Friday's Meetings Carlisle Flat 8 Races 1:10-5:20p.m. Wolverhampton A/W 7 Races 1:50-5:30p.m. Epsom Downs Flat 7 Races 2:00-5:50p.m. The Oaks Off @ 4:30p.m. Down Royal(E) Flat 7 Races 5:25-8:25p.m. Tramore(E) N/H 7 Races 5:35-8:35p.m. Stratford(E) N/H 7 Races 5:45-8:50p.m. Doncaster(E) Flat 7 Races 6:00-9:00p.m. Chelmsford(E) A/W 7 Races 6:10-9:10p.m. Racecards At The Races Racing Post Sporting Life Good Luck
It is very hard to summon up any enthusiasm for the Coronation Cup. Kew Gardens is possibly the best horse in the race but he was out with the washing in the Derby last year (suggesting that the contours here do not suit) and won his two Group 1s on flat galloping tracks. It is possible that the soft ground first time up at Chester was not to his liking but he was well beaten by a Group 3 horse. Old Persian was behind Kew Gardens in the St Leger and comes here with two Meydan victories to his name, most recently in the Sheema Classic; however, that looked like a Group 1 race in name only and whilst the twelve furlongs looks his trip his record suggests he is not a true Group 1 horse. John Gosden’s filly Lah Ti Dar was only beaten by Kew Gardens when favourite for the St Leger but her only Group race win was a narrow one in the ten furlong Middleton Stakes. She should come on for that and if she takes to this track she could be the one to beat if she has progressed. It is hard to see why gelding Defoe is half the price of his Newmarket conqueror Communique, who may take on Salouen for the lead and make sure this does not turn into a sprint. Epsom certainly is a place for following course form and although I would be delighted for Her Maj if Elector follows up his win at HQ, I am siding with MOUNTAIN ANGEL, a course and distance winner last time out, who can lie up with the pace and avoid traffic trouble. The betting on the Oaks gives the impression that it is a four horse race. The problem is that it is very easy to pick holes in the victories of all of them in their trial races for the same reason: what did they beat? Anapurna bolted up in the Lingfield Oaks Trial, suggesting distant runner-up Tauteke has no chance, but that race was run on soft ground. Is soft ground a requirement for this daughter of Frankel? She should handle the track as Lingfield’s undulations are the nearest to it. Pink Dogwood has never run on quick ground and there does not look to be anything special about her debut victory, although the re-opposing third Tarnawa has won a Group 3 since, beating Delphinia and Peach Tree. If she does not end up favourite, that distinction will go to Cheshire Oaks winner Mehdaayih, who readily accounted for Manuela De Vega on the Roodeye. Another Frankel filly, is she better with some juice in the ground? I have been on course for both of MAQSAD’s victories this season and she readily won the Pretty Polly on 1000 Guineas day in a manner that reminded me of Taghrooda; hence, I backed her ante-post for the Oaks. I think that her style of racing gives her every chance of seeing out the trip at Epsom. So I am sticking with my initial impression as she has just as much scope to improve as any of the trials winners since and she is happy on the quick ground.
I watched Maqsad last time out and she was hacking over her field from a long way out. I had backed Clematis at a decent price that day and she was well backed but was no factor in the end. Clematis had moved well enough early but when asked for an effort she went backwards. The Vet remarked after the race that the Hills filly had "Finished distressed" Clematis was second favourite that day and with her not running any sort of race, we have to ask what Maqsad beat? The runner-up in the Pretty Polly was Shambolic, a John Gosden filly, who went on as favourite in another Listed contest next time. Shambolic was no match for Aloe Vera, who beat her three lengths. Perhaps more worrying was that Love So Deep was only a neck away from Shambolic in third place. Love So Deep has an official rating of only 82 and perhaps more of a worry was that she ran behind Mehdaayih in the Cheshire Oaks and had finished beaten 14 lengths by the winner. Maqsad was also more than 4 lengths behind Mehdaayih when they met as 2YO's and while she has improved since, it looks like Gosden's filly has as well. Pink Dogwood is too short for me and if trained by a lesser known trainer would be bigger odds. It's not a vintage renewal and Pretty Polly winner Maqsad is top-rated after winning a Listed race, indicating that these fillies have been winning in shallow waters thus far. The O'Brien juggernaut is hard to stop and no doubt many will trust him to do the business in the Oaks but she won't carry my cash. I hope one of the less exposed and improving fillies win this and I went with Anapurna because she looked a very much blank canvas that may have the makings of a decent painting with time. She looked less of the finished article than her stablemate and perhaps the stouter stayer of the pair. The faster ground is an ask but I expect Anapurna to handle the track. I think she might improve 10 lbs in the Oaks and that might be enough. The RPR have Maqsad 1 lb ahead of Mehdaayih and 3 lbs ahead of Anapurna, with Pink Dogwood a further 4 lbs back from Anapurna. They can all improve obviously but it's pretty tight and at the relative odds I went with Anapurna at 8/1 earlier in the week. The Tip Box in the Racing Post Website is interesting. Thus far we have 6 tips for Mehdaayih, 4 tips for Maqsad, 2 tips for Anapurna and 2 tips for Frankellina. A bit surprising that there are ZERO tips for Pink Dogwood at the moment. With Frankel having plenty of tips for his progeny there must be hope he can sire an Oaks winner here. I am hoping it's Frankie who is celebrating but I would also be happy if Amanda Perrett could get a much needed big winner with Lavenders Blue. It seems ages since her father Guy Harwood was sending out big race winners.
I went with Old Persian in the Coronation Cup. I am more or less ignoring his Meydan runs with regards to this race because I am not keen on the form from that track. I did Old Persian in the St Leger last year in the hope that he would stay the trip but he clearly didn't last home, weakening in the final 2F after briefly taking it up. He was behind Kew Gardens, La Ti Dar and others that day but not far behind Dee Ex Bee considering that he had not stayed the trip. Dee Ex Bee has been doing well upped in trip and he had earlier taken a beating from Cross Counter, the Melbourne Cup winner. Going back to the Great Voltigeur, I had a good ante-post bet on Cross Counter but he could not quite catch Old Persian that day, going down by a head. Back in third that day was Kew Gardens and I think the form of that race and Old Persian's subsequent wins, whatever they may ultimately be worth, gives Old Persian a great chance of figuring at this trip after clearly not staying the Leger distance. Charlie Appleby has said Old Persian seems quicker than he was last year and that he expects Epsom to suit and the good ground to be ideal. It's been a while since a filly won and John Gosden is wondering if Epsom is ideal for Lah Ti Dar. I anticipate more improvement yet from Old Persian and a win here would surely make him a player for the Arc De Triomphe, where he can be backed at 25/1. I hope he can show more speed than Kew Gardens at this track. With Enable skipping the Prince Of Wales at Royal Ascot I wanted to get something at a price for the Arc so took Old Persian as a speculative early dart. 3.10 Epsom Old Persian 10/3 Arc De Triomphe Old Persian 25/1
I like the chances of MAQSAD. In the pretty Polly she beat an 100 rated horse by 5 lengths. It is fair to say that SHAMBOLIC hardly franked the form,and there was a horse in Aloe Veras race that won a Lingfield seller next time. It is also worth noting that Maqsads sire is Siyouni, a specialist miler and the sire of LAURENS-that said there is the Galileo influence on the dams side which gives hope that she will stay 12 furlongs. There is another angle involving TWIST'N' SHAKE who Maqsad beat in a photo,the pair finishing 9 lengths clear of the third. TWIST'N' SHAKE then won her maiden by 7 lengths- made all coasted home- She was made a short priced fav to win a listed race at York but went down by a neck to MAGNETIC CHARM who,like MAQSAD is trained by Haggas. Top rated at 109 she must take all the beating-if she stays.
Morning, team. Hope everyone well. Good, good. For me the best bet of the day at Epsom has to be MISTY GREY in the card commencer (2.00). Was a Facile, with a capital ‘F’, winner of a Ripon novice heat last time as the old boy powered away to a 7 length victory. Hinted, that day, that he could be rather good. I’d expect him to step up and take this class 2 heat today. Furthermore is very nicely bred being by Dark Angel and out of a Group 1 winning mare. Also, the stable know how to win ‘The Woodcote’ having taken it 5 times since the turn of the century (and 2 out of the last 4 renewals). Good luck all.
Will be interesting to see how well Lah Ti Dar runs with an eye on the Dante, on the clock she ran the same race as Too Darn Hot at York, although with WFA taken into consideration, the Dante Winner came out 13 pounds better than Lah Ti Dar. Based on that she wouldnt be up to winning a decent G1 but this is often a weak G1 and this year looks no different. Scorpion, Yeats, Ask, Fame And Glory.... Its a stayers race and I fancy Kew Gardens strongly, would have backed him at 7/4 so very happy to get 11/4.
Just a two horse race in the Oaks according to the betting. Pink Dogwood is strong as is Mehdaayih. Anapurna and Maqsad are both weak. I've done Lavenders Blue each-way 4 places at 28/1. She looks way overpriced in an open year. Only four pounds lower than Pink Dogwood and less exposed, it seems crazy that one filly is 5/2 and the other 28/1. Lavenders Blue 28/1 places 1-2-3-4 E/W It looks like a Group 3 race to be honest but good luck to everyone playing.
As I'll be watching the racing today I'm going to attempt each race 14.00 Misty Grey at 3/1 to overturn the odds on fav 14.35 Greenside 11/2 ew and Gossiping 11/1 ew Didn't realise the time. Will add rest later
hi fellas! carlisle,2 50: an intriguing contest,where nearly all can be considered for one reason or another,but a very narrow vote goes to GOLD ARROW,who won on handicap debut straightaway,which is never easy,so that form looks a bit more special,and shes definitely one to watch here,at least e w..whats more,her trainer ralph beckett is a master in getting out the best of fillies,so thats another strong point.. epsom,3 10: CORONATION CUP a fascinating clash here,but i ll go with my old foe OLD PERSIAN.had a really respectable time in meydan,and should be ready to roll now.big shout.
Not a great Coronation Cup but a fantastic illustration of how important it is to be able to act. Marando looked like a crab coming down Tattenham Hill and then he was matched by Lah Ti Dar. She recovered but you can't waste all that energy coming down the hill and expect to run on with the same gusto. She was soon finished.
my opinion too. epsom,4 30 OAKS i think,MEDAYYIH is still progressing,maybe a bit more than some others here,has a nice draw,and if handling this much faster ground,should be bang there,as she was really impressive in the cheshire oaks.thoughts?
The oaks is always so open - one of the top 2 will probably win so had a little on each.I also got 66-1 each way on Tauteke an hour ago and it’s now into 20/1. Makes for an interesting race!
