Hi all,
With York’s Dante Meeting in full swing at the time of writing this week’s notebook. I don’t have the time to my normal review of previous week’s big meetings. This week it’s just the horses for the tracker.
On Saturday’s it’s Lockinge Day at Newbury with the one-mile Group 1 Lockinge Stakes the feature race. There’s also the competitive London Gold Cup Handicap among a good set of supporting races. There are also competitive looking cards at Newmarket and Thirsk. That said this weekend isn’t one of the strongest of the spring/summer. Well given the last few weeks a short breather is to be welcomed and gives us a good chance to take stock with the Derby & Oaks just two weeks away.
As ever let’s begin this week’s notebook by looking back to last week’s eyecatchers, of which there are six, and one ante-post bet for the St Leger.
Last Week’s Horses To Follow
Wednesday 8th May
Chester
Revich, trained by Richard Spencer. The 3-year-old made an encouraging return to action after a 215-day absence when running on 5th of 13 in the 6f handicap won by Lihou.
Slow away from the stalls form stall 8 he was always on the back foot from then onwards. He was dropped in and made his effort out widest of all in the straight. Only beaten 2/ ½ lengths at the finish connections will have been pleased with the gelding’s effort in the circumstances.
The geldings sole win from nine career starts came when making all at Chester over 7f last summer, off 4lb higher. Looks on a competitive mark and can win race or two this summer.
Penwortham, trained by Richard Fahey, put in his best run of the season when finishing well from off the pace to grab 5th on the line in the 7f handicap won by Gossiping. Only beaten 3 ½ lengths, the 6-year-old’s run can be slightly marked up as he was a bit slow away from stall 10.
The handicapper has dropped the gelding another 2lb after this run and he’s now 2lb below his last winning mark which also came here. Yet to run on going worse than good ground and his best performances have come on a speed favouring course with three of them coming here at Chester over 7/7 ½ f. Back to a winnable mark and can win again on a sounder surface.
Norway, trained by Aidan O’Brien, was not match for stablemate Sir Dragonet in the Chester Vase. The colt was very weak in the betting before, sweated up badly before the start. He wasn’t suited to the soft ground like Sir Dragonet was that’s for sure and just plugged on to finish second to the impressive winner.
Sporting first time cheekpieces he’s surely better than this run. The son of Galileo will strip fitter for his seasonal reappearance and will welcome a return to a sounder surface. He shapes like a stayer and more of a St Leger than a Derby horse. The 25/1 available with Bet365 about his chance in the final classic of the season looks to tempting to ignore.
Thursday 9th May
Chester
Camacho Chief, trained by Michael Dods, wasn’t the quickest away in the 5f handicap won by Merhoob. The 4-year-old was always on the back foot from then onwards but made some decent headway inside the final furlong to finish 5th of 9th.
The gelding was an improving sprinter last season winning at Carlisle & Leicester before running well in defeat when runner up in a big field York handicap in October and 5th of 22 at Doncaster.
No great record fresh, his Chester run was his first for 194-days, he will be sharper for this run and a return to a more conventional track will be in his favour. Has won on good & soft going but wouldn’t want the ground too fast. There are sprint handicaps in him this season.
Friday 10th May
Chester
Cleonte, trained by Andrew Balding. The Chester Cup turned into a slog in the mud and not many got into the race.
One of those who didn’t get into it was the well fancied Cleonte. The 6-year-old has put in a career best when third in the Group 3 Sagaro Stakes at Ascot 9-days earlier but never got into the race after being slightly hampered early in the race and just stayed on into a never nearer 6th.
The soft ground also probably didn’t suit last year’s Cesarewitch third. He should remain competitive on long distance races as the season progresses.
Ascot
Vegas Boy, trained by Jamie Osborne. The 4-year-old travelled well and looked like he would catch the leader and eventual winner Louie De Palma. He just couldn’t get past and had to settle for a ½ length second at the finish.
His two performances on Racing Post Ratings (RPR’s) have now come over 6f at Ascot. Given he won on good to firm last season the soft ground and he’s best runs until now had come on a sound surface this will have pleased connections on just the gelding’s second start of the season.
Handicapper has put him up 2lb for this run but he remains on a competitive mark especially when he gets a sounder surface to race on again.
Saturday 11th May
Ascot
Kaeso, trained by Nigel Tinkler, was backed at big prices from 33/1 into 14/1 for the Victoria Cup. The 5-year-old didn’t let his backers down either as he ran a cracking race to finish 3rd of 26 and was only beaten ½ length by the winner Cape Byron.
The handicapper has raised him 3lb for this excellent effort but he’s still only 3lb higher than his last winning mark and despite his age it doesn’t look like his improvement has quite levelled out just yet.
He certainly seemed to enjoy the rain softened ground and his trainer stated after the race that he’s a better horse with some juice in the ground. He has three career wins on good and one good to firm but at the level I doubt he would want too quick. He can win again this season.
The Victoria Cup form is usually worth following and this year’s race shouldn’t be any different.
Cheers
John