Banjo Bay has not raced since December 2006

22nd July 2006
Banjo won at Lingfield tonight. He was in a six furlong handicap running off the lowest handicap mark (58) of his life. There were three other important ingredients to the win. The first a two month break since his last run. Banjo goes particularly well fresh, and tends to lose condition quickly. The second, tender handing, which the trainer made a point of mentioning after the race. The third is the trip, six furlongs, which makes best use of his speed/stamina abilities. It would not have hindered either that he had Adam Kirby aboard. A talented young rider who seems more aware, than any apprentice I can recall, of the tactics needed to get the best from each individual horse.

This horse is worth following after a break (two months plus) as he is usually a good starting price in these circumstances. He was 14/1 tonight, just as he was at Lingfield in March. Punters do not usually like betting on horses that have had a lengthy layoff. So if you can identify horses who go best fresh, not easy because you need a lot of form to confirm the characteristic, it is a very lucrative betting strategy. It takes patience, study and plenty of self confidence, to go against the herd, though.

22nd May
Banjo ran at Windsor last night. He was backed in from 7/1 to 4/1 joint favourite, which was bizarre. He had a good draw but the ground was soft, so he had no chance. The apprentice on board seemed to give him a very hard ride and I hope that will not leave its mark on him? It is certainly not the way to get the best out of him, quite the opposite. He finished fifth. A distant last of the group which raced down the favoured stand rail.

13th May
He ran a fairly typical race for him. Hampered out of the stalls, he was soon pulling hard making up the lost ground. He raced in touch with the leaders, moved up to front rank 3f out. Although the race commentor did not call him he was probably in the lead briefly 2f out but soon faded as his stamina ran out, finishing 7th in a big field, not beaten far.
If only the new trainer can get the right distance/going/track/tactics combination for him I think he can still win a handicap off his present mark. He won’t win at 7f on a straight track though. He needs 6f or at the very most 7f on a sharp turning track like Catterick, Thirsk, Musselburgh or Lingfield All Weather. Fast ground is also needed.

12th May
Banjo will run in the Lingfield race tomorrow. It will be fascinating to see how another trainer fares with him. Amateur races are often run at a breakneck pace because the riders can’t judge the pace accurately or hold the horses. If Banjo could get an easy lead down the stand rail he would be hard to catch.

10th May
He is also entered in a 7f Lady Amateur riders handicap at Lingfield on Saturday. Say what you like about Miss Kelleway she is shrewd and seems to have picked up on the fact that Banjo is a big softy who might go best for a gentle lady rider.

8th May
Banjo is entered at Nottingham on Friday. It will be interesting to see him run for another trainer.

7th May
It has been decided to let Banjo Bay go. This can be no surprise because he has been running in sellers and claimers. He is being sold to Newmarket trainer Miss Gay Kelleway to work as lead horse for Vortex, a 7f/8f Group horse, winner of the Criterion Stakes at Newmarket last year. No doubt we will see the old fellow on the racecourse from time to time, but in different colours.

5th May
Banjo ran OK at Redcar. He had no chance with CD Europe, who was the winner of a Group race at 2 and is still rated 80. He pulled hard early and should have been allowed to bowl along in front, but wasn’t. He hit the front briefly about 2 furlongs out. As the winner came passed and Petite Mac fought back he started to fade, beaten 2 1/2 lengths in fourth. He will win a seller or claimer soon, allowed to front run over 6 furlongs.

3rd May
Banjo runs in the 2.50 at Redcar tomorrow, Thursday. He is to be ridden by Kelly Harrison who is an inexperienced apprentice and, I think, works with Alex on the admin side at Dandy’s. She has ridden 6 winners. A gentle lady rider will suit Banjo, if my theory is right? However he will have to give weight away, because of his win in March. There were also some higher rated horses in the 5-day entries. The fast ground will be ideal but 7f on a straight track will test his stamina.

2nd May
He is not running at Nottingham, which is just as well.

28th April
Banjo does not run at Brighton but is entered in a 5f handicap at Nottingham on Wednesday, and a 7f Seller at Redcar on Thursday.

24th April
Banjo is entered in a 6f Seller at Brighton on Sunday.

22nd April
Banjo ran poorly at Wolverhampton. Having broken from the stalls OK he was soon in a nice position tracking the leaders apparently going well. But he did not pick up much coming into the straight. When Adrian put him under pressure he faded back into 9th.
Perhaps 5f is too sharp for him. What is clear to me, though, is that Adrian’s strong bustling style does not suit him. Banjo really needs the rider to sit still and allow him to take them into the race. Eight of the nine times Adrian has ridden, since Dandy got him, he has run poorly. The other time he cruised along in the front around Musselburgh’s tight turns and nearly held on.

The real story of this race though was Maktavish’s suspicious run having been heavily laid on Betfair to lose, both win and place. Maktavish fell out of the stalls and was a detached last through most of the race. The Jockey Club should investigate this running and I would not be surprised to hear more on the subject in the months ahead.

Here is Banjo before the race.


 

19th April
He is entered in a 5f Claimer at Wolverhampton on Saturday night. This would seem like a good choice, in the normal course of events. Unfortunately Maktavish is also entered. He has won two Claimers already this season and has an official handicap mark of 82.

17th April
Banjo ran well at Yarmouth finishing second beaten 3/4 length. He travelled best through the race, looked the likely winner when he went to the front approaching the final furlong, but was outstayed by Up Tempo. The jockey said he found less than he thought he would, but that is Banjo. He has a short effort off the bridle and the race has to be won before that, as at Lingfield, or probably better still he can front run and have the rest of the field off of the bridle. If he front runs he will be hard to beat in 6f claimers.





16th April
He runs in the claimer at 3pm tomorrow and must have a reasonable chance. He is tipped by the Racing Post and is quite likely to start first or second favourite. He is also entered in an Apprentice Handicap over 5f at Ripon on Thursday. That run depends on how he comes out of the Yarmouth race.

13th April
Entered in a 6f Claimer at Yarmouth on Easter Monday.

12th April
A cunning plan to run in a seller over 7f at Catterick was abandoned due to the soft ground, other stable entries and worries about getting the trip in the conditions. Really a v.sharp 7f on fast ground is his limit.