Friday's Meetings Chester Flat 8 Races 1:05-4:55p.m. Doncaster Flat 8 Races 1:15-5:20p.m. Sandown Flat 7 Races 2:00-5:25p.m. Salisbury(E) Flat 8 Races 3:25-7:15p.m. Ballinrobe(E) N/H 8 Races 3:55-7:30p.m. Racecards At The Races Sporting Life Racing Post Good Luck
The Flying Scotsman sees a clash of more exposed types with once raced winners in the main. The early Fav is Catallus, who has the Ted Rogers form line ie 321 he was runner up to Publish at Sandown before a stroll at 1/14 Fav at Yarmouth where he spreadeagled his field on the bridle. This will be a lot tougher and Appleby hasn't had the best season with his 2YOs. Next best is Hankelow, who won his only start for Karl Burke. This trainer has had several smart and promising types this season. Hankelow is a son of Night Of Thunder and he cost 750,000 gns. He won at York towards the end of June but has not been out since and you would have expected to see him at Goodwood or York, all things being equal. The form of his race has taken a knock with the runner up being beaten twice since, once at Ffos Las of all places. Aidan O'brien has sent perhaps his 12th string in the form of Frescobaldi, who won a maiden At York last time on his third start. He has a progressive profile but his OR of 92 needs improving on and a different trainer and jockey would see his price a lot bigger than 5/1 Do Or Do Not was a flop last time. He was an excellent second in the Coventry on his second start when defying odds of 80/1. That has perhaps been the reason he is still a maiden, as he has run in another three group 2 races since, so not easy to get off the mark. Had he been unplaced at Royal Ascot, he would probably have tread a different path with easier opportunities. His rating is well clear of the others and 5/1 is an each way price. The maiden tag tempers confidence though and he only ran to a RPR of 90 last time, when his best run was 105. He was in first time cheek pieces there though and they are left off now. There was nothing wrong with his 2nd to unbeaten Zavateri and a third behind the same horse and Morris Dancer in the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood. Ed Walker also runs Northern Champion, winner of his only start and I dare say some will like Roger Varian's Avicenna who also landed his only race but he was odds on for that and the form hasn't worked out. Normally I would be against a maiden but Do Or Do Not has bumped into some really smart sorts. A below form effort last time but if bouncing back it will set a stiff standard. In Listed company now after 4 consecutive group 2 runs the drop in grade may help. 13.50 Doncaster Do OR DO NOT 5/1
Backing two outsiders in the 3.50 Chester [Bet 365] Hedonista @ 40-1...each way [4 places] & Sophar Sogood @ 12-1...Win
Donny Day 2 picks... 1:15 - Beylerbeyi, 10/1 1:50 - Frescobaldi, 11/4 2:25 - Havana Hurricane, 5/1 3:00 - Sweet Willian, eves 3:40 - Bosphorus Rose, 6/1 4:10 - Al Qaysiyya, 7/2 4:45 - Sword Maker, 5/1 5:20 - Rock Opera, 6/1 Good luck if your having a play today...
That was a good performance by Hankelow in the Flying Scotsman as you could see he was less suited in the softened ground than the horse that beat him. On better ground he'd have won with his near daisy-cutter action.
Trainer's rep said, regarding the poor form shown, that filly was found to have bled during a post race enoscopic examination
15th of 15 btn 16¼l (bumped at start and weakening when hampered) Not as short as 10/11 though. Won 8 ran Distances: 3¾l, 2l, 7l Time: 3m 52.24s (fast by 1.46s)
Do Or Do Not was dismal in what I thought was a weak Fyilg Scotsman. His last two starts have both been at least a tone below his official rating. I would imagine he will be forced into maiden company now as his official rating is too high and he won't win anything better based on today's show. Disappointing for the form of the Coventry to see the runner up cut zero ice in a Listed affair where he was beaten 3F out. I thought Hankelow was going to scrape home but he was just pipped. He was desperately short priced and as Bustino74 says will probably be much better on a sounder surface. Not sure how strong this was though with the clear top rated miles from his rating and the O Brien colt looking exactly what he was coming in, a 92 rated horse after 3 starts. Charlie Appleby is struggling for meaningful wins. Catallus a non runner today and a few odds on shots beaten this week. He had only had 13 runners in the last 14 days and it's the Leger meeting this week and the prime time for 2YO horses to be making debuts/furthering their careers. He doesn't have a runner in the St Leger and that's pretty poor for a stable with so much money behind it. I would be asking questions as to whether I was getting value for money and perhaps trying something different. We haven't seen Desert Flower since the Oaks and can only assume she hasn't trained on. Charlie Appleby did mention getting another race into her but that seems ages ago now.
