Saturday's Meetings Kempton A/W 8 Races 1:00-5:00p.m. Haydock Flat 7 Races 1:15-5:14p.m. Navan Flat 8 Races 1:20-5:25p.m. Thirsk Flat 8 Races 1:41-5:45p.m. Stratford N/H 7 Races 1:49-5:19p.m. Ascot Flat 7 Races 2:00-5:30p.m. Wexford N/H 7 Races 2:10-5:45p.m. Wolverhampton(E) A/W 7 Races 4:40-8:00p.m. Racecards At The Races Sporting Life Racing Post Good Luck
Ascot 15,10 River Nymph 20/1 e/w five places bet365, Lads and Coral, 18/1 sky six places Haydock 15,30 Go Bears Go 12/1 e/w four places bet365, Lads and Coral, 10/1 WH and sky five places Wexford small bet 17;05 Gelee Blanche 13/2 win only
Lots of non runners at Haydock presumably because they were hoping for rain to arrive as Manchester is just down the road. As we have seen already this season, the current sprinting ranks do not appear to include any obvious superstar so they have been taking it in turns to beat each other. That makes the Haydock Sprint Cup a bit of a lottery. I am not sure what grounds there are for thinking that Art Power will be winning as he has failed to place in either of the last two runnings, only won a Group 3 last term and his other four career wins were on easy ground; however, he could provide the pace. Brad The Brief is another who seems best with some give under foot, winning a Group 2 at The Curragh three months ago. Last year’s winner Emaraaty Ana was third in the Nunthorpe (Khaadem fourth) but was beaten by several of today’s rivals in his previous two starts. The two key pieces of form for this appear to be the Prix Maurice de Gheest and the Platinum Jubilee. Over at Deauville, Minzaal fared best finishing second with Rohaan a close fourth, Naval Crown fifth and Harry Three tenth; however, a decent sized blanket would have covered the first eleven home and the way that race was run makes me suspicious of the form. I simply do not think that Rohaan is anything more than a handicapper as his last two wins were both in the Wokingham. The three year old Harry Three was progressing nicely until that poor showing but I think he is not good enough to win today. It is difficult to make a case for any of the three year olds as Flaming Rib has beaten Go Bears Go twice and the latter was second to Minzaal in the Hackwood with Dubawi Legend and Rohaan behind. That leads me to NAVAL CROWN, winner of the Platinum Jubilee (Minzaal and Emaraaty Ana behind), second in the July Cup (Emaraaty Ana and Flaming Rib behind) but only fifth in the Maurice de Gheest. So I am simply taking a chance that the top rated runner in the race puts that blip behind him and that if something else (e.g. Art Power) wants to make the running, William Buick takes a pull and just tracks it rather than running his horse into the ground contesting the lead. I dislike pattern races being run on the kitty litter but odds on favourite Dubai Honour ought to win the September Stakes if he runs to the same level as when fourth in the Juddmonte (having just been pipped in a Group 2 before that) and he handles the kitty litter. Mostahdaf, a well beaten second in the Hardwicke (Solid Stone behind) and a previous kitty litter winner, looks the obvious danger.
In the Group-1 Betfair Sprit Cup Stakes at Haydock (15:30), I cannot desert Emaraaty Ana.. The gelding ran a very good race 15-days ago to finish an unexpected third in the Nunthorpe Stakes, to indicate a return to form. Concerned about the rain, but latest weather forecast advises only light showers, which should not make that much difference to the ground? Andrea Atzeni takes the ride for the Kevin Ryan yard. 6/1 best price at time of writing. Good luck today, folks!
In the Class-2 Fillies' Handicap at Ascot ((16:20), have strong fancy for Don't Tell Claire. Did not have the run of the race 13-days ago at Sandown. Should do a lot better today. Neil Callan on board for the D & C Kubler yard. 5/1 is best price at time of writing,
Fine win by Minzaal. I argued 2 years ago that this Mehmas colt could get further than 6f. Doesn't appear he needs to.
Clearly the punters took the same view of the race as me, backing Naval Crown down to favouritism, but the horse ran like a drain. He was the first of the principals under pressure two furlongs out and faded away tamely. The winner was impressive, picking up off a strong pace (perhaps too strong for those in the van) to win in reportedly a course record time. All credit to Owen Burrows, producing Minzaal to win a Group 1 after a couple of failed attempts in the Middle Park as a juvenile and the Prix Maurice de Gheest last time out. I imagine that this clear cut success beating the clock will elevate his rating substantially. If he goes to Ascot next, can he re-produce the performance? And how about a trip to the Breeders’ Cup?
