Tag: Richard Hannon

Newmarket Saturday August 17th Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Saturday’s card gets under way with a fascinating nursery where the weights are headed by Charlie Appleby’s Autumn Lily. She won well on her debut at Haydock but then ran disappointingly in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot. She was a different proposition last time out when she absolutely bolted up at the same course over this trip.

There is no doubt that she deserves to be carrying top weight and she may prove to be a group class filly. I expect her to win but, if for any reason she doesn’t perform, I’m going to have an each-way saver on Richard Fahey’s Shot In The Sun. She was tucked in behind the leaders at Goodwood in the Nursery won by Art Official and didn’t get a clear run until the winner had gone beyond recall. She’s only small but seems to have the heart of a lion and I’d be disappointed if she’s not in the frame.

The Grey Horse Handicap may be a photographer’s dream but it isn’t usually a great race for punters. However, I was really taken with the easy victory of Majesty at Warwick last time over seven furlongs and I think he could have been let in lightly here. He’s up against a bunch of seasoned handicappers but he looks to have plenty of size and scope. The drop back to six shouldn’t be a problem as he was always to the fore at Warwick.

Hannon and Levey team up again in the third with Ninjago. I was disappointed when this one was beaten at Newbury in May but he’s being pitched in at the deep end since then. Seven furlongs proved too far for him in the Jersey Stakes and he has since run honourable races both here and in the Stewards’ Cup.

The Newmarket handicap won by Heaven’s Guest from Moviesta was one of the hottest three-year-old sprints of the season and there was no disgrace in finishing fourth there. You could have forgiven him for struggling in the Stewards’ Cup but he stuck to his guns well enough to finish fifth. This is no easy task but he could still be on a winning weight at a fair price.

Autumn Lily 7-2 Coral

Shot In The Sun 10-1 William Hill

Majesty 9-2 Coral

Ninjago 11-2 Bet Victor

Newmarket 2000 Guineas Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

I am just back from a week away and have been catching up with the news. I thought that I had selected a pretty quiet week for a break but apparently not! The Godolphin doping scandal has rocked the racing world; most particularly Newmarket as it shudders at the thought of life after Sheikh Mohammed. Fortunately it seems that there is no immediate threat to his racing empire and Mahmood Al Zarooni has been hastily despatched back to Dubai on the back of an eight year ban. That all seemed to be dealt with rather too hastily and you can’t help but wonder what repercussions lie just around the corner.

It only seems like yesterday that we were trying (in vain) to work out the Grand National winner and here we are approaching the first classic of the new turf season! Godolphin may have lost the chance to run Certify in the 1000 Guineas but they still have the favourite for the first colt’s classic in Dawn Approach. He is trained in Ireland by Jim Bolger but there is no doubt that the Godolphin operation has been tainted by recent events and it would be ironic if they collect on Saturday. He was smart enough as a two-year-old but without a recent outing I am not remotely tempted by odds in the region of 11-8.

His victory in the Dewhurst Stakes was more workmanlike than spectacular and he briefly looked in trouble before responding to pressure to run down stable companion Leitir Mor. He was well on top at the finish but it did not look a vintage renewal. In third place that day was Aidan O’Brien’s George Vancouver who closed in to challenge before flattening out again in the last furlong. He has three and a half lengths to make up on Dawn Approach but put up a much improved effort to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf next time out. He was given a perfect ride by Ryan Moore that day, holding his position on the fence before being produced between horses in the short straight.

The chief market rival to the favourite is Richard Hannon’s Toronado. His front-running display in the Craven Stakes has seen his price collapse to 9-4 and you can understand why. Hannon rates him right up there with the best and he goes into the race fit and unbeaten. He also looks a straight forward ride and you would expect Richard Hughes to have him right up there from the outset. Whether or not 9-4 is great value is hard to say but he looks a major player.

Aidan O’Brien also runs Cristoforo Colombo and Mars with Joseph O’Brien preferring to ride the former. He looks tried and tested and the application of cheek pieces on Saturday does not inspire confidence. Mars is obviously a colt of enormous potential but seems well down the pecking order at Ballydoyle ahead of the first classic. I am a big fan of Garswood who did this column a favour when winning the Free Handicap in great style recently. Trainer Richard Fahey admitted that he had no idea whether or not he would stay the seven furlongs that day but he is apparently now full of hope that he will last the mile. As much as I like the colt, I must admit that it had occurred to me that he was a classic contender and I am slightly mystified by his price of 12-1.

Of the remainder, I like Moohajim but his run in the Greenham suggested that he will not stay a mile. He cruised into contention but found little under pressure behind Olympic Glory. He will presumably be held up to get the trip but it is difficult to be confident that he will do so. Toronado looks the most likely winner but I’m also going to recommend an each-way bet on George Vancouver at 16-1.

Toronado 9-4 William Hill
George Vancouver (each-way) 16-1 Paddy Power