Tag: Hayley Turner

Lingfield Friday Preview

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The winter weather has returned to the UK this week and Friday’s Chepstow card faces a 7.30am inspection to see if racing can go ahead. There are no problems at the all-weather track at Lingfield So I’ve picked out a couple of horses that could provide us with some stake money for the weekend.

My first selection is Singular Quest in the maiden race at 2.00. The colt is a son of Dalakhani out of a mare by Singspiel so is entitled to be useful. He is trained by Ralph Beckett who certainly knows the time of day at these all-weather meetings and will be ridden by Hayley Turner.

Singular Quest ran green on his debut here over a mile but was noted running on into fifth place behind Awesome Power. He was stepped up to ten furlongs last time and was tucked in on the rail for much of the race. His jockey found himself shuffled back when the leaders quickened approaching the home turn and had to switch to the outside, eventually finishing strongly to take second.

The race was won by Monein who has since gone in again in the blue of Godolphin. The biggest danger may come from Sheikh Mohammed’s outfit again here with Prussian Blue and Sparring in opposition. The latter shaped well at Wolverhampton on his debut while Mark Johnston’s Champagne Ransom could also improve for her debut at the same track.

Following handicap “good things” is often regarded as the quick way to the poor house but it is difficult to argue with the claims of Le Rouquin in the 3.45 race. The gelding was very impressive when beating Courier by six lengths at Kempton last week and turns out again quickly under a 6lbs penalty. Michael Bell will obviously be anticipating a much stiffer penalty once the horse has been reassessed. He had been tried in a visor previously but the headgear was left off last time and he could be named the winner with a quarter of a mile to race.

The big danger is course winner Vejovis, a son of Fastnet Rock trained by Sir Mark Prescott. The cigar-smoking Newmarket handler is a dab hand at running up a sequence with his handicappers and it would be no surprise to see this one improve again. He was less impressive when winning over seven furlongs by two and three-quarter lengths but you never know how much jockey Luke Morris has up his sleeve.

Singular Quest 2.00 Lingfield @6-4 Betfair

Le Rouquin 3.45 Lingfield @2-1 Bet365

Newmarket Saturday Preview

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The Cesarewitch day card at Newmarket looks like being a thorough test of stamina for punters as well as the horses! As well as the 32-runner marathon, the seven-race card also features a 24-runner mile and a half handicap.

We have previewed the Cesarewitch separately and are hoping for a run for our money from Suegioo and Rhombus. The preceding race is just as taxing to work out with all sorts of interwoven form lines. I am hoping that I have unearthed a well weighted horse in Andrew Balding’s Nabatean.

The son of Rock Of Gibraltar was having only his fourth start when staying on into fourth behind Battersea at Ascot in July. He had previously got off the mark in a Lingfield maiden and was given a lot to do by David Probert, moving up from last place approaching the home turn. He has a lengthy absence to overcome but is 16lbs better off with the winner for four and a half lengths. That ought to give him a decent chance and Hayley Turner has landed the ride with just 8st 1lb to carry.

I have plenty of respect for Luca Cumani’s Connecticut who looked set to complete a four-timer at York before finding the mile and three-quarters just beyond him. He is well worth an each-way bet in a wide open contest.

The same colours are carried by stable mate Bartholomew Fair on the Group 3 Autumn Stakes at 2.05. He beat an ordinary field at Yarmouth easily last time but I think this race could produce a shock with both Future Empire and Order Of St George looking suspect. Future Empire was just beaten at Sandown in the Solario Stakes but a good sized horse blanket would have covered the first four home.

Order Of St George looks a very edgy type, although he did win his maiden by a street. I think Hail Clodius could also be under-rated. He thrashed Fieldsman here last time out and that horse has won twice since.

Each-way betting could also be the order of the day in the Listed race at 2.40 with nineteen fillies and mares going to post. I am reluctant to pass over Blue Waltz after she bolted up at Doncaster last time but she still has to improve to win this and better value may be found with This Is The Day. She won only a modest Brighton handicap before defying a big hike in the weights at Haydock and she could surprise a few here. Albasharah is probably the form horse if she repeats her excellent run at Yarmouth when second to Hadaatha. The winner was only beaten half a length in a Group 1 at Longchamp last weekend.

Bartholomew Fair 2.05 (e/w) @9-1 Bet365

Hail Clodius (e/w) 2.05 @20-1 Paddy Power non-runner

Albasharah 2.40 @11-2 William Hill

This Is The Day (e/w) 2.40 @18-1 Bet Victor

Connecticut (e/w) 3.10  @10-1 Skybet

Nabatean (e/w) 3.10 @12-1 Paddy Power

Suegioo (e/w) 3.50 @18-1 Paddy Power

Rhombus (e/w) 3.50 @25-1 Coral

York Friday Preview

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York stages a seven-race card on Friday with the going now officially soft after the midweek rain. There is a real end of season feel to the flat racing now with large fields as trainers try to get a run out of their horses before the winter sets in.

Acolyte looks as though he has the potential to be more than a 78 rated horse in the opening nursery for Roger Charlton. He finished third to the Group 2 winner Elm Park on his debut at Newbury before winning nicely at Kempton and he looks weighted to get us off to a winning start in the 2.00. The danger may come from The Wispe who was given a typically patient ride by Graham Lee last time out and sneaks in a the foot of the handicap.

The second race is a real cavalry charge with twenty runners over five furlongs. Bogart should go close under Amy Ryan after his excellent run at Ayr but I am siding with Long Awaited for David Barron. His “long suffering” supporters have been waiting for him to land a big sprint for some time but the omens were good at Haydock last time out when he stayed on well into fourth place and the yard are firing on all cylinders.

GM Hopkins looks very progressive for John Gosden and bids to defy a 9lbs rise in the weights in the featured mile handicap at 3.00. The horse was very impressive in a much tougher race at Newmarket last time out and will handle the soft ground without any problem. He certainly looks the least exposed in this field and can make it four wins on the bounce.

Kings Bayonet has been a good servant to the Alan King stable in the familiar Ponsonby colours and can land the 4.05 race under Hayley Turner. He was forced to switch around horses last time when a close fourth at Haydock and he is not the quickest animal in training. The danger is probably Emerahldz for Richard Fahey who has been very consistent all season.

Finally, Shouranour can provide the in-form David O’Meara with another winner in the closing apprentice handicap at 5.10. He got off the mark in fine style at Ayr last time over a mile but was pulling a cart with a furlong to travel and the drop back in trip won’t trouble him. The 9lbs rise in the handicap is more of a concern but he looks the pick of four runners in the race for the local trainer.

Acolyte 2.00 @7-2 Betfair

Long Awaited 2.30 @12-1 Bet365

GM Hopkins 3.00 @5-2 Ladbrokes

Kings Bayonet 4.05 @8-1 Ladbrokes

Shouranour 5.10 @13-2 BetVictor

Kempton Thursday Preview

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The end of the flat turf season is rapidly approaching but there is still plenty of decent quality action on the all-weather at Kempton this week.

Thursday’s eight-race card includes some interesting handicaps that are worth having a close look at. Nurseries are notoriously difficult to unscramble but I like the look of Dark Wave in the 6.15 for Ed Walker.

He showed very little in his first three starts but was given a peach of a ride by Graham Lee to win at Redcar when stepped up to a mile last time out. He weaved his way through horses and only needed to push his mount out to win by a length and three-quarters. He has a 6lbs penalty but must go well if he adapts to this surface.

There are many dangers including the top weight Dutch Portrait who was not far behind the progressive Rosalie Bonheur at Salisbury last time. Prince Of Paris is another improver who looked slightly unlucky when beaten under top weight here last time.

Moonfaarid is making his handicap debut for Mick de Kock in the 6.45 and could get off the mark against some modest opposition. He and Zain Empire are the least exposed in the field and he may just have needed the run when beaten here last time. He moved up menacingly to make his challenge turning for home but his effort petered out behind The Steward.

The winner is strongly fancied to follow up for Sir Mark Prescott in the following race at 7.15.  He looked beaten early in the straight but rallied strongly. If Moonfaarid goes well in the 6.45, The Steward could look very well handicapped. Prescott’s team are just hitting form with several winners in the past couple of weeks. The danger may well be Barnmore who is a regular fixture at this meeting and won well last time out.

My final bet of the day is on the top weight Peace Accord in the closing race at 9.15. I had intended supporting Aragosta for James Fanshawe and Hayley Turner after their unlucky defeat at Wolverhampton last time. I am just swayed by the fact that Peace Accord is going back up to seven furlongs after finding six too sharp at Pontefract. He was just too far out of his ground that day to complete his four-timer but should be more at home over this trip.

Dark Wave 6.15 @11-1 BetVictor

Moonfaarid 6.45 @6-1 Bet365

The Steward 7.15 @85-40 BetVictor

Peace Accord 9.15 @4-1 Betfair

Racing Preview Saturday 4th May

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Saturday’s feature race is the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket but there are plenty of other races worthy of study. In truth, the rest of Newmarket’s card is a little disappointing. I am often surprised at the poor turnout for Group races in this country and the Jockey Club Stakes (Group 2) is a case in point. Just four runners for a £100,000 race preceding the first classic of the season? I know that the authorities do their best with the re-opening of races but I wouldn’t be surprised to see a bit of a change to the programme next year.

The opening race is an interesting handicap and the betting is likely to revolve around Rye House, trained by Sir Michael Stoute. He doesn’t keep them in training at four unless they are likely to pay their way and the lightly raced son of Dansili starts the season on a fair handicap mark. The Palace House Stakes is typically competitive and I’m a big fan of Spirit Quartz, trained by Robert Cowell. He won well enough at Nottingham first time out and is surely destined for a big sprint victory this season. I would have been more confident but for being drawn 15 tomorrow but he looks worth supporting at 13-2.

In the 4.25 I’ve got to side with Fils Anges who got no run at all when a beaten favourite last time out. Michael Bell’s grey colt was gaining with every stride but the post came too soon in the Nottingham race won by Mayfield Girl. The form of the race may not be anything special but the extra furlong will help and Hayley Turner can guide him to victory. Mark Johnston runs Windhoek quite quickly after winning a valuable sales race here last month. That looked a better class of race than he faces tomorrow and it will be disappointing if he cannot remain unbeaten.

Away from Newmarket there are one or two horses worth noting for the season ahead. William Haggas is sending Sentaril to Goodwood to start her campaign. She looked a smart filly last season but never quite fulfilled the promise of her great run in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot. She won over a mile on the all-weather without really having the run of the race and can confirm the placings with runner-up Burke’s Rock on the way to better things.

Sir Michael Stoute runs another useful sort in Enrol in the sprint handicap at Doncaster tomorrow evening. The lightly-raced daughter of Pivotal won two of her four starts as a three-year-old and is difficult to assess on that form. Cheveley Park will be hoping she can step up from handicaps to listed class later in the season and she will be a popular choice here. There is also a good quality card at Thirsk featuring the Thirsk Hunt Cup. David O’Meara’s stable continue to churn out the winners and he is well represented throughout the meeting. However, the draw has not been kind to his horses and course regular Dubai Dynamo could represent each-way value.

Rye House 2.05 Newmarket 7-1 Paddy Power
Spirit Quartz 2.35 Newmarket 13-2 Paddy Power
Fils Anges (NAP) 4.25 Newmarket 8-1 Paddy Power
Windhoek 5.00 Newmarket 11-8 Bet365
Sentaril (NB) 4.05 Goodwood 11-4 Bet Victor
Dubai Dynamo 4.35 Thirsk 16-1 Bet365
Enrol 6.45 Doncaster 3-1 Bet365