Saturday's Meetings Ripon Flat 7 Races 1:35-4:59p.m. Curragh Flat 8 Races 1:42-5:45p.m. Newbury Flat 7 Races 1:50-5:20p.m Doncaster Flat 7 Races 1:57-5:25p.m. Newmarket Flat 6 Races 2:05-4:55p.m. Perth(E) N/H 7 Races 3:55-7:08p.m. Market Rasen(E) N/H 7 Races 5:15-8:03p.m. Bath(E) Flat 6 Races 5:40-8:16p.m. Racecards At The Races Sporting Life Racing Post Good Luck
I really like Venetian Prince 410 Newbury only 7/4 but ran well lto and should win before going on to better things
Generally, I am not a fan of gimmick races but I will make an exception for the Grey Horse race at HQ (2.05), which is just as well as the rest of the card features 5, 6, 7, 5 and 4 runners. I can start by eliminating several that are out of form, or in the case of 52 rated Rokuni massively out of the handicap. Grenham Bay won on the Kempton kitty litter back in February but has shown little in four subsequent races, only one of which was on turf. Seven year old Strike was twice a runner up in May but has not been involved at the business end of three subsequent races, finishing last at York last time and now has a claimer aboard. Sensorium won a five furlong Beverley maiden last term and was third in the sales race at the York Ebor meeting but was second last on his seasonal bow three weeks ago. Gressington has only placed once in five starts this season and I would need to see better form than that before considering him a win prospect. Those remarks also apply to Silver Samurai, who won this two years ago but has also not been seen for seven weeks. Ezra Cee has been off the track since last October but did win first time out last term for a different yard in a maiden (only career win). Last year’s winner Archduke Ferdinand won a race at Redcar in May but has shown little since; however, when he won under today’s pilot last term his previous four races were ‘5845’. Cayman Tai looks a bit of an unknown. He returned from a gelding operation with a second on the kitty litter at Wolverhampton and his only career win was a three-runner race at Ffos Las. Arguably his career best performance was second at Pontefract on his seasonal bow when today’s pilot still had a 3lb claim. The obvious favourite today is Binhareer from the Haggas yard. He has held up in an Ayr handicap last time but sprinted clear in the final furlong to win by more than three lengths. That was on easy ground, as was his only other career win; and he has been raised 8lb by the handicapper. So with the faster ground and the extra weight, I am going to oppose him and go with the second favourite ADDISON GREY. Clive Cox’s charge won his only juvenile race on the kitty litter at Southwell but was well beaten on his return. He got back on track winning a four runner novice by 17 lengths at 1/11 before making his handicap debut when less than a length third at Chepstow in a stronger race than this one. He was raised 1lb by the handicapper but is ridden by a 7lb claimer here who can hopefully pick up his fourth career win.
The two pattern races at Newbury look avoidable. The opening Geoffrey Freer Stakes (1.50) has six runners and betting like a greyhound race. On Oddschecker, four of them are drifting with just three year old Nightime Dancer (remote second in the Bahrain Trophy, remote eighth in the Derby) and outsider Ambiente Friendly (placed in the Epsom and Irish Derbies last year but having changed yards) being supported. Candleford tried to make all at Goodwood last time and may attempt to do the same today. Epic Poet has not been seen since finishing second last in the Hardwicke, won by Rebel’s Romance that he had run close in the Yorkshire Cup. The favourite Pinhole has a few pounds to find stepping up into pattern company after winning a five runner handicap last time. The Hungerford Stakes (3.35) revolves around whether you want to take a chance on the progressive More Thunder stepping up into pattern company, chance Lennox Stakes winner Witness Stand (was that a 25/1 flash in the pan?) or rely on the form of the Hackwood Stakes, where Rage Of Bamby (33/1) beat returning King’s Gamble (4/1) with Fair Angellina (22/1) fourth. Or should you be looking at three year old Spy Chief, second in the Jersey Stakes and not beaten far in seventh in the July Cup? Those could be a pattern race double for Tom Marquand with good rides in both for William Haggas. Something that looks a bit more my type of thing is the handicap at 3.00, with eleven declared but several that are easy to rule out. Wolf Of Badenoch has shown little in two starts this year and has not been seen for eight weeks. Cogitate has shown little in three starts since winning for today’s pilot over a mile in May. Twelve year old Documenting has not been in the first three in four 2025 starts, including when fifth behind 20/1 winner Obelix at York. That was Julie Camacho’s charge’s only place in six races this year that includes three last three finishes. Havana Pusey was way out of her depth last time in the Oak Tree and is only a pound higher than when runner up at HQ before that; however, she may be in the grip of the handicapper now having won off 84 and 87 back in May. Consolidation has first time cheekpieces after two no-shows in big handicaps but won a six-runner handicap off 90 at Goodwood before that and is only 4lb higher. Lou Lou’s Gift is dropping back to handicapping after finding life tough at Listed/Group 3 level but is on a mark 6lb higher than when she was second at HQ a year ago. Eve Johnson Houghton’s seven year old Jumby continues to run consistently and was third a week ago in a valuable handicap and should be involved again if this is not too soon. Classic will be favourite today after following up making all in the mile Coral Challenge on Eclipse day with second at this trip on King George day. Sean Levey may look to returning to front running but he races off a 4lb higher mark today so he needs a career best. Leadman progressed with each race this year following a fourth at HQ with a win there (reversing form with Sterling Knight) but then disappointed in a very valuable Goodwood handicap. He could well shrug off that effort but I am more interested in the Goodwood runner up, CRACKING GOLD, raised 3lb for that effort but previously victorious over the winner at HQ. So it looks like I need a Clive Cox double today...
The warning about the Geoffrey Freer ‘greyhound’ race proved to be accurate. They ended up with three co-favourites at 3/1 and none of them won. I thought that the lad on Addison Grey had left it too much to do. He sat behind and came towards the stands’ side with his run but his mount wandered around before nailing the second favourite in the shadow of the post. Just as well he had the 7lb claim. Clearly there are races still to be won by both those three years olds; and I note they were well clear of the third.
This looks like it is in reverse order. I am guessing that Puppet Master might not be the Ballydoyle Irish St Leger horse any longer...
