Hi all,
I’m back in the hot seat after my short break.
Ok, it’s not the most exciting of Saturday’s but we are just a week away from the Derby & Oaks and there going to be plenty of better punting opportunities in the coming weeks.
The ITV cameras are covering the best of the action from Haydock, Beverley & Chester.
Haydock
The going at Haydock is soft, good to soft in places.
1:45 – Betway Handicap (Class 3) – 6f
Capote’s Dream twice a winner at Kempton showed he could be as effective on turf when winning at Windsor (good) last time. Raised only 2lb for that success his coming from behind style of racing makes him dependent on a good pace to chase but it also means he doesn’t win his races by much which makes it hard for the handicapper to assess him. Soft ground is a bit of an unknown but if he handles it, he will go close.
Bielsa wasn’t beaten far when 5th of 18 at York 17-days ago. Down to a winnable mark but doesn’t finding winning easy and has been a beaten favourite on both starts this season.
Cold Stare won this race in 2019 off 5lb higher. He wasn’t beaten far at Goodwood 8-days ago and is best suited to soft ground. Osin Murphy booked of the ride and a return to C&D is a positive.
Musicality seems ground versatile. Although the 4-year-old hasn’t really built on his Newmarket success last August he remains open to further improvement and will strip fitter for Ascot reappearance effort 22-days ago.
Bernardo O’Reilly finished three places and ¾ length behind Musicality at Ascot on his return to action. Down to his last winning mark the 7-year-old is suited to a strongly run 6f and although he’s not the most consistent of horses he shouldn’t be far away if building on his Ascot running.
The lightly raced Helvazia ended last season with an improved effort in Listed company at Goodwood and is interesting with Frankie Dettori booked for her seasonal return.
Hyperfocus is 3-5, 4 placed, over C&D and is at his best on soft ground. Should strip fitter for his York seasonal return 17-days ago and can’t be easily dismissed with conditions in his favour.
Verdict: Arguably the most competitive race of the day and you can make a strong case for six or seven of the 16 runners. Bielsa doesn’t find winning easy but shouldn’t be far away. Both Capote’s Dream & Bernardo O’Reilly need a strong pace to chase but if they get it won’t be far away.
1pt win – Capote’s Dream – 11/2 @ Coral & Bet365
1pt win – Bernardo O’Reilly – 11/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power
2:15 – Betway Achilles Stakes (Listed Race) (Class 1) – 5f
El Astronaute showed his usual early speed when making all to win at Chester on his seasonal return. The 8-year-old often runs well on his seasonal return and must show he can back it up second time up. Will take the beating, if he can.
Aljady was a much-improved sprinter last season and although he has been at his very best on either start in 2021 shouldn’t be far away here.
Moss Gill wasn’t seen at his best in a Group 1 at Meydan over the winter. Last year’s best from brings him right into the mix and the first time cheekpieces are applied today. Best form so far has come at York but if the headgear has the desired effect, he will be in the mix.
Count D’orsay has a bit to find at the weights but is well suited to soft ground and course & distance, Could get into the frame but stall 10 is slightly off putting.
Tarboosh must give a 3lb penalty away but normally gives his running in these sorts of races and can’t be ruled out from what could be a handy draw in stall 5.
Verdict: The likely strong pace will suit Moss Gill and he could be the one to be with in an open looking race.
Beverley
The going at the East Yorkshire track is soft and the feature races on seven race card are for the juveniles. However, the most interesting race from a betting perspective is the 7 ½ handicap (3:45)
3:10 – Continental Two-Year-Old Trophy Conditions Stakes (GBB Race) (Colts & Geldings) (Class 2) -5f
The most interesting runner is the unraced 105,000 Gns breeze up purchase Straits Of Moyle. Trained by Richard Fahey, who won the last running of the race in 2019 for the same owners, the colt could be good enough to make a winning racecourse debut if handling the soft ground.
1pt win – Straits Of Moyle – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
3:45 – bet365 Handicap (Class 3) – 7 ½ f
Sibaaq looked to have improved for a gelding operation when winning over C&D 45-days ago. From a family that go well with racing, he’s up just 4lb for last time and has handy draw in stall 3. Testing ground would be a concern but he can go close if handling it.
Give It Some Teddy looks to be working his way back to form and was a ½ length 4th of 14 at Carlisle 12-days ago. Can race off the same mark here and is suited to the ground. Not sure if this track will play to the 7-year-old’s strengths but now below his last winning mark. Stablemate Cassy O won twice at Ayr last year and shaped like he could be competitive of this sort of mark 1 ¼ length 3rd of 12 at Wetherby two starts back. Didn’t get the best of passages at York last time so that run is best forgiven. Not without an each-way chance if he can overcome stall 10.
Top-weight Queen’s Sargent is 1-1 over C&D and although the 6-year-old races off a career high mark can’t be ruled out in this company.
Verdict: Sibaaq is a worthy favourite but doubts about the ground mean he can be taken on. Queen’s Sargent holds no secrets from the handicapper but is consistent enough and Cassy O can do better than last time even though his draw isn’t ideal.
1pt win – Queen’s Sargent – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Chester
It’s good to soft at Chester and ITV are covering one race from the track this afternoon.
2:40 – tote+ Pays You More At tote.co.uk Handicap (Class 2) – 7 ½ f
Boardman is up 10lb for an impressive win at York 15-days ago. The rise in the weights shouldn’t be an issue but the question is whether his style of running is suited to Chester’s twists and turns. Good draw in stall 4 and he looks the one to beat in his hat trick bid.
Ejtilaab has run well on both starts this season, including when 3 ¼ length 5th of 10 over C&D last time. At his best on a sound surface so drying ground is a positive and he should go well from stall 1.
Previous C&D winner Another Batt was on place behind Ejtilaab in that C&D race and has since returned to winning ways at Thirsk. Not the most consistent but a 5lb penalty isn’t insurmountable but stall 7 could be.
Alexander James must be respected on his first start for Mick Appleby and from a handy draw in stall 2.
King’s Knight a winner at Lingfield on his return from a 158-day break last month showed he remains in good form when a head 2nd of 8 at Goodwood 28-days ago. Handicapper hasn’t made life easy for the 4-year-old raising him 6lb for his last time out effort and stall 8 could be better. Jim Crowley booked and he’s lightly raced so can’t be ruled out at track that should suit.
Verdict: Despite a hike in the weights Boardman is the one to beat but must break well from stall four if he’s to win. Ejtilaab is another with a good draw and drying ground makes him a serious contender. King’s Knight isn’t as well drawn as the other two but is respected given his present from.
2pts win – Boardman – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Cheers
John