Friday's Meetings Newbury Flat 8 Races 1:35-5:30p.m. York Flat 7 Races 1:50-5:05p.m. Newmarket Flat 7 Races 2:00-5:15p.m. Kilbeggan(E) N/H 7 Races 5:10-8:25p.m. Leopardstown(E) Flat 7 Races 5:25-8:40p.m. Aintree(E) N/H 7 Races 5:35-8:50p.m. Hamilton(E) Flat 7 Races 5:55-9:05p.m. Racecards At The Races Racing Post Sporting Life Good Luck
There is a 7F 2YO maiden at Leopardstown this evening. I like the 7F races because it gives us the chance to see youngsters who may turn out to be more than just sprinters long term. As always, Aidan O'Brien's blue bloods catch the eye first. War Leader is the fav on the forecast tissue odds. He is by War Front and is a full brother to Lancaster Bomber, Donnacha takes the ride. Toronto is a Galileo half brother to Canford Cliffs. His dam's other offspring are pretty modest but Toronto is entered in next year's Derby. Perhaps he is less likely to be ready to rock on debut. Masteroffoxhounds is another War Front colt who will be ridden by Seamie. Dermot Weld saddles Britannia Kitten, a 190,000 gns son of Kitten's Joy. With Weld batting at 33% just now you would think there will be support but I just wonder if 7F will be short for him. Just a race to watch for me. The main bet of the day for me won't take long to be decided. The 1.50 York is a 5F Listed event for 2YO fillies and there are plenty winners in the field. Obviously these young fillies are all open to improvement but I think one sets a pretty tough standard to match for the others. Signora Cabello was a surprise winner of this race last season, returned at 20/1 after coming in rated 77 on RPR after two starts. She earned a rating of 88 for winning it before going on to Royal Ascot and winning the Queen Mary at even bigger odds of 25/1. The bad news for some of the fillies tomorrow may be that Lady Kermit is already rated higher than Signora Cabello was after she won this race last season. Lady Kermit has won both of her races well and is rated 95 by the Racing Post. That puts her well ahead and it is a good mark to set as a standard. Having run to 90 on her first start it seems unlikely that it is a fluke and as the one with a bit more experience than some I feel she will take some stopping. Trainer Archie Watson is going well and his Soldier's Call ran an excellent race at York today. You can never be sure with lightly raced youngsters but assuming Lady Kermit takes to turf as well as she has to Newcastle and Kempton, she should be suited by York and can hopefully take the catching. I have her priced at 2/1 for this and have to have a few quid on at 4/1. It would not surprise me to see her start a good bit shorter. Hope she doesn't run green or I'll look a right Muppet. 1.50 Lady Kermit 4/1 is my bet of the day.
Ran some decent times and 4/1 looks a good bet on the face of it. As you say, no telling how much these youngsters may improve with some experience and a bit more development, some more than others of course. There are plenty of dangers, none more so than Mighty Spirit who was closing on Lady Kermit after dwelling at the start and running green. She was not well fancied on the day at 10/1, unlike Lady Kermit who was 1/4 and with the benefit of a race under her belt. I fail to see how the RP has Mighty Spirit rate 9lb inferior to Lady Kermit and at 8/1 looks a better bet to me. Although, personally, I wouldn't touch the race as neither have run on turf
Timeform Ratings for the Yorkshire Cup Stradivarius is a horse I've loved since his early 3yo days. So I'm not going to burden him at odds of 8/13. Hope he wins. Lovely honest horse
The Derby picture looks as clear as mud - and until O'Brien gets his ducks in a row that will continue to be the case. For what it is worth,for me Broome ran the best of the trials.I cannot see him running all of his stars at Epsom especially with Chantilly on the Sunday. He has yet to supplement his Chester Vase winner,and it wouldn't surprise me if he decided to wait for the Curragh-anyway on to today. Yesterday Kevin Ryan had a winner in Repartee, Today in the 1.50 at York he saddles GALADRIEL, the only unraced filly in the race and to start her in what looks a hot listed race with 12 previous winners in the field suggests that she could be something special,drawn 21 she will have the rail to help. I will be having a small curiosity bet E.W. in the hope of a good run.
I suspect they feel she could be a good one and could be testing her out against decent opposition without giving her a hard race. Will be worth watching to see how she is ridden. If she has a sympathetic ride and is running on at the finish, could be one to back next time.
Forgive my ignorance, but didn't the Yorkshire Cup used to be a handicap? How long has it been a Gp2?
Two at York I like the look of one at a huge price and one at a small price: 1:50 - Silver Start 30/1 ew (4 places bet365) Edit: I've just seen that this has already been posted by Shearer Cort Given Dyer Speed 2:25 - Natalie's Joy 4/1 Win And one at Aintree: 6:10 - Dieg Man 12/1 Win
GRANDEE 7/1 York 3:35 Grandee was purchased by Nick Bradley out of Jessie Harringtons yard with a lofty perch of 102 as a 3yo. He spent the whole of his 4yo looking like a horse completely out of sorts and David O'Meara tried many trips and different tactics with very limited success. This season Nick has switched the horse to Roger Fell and he is absolutely thriving. A nice pipe opening fourth at Doncaster was followed by an impressive 5 length win at Newcastle. The handicapper hiked him 9lbs to 90 for that win but it could be argued that the horse still has around 12lb in the tank. The draw could have been kinder but saying that he should get a very good tow into the race from the horse in the stall next door. Connections are rightly confident of a follow up win today and also looking ahead to a hat-trick so when he goes in today keep him in the notebook for the next run.
Mighty Spirit is second highest rated Ron and at 17/2 is a decent price. I do prefer winners though and get the feeling Lady Kermit will be suited by York. Fleeting Princess looks a bit short to me. She won her only start at Yarmouth well enough but she was 8/13 Fav that day and this is much tougher. The third horse in her race Don't Joke had been beaten just as far in receipt of 4 lbs at Bath and while that was a class 2 contest it was Bath and the winner of that race was well beaten in a conditions race at Ascot. Watching Lady Kermit's race replay from Newcastle I felt she won with something in hand and she looked to have a bit more physical presence about her. Her action looks like it will be suited to good ground on turf and she appealed as the one to be on here. Kevin Ryan had an impressive winner yesterday but Galadriel will need to be top class to land this first time up. Could be anything of course but any greenness will be tough to overcome. Bits and pieces of money for several in the field but I'll have a few quid more on Lady Kermit. If she was trained by one of the Gosden's, Nodeda's or Varian's of the world I am sure she would be a good bit shorter. Come on Archie Watson, a Royal Baby called Archie must be an omen.
ITV Patent 1:50 Separate 12/1 E/W Top 4 2:10 Fille De Reve 11/2 E/W Top3 3:35 Lucius Tiberius 5/1 E/W Top4