Sunday's Meetings Worcester N/H 8 Races 1:00-4:45p.m. Naas Flat 8 Races 1:25-5:10p.m. Brighton Flat 7 Races 2:20-5:30p.m. Sandown Flat 7 Races 3:55-6:45p.m. Racecards At The Races Sporting Life Racing Post Good Luck
A fascinating card over at Deauville this afternoon, where it looks like the foreign raiders have very good chances in the big pattern races. Richard Hannon’s easy Molecomb winner Armor should give a good account in the Prix Morny but Fearby did nothing for the form in the Gimcrack and Chipotle was never a factor in the Nunthorpe. Richard Fahey sends two across and seems keener on Perfect Power than Khunan in his Sporting Life column. Queen Mary winner Quick Suzy would be my idea of the winner but it is interesting to see Joseph O’Brien’s Velocidad raised to this grade after winning a four-runner Group 2 last time, when Ryan was riding for Coolmore. The Prix Jean Romanet looks like a very hot renewal and Nassau winner LADY BOWTHORPE looks to be the one to be on (although carrying my money could stop her again). Obviously, she holds Audarya on that Nassau form but she came good at this time last season. Cayenne Pepper has contested two Group 1s this term and was well beaten by Joseph’s Thundering Nights in the Pretty Polly last time, where Insinuendo was fourth. The home defence is led by the consistent Ebaiyra, still searching for a Group 1 win and beaten by Broome in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud over a mile and a half last time. Back on these shores, the ITV coverage comes from Sandown with the third leg of the Sky Bet Sunday Series (although the second leg was a washout). The one that takes the eye is in the Sprint at 5:20. I think this is more wide open than the betting would suggest with bottom weight Be Proud 7/2 after running over 7 furlongs at Musselburgh two days ago. David Barron’s Modular Magic won at Sunday Series leg one at Musselburgh from a low draw but he may not have it all his own way up front here with the much improved GLOBAL PROSPECTOR on a four-timer also likely to be out the traps quickly.
16:20 Sandown - Andaleep (Three-time C&D winner who didn't have the race 'run to suit' over C&D LTO. Hopefully, the gelding will have the race 'run to suit' this time! Good apprentice William Cox rides for the Graeme McPherson yard. (See Sandown race 02 August 2020, which indicates the lad gets on well with the horse) Best price at time of writing is 9/1 freely-available.) Good luck if you're having a punt today!
MEDIA BLITZ 7/1 Brighton 3;20 I quite fancy this one on its handicap debut. The yard do really well at this venue and have applied the hood for the first time.
After yesterday's 2YO capers it is back to sensible numbers but still mainly focused on juveniles. Armor was a revelation last time after a disappointing 5th the time before, Maybe soft ground was the key to him and he gets that surface today. Hard to escape the fact that his last race isn't working out though. The 3rd Boonie was stone last, beaten 18 lengths in a Listed race yesterday when 5/2 Fav and from seven runs the only horse to place is Swayze, who was third in a Nursery off 82. Asymmetric has more solid looking form. His narrow second to Lusail has since been boosted by the runner up landing the Gimcrack in good style. Asymmetric was a narrow winner last time but the 4th Ebro River won the Group 1 Phoenix, while Gis A Sub went on to finish runner up in the Gimcrack. Quick Suzi lived up to her name in the Queen Mary and she has won over 6F but she was also beaten over 6F on soft and a line through Cheerupsleepyjean suggests Velocidad works out the better horse. Gubbass and Khunan don't have a lot to find with Asymmetric but are much bigger odds. Gubbass is the less exposed of the pair and is almost three times the odds of asymmetric. I went with Velocidad, who is 2/2. It was a small field Group 2 she won and might not have been strong but I notice that she has transferred ownership from Mrs A O'Brien and is now with The Smith/Magnier etc group. Ryan Moore rides, so it looks like they mean business. At 17/2 I though she was overpriced with not that much to find. 2.50 Deauville Velocidad 17/2 RF with Gubbass
Only 5th behind Asymmetric last time, Perfect Power turned the tables with all those who ran in the Richmond. Trident was runner up for Andre Fabre and annoyingly turned the tables today with the horse who won the day I backed Trident. At least a better effort from a French horse for once but the prize went overseas yet again. Velocidad was hopeless, a wasted journey and purchase by the look if it there, That must have been a stinky Group 2 she won if this is the best she can do. Quick Suzy was a bit disappointing but how many times have we seen the early 5F form unravel as we get deeper into the season. Gubbass ran to his form with Asymmetric but Khunan got nowhere near it. They couldn't give him away and it showed why. Armor is a horse Simon Rowlands had in his top 3 juveniles, ie horses he felt were over 110 in the ratings but Go Bears Go was beaten since and now Armor came up short, just a short head in front of less fancied stablemate Gubbass. Looking back, Perfect Power was perhaps not suited by Goodwood and the way the race panned out that day. I would love to see him tried at 7F but I dare say they will go to the Middle Park with him and he's 4/1 from 8/1 for that race.
Raabihah won easily a Group 2 today in Deauville. My 40/1 e/w for Arc de Triomphe doesn't look too bad now.
Although my selection earlier on is probably still running, am enjoying the Sandown Sunday evening meeting. In the last (18:45) Give It Some Teddy is in fine form at present, and Tim Easterby's stable sends the horse on the long journey down from Yorkshire for this event. Well-drawn in Stall 4 and seems well-treated on recent form. Loyal and competent stable jockey colleague of David Allan, Duran Fentiman, takes the ride for the yard. Price around 15/2 at time of writing; SP might be a bit better.
Ran very well indeed to finish second. Seemed to have minor problems early on but would not have beaten the good winner.
Well, I managed to stop Lady Bowthorpe again. She won the Nassau when I would not touch the meeting because of the ground but has lost the three times I have backed her. She will go unbeaten from now as will not back her again. Well done to Richard Fahey on winning the Prix Morny with Perfect Power; and credit to him as he said in his Sporting Life column that he fancied that one over stablemate Khunan even though the former had only been fifth at Goodwood with the latter second
