Tag Archives: ITV4Racing

horse racing

Ones to watch

Contrasting going reports today with our two featured meetings. Ascot is Good to Soft whilst Fontwell are watering to maintain good ground.

This is a transitional phase of the year as we enter the last full month of the flat and we start to see the higher quality jumpers make their seasonal debuts.

We start with the two Group 3 events at Ascot and then onto the most valuable race at Fontwell this afternoon.

2.25 Ascot 1m4f Gigaset Cumberland Lodge Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1) (3yo+)

The Galileo bred Waldgeist sets a very high standard on his French and Irish Derby form.

Conditions are fine and he deserves to be at short odds. 10/11 my provisional tissue.

Waldgeist

3.00 Ascot 6f John Guest Bengough Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1) (3yo+)

A peak form Blue Point will prove difficult to beat. Disappointed on testing ground at Haydock latest start when he could not quicken in the final stages.

I expect a return to form on today’s surface; good to soft should be fine. 6/4 my provisional tissue.

Blue Point

3.05 Fontwell 2m3f Winner Group Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) (4yo+ 0-145)

Six of the seven here are making their seasonal debuts. With a few interesting horses who are expected to progress further.

Loverboy is an ex French horse having his first start for Dan Skelton after his move from France last week. Not seen on the track for 2 1/2 years.

I anticipate that both Diable De Sivola and Dashing Oscar will have successful seasons.

Definitely a race to watch for the future.

Dashing Oscar

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horse racing

Mou to progress

Two races for us to quickly look at. One each from Sandown and Musselburgh. The going at both is Good to Firm.

2.40 Sandown

5f Listed sprint and the only race on the card being shown by ITV4.

Both Fashion Queen and Equimou put up career best performances on their latest starts.

Both are expected to progress further.

My provisional tissue:

Fashion Queen  7/2

Equimou 11/2

 

Equimou winning at Hamilton

3.10 Musselburgh

 

5f sprint handicap worth over £62,000 to the winner.

Gamesome is fairly handicapped and has a good draw. Expected to go well in a wide open race.

Anything around 10/1 is reasonable.

Gamesome

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Royal Ascot
horse racing

Batgirl

The rain coming in from the Atlantic across the north and Wales has produced softer conditions for six of the eight meetings today across Britain and Ireland. Only Newmarket and Stratford have escaped the deluge. The continued absence of consistent going has been a troubling feature of the summer season for all concerned.

Two races for us to consider today with widely contrasting conditions. At Haydock it is Soft with further rain forecast and Stratford have Good ground which has been selectively watered.

3.30 Haydock 1m4f  Betway Pinnacle Stakes (Group 3)

Ajman Princess won convincingly on latest start at Goodwood in a Listed event, although she did flash her tail when urged by the whip. Soft ground shouldn’t be an issue.

Bateel moved from David Simcock  to the Graffard yard in France at the end of April this year. She is suited by testing ground, has solid form and looks sure to go close.

5/2 joint favs my provisional tissue. Laganore now a non-runner.

Bateel

7.00 Stratford 2m½f Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)

Tight handicap where most of the runners have form that ties them together.

Barman is returning from a six month break and is expected to go well.

4/1 fav my provisional tissue.

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horse racing

Northern thunder

A good quality day with seven meetings across Britain and Ireland. We are going to focus on the north-west with a race from both Haydock and Cartmel. The going at Haydock is Firm and Good at Cartmel. Both courses have been watered.

One of the big factors at both courses this afternoon are the thunderstorms forecast to hit the region around the time of the opening races. It is hard to predict what effect any sudden intense rainfall will have on already dry ground and whether there will be safety concerns.

3.30 Haydock

6f Group 2 sprint worth over £50,000 to the winner.

Harry Angel is far from straightforward and has proved difficult in the stalls. Can pull hard during the race. However he possesses a great deal of natural ability.

The form of his latest second at Ascot sets a high standard, a reproduction of which will make him very difficult to beat.

If he does regress from that run, Second Thought could take advantage.

I provisionally go:

Harry Angel  4/5

Second Thought  5/1

Harry Angel

5.05 Cartmel

As ever, there will be a large bank holiday crowd at this unique track.

There are various doubts concerning all five runners.

Fantasy King had a ‘blow out’ on the flat a couple of weeks ago and figures on a favourable handicap mark.

He can prove best of James Moffatt’s 3 runners.

3/1 favourite on my provisional tissue, which is in line with the early prices on offer.

Fantasy King

 

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horse racing

Tomyris noted

Ground conditions are making for limited opportunities on the flat. What should have been an informative York meeting has been negated by the soft going. There were 20 non-runners there yesterday, most down to unsuitable ground.

I am going to briefly look at two races this afternoon at York and continue working on the more appealing Aintree card this evening.

 York 2.55

Tomyris was noted after impressing on reappearance. Ground is an unknown factor which makes pricing difficult. Currently a best priced 6/1 with a few of the books.

 

 

Tomyris

York 4.05

Fidaawy is a non-runner leaving eight at present.

Southdown Lad is potentially on a good handicap mark and will be suited by conditions. He is expected to go well. 11/2+ looks fair.

 

Southdown LadBack tomorrow for the six meetings on offer, including the Newbury Lockinge card.

horse racing

Best Western

One race for us to focus on today – The Group 3 Ormonde Stakes at Chester. The going at the Roodee is Good to Firm with a possibility of showers.

 3.35 Chester

 More questions than answers as there are doubts concerning all of these. A race in which some running plans for Royal Ascot will be either confirmed or sent back to the ‘drawing board’.

 Midterm is a noted horse from last season. A visor is fitted for the first time after disappointing on his reappearance when finishing fifth at Newbury last month. The Stoute team have an outstanding record in this race over the years, so you would expect Midterm to be sharper this time.

 US Army Ranger also performed below par on his return to action at Naas and has something to prove.

 At around 8/1 Western Hymn makes some appeal. He isn’t straightforward but at his best can be given every chance. First time cheek-pieces replace the visor he wore on his latest start. The Gosden stable remain in excellent form.

 

Western Hymn (near side)

 

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horse racing

Traffic to halt 4-timer?

Final day of the jumps season and the battle is still on for the champion trainer title in both Britain and Ireland. We concentrate on Sandown today where the Nicholls and Henderson runners will be getting plenty of attention.

The going at Sandown is Good/Good to firm in places and the track has been watered.

2.25 Sandown bet365 Oaksey Chase (Grade 2)

The books look to have the market just  about right.

This is Menorah’s big target as the 12y.o. goes for his fourth win in this race.

Traffic Fluide (with cheek pieces fitted today) sets the recent form standard off his third in the Melling Chase where Josses Hill finished a remote seventh.

However, Josses Hill will be suited by conditions and a return to his earlier season form gives him every chance.

I price as follows:

Menorah      5/2

Traffic Fluide  5/2

Josses Hill    4/1

10/1 bar

Traffic Fluide

 

3.35 Sandown bet365 Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

Hardly any of the thirteen declared can be completely ruled out for this stamina sapping 3m 5f event.

Scudamore takes over from Fehily, as the latter is unable to do the weight on Doing Fine.

Doing Fine has had a fairly consistent season since moving to the Mulholland yard last October, culminating in a commanding victory at Cheltenham ten days ago.  Escapes a penalty for that win and looks sure to run well.

Difficult to price, but the general 9/2 available looks about fair.

 

Doing Fine

 

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horse racing

Fox to sink Sub?

Two races for us today at Aintree. The going is Good and a dry day with light cloud is forecast.

As with all the big meetings it is worth searching through the special offers. For example some are going quarter odds on the Melling Chase if you fancy one of the longer odds runners.

3.25 Aintree 2m4f (2m3f200y) (Mildmay) JLT Melling Chase (Grade 1) (Class 1) (5yo+)

Sub Lieutenant stayed on well in the Ryanair, however I do have doubts concerning that form.

A few of these finished behind Fox Norton in the Queen Mother and although he has to prove he stays, I do expect Fox Norton to confirm that form.

My provisional tissue:

Fox Norton         7/2

God’s Own          5/1

Sub Lieutenant   5/1

10/1 bar

Fox Norton

4.40 Aintree 3m½f (3m149y) Doom Bar Sefton Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (Class 1) (4yo+)

A back to form West Approach would set the standard.

He weakened quickly from two out in the Stayers Hurdle after travelling well. A tongue tie is fitted today.

The Worlds End held every chance when taking a heavy fall two out in the Albert Bartlett.

Constantine Bay was hampered by that fall and can improve.

I price the front of market as follows:

The World End    3/1

West Approach   11/2

Constantine Bay  8/1

10/1 bar

West Approach

Back tomorrow morning for National day.

horse racing

A saint and a lord…

Today we have the first day of the flat and two relatively modest jump cards as we approach the Aintree meeting next week. We are going to quickly look at two races from Uttoxeter. The going is Good to Soft, sunny spells and showers are forecast.

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3.05 Uttoxeter

2m 4f handicap hurdle and with a few exceptions most of the thirteen runners have been on the go all season.

Saint Cajetan is fairly handicapped in an open race. Drying ground is in his favour, with his 2nd at Wetherby back in October looking a solid piece of form. Brian Hughes is booked, which can only be a plus.

Silverhow and Land League are unexposed and may improve.

Difficult to price, but I have provisionally put Saint Cajetan in as my 5/1 favourite, 9/1 best with plenty of the books this morning.

Saint Cajetan

4.50 Uttoxeter

Lord Bryan expected to figure after putting up an improved performance on latest start.

4/1 my provisional tissue, which is roughly the current price on offer.

Lord Bryan

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horse racing

Marginal value

We stay at Newbury for the second day of the meeting. The going is Good to Soft (Good in places) and another bright spring day is forecast.

Newbury 2.25

Wide open race in which the veteran Ericht has his ideal conditions.

The 11y.o. looked the winner going to the last at Doncaster on latest start, before weakening on the run-in and just being caught.

That was over 3 miles and this 4f drop in trip will suit him. Currently a general 10/1 which looks about right.

 

Ericht

Newbury 4.10

Just the five remain for this 2m novice hurdle.

Top weighted Sir Antony Browne may find conditions on the sharp side.

Most Celebrated found little for pressure on latest start over today’s c&d.

Adrrastos form is suspect.

Beach Bar is a useful flat horses making hurdles debut.

Whin Park needs to improve.

At the prices Most Celebrated is the marginal value at the 2/1 on offer. I go:

Sir Antony Browne  13/8

Most Celebrated  13/8

Adrrastos  6/1

Beach Bar 12/1

Whin Park  33/1

 

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