All three race meetings in the UK were abandoned on Monday after Sunday night’s storms left the tracks waterlogged. Hopefully normal service will be resumed at Yarmouth on Tuesday where the going is currently reported soft and there are some competitive fields.
Blinkers used to be regarded as “the rogue’s badge” but these days it is just another aid that is rarely even commented upon outside of classic races. They can certainly transform an animal and that has never been better illustrated than by the astonishing performance of Firecruise at Pontefract last time out.
After two moderate runs he was pitched into a nursery handicap and first time blinkers were applied. The field went off like scalded cats despite the heavy ground and Robert Winston was content to sit towards the rear on Firecruise until the wide turn into the home straight. At this point Winston made a concerted effort to take the inside and his mount responded by charging through to lead with over two furlongs to travel.
I am sure that Winston could hardly believe it when he looked round for dangers only to see daylight. A second look inside the final furlong confirmed that he had the race sewn up and he came home six lengths clear. He turns out under a 6lbs penalty tomorrow. The obvious concern is that the blinkers are not so effective second time but he won with so much in hand it is worth taking that risk.
My second selection also sports blinkers having done so in both of his recent victories. Saigon City looked a bit of an awkward ride when winning here in July but then defied a 3lbs hike in the weights when winning at Nottingham. The in-form Andrea Atzeni was aboard on that occasion and things did not exactly go to plan. He missed the break and was denied a clear run up the straight but still managed to get back up on the line.
Experience tells me that we shouldn’t take a lot of notice of horses seemingly bolting after the winning line but he took off as if chasing the last bus home! There are some decent sorts in opposition, notably the lightly-raced Martian who could certainly be a big threat. I’ll stick with Saigon City to win again despite another 5lbs weights rise and hope that Luca Cumani can work his magic yet again with an improving handicapper.
Firecruise 2.40 Yarmouth 5-2 Ladbrokes
Saigon City 3.40 Yarmouth 11-2 Coral
