Hi all,
Wetherby’s two-day Charlie Hall Chase meeting begins with a competitive seven-race card. The feature race on the Wetherby card is the Listed juvenile hurdle (2.55).
The Listed ‘Bosra Sham’ Fillies’ Stakes (2.40) is the feature race of a seven race card at Newmarket. It’s the start of the weekend and I have a few fancies around Britain & Ireland today. Here are a few thoughts on the Wetherby and Newmarket cards. I have selections from both meetings as well as Dundalk and Friday’s betting advice can be found at the end of the main piece.
Wetherby
The going at Wetherby is good to soft, good in places for the start of the Charlie Hall meeting. There’s the real possibility of as much as 28mm of rain from Thursday to Saturday at the track. If it does arrive that will have an impact on the ground for Saturday’s card.
Grade 1 winning hurdler Gelino Bello faces two rivals his debut over fences in the novice chase (1.45). Just four have been declared for the Listed Wensleydale Juvenile Hurdle (2:55). Small on numbers but at least all four runners are last time out winner over hurdles.
Three time course winner Albert’s Back is on a winnable mark in the handicap hurdle (2:20). However, he needs the forecast rain to arrive to ease the ground significantly. Future chaser Name In Lights is interesting on handicap debutand looks the one to beat if as good going left handed as he the other way.
The Each Way Extra At bet365 Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (3:30) is the Wetherby feature. Flic Ou Voyou bounced back to winning ways at Chepstow on his seasonal return earlier this month. Jumped better then had done at the end of last season and likes a sound surface. Into Overdrive completed a spring hat trick when making all at Perth in April. Up 9lb in a better race but he looks progressive and will like the ground. Joke Dancer isn’t the most reliable of horses but he’s a previous course winner and is on a good mark. He’s also got the benefit of a recent run too having finished a 3 length 2nd of 3 to El Borracho here last time. Ground suits and Brian Hughes is a positive booking, but the 9-year-old must prove he’s as effective beyond 2m 1f.
Newmarket
It’s now good to soft, soft in places at Newmarket although not as much rain is forecast for Newmarket as Wetherby though.
Irish Stallion Farms EBF Bosra Sham Fillies Stakes (2:40)
Likely favourite Matilda Picotte brings arguably the best form to the race has winning form on yielding ground in Ireland. Ran right up to her best when a 2 ¾ length 3rd of 13 to Swingalong in the Group 2 Lowther Stakes at York last time.
Believing was a close-up second to Barefoot Angel in a Group 3 at Ayr two starts back but was well below that level of form here in a Group 3 over 7f three weeks ago.
Diamond Vega built on the promise of her Kempton racecourse debut with a comfortable success at Haydock 14-days ago. There should be more to come from the daughter of Lope De Vega who has a soft ground pedigree.
Kitai, made all to win a Pontefract maiden last time. She has a speedy pedigree and should do well as a 3-year-old. Must be respected with Ryan Moore booked.
All The Time finished a ½ length 2nd of 10 to Juliet Sierra in a Group 3 at Salisbury two starts back. Ran too bad to be true when last of 14 to Barefoot Angel at Ayr last time. Could bounce back although she’s unproven on soft ground.
Marine Wave made an eye catching racecourse debut at Ripon behind subsequent Lowther Stakes winner Swingalong in August before winning at Southwell later that month. The daughter of Harry Angel was a bit unlucky in the run when a 2 ¾ length 7th of 12 to Barefoot Angel last time. From a speedy family she’s capable of further improvement for a trainer who won this in 2020.
It’s an open looking Listed race and the paddock appearances could have a big impact on its outcome. You must respect Irish challenger Matilda Picotte. If the ground remains soft, then the improving Diamond Vega comes firmly into the picture. The most interesting of the ten fillies is Marine Wave she’s from an excellent sprinting family and could be the answer.
There’s also a couple of decent handicaps on the Newmarket card.
3:50 – Mister Camacho remains a maiden after 11 starts but has improved for the step up to 2m and last time posted a career best on RPR’s when a neck second of 9 to Flint Hill at Pontefract (2m 2f) earlier this month. Nudged up 2lb but remains on a competitive mark and the cheekpieces are replaced by the first time visor.
4:25 – Torcello isn’t always the most reliable and isn’t certain to reproduce his last time out 3 ½ lengths 2nd of 5 to Dark Jedi at Doncaster. However, the 8-year-old is a previous C&D winner and is now 4lb below last season’s winning mark. The softer the ground the better so his backers will be hoping the ground doesn’t dry out to much before post time.
Dundalk
6:00 – Course & Distance winner Micky The Steel bids for the hat trick after winning at Navan 9-days ago. He’s up 8lb which may not stop the 4-year-old give his resent vein of form and his recent improvement. He seems sure to run well but stall 13 is a concern. However, trainer Adrian McGuinness has a strong hand in the race with Dream Today and Laugh A Minute. The first named won over C&D and comes into the race 4lb lower. He ran stablemate Harry’s Bar to ½ length over C&D last month. And after winning on the beach at Laytown showed he remains in form when a running on 2 ½ lengths 4th of 16 at the Curragh an inadequate 5f last time. The harder the go up front the better his chance and he’s got handy draw stall 7. Laugh A Minute has yet to win on the all-weather, but he was a ½ length 2nd of 11 in this race 12 months ago and can race off 3lb lower this time around. Like his stablemate he come into the race in good form having finished one place in front of Dream Today at the Curragh two starts back and ran better than his 5 ¾ length 8th of 19 in the Coral Sprint Trophy at York last suggests. Not the easiest to win with but talented when all the cards fall right.
Betting Advice:
Wetherby
3:30 – Joke Dancer – 11/1 – Gen
Newmarket
2:40 – Marine Wave – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
3:50 – Mister Camacho – 10/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
4:25 – Torcello – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Dundalk
6:00 – Laugh A Minute – 7/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Cheers
John