Hi all,
A new month and as we ended June among the winners so hopefully a better one for the service. I’m at wine tasting event of Friday evening so I decided to get this out early.
The Group 1 Coral-Eclipse (3.35) represents the first clash of the generations in Britain at the highest level. The Sandown card also includes the Charge (1.50), a Group 3 sprint, and the Listed Coral Distaff (3:00). In the latter race sees recent Royal Ascot winner Herediabids to maintain her unbeaten record and a win here can see her head into Group 1 company.
There’s also high-quality action up at Haydock. The highlights of a seven race card are the Group 2 bet365 Lancashire Oaks (2.40) and the Old Newton Cup Handicap (3.15).
ITV are covering the best of the action from Sandown and Haydock as part of a seven race programme this afternoon. As ever I have had a look at all the ITV races in this preview and my selections and betting advice can be found at the end of the main piece. Most of today’s selections are from the televised races but I also have one from Sandown in a race not being covered by ITV.
Sandown
3:35 – Coral Eclipse (Group 1) – 1m 2f
The Coral-Eclipse looks the race of the season, despite just the six runners. However, it could turn out to be very tactical. There doesn’t seem to be much in the way of pace. The one most likely to go out in front is Alenquer.
Mishriff had Alenquer six lengths back at York last year. He was too bad to be true when last of 14 in the Saudi Cup a race he had won the previous season. He was only third in this race last year on good to soft going but if the ground is good or better, I think he’ll prove to be best of the older horses ahead of Bay Bridge. Although the latter would be interesting should they decide to go from the front with the 4-year-old.
Both Native Trail and Vadeni look strong contenders. The first named is having his first start beyond a mile. This probably won’t be a true stamina test so that will suit the Irish Guineas winner but he does take time to hit full stride so a tactical race may not play to his strengths.
There was plenty to like about how Vadeni quickened up to easily win the Prix Du Jockey Club last time. Must prove he’s as good on good to firm but good will be fine for him. He’s plenty short enough at 13/8 for me but I think he’s the most likely winner.
Verdict: There’s plenty of confidence behind Bay Bridge to land his first Group 1 and he would become even more interesting if you knew he was making the running. I’m expecting a much better run from Mishriff than last time and he’s becoming a decent price. I’m not sure Native Trail will be suited by a tactical race and may take too long to hit top stride. Of the classic generation Vadeni looks the pick although they went a good gallop in the French Derby and he’s a bit short for me.
1:50 – Coral Charge (Group 3) – 5f
There doesn’t look to be much in the way of pace in the Charge. That won’t favour market leaders Raasel and Mitbaahy. However, both are improving sprinters who won in Listed company last time. My preference is for Mitbaahy who proved C&D suited when winning a Listed race here last time. He’s only a 3-year-old and there should be more to come from him.
Equilateral could get the race run to suit. A prominent racer the 7-year-old returned from a 15 month layoff to finish 5 ¼ lengths 5th of 16 to Nature Strip in the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot last time.
Verdict: If he comes on for his recent effort in the King Stand Stakes and he gets good or quicker ground I’m with Equilateral here. If the ground is on the easy side then improving Mitbaahy could prove up to the task.
2:25 – Coral Challenge (Handicap) – 1m
Eleven go to post for this Class 2 handicap. Another race where there doesn’t seem to be much in the way of early pace. That could suit prominent racer Lion Tower who gained a well-deserved first success of the season when winning at York 21-days ago. That win came when dropped back to 7f but he’s just as effective over a mile and he’s got a handy low draw in stall 4.
Sinjaari caught the eye when doing best of those drawn high when a 3 ½ length 5th of 29 to Dark Shift in Royal Hunt Cup last time. He shouldn’t be far away if in the same form as at Royal Ascot. However, he’s too short for me at 11/4 given his profile.
Ouzo didn’t beat a rival when last of 27 in the Buckingham Palace Handicap at Royal Ascot. He was far to keen the first time cheekpieces, dispensed with today, and is better judged on his neck 2nd of 8 over C&D two starts back.
Trais Fluors doesn’t win very often but his last success came over C&D last June and he’s now 7lb lower. He needs all the cards to fall right, and a strong pace would suit the 8-year-old. When he gets them he will pop up one day.
Verdict: I wouldn’t be shocked if former C&D winner Trais Fluors was to bounce back to winning ways here. Sinjaari has obvious claims but at the prices I’m going with the consistent Lion Tower.
3:00 – Coral Distaff (Listed Race) (Fillies) – 1m
Fast Attack wasn’t disgraced when 3 length 5th of 11 in German 1000 Guineas on her seasonal return. She won the Group 3 Oh So Sharp Stakes at Newmarket (good to soft) on her final juvenile start. If the ground eases she could go close.
Grande Dame found the step up to Group 1 company too hot when a 10 length 11th of 12 to stablemate Inspiral in Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot last time. Back in calmer waters and capable of much better run here with Ryan Moore booked.
The one they all must beat is the improving Heredia. The Richard Hannon trained filly looked a Group horse running in a handicap when winning the Sandringham Handicap at Royal Ascot last time. She’s clearly well suited to a quick surface and she looks likely to make it 5-5.
4:10 – Yorkshire Lady ended last season in great form winning here (1m 1f) and then at Haydock. Seasonal return off 7lb higher than for her Haydock success but she could be capable of better as a 4-year-old and the yard has its runners in winning form in the past two weeks.
Haydock
It’s a big day of racing at Haydock. It was soft ground here on Thursday and some more rain is forecast so it seems unlikely to be much quicker than that on Saturday.
2:05 – bet365 Handicap (Class 2) – 1m 6f
The first of two competitive handicaps being covered by the ITV cameras. Double Cherry had Percy Jones three length back in second when winning at Goodwood last time. It was soft ground at Goodwood so underfoot conditions won’t hold any fears for either horse. The step up to 1m 6f should also be fine for both especially Double Cherry who’s half brother Uber Cool is a 2m winner. He’s been hit by a 9lb rise in the weights but he’s going the right way. Percy Jones does get a 7lb pull in the weights so has to be respected.
William Haggas had four- timer here on Thursday and he also saddled the winner of this 2020. He runs two in Hello Jumeirah & Nathanael Greene. The latter ran like he needed a stronger stamina test when runner-up at Goodwood last time. He’s vulnerable to more progressive types but the first time cheekpieces make him interesting. The pick of the Haggas pair could be handicap debutant Hello Jumeirah. The filly was a 1 ¾ length 2nd of 9 to Almuhit here last time. She looks capable of a good run if handling the likely softer ground.
Verdict: Percy Jones is entitled to get closer to Double Cherry than at Goodwood but I’m siding with the latter.
2:40 – bet365 Lancashire Oaks (Group 2) (Fillies & Mares) – 1m 4f
Ante post favourite Free Wind ended last season withwins in a Group 3 at Deauville and the Group 2 Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster and must be respected given the record of her yard in the race. For those going for her I wouldn’t be put off by her 296-day absence as such runners are 2-4 since 2012.
Next in the ante post betting is the Roger Varian trained Eshaada who improved to win the Group 1 Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes on Champions Day. She looked a bit rusty when only 5th of 6 under her Group 1 penalty in the Group 3 Aston Park Stakes at Newbury on her return to action. Better expected here and she’s 3lb ahead of Free Wind on RPR’s. Her Ascot win came on good to soft, so an easier surface won’t inconvenience her.
Besides the front two in the ante post betting Free Wind and Eshaada who have strong claims. Sea La Rosa won the Group 3 Pinnacle Stakes over C&D last time and hails from the inform William Haggas yard. The third in that race Nell Quickly re-opposes and won’t be inconvenienced by the likely easier ground.
Three-year-old’s are 1-13, 2 places since 2012. There are two entries from that age group: Kawida, 5th of 11 in the Oaks who won here as a juvenile and wasn’t suited by the Epsom undulations and Stay Alert who won a Listed race at Newbury (1m 2f) last time. The latter looks capable of more improvement for the step up to 1m 4f. However, the former’s Oaks effort is solid, and she will like underfoot conditions.
Verdict: Today’s easier ground will suit Eshaada and if she bounces back to her 3-year-old best she’s the one to beat. Kawida’s run in the Oaks merits her serious consideration and I expect her to go well for the classic generation.
3:15 – bet365 Old Newton Cup Handicap (Class 2) – 1m 4f
A maximum field for this year’s renewal of the Old Newton Cup and its my favourite race of the day, despite the claims of the Coral-Eclipse.
It’s not been a race for favourites/joint favs in recent years are 0 winners from 13 bets since 2012 with those going off 4/1 & under being 0 winners from 10 bets, 3 placed.
Will that change this year?
This year’s ante post favourite is the William Haggas trained Gaassee. The 4-year-old is improving with racing and will be bidding for the five timer, after making a winning seasonal reappearance at York in May. He’s the one to beat and won’t have any problem with the rain softened ground as he won at Chester on soft ground last autumn.
The short-priced favourite does face some useful and inform rivals though. They include recent Royal Ascot 1m 6f winner Get Shirty who is 3-4 this season. He’s ground versatile and although he’s 6lb higher than last time. Given how well the 6-year-old hit the line at Ascot, his improvement may not have ended.
Trawlerman who lost his race in the Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap with a slow start is better than he was able to show at Royal Ascot but soft ground is an unknown.
Liverpool Knight improved for soft ground when winning at Windsor last time and he’s only had one start since joining trainer Kevin Philippart de Foy. There should be more to come from the 4-year-old. The consistent Ravenscraig Castle would prefer further than 1m 4f but a strongly run race is what he does need, and he should get it here.
Andrew Balding has booked Hayley Turner for Secret Shadow for the filly who ended last season with two wins on soft/heavy ground and made a promising return to action when close-up 3rd of 8 at Goodwood (1m 6f). She might want further than 1m 4f as he improved autumn form came over 1m 5f/1m 6f. However, the more rain the better for the 4-year-old and Andrew Balding also saddled last year’s winner.
On To Victory lost any chance he might have had when with a poor start when an 8-length 5th of 11 to Gaassee at York last time. That was the 8-year-old’s first start for 5 months, so he was entitled to need the run that day. Doing his best work at the finish, given his poor start he did well to finish as close to the winner as he did. The handicapper has dropped him 3lb since and he does get a 10lb pull in the weight with Gaassee here. Soft ground brings him very much into the mix and whilst his vulnerable to younger legs he’s 2lb lower than when a good winner of the 2020 November Handicap.
Verdict: Gaassee’s claims are there for all to see. However, at his price would you prefer to be a backer or a layer? I’m in the latter camp and I’m going to take him on with recent Windsor winner Liverpool Knight and Secret Shadow and hope the ground is genuinely soft.
Betting Advice:
Sandown
2:25 – 1pt win – Lion Tower – 6/1 @ Bet365 & Ladbrokes
3:35 – 1pt win – Mishriff – 8/1 @ Bet365
4:10 – 1pt win – Yorkshire Lady – 14/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Haydock
2:05 – 1pt win – Double Cherry – 11/2 @ Ladbrokes & Coral
3:15 – 1pt each way – Secret Shadow -16/1 @ Bet365 ( paying 5 places 1/5 odds) and 1pt win – Liverpool Knight – 9/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Cheers
John