Tag: Richard Fahey

Lincoln Handicap Preview

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No sooner has the dust settled on the Cheltenham festival than we are looking forward to the start of a new flat season. Doncaster’s traditional curtain raiser is only a little over a week away, the Lincoln Handicap over the straight mile.

I haven’t often become involved in the race because it is basically a lottery with the runners either returning from a lengthy absence or having been toiling away on the all-weather. Factors such as the ground and the draw can destroy the best laid plans, although John Gosden has been successful in navigating his way through that particular minefield.

Unfortunately the Newmarket maestro hasn’t got an entry this year and that is probably why the bookies are still going 14-1 the field. Interestingly, that dubious honour goes to Richard Fahey’s Gabrial’s Kaka. Fahey has six entries including Brae Hill who simply loves this race.

He first ran in the race in 2011 where he ran prominently on the stands side under Jamie Spencer, being collared by Sweet Lightning. The following year he just held on by a short-head from the fast finishing Mull of Killough. He was back again last year, this time finishing only a short-neck away third behind Levitate in a blanket finish.

He put up some other fine efforts last season, winning at Sandown and finishing second at Chester and Ayr. You can ignore his last run behind Graphic at York as he was probably over the top by then. This is his time of year and at 20-1 he stands out as one to keep on the right side of.

Fahey has five other runners including Gabrial’s Kaka who was second to Seek Again at York in October. His prominent position in the market suggests he is fancied. Brae Hill is currently at number 45 and there is a maximum field of 22. Gabrial’s Kaka looks certain to get in at number 25 and races in the same colours of Dr Marwan Koukash.

He ran a sound race behind Seek Again but he did seem to carry his head slightly awkwardly. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a visor or cheek pieces applied for the first time at Doncaster. Captain Cat represents Roger Charlton but he seems to have been handicapped up to the hilt on his all-weather form. Jeremy Noseda’s Consign has bits and pieces of form including a decent Ascot win while Brownsea Brink ran up a sequence for Richard Hannon last season.

We’ll put our faith in the Fahey duo for now and wait with interest to see how the trainer’s plans unfold.

Gabrial’s Kaka at 16-1 Racebets

Brae Hill at 20-1 William Hill

Each-way ¼ odds, 1,2,3,4

Racing Preview Saturday 12th October

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Graphic (tipped at 5-1) more than made up for a disappointing run from Dungannon at York on Friday. There are more big fields at Newmarket and York and Newmarket on Saturday to tempt punters but there are a couple of two-year-olds that catch my eye.

The first is Richard Fahey’s Rufford who goes in the Rockingham Stakes at York. A winner here back in June, the son of Invincible Spirit disappointed at Pontefract on his next outing behind Cool Bahamian. He first caught my eye when running on strongly after a slow start in the valuable sales race here in August.

He was a well-backed 6-1 shot that day and flew home in fifth place behind Haikbidiac. Plenty of winners have come out of that race since, notably Nezar, Green Door, Ventura Mist and Morning Post. He was allowed to start at 20-1 for the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury but raced right up with the pace and plugged on when challenged on all sides. In the end, he only gave best by three-quarters of a length to stable companion Supplicant.

He holds Figure Of Speech on that form and is clearly the one to beat. The lightly-raced Outer Space could be the main danger but 4-1 looks a good price with BetVictor.

My second selection is Lightning Thunder in the Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket. This filly has always been held in high regard by Olly Stevens and has around 12lbs in hand on her rivals tomorrow. She followed up her debut win by scrambling home at Doncaster but she showed how good she is in the Oh So Sharp Stakes.

She looked to have the race won when she was sent to the front over a furlong out by Harry Bentley but Miss France arrived late on the scene to beat her by a head. Lightning Thunder was left a bit high and dry in front on Newmarket’s wide open spaces and may have idled slightly but it was still a good effort. The winner is the new favourite for the 1000 Guineas and it will be disappointing if Lightning Thunder cannot win tomorrow.

Rufford 4-1 BetVictor

Lightning Thunder 5-6  Stan James, Totesport

Northumberland Plate Preview

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Horses that run well at Royal Ascot are often an automatic choice for punters in the following weeks. It is true that they were competing at the best quality flat racing meeting of the year but that does not necessarily mean they will be successful next time out.

Bookmakers price these horses up shorter because they know they are going to be popular. In other words, their Ascot form is built into their price so value can be hard to find. Another factor to consider is whether or not they have had a hard race and how quickly will they recover?

Tiger Cliff was well touted for the Ascot Stakes last week and received extra coverage as everyone was hoping to see Lady Cecil’s horse win. Sent off the 4-1 favourite, he was held up towards the rear by Tom Queally and ran on strongly up the straight to finish second to Well Sharp. The jockey has since come in for plenty of criticism for giving his mount too much to do but it is debatable whether he could have beaten the winner.

He is now set to renew rivalry with Lieutenant Miller (3rd), Mubaraza (4th) and Blue Bajan (6th) on the virtually the same weights in Saturday’s Northumberland Plate. On the face of it he would he should come out on top. It is worth remembering that the Plate is half a mile shorter but it is difficult to see how that might benefit any of those that were behind him at Ascot.

Tiger Cliff is a top-priced 9-2 on Saturday and could even be shorter when the 48 hour declarations are made. Second favourite is Montaser, an impressive winner at York last time and raised 5lbs for the length that be beat Clive Brittain’s Quixote. He was progressive last season with his only poor run coming in the Cesarewitch when virtually pulled up. The softer ground was blamed for that effort and he is expected to improve for his seasonal debut. He has won over this trip at Ascot last season but is now on a stone higher mark.

Richard Fahey had his team in fine form at Ascot, saddling four seconds. He has had this race in mind for his Chester Cup duo of Address Unknown and Ingleby Spirit for some time. I felt that Address Unknown was a shade fortunate to win at Chester whilst several of his rivals met trouble in running. Ingleby Spirit was ridden by 5lb claimer George Chaloner that day and may well have won in another few strides.

Tominator was also going on at the finish at Chester and now represents Well Sharp’s trainer Jonjo O’Neill. He won this race back in 2011 for the late Reg Hollinshead but is now on a 12lbs higher mark and a career high of 102. Last year’s winner Ile de Re is another that appears to have been handicapped to the hilt whilst David Lanigan’s Biographer will need some give in the ground if he is to take part. He was a springer in the Ascot Gold Cup market last week but his trainer elected to pull him out due to the fast ground.

The shape of the race will become clearer on Thursday but Ingleby Spirit rates the logical choice at this stage at 16-1. Although Montaser quickened past Quixote impressively at York, the disparity in their prices is insulting to Clive Brittain’s gelding who had previously run well in defeat at Sandown. He can also be supported at 40-1.

Ingleby Spirit 16-1 Coral

Quixote 40-1 Bet365

York Charity Sprint Trophy Preview

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The big race of the weekend is the Charity Sprint Trophy at York, a race that has been won by some smart three-year-olds in the past. The last favourite to oblige was Tax Free in 2005 so it is a race to approach with caution.

The bookmakers certainly don’t seem quite sure what to make of it and have gone 7-1 the field. Heavens Guest and Moviesta have been installed as the early market leaders having both won last time out. Heavens Guest stepped up in grade from Hamilton Park to land a decent seven-furlong handicap at Epsom and represents Richard Fahey.

Heavens Guest is up 7lbs for his neck victory over Intrigo but he shouldn’t be inconvenienced by dropping back in trip. He was a good couple of lengths clear approaching the final furlong. Moviesta won here over five furlongs on softer ground last month and has gone up 6lbs in the ratings. The margin of victory was only a nose from Vincentti but jockey Paul Mulrennan got to the front quite early and always looked to have matters under control. Vincentti will have his supporters after that effort and certainly has excellent place claims on that effort.

He had previously won at Doncaster over six furlongs, running freely early on before being reigned back and produced late. He was more impressive on his last start and looks capable of further improvement. Brian Smart knows the time of day in these sprint races and I imagine that this race has been the plan for a while.

Cosmic Chatter runs in the Highclere colours and was close up behind Smoothtalkinrascal and Lucky Beggar here last month. The horse is yet to race beyond five furlongs and is short enough on what he has achieved to date. Lucky Beggar was easily put in his place by Richard Hannon’s Professor at Haydock last weekend and will do well to bounce back here.

Ralph Beckett’s Lewisham is an interesting runner. He was last seen hacking up on the all-weather at Kempton, a preparation that didn’t hinder Niceofyoutotellme before winning at Newmarket. Last season Lewisham was runner-up in the July Stakes so there is no doubting his ability. He holds Ahern and Chilworth Icon on that form. If the maiden race has boosted his confidence he could be thrown in here with just 8st 8lb.

Hasopop carries top weight and won a decent race at Newmarket before finishing third at Epsom. He didn’t get the best of runs in a muddling race that day but he will do well to win off a mark of 105. William Haggas is no mug in these races either and it wouldn’t surprise me to see Odooj step up on a moderate effort at Newmarket. The application of the blinkers for the first time and the one stall could light him up.

Moviesta looks the most progressive of these but Vincentti must have an each-way shout. I will also be having a small saver on Lewisham as he could be the best handicapped horse in the race.

Moviesta 9-1 Paddy Power
Vincentti (each-way) 12-1 Bet365
Lewisham 16-1 Paddy Power

Chester Preview May 9th

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The opening day of the Chester May meeting started with the three worst drawn horses being withdrawn from the first race. The official reasons were a knocked joint, not eaten up and the going. Now, call me cynical but isn’t it time that Chester reviewed the maximum number of runners for their races over sprint distances? If trainers are viewing it as a complete waste of time running a horse with a high draw then it makes sense to reduce the maximum field to 12 and save everyone’s time and money.

The Chester Cup was run at an unusually pedestrian pace but there appeared to be no excuses for Countrywide Flame. He was well placed throughout and looked certain to be in the frame until the last fifty yards. I would imagine that he will now be given a well earned rest and prepared for another tilt at the Champion Hurdle 2014. The best performance of the day came from Banoffee in the Cheshire Oaks, cutting through the pack on the inside rail and winning cosily. Connections now face the prospect of stumping up the cash to enter her for the Epsom Oaks but that looks the most logical step, especially after a bunch finish to the 1000 Guineas last weekend.

Day 2 of Chester gives Richard Fahey a golden opportunity to add to his Cup gains when he saddles Gabrial for the Huxley Stakes. He looked as good as ever when sprinting clear to win the Doncaster Mile, although he clearly retains his inability to run in a straight line. Fallon is claimed to ride Danadana for Luca Cumani and that rival is respected but Jamie Spencer has won on Gabrial in the past and knows what to expect. If you can get any of the 3-1 about Gabrial that seems a fair price in a decent little race.

The Boodles Diamond Handicap features a return clash for Here Comes When and Ribaat, second and fourth in a decent race at Newbury last time. Both horses ran far too freely for their own good but I was impressed by the way Here Comes When quickened up going to the line and he can confirm the placings. The one stall may mean he sees plenty of daylight but I hope his jockey lets him run up front rather than dropping him in behind horses.

The Chester Vase looks unlikely to have a big impact on the ante-post market for the Epsom Derby but it will be interesting to see Ruler of the World lining up for Aidan O’Brien. Feel Like Dancing and Havana Beat should be good enough to give him a decent test but this looks like a race to watch rather than invest in.

Gabrial 3-1 Boylesports
Here Comes When 3-1 Bet Victor

Newbury Spring Cup Preview

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The Lincoln form comes under scrutiny this weekend as several of the leading protagonists renew rivalry in the Newbury Spring Cup. Levitate came out on top at Town Moor from the fast finishing Global Village with Brae Hill just behind in third and Justonefortheroad fourth. Admittedly you covered all four with a large blanket and Chapter Seven (6th) wasn’t far away either. It could be argued that the form may not amount to much with such a bunched finish but there are reasons for believing otherwise.

It was the performance of Global Village that stood out for me. He was held up at the back by jockey Martin Lane and looked to have an impossible task two furlongs out. However, he picked up remarkably well and would have won in another stride. The eight-year-old had gone into a few notebooks when not gaining the clearest of runs in the Wolverhampton Lincoln Trial, eventually finishing sixth to Strictly Silver and Guest Of Honour. On that basis, he was a quietly fancied 14-1 shot in the Lincoln and produced a career best effort. It may seem unlikely that he would be improving at this stage of his career but he finished third in this race 12 months ago behind Captain Bertie and looks primed for another big run. The booking of Kieren Fallon suggests that he is strongly fancied on Saturday and the 11-1 available with Totesport looks good value.

There are plenty of dangers including Spring Mile winner Educate and a big field won’t make it easy for Fallon to weave his way through. Richard Fahey’s stable remains in fine form so you would expect Brae Hill and Justonefortheroad to be competitive once again but I will side with Global Village on this occasion.

I previewed the Scottish National last week and, as expected, most of the horses that ran at Aintree have been withdrawn. Two of my original selections have stood their ground with Quentin Collonges and Mr Moss advised at 14-1 and 20-1 respectively. At the time of writing it is still the plan to run Aurora’s Encore under his big weight but he could be withdrawn if the going turns soft.

The main racing story today is the retirement of Black Caviar. The mare has been retired to the paddocks having remained unbeaten in 25 races including the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot last summer. The announcement came as a surprise to many and dashes hopes of seeing her return to Britain. When you consider the journey that she had to make, the injuries she sustained during the race and the fact that the jockey eased up too soon, her victory at the Royal meeting was no mean achievement. I think she was unfairly compared to Frankel by the racing press and did not receive the acclaim that she deserved that day. Both are now consigned to the history books as we look forward to some new stars on the racing scene.

Global Village 11-1 Newbury Spring Cup Totesport