Hi all,
The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday Weekend gets underway with some decent racing including the Racing TV Zetland Gold Cup (4.45) and the Hampton By Hilton Hamilton Park Clyde Handicap (2.36). There’s also Listed action at Leopardstown with the Glencairn Stakes (6:15) along with the King George V Cup (7.20). I have selections in both races and there’s also one from this afternoon meeting at Leicester.
Redcar
4:45 – Racing TV Zetland Gold Cup Handicap (Class 2) – 1m 2f
Twelve have been declared for this year’s race. With front runners like Forest Falcon, Pride Of American and Cockalorum in the line-up there should be a decent pace. Of those likely to be ridden prominently the preference would be for Forest Falcon who produced a personal best when a neck 2nd of 8 to Bollin Joan at Ripon 7-days ago. Yard won this in 2015 & 2016.
James Doyle heads North to ride a couple for Hughie Morrison including Stay Well. The 4-year-old stays 1m 4f but he’s equally effective over 1m 2f. There was plenty to like about his return from a 6-month absence when a head 2nd of 10 to Belloccio at Kempton in April. He’s up 4lb for that effort but should be nicely placed tracking the leaders and remains one to be interested in.
Lightening Company won a handicap here over a mile two starts back. The 4-year-old shaped better than his 3 ½ length 5th of 13 to Cruyff Turn at York last time. He didn’t get a clear run 2f out that day but once in the clear finished his race off well. Mixed messages on pedigree but there’s a good chance he will stay 1m 2f.
Baryshnikov has won both starts this season but he’s 3lb higher than when successful at Chester last time. He’s also 10lb higher than when 5th in this race last season but can’t be ruled out given his present form
Turntable looks competitively weighted on his first start beyond 1m 1f. A good ½-length 2nd of 9 at Newmarket on his seasonal reappearance. A strongly run 1m 2f could stretch is stamina though.
Tim Easterby has a couple of live contenders in Bollin Joan & Highwaygrey and I think the trainer holds the key to the race. The first named come into the race in tremendous form having won her last two starts at York & Ripon. She’s in foal and although she has a 4lb penalty to carry for her Ripon win and another big run could be forthcoming. Highwaygrey is arguably the best handicapped horse in the race. He failed to stay 1m 4f at York last time, but the 6-year-old is better over 1m 2f and is 11lb lower than when a strong finishing 1 ¾ length 4th of 14 in last year’s race.
Verdict: Forest Falcon will face competition for the lead but given his present form must be respected as does Lightening Company on first start beyond a mile on the flat. Stay Well is feared as is the in-foal mare Bollin Joan and the well handicapped Highwaygrey.
1pt win – Highwaygrey – 6/1 @ Bet365 and 1pt win – Bollin Joan – 9/1 – Gen.
Hamilton
2:36 – I’m A Gambler comes into this 6f handicap in tremendous form. He stayed the 7f at Beverley strongly when winning at the East Riding venue just five days ago. Has a 5lb penalty to carry for that success but will be tough to beat. He won over C&D early last month and shouldn’t be inconvenienced by the return to sprinting. For all his obvious claims I’m going with the Rathbone who also comes into the race in rude health. The 6-year-old beat three rivals at Doncaster two starts and showed he remained in form when a short head 2nd of 12 to Tinto at Thirsk 19-days ago. The winner went in at Ripon yesterday, so the form of that Thirsk race looks solid. Up 2lb for his latest effort but remains on a competitive and was only beaten a neck in this race 12 months ago.
1pt win – Rathbone – 5/1 – Gen.
Leicester
1:35 – A 3-year-old fillies’ only handicap with a small field but plenty of the runners having the scope to be better than their marks. One such filly is Go Beyond who made a pleasing enough handicap debut when a 2 ½ length 2nd of 10 at Haydock last month. The step up to 1m 4f seemed to enable her to take a big step forward last time. It was soft ground at Haydock so today’s underfoot conditions shouldn’t worry the selection.
1pt win – Go Beyond – 8/1 @ Bet365.
Cheers
John