Tag: Richard Fahey

Horse Racing Preview – Monday 18th May

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There is horse racing action on turf at Redcar, Leicester and Windsor on Monday and we have tips at all three meetings.

The 3.50 at Redcar sees a very quick reappearance for Desert Law who finished third at York last week. We made him a speculative each-way selection in a big field and he stuck on well enough after looking to hold every chance at the furlong pole. It is interesting that he turns out again so quickly with Graham Lee taking over in the saddle. He may have seen too much daylight that day as he is not the easiest horse to win with. The big danger looks to be Noble Asset who was a good second at Doncaster last time.

The 7.05 race at Windsor has only attracted three runners but Silver Wings looks good value at around even money. He bounced out smartly and made all here on his debut but missed a beat at the start at Chester. He soon made up the ground and looked set to win at the furlong pole only to be out-battled by Rah Rah. That could turn out to be very decent form and he is preferred to Soapy Aitken.

In the 7.35 race, Roger Varian runs Tazffin, a well-bred maiden who was second at Newmarket to Irish Rookie on her debut last season. That filly was second in the French 1000 Guineas this spring while Tazffin’s dam was the useful Tarfshi, winner of the Pretty Polly Stakes in Ireland. Varian has decided to run her in a hood on Monday so she may have her quirks but most of her rivals have never seen a racecourse before.

At Leicester, there is a fascinating handicap at 7.45. Richard Fahey was overshadowed at York by Mark Johnston last week but did finally get on the score-sheet on Friday and has had two more winners since. He saddles impressive Musselburgh winner, Third Time Lucky.

He made all to slam Go Dan Go on the Scottish track and looks very leniently treated here on a mark of 79. The runner-up has since won twice, last time by five lengths off a mark of 74. There are dangers, particularly Godolphin’s Muqarred and the John Gosden-trained Occult, but 9-2 looks a good price for the Fahey runner.

Desert Law 3.50 Redcar @3-1 Ladbrokes

Silver Wings 7.05 Windsor @11-10 Betfair

Tazffin 7.35 Windsor @2-1 Bet365

Third Time Lucky 7.45 Leicester @9-2 Ladbrokes

Musselburgh Friday Preview

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The main horse racing action in the UK on Friday is the All-Weather Championship meeting at Lingfield which we have reviewed separately. There is also a good quality turf meeting at Musselburgh, only the second after Doncaster’s two-day Lincoln meeting last weekend.

The card includes the veteran sprinter Borderlescott attempting to win the race named after him at 3.30. Rebecca Bastiman’s tough gelding is now thirteen years of age but still showing plenty of dash. He was only beaten a nose in this race last year by Smoothtalkinrascal but the rain-softened ground is likely to count against him on Friday.

He is joined in the field by another former Goodwood Stewards’ Cup winner in Hawkeyethenoo but he probably needs further than this five furlongs these days. The race should be fought out between Blaine and Robot Boy who are closely matched on last season’s form. Kevin Ryan had Astaire in pretty good shape for the Cammidge Trophy last week so I’m guessing that Blaine won’t be far off his best here.

By far the most competitive race on the card is the Royal Mile at 2.55. This race has attracted some really promising three-year-olds and it will be fascinating to see how it unfolds. It usually pays to keep an eye on these good quality handicaps at this time of year and I would be very surprised if there aren’t half a dozen future winners in the race.

Mister Universe and Tom Hark were both involved in races featuring subsequent Dewhurst Stakes winner Elm Park last season. The latter actually had Andrew Balding’s colt behind him at Sandown, although that was obviously flattering. He won his maiden in good style and has to be respected. Richard Fahey has his team in great form for the start of the season and both of his runners look useful. Arcano Gold and Spring Offensive both look capable of winning nice races this summer.

Fahey was particularly enthusiastic about York runner-up Spring Offensive and he is just preferred. You can never discard William Haggas runners in handicaps so it would be no surprise if Tadqeeq improves considerably on his all-weather form while Berland is another to note for the future.

Gordon Elliott will have one eye on the Grand National and Cause Of Causes at present but he sends over Bayan for the Balmoral Cup. This horse won the valuable Ladbroke Hurdle at Ascot over hurdles but is pretty useful on the flat as well and the booking of Paul Hanagan looks significant,

Bayan 2.25 @5-1 Betfair

Spring Offensive 2.55 @6-1 Betfair

Blaine 3.30 @2-1 Ladbrokes

Lincoln Handicap – Ante-post Update

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In last week’s Lincoln preview we recommended Zarwaan at 12-1 and he is now a top-priced 10-1 with Bet Victor.

Mange All and Gm Hopkins continue to dominate the market for William Haggas and John Gosden. Both stables have a fine record in the race so they should certainly give their supporters a run for their money. I don’t think that there can be much value left at odds of 11-2 and 7-1 respectively so I’ve been looking further down the weights in the hope of unearthing an each-way alternative.

With recent winners returned at 16-1, 25-1, 20-1 and 20-1, we know from experience that the market can get this race badly wrong. The draw is another factor to take into account, although that too is something of a mystery. Most pundits had satisfied themselves that a middle to high draw is ideal. Lo and behold, the winner Ocean Tempest emerged from stall 3 last season.

One horse that does catch my eye is Peter Chapple-Hyam’s Buckstay. I tipped him for last season’s Cambridgeshire and he ran a fine race to be fourth behind Bronze Angel. He is now a staggering 16lbs better off with the winner.

Maxime Guyon rode him that day and hit the front over a furlong from home before being swamped in the closing stages. He again clashed with Bronze Angel at Ascot in heavy ground in the Balmoral Handicap but the draw gave him no chance that day. He finished third on his side but was only ninth overall and that run can be safely ignored.

Buckstay has some form with cut in the ground but does not look as though he appreciates extremes of going. Cam Hardie has been booked for the ride and he takes off a handy 3lbs. With a massive 93 horses left in, Buckstay may not get a run from 33 in the handicap but we can take a bit of the 25-1 and get a refund if he is balloted out.

It looks as though Bronze Angel will carry top weight for Marcus Tregoning with Ocean Tempest just below him, attempting to repeat last year’s triumph. The three market leaders are safely in the top of the handicap and Richard Fahey hopes to run three including both Gabrial’s Kaka and Gabrial. It’s anybody’s guess how Gabrial will cope with this large field but Gabrial’s Kaka should go well. Fahey is optimistic about his chances and 14-1 represents fair value.

Zarwaan @12-1*

Buckstay @25-1 BetVictor (non-runner – no bet)

Gabrial’s Kaka @14-1 William Hill

*Ante-post

Racing Preview Saturday Sep 20th

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The Ayr Gold Cup is the highlight of UK racing on Saturday and this week’s results at the course suggest that a high draw is a big advantage. No horse drawn under ten made it into the first ten home in Friday’s Bronze Cup so there are likely to be a lot of jockeys edging to their right tomorrow.

One who does not have to worry is Amy Ryan who rides recent York winner Blaine. She is drawn in stall 26 so should be able to track along the stands rail to deliver her challenge. Blaine was a promising two-year-old but has had injury problems down the years and is only starting to fulfil his potential.

As you would expect, this is a wide open race and others to look out for could include Go Far and Hawkeyethenoo. Go Far didn’t run badly at all last time in a hot sprint after rattling off a hat-trick while Hawkeyethenoo may be getting a bit long in the tooth but was not beaten far at Ascot last time. He may just be finding six furlongs on the sharp side these days.

Amy also has claims in the Silver Cup with Bogart who is similarly well drawn in stall 25. He has a similar profile to Blaine and ran his best race for some time when chasing home Muthmir in the Portland Handicap at Doncaster. He must have a chance on that form but looks quite high in the weights.

The same applies to Redvers who looked certain to win at Ascot over seven furlongs last time out but was collared by Safety Check. He has got a visor on for the first time in an effort to sharpen him up for this six furlong dash.

A 13 draw is not insurmountable but I just prefer Majestic Moon from stall 24. Richard Fahey is mob-handed in the sprints but this course and distance winner stays seven furlongs and likes to race up with the pace. Lexington Abbey and Huntsmans Close are others with a good draw but the bookmakers have trimmed their prices accordingly.

Winners look very hard to find on Saturday but I am interested in the claims of Air Pilot at Newbury. I don’t know why the five-year-old has not run since finishing second to Farraaj at Epsom but he has presumably had his injury problems with only four career starts. I tipped him at Epsom and he beat all bar the well-handicapped Farraaj by seven lengths and is only up 4lbs. Oison Murphy looks a significant booking and it is worth taking a chance on his fitness.

Majestic Moon (each-way) 2.40 Ayr @16-1 Bet365

Blaine (each-way) 3.50 Ayr @12-1 Paddy Power

Air Pilot 2.55 Newbury @9-2 BetVictor

Goodwood Saturday Preview

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Red Avenger (tipped at 25-1) more than covered our expenses for Glorious Goodwood this week with a thrilling victory in the Betfred Mile. I must admit that I thought his chance had gone after a tardy start and he was poorly placed turning for home. All credit to Jimmy Fortune who somehow managed to get his head in front where it mattered.

As if the Mile wasn’t hard enough, we are now faced with the annual cavalry charge otherwise known as the Stewards’ Cup. Oddly enough, most of the recent winners of this race have been quite well fancied and I have two names for this year’s race.

Muthmir looked like a potential Group horse when winning at York last week. Admittedly this is a big question to ask of such an inexperienced horse just a week later but I am more concerned by his low draw. Dane O’Neill will just have to hope that there is enough pace on his side of the track, although several of the most fancied runners are drawn high.

Among them is Richard Fahey’s Alben Star. He was desperately unlucky in the Paddy Power Scurry last time out, having to be switched around horses before running on into fourth place. He will surely gain his revenge on Discussiontofollow on 7lbs better terms and will break from stall 19.

There are some very promising three-year-olds in the mile and a half handicap at 2.40. All of the early money has been for Kings Fete who holds a St Leger entry for Sir Michael Stoute. He is definitely a leading contender but I am just slightly concerned by the fact that he has been declared to run in a hood for the first time. He is also worse off at the weights with Second Step who beat him at Newbury on his debut.

I am reluctant to pass over the Cumani horse who won well last time at the same venue but the fast ground is a concern. I am just leaning towards the Mark Johnston runner, Rainbow Rock, after his fine run earlier in the week. He came from a long way back in the straight and was going on at the finish. With any other stable you would be worried about such a quick reappearance but this is second nature for the Johnston horses.

Rainbow Rock 2.40 Goodwood @9-2 William Hill

Muthmir 3.50 Goodwood @11-2 BetVictor

Alben Star 3.50 Goodwood @9-1 BetBright

Each-way ¼ odds, 1,2,3,4

Northumberland Plate Preview

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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