Tag: Ertijaal

York Friday Preview

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Tapestry (advised at 12-1 yesterday) put Betcirca followers well ahead for the week following Dutch Connection (16-1) on the opening day of the York Ebor meeting.

Friday’s action gets under way with an impossible looking handicap over a mile and a half. Semeen is the likely favourite for the in-form Cumani stable but I’m slightly worried about the quicker ground for that one. The one I like here is Stomachion from the Sir Michael Stoute stable.

Ryan Moore produced another perfectly timed challenge on Tapestry yesterday but has not ridden his best races on Stomachion on his last two starts. He was well off the pace at Epsom and was never going to get to Miss Marjurie at the Derby meeting. He did well to run through into second place and it was surprising to see him dropped back in distance at Goodwood.

He was again held up at the back and never looked like getting into the race won by Sennockian Star. He could manage no better than eighth place but was less than six lengths away at the finish. He may also want a bit of give in the ground but I’m prepared to take a chance that he will perform better with a more positive ride on Friday.

The Lonsdale Cup is a bit of a quandary with question marks against several of the leading protagonists. Admirable though Cavalryman has been this season, he is too short in the betting and I’d rather support the lightly-raced Irish raider Pale Mimosa. She has a bit to find on her overall form but usually travels well in her races and could have a bit of improvement in her.

The City Of York Stakes looks wide open at 3.05 and I’m going to take a couple of each-way bets against the field here in Windfast and Ertijaal. Both look ideally suited by seven furlongs and the International Stakes and Yorkshire Oaks results suggested the three-year-olds are not such a bad crop. Ertijaal was not up to 2000 Guineas class but he is a decent performer while Windfast was a close fourth in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes should go to Sole Power who has his ideal trip and ground. Shea Shea is probably better over six furlongs these days and likely dangers are Rangali and Cougar Mountain. The closing handicap can go the way of Sir Michael Stoute with Munaaser. I don’t usually like backing horses that have gone up 12lbs but he won so easily at Newmarket he is difficult to oppose. Maverick Wave had to make his own running last time and could give him most to do.

Stomachion 1.55 York at 8-1 Paddy Power

Pale Mimosa 2.30 York at 7-2 Coral

Ertijaal 3.05 York (each-way) at 10-1 Bet365

Windfast 3.05 York (each-way) at 14-1 Stan James

Sole Power 3.40 York at 7-2 Paddy Power

Munaaser 4.55 York at 11-4 Betfair

Lingfield Friday Preview

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Lingfield stages the All-Weather Championships on Friday with a seven-race card offering excellent prize money. I am not a particular fan of the all-weather and I’m not convinced that this meeting with improve the level of competition. Dubai World Cup night it is not but you have to applaud them for trying.

At the last big meeting here we had hopes of a double with Grandeur and Ertijaal. Unfortunately the former let us down as Ryan Moore was unable to get cover from his wide draw. Both horses are back for more and have been treated much more kindly by the draw on this occasion.

Ertijaal has drawn four in the 3-year-old championship as he bids to follow up his course and distance victory over American Hope. The winning margin was only a head that day but it is worth remembering that he was drawn 13 and was having only the third run of his life. In the circumstances he did well to hang on under a determined drive from Paul Hanagan. Talk of a tilt at the 2000 Guineas seems to have been shelved and I see no reason to desert him here.

I am not quite sure what to make of Grandeur after his disappointing defeat last time. I had concerns, not just because of his being drawn in the car park but also the fact that he was fitted with cheek pieces for the first time. Ryan Moore felt that he had been lazy when hitting the front on his previous start but it is impossible to say whether they had any effect.

Robin Hoods Bay seized his opportunity to win well and Rebellious Guest continues to run well for George Margarson. John Gosden’s winning machine struck on the opening day of Newmarket with a double and he relies on Dick Doughtywylie. I’ll stick with Grandeur who should be able to settle nicely from stall 2.

Roger Charlton has faith in Captain Cat despite being edged out by Robin Hoods Bay last time. The five-year-old son of Dylan Thomas was on a few short-lists for the Lincoln at Doncaster but Charlton withdrew him due to the soft ground. He could be worth a bet in the mile race with his form working out nicely.

Perhaps the toughest race on the card is the Sprint with many old favourites joined in combat once again. I’m not convinced that Hawkeyethenoo is completely in love with this all-weather lark while Stepper Point goes beyond five furlongs for the first time. It may be worth taking a chance with Valbchek for the Noseda and Moore combination at the available odds.

Lingfield

2.55 Ertijaal

4.05 Valbchek at 7-1 Coral

4.40 Captain Cat at 6-1 Ladbrokes

5.20 Grandeur at 5-2 Bet365

Lingfield Saturday Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Earlier in the week we previewed the Winter Derby at Lingfield and put our faith in our old friend Grandeur. Typically, he was promptly drawn 14 of 14, the worst possible stall.

Jeremy Noseda’s admirable grey suffered a similar fate at the Arlington Million last year and was always struggling to get into the race. Ryan Moore has the task of navigating his way through the field. That, combined with his first-time cheek pieces, certainly leaves him vulnerable but he is clearly the best horse in the race on form.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see bookies pushing him out to 2-1, in which case he would represent some value. Statistics suggest that a double-figure draw isn’t the end of the world over this distance at Lingfield with three previous winners of the race overcoming a wide berth. I would hope Moore will settle him in midfield rather than drop in behind because it can get messy on the home turn at Lingfield.

The other race on the card that looks worth a look is the Spring Cup. I’m very surprised to see William Haggas running his smart three-year-old Ertijaal here. The colt ran twice as a juvenile, running into none other than Toormore on his debut. That colt ended the season as top-rated two-year-old so it was a fine run to get within a quarter of a length of him. The pair of them drew seven lengths clear at Leicester over six furlongs.

He then broke his maiden over the same distance at Yarmouth, cruising clear of Exceeder to win by six lengths with Paul Hanagan easing him down inside the final furlong. There was nothing special about the form but he could do no more than win easily. I’m not sure why he did not race again after that but the fact that he still holds entries in the English and Irish 2000 Guineas suggests that he is highly regarded.

They say that lightning doesn’t strike in the same place twice but he too has been shunted out into the widest possible stall. With his limited racing experience, it is more likely to be an obstacle for him than to Grandeur. He is also yet to race on a turning track so Paul Hanagan will need to get him organised early on. There are some decent types up against him but it will be disappointing if he doesn’t win this. We’ll try a double and hope that Moore and Hanagan are on top form.

Ertijaal 3.15 Lingfield at 7-4 Coral

Grandeur 3.50 Lingfield at 7-4 Coral

+ win double