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.
Curragh
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.
Shore Step – 16/1 @ William Hill & Bet365 – each way
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.
Decrypt – 22/1 @ Bet365 & Ladbrokes – each way
Goodwood
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.
Flashcard – 7/2 – Gen
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
Platitude – 8/1 @ William Hill
Chester
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.
Kaeso – 9/2 @ Bet365 & Ladbrokes
Haydock
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.
Nakeeta – 11/2 @ William Hill & Ladbrokes
York
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.
Zap – 7/1 @ Bet365 & William Hill
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.
Eah Bah Gum – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Copper Knight – 9/1 @ William Hill & Ladbrokes
Cheers
John