Hi all,
How frustrating for Shantou Village who was bang there but unseated his rider after a mistake at the final fence. But for that he would have placed at the very least and could well have gone onto win. Ah, the joys of jump racing.
A few races at Doncaster with short priced horses that don’t appeal from a betting perspective. There’s a competitive handicap hurdle at Listowel which I have a selection. However, let’s begin at St Leger Festival
Doncaster
2:10 – Stylistique, trained by Roger Varian, has improved with each of her three starts. Last time out she was beaten less than 2 lengths into 4th in a Group 3 at Goodwood last month. The runner-up at Goodwood has since gone onto win a Group 3 so the form looks solid enough. Every chance there will be more to come from the top weight. Graceful Magic dead heated with Rose of Kildare three starts back. Didn’t enjoy the ground back at that track on her next start. Returned to form when second on quick ground at Goodwood 9-days ago. A bit unlucky in the run that day. Can race off her old mark here and needs respecting.
Stylistique – 13/2 @ Bet365
3:15 – Glasvegas, hasn’t been seen since running on into third in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot. Shaped like he would appreciate 6f that day. Capable of a big run although not sure why we haven’t seen him for 85-days. Kevin Ryan has twice won this race since 2013. He saddles Repartee who also put in a career best when third to Threat in the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes. The son of Invincible Spirit has less miles on the clock than the O’Brien. The slight step up in distance will suit, as will the likely quick ground and colt look’s capable of giving his trainer another win in the race.
Repartee – 8/1 @ Bet365
3:45 – The May Hill Stakes for the juvenile fillies is arguably the most interesting race of the day.
West End Girl won the Group 3 Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket. Making all over 7f, the daughter of Golden Horn is going the right way and can improve further for the step up to a mile. She’s got the best form on offer.
Cloak Of Spirits, trained by Richard Hannon, made an impressive racecourse debut when winning at Ascot 48-days ago. A distance further to travel today but she’s open to any amount of improvement. Heads the ante-post betting but on form it really should be West End Girl on form. Given Godolphin’s record in the race 4 winners from 8 runners +7.5 A/E 1.41 6 placed 75%
Alpen Rose needs respecting. The daughter of Sea The Stars built on the promise of her racecourse debut when making all to win a C&D maiden 26-days ago. Another filly open to plenty of progress.
Aidan O’Brien saddled last year’s winner Fleeting and he saddles Passion. The daughter of Galileo won a Cork maiden 11-days ago and is another filly with plenty improvement in her. A full sister to Irish Derby/St Leger winner Capri, she’s bred to be a better 3-year-old but showed a decent change of gear when winning her maiden. It will be interesting to see how she fares in the pre-race betting.
Passion – 7/1 @ Paddy Power
4:20 – Seventeen fillies are set to go to post for sprint handicap for Lady Rider’s. Savalas, trained by Kevin Ryan, needs respecting, with Josephine Gordon booked for the ride. The 4-year-old isn’t the most consistent horses, but he gets the first-time visor today and if the headgear works then he’s a well-handicapped horse on the best of his 3-year-old form.
Drummond Warrior, trained by Pam Sly, is the least exposed runner in the field. The 3-year-old has only had the three career starts. A winner of his first two starts both at Windsor, he was beaten just a neck on his handicap debut at Newmarket 20-days ago. Up just 2lb for that effort he looks to be on a competitive mark and Hollie Doyle is one of the more experienced riders in the field.
Normandy Barriere, a previous winner here over 6 ½ f was also runner-up, beaten a short head over that distance 12 months ago, now 14lb lower. Not in the same form this season and long losing run dates to May 2017. However, the 7-year-old is to well handicapped to ignore and two of his best three RPR’s have come at this venue.
Savalas – 14/1 @ William Hill & Bet365 – each way (both paying 4 places ¼ odds)
Normandy Barriere – 9/1 @ William Hill & Bet365
Listowel
4:50 – Ballyoisin who’s developed into a high-class handicap chaser. Returns to hurdling off a 26lb lower mark. Won this race 12 months ago off 11lb lower. Clearly wins this if he replicates his chase improvement. Still that’s factored into his price and around 2/1 he doesn’t appeal as a bet.
Tony Martin saddles two interesting contenders in Mr Everest, who won a Galway maiden on his 4th start over hurdles. Useful on the flat the 6-year-old, won here on the level 12 months ago before finishing 3rd in the Irish Cesarewitch. Makes his handicap hurdle debut off a workable mark.
Golden Spear is more exposed over hurdles than his stablemate. The 8-year-old wasn’t beaten fat into 8th in the Galway Hurdle and has since run respectably on the flat at Killerney when 3rd of11 to Davids Charm. Won a valuable handicap hurdle at Down Royal last November, off 9lb lower, and that level of form puts him in the mix here.
Davids Charm was 4th in the Galway Hurdle and won’t be far away off 1lb higher. Hearts Are Trumps like the favourite owned by J P McManus was 6th in the Galway Hurdle. That was his first run for 100-days and he could.
Gordon Elliott saddles Chosen Mate one of three for the trainer. Chosen Mate was a winner of a Grade 2 novice hurdle at Naas back in February. Sent off just 6/1 for a Grade 1 novice hurdle at Aintree and wasn’t disgraced when 5th of 9. Still in contention coming to two out but didn’t seem to stay 2m 4f. Sent off 9/1 for the Galway Hurdle he was badly hampered at the 5th and was soon pulled up. Remains capable of better although this will be the softest ground he’s raced on so far under rules.
Golden Spear – 10/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – each way – (both paying 4 places 1/5 odds
Chosen Mate – 8/1 – Gen
Cheers
John