Friday's Meetings Thirsk Flat 7 Races 1:00-4:20p.m. Newmarket Flat 7 Races 1:10-4:30p.m. Ffos Las Flat 7 Races 1:20-4:40p.m. Down Royal(E) N/H 7 Races 3:55-7:00p.m. Curragh(E) Flat 8 Races 4:15-7:45p.m. Hamilton(E) Flat 7 Races 4:35-7:40p.m. Goodwood(E) Flat 6 Races 4:53-7:23p.m. Racecards At The Races Sporting Life Racing Post Good Luck
Hello, again. Hope everyone A-OK. Nothing for me tomorrow. But I'm sure that everyone who has looked at Friday's cards is asking themselves - What the bally bloomin' 'eck is Ffosglasto, I say Ffosglasto! Meanwhile, can I just say that my more eagle-eyed regular readers may have noticed that my avatar has changed. After several terms of it being dear old Santini it is now old boy, Jonbon. Cor blimey, crew, what a prospect! He's the hope of Seven Barrows. The hope of the nation. THE. HOPE. OF. THE. FORUM. And finally...(I know I'm babbling on so will make this my last point). Lieutenant Henderson has entered Buzz in the Cesarewitch. Extremely interesting entry. I'd urge you to have a look at this one if you get a spare minute, team. Hasn't run on the level yet for the Lieutenant (insert your own joke, at this point, if you wish). In fact its 23 months since he last appeared on the Flat. But has won 3/8 over hurdles for the forum's favourite trainer and also been placed in top handicap hurdles and the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle for him. This has seen him earn a hurdles perch of 155. Will run off 96 in the Ces (should he go). Good luck all.
Said many times on here before that the owner is something of a loose canyon and I think he has proved it once again. I see its being reported that Santini has 'left' Seven Barrows but to be slightly pedantic this is far from true as he hasn't been there for almost 5 months - the point he left for his summer hols. Just not going back is more accurate. Nice opportunity for Polly Gundry but do you know who I think will be very miffed by this decision??? Alan King and Dan Skelton. The owners other main trainers. I bet both would have relished the chance to turn Santini around but got passed over. And both would have probably thought they'd get the job of trying to rejuvinate the old boy. Look I don't think a change of scenery is ever a bad thing for a horse who has, seemingly, lost his form but can't see a move from Seven Barrows to Polly Gundry as being some sort of 'major fix'. Still hope that he can win something massive though. Let's hope Mrs Gundry proves me wrong and is the Lieutenant's equal.
The Round Tower at the Curragh looks an interesting renewal. Johnnie Murtagh's Ladies Church is favourite but not by much, She was 4th on debut and then went on to win her next two races. The latest of those was in a Listed contest, where she seemed to do the re-opposing favourite, Pennine Hills, for toe on the day. Watching it back, you would be hard pressed to think that the latter horse will gain revenge over an extra furlong today but Ladies Church is yet to win at 6F. More of a concern for me is that none of Ladies Church's three races has thrown up an subsequent winners. Pennine Hills was pretty impressive on debut and initially it looked promising, with runner-up Concert Hall going one better next time. That filly was put well in her place when 7th of 8 behind Agartha next time though, beaten more than 12 lengths and the rest of the form from Pennine Hills' race looks pretty bleak to be honest. Sam Maximus ran in France last time and was only 4th. I thought he was a poor value favourite that day based on placing at a huge price the time before. The third in that French race,Trident, did go on to be runner-up in the Prix Morny next time though and that is pretty encouraging, however, based on a one win career, I feel Sam Maximus is too short at 4/1. Cowboy Justice was 2nd on debut and then opened his account next time out. That race was over 7F though and he drops back a furlong now. He is taking on a fav who is stepping up from 5F, so faces faster opposition that last time. Craic At Dawn was 3rd to Cowboy Justice and he ran an absolute shocker next time out. The race in general has not worked out and I am forced to take on Cowboy Justice here. I like Sacred Bridge for this one. Ger Lyons' filly is 3/3 and although only a narrow winner last time, it was in a big field sales race. Runner-up Bosh was poor as favourite next time but the 4th Ever Given went on to win another big money race next time. Looking back now, Sacred Bridge's debut win from Agartha looks all the better with Joseph's filly winning two Group races since. Ger Lyons has had some good 2YO winners this year but for me he does have a slight caveat regarding progressing his youngsters, with some of them failing to build on promising first races. Sacred Bridge has solid looking form and she has no issues regarding the trip, so at 3/1 I felt she was the best value. Being unbeaten thus far is an extra attraction. 5.45 Curragh Sacred Bridge 3/1
¿Supreme, Ballymore or Bumper? I hope neither Ballymore nor Bumper, I'm on Journey With Me and Classic Getaway since April.
Curragh 18,45 Crystal Black 16/1 e/w PP (seven places) Betfair (six), Sky 14/1 (seven) Down Royal 17,30 Motown Maggie 3/1 Hamilton 18,40 Where's Jeff 9/1 e/w
I'd like to think Supreme. Although looking at the current prices, re Jonbon and those 3 races, there is very little difference in odds between him and Supreme, Ballymore and Bumper glory (10's, 12/1 and 14's respectively).
In the opener at the Curragh Aidan O'Brien's Bluegrass is favourite. Sixth on debut when green, the son of Galileo can be expected to improve a fair bit from that but the race he ran in, behind the previously mentioned Cowboy Justice, has not worked out well. At 2/1 he's a bit skinny for me. He is out of Karl Burke's Commonwealth Cup winner Quiet Reflection, so perhaps the step up to a mile today may be a conundrum on Galileo's ability to get them staying further than the Dam's stamina might suggest. Good Heavens made a similar start to Bluegrass when 7th and making good late headway without reaching the leaders. He too may be suited by the mile today but his race has also been working out quite poorly so far. At 7/2 he's too short for me. I took a pop with the seemingly second string Sweden from Aidan's yard. Another Galileo, he holds entries in Group races and his Dam won the Ribblesdale in 2016. He looks a more assured middle distance sort and I feel one we get to mile races experience is less important than for 6F races for example. Saxon Warrior landed this race on his debut in recent times and at 13/2 he appealed to me more than the shorter priced once raced ones who have to come forward from their first efforts. 4.15 Curragh Sweden 13/2 With a name like that, he can always try the Eurovision Song Contest if he doesn't cut it on the track.
Disappointing debut from Sweden, he dropped away quite tamely and there will be no Group races for him going forward. Bluegrass made all and kept finding enough to repel Good Heavens. He has obviously come forward from his debut. Magical Lagoon has just turned around the form with Albula in the Flame Of Tara. A shade over 3 lengths behind Joseph's filly when they made their debuts, she ran down the previous winner, who seemed to have put the race to bed when hitting the front. Albula must have traded at short odds in running but the Harrington filly finished strongly to reel her in. Aidan's Magic Lullaby made a very promising debut thrust into Group 3 company on debut and she was only a head away from a 90 rated filly in 4th place. Another Galileo youngster and likely to benefit a lot from her ambitious debut target, the Moyglare will come too soon but I couldn't resost a dabble for the Fillies Mile at 50/1. Long way to go for that but she looks a shoo-in for a maiden next time and you never know with these late season 2YO races.
I give Iris Dancer a squeak in the 19:40 sprint event at Hamilton. Undulating course, but with a stiff uphill finish which will suit selection. Phil Dennis takes the ride for trainer T. Davidson. 5/1 freely-available at time of writing.
I've played Sacred Bridge for the Cheveley Park because it looks an open year for the 6F fillies and the odds of Sacred Bridge and Pennine Hills for the Group 1 race don't make sense looking at their odds today. Cheveley Park Sacred Bridge 12/1
Well you couldn't have asked for better than that from Sacred Bridge. She has slaughtered a decent enough looking field there. She came there travelling well and took it up easily. Just for a second I wondered if she had gone too soon but she seemed to find an extra surge and won by 3 and 3/4 lengths. This looked a Group 1 performance and she was sliced from 10/1 to 11/4 with Unibet for the Cheveley Park. It made no sense to me that Quick Suzy was 11/2 for the Cheveley Park following her 9th place in the Prix Morny, so I thought Sacred Bridge was worth a bet at 12/1. The market for the race looked very confused, with Pennine Hills at 14/1, yet she was 18/1 for today's Group 3. That seemed madness to me. Promising from Sacred Bridge regarding the Cheveley Park and arguably she is the one to beat after today's show.
The Nursery at 7.15 sees Johnny Murtagh's New Star favourite and the wily fox has a contender with a profile that suggests he was trained with Nurseries in mind. 5th in his first Nursery, he was short of room that day and ran on to be nearest at the finish. This step up to 7F looks likely to suit based on that effort. At 11/4 he is a bit short looking though now that the support has come for him. I backed Recurrent Dream last time out in the valuable sales race won by Sacred Bridge. He was behind the re-opposing Tut Tut that day but was drawn on the wrong side in a race dominated by high numbers. Tut Tut had no such excuse in stall 23 that day and I believe the Lyons horse can gain revenge this time. It also looked like Recurrent Dream was ready for 7F last time and I hoped he could fulfil the promise of a debut where he ran on strongly. 7.15 Curragh Recurrent Dream 13/2
A shade unlucky would be fair to say. Rider Dennis went for a gap that just never existed with the horse jumping up in the air! Still came rattling through, and just got pipped on the line. That's racing! .
Recurrent Dream did reverse form with Tut Tut but was only 5th. Madonnadelrosario, whom I had backed on her debut, finally came good at 16/1. Ger Lyons confirmed that Sacred Bridge will go straight to the Cheveley Park next and they will leave it to next season to worry about getting a longer distance. Paddy Power are still showing her at 12/1 on Oddschecker but when you go to their website she is actually 6/1. I think that is still a decent price. I doubt Paddy Power are going to get any takers for Pennine Hills at 14/1 for the Cheveley Park. Amazing how bookies are quick to cut odds but never lengthen horses whose chances are blatantly much smaller than their odds now reflect. I wouldn't take 33/1 on Pennine Hills and 14/1 is a scandalous price.
He should have won that one. I think Les Dennis could have done better there. Probably go off a silly price next time as an unlucky loser.
Noticed HM's cast-off Realist won FTO at Down Royal. Didn't seem to understand what was required of him, but won well. If he learns from that could be useful.
