Hi all,
Went in with cautious each way approach on Saturday and it produced a neutral result on the profit front. It’s more of the same today.
As I said yesterday ITV Racing are covering eight races from Salisbury. Thirsk and the Curragh this afternoon. The best race either side of the Irish Sea is the Group 1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes and it’s attracted a strong field of ten juveniles. However, best race in Europe tomorrow is the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville.
Before looking at the big races overseas I will look at a handful of races at Salisbury & Thirsk
Salisbury
3:25 – Steelstock Sovereign Stakes (Group 3) – 1m
Motakhayyel has returned to action in great form winning the Buckingham Palace Handicap at Royal Ascot and following up in the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket off a 4lb higher mark. Both those wins came over 7f but he’s deserves to take his chance in Group company.
Duke Of Hazzard was 3rd of 11 behind Mohaather two starts back and just found Space Blues to good at Goodwood 12 -days ago. His last four wins have come over a mile so the step back in trip is a positive as is the forecast good to firm going.
Sir Michael Stoute trained the winner of this race in 2017 and he saddles Regal Reality. The 5-year-old’s best form over 1m 2f makes him a big contender here. Ran well enough on his first two starts this season but disappointed at York last time. Drops back to a mile for the first time since April 2019 but gets the first-time visor in a bid to sharpen him up. If the headgear has the desired effect, he won’t be far away on going that suits.
Verdict: Motakhayyel deserves to take his chance in Group company but this will be a different sort of race to the big field handicaps he’s been running in this season. Duke Of Hazzard ticks plenty of boxes and a combination of quick ground and a mile will see him go close. The first-time visor could make all the difference for the classy Regal Reality who can get into the money.
0.5pts each way Regal Reality – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Thirsk
1:55 – Spartan Fighter was well down the field on his seasonal reappearance at Royal Ascot but has subsequently been gelded. The 3-year-old had some decent juvenile form last season and if the gelding operation has worked, he wouldn’t be without a chance here.
2:30 – East Street Revue hails from the bang in form Tim Easterby stable. The 7-year-old made an encouraging return to action when 4th of 11 at Ripon back in June, Comes into the race on the back of a good effort here over 5f, 11-days ago. He just 1lb above his last winning mark which came over C&D last September and can go well.
1pt win – East Street Revue – 15/2 @ Bet365 & Coral
Curragh
3:10 – Keeneland Phoenix Stakes (Group 1) – 6f
Aidan O’Brien has trained six of the last ten winner of the Phoenix Stakes but hasn’t for the last two years. He saddles three of the ten declared runners: Admiral Nelson, Giorgio Vasari & St Mark’s Basilica. Looking at the prices it’s the latter that’s looks his main hope today. A half-brother to last season’s 2000 Guineas winner Magna Graecia. St Mark’s Basilica was very green on his racecourse debut over C&D 14-days ago but ran in good style to finish second. Needs to have improved plenty for that run but he’d bred to do so and can’t be dismissed.
It’s a very interesting race with plenty in with a chance. Just 3lb separates the top six on RPR’s. Just a short head separated Ventura Tormenta and The Lir Jet in the Group 2 Prix Robert Papin at Chantilly three weeks ago and there shouldn’t be much between them again but I wouldn’t be surprised if Ventura Tormenta finished ahead of his old rival again.
Steel Bull has changed ownership since an impressive win in the 5f Group 3 Molecomb at Goodwood. Today’s extra furlong shouldn’t pose a problem and he’s got a good chance of making it three from three.
Law Of Indices and Lucky Vega finished first and second in the Group 2 Railway Stakes over C&D 22-days ago. The first named found plenty for pressure to hold off the runner-up, who looked like he was coming with a winning run, inside the final 100yds. There was just ½ length between the pair at the line and there shouldn’t be much between them again.
Aloha Star is one of two fillies in the lineup. She’s improving with racing and beat Frenetic in a fillies Group 2 over C&D three weeks ago. Need to improve again to beat the colts but she capable of doing so.
Verdict: Steel Bull so impressive at Goodwood last time will go close if as effective over today’s extra furlong. St Mark’s Basilica is expected to have improved plenty for his recent racecourse debut. Law Of Indices will be hard to keep out of the frame.
0.5pts each way – Law Of Indices – 10/1 @ Bet365
Deauville
2:50 – Prix Maurice De Gheest Stakes – Group 1 – 6 ½ f
Eleven are set to go to post for a fascinating renewal of this Group 1 contest. Godolphin have a strong hand with likely favourite Earthlight & Space Blues. Earthlight bids to maintain his unbeaten record and make it seven wins on the spin. Had nice prep for this when winning a Listed race on seasonal reappearance 28-days ago. Last year’s Group 1 Middle Park Stakes winner is the one they all must beat.
Space Blues has won all three of this season’s starts and the 4-year-old put in a career best when winning the Listed Lennox Stakes at Goodwood. Finished third in this last year and won’t be far away again.
Just a head and one place behind Space Blues 12 months ago was Spinning Memories. The mare returns from a short break today but she’s won both starts so far 2020 and has each way claims.
Golden Horde runner-up to Earthlight in the Middle Park won the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot on his return before finishing third in The July Cup. Maybe better with a bit of juice in the ground so the drying ground maybe against him again.
Aidan O’Brien saddles Wichita & Lope Y Fernandez. The latter is the choice of Ryan Moore. Third in the Irish 2000 Guineas he was a disappointing favourite, when well beaten in the Commonwealth Cup. But showed that running to be all wrong when 2nd of 11 to Pinatubo in the 7f Prix Jean Prat here 28-days ago. Slight drop in trip won’t be a problem and he can’t be discounted. Wichita found just Kameko too strong in the English 2000 Guineas. He then finished a decent third in the St James’ Palace Stakes but was below that form when only fifth in the Sussex Stakes 11-days ago, Drying ground will suit, the drop in trip looks worth a try and he’s got place claims.
Hello Youmzain won the Diamond Jubilee on his seasonal return before finishing two places behind Golden Horde in the July Cup. The extra ½ f could be ideal for the 4-year-old who will be suited by the going staying good to soft. He’s better than his July Cup form and trainer Kevin Ryan won this race in 2017 with Brando so knows what’s needed to win. Definite each way claims on suitable going.
Verdict: It’s hard to look beyond the unbeaten Earthlight from a win perspective but Hello Youmzain has each way claims if the going remains on the soft side of good.
0.5pts each way – Hello Youmzain – 9/1 @ William Hill
Cheers
John