With Royal Ascot less than a week away, horse racing finds itself facing an uphill struggle for column inches as the World Cup gets under way in Brazil. With the US Open also taking place this weekend, the build up to the Royal meeting is certainly going to be well down on recent years.
I think it has already had an impact because I have not even had an ante-post bet on the meeting! It does seem to be right on top of the Epsom Derby meeting this year and I would be very surprised if we see any classic runners pulled out again so quickly.
Newbury stages a more modest card on Thursday but there are some interesting contests and the all-conquering John Gosden team are out in force. The quality race on the card is the Lord Weinstock Memorial Stakes at 3.25 for three-year-old fillies.
Gosden’s Eastern Belle would probably not get within a bargepole of Taghrooda but has acquitted herself well at Newmarket and Goodwood and is the form choice. She easily holds Jordan Princess and Uchenna on her second to Marsh Daisy on the Sussex track. The proximity of Jordan Princess in the betting suggests that the Cumani team had an excuse for her poor effort last time. She was six lengths behind the Oaks winner in the Pretty Polly Stakes so must be considered the obvious threat.
Gosden then saddles The Third Man in the one mile handicap at 4.00. On the face of it, the grey colt has a tough task with 9st 7lb and only one race under his belt. That race resulted in a victory in a modest Lingfield maiden but he fairly rattled home that day and 75 seems a low estimate of his potential.
I don’t know why it has taken this long for Mr G to get him on the track but the fact that he is running in a handicap suggests he has a chance. Most of the opposition have far more experience and seem well exposed, the possible exception being Spirit Raiser. James Fanshawe is no mug and it will be interesting to see how the Hayley Turner-ridden filly gets on here.
The handicap at 4.30 looks tricky but I liked the run of Suitsus at Salisbury last time and he is worth a bet at around 6-1. Steve Drowne tucked him just behind the pace that day and he looked like challenging the winner Iseemist until lack of fitness told.
Eastern Belle 3.25 Newbury at 7-2 BetVictor
The Third Man 4.00 Newbury at 2-1 Paddy Power
Suitsus 4.30 Newbury at 6-1 Betfair
