Hi all,
Everlastingpromise proved he was an improving handicap chaser when winning at Killarney on Tuesday. Ornua my second selection in the race also ran well to finish third. All in all, a pleasing race from a race reading perspective.
I decided to sit yesterday out given the likelihood of going changes due to rain and I’m glad I did. Newmarket’s July Festival, if you can call it that this year, begins three days of action on the July Course.
The Knavesmire sees racing to return for the first time this season. It’s bizarre to see both the Dante & Musidora, traditionally seen as Derby & Oaks trials on today’s card. Still it’s great to see racing back at York, although it would be so much better with a crowd.
Like yesterday the weather looks wet so we can expect some ease in the going in particular at York. It’s going to be a busy few days for the service so I’m not going in too hard today.
Newmarket
12:45 – A competitive looking 6f Class 2 handicap although forecast favourite Nahaarr is now a non-runner on account of the easing ground.
Highland Dress a winner at Southwell back in March showed he handled turf when winning on the other course in June. He wasn’t beaten far into 8th in the Wokingham last time, only 7/1 for that race, showed the market thinks he may not have stopped improving and he shouldn’t be far away if he handles the potential ease in the ground.
Well Done Fox was a smart juvenile winning a Listed race at York and finishing runner-up in the Group 3 Cornwallis. Only two starts last season but returned to action with a promising 4th of 11 in the Palace House Stakes. No chance in the King Stand Stakes last time but is interesting on his first start in a handicap and third start beyond 5f.
Pass The Vino won over C&Dand finished runner-up in a valuable 6f handicap last summer. Returned to action with an encouraging 3rd of 11 on the Rowley Course last month. He can win a good sprint handicap this season but if the ground eases I doubt it will be today.
Chairmanoftheboard has returned to action in great form and ended a long losing run when winning at Windsor two starts back. Needed a stronger gallop to chase when only 4th back at the same venue 11-days ago. Any easing of the going won’t inconvenience the 4-year-old and a good pace should see the 4-year-old in the mix.
Verdict: Highland Dress is likely capable of more improvement although the ground is a slight unknown. Well Done Fox won’t be far away if he gets the 6f. On a sounder surface I would have been with Pass The Vino but any ease in the ground just favours the inform Chairmanoftheboard.
1pt win – Chairmanoftheboard – 11/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
3:35 – Another 6f Class 2 handicap this time for 3-year-old’s only. Like the earlier race how much rain falls could decide the outcome.
Dancin Inthestreet has caught the eye, when not getting the best of runs on both her last two starts. Step back to 6f shouldn’t be a problem nor will some ease in the ground but she can be a hostage to fortune in running.
Lexington Dash is in great form having won both his starts since the resumption of racing. Has a 6lb penalty to carry for the last of those wins on the Rowley Course. Going the right way and should be in the mix.
Meraas is another seeking the hat trick after all the way wins at Kempton and latterly Pontefract. Just 6lb higher now, he’s a sprinter very much on the upgrade and will be hard to pass if getting an uncontested lead. Rain softened ground is a bit of an unknown by the looks to have a good chance.
Troubador, a useful juvenile finished runner-up to Meraas at Pontefract. A strongly run 6f will suit and at the revised weight he’s got a good chance of reversing places with the winner here but it’s not hard to think that he was slightly flattered in how close he got that day.
Kevin Ryan saddles three and the one I like at a big price is Treble Treble. A winner of a novice at Haydock (good to soft) last July he struggled in listed company after that win. Appreciated handicap company when a close-up 4th of 11 at Leicester on his seasonal return 26-days ago. Should have improved for that run and looks on a workable handicap mark.
Verdict: Meraas is going the right way and a 6lb rise in the weights probably won’t stop him but easier ground might. Dancin Inthestreet has a favourites chance and can go close if not finding trouble in running again. Treble Treble should be sharper for his seasonal return and get into the places at big odds.
1pt each way – Treble Treble – 28/1 @ Bet365 (paying 4 places ¼ odds) or 22/1 @ Ladbrokes & Coral (paying 5 places 1/5 odds)
1pt win – Meraas – 6/1 @ Bet365 & Coral
And a couple from York.
York
1:30 – Storting broke his maiden tag at the 7th attempt when winning a mile novice at Pontefract last August and followed up with an even better performance when runner-up in a Classified contest at Doncaster a month later. Yard among the winners and jockey Osin Murphy has a 21%-win strike rate when riding for Mick Channon. On a workable handicap mark if ready to roll for the for the first time 258-days.
1pt win – Storting – 7/1 @ Bet365
4:50 – Its’afreebee was probably a shade flattered by how close he got to Who Dares Wins in the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot. Nudged up 4lb for that effort makes life tougher for this lightly raced 10-year-old who hasn’t been the easiest to keep sound in recent seasons. Stable among the winners and any ease in the ground won’t inconvenience him.
1pt win – Its’afreebee – 8/1 @ Coral & Sky Bet
Cheers
John