Tag: Frankie Dettori

Lingfield Saturday Preview

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The Derby and Oaks trials are coming thick and fast at present and Lingfield is the venue for tomorrow’s classic pointers.

The Derby Trial at 2.55 has attracted just five runners with John Gosden’s Christophermarlowe odds-on favourite. The son of Tapit won the Blue Riband Trial at Epsom by four lengths from Future Empire but that horse was left trailing at Chester this week. He was more workmanlike than scintillating that day and Frankie Dettori is likely to make a long run for home on this long striding colt.

Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore won the Chester Vase with Hans Holbein and are represented here by Kilimanjaro, a colt by High Chaparral out of a Dalakhani mare. He looked very ordinary on his first two starts at Gowran but was an easy winner at Dundalk in April. He was fitted with a hood for the first time there and the grey is currently 50-1 for Epsom. Christophermarlowe is well ahead on official ratings and can provide Dettori with another big race winner.

Whatever the fate of Kilimanjaro, O’Brien and Moore will probably collect in the Oaks Trial at 2.20 with Wedding Vow. She has been beaten by smart fillies in her last two races. She failed by half a length to hold Zannda at Leopardstown and was then second to subsequent 1000 Guineas winner Legatissimo at Gowran Park. She is a beautifully-bred daughter of Galileo and nothing in this field has comparable form.

There are some more classy fillies on show in the Chartwell Fillies’ Stakes at 4.05, a Group 3 race over seven furlongs. Lightning Thunder was runner-up in both the English and Irish Guineas last season for Olly Stevens but was a beaten favourite at Royal Ascot and Haydock. It is hard to explain her poor performances there but a lengthy break may have sweetened her up.

Kiyoshi is very smart on her day and Oisin Murphy rides her for Charles Hills while Al Thakhira is another with top class form in the book. The race will also provide some clues as to where the three-year-olds stand against their elders. New Providence ran a cracking race when just touched off in the Nell Gwyn at Newmarket and has Ryan Moore in the saddle on Saturday.

Wedding Vow 2.20 @5-6 Paddy Power

Christophermarlowe 2.55 @4-7 Bet365

Lightning Thunder 4.05 @7-2 Betfair

Horse Racing Preview – April 23rd

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The horse racing action moves on to Beverley and Bath on Thursday with the unusually dry weather already having an impact on the ground. The going is good to firm on the Yorkshire track, good in places, but firm at Bath.

Hopefully there won’t be too many non-runners and the cards will hold up pretty well overnight. The 2.30 at Beverley is a competitive three-year-old handicap over seven furlongs and it may be worth taking a chance on Keith Dalgleish’s Go Dan Go. He is yet to score in five attempts but did little wrong when chasing home Second Wave at Redcar last time. The Godolphin-owned winner could turn out to be quite useful and Go Dan Go is worth another chance at this level.

Sir Michael Stoute got one on the board at Newbury at the weekend with Arab Spring in the John Porter Stakes. He saddles an interesting runner in Pleiades in the 3.00 race with Graham Lee on board. The son of Galileo looked a bit weak as a juvenile but Lee made all on him to win over course and distance in September. Graham Gibbons is in the saddle on Thursday and a mark of 84 may prove to be lenient.

Over at Bath, Roger Charlton saddles Master Zephyr in the 6.55 race with William Twiston-Davies in the saddle. He was unplaced in decent maiden races at Sandown and Newbury last season but ran out a good winner when dropped in grade at Wolverhampton in October. Although he had only a neck to spare over Romance Story, he was staying on powerfully at the finish and this race looks a fairly gentle introduction.

Austin Friars is an all-weather winner for Godolphin and the majority of those have struggled when switched to the turf. Triple Dip cannot be supported with any confidence after being beaten at the odds of 1-20 last time out so Master Zephyr gets the vote.

The runners in the maiden at 7.25 are not the quickest on four legs but Crisscrossed, Honourable Action and Ya Hade Ye Delil have all shown signs of ability. Frankie Dettori has made a great start to the season and I’m hoping to see him try forcing tactics on Ye Hade Ye Delil who has looked very one-paced in his previous races.

In the closing handicap, Akavit can defy a further 5lbs rise for Ed de Giles. He was in front a long way from home last time and Lorelei may have been flattered by her proximity at the line.

Go Dan Go 2.30 Beverley @9-2 Paddy Power

Pleiades 3.00 Beverley @9-4 Coral

Master Zephyr 6.55 Bath @9-4 Bet365

Ya Hade Ye Delil 7.25 Bath @9-4 Bet365

Akavit 7.55 Bath @2-1 Bet365

Kempton Park Saturday Preview

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After the excitement of the All-Weather Championships at Lingfield, the flat racing action moves to Kempton on Saturday.

There are some decent handicappers in action in the 2.15 with the weights headed by Outback Traveller. Jeremy Noseda’s four-year-old has gone up 12lbs since beating a decent field by seven lengths at Ascot last autumn. That was by far his best run of the season and it will be interesting to see how he fares off this new mark.

Ninjago was runner-up in the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood last season but disappointed in Dubai this winter. He wore blinkers for the first time when winning over course and distance last time but the one I like here is Speculative Bid, trained by David Elsworth.

He has gone up 8lbs for a very impressive course and distance victory under Jamie Spencer. He missed the break but threaded his way through the field on the bridle and was only pushed out to score easily.

Queen Catrine was very frustrating last season after her brilliant run at Royal Ascot in June. She came from last place to force a photograph in the Sandringham Handicap but the verdict went to Muteela. She did not reproduce that form in three subsequent outings and is yet to add to her maiden victory at Ayr in 2013.

Wee Jean was just behind her that day and ran well again at Sandown next time before losing her form. Victoria Regina has run a couple of nice races in Dubai but I prefer to side with Lady Dutch, a comfortable winner here last time. Marco Botti does well with his imports and she looks capable of following up.

Frankie Dettori and John Gosden team up in the 3.25 with the lightly-raced Made With Love. He nearly made all on his debut last season at Newmarket and was surprisingly beaten at odds-on next time. Gosden gave the colt a lengthy break and he duly obliged in a moderate maiden over course and distance.

The Newmarket trainer does not tend to keep that many older horses in training unless they are likely to be top class handicappers or better. All of his rivals on Saturday are thoroughly exposed and it will be disappointing if he cannot kick off the new campaign with a win off a mark of 90.

Speculative Bid 2.15 @4-1 Ladbrokes

Lady Dutch 2.50 @7-2 BetVictor

Made With Love 3.25 @2-1 William Hill

Arc de Triomphe Preview

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The Group 1 Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp is the big International race this weekend with a field of 20 set to go to post.

Many of the big names are missing including Derby winner Australia but there is a string of classic winners and Group 1 performers lining up. Taghrooda is almost favourite by default and there is a feeling that she may have peaked in mid-summer with her convincing King George win. That followed a comfortable success in the Epsom Oaks but she wasn’t her usual self when beaten by Tapestry in the Yorkshire Oaks.

Gosden will be hoping that the forecast for good ground is correct as the going has often turned soft at Longchamp in recent Arcs. That wouldn’t suit Taghrooda who has shown all of her form on good ground.

Prix Niel winner Ectot seems to be carrying plenty of confidence after winning on his first start for five months. If you are on at 50-1 that’s great but I wouldn’t be tempted at a miserly 6-1. I like French Oaks winner Avenir Certain who was an easy winner at Deauville last time out but this will be her first race at a mile and a half. Her dam did not really stay beyond seven furlongs and that just puts me off, especially if she is to be held up in such a big field.

I can’t have Treve at any price after a couple of mulish performances and I don’t believe that Ruler Of The World is any better than last year when seventh in the Arc de Triomphe. Frankie Dettori had things his own way in the Trial but this looks a lot tougher.

Surprisingly, the Japanese are yet to win this race but they have three fancied runners. I’m going to side with two of them. Just A Way was breath-taking when winning at Dubai in the spring and has had one warm-up race over a mile in soft ground. Connections admit that he is at his best over a mile and a quarter but he would certainly have stayed another couple of furlongs at Meydan.

Harp Star beat Gold Ship last time out and should defeat the grey again here. She was runner-up in the Japanese Oaks in May when she was given a ridiculous amount of ground to make up in the straight. I am worried about the tactics with her but hopefully they will keep her closer to the pace. The draw is always fascinating for the Arc and that could change the picture but I’m siding with the Japanese duo at the current prices.

Just A Way @7-1 Bet365

Harp Star @8-1 Bet365

Each-way ¼ odds, 1,2,3 (non-runner no bet applies)

Shergar Cup 2014 Preview

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The Shergar Cup has survived a surprisingly long time. It was first contested in 1999 at Goodwood and move to Ascot the following year where it has remained. Whilst the idea of attracting jockeys from around the world may have had a novelty appeal back then, it is hardly a factor these days. That being said, it does fill a bit of a void in the racing calendar between Goodwood and York.

I’ve studied the form of the six races and come up with some selections that will hopefully bring us a return. On first glance, Olivier Peslier and Frankie Dettori seem to have benefitted most from the draw and should be among the winners. That should mean back-to-back victories for Europe if you’re contemplating betting on that particular market.

The opening “Dash” looks particularly tricky with Goldream the logical form choice. If the weather is the same down south as it is up here in Scotland, there should be some ease by tomorrow and that could change the complexion of the race. Peslier’s mount, Move In Time, handles softer ground and is my tentative selection.

The Frenchman is aboard Hassle in the Stayers race at 1.30 and this one ran well, although no match for Maid In Rio last time. He doesn’t find a lot off the bridle so could still be handicapped to go well and any overnight rain won’t bother him.

Dettori can claim the next aboard Grandorio who ran well at York, just going down in a three-way photo. He raced wide of his rivals and can be considered a little unlucky. Communicator should also run well for Europe but may find this trip on the sharp side.

Magic City ran a stormer in the Betfred Mile at Goodwood and would have won in another few strides. He is something of a Goodwood specialist but there seems no reason why he cannot perform well here and he is just preferred to Dark Emerald.

Dettori will fancy his chances on top weight Wrangler in the next. He was not quite as impressive as I’d expected at Haydock last time and he needs the rain to arrive. Trip To Paris won well here last time and I shall take a chance on his South African pilot doing the steering. The last race is Europe’s weakest link and I think this could go to the ROTW skipper Craig Williams aboard Remember. It’s a close call between that one and Golden Steps on Newmarket form.

Tips

Move In Time 12.55 at 11-2 Bet365

Hassle 1.30 at 5-1 Bet365

Grandorio 2.05 at 6-1 Coral

Magic City 2.40 at 4-1 Coral

Trip To Paris 3.15 at 6-1 Stan James

Remember 3.50 at 7-1 Ladbrokes

Specials

Europe to win @2-1 Betfair

Top jockey Olivier Peslier @6-1 BetVictor

York Saturday Preview

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Winners may be hard to find at York on Saturday with some typically competitive racing. It is hardly the sort of meeting you want to see when you are looking for some extra pounds for Royal Ascot!

The good news is that one winner will probably cover your day’s betting and Fury can give us a good run for our money in the 2.40. The grey has been gradually coming down the handicap and now appears to be on a more reasonable mark.

He last ran at the Epsom Derby meeting when noted making late progress behind Sir Michael Stoute’s Abseil. He is a previous winner of the Listed Hambleton Stakes at York and should have everything in his favour on Saturday. Frankie Dettori takes the ride and he looks a good bet at around 5-1.

The 3.15 is a tricky little contest in which a case can be made for Lockwood, Fencing or Guest Of Honour. Lockwood did not really hit form until late summer last year but didn’t run badly at Haydock first time out. He has yet to win over a mile but there seems no reason why he won’t get it. Kieren Fallon did not cover himself in glory with his Derby and Oaks rides but can drive this one home ahead of the frustrating Fencing.

The six-furlong three-year-old handicap is the feature race and I make no apologies for picking two in this race! Ironically they are drawn 1 and 2 so I hope they can bounce out quickly and hold a good position.

Betimes is the John Gosden runner and he must hold her in high regard to have run her in the 1000 Guineas first time out. She got impeded soon after the start and was always too buzzy thereafter, weakening out of contention. She dropped back to six furlongs at Haydock and was restrained before running on late to finish second to Aeolus.

The other one I like is Charles Molson who got no run at all in a similarly competitive sprint at Newmarket. He finished full of running in fifth place and you’d have to give him an each-way chance here. Henry Candy is a fine trainer of sprinters and Fergus Sweeney can take advantage of his low draw.

Fury 2.40 York at 5-1 Coral

Lockwood 3.15 York at 7-2 Paddy Power

Charles Molson 3.50 York at 9-1 Bet365

Betimes 3.50 York at 11-1 BetVictor