Brian Meehan's Weekend Runners: Arise, Sir Bedivere

Trainer Talk / Brian Meehan / 17 September 2011 / Leave a Comment

Brian will be watching events at Newbury keenly

"Sir Bedivere is certainly one to keep an eye on for the future – I really rate him highly."

Brian Meehan provides the lowdown on his weekend runners, including one in the opener at Newbury that he's very excited about...

Newbury

13:25 7f Maiden
Sir Bedivere: He is a lovely, lovely horse who has shown us plenty at home. As with most of mine, he will be better for this first start but that said, it is possible that he might be good enough in any case. He is certainly one to keep an eye on for the future - I really rate him highly. I have given him an entry at Newmarket next week just in case there is too much rain - I wouldn't want to subject him to soft ground on his debut.

14.00 1m3f Group 3

Dangerous Midge: He has been off since disappointing in Dubai and it is a softly softly approach with him ahead of the big end of season targets. He is another who wouldn't want rain but I need to get a run into him and this is a suitable race as he escapes a penalty. He will come on for this but if he runs anything like his best, he has to go close.

16.15 7f Maiden

Cathedral: He is a half-brother to Montparnasse who was a good staying handicapper for us but she is by Invincible Spirit and hopefully this trip will be fine for him first time out. He is going to be better as he gains experience but hopefully he will show enough to think he can win races in the autumn.

Newmarket

13.45 1m Maiden

Loved By All/Seaside Escape: Loved By All is a progressive filly who I am gradually stepping up in class. Whether she will be quite good enough here remains to be seen but she is a very big, gangly filly who has taken time to learn what it was all about. She should continue to improve.
Seaside Escape is a lovely Bernadini filly who ran respectably on her debut last month. She should improve for that but she will need to if she is to win here.

14.20 6f Sales

Symphony Time: She has improved with each of her three runs and was due to run last week but we decided to come here as the prize money is so good. If she ran well and finished in the first six I would be very pleased.

14.55 7f Sales

Mehdi/Charley's Mount: Mehdi has already won a valuable pot and I think you can ignore his last run at Doncaster - he got behind early and didn't seem to enjoy it. This is a hot race but if he reproduces either his homework, or the form he showed when he won on the July course, he has to have an each-way chance.

Charley's Mount is a nice horse for the future but this will probably prove too competitive for him - if he could pick up some prize money then it would be a bonus.
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Brian also runs Theyskens' Theory in the US on Saturday Night (Belmont Park, 22:18). Click HERE to see what he had to say about her chance, and to find out how you could win a trip to the Breeders' Cup.

Michael Bell is tentative about his runners' chances on Saturday but could they surprise him?...

Brian Meehan's Theyskens' Theory, sixth in last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, returns to the US on Saturday night for the Garden City Stakes at Belmont Park (due off 22:18 BST). Here's what he had to say about her......

Michael Bell's globetrotting gelding Wigmore Hall goes in search of his first Grade 1 success in the Northern Dancer Turf Stakes at Woodbine on Sunday night (due off 21:34). Here's what Michael had to say about his chance.....

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Weekend Racing: Brian Meehan's runners at Haydock and Newmarket

Trainer Talk / Brian Meehan / 27 May 2011 / Leave a Comment

Will you back Brian's runners at Newmarket (above)?

"The trip and track should be in Murbeh's favour and I am hopeful that he will run a big race."

Brian Meehan provides the lowdown on his weekend runners as they bid for glory at HQ and Haydock...

Newmarket, Saturday

14.20, 1m Handicap

Quadrant: He only just got back up to win at Newbury last time but he has improved since then. He is developing mentally all the time and with this step back up to 1m looking sure to suit, I am hopeful he will win again.

16.35, 6f Maiden

All Nighter/Sandbetweenourtoes: All Nighter looks to have a very good chance. His debut run at Newbury has already thrown up a couple of subsequent winners and he will have learned a lot there. It's a Newmarket maiden so you never know what you might be up against but he would look to have a very solid chance.

Sandbetweenourtoes is a well-bred colt but like most of mine, he will probably need this first run.

17.10, 1m Maiden

Guisho: He ran a nice race on his debut but he had to have some time off as he was still growing physically. He has done very well from two to three, but I just feel he might need this reappearance.

Haydock, Saturday

14.35 6f Listed

Murbeh: He goes in the Listed race and he should be sharper for his reappearance at Ascot. The trip and track should be in his favour and I am hopeful that he will run a big race.

15.35 7f Group 3

Inler: He was very disappointing in the Duke Of York Stakes last time but he had plenty of use made of him and we will be trying different tactics here. He was held up when he won at Doncaster last season and hopefully Jamie Spencer will be able to deliver him late this time.

16.10 7f Handicap

El Muqbil: He needed his reappearance in a Newbury handicap and he came back a bit stiff afterwards. He has been working well since though and I still think he is on a good mark. I would be confident he would do a good deal better here.

16.45 5f Maiden

Shumoos: This is a very classy filly and although mine usually need a run, it wouldn't surprise me at all if she were to make a winning debut. She will learn from this, but she is one to keep on the right side of.

To back Brian Meehan's horses in a combination of Multiples click here

Michael Bell has a trio of horses in action this weekend at Haydock and HQ. Here he discusses their chances......

A quintet of potential winners are sent out by Brian Meehan at Goodwood and Lingfield on Saturday - but which of the five have the best chance of landing the money? Read on......

Michael has a number of contenders running on Saturday including a trio of strong hopes - find out who they are here...

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Brian Meehan's Thursday Runners

Trainer Talk / Brian Meehan / 12 May 2011 / Leave a Comment

Brian has assessed the respective chances of his different runners today and is expecting a big run from Greensward if the going suits him

"If it was just on the fast side of good he (Greensawrd) would be ok – in fact that would be perfect – and I’m hopeful of another big run. He still looks on a good mark."

He's got five runners at Newmarket today and one at York. Here's what Brian Meehan makes of their respective chances.

York, Thursday

14.00

Field Day: This has always been the early-season plan for her and it's a bit of a shame that it's such a tough race. I thought she would need her reappearance and that was the case - she has come on for it. She was good enough to be fourth in a Group 1 as a 3-y-o and although she's currently a [36.0] shot on Betfair, I think she has each-way claims. It's a strong renewal though.

Newmarket, Thursday

18.15

Finley Connolly/Hiding In The Open: As with all our 2-y-o's, they are both sure to come on for this. I would think Finley Connolly was the more forward of the pair and might have a place shout, but they're longer-term prospects.

19.25

Muqtarrib: He will definitely come on for this first run of the season but he looks to have got his act together over the winter and he did run a nice race on his debut last September. This might not be a bad race though and he will improve for it.

20.00

Greensward: He has been working really well at home and he looked a progressive handicapper in 2010. I expect him to improve further this year and my only concern would be if the ground were too quick today. If it was just on the fast side of good he would be ok - in fact that would be perfect - and I'm hopeful of another big run. He still looks on a good mark.

20.30

Onyx Of Arabia: He's a bit of a thinker so I was absolutely delighted with his second at Haydock last weekend. The winner looked a handicap blot and so to chase him home was no disgrace. He's obviously on a competitive mark but my concern is the prospect of fast ground - he wouldn't run if it was too quick. We took him to Haydock because there was the chance of rain and that was perfect for him but I wouldn't want to risk him on proper good to firm.

It's day two of the Dante Festival and Michael Bell sends out a trio of runners. Read his thoughts on them here...

The Flat season is in full swing now with a host of good racing across the country. Our two star columnists saddle a number of runners and you can read their exclusive thoughts here....

Read the thoughts of Michael Bell on the chances of his horses at Newmarket, Goodwood, Thirsk and Sha Tin....

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Brian Meehan and Michael Bell on their Ascot, Haydock, Nottingham and Warwick runners

Trainer Talk / Paul Smith / 07 May 2011 / Leave a Comment

Can Michael Bell's Horseradish land a seventh win? Will you be on if he does?

"I don’t think the ground will be a problem for Ballesteros - he has gone nicely on the grass at home on the few times we have tried him. I think he is one to follow."

The Flat season is in full swing now with a host of good racing across the country. Our two star columnists saddle a number of runners and you can read their exclusive thoughts here.

Brian Meehan
Ascot, Saturday
14:50 1m Handicap
Bea Remembered: She has her first run for us and she is a nice filly who has been working well in the spring. Like most of ours, she should come on for the run and the handicapper doesn't look to have taken any chances with a mark of 95. This should give us a better idea of what we can expect going forward.

15:25, 7f Handicap
Manassas: He's a really solid handicapper who loves these big park courses. He isn't a big horse, but he does seem to enjoy galloping tracks. He has dropped down the weights a bit and usually gives his running in these races - there is a theory that he is best fresh but I am not sure about that. He had a few problems as a young horse but he is over them now and is a lot more durable.

16:00, 5f Maiden
St Barths: He's a nice horse but it is no secret that most of our 2yos improve for a run and I don't think he will be any exception. Whatever he does here, it will be once he is upped to 6f, or even 7f, that he will show us what he can do.

Haydock, Saturday
14:30, 6f Maiden
Ballesteros: This is a very nice colt who has shown up very well on the gallops. He's a sharp type and even allowing for the fact that most of ours need a run, I would think he had to go well here. He's by Tomba but I don't think the ground will be a problem - he has gone nicely on the grass at home on the few times we have tried him. I think he is one to follow.

17:20, 1m2f Handicap
Onyx Of Arabia: He is one who I would want some rain for. They have had a bit of rain and more is forecast, but he definitely doesn't want it too quick. He is a bit of a character and you never quite know what to expect - it depends on his mood.

Nottingham, Saturday
15:30, 6f Listed
Mortitia: I thought she ran a nice race in the Fred Darling on her reappearance and that run should bring her on. We are trying to pick up some Black Type for her and I would think she would give a good account. The drop in trip shouldn't be a problem - this looked like being a weaker event than the 7f Group 3 at Lingfield - and I would be hopeful that she could finish in the frame.

Warwick, Saturday

19:15, 1m2f Maiden
Mia Madonna: I am looking forward to her returning to action and she looks to have a cracking chance here. She was disappointing when she ran at Pontefract last autumn but her earlier form was pretty good and this step up in trip will suit (she is by Motivator). It doesn't look the strongest maiden and she has plenty in her favour.

Michael Bell
Ascot, Saturday
15:25 7f Handicap
Horseradish: He is in very good form ahead of the Victoria Cup and I couldn't be more pleased with his preparation. He has been trained for the race ever since he won at Doncaster at the end of last year and I think a mark of 100 is still within his range.
It probably isn't ideal being drawn on an extreme wing but saying that, I feel that the ground is sometimes better on that part of the track. He is equally effective at 6f or 7f and everything looks in place for a big run.

Warwick, Saturday
19:45, 7f Handicap
Freckenham: She is ideally suited by a turning track and relishes fast ground, so conditions should suit her well. I was a bit frustrated that the handicapper put her up 4lb for winning an ordinary maiden but she has bits of form that give her a chance and the extra furlong shouldn't be a problem around here.

Read the thoughts of Michael Bell on the chances of his horses at Newmarket, Goodwood, Thirsk and Sha Tin....

In his first-ever column on betting.betfair Brian talks us through the merits of his weekend runners at Newmarket and Salisbury....

The St Leger meeting at Doncaster takes centre stage this week and we caught up with Richard Fahey and Michael Jarvis, both of whom have some leading contenders on show....

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