Thursday's Meetings Salisbury Flat 7 Races 1:30-4:55p.m. York Flat 7 Races 1:50-5:20p.m. Perth Flat 7 Races 2:15-5:38p.m. Fontwell(E) N/H 7 Races 4:50-8:15p.m. Tipperary(E) N/H 7 Races 5:00-8:25p.m. Newmarket(E) Flat 7 Races 5:15-8:40p.m. Racecards At The Races Sporting Life Racing Post Good Luck
I gave the first day of the Dante meeting a miss as the card consisted of the usual huge handicap fields associated with York and two pattern races that combined unknown potential with last term’s form. So once again, bypass the handicaps plus the two year old maiden... The Middleton (2:25) does not look the foregone conclusion that the betting suggests. The best horse in the race on available evidence is clearly Free Wind, who it can reasonably be assumed will be straight enough to do herself justice. But is she really any sort of banker over ten furlongs on a flat track? I think not. However, there is no compelling case for backing any of her opponents. Aristia has excellent form in the book from her 2022 endeavours culminating in victory in the Prix Jean Romanet after being runner-up in the Nassau (both over this trip) but is Richard Hannon’s mare destined for second in this like last year? Rogue Millenium has race fitness in her favour but needs much better than her third in the Group 3 Prix Allez France last time to feature here. Sea Silk Road was consistent last year but her two best efforts were her second in the Ribblesdale when favourite and her well beaten third (Poptronic fourth) in the Princess Royal at HQ, both over twelve furlongs. Stay Alert won a Listed race at this trip but her last three races were over further and on easier ground (including fifth to Free Wind in the Lancashire Oaks). State Occasion won a couple of handicaps over this distance but never troubled the leaders in a Group 3 on her last start and needs to improve quite a bit. With Toskana Belle out, Free Wind is a shade of odds on and as there is no obvious pacesetter I can see Frankie going off in front. The feature Dante (3:35) looks one of the most competitive renewals for years, probably because almost all the previous trials have been plagued with soft ground, making most of the winners look poor Derby bets unless it turns up soft at Epsom, forcing everyone to run here. Easy Wood Ditton winner Passenger should have no issue with the trip but lack of experience puts me off last year’s winning trainer/jockey combination. Liberty Lane is clearly well regarded as he went off favourite against Waipiro under a penalty. He may be up with the pace today but would he prefer slower ground? Dancing Magic is yet to visit the winner’s enclosure and was behind The Foxes in the Craven last time and there is little reason to see that finishing order reversing over further. The Foxes won the four runner Royal Lodge last term where Flying Honours disappointed as a long odds on favourite (but he subsequently won the Zetland over this trip with Dear My Friend behind). White Birch won the Ballysax on heavy ground, a race in which the two Ballydoyle market leaders never challenged, so will he be at home on today’s conditions? Aidan O’Brien is represented here by Continuous, winner of a messy five runner Saint Cloud Group 3 on his second start. He could be an improver and that form does still entitle him to be here. In his two starts, Canberra Legend has done nothing wrong, winning the Feilden with the two Godolphin runners well behind; and this flat track should suit him better but the going is an unknown. Killybegs Warrior made the running at HQ and there is no reason to see him reversing placings with the Ferguson runner even though I expect Frannie Norton to make plenty of use of him. King Of Steel was pitched into the Futurity on only his second start but did not feature at the business end of the race with Dancing Magic ahead of him in fourth and EPICTETUS chasing home Auguste Rodin. The Gosden colt beat Flying Honours on debut on quick ground and then chased home Silver Knott at HQ (Dancing Magic, Killybegs Warrior behind). He already has race fitness having won the Blue Riband Trial at this trip and his juvenile form lines suggest he will be good enough today.
Today's pass the time at work selections: 1:50 - Bedford Flyer, 20/1 2:25 - State Occasion, 10/1 3:00 - Point Lynas, 10/2 3:35 - Passenger, 11/2 4:10 - Great State, 7/1 4:45 - Cuban Thunder, 11/8 5:20 - Rathgar, 6/1 Good luck if your playing, im sneakily watching at work...
Great write up as usual I backed canberra a while back at good odds and the market has shown strong support (now the fav , i would say the conditions look right and the cash outs seem to reflect on that.
The Dante (15:35) is a bit of a puzzle what with the changed ground conditions. So, without further ado, wll have a combination Tricast with: Canberra Legend Passenger Flying Honours Carry on dreaming, Swan, and enjoy the good racing today.
I agree that Canberra Legend will appreciate this track more than Newmarket where he looked a little uncomfortable going into the dip, but then really opened up once meeting the rising ground. A flat track should suit him. Question is whether he is good enough. I think I would take a chance with him stepping up in class. The distance should suit and as he won "comfortably" on tapeta, I think he will have no trouble with the ground
Canberra Legend's jockey hard at it a long way out and looked more like coming last than getting involved in the finish. Disappointing but not too surprised
I was surprised at Canberra Legend's poor performace. At one stage, the colt really did look as though he would finish last!
Rathgar in the finalé at York (17:20)..Colt should do better with the improved ground conditions and upped-in-trip. Connor Beasley rides for the Jack Channon yard. 6/1 (Wm.Hill/SkyBet) best price at time of writing.
Unlucky or poor judgement on Kingscote's behalf? I thought the latter. Murphy made the decisive move whilst Kingscote stuck. I think the small moments like that are what differentiates a good jockey from a very good, or even great jockey. Passenger to my eyes looked like he would have won had he pushed left with Murphy at that moment.
Dante 4.22 secs faster than the fillies What a fantastic game that was. Well done and thanks for stuffing Bleaterborough. Hope you go up
