Sunday's Meetings Punchestown N/H 8 Races 1:30-5:30p.m. Perth N/H 8 Races 1:40-5:42p.m. Goodwood Flat 7 Races 1:50-5:20p.m. Racecards At The Races Sporting Life Racing Post Good Luck
15:57 Perth - Statuario Class-2 GBB Chase over 3m on good ground, Possible favourite. Helmet gelding will be ridden by Sean Bowen for the new Mickey Brown yard. Should run a top race. SP might well be the best way to go?
After the Classic action at Epsom the last two days, it is very easy to sidestep the Goodwood card this afternoon on heavy ground after clearly catching all the rain that the South East had forecast for Saturday. Across the Channel, the official going at Longchamp is ‘souple’ (French soft, but it reality probably British good to soft) and the nine race card features two Group 3 races and three Listed races, so hardly top level racing. The 3.25 (BST) is the Prix La Coupe over 2000m (10 furlongs) but this looks one to avoid. The favourite should be last year’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Goliath but his victory over Bluestocking at Ascot looks like a fluke result. In this seven runner field they will go the usual married man’s gallop and since his King George win Goliath has only won one race, the Prix du Conseil de Paris (over course and distance) beating Hamish half a length. On the official ratings the best horse in the race is old boy Iresine, who won the Prix Ganay and Prix du Conseil de Paris in 2023 and won the Prix Foy last year en route to fourth in the Champion Stakes (ineligible for the Arc). Not surprisingly the British layers have made him second favourite. The only other runner with any credible form is Gerald Mosse’s Grand Stars, third in the Prix Corrida last time behind Aventure. Naturally I would be happy to see her win to boost the form of the winning filly. The three year old Group 3 at 2.50 (BST) has a long odds on favourite with the British layers in the guise of Christophe Head’s Prix Djebel winner Maranoa Charlie. The horse he beat in the Djebel, Silius, re-opposes as does another Christophe Ferland trained horse, Polyvega, who finished ahead of him last time out. This looks one to avoid as it also features two Poulains also-rans and Andre Fabre’s course and distance listed winner Burhan. The card opens with three Listed races. The first sees the well-touted unbeaten Daryz in the Aga Khan colours facing four French rivals. There is a British interest in the second, also over the 2000m, with William Knight’s Bintabuha in the line-up; however, she was well beaten in the Newbury Listed race that produced Oaks also-rans Qilin Queen and Revoir so there look like few grounds for enthusiasm this afternoon. There is a much better prospect for exporting some Euros in the third Listed race over 1600m (a mile) with Ed Walker’s filly TROIA, third in a good York mile Listed race when last seen. She is clearly well regarded as she was fourth in the Oh So Sharp as a juvenile. The two main protagonists for the locals are Andre Fabre’s once raced winner Whataboutism, a Godolphin Camelot filly dropping in trip from ten furlongs, and Epson Blue Cen, third in Burhan’s Listed race and touched off in a similar race last time (both 1400m). Medusa Merger won a handicap easily last time but is another trying a new trip.
Well my old pal Maranoa Charlie is out again. He was taken off his feet last time over 6F in an abortive experiment to see whether he might aim for the Commonwealth Cup. I predicted then that we wouldn't see him over that trip again and if we see him at Royal Ascot it will be in the Jersey. Back to 7F today he seems the one to beat. Not sure where Quarter Moon bets but his long-odds on statement wasn't true for me and he was 9/4 against this morning in most places and I gave him his last chance to recoup my bet from last time, plus a little more. Still 2/1 in several places and given as a drifter on oddschecker. 2.50 Lonchamp Maranoa Charlie 2/1
Pretty much pissed up there. He made all then briefly looked like he might be caught but found more and went away to be two lengths clear of the second favourite at the line.
After Goliath's easy victory at Longchamp I've lumped on Hamish in the 445 goodwood I'm hoping 6/5 is a steal
After watching some of the racing today and yesterday , I'm thinking of starting a 'who would you not let ride your bike' thread...
Won well for second time running, at 9/4 fav., especially afte making a serious blunder late on in the race. Sean Bowen never gives-up though. What a jockey!
I was going off the betting forecast on SportingLife.com as there were no prices when I was writing early morning. Maybe it was a typo and they meant 5/2 not 2/5. Anyway, glad it won for you.
