Hi all,
There’s Listed action at Salisbury this afternoon with the Stonehenge Stakes (3.20) and Upavon Fillies’ Stakes (4.30).
Salisbury
3:20 – Charlie Appleby has won the last two running’s of the Stonehenge Stakes and bids for a hat trick with recent Sandown winner Arabian Crown.
For those punters who like inform trainers the Ralph Beckett trained Spanish Poet will make plenty appeal. The colt made a winning racecourse debut at Sandown 14 days ago. Like the Appleby colt he will appreciate the step up to a mile.
Arabic Legend overcame greenness to win a Newmarket maiden last month. His Newmarket success marked him down as useful prospect and seems the type to go onto better things. In what looks an interesting renewal he would be the selection but at the time of writing I would be wanting a bit more than 9/4 that’s available.
4:30 – Running Lion must give away 3lb for her win in the Listed Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket in May. Well fancied for the Oaks after that success but was withdrawn at the start at Epsom and was said to be suffering from heatstroke after a poor effort in the French Oaks. Bids to get her career back on track here and might prove to good for her 12 rivals.
Caernarfon fourth in the 1,000 Guineas and third in the Oaks, bounced back from lesser performance at Royal Ascot when a 2 ¾ length 5th of 6 in the Group 1 Nassau Stakes at Goodwood last time. Today’s forecast stronger pace should suit the 3-year-old and 1m 2f looks her trip. Takes a big drop in class here and looks a fair price at around 7/2
State Occasion was in excellent form around this time last year winning handicaps at Goodwood and York. First run since finishing 4th of 7 to Free Wind in a Group 2 at York in May. Need to prove she’s a pattern level filly but she’s trained by the inform Ralph Beckett and a well run contest will suit the mare.
Ameynah is the unknown quantity in the line-up. The Roger Varian trained 4-year-old has just had the four career starts and returned from a 15 month layoff with a promising 1 length 4th of 7 to Random Harvest in a Group 3 at Ascot 18 days ago. First start at 1m 2f but her dam stayed the distance and her full sister won over 1m 4f so there’s a good chance that she will be suited by today’s trip.
Verdict: Caernarfon is consistent and wouldn’t be winning out of turn. Running Lion needs to bounce back after a couple of mishaps and if she does maybe too good for her rivals. At the prices preference is for Ameynah. The lightly raced 4-year-old remains capable of better and showed last time she’s a pattern level filly.
Ameynah – 1pt win – 6/1 @ Bet365.
Cheers
John