni horses have been. The fact that Ahmed Ajtebi takes off a 3lb claim is a ridiculous bonus.