A hangover never felt as good as it did today!
3.50 Leicester
La Fortunata 12/1 NAP
Quite like the look of Mike Murphyâs 4 year old in the shape of La Fortunata tomorrow. This filly has been a great servant to both her trainers, registering 2 wins and 12 places from a total of 23 starts and probably still isnât entirely exposed either. Although she disappointed 2 starts ago off this mark of 83 at Sandown when sent off joint favourite, the ground was probably too soft for her that day and I am willing to overlook that effort. If we go back 2 starts, La Fortunata ran an excellent 1L 2nd behind Secret Asset at Goodwood at the end of July off a 2lb lower mark. That day, La Fortunata was drawn very wide in stall 1 and elected to race alone for the vast majority of the race and it was an excellent effort. It may very well have been a case that La Fortunanta was running on worse ground than the rest and her effort was even better than the bare result. Even still, the form of that race is working out very nicely.
The winner has subsequently finished 4.5L behind Hoof it and won off a 6lb higher mark in a Class 2 so La Fortunata was clearly beaten by a well handicapped horse. Further to this, a few of the other horses in behind have won off similar marks so the form looks rock solid. LTO La Fortunata put in an excellent effort on ground that was definitely softer than ideal for her as she finished 1.12L back in 4th behind Your Gifted, with Sohraab who opposes tomorrow 0.5L in front in 3rd. She had a poor draw which was a big negative for this horse who likes to front run and she was squeezed out in the final furlong and it was really a fine performance. Her trainer Mike Murphy said that they will be looking for some better ground and they seem to have got it here with the current going Good, Good to Firm in places. She should definitely improve a lot with the better ground and off the same mark I think she has a fantastic chance and should reverse the placings with Sohraab. Tony Culhane takes the ride tomorrow and although she doesnât have the best draw in stall 13 I hope it is not too much of an inconvenience and I fancy her quite a bit to register another win to her name.
4.50 Leicester
Rock Anthem FC 16/1
I quite like the look of Mike Murphyâs 7 year gelding in what looks a very open contest tomorrow. Although he doesnât win much, Rock Anthem last 2 wins came in the same race at Sandown in the same handicap a year apart in 2010 and 2009. Last year he was given a fantastic ride by Russ Kennemore off a mark of 72. He was waited with for a long time at the back of the field and Kennemore pushed the button inside 2 furlongs to go and Rock Anthem proceeded to blast through the field to get up in the last 100 yards to win by 0.75L to Beaumontâs Party. The effort was visually very impressive as he met a couple of momentum sapping spots on his way to victory. I believe there was still a lot of horse left under Kennemore at the end of the race. The 2nd in that race has subsequently come out and won twice off a mark of 75 (was 74 that day) and has finished a very respectable 4th off 83 LTO. A couple of others that day who were behind have come out to win off similar marks.
Rock Anthem has 6 wins to date and his victory in 2009 came as a 5 year old when he was actually a 1L 2nd behind Desert Kiss. Rock Anthem was flying home that day but just couldnât get to the front, again off 72. Desert Kiss was rated 80 that day so considering he weighed in light its fair to say he was a couple of lbs lighter than that. Desert Kiss was a 4 year old at the time and he has subsequently gone on to win off marks of 85 and 89. The declared 2nd that day Poyle Meg, who raced off 77 that day and finished 1.75L behind Rock Anthem, has subsequently won off a mark of 80 on the AW. The 3rd has come out and won off a 1lb lower mark.
Rock Anthem started the season disappointingly and came out and produced a rather disappointing run at Sandown where he was 2-2 over the C+D. However, he blew the start completely that day and I think he was probably saved for another day. Furthermore, the ground had probably gone against him with all his wins coming on ground that is good or better. Tomorrows ground is forecast to be Good so if we donât get any rain then I think the ground should be ideal. Rock Anthem continued the disappointing trend of poor performances when finishing a distant 9th at Brighton off a mark of 75. Martin Dwyer was booked that day and it was a bad run with no excuses. If that was his last run I would be very hesitant to back him but he definitely showed that he was returning to some sort of form LTO at Kempton on August 15th.
Racing off a lower AW mark, Rock Anthem was dropped out the back by tomorrows jockey Tony Culhane and he travelled very well throughout the race. Culhane brought Rock Anthem down the outside and he came with a very promising run and looked to have a serious chance 1f out. However, it became apparent that Rock Anthem was not going to win and he was eased in the final furlong eventually finishing 4L behind the winner Catchanova. The form of the race looks fine with Catchanova winning again off a 6lb higher mark and the 2nd Ferruccio coming 2nd off a 3lb higher mark. It definitely was evident that Rock Anthem was nearing his best form and looks sure to come on from that run.
Rock Anthem races off a mark of 71, which is 1lb lower than his two victories in the two Sandown contests. Rock Anthemâs rating peaked at 77 this year and I think perhaps the 2011 running of the race was the target all along and his poor performances have allowed his mark to drop below his last winning mark (effectively 2lbs higher as two 3lb claimers were on for the victories). However, he was withdrawn that day due to the ground being too soft which I think indicates that Murphy believes he is in great form and he was saving him for a day he could compete. He should hopefully get the better ground he is after tomorrow and if in top form he should definitely be able to play a hand in the finish of this Class 5 event. Tony Culhane takes the ride tomorrow and although he isnât ideally drawn in stall 12, hopefully Rock Anthem can make it 3 consecutive Septembers where he has registered a win.
Also like the look of 5.00 Kempton Red Somerset 14/1
3.50 Leicester
La Fortunata 12/1 NAP
Quite like the look of Mike Murphyâs 4 year old in the shape of La Fortunata tomorrow. This filly has been a great servant to both her trainers, registering 2 wins and 12 places from a total of 23 starts and probably still isnât entirely exposed either. Although she disappointed 2 starts ago off this mark of 83 at Sandown when sent off joint favourite, the ground was probably too soft for her that day and I am willing to overlook that effort. If we go back 2 starts, La Fortunata ran an excellent 1L 2nd behind Secret Asset at Goodwood at the end of July off a 2lb lower mark. That day, La Fortunata was drawn very wide in stall 1 and elected to race alone for the vast majority of the race and it was an excellent effort. It may very well have been a case that La Fortunanta was running on worse ground than the rest and her effort was even better than the bare result. Even still, the form of that race is working out very nicely.
The winner has subsequently finished 4.5L behind Hoof it and won off a 6lb higher mark in a Class 2 so La Fortunata was clearly beaten by a well handicapped horse. Further to this, a few of the other horses in behind have won off similar marks so the form looks rock solid. LTO La Fortunata put in an excellent effort on ground that was definitely softer than ideal for her as she finished 1.12L back in 4th behind Your Gifted, with Sohraab who opposes tomorrow 0.5L in front in 3rd. She had a poor draw which was a big negative for this horse who likes to front run and she was squeezed out in the final furlong and it was really a fine performance. Her trainer Mike Murphy said that they will be looking for some better ground and they seem to have got it here with the current going Good, Good to Firm in places. She should definitely improve a lot with the better ground and off the same mark I think she has a fantastic chance and should reverse the placings with Sohraab. Tony Culhane takes the ride tomorrow and although she doesnât have the best draw in stall 13 I hope it is not too much of an inconvenience and I fancy her quite a bit to register another win to her name.
4.50 Leicester
Rock Anthem FC 16/1
I quite like the look of Mike Murphyâs 7 year gelding in what looks a very open contest tomorrow. Although he doesnât win much, Rock Anthem last 2 wins came in the same race at Sandown in the same handicap a year apart in 2010 and 2009. Last year he was given a fantastic ride by Russ Kennemore off a mark of 72. He was waited with for a long time at the back of the field and Kennemore pushed the button inside 2 furlongs to go and Rock Anthem proceeded to blast through the field to get up in the last 100 yards to win by 0.75L to Beaumontâs Party. The effort was visually very impressive as he met a couple of momentum sapping spots on his way to victory. I believe there was still a lot of horse left under Kennemore at the end of the race. The 2nd in that race has subsequently come out and won twice off a mark of 75 (was 74 that day) and has finished a very respectable 4th off 83 LTO. A couple of others that day who were behind have come out to win off similar marks.
Rock Anthem has 6 wins to date and his victory in 2009 came as a 5 year old when he was actually a 1L 2nd behind Desert Kiss. Rock Anthem was flying home that day but just couldnât get to the front, again off 72. Desert Kiss was rated 80 that day so considering he weighed in light its fair to say he was a couple of lbs lighter than that. Desert Kiss was a 4 year old at the time and he has subsequently gone on to win off marks of 85 and 89. The declared 2nd that day Poyle Meg, who raced off 77 that day and finished 1.75L behind Rock Anthem, has subsequently won off a mark of 80 on the AW. The 3rd has come out and won off a 1lb lower mark.
Rock Anthem started the season disappointingly and came out and produced a rather disappointing run at Sandown where he was 2-2 over the C+D. However, he blew the start completely that day and I think he was probably saved for another day. Furthermore, the ground had probably gone against him with all his wins coming on ground that is good or better. Tomorrows ground is forecast to be Good so if we donât get any rain then I think the ground should be ideal. Rock Anthem continued the disappointing trend of poor performances when finishing a distant 9th at Brighton off a mark of 75. Martin Dwyer was booked that day and it was a bad run with no excuses. If that was his last run I would be very hesitant to back him but he definitely showed that he was returning to some sort of form LTO at Kempton on August 15th.
Racing off a lower AW mark, Rock Anthem was dropped out the back by tomorrows jockey Tony Culhane and he travelled very well throughout the race. Culhane brought Rock Anthem down the outside and he came with a very promising run and looked to have a serious chance 1f out. However, it became apparent that Rock Anthem was not going to win and he was eased in the final furlong eventually finishing 4L behind the winner Catchanova. The form of the race looks fine with Catchanova winning again off a 6lb higher mark and the 2nd Ferruccio coming 2nd off a 3lb higher mark. It definitely was evident that Rock Anthem was nearing his best form and looks sure to come on from that run.
Rock Anthem races off a mark of 71, which is 1lb lower than his two victories in the two Sandown contests. Rock Anthemâs rating peaked at 77 this year and I think perhaps the 2011 running of the race was the target all along and his poor performances have allowed his mark to drop below his last winning mark (effectively 2lbs higher as two 3lb claimers were on for the victories). However, he was withdrawn that day due to the ground being too soft which I think indicates that Murphy believes he is in great form and he was saving him for a day he could compete. He should hopefully get the better ground he is after tomorrow and if in top form he should definitely be able to play a hand in the finish of this Class 5 event. Tony Culhane takes the ride tomorrow and although he isnât ideally drawn in stall 12, hopefully Rock Anthem can make it 3 consecutive Septembers where he has registered a win.
Also like the look of 5.00 Kempton Red Somerset 14/1
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM 
England and Ireland played very well and are looking good for a semi final meeting.
