The Pitmen’s Derby is the highlight of Newcastle’s card on Saturday. This race is one of the top staying handicaps of the season and usually attracts runners from the Chester Cup and Royal Ascot. This year looks like being no exception with the early market leaders being Ascot winner Pique Sous and Chester Cup 1-2, Suegioo and Angel Gabrial.
Pique Sous landed a gamble on the Queen Alexandra Race, the closing event of Royal Ascot week. The grey gets a 5lbs penalty for his comfortable win there but this race comes only a fortnight after the two and three-quarter mile marathon.
Trainer Willie Mullins also has top weight Simenon entered but I think it may be a tall order for last year’s Gold Cup runner-up. Simenon has travelled the globe since that race but hinted at a return to form when fifth to Leading Light. I’d rather see him put away for another tilt at the Melbourne Cup in November.
The one that interests me is Angel Gabrial, trained by Richard Fahey. The five-year-old hit form at Ripon in April when beating the well-backed Mubaraza. He benefitted from a change of tactics that day, being held up at the rear of the field before rushing through in the closing stages. He displayed a tendency to hang when hitting the front which ought to have alerted connections ahead of the Chester Cup in May.
Jamie Spencer took over from David Nolan for the big race and he was well supported in to 7-1. After being held up at the rear, Spencer made a rapid move through the field and swept to the front well over a furlong from home. Whether or not the horse surprised him with his acceleration I am not sure, but was left as a sitting duck in the home straight.
It was Suegioo in the same colours of Dr Marwan Koukash that emerged as the late challenger and Angel Gabrial hung across to his rival, forfeiting further ground. He went under by just half a length and is 1lb better off with the winner. My feeling is that he would definitely have won had his run been delayed and I am expecting exaggerated waiting tactics on Saturday.
With sixty horses still entered, it is too early to study the rest of the field in depth but Angel Gabrial makes plenty of appeal at 10-1 each-way.
Angel Gabrial at 10-1 BetVictor, Ladbrokes
