Hi all,
We have two recent eyecatchers running on Thursday.
Ripon
3:50 – Just Hiss -18/1 @ Bet365 & BetVictor – each way – Has placed here in the past and the ground will be fine. Races prominently but could find he won’t get an easy lead out in front. Each way claims at best today
Hamilton
5:00 – Van Gerwen – 7/2 – Bet365 & BetVictor – Stiff 5f will suit as will the easy ground. Stall 1 slight concern but a good chance for this recent Ponterfract eyecatcher.
Cheers
John
Hi all,
I couldn’t complete the weekly notebook last week due to bad head cold. But I’m back with plenty of horses to follow covering the last two week’s racing action.
There is no Classic’s this weekend. As we have entered that twilight zone between the end of the Epsom Derby Festival and the start of Royal Ascot
On Saturday there plenty of racing both sides of the Irish Sea but nothing that really grabs the attention at this stage.
Haydock has two Group 3’s and a Listed race but standout Saturday handicap. Beverley hosts two decent juvenile races. If it’s handicaps that you like then, Newmarket and Chelmsford with three Class 2 races each is where you will be heading.
However, as ever let’s begin back by taking a quick look back at the Investec Derby Festival and those horse’s worth adding to your trackers.
Anapurna won the Oaks by outstaying her rivals. Frankie Dettori always had his filly in a good position and although she was a bit outpaced two out, to her credit the daughter of Frankel kept finding for pressure and the further she went the better she looked.
Pink Dogwood and even more so stablemate Fleeting were not as well positioned as the winner. The former made a big move two furlongs out and looked the most likely winner for a few strides, but the big race move she made caught up with her well inside the final furlong and she just couldn’t match the winner. Her best trip could well turn out to be 1m 2f.
Fleeting was given a poor ride by Wayne Lordan. She was even further back than the runner-up when making her effort but made good headway to finish 1 ½ lengths back in third. He run can be marked up slightly and she would have a good chance of reversing form with the winner in the Irish Oaks.
Apart from Fleeting’s run in the Oaks. Two other horses caught my eye.
Setting Sail, trained by Charlie Appleby, a winner at Wolverhampton after a 572-day absence back in April. Possibly found his next race at Ascot coming too quick. Dropping back to 1m 2f and racing on the fastest ground he had faced during his light career seemed to find him out and he could only finish 4th of 11 behind Mountain Angel.
This was only his 5th career start and he remains’ a gelding with potential off his present mark when he gets more juice in the ground and a more conventional track.
Alemaratalyoum, trained by Stuart Williams. The 5-year-old looked like he was going to win a furlong out in the 7f handicap that concluded Oaks Day. But he could never get past the eventual winner and runner-up and lost third in the shadow of the post. This was a much better effort than his first two runs for connections. He’s twice won three times on soft & heavy and twice on good to firm, so seems versatile regarding ground. Three wins from three runs over a mile at Haydock for his previous trainer so perhaps a race back at that venue can be found for the gelding.
Only beaten ¾ length at the finish. He’s been nudged up 1lb for this effort If he can build on it he remains on a potentially winnable mark.
The form of this years Derby looks a bit messy. Less than a length separated the first five home at the line.
Anthony Van Dyke looked an unlikely winner when being pushed along coming into the straight and plenty of his rivals were going better at the time. Coming to two out he had seven or eight horses ahead of him, but he did find plenty for pressure and was given a great ride by jockey Seamie Heffernan who switched the colt to the inner. The son of Galileo stayed on to lead in the final 100yds and held off his pursuers.
Madhmoon, looked a doubtful stayer on pedigree, but he stayed well enough although not as stoutly as the winner. His final effort wasn’t helped by having to battle away with Sir Dragonet for most of the final two furlongs.
Sir Dragonet came with what looked like it would be a winning run two furlongs from home but didn’t have the change of pace to go clear of his field. Maybe it was the quick ground or the track or just his lack of experience that caught him out. Whichever is the case he remains a colt with bags of potential.
Japan was staying on well all the way to line to finish third. He also made his effort out widest in the final furlong. His improvement hasn’t finished, and he looks a St Leger horse in the making. That said if he was to go for the Irish Derby I wouldn’t be surprised if he turns the tables on the winner at the Curragh.
Broome who finished 4th could also head for the Irish Derby and maybe even be a St Leger contender. For me 1m 4f looks his trip. He also didn’t seem as comfortable on the track as others in the field and was also out widest coming around the bend.
It looked a tough race to fathom out beforehand and so it turned out to be. You could run the race again on a different track and get a totally different result.
Three handicappers caught my eye on the Derby Day card with two of them trained by same trainer.
A horse need plenty of luck in running the 5f Epsom ‘Dash’ and the likes of Eeh Bah Gum, Duke of Firenze & Copper Knight didn’t get the rub of the green and nor did Harome.
Harome, trained by Roger Fell, won twice last year and has dropped down to 2lb below his last winning mark. He improved on each of his first three starts and did so again here. Beaten 1 ¾ lengths into 6th.
The 5-year-old probably wasn’t as unlucky in the run as some I mentioned earlier. However, he was slightly hampered at the start and was staying on as strongly as anything at the line. Like a lot of the trainer’s runner he tends to need a few races to find his mark but he’s a handicap sprinter running into form.
A quick surface really suits and as he showed here a big field holds no terrors either. Although, it’s worth noting all his five career wins have come in single digit field sizes on good or quicker ground – 5 wins from 11 runs 45% +24.5 7 placed 64%.
He needs all the cards to fall right but there’s surely a nice 5f handicap in the gelding when they do.
Byron Flyer, trained by Ian Williams, won three successive handicaps over 1m 4f between Sept & October last year. All three of those wins came in cheekpieces. The headgear hasn’t been added on either of his two starts this season.
This was a much better effort than his York seasonal return. The 8-year-old just came up against an improving handicapper in Soto Sizzler and had to settle for second.
All three of his flat wins have come on good ground and the prominent racer is 3 wins from 5 runs +8 4 placed in field sizes seven or less. The handicapper has put him up 1lb for this run, but he remains capable of winning a handicap or two this summer when he gets his own way out in front.
Squats, trained by Ian Williams. The 7-year-old was having just his second start since switching from the William Haggas yard.
Both his wins since he was a juvenile have come over 7f and his top five Racing Post Ratings (RPR’s) have also come over that distance. Before the race 6f at Epsom seemed two sharp a test for the gelding but he ran well to finish 3rd of 14 in which the track record was broken.
This was a step up on his Ascot seasonal reappearance and he’s just 1lb higher than his last winning mark. He’s the type who will pop up in one of these handicaps this season. It’s just a case of catching him.
In brief here are four horses for the tracker from the previous weeks racing.
Makzeem, trained by Roger Charlton. The 6-year-old put in an encouraging effort in the 7f handicap. Only 5th but this was his first start for 299-days He hasn’t won since September 2017 and he remains 3lb above that mark but he’s gradually getting back to a winnable mark. He handles quick ground but his best runs on RPR’s have come on good to soft. Capable of landing a decent 7f handicap.
Van Gerwen, trained by Les Eyre,put his best run of the year so far when beaten ¾ length into third here. The first time cheekpieces clearly had the desired effect and if the headgear continues to work a win can’t be far away especially when the 6-year-old gets more ease in the ground. A track with a stiff finish like Pontefract and Beverley really suits the gelding whose 2lb below his last winning mark. Has an entry at Hamilton on Thursday.
Mr Diamond, trained by Richard Fahey. The 3-year-old made a winning seasonal reappearance in a Class 4 at Wetherby. He wasn’t disgraced when upped to Class 2 company in finishing 5th of 14 on good to firm ground, both career wins have come on good to soft, here. He went for a gap at the cutaway two out but that wasn’t the place to be as the action unfolded down the centre. Back down in grade, he looks capable of defying a mark of 79.
Gunmetal, trained by David Barron, won three of his six starts last season all over 6f, including the Great St Wilfrid Handicap at Ripon off 6lb lower. Looked on a tough mark on his Newmarket return. Dropped to 5f he ran a cracker to finish 4th of 19. Given this was his first career start over the minimum trip it was a good effort, especially on speed favouring track. Held up, not surprisingly he was doing all his best work at the finish. Unexposed over the distance, a strongly run 5f on a stiffer track could see the gelding defy his career high mark.
Cheers
John
Hi all,
A couple of recent eyecatchers running on Wednesday.
1:30 – Bless Him – 7/2 – Gen – He wouldn’t want the race to get too tactical and the ground to ease to much. But is handicapped to go close.
7:30 – Dominus – 9/4 @Bet365 – Has the form to win this if the rain hasn’t eased the going too much.
I will try to get this weeks notebook out you sometime on Wednesday.
Cheers
John
Hi all,
Two winners on Saturday, albeit one was long odds on.
Nothing to get excited about in England or Ireland on Sunday although over the English Channel its Prix Du Jockey Club Day at Chantilly.
I will let you know when any eyecatchers are running this week. But I don’t think there will be many other selections until the weekend.
3:25 – Persian King winner of the French 2,000 Guineas is a sold favourite for the Prix du Jockey Club. He’s looked the best 3-year-old colt in Europe this season so far and should stay the extra 2 ½ f of the French Derby. However, he’s got a wide draw in 14 to overcome which means he might be worth taking on.
Mohawk runner-up to Circus Maximus in the Dee Stakes drops back to what looks his optimum trip but he’s drawn out even wider than the favourite in stall 15.
Slalom like the favourite trained by Andre Fabre made it 3 wins from 3 runs when winning a Group 3 at Longchamp 49-days ago. He’s an improving colt who may prove to be even better over 1m 4f. If they go a decent gallop, he can go close from stall 10.
Verdict: If he stays and stall 14 doesn’t prove too much of an inconvenience then Persian King will be hard to beat. However, at the prices it might be with chancing Mohawk and Slalom to small stakes each way.
4:30 – Indian Raj caught the eye when a 2 ½ length 4th behind Burford Brown at Ascot 32-days ago. That was the 5-year-old first start for 629-days and he entitled to be closer to the winner today on 4lb better terms. That said Burford Brown has only had 10 career starts, 6 on turf and remains capable of further progress.
Trainer Mick Appleby has won this race three times in the past 8 years and he saddles Danzeno. It’s his first run since last July but he’s won and run well after a lay off in the past. The 8-year-old carries top weight of 9-13 but he’s a well handicapped horse if/when if he bounces back to form.
Spoof, ran better on his first start over 6f at York 18-days ago, than he had done on his Newbury seasonal reappearance. The 4-year-old won’t be inconvenienced by the drop back to the minimum trip but wouldn’t want to much rain to ease the ground before post time. Just 1lb higher than his last winning mark and can’t be left out of calculations
Roman River – Put in a career best when 2nd of 11, beaten a head by yesterday’s Epsom ‘Dash’ winner Ornate at Newmarket 45-days ago. The 4-year-old has been nudged up 3lb for that effort but looks capable of going one place better here with a similar level of performance.
Verdict: A decent sprint handicap. Roman River can win off his mark and it’s worth noting Spoof from the inform Charlie Hills stable.
Cheers
John
Hi all,
Mountain Angel saved the day on Friday. Hopefully Saturday will see a profitable day for our selections which all come from Epsom. Like yesterday I have concentrated on the handicap races on the card.
2:00 – The Trader – Was a good 5th in the London Gold Cup 14-days ago and looks capable of bold show here, especially if ridden more prominently today.
3:45 – Copper Knight is in the form of his career and this very speedy 5-year-old should enjoy the track. Big chance off 1lb lower than when 3rd at York 7-days ago.
Recent eyecatcher Eeh Bah Gum should be suited by the fast 5f. A stablemate of Copper Knight, he finished 4 length behind the winner at York 7-days ago. The 4-year-old didn’t get the clearest of runs a furlong or would have finished much closer than he did. I tipped them last week and I won’t be deserting them here, in a typically open renewal.
4:30 – There’s nothing I can tell you that you probably don’t already know about this year’s Derby runners.
Sir Dragonet looked to have a bit of knee action when winning the Chester Vase last month. How good will he be on much quicker ground? If there is a superstar colt in the race it’s probably this son of Camelot.
One who come into the race a little bit under the radar was Circus Maximus who was workmanlike when winning the Dee Stakes at Chester but I like the son of Galileo. Earlier in the week he was 20/1 for the race but the booking of Frankie Dettori has meant he has now half those odds. He was value at 20/1, now he’s the right price. Norway was 8 lengths behind stablemate Sir Dragonet at Chester but he didn’t appreciate the soft ground that day and is surely better than that running. I tentatively put him up at 25/1 for the St Leger but he could outrun his odds and get into the money. I’m hoping he will go well with Doncaster Classic in mind.
A boring selection but I’m hoping that Sir Dragonet is the star the 3-year-old colt division requires
5:15 – Recent eyecatcher Soto Sizzler did the business for us over C&D at the previous meeting. I kept him in my tracker after that run as I think he can land a decent handicap over 1m 4f+ later in the season. This looks tougher with recent Ascot winner Sextant, just 2lb higher and, another with plenty of scope for improvement.
5:50 – Roger Varian had a good day here on Friday and for that reason Spanish City must be respected. The 6-year-old returned to action with a second at Newmarket 14-days ago. That was over 7f but the drop back to 6f shouldn’t pose a problem. Looks capable of winning a handicap like this off his present mark and it hopefully could be today if stall 14 isn’t too much of an inconvenience. A tentative rather than a confident selection!
Doncaster
4:15 – Moss Gill – 4/7 @ Paddy Power & BetVictor
Always check with an odds comparison service like Oddschecker to get the best prices available.
All selections win only unless indicated as each way.
Cheers
John
Hi all,
If you were wondering where this weekly’s notebook is. I haven’t forgotten it but sadly I have been poorly over the last few days so haven’t had the energy to get around to doing it yet and instead I have concentrated on looking at the form for the next two days at Epsom.
Apart from the Oaks I have just looked at today’s handicap races.
2:35 – Recent eyecatcher History Writer has been running back into form and was a close-up 3rd at Sandown 8-days ago. He’s better drawn in stall 8 and can race off the same mark as he did last week. Will surely win a handicap like this before long. First run here at Epsom asks a new question but if handles the track, he can go close.
3:45 – Elector impressed when winning on his seasonal reappearance. That was the 4-year-old’s first run since a gelding operation. Up just 2lb for that win means he must go close again and has a good draw in stall 3.
The eyecatcher of that race was Jazeel was beaten just a neck by Elector at Newmarket and is just 1lb better off. That was his first start of the season, so he’s entitled to strip fitter here. Drawn in stall 8 which could be better.
Mountain Angel won over C&D on his return to action. His trainer Roger Varian is 2 winners from 3 runners +6.75 in this race, including last year with Ajman King who won same race as Mountain Angel before winning this. Despite stall 6 he looks the one to beat for me.
Previous eyecatcher Ripp Orf also runsbut I’m not sure this track suits but he probably needs to win this to get into the Hunt Cup and he was beaten favourite in this race last year. albeit that was on soft ground and today’s sounder surface will be in his favour. Recent trainer form is also a slight concern at present
I can’t leave Jazeel out of calculations although I’m not sure about the track, but I also really like Mountain Angel’s recent C&D form. That said, Ripp Orf will probably now win as I’m leaving him out today.
4:30 – Investec Oaks – This looks a more open race than the betting suggests. The filly’s classic has produced more than its fair share of shocks in the past ten years. Those horses returned between 20/1 & 50/1 have produced:
4 winners from 37 runners +77 7 placed – The expected wins from such priced horses should have been 1.17. If you had backed all 34 runners to Betfair SP you would have made a profit of +156.64.
So, whilst the likes of Pink Dogwood, Mehdaayih and Maqsad, in particular the, latter, could be special fillies.
As I mentioned in Monday’s Daily Punt column. “In an open looking year, I wouldn’t be surprised to see aa filly unfancied in the market make the places this year and maybe even win it”. With that in mind I’m looking further down the betting for some value with Lavender Blue & Tarnawa. The former, a daughter of Sea The Stars, is open to more progress on just her third career start and the latter wasn’t beaten far into third behind Pink Dogwood two starts back and won the Group 3 Blue Wind Stakes at Naas on her last start. Like Lavender’s Blue she should appreciate the step up to 1m 4f.
5:50 – Nobleman’s Nest – The 4-year-old impressed when a decisive winner at Yarmouth on his final start of last season. Seasonal reappearance here of just 4lb higher and he can give his supporters a decent run for their money if fully tuned up. Did win off a 112 -day break last season so there is hope that he will be. Trainer Simon Crisford is 2 winners from 3 runners +4.75 at this meeting in the past 5-years and jockey Silvestre De Sousa has a 27%-win strike rate at Epsom, including 13 winners from 37 runners 355 +23.46 20 placed 54% over C&D.
Chelmsford
7:40 – Rio Ronaldo – Has won on the tapeta, although his best effort subsequently has come on the turf. Handicapped to win but he’s only beaten two rivals on either of his two starts here at Chelmsford.
Always check with an odds comparison service like Oddschecker to get the best prices available.
All selections win only unless indicated as each way.
Cheers
John
Hi all,
7:50 – Penwortham – Didn’t expect to see the recent Chester eyecatcher running here. His best six performances on RPR’s have come at Chester, as have three of his five career wins. The 6-year-old is back to a competitive mark, 2lb below last winning one. Seems to be about to hit form but will it come here or when returned to his beloved Chester? Probably the latter but you can’t rule him out on his first visit to Ayr.
Cheers
John
Hi all,
What a great win by Hermosa in the Irish 1,000 Guineas on Sunday. She’s now the standout three-year-old mile filly. Granted she probably hasn’t beaten any top-class opponents but you can only beat whats put before you.
There are two recent eyecatchers running today. Both in the same race.
4:10 – Fennaan – 20/1 – each way – Question mark over today’s 1m 2f trip stamina wise but he’s given one more chance to get his head in front.
4:10 – Nicholas T – 9/1 – each way – Was runner-up in this race 12 months ago. Has each way claims again on quick ground
I will post when any eyecatchers are running this week but other selections will return on Oaks Day.
This weeks notebook will be posted either on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Cheers
John
Hi all,
I have just recovered my composure after not putting up Phoenix of Spain up as a selection in the Irish 2,000 Guineas, despite saying how it had good place claims and was overpriced on his juvenile form. That’s racing for you. I found the third at a big price but neglected the winner in the end.
Well it’s the turn of fillies at the Curragh on Sunday with the latest running of the Irish 1,000 Guineas.
2:20 – Early Call – Seemed to have improved for the addition of the first blinkers when 4th of 19 at Navan. The handicapper has dropped the 4-year-old a lb and useful 5lb apprentice Ben Coen has been booked for the ride. Each way claims in a very open race.
4:25 – Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas (Group 1) – 1m
Hermosa won the English 1,000 Guineas and deserves to head the betting for the Irish version. In fact, the 11/4 available about the filly looks a bit of value too. Just Wonderful was 6th behind her stablemate at Newmarket. She didn’t seem totally at home on the track, despite being a previous course winner, but once she hit the rising ground, she travelled much better. I wouldn’t be surprised if she got closer to Hermosa today. East was a good third in the French 1,000 Guineas and any rain to ease the ground would be in her favour. At a big price you can’t rule out a big run from Dean Street Doll.
5:00 – Crotchet, has placed on both her starts since joining Joseph O’Brien. Both those efforts have come with ease in the ground, but she did win on good to firm when trained by Richard Fahey. Innamorare did well as 3-year-old and is just 3lb higher than for her last win at Leopardstown back in October. Came from of the pace to finish 4th of 13 at Cork 16-days ago and looks to be running into form.
5:30 – White Desert is having his first start since being bought out of the Charlie Appleby stable. The 5-year-old wasn’t disgraced when runner-up to Machine Learner at Ascot on his last start. Races off just 1lb higher and if fit enough for his first run for 317-days looks on a competitive mark. Colin Keane whose having his first ride for the trainer looks an interesting jockey booking.
Cheers
John
Hi all,
With you later than normal due to website technical issues last evening and this morning
A very busy Saturday with plenty of action right across the country. The best race being at Haydock with the Group 2 Temple Stakes over 5f. Battaash, returns to action in the race against last year’s Nunthorpe winner Alpha Delphini and the mare Mabs Cross.
Over in Ireland it’s Day 2 of the Curragh Guineas Weekend, with the highlight being the Irish 2,000 Guineas. It’s at the Curragh where I will begin this preview.
2:25 – Shore Step has good claims in this 6f handicap. Twice a C&D winner the 9-year-old holds no secrets for the handicapper, but his best form has come on good or quicker ground. A winner at Cork off 1lb lower last October. Has been apprentice ridden on both this seasons two starts and Shane Foley who won on the horse at Cork is back in the saddle today.
3:35 – Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas (Group 1) – 1m
A field of 14 are declared to go to post for the first Irish Classic of the season. The late declaration of Too Darn Hot to take on the first & third in the English 2,000 Guineas Magna Grecia and Skardu, adds spice to the race. Magna Grecia’s form is rock solid and although he has a bit to find on juvenile form with Too Darn Hot I think he’s a better horse as 3-year-old. I think he was the best horse at Newmarket and can uphold his form with Skardu and also beat Too Darn Hot.
Should one or two of the front three in the betting underperform there’s scope for a horse reaching the frame at big price. Phoenix Of Spain was a top notch juvenile winning the Group 3 Acomb Stakes at York before finishing runner-up to Too Darn Hot in the Dewhurst and runner-up to Magna Grecia in the Vertem Futurity at Doncaster on his final start of 2018. Has had a slightly interrupted preparation to this season so far but has place claims on his best 2-year-old form on his seasonal reappearance.
Another who has each way claims is the Paddy Twomey trained Decrypt. Just the two starts as a juvenile winning here over 6f last June. Not seen out again until last month when showing a good turn of foot to land a 7f Cork race. Granted his stamina for a mile must be taken on trust and this is a leap in class for the son of Dark Angel, but the trainer seems confident of a bold show from his colt and he should give his supporters a great run for their money.
Verdict: This looks a tougher race than it did seven days ago. Still, I think Magna Grecia is being slightly underestimated in the betting and he can beat Too Darn Hot. For those looking for something at bigger price each way; Then Phoenix Of Spain is too a big price compared to his form behind the big two as a juvenile. Whilst the progressive Decrypt may not have reached his class ceiling yet.
2:30 – Flashcard should be ready to go after his winter gelding operation. A winner of his first two starts as a juvenile. The 3-year-old ended last season with a close-up second in a valuable sales race at the Curragh. Needs to have improved from two to three to defy a mark of 93 but he’s lightly raced enough to think he can. Stall six isn’t to bad and Osin Murphy takes the ride.
4:20 – Recent Eyecatcher Hochfeld will be suited by the step up to 1m 6f and any easing of the ground will enhance his chance. Well-handicapped on his best form and he’s set for a good run. Platitude won this race last year on his seasonal return after a wind -op, and returns today after another wind-op, off 2lb lower. He’s got a decent chance of reaching the frame again.
Hochfeld – 4/1 @ William Hill & Paddy Power – Non-Runner
2:55 – Another recent eyecatcher Kaeso bids to build on this excellent third placed effort in the Victoria Cup, 14-days ago. Different track today but he did win over C&D off 3lb lower last August. Stall six isn’t the worst and although the handicapper has raised him 3lb for his Ascot run and the suspicion that he would prefer a slightly easier surface he can go close again.
2:15- Nakeeta – Probably isn’t the horse he was but he’s now 3lb lower than when winning the 2017 Ebor Handicap and finishing 5th in that years Melbourne Cup. Well beaten on his return to action in a Group 3 at Navan 27-days ago. He will strip fitter today and Jim Crowley looks an interesting jockey booking. The 8-year old has gone well at the track in the past 2 wins from 2 runs and his trainer Iain Jardine is a very healthy 5 winners from 13 runners 38% +35.25 7 placed 54% with his runners in Haydock Class 2 handicaps since 2015. To well-handicapped to ignore in a race like this but he’s vulnerable to any progressive, younger horses.
2:00 – Only eight go to post for this 7f, Class 2 handicap but there should be a good pace on. If that turns out to be the case, then that brings the Richard Fahey trained Zap right into the picture. A winner here as a juvenile he was beaten just a head, off 3lb lower over C& in back in May of last year. The 4-year-old won a valuable Leopardstown handicap over today’s distance back in September, off 1lb lower, and although he wasn’t at his best in the Victoria Cup last time. The softish ground probably wasn’t in his favour that day and sounder surface here will be much more to his liking. More than capable of landing a handicap like this sometime this season when he gets his favoured pace set up.
3:45 – A highly competitive Class 2 handicap over 5f. Three of the first four home over C&D 9-days ago renew rivalry today. The winner that day Copper Knight is up 5lb which makes life harder, but he won with such authority, slightly more than the 1 length margin of victory suggests, that you couldn’t rule out another win from the 5-year-old. Eah Bah Gum, was the eycatcher from that race, the 4-year-old finished 4th that day but he was racing away from the action nearer the stands side and that performance can be marked up. The 4-year-old loves quick ground, all his best performances have come on good or quicker ground, which he should get today. Gets 5lb turnaround in the weight with stablemate Copper Knight and will be placed to advantage sometime in the coming weeks.
Marnie James looked on a stiff handicap mark but ran well at big odds when 3rd to Copper Knight over C&D 9-days ago. He’s up 1lb but a reproduction of that run makes him an each-way contender again.
Trainer John Quinn saddles last year’s runner-up and C&D winner El Astronaute, who should be suited by the return to handicap company, and Sean Davis takes off a valuable 5lb. He also saddles Lord Riddiford. The 4-year-old was steadily progressive in sprint handicaps last season and wasn’t helped by a wide draw on his seasonal reappearance at Chester 16-days ago. He beat Marnie James a neck at Goodwood last summer but is 7lb better off at the weight today.
Koditime won over C&D on last year’s seasonal reappearance as he did first time as a juvenile. His form later in the season was poor which means the 4-year-old has dropped back to a winnable mark. Trainer form isn’t great 1 winner from 37 runners in the past 14-days which does temper enthusiasm slightly
I have just mentioned 6 of the 19 runners. But you can also add in the very much inform Leodis Dream. The well handicapped veteran Duke Of Firenze who won at Thirsk last Saturday. The speedy A Momentofmadness and the competitively weighted Abel Handy & Harome who all have claims.
Verdict: Not the classiest race but certainly the most competitive race of the day. I can’t leave out recent eyecatcher Eeh Bah Gum nor his stablemate Copper Knight. I will take them against the field but do fear both John Quinn runners El Astronaute & Lord Riddiford.
Cheers
John