Saturday's Meetings Curragh Flat 8 Races 1:10-5:15p.m. Newmarket Flat 7 Races 1:30-5:00p.m. Redcar Flat 8 Races 1:40-5:35p.m. Ascot Flat 6 Races 1:50-4:45p.m. Fairyhouse N/H 7 Races 1:55-5:25p.m. Fontwell N/H 7 Races 2:15-5:45p.m. Wolverhampton(E) A/W 9 Races 4:20-8:30p.m. Racecards At The Races Sporting Life Racing Post Good Luck
Newmarket 13,30 Lady Alara 8/1 e/w bet365 four places, three others Ascot 15,35 Pearle D'or 18/1 e/w bet365 five places, 16/1 sky six places Curragh 17,15 Spirit Of Eagles 16/1 e/w bet365 six places, five others
There's an interesting recruit to chasing today as My Mate Mozzie makes his chase debut in the opener at Fairyhouse. A pretty decent hurdler, he finished 3rd in this year's Galway Hurdle (off a mark of 141) and latterly ran a fine 5th in the Irish Cesarewitch. He is around 8/11 at the head of the market and that is probably an accurate reflection of his chances in what looks a weak contest. Hopefully he can put in a nice round of jumping.
In the opener at Fontwell, a Class-5 Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (14:15) over a distance just short of 3m2f on the forecast good ground, it is hard to dismiss the favourite, San Pedro, in this race? Now with a new trainer, Chris Gordon, whose yard is very succesful in this sort of event. His gelding will be ridden by Mr. Freddie Gordon (3) for the stable. Hopeful the youngster will get the job done! 15/8 is the best price, in many places, at time of writing. Have an enjoyable and successful day's sport, folks!
In the opener at Newmarket there are any number of possible big handicap improvers but if there are no blots in the race then MADAME AMBASSADOR is way too big!
Zoulu Chief really should justify fovourtism in the 2:05 but I am having a dabble on LIEUTENANT RASCAL as I think he is going the right way.
Just when we finally get some dry ground for proper flat racing, we also get a card at HQ with a load of short-priced favourites that make the races not worth analysis. I did my ITV7 on Friday night and put in a non-runner at Ascot that leaves me on a favourite that I would oppose. At Ascot in the Cumberland Lodge (2:25), much of the field can be easily eliminated as they do not have the form to compete with the market leaders: Euchen Glen is not the force of old, Claymore has not been seen since May, Chilean import Fortino is an unknown quantity, this is a big step up on a Hamilton handicap for Postileo and L’astronome was behind Al Qareem in a Listed race at Chester three weeks ago. That was Al Qareem’s first start since March and he picked off a decent three year old, Bluestocking, to win there so he could trouble the two that concede him weight, if he settles better. Shadwell have the top two and Crowley has plumped for Al Aasy, a Listed course and distance winner who has subsequently won a Listed and Group 3 level from the back before being left too much to do against a three year old at Leopardstown last time. His main rival ISRAR won the Group 2 Princess Of Wales from near the pace with odds on Adayar well outpointed; however, he was subsequently well outpointed by Bay Bridge in the September Stakes on the Kempton kitty litter when he ran too freely. I may perhaps be taking the July course win too much at face value but I think he is worth taking a chance on today. In the Bengough Stakes (3:00), there are a number of the usual suspects in the line up. Vadream won this two years ago but on recent form (okay, not seem since July) and not very soft ground she is opposable. After being pitched in at the deep end in Paris last week, I cannot give Happy Romance much of a chance; and Jumby is really a seven furlong horse who trailed in last in the Park Stakes and was well beaten at York the time before. Annaf won the Portland (Happy Romance behind) but that was five and a half furlongs on soft ground and he has only ever won over six on the kitty litter. Juan Les Pins was third in the Wokingham and runner up in a Listed race last time but will it be quick enough today, as he has finished midfield in his three runs on easy ground this term. Rumstar has run consistently at a higher level than this (except when jockeyless at Goodwood) but he looks rated entirely on his fifth on the Commonwealth Cup and his one six furlong win was a fast ground nursery as a juvenile. Pink Crystal is another with trip and going question marks, winning at Ayr over five and a half furlongs but previously fourth in a Listed race at York at this trip. Old boy Garrus finished behind Annaf at Haydock last time and now has to concede him weight. All the money has been for Ed Walker’s Dark Trooper, on a five timer having won both his last two over course and distance. He looks sure to go well but needs to be improving quite a bit as he has 12lb to find on official ratings (but receives 3lb) with COMMANCHE FALLS, who has won three of his last four at Listed and Group 3 level, beating Juan Les Pins and 1:50 winner Emaraaty Ana last time.
I thought, like it seemed most of the other jockeys did, that the front two had gone off too quick there. When Israr went to the front in the straight I was counting my winnings but giving the penalty away proved too much; and credit to Clifford Lee on Al Qareem rallying his charge in the last hundred yards after it looked beaten once it was passed. Favourite Al Aasy never made a challenge having sat at the back with the runner up all the way until the turn for home.
Not so quickie from mine. Commanche Falls eaten a short head trying to give 3lb to a horse that has only won out of handicap company on the kitty litter. Think I should give up betting on these and just switch to laying them on Betfair...
