Tag: Horse Racing

Chester and Sandown Preview 31st August

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Chester racecourse has fond memories for me having been my local track many moons ago! Saturday’s card has attracted some decent animals with the feature race being the Chester Stakes at 3.30.

I fancied Sun Central for the Ebor until he was left on top of the handicap and then the going and draw turned against him. Not surprisingly William Haggas pulled him out (oh, the joys of ante-post betting!). He has been diverted here where the going is currently reported to be just on the soft side of good. That has to be a worry with 9st 13lb to carry.

Montaser seems to have lost his way this season and is another with a marked preference for fast ground whilst Handsome Man has always been a rule unto himself. Star Lahib is a typical Mark Johnston beast that runs week-in, week-out and continues to surprise. I thought she was a fortunate winner of a slowly run Old Newton Cup but she has since bolted up in the Shergar Cup and run well in the Galtres Stakes at York.

John Gosden’s Tempest Fugit is returning after a lengthy absence and almost all of his horses need a race to put them straight. Savanna La Mar put up a career-best effort when fourth at Newbury last time but looked very one-paced whilst Alta Lilea suffers from a similar lack of toe. By process of elimination that leaves the hugely disappointing Guarantee who ran his best race for some time in the Ebor. He was hampered in his run but stayed on perfectly well to finish a closing seventh and he could be value at 9-1.

Es Que Love turns out yet again in the seven-furlong handicap and is almost certain to be up at the head of affairs early on from stall two. I can see him running a big race here but Alejandro could just have his measure in receipt of a stone. His Goodwood run behind Magic City looks pretty useful after that won came out of the clouds to follow up last weekend.

I’ve got a lot of time for Newbury and Newmarket two-year-old races as horses that run well three are almost always up to winning their maiden elsewhere. Charlie Hills runs My Painter here on Saturday after a fine debut at HQ when just run out of it in the closing stages by a useful couple of fillies in Night Song and Casual Smile.

Guarantee 9-1 Ladbrokes

Alejandro 8-1 Boylesports

My Painter Evens Betfair

Beverley 31st August Preview

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Beverley stages a highly competitive sprint on Saturday with the £23,000 Beverley Bullet Stakes over five furlongs. The Yorkshire track has a reputation for having the biggest draw bias in the country in sprint races, surprisingly even more pronounced than that of Chester. It is believed that stalls 1-3 have a definite advantage and high numbers only come into the reckoning on soft ground.

Although there is rain around, the latest information I have is that the going is good to firm with watering. I cannot say that I bet at Beverley that often as I tend to favour betting on better quality animals but Saturday’s race has attracted some good class sprinters.

York Glory (drawn 4) won the Wokingham Handicap at Royal Ascot and was not disgraced in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at the Ebor meeting. His racing style is to come through late off a fast pace and there doesn’t seem to be a difference between his performance over five or six furlongs. Jamie Spencer should be able to get a nice lead into the race and it is not surprising to see him put up as favourite.

I was quite keen on Excelette who gave Jwala a good run for her money at York earlier this summer but I am concerned about her draw in stall 12. Her stable companion Tangerine Trees has kept good company this season and is a fast starter from stall six, although he has not been lasting home in recent outings.

Tangerine Trees won the Prix de L’Abbaye last season and also won on his last two visits to Beverley at odds of 10-1 and 33-1. He overcame stalls 8 and 9 to make all on each occasion so it would be no surprise to see him blazing the trail again here. Masamah is another fast starter but is drawn out in stall 11 with Ballista faring even worse in stall 13.

Caledonia Lady didn’t run too badly last time but also faces an uphill task from 15 and Stepper Point at least has every chance from stall 2. However, he needed plenty of encouragement to win a 7-runner conditions event at Nottingham last time. Tangerine Trees could well be the best option at around 9-1.

Mark Johnston’s Windhoek has been given some tough tasks recently and his followers will be starting to feel the pinch. He should be able to get back on the winning trail in the 3.40 race at the expense of Her Majesty’s Circus Turn. Joe Fanning is in great form at the moment and will hopefully take no prisoners here.

The best bet of the day could Sound of Summer in the maiden at 4.50. The Charlie Hills-trained filly ran a fair fourth on her debut at Newbury under a considerate ride from Johnny Murtagh and this could be a stepping stone to better things.

Tangerine Trees 9-1 William Hill

Windhoek 15-8 Ladbrokes

Sound of Summer 6-5 Betfair

Racing Preview Friday 30th August

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Although there isn’t much in the way of Group race action this weekend, there are still plenty of decent races taking place across the UK. Friday’s cards at Chester, Sandown and Salisbury are all worth a second look.

Last week I backed Nezar in the big sales race at York and he ran well enough to suggest that the nursery at Chester (4.05) is his for the taking. He was slowly away but made up ground steadily in the closing stages to be a never-nearer third at the line. Frankie Dettori takes over from Johnny Murtagh on Friday and even a draw in the outside stall shouldn’t prevent him from winning here.

Over at Sandown, William Buick teams up with John Gosden’s Breden in the 3.55. This horse had to be driven right out to win at Newmarket last time but holds some big entries including the Cambridgeshire. The handicapper has put him up only 4lbs for that victory and I’m hoping that there is more improvement to come. He delivered his challenge on the far side that day and very few horses won from there at the meeting.

Buick may not be in the best mood after the news that James Doyle will step into his shoes for the Prince Khaled Abdulla horses in future, starting on Saturday with 2000 Guineas favourite Kingman. With the likes of Remote and Excess Knowledge also now likely to be ridden by Doyle, Buick may feel that he has a point to prove in the coming weeks.

Salisbury provides the main evening entertainment with the feature race being the Listed Stonehenge Stakes. This looks booked for Washaar for Richard Hannon and Paul Hanagan. He may not be one of the stable starts but he was never going to be beaten at Ascot last time and I think he can see off his rivals here.

Hannon can strike again at his local track when Go For Broke runs in the maiden race at 5.45. I think you can best describe his first outing as “educational” after he was nursed into fourth place at Windsor. Roger Varian’s newcomer High Accolade is an unknown quantity but hopefully Go For Broke won’t live up his name!

Luca Cumani’s Don Padeja hacked up at Leicester last week and turns out quickly with a 6lb penalty. He won with any amount in hand and should be able to follow up in the 7.45.

Nezar 4-6 Bet365

Don Pedija 6-4 Bet365

Washaar 4-5 Ladbrokes

Go For Broke

Breden 7-2 Bet365

Moyglare Stud Stakes Preview

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The only race with ante-post prices chalked up for the weekend at the moment is the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday. Aidan O’Brien is normally one to keep his cards close to his chest but by supplementing Tapestry he has signposted his leading fancy here.

The daughter of Galileo already has a course and distance victory to her credit having won the Group Two Debutante Stakes earlier this month and it is no surprise that her early quote of 3-1 was quickly snapped up. She is now a top price of 2-1 and challenging the brilliant Albany Stakes winner Kiyoshi for favouritism.

O’Brien has also declared Bluebell, Minorette, Perhaps and Wonderfully among the 13 fillies still in the Group 1 contest. Perhaps set a decent pace in the Debutante but Tapestry overhauled her without coming under too much pressure to win by a length and three-quarters. The winner did not show brilliant acceleration but was well on top at the line and we know that she stays the seven furlongs well.

Charlie Hills has kept Kiyoshi under wraps since her devastating win at Royal Ascot. Much was made of her swerve across the course in the closing stages and there is a slight concern about how she will respond when she comes under serious pressure. What cannot be denied is that she was clearly the best filly that day and it is worth taking a closer look at those that finished behind her.

The runner-up Sandiva won a Group 2 at Deauville on her next start whilst Lucky Kristale (6th) has won the Cherry Hinton and the Lowther Stakes (both also Group 2 races). Princess Noor (9th) came out and won the Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot (Group 3). When Kiyoshi won her maiden at Goodwood she beat Ihtimal who has since won the Group 3 Sweet Solera Stakes.

Connections seem happy that her violent deviation off a true line at Ascot was due to greenness and hitting the front too soon. Jamie Spencer had apparently compared her favourably with Irish Guineas winner Just The Judge prior to her win at the Royal meeting so there will be some long faces if she doesn’t put up a good performance on Sunday.

It is not a two-horse race and I have tons of respect for Clive Brittain’s Rizeena. She won well in the Queen Mary at Ascot and I was disappointed when she found Lucky Kristale too good at Newmarket. She didn’t appear to be at her best that day but ran a lot better last time when third in the Prix Morny behind No Nay Never. She was slowly away but made up plenty of late ground to finish on the heels of the winner. Had this race been over six furlongs, I’d fancy her strongly but going up to seven from five seems a big step.

Jim Bolger has stated that he does not which he will run from Agus Spraoi, Peony Fairy and Prudent Approach whilst Dermot Weld is double-handed with Afternoon Sunlight and Carla Bianca. I’d be very surprised if any of them are in the same class as Tapestry, Kiyoshi and Rizeena.

I think if you’d taken the 3-1 Tapestry you would probably be quite happy with yourself but Kiyoshi has to be the form choice. She is a top price 7-4 and may even go to 2-1 if the gamble on Tapestry is sustained.

Kiyoshi 7-4 Bet365

Goodwood and Newmarket 24th August Preview

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Although most of the attention will be on the final day of the Ebor meeting at York, there are plenty of decent betting opportunities at Goodwood and Newmarket.

Anyone who saw Glen Moss cruise to success at Newbury to land a gamble last weekend will be happy to support him under a 6lb penalty in the Heritage Handicap tomorrow. I tipped him last week at 11-2 and was surprised as much by his SP of 5-2 as the ease of his victory. The confidence behind him was fully justified and I cannot let him go unbacked at around 6-1 this week.

Frankie Dettori gets the ride with the jockeys spread far and wide and he should be able to follow the pace from his draw in midfield. I am always wary of the Johnston horses in these handicap races and Galician gave Glen Moss a beating at Ascot and meets him on identical terms. The grey filly has run twice since and I’m hoping she doesn’t turn up to spoil the party.

Equally as impressive as Glen Moss was the performance of Afsare at Salisbury last time. Everyone knows that Afsare is a character having refused to enter the stalls previously and also finished second in the Arlington Million 12 months ago. If he’s on song tomorrow they won’t know which way he’s gone.

My old friends John Gosden and William Buick have a busy day lined up at Newmarket tomorrow. Fledged has already been backed off the boards before I could get my copy “to press” so there won’t be any 6-1 left by the time you read this. He looks progressive and is obviously expected to complete his hat-trick on Saturday.

Willow Beck has a similar profile and won at the course easily recently. Taayel is probably facing the toughest task of the three but is open to improvement and holds Valbchek on his last outing. The trio are worth doing in a nice patent.

Glen Moss 7-1 Bet Victor

Afsare 11-4 Bet365

Fledged 4-1 Coral

Willow Beck 2-1 Paddy Power

Taayel 4-1 Paddy Power

York Ebor Meeting Day 4 Preview

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The 40-1 shock win of Jwala in the Nunthorpe just about sums up the week so far on the Knavesmire! Moviesta had won the King George at Goodwood with Jwala finishing last but this time it was the other way around. Apparently Jwala had banged her head leaving the stalls last time and was probably suffering from concussion. After three days of York, I know the feeling!

I thought at least Simenon would get a few pounds back in the Lonsdale but I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw him take up the running under Murtagh. I’d put the Irishman in the top half dozen riders at present but it hadn’t occurred to me that he’d be doing anything other than holding Simenon up for a late run against a fairly one-paced bunch. Not surprisingly, he found one staying on well enough to struggle past him in the long home straight.

Saturday’s card doesn’t exactly look like an easy way to get back on level terms with the Ebor backed up by an equally open looking Melrose Handicap. Havana Cooler looked like damned hard work at Goodwood when staying on to be third and I wouldn’t even be sure of him confirming the form with Van Percy and Elidor (fourth and fifth).

I think the bit of give in the ground may suit Van Percy more than some of these and the 7lb claimer puts him in on a good weight. He has also got a decent draw whereas a lot of the fancied runners are out wide so 14-1 with Stan James looks a fair each-way bet.

A couple of weeks ago I tipped Sun Central for the Ebor but the change of going and being lumbered with top weight don’t bode well for his chances. A number of leading contenders are absent and Opinion now has an obvious chance under Ryan Moore. He never saw daylight in the slowly run Old Newton Cup and did well to finish as close as he did in fifth.

I may have been tempted to back Genzy who looked desperately unlucky not to catch Bishop Roko on his penultimate start. He was mixing it with some decent stayers at Newbury in the Geoffrey Freer and did well to finish fourth but he is drawn in the car park in stall 22. One who could run well at a huge price is Amanda Perrett’s Blue Surf. He has been fancied a couple of times this season but failed to land a blow and the ease in the ground may see some improvement.

He was actually joint-favourite for a competitive race at Goodwood last time but found himself trapped on the inside when the pace quickened and could only plod on at the one pace. He’s got a bit further to travel here but should be able to lie handy from stall 10 and rates a decent each-way alternative to the favourite.

Van Percy 14-1 Stan James

Opinion 6-1 Paddy Power

Blue Surf 33-1 Ladbrokes