Tag: Garswood

Haydock Saturday 7th September Preview

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At the time of writing, it looks as though the rain is going to change the going to soft for Haydock’s big Saturday card and that spells danger for form students. After months of good to firm going across the country, the established form could count for little if the ground changes drastically.

One trainer who has already voiced his concern is Clive Cox, responsible for Sprint Cup favourite Lethal Force. To be fair, Lethal Force has raced on good to soft on five occasions and finished in the first two in four of those races. It is not so much a question of his not acting on it as much as how it improves the chances of some of his rivals.

I am a great fan of Garswood and have followed him with interest this season. I was surprised when Richard Fahey took the Guineas route with him as I always felt perhaps seven furlongs would be as far as he wanted to go. He was heavily backed at Goodwood on good to soft ground last time but still appeared to need every yard of the seven furlongs to come out on top. He won the Harry Rosebery Stakes in heavy ground last season so you would think the more rain the merrier for him.

Another horse that is sure to benefit from the rain is Gordon Lord Byron who has been racing over a mile. He was second here last season and, with Johnny Murtagh booked, it is hard to rule him out. Earlier in the week I recommended Heeraat at 25-1 and Hawkeyethenoo at 40-1 and both have stood their ground. The rain will help Hawkeyethenoo and I’m optimistic that he can run into a place. Garswood is still available at 6-1 and that could be a good price if the ground is deep.

The opening sprint over five furlongs features the veteran Harrison George who is going for a hat-trick with Natasha Eaton on board. She has ridden him in both of his recent victories and they seem to have bonded nicely. She’s not afraid to gee him up when he needs it and he’s won when the mud is flying. He’s got enough stamina to win over a mile so I may have to join the rain dance with Richard Fahey and co this evening!

Montiridge is starting to look like a class act and he was walking all over Tawhid before Richard Hughes let him take control at Goodwood last time. He has won on all types of surfaces and there seems no reason to desert him in the modestly-named Superior Mile.

Pallasator tops the weights and the betting on the Old Borough Cup. He is making his seasonal reappearance having missed the Ebor after a dirty scope, a race for which he had been well supported. It has been a while since Sir Mark Prescott has had a really smart horse on his hands but the vibes suggest there is a big handicap in this fellow. He has won over course and distance in heavy ground so the rain holds no fears for him. I just wonder if he may need the race to put him straight and prefer the claims of Poyle Thomas at twice the price. He battled hard to win at Newbury and, although not proven on the ground, his pedigree gives him every chance of acting on it.

Harrison George 8-1 William Hill

Montiridge 6-4 Totesport

Garswood 6-1 Ladbrokes

*Ante-post Hawkeyethenoo 40-1, Heeraat 25-1

Poyle Thomas 8-1 Bet365

Royal Ascot Day 2 Preview – Wednesday 19th June

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Well, what a cracking start to the Royal meeting! Nearly 30 points up thanks to War Command. It was nearly so much better with Aljamaaheer tipped at 33-1 and Gregorian (51-1) just collared by Declaration Of War.

I was also happy to see Mars (12-1) and Mubaraza (12-1) sneak into the frame. Once again I thought Mars was unlucky and he has got Coral Eclipse written all over him. I don’t like trying to guess the running plans of Aidan O’Brien but I’m going to break my own rule and take the 20-1 about him for that race. The picture will become clearer after the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes but that was some trial.

I can’t even remember the last time I backed a two-year-old Royal Ascot winner for the following year’s classics. But what can we make of War Command? Would I be talking through my pocket if I thought the 10-1 for the 2000 Guineas was a good bet? Probably! Even so, it’s worth re-investing a fraction of the winnings as I can’t see that price lasting long. He’s already half that price with Coral.

Our ante-post bets for day 2 rest on Prince Of Johanne at 20-1 in the Hunt Cup and Beldale Memory at 5-1 in the Queen Mary. Dance And Dance didn’t make the cut but we get refunded on him.

The card opens with the Jersey Stakes and Richard Fahey’s Garswood is fancied to win this. I tipped him for the Free Handicap but felt that the 2000 Guineas was flying a bit high as well as doubting his ability to stay a mile. This looks much more his cup of tea and two seconds for Fahey on day 1 offer plenty of encouragement.

In the same race, I like Music Master at a good each-way price. He ran a stormer to split Dundonnell and Baltic Knight at Newmarket and Henry Candy thinks a lot of him.

There are some really tough fillies in the second race with Chigun carrying the hopes of Lady Cecil. Tiger Cliff ran a great race in the Ascot Stakes but I doubt he would have beaten the winner even if he had been kept closer to the pace. It’s impossible to knock Dank or Thistle Bird and the raiders Duntle and Sarkyla make it interesting. The front three are going to be tough nuts to crack but I’m having each-way on Thistle Bird and Sarkiyla.

I haven’t entered the fray on the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes but I think The Fugue and Maxios could give the big two plenty to do tomorrow. Both can be backed at around 6-1 in the hope of arriving fast and late.

Prince Of Johanne should give us a run for our money in the Hunt Cup at 20-1. I am going to throw in Fury in first time blinkers at 16-1 as he is handicapped to win on his best form. As usual you can make out a case for most of them and I expect Trade Commissioner to run well as Gosden had some near-misses on day 1.

Beldale Memory must go well in the Queen Mary and I’m surprised she is still available at 9-2. Clive Brittain’s Rizeena is clearly above average and it would be nice to see the old boy back in the winner’s enclosure at the Royal meeting. At 7-1 she can offer good support to our main hope.

The closing handicap could go the way of French Guineas fourth Zurigha. Both French Guineas races were like a complete shambles but she ran through courageously to finish fourth. There is nothing with form to compare to that, other than possibly Waterway Run who was just behind in sixth, and she looks overpriced at 12-1. I’ll be kicking myself if Waterway Run beats her so I’ll have a saver on her at 22-1.

2.30
Garswood 5-1 Coral
Music Master 16-1 Bet365

3.05
Thistle Bird 8-1 Paddy Power
Sarkiyla 9-1 Bet Victor

3.45
The Fugue 6-1 Paddy Power
Maxios 6-1 Sportingbet

4.25
Ante-Post Prince Of Johanne 20-1
Fury 16-1 Ladbrokes

5.00
Ante-Post Beldale Memory 5-1
Rizeena 7-1 Bet365

5.35
Zurigha 12-1 Paddy Power

Waterway Run 22-1 Coral

Ante-Post
Mars 20-1 Coral Eclipse Betfair
War Command 10-1 2014 2000 Guineas

Newmarket 2000 Guineas Preview

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I am just back from a week away and have been catching up with the news. I thought that I had selected a pretty quiet week for a break but apparently not! The Godolphin doping scandal has rocked the racing world; most particularly Newmarket as it shudders at the thought of life after Sheikh Mohammed. Fortunately it seems that there is no immediate threat to his racing empire and Mahmood Al Zarooni has been hastily despatched back to Dubai on the back of an eight year ban. That all seemed to be dealt with rather too hastily and you can’t help but wonder what repercussions lie just around the corner.

It only seems like yesterday that we were trying (in vain) to work out the Grand National winner and here we are approaching the first classic of the new turf season! Godolphin may have lost the chance to run Certify in the 1000 Guineas but they still have the favourite for the first colt’s classic in Dawn Approach. He is trained in Ireland by Jim Bolger but there is no doubt that the Godolphin operation has been tainted by recent events and it would be ironic if they collect on Saturday. He was smart enough as a two-year-old but without a recent outing I am not remotely tempted by odds in the region of 11-8.

His victory in the Dewhurst Stakes was more workmanlike than spectacular and he briefly looked in trouble before responding to pressure to run down stable companion Leitir Mor. He was well on top at the finish but it did not look a vintage renewal. In third place that day was Aidan O’Brien’s George Vancouver who closed in to challenge before flattening out again in the last furlong. He has three and a half lengths to make up on Dawn Approach but put up a much improved effort to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf next time out. He was given a perfect ride by Ryan Moore that day, holding his position on the fence before being produced between horses in the short straight.

The chief market rival to the favourite is Richard Hannon’s Toronado. His front-running display in the Craven Stakes has seen his price collapse to 9-4 and you can understand why. Hannon rates him right up there with the best and he goes into the race fit and unbeaten. He also looks a straight forward ride and you would expect Richard Hughes to have him right up there from the outset. Whether or not 9-4 is great value is hard to say but he looks a major player.

Aidan O’Brien also runs Cristoforo Colombo and Mars with Joseph O’Brien preferring to ride the former. He looks tried and tested and the application of cheek pieces on Saturday does not inspire confidence. Mars is obviously a colt of enormous potential but seems well down the pecking order at Ballydoyle ahead of the first classic. I am a big fan of Garswood who did this column a favour when winning the Free Handicap in great style recently. Trainer Richard Fahey admitted that he had no idea whether or not he would stay the seven furlongs that day but he is apparently now full of hope that he will last the mile. As much as I like the colt, I must admit that it had occurred to me that he was a classic contender and I am slightly mystified by his price of 12-1.

Of the remainder, I like Moohajim but his run in the Greenham suggested that he will not stay a mile. He cruised into contention but found little under pressure behind Olympic Glory. He will presumably be held up to get the trip but it is difficult to be confident that he will do so. Toronado looks the most likely winner but I’m also going to recommend an each-way bet on George Vancouver at 16-1.

Toronado 9-4 William Hill
George Vancouver (each-way) 16-1 Paddy Power

European Free Handicap Preview

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Richard Fahey’s stable provided us with a nice winner on Saturday with Gabrial (the first leg of a 50-1 double for this column) and he can do us another good turn in Wednesday’s European Free Handicap with Garswood. Newmarket’s Craven meeting is traditionally the time to bring out the classic contenders, although many stables now prefer to go straight to the Guineas without a prep race. The Free Handicap. Mystiko was the last winner to go on to success in the Guineas back in 1991 and there is nothing of that class on show this year.

Top weight Anna’s Pearl holds a 2000 Guineas entry although he is yet to win a race in four starts. He finished his two-year-old campaign by finishing second in a Group 1 in France, a race that he nearly stole from the front in first time blinkers. He has to be respected on that form but is weighted accordingly. Richard Hannon usually has some three-year-olds ready for the Craven meeting and he runs July Stakes winner Alhebayeb. The grey looked all out to hold the fast finishing Lewisham that day and was well held in two subsequent starts. Jockey Paul Hanagan expressed the view that the colt would stay seven furlongs on better ground but it could still be on the soft side this week.

Heavy Metal and Chilworth Icon both finished behind Alhebayeb at Newmarket and both had plenty of racing at two. The pair fought out a thrilling finish at Epsom with the latter getting the verdict by a short-head. Heavy Metal was also denied in a photo-finish to the Gimcrack at York when beaten a head by Blaine. He looks a typically tough Mark Johnston runner but seven furlongs will be unknown territory. Chilworth Icon did win a Group 3 in Italy last season over six furlongs but both horses look well exposed and I prefer to look for something with more scope.

The horse that fits the bill is Garswood, winner of the Harry Rosebery Stakes at Ayr in September. That race was over five furlongs in heavy ground and he is unproven at seven furlongs but his style of racing gives cause for optimism. He was slowly away that day and found himself behind a wall of horses with two furlongs to run. Jockey Tony Hamilton had to steer him to the wide outside and he reeled the field in to win cleverly by three-quarters of a length.

He was again slowly into his stride when sent off a well-backed favourite for the Group 3 Cornwallis Stakes at Ascot in October. Although he was soon back on terms, he could not get to Bungle Inthejungle and was beaten a head with El Manati a fast-finishing third. Something was clearly amiss with the third horse on his next start when stopping to a walk at Leicester, a course where she had previously broken the course record. Bungle Inthejungle runs on Wednesday in the valuable sales race the precedes the Free Handicap and has a favourite’s chance.

All things considered, it makes Garswood an exciting prospect for the coming season. The trip is my only concern as he is by Dutch Art out of a Kyllachy mare. Dutch Art was useful up to seven furlongs and has already sired two good sorts in Caspar Netscher and classic hope Van Der Neer. Garswood runs in the same colours as last year’s July Cup winner Mayson and can take this on the way to better things.

Garswood 3.30 Newmarket (Wednesday)