Hi all,
Chairmanoftheboard (6/1 BOG) continued his good recent form with a decisive win at Newmarket. More good racing to look forward to today with day two of the July Festival.
It’s also what’s normally Market Rasen’s biggest race day of the year with the Summer Plate Handicap Chase & Summer Hurdle the two feature races. Over the Irish Sea there’s also an impossible card at the Curragh.
Let’s begin Friday’s preview at Newmarket.
Newmarket
12:10 – Grand Bazaar got off the mark at the 5th attempt when winning at Windsor 18-days ago. Improved for the step up to 1m 3 ½ f so could be capable of more progress. Group One Power didn’t get the best of runs when 4th of 17 in the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot, with a better passage would have finished much closer to the winner. He was doing his best work at the finish and has more races in him. Arthurian Fable was one place behind in that race. Tended to over race on the outer that day. He had been expected to improve for the step up 1m 4f and so it proved, he can win again.
Verdict: A few potential improvers in this 1m 4f handicap. However, It may pay to focus on the King George V Handicap form and Group One Power & Arthurian Fable. The latter needs to settle better than he did at Ascot so slight preference for the Group One Power who is bred to appreciate ease in the ground.
3:00 – Sam Cooke improved for the step up to 1m 4f and relished the soft ground when winning at Chester in May 2019. Off the track for 428-days, he’s 7lb higher now but looks capable of more improvement this season. Big chance with the ground coming in his favour.
Mark Johnston saddles Cape Coast returned from a 1024-day absence when runner-up at Catterick 18-days. Step up to 1m 6f should suit and Dettori booked but soft ground is an unknown and the dreaded ‘bounce’ factor is a concern. Stablemate King’s Advice won this race 12 months ago, off 5lb lower, but he doesn’t come in to the race in the same form as last year. Star Of The East missed the whole of 2019 due to injury but showed he’s retain plenty of his ability when 2nd of 6 on the Rowley course 12-days ago. He’s 2 from 2 over C&D and can’t be ruled out of his present mark. Themaxwecan was an improver over 1m 6f/2m last season and put in a career best when 4th of 16 at Royal Ascot last time. Capable of winning more races this season and Ryan Moore booked but testing ground would be slight concern.
Christopher Wood didn’t get the best of runs a furlong out but still went on to win at Pontefract last month. Handicapper has only raised him 3lb for that win which means the 5-year-old remains on a competitive mark. Should stay 1m 6f and the soft ground is in his favour.
Holy Kingdom has won both his starts since the resumption of racing. Both wins have come on the other course and his last win over today’s distance was a career best on RPR’s. Just 4lb higher and has a good chance of the hat trick although the ground will be a lot softer here.
Verdict: The Mark Johnston foursome have to be respected. If Cape Coast doesn’t bounce, he could be the best of them, if handling soft ground. No issues with the ground for Sam Cooke who remains with potential for more improvement. At the prices it could be worth chancing Christopher Wood who like the ground and remains on good mark after his recent Pontefract success.
1pt win – Christopher Wood – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
1pt win – Sam Cooke – 9/2 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power
3:35 – Arguably the most competitive handicap on the card. Lucander improved to win to nursery handicaps last Autumn. Showed he had trained on when putting a career best when third at Haydock 16-days ago, should appreciate the step up to 1m 2f and won on soft last season.
Kipps has finished runner-up on his last two starts, including last time in the King George V at Royal Ascot. The first-time blinkers and drop back to 1m 2f could enable him go one better today.
Grand Rock won twice on heavy ground last year. Returned to action with an excellent 5th of 14 at Royal Ascot. Looked to have slipped his field coming to the final furlong but a lack of race fitness took its toll in the final stages.
Global Storm finished two places in front of Grand Rock at Royal Ascot but he had race fitness on his side and may need a bit further now.
HMS President finished 4th but also had the benefit of a previous run. He’s another going the right way and handled the soft ground well enough at Ascot. First run since being gelded and looks competitive enough handicap mark.
Enemy caught the eye when 4th of 22 in the Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot. Didn’t get the best of starts that day but was doing his best work at the finish. He should stay 1m 2f on pedigree and can win a handicap of his present mark.
Verdict: Lucander looks progressive and can improve for the step up to 1m 2f.Kipps has the ability to win a decent pot and if the first-time headgear has the desired effect, it could be today. Enemy is bred to appreciate 1m 2f but testing ground would be an unknown. Grand Rock will be much fitter for Royal Ascot reappearance and looks a big danger to all.
1pt win – Lucander – 10/1 @ bet365 & Ladbrokes
1pt win – Grand Rock – 9/1 @ Bet365
A couple of competitive handicaps at Market Rasen.
Market Rasen
2:05 – Emma Lavelle has made an excellent start to the new jumps season so her runner Highly Prized needs respecting in the Summer Hurdle. A progressive handicap hurdler last season good ground and ran better than his final position suggests when 18th of 24 in the Betfair Hurdle on his last start. Big chance if the ground doesn’t ease any further.
Dino Velvet was 6th in this 12 months ago and this previous C&D winner finished his race of well when 3rd of 11 at Southwell 9-days ago. Likes to come off a decent gallop and if he gets one should be competitive off his present mark.
Red Force One is another who probably wouldn’t want the ground to ease too much further. Had decent prep for this on the flat at Thirsk last week. Just 1lb higher than when running Gumball to a neck in a valuable Ascot handicap last November. Well suited to a big field and looks set for a big run.
In form Ollie Murphy saddles two contenders in Fiesole & Valentino Dancer.
Fiesole had recent spin on the flat and should be spot on fitness wise. The 8-year-old showed he’s effective in a big field when 4th of 17 in the Swinton Handicap Hurdle at Haydock in May 2019. Richard Johnson booked and the first time cheekpieces are added. Provided they go a good gallop he should go well.
Valentino Dancer was 5th in this race last season, his last start over hurdles, and made a perfectly respectable return to action on the flat at Newmarket last month. Like his stablemate he gets the first time cheekpieces today to sharpen him up and can go well if he takes to the headgear.
Verdict: The form of the Ollie Murphy stable means both Fiesole & Valentino Dancer have to be respected. Red Force One can surely win a race like this off his present mark. Highly Prized needs good ground to be seen at his best but if he gets it is the one to beat.
1pt win – Highly Prized – 9/2 @ Bet365
1pt win – Red Force One – 11/2 @ Bet365
2:40 – Betway Summer Plate Handicap Chase (Grade 3) – 2m 5 ½ f
Lough Derg Spirit is interesting on his first start for Paul Nicholls since switching from the Nicky Henderson. The 8-year-old need good or good to soft ground to be at his best. Goes well fresh 2 wins from 3 runs 3 placed when racing 121+days since his last start. First run since a wind-op and go well. Stablemate San Benedeto also has claims on his best form. He’s another who goes well on good ground and has the benefit of a recent run on the flat.
Harry Fry saddles three Bags Groove, Art Of Payroll & Drumcliff. All three have some sort of chance but the most interesting of the three is Bags Groove. The 9-year-old is having his first run for 463-days. He was a decent novice chaser when last seen in action winning Grade 2 contests at Wincanton & Kempton. Has won four times on good to soft and his form figures on good are 111211. First run since a wind-op and looks set for a big run if over what kept him off the track for over a year. Big weight to carry but can win this if retaining his old ability.
Verdict: Bags Groove has a touch of class and if over what kept him off the track can win this. Lough Derg Spirit is interesting on his first start for Paul Nicholls and goes well fresh.
1pt win – Bags Groove – 5/1 @ Bet365
Now a quick look at three of the Curragh handicaps.
Curragh
6:15 – A Few Bob Short ended last year on the up, winning a 1m 4f Handicap at Thurles and finished first past the post at Galway, later disqualified, races off the same mark here. Returns from a 256-day absence, did win first time up last year and easy ground suits.
Leahman, a winner over hurdles is 0-6 on the flat, made an eyecatching return to action when 7th of 15 at Navan 7-days ago. Didn’t get the best of runs in the final stages and wasn’t subjected to hard race when his chance had gone. Should be sharper today and a big run can be expected.
1pt win – Leahman – 5/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power
1pt win – A Few Bob Short – 7/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
6:45 – Plenty of regulars in this 18 runner Curragh 6f handicap. Top-weight Ardhoomey was beaten just a neck over C&D on his seasonal return 28-days ago. Nudged up 2lb shouldn’t be a problem but of more concern would be 6f on testing ground for the 8-year-old.
Fridtjof Nansen is an in and out performer. He finished a neck behind Ardhoomey two starts back but was never competitive back here over 5f, albeit in a much stronger race. A better run wouldn’t be out of the question.
Miacomet won a C&D handicap last October, off 2lb lower. Two low key efforts since the season started but bounced back to form when a ½ length 2nd of 10 at Navan last week. Second reserve but if she gets in, would have to be considered a contender if building on that effort.
Flaming Moon has only had four career starts but the 3-year-old put in an excellent effort when just touched off over C&D (good) on his seasonal return 13-days ago. A winner on soft at Navan last season he’s up 5lb for last time but going seems to be going the right way and looks on good mark.
1pt win – Flaming Moon – 11/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
7:45 – Verimli could be well handicapped on just his second start for trainer Joseph O’Brien but he’s been well found in the market. Stablemate Latrobe won the Irish Derby two years ago. Has top weight of 10-1 to carry but should be fitter for his recent return to action here last month. Effective between 1m 2f & 1m 6f, doesn’t do anything too quickly so a strongly run race should suit.
Cheers
John