Saturday's Meetings Newton Abbot N/H 7 Races 1:07-4:35p.m. Curragh Flat 8 Races 1:25-5:30p.m. York Flat 7 Races 1:50-5:20p.m. Chester Flat 7 Races 1:55-5:25p.m. Sandown Flat 7 Races 2:05-5:35p.m. Killarney N/H 7 Races 2:10-5:30p.m. Lingfield(E) A/W 7 Races 4:40-7:50p.m. Chelmsford(E) A/W 6 Races 4:51-7:35p.m. Racecards At The Races Sporting Life Racing Post Good Luck
2.40 Sandown Defence Of Fort - was my fancy for the Acomb but comes here instead. Lovely chestnut and very impressive on debut.
15:35 York (Ebor Handicap) - Gaassee This Class-2 Handicap, over a distance just short of 1-3/4 miles, is the world's richest Handicap of its kind, being worth £300,000 to the winner. Gaassee, a 4-y-o colt by Sea The Stars out of the Monsun mare Oojooba, is progressive and has impressive form. Should have no trouble staying the distance, is on a good mark, and will handle the prevailing fast ground conditions. Kieran Shoemark takes the ride for the William Haggas yard. 8/1 best price at time of writing. With most bookies offering attractive place bets, E/W would be the the best option. I wish you all a successful and enjoyable day's racing!
Yep, absolutely right Oddy. Interestingly, Ebor winners have often done very well going for the Melbourne Cup. Remember one (can't recall its name) losing by a gnat's nostril several years ago. The Ebor is good form for the MC downunder. Hope the vacation is going well down there in Aix-en-Provence, you lucky devil! l
Only 10lbs covering the whole field shows how competitive the Ebor is. I think it can go to Ireland again in the shape of Benaud. Whilst he was no match for Earl of Tyrone at the Curragh he has a 16lbs pull with that rival today and dotted up in his prep at Bellewstown.
Ah, sorry, thought you were already down there. That's a good idea to avoid the school holidays. Had some nice rain down here, so a lot cooler, thank goodness!
York 15.35 Trawlerman 14/1 e/w eight places with sky, others six Killarney Small bet 15,20 Snugsborough Hall 14/1 e/w four places
I am guessing you mean Tony Martin’s Heartbreak City – beaten a short head by Almandin in the 2016 Melbourne Cup. Or do you mean Luca Cumani’s Purple Moon – beaten half a length by Efficient in 2007? Or perhaps Amanda Perrett’s Give The Slip – won the 2000 Ebor as a three year old and was beaten a length by Kiwi mare Ethereal in the 2001 Melbourne Cup having transferred to Saeed bin Suroor (Persian Punch was third). He was in the field as pacemaker for Marienbard (finished seventh under Frankie, won the 2002 Arc) but slipped the field on the home turn.
The good news for @Pilgrim and other supporters of Trawlerman is that I am leaving the Ebor alone. I would have liked Get Shirty but it would have to be really good to win from being drawn in another county and I would be wary of Licence, having only its fifth career start for Ger Lyons and pitched in at the deep end. The City Of York Stakes (3:00) is quite interesting because from a form angle the race appears to depend on just two previous races. Art Power makes his seasonal bow but has never run over this trip although he ran well in a couple of Group 1s last summer. Dr Zempf simply does not look good enough. Al Suhail has not been seen since March but did win the Challenge Stakes from the front last year, so Pogo may not have an uncontested lead. In the Prix Maurice de Gheest, Rohaan was not beaten far in fourth but his only win at this trip was on the Kempton kitty litter a couple of years ago and he has mostly stuck to six since. Jumby won the Hungerford at Newbury convincingly, where favourite Pogo attempted to make all as usual and finished up fifth and it is hard to see how the six year old will reverse that with the four year old. Prior to that Pogo had been third in the Lennox, where favourite Sacred was too late with her run and Kinross was just in front in second. The winner that day was SANDRINE, and Andrew Balding’s three year old filly can continue that progress and collect again to erase the memory of her defeat last year when favourite for the Lowther.
I am guessing that the two feature races at Sandown are the first two races for ITV purposes, which is hardly considerate of the entry fee paying public going to the course. The opening Atalanta Stakes (2:05) looks worrying straightforward. Nizaaka has run up a hat-trick of seven furlong handicaps at HQ but has been beaten on both previous attempts at a mile; however, she is not without chances depending on how the race is run. Potapova was second to Bashkirova at Epsom on Derby day with Roman Mist third and Mrs Fitzherbert sixth but has subsequently been unplaced over further at Newcastle and The Curragh. Mrs Fitzherbert had previously beaten Bashkirova, so perhaps can be forgiven that off day at Epsom. Random Harvest is consistent but Ed Walker’s filly was beaten by Rising Star at Haydock last time and I see no reason for that form being reversed as Marco Botti’s filly also gave her weight and a beating at Royal Ascot. However, I think this race revolves around the three year old fillies as this is a good race for the Classic generation (7 of last 10 winners). Mise En Scene has not been seen since being a no show in the Irish 1000 Guineas but she was fourth in the Fillies’ Mile last term so if she retains that ability and is fit enough after three months off she is a contender. Grande Dame is favourite today after collecting a Listed race on Eclipse day over course and distance. Prior to that she was a no show in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot so she is clearly well regarded; however, on her start before Ascot she met FONTEYN in the Michael Seely at York and Kevin Ryan’s filly won by a head. Since then FONTEYN ran an excellent fourth in the Nassau, only three and a half lengths behind Nashwa, the best three year old filly. So hopefully Andrea Atzeni can lead them all a merry dance...
Thank you, QMII, it was Purple Moon, how time flies! I thought it was much closer than half-a-length. I remember being quite pissed-off to be beaten by the Lloyd Williams 'gang'. At odds of over 20/1, a right Aussie boilover. However, it has since paid off for me to check all runners connected with Lloyd Williams, he sure knows what he's doing with regard to the MC? Anyway, the Ebor form ain't bad for the MC, is it? Thanks again!
Chester 340 boardman looks good for this at 8s and fingers crossed will be followed home by on a session , rf to be on the safer side.
In the finalé at Sandown (17:35), a Class-4 Handicap sprint over 5f, Chipstead has a sound chance. The Mayson colt, out of a Choisir mare, ran well at Windsor 19-days ago when second to Cuban Breeze, the latter having run a fine race at York on Wednesday to finish 4th of 17 runners. Richard Kingscote rides selection for the Roger Teal stable, which is beginning to strike a bit of form. 3/1 (Wm.Hill) is best price at time of writing.
