Saturday's Meetings Beverley Flat 8 Races 1:30-5:30p.m. Curragh Flat 8 Races 1:45-5:45p.m. Sandown Flat 7 Races 1:50-5:20p.m. Chester Flat 7 Races 2:10-5:35p.m. Newton Abbot N/H 6 Races 2:15-5:45pm Lingfield(E) A/W 7 Races 4:15-7:25p.m. Chelmsford(E) A/W 7 Races 5:40-8:40p.m. Racecards At The Races Sporting Life Racing Post Good Luck
Usual 'weakness' for having a go at a very difficult-looking handicap, and that's the Irish Cambridgeshire Premier Handicap run over 1m at the Curragh (16:35) on the expected good ground, with 24 declared to run at the moment. Pick is the Dubawi gelding, Coeur D'or, (Damsire: Danehill). C&D winner in the past, and though not getting any younger, has a solid chance to run a decent race. Wears tonguestrap as in previous races. Chris Hayes rides for the Dermot Weld stable. 12/1 (Coral) top price at time of writing, on the ATR site. E/W best option. Have a successful and enjoyable weekend, folks! (Good grief, forgot to mention Coeur D'or won this race last year, going for a repeat win. Sorry! )
Another bad Saturday from a betting point of view with plenty of small fields and short-priced favourites. The feature Listed race at Chester is probably going to a National Hunt trainer, the feature juvenile Group 3 at Sandown is probably going to the Gosden operation (again) while the Group 3 for fillies and mares should go to David Menuisier’s Tamfana; and the Beverley Bullet has only attracted a single figure field of usual suspects and a couple of three year olds having a go. There are three being backed in the Sandown opener so two groups of punters (at least) are going to be disappointed before the second race. Mia Nicholls takes 5lb off the back of Accidental Agent but the old boy has not troubled the judge in the last two seasons and finished behind Spanish Blaze in a similar race last time. Marcus Tregoning’s three year old continues to give a good account of himself and two of his three wins have been over course and distance. Having been gelded since his last disappointment in June, Sir Les Patterson is best just watched. The other three year old in the field Mr Baloo has not run since May but is the subject of market support but his only turf win was when making all at Epsom, a feat that will be more difficult in a better race against his elders. Another one subject to market support is Feel The Need, last seen finishing second in an apprentice race in June. Running off a 6lb higher mark than when winning a York handicap with something to spare, he should run well here and is obviously thought to be fit enough. Havana Blue ended a drought of more than a year when collecting a seven runner Beverley handicap at this trip last time but now runs off a career high mark in a better race. Glenfinnan has been plying his trade over six furlongs this term and now returns to the seven over which he was successful at Ascot last year for Andrew Balding but he has been nearer last than first on his last two starts and makes little appeal today despite attracting early money. Lyndon B has not looked like troubling the judge in the last two campaigns other than when last seen at Newbury when he was second after getting into traffic trouble. I am always wary of this type of horse as it could well find traffic trouble and on his penultimate start he led here a furlong out but only finished fifth. So I think the winner today will come from the Newmarket handicap where six year old Star Of Orion chased home four year old WAITING ALL NIGHT. Only half a length separated them that day and Eve Johnson Houghton’s runner up has a 2lb turnaround at the weights but Richard Spencer’s charge had previously won and finished second at this trip and looks the more likely to progress.
17:05 Newton Abbot - Good Impression e/w Course not one of my favourites, but the C&D winner has a squeak in this Class-5 Handicap Hurdle over a distance just short of 2m1f on good ground. Ben Jones rides for the Robbie Llewellyn yard. 7/1 (Bet365) best price early-doors, on the ATR site.
4th of the 24-runners at 14/1 SP, finishing a hd,nse, and 1-1/2 L, behind the winner. Ran a gutsy race in an attempt to repeat last year's win in this race. Happy with e/w. (Other selection at Newton Abbot out with the washing, so just about broke even, I guess? Why oh why do I bother with Newton Abbot. One member describes the place as "God's own country" (or something like that). Frankly, I think the good Lord was pulling our legs and having a joke with us?)
