Tag: Sole Power

York Friday Preview

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Tapestry (advised at 12-1 yesterday) put Betcirca followers well ahead for the week following Dutch Connection (16-1) on the opening day of the York Ebor meeting.

Friday’s action gets under way with an impossible looking handicap over a mile and a half. Semeen is the likely favourite for the in-form Cumani stable but I’m slightly worried about the quicker ground for that one. The one I like here is Stomachion from the Sir Michael Stoute stable.

Ryan Moore produced another perfectly timed challenge on Tapestry yesterday but has not ridden his best races on Stomachion on his last two starts. He was well off the pace at Epsom and was never going to get to Miss Marjurie at the Derby meeting. He did well to run through into second place and it was surprising to see him dropped back in distance at Goodwood.

He was again held up at the back and never looked like getting into the race won by Sennockian Star. He could manage no better than eighth place but was less than six lengths away at the finish. He may also want a bit of give in the ground but I’m prepared to take a chance that he will perform better with a more positive ride on Friday.

The Lonsdale Cup is a bit of a quandary with question marks against several of the leading protagonists. Admirable though Cavalryman has been this season, he is too short in the betting and I’d rather support the lightly-raced Irish raider Pale Mimosa. She has a bit to find on her overall form but usually travels well in her races and could have a bit of improvement in her.

The City Of York Stakes looks wide open at 3.05 and I’m going to take a couple of each-way bets against the field here in Windfast and Ertijaal. Both look ideally suited by seven furlongs and the International Stakes and Yorkshire Oaks results suggested the three-year-olds are not such a bad crop. Ertijaal was not up to 2000 Guineas class but he is a decent performer while Windfast was a close fourth in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes should go to Sole Power who has his ideal trip and ground. Shea Shea is probably better over six furlongs these days and likely dangers are Rangali and Cougar Mountain. The closing handicap can go the way of Sir Michael Stoute with Munaaser. I don’t usually like backing horses that have gone up 12lbs but he won so easily at Newmarket he is difficult to oppose. Maverick Wave had to make his own running last time and could give him most to do.

Stomachion 1.55 York at 8-1 Paddy Power

Pale Mimosa 2.30 York at 7-2 Coral

Ertijaal 3.05 York (each-way) at 10-1 Bet365

Windfast 3.05 York (each-way) at 14-1 Stan James

Sole Power 3.40 York at 7-2 Paddy Power

Munaaser 4.55 York at 11-4 Betfair

Newmarket July Cup Preview

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Things didn’t quite work out for us last week even though we got great value with our ante-post prices. Albasharah (tipped at 6-1) was backed to 5-4 favourite but could do no better than third. Mars (20-1) finished fourth whilst I feared the chances of Wentworth when he was drawn in the car park. In the circumstances he didn’t run badly at all and surely has a decent race in him.

The show moves on to the carnival atmosphere of the July course at Newmarket with the July Cup on Saturday. This has all the makings of a championship race with three Royal Ascot winners set to clash.

Sole Power was overlooked at Ascot after his sub-standard run in Haydock’s Temple Stakes. There was a general opinion that he had gone off the boil from the dazzling form that he showed at Newmarket and perhaps his spring campaign in Dubai had taken its toll. Not a bit of it. He was brilliantly produced by Johnny Murtagh to cut down Shea Shea late on and reverse placings with those that had beaten him soundly at Haydock.

Among them was Reckless Abandon, third at Haydock but only fifth at Ascot. I was surprised that connections opted for the King’s Stand Stakes rather than the six-furlong Diamond Jubilee Stakes. Clive Cox also saddles Lethal Force who showed that his York run behind Society Rock was no fluke when winning at Ascot. The runner-up had to take an unusual route to throw down his challenge but appeared to be well held at the line.

Gale Force Ten is an intriguing runner having won the seven-furlong Jersey Stakes. He looked to be in trouble when Montiridge loomed up alongside but pulled out more in the closing stages. There has been plenty of money for him from 10-1 down to 7-1 but I’m just a little concerned that he will be tapped for toe early on.

Sovereign Debt is another curious participant having been racing over a mile. He was an 80-1 shot when second to Farhh in the Lockinge but ran well below that at Ascot. He ought to have been closer to the runner-up Aljamaaheer even if we allow for Declaration Of War’s improvement.

The bookies have made Shea Shea favourite after his run behind Sole Power and have no doubt that he will reverse the form. Sole Power is as big as 14-1 due to the fact that he has never won over six furlongs. The South African won his race on the far side fair and square but cannot even have seen the Irish horse arriving on the opposite side of the course.

Sole Power’s stable companion Slade Power missed the break in the Jubilee and did well to finish as close as he did. He then won well over five furlongs at the Curragh and could run into a place here. It is difficult to make a case for any of the others.

The draw may come into play again here but Shea Shea is just about the form pick and 9-2 still represents a little bit of value.

Shea Shea 9-2 Paddy Power

Royal Ascot Sprint Race Ante-Post Preview

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Two of the championship races of the sprint season take place at Royal Ascot next week. The King’s Stand Stakes over five furlongs starts the ball rolling and there seems to be plenty of confidence in South African raider Shea Shea.

He is a firm favourite on the basis of two blistering performances in Meydan in March. Mike de Kock’s six-year-old easily beat Sole Power by two and a half lengths in the Meydan Sprint and then followed up by easing to victory in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint. Sole Power was beaten about the same distance into fourth with Spirit Quartz and Medicean Man well beaten in both races.

On the bare form, Shea Shea must have a great chance. Whether or not he is entitled to be 5-2 I am not sure. If you factor in the time between races, the travelling and the different surface, there must be some hope for the opposition. Sole Power looked impressive in the Palace House Stakes but was never going to win at Haydock next time and it could be that he has peaked for the season.

Spirit Quartz has followed more or less the same programme as Sole Power and managed to get his head in front in France last week. He has been running his usual honest races and will surely land a Group 1 prize sooner or later. He is currently trading at a generous 27-1 on Betfair. Trainer Robert Cowell is also the current handler of veteran Kingsgate Native and he followed up a fine second at Newmarket with victory in the Temple Stakes.

Arguments have been put forward for Swiss Spirit (2nd) and Reckless Abandon (3rd) to reverse the form at the Royal meeting and consequently Kingsgate Native is still available at 14-1. Swiss Spirit was hampered at the start but looked flat out most of the way. I fully respect the run of Reckless Abandon and he may have been unlucky to be on the far side. It was a most encouraging effort but I just have a feeling that the six furlong race would suit him better. In terms of value, I have to side with Kingsgate Native at an each-way price.

The six furlong Diamond Jubilee Stakes looks the weaker of the two sprints with Shea Shea and Restless Abandon swerving it in favour of the King’s Stand. That has left Society Rock as favourite following his win in the Duke Of York Stakes.

I was on Hawkeyethenoo that day and felt a little aggrieved not to be collecting place money at least. Graham Lee has made a smooth transition to flat race riding but he was not at his best that day, failing to seize the opportunity to challenge wide before eventually running on strongly in fourth. Society Rock is priced at around 9-2 whilst Hawkeyethenoo is still available at 16-1. Jim Goldie’s eight-year-old was only beaten a little over a length by the winner and the difference in prices means that he has to be given another chance.

King’s Stand
Kingsgate Native 14-1 William Hill

Spirit Quartz 27-1 Betfair

Diamond Jubilee
Hawkeyethenoo 16-1 William Hill

Horse Racing Preview May 25th-26th

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Our ante-post advice earlier in the week is looking good with all three original selections cut in price. Sole Power was advised at 7-2 for the Temple Stakes and is now down to 2-1 following the withdrawal of Pearl Secret. Reckless Abandon looks to be his chief rival but I still have respect for the Robert Cowell-trained pair of Spirit Quartz and Kingsgate Native.

Spirit Quartz was done no favours by the draw in the Palace House Stakes and again finds himself on the opposite side of the course to the favourite. He has three lengths to find and may struggle if Tangerine Trees gives Sole Power a nice tow into the race. Kingsgate Native remains slightly enigmatic but Cowell reports both sprinters to be in fine shape. So far the worst of the showers have avoided Haydock so it is still looking good for the fast ground that the favourite loves.

Breton Rock has been taken out of the Silver Bowl and Here Comes When is 5-1 from 7-1 to follow up his Chester win. That still leaves Richard Hannon’s Baltic Knight and I am going to have a saver on this promising colt. He beat Here Comes When at Newbury and is better off at the weights and the form received another boost when the third horse won a nice handicap at Newmarket on Saturday. His run behind Dundonell was a good one and he will be a big danger if this race does not come too quickly.

The Irish 2000 Guineas has been turned on its head by a flood of money for Chester Dee Stakes winner Magician. Many observers felt that he had earned a crack at the Epsom Derby with that win but he has apparently been showing so much speed at home that he is regarded as the stable number one here. That is quite an honour with a Breeders’ Cup winner and two horses that were beaten only three or four lengths in the French Guineas to consider.

If you are on Magician at 14-1 I wish you luck but he no longer represents value at 5-2. The one that interests me is Flying The Flag at 33-1 with Stan James. The French Guineas was something of a farce with the horses finishing in a heap but Flying The Flag was arguably the unluckiest of the lot. He trailed the entire field turning in but made up an enormous amount of ground. My biggest worry is that he will be used as a pacemaker as he was last season but at 33-1 I’m prepared to take a punt.

Just The Judge is on course for the 1000 Guineas and I’m optimistic that she can give Charlie Hills his first classic success. Moth looks almost certain to be diverted to the Oaks next week and I think Snow Queen could emerge as the biggest danger. She ran well at Newmarket without ever threatening the leaders and should not be far behind Just The Judge.

Baltic Knight 6-1 Coral
Flying The Flag 33-1 Stan James

Haydock And Curragh Ante-Post Preview

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This weekend’s racing at Haydock features two top quality betting races in the Temple Stakes and the Betfred Silver Bowl. Over at the Curragh there is classic action with the Irish 2000 Guineas on Saturday and the 1000 Guineas on Sunday.

Last year’s Temple Stakes was won in a course record time by Roger Charlton’s Bated Breath from the fast finishing Sole Power. The latter is hoping to go one place better this year after winning impressively at Newmarket last time out. Not surprisingly he has been put up the 7-2 ante-post favourite and he is expected to be hard to beat. His latest victory followed two solid efforts at Meydan. He had several of Saturday’s rivals behind him at Newmarket including the Robert Cowell-trained pair Kingsgate Native (2nd) and Spirit Quartz (5th). There did not seem to be any real excuse for either that day although Spirit Quartz may have been slightly inconvenienced by the draw.

The Silver Bowl has been won by some cracking good three-year-olds down the years and another strong field is set to turn out this weekend. Whatever the result on Saturday, this race is usually a good guide to the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot and the form is always worth following. The one to be on early in the week here is Andrew Balding’s Here Comes When who did us a favour when winning at Chester recently. He beat Breton Rock with a little up his sleeve and can beat the same horse on only 2lb worse terms. Richard Hannon’s Baltic Knight could be a danger if allowed to take his chance after chasing home the smart Dundonnell last Saturday. He beat Here Comes When at Newbury by a neck and is 7lb better off at the weights.

The Irish 2000 Guineas on Saturday looks wide open with several of the also-rans from the Newmarket Guineas set to turn out again. It will be interesting to see how the form of those beaten so convincingly by Dawn Approach stands up. With Aidan O’Brien having eight of the nineteen runners it is unwise to have a bet until running plans are made known.

O’Brien has also thrown a spanner in the works for the 1000 Guineas on Sunday by declaring one-time Oaks favourite Moth. However, I am prepared to stick with the Charlie Hills-trained Just The Judge to gain compensation. She looked to have done everything right at Newmarket and was unlucky to be run out of it close home. The Guineas form is not always confirmed at the Curragh but I’m prepared to take a chance at the opening quote of 100-30. Those odds can only shorten if Moth is diverted to Epsom.

Sole Power 7-2 Skybet
Here Comes When 7-1 Bet365
Just The Judge 100-30 Bet Victor