Hi all,
We could do with a dry spell of weather. Yesterday the weather at Goodwood turned out to be worse than I thought and they raced on soft ground.
It’s Irish Guineas Weekend at the Curragh. The colt’s classic is the feature race of an eight-race card which must pass a morning inspection due to parts of the track being waterlogged. If they do get to race it will be run on heavy ground.
Another track that will race on heavy ground on Saturday is Haydock after plenty of rain on Friday. Of the other meetings. York is soft; whilst Newmarket is also being described as good to soft and Goodwood soft. There’s likely to be plenty of non-runners around the various, particularly at Haydock.
It’s more autumn going than late spring and It’s tricky for punters at present. As I mentioned yesterday Its probably not a day to get to heavily involved in.
I have had a look at some of the races being covered by ITV.
Haydock
2:25 – Download The Casumo App Today Handicap (Class 2) – 2m
Green Book beat Positleo in the Chester Plate last time. It was a decisive success by the 4-year-old but he was able to dictate the pace that day. Positleo wasn’t as well placed but stayed on well into second. Green Book’s been raised 10lb for that win and the runner-up gets a 7lb pull in the weights today and could reverse placing’s here, if he handles the likely heavy ground.
Rajinsky beat two rivals at Ripon last time. He’s only 1lb higher here, stays 2m, has won on heavy ground in the past and won’t be far away.
Future Investment was sent off the 7/1 joint favourite for the Chester Cup, He wasn’t well positioned from a wide draw and finished a never nearer 9th of 16. Likely on a decent mark if all the cards fall right.
Vindolanda is closely matched with Future Investment on their running at Chester last August. A winner here over 1m 6f last July on heavy. The ground will suit the mare who’s twice won in the mud. Returned from a six-month absence with a promising enough effort at Wolverhampton last month and will be fitter today.
Verdict: Green Book won’t be held back by the going but a 10lb rise could do. Positleo is capable of better and at the revised weights can reverse placings with Green Book. A bit of juice in the ground suits the 4-year-old but heavy is an unknown. The same can be said for Future Investment. Rajinsky has won on heavy and looks on decent mark but maybe better on a sounder surface. Vindolanda best form has come in the mud and she won’t be far away.
1pt win – Vindolanda – 10/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook
1pt win – Rajinsky – 11/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power
3:00 – Join Casumo Today Silver Bowl Handicap – 1m
Raadobarg showed he handled soft ground when winning at Thirsk last time. A decent prospect and makes his handicap debut off a workable mark.
Heights Of Abraham is a decent 3-year-old as he showed when winning over just short of 1m 2f at Ripon last time. Has a 6lb penalty to carry for that win but doesn’t look the easiest of rides.
Headingley didn’t seem to handle the track at Goodwood when 2nd of 5 last time and will be better for going this way around. On a winnable mark but has yet to race on ground as testing as is likely to face today. On the plus side trainer Mark Johnson has won this race twice since 2013.
No problems with the ground for Seasett who won on his handicap debut at Nottingham last time (heavy). Has a 9lb higher mark to contend with in a better race but his ability to handle the ground is a positive. Trainer Richard Fahey has saddled the winner of this race twice since 2012.
Verdict: The likes of Raad0barg and Headlingley look on good marks but heavy ground asks another question of both. Seasett needs to improve again to defy a 9lb rise but at least he seems effective on heavy ground.
1pt win – Seasett – 15/2 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook
3:35 – Casumo Bet10Get10 Sandy Lane Stakes (Group 2) – 6f
Dragon Symbol made it 4-4 when winning a minor race at Hamilton last time. He takes a big step in class here but should be able to cope with it. An exciting sprint prospect and can win this if handling the mud.
No issues with heavy ground for Mujbar who seemed to relish the conditions when winning the Group 3 Horris Hill Stakes on his final juvenile start. Never got competitive in the Greenham Stakes on his seasonal return but the drop back to 6f in the mud should be more to his liking.
Method would have claims on his seasonal return, He will be suited by a return to 6f but I’m not sure if heavy ground is what he really wants.
Verdict: A better run can be expected from Mujbar who won on heavy last autumn but the race revolves around Dragon Symbol handling testing ground. If he does, he wins.
4:10 – Casumo Best Odds Guaranteed Temple Stakes (Group 2) – 5f
John Quinn has a strong hand here with Liberty Beach & Keep Busy. They both make their seasonal reappearances here and handle heavy ground. The former won first time up in 2020 and could be a bit sharper than her stablemate.
Lady in France has the benefit of race fitness on her side and is another who gets her favoured underfoot conditions. Her stablemate Ainsdale goes very well in the mud but does need the other three to underperform to win.
York
3:50 – williamhill.com Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap (Class 2) – 5f
Count D’orsay shaped like a win was close to hand when finishing runner-up at Chester two starts back. Not as good over C&D last time behind stablemate Copper Knight but it was good that day and he’s better judged when soft is in the going description where his form figures are 1121122. A big run can be expected and I can see him beating Copper Knight on this ground although that one remains on good mark on his back form.
Mondammej showed he remains on good form when a ¾ length 3rd of 17 behind Copper Knight last time. He didn’t get the best of runs inside the final furlong. Get’s a 3lb pull with Copper Knight and would have a decent chance of finishing ahead of that one this time. However, he’s not the easiest of rides and this is his first start on ground worse than good to soft.
Pendleton returned from a 560-day absence to show he retains plenty of ability when a nose 2nd of 18 at Ascot 15-days ago. Up 4lb but likely on a competitive mark if this doesn’t come to quick. He’s well suited to soft/heavy ground 1 win from 5 runs 4 placed.
Justanotherbottle is just 1lb higher than when beating Count D’orsay a head at Catterick on soft ground last October. Back to form when 2nd of 6 at Pontefract last time and is on a competitive mark.
Son And Sannie is another on a competitive mark and has a light weight in the conditions but may find a couple to good.
Zargun put in a career best effort from the front when 3rd of 18 over 6f here last time. Showed plenty of pace last time so the drop to the minimum trip shouldn’t inconvenience the 6-year-old who is just 1lb higher here. Each way claims for a yard among the winners.
Verdict: I’m expecting a much better run from Count D’orsay on his return to soft ground. Pendleton is another soft ground performer and provided this race doesn’t come to quick after Ascot is sure to be in the mix. Zargun ran well over 6f last time and looks a serious contender.
1pt win – Count D’orsay – 15/2 @ Bet365 & Coral
1pt win – Zargun – 12/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Curragh
There must be a big doubt about the meeting taking place given the rain that has fallen this week. If they do race the ground will be testing for the first Irish colt’s classic.
3:20 – Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas (Group 1) – 1m
Poetic Flare won the English 2,000 Guineas (good to firm) and wasn’t disgraced when 6th in the French version last Sunday on softer ground. Quick turnround but likely won’t be far away again. Stablemate Mac Swiney relished heavy ground when winning the Futurity at Doncaster last season. A shade disappointing in the Derrinstown Derby Trial when only 4th of 7 to Bolshoi Ballet on his seasonal return. He will strip fitter for that run and the testing ground will bring his stamina into play.
Lucky Vega showed he stayed a mile on quick ground when a ½ length 3rd of 14 to Poetic Flare in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket. His stamina will be tested further on this ground but he shouldn’t be far away again.
Aidan O’Brien saddles three of the 12 declared runners. Wembley, Battleground & Van Gogh. All three ran in the English 2,000 Guineas but ran well below their best juvenile form.
Van Gogh did best of the O’Brien trio at Newmarket. A winnerof a heavy ground Group 1 at Saint Cloud on his juvenile start. He will probably be better over 1m 2f but the testing ground will bring his stamina into play.
Battleground didn’t seem to handle the track at Newmarket so that run can be excused. However, I’m not sure a mile on heavy ground will be what he wants.
Ryan Moore opts for Wembley. Runner-up in last years’ Dewhurst at Newmarket to stablemate St Mark’s Basilica, the recent French 2,000 Guineas winner, wasn’t seen at his best on quick ground in the 2,000 Guineas and a return to softer ground can see him in a better light.
La Barrosa was well behind Van Gogh at Saint Cloud last season but showed he had trained on from two to three when running stablemate Master Of The Seas to ¾ length in the Craven Stakes on his seasonal reappearance. The winner went onto finish runner-up in the 2,000 Guineas next time. It was a career best from La Barrosa who is going the right way but whether he wants the ground as testing as this is questionable.
Verdict: Mac Swiney might need further but at least he’s proved his effectiveness on heavy ground. Van Gogh won on heavy as a juvenile. Like Mac Swiney he maybe better over 1m 2f but this ground will bring his stamina into play. Wembley, the choice of Ryan Moore, will prefer this ground to the quick ground he faced in the English 2,000 Guineas.
1pt win – Wembley – 9/2 @ Bet365 & Ladbrokes
Cheers
John