Hi all,
A busy few days with Newmarket’s 3-day Craven Meeting starting on Tuesday and there are the final fixtures of the jumps season at Cheltenham on Wednesday & Thursday.
We also have a couple of eyecatchers due to run at Newmarket and Exeter today.
Newmarket
1:50 – Weatherbys TBA Handicap (Class 2) – 6f
Recent Doncaster eyecatcher Green Power runs here. The 4-year-old was 4th last year in the 3-year-old C&D handicap but he has the benefit of a recent run this time around. Ryan Moore an eyecatching booking and the gelding has solid claims.
Tommy Taylor was two places behind Green Power at Doncaster and will also have benefited from his seasonal reappearance. His usual cheekpieces remain off as at Doncaster. Trainer Kevin Ryan likes to target this meeting and is 7 winners from 14 runners 50% + 27.25 A/E 2.97 11 placed 79% with his runners in races over 5f or 6f. He also won this race in 2016.
Ed Walker who won this race last year saddles a couple of live contenders in Blackheath & Desert Doctor. The former is making his seasonal reappearance. He won on firm ground at Salisbury in July and ended last season with a second placed effort back at the same track in October. Up 2lb and up two notches in class. Needs to have improved over the winter to win. Desert Doctor has been running with credit on the all-weather. A six-time winner on the synthetics he’s 0 from 6 on turf but did finish one place ahead of Green Power here 12 months ago and races off the same mark here.
Verdict: I can’t leave Green Power out and I also like the claims of Tommy Taylor and Desert Doctor.
Green Power – 13/2 @ Bet365 or 6/1 – Gen
Tommy Taylor – 8/1 @ Bet365 & Coral
Desert Doctor – 9/1 @ William Hill & Coral
2:25 – bet365 European Free Handicap (Listed Race) (Class 1) – 7f
Just seven are declared to go to post for this year’s renewal which sadly means no each-way option. The John Gosden trained is colt Azano is the one to beat on his second placed effort to Saturday’s Greenham winner Mohaather in the Horris Hill Stakes. He faces much faster ground here today but does have a 2,000 Guineas entry.
The Richard Hannon trained Kuwait Currency is a contender. The trainer is 2 winners from 5 runners 40% +23.63 3 placed 60% with his runners in the race. The colt will probably be better over a mile but if they go a decent gallop, he can out run his odds in the first-time tongue tie.
Kuwait Currency – 7/1 @ Ladbrokes & Paddy Power
3:35 – Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes (Group 3) (Fillies) (Class 1) – 7f
This year’s race has attracted a field off 11 fillies and on paper it doesn’t look the strongest of renewals of this 1,000 Guineas Trial.
Come On Leicester, trained by Richard Hannon, has to prover her stamina for 7f and needs to have improved from two to three to win here. Could easily out run her odd, on ground that suits and has each-way claims.
Come On Leicester – 33/1 – Gen – each way
Exeter
2:40 – Nelson’s Touch – An eyecatcher back in December when runner-up at Sandown on heavy ground. The 6-year-old looked a progressive handicap hurdler that day but has disappointed on both starts since. Probably doesn’t want the ground too quick but worth noting he did win on good ground at Uttoxeter last May off 6lb lower. Returns from a 59-day lay off and if he can reproduce his early season form here has a good each way chance. Fingers crossed all the runners stand their ground and he’s worth a final chance here at what look generous odds.
Nelson’s Touch – 14/1 @ Paddy Power – each way
Cheers
John