Friday's Meetings Newbury Flat 8 Races 1:10-5:10p.m. Doncaster Flat 8 Races 1:20-5:20p.m. Cheltenham N/H 7 Races 2:00-5:30p.m. Kempton A/W 8 Races 5:45-9-15p.m. Dundalk(E) A/W 7 Races 6:00-9:00p.m. Racecards At The Races Racing Post Sporting Life Good Luck
Hello, team. What’s the most overused cliché in racing?!? Several candidates I’m sure but right up there with them has to be ‘Group horse in a handicap’. Three cheers therefore as we get to trundle that old classic out re tomorrow’s action as HERCULEAN heads ‘oooooooooooooop’ to Donny for a 10 furlong handicap (4.45). A full brother to Fair Eva, what a lovely name for a filly by the way, he will run of the morrow off 90. I think that is somewhat lenient given his breeding (not only is there the Fair Eva connection but he’s by Frankel and his dam was a Group 1 winner), the high esteem he has always been held and, perhaps most pertinent of all, the extremely close form tie-ins he has with Wadilsafa (Herculean beat that one by 1.75 lengths, off levels, before himself being beaten 3.25 lengths when conceding 7 lbs to the Burrows inmate) who is now perched on 113. Herculan has obviously had his problems and/or issues as he’s only a couple of months short of his 4th birthday and of the morrow he will make just his 4th racecourse appearance. However, I’ve always really liked and rated him (and I still maintain that his sister’s romp in the ’16 Princess Margaret was one of the best performances of recent times) and think he can take the next step forward by winning at Doncaster tomorrow afternoon. Next term you would have to be hopeful that Group races would be on the old agenda. In fact I’ve even called my local barracks as it’s highly likely that I’ll be deploying the forum’s 8th favourite military man re Herculean – yes that’s right, crew, Major Maximum. And he will be utilised provided those bookie chappies don’t start quoting absurd odds (always a bit of a worry when a relatively high profile animal runs off a perch like 90) about his chances. Good luck all.
And you might want to have a close look at another one running of the morrow. Ladies and gentlemen please be upstanding and salute ROYAL KING (9.15 Kempers Park). This 3YO gelding is by Teofilo out of Imperialistic Diva. The dam was a winner, Listed placed and rated 99. She is also a half-sister to Electrelane who won the Group 2 German 1,000 Guineas, was Group placed in the UK and rated 109. To date Imperialistic Diva has had 2 runners reach the racecourse – Royal King and his year younger half-sister Queen of Bermuda, what a lovely name for a filly by the way. This latter named has won 4 times in ’18 including at both Listed and Group level and is rated 105. In addition to this her last start was at Group 1 level and on ‘Racing Post Ratings’ she is currently the 11th best 2YO filly to have run in Europe this season. That is therefore 3 animals very closely related to Royal King rated in the 99-109 zone. Of the morrow Royal King will make his handicap bow off just 54, I say 54. Now I’m sure the cynics will be saying he’s running off 54 because that is what his form entitles him to be rated (and to a large extent I would agree) but how do I put this diplomatically…ummmmmm…his 3 runs to date would have been ‘introductory’ and with this experience, under the old belt, I would expect to see a much more battle hardened and proficient animal running of the morrow on his handicap debut. A horse who has benefitted and learned greatly from his runs to date – hand brake off and all that. I’m not going to for one moment pretend that Royal King’s form to date is anything but Ordinary with a capital ‘O’ (he’s only beaten a combined total of 3 horses in his 3 races to date afterall) but he’s got the lineage and I would expect to see a much more competent performance of the morrow. Re his odds that is something that I am keen to see and await the opening show with interest. As a guide those old boys at ‘Sky Racecards’ are currently forecasting 25/1. A further word re Royal King’s background. He was sold in December ’16 for 75,000 guineas but never ran for Godolphin. They then sold him in January ’18 for just 800 guineas to current connections. In just 13 months that is one ‘eck of a loss on a single horse, people. It may well be though that Royal King simply got ‘lost’ within the behemoth that it the Godolphin operation and is now set to flourish after benefitting from the more personal touch offered within a smaller yard. Incidentally 2 months before this latter sale Godolphin also sold Imperialistic Diva (when in foal to Iffraaj) and that now looks a huge mistake judging on what her 2YO rep has achieved this term and as she’s only 10 the old girl should go onto produce many more foals. Must now confess that I wrote the above 3 weeks ago (apart from the ‘Racing Post ratings’ stat) prior to Royal King missing the cut in a heat (and he’s missed it in another contest since) and in that subsequent time his barn have hardly been in sparkling form with form figures in October of -40090P40. However, bad runs are there to be broken, and I think he remains worthy of an each-way punt of the morrow given his breeding and the fact that his handicap bow could see a big improvement - nudge, nudge, wink, wink, say no more… Anyway I’ll stop waffling but would advise you to look out for Royal King. Let’s hope he puts up a Herculean effort! What, what, what, what, what, what, what?!?
Three from my tracker, Current Option, Forest Of Dean and Verve, Sir Soup Kitchens two and jump card at Cheltenham....I could REALLY do my conkers tomorrow!
I’m off to Cheltenham this afternoon. One I really fancy in the novice chase tomorrow. I’ll let you in when I’m on and Rocco for twisters Cheers.
There are two novice chases on the card Flo! I am a little surprised that the Moore lad takes over on Diakali. Dickie has struck up a really fine partnership with this tricky customer and I would have thought they would have continued the partnership.
Wow, what an extraordinary write-up for a Class 6 Handicap at Kempton! You fully deserve a win here, SBC, I wish you well. All the best with Herculean too.
Redician and We Have A Dream have swapped places in the betting for Saturday, surely We Have Dream isn’t going to turn up on that! Tbf the ground could be a little quick for him.
One from my tracker- 5.30 Cheltenham - Magic Dancer - 5/1 will love the ground - jockey takes off a decent 5lbs only 4lb higher than his 6l win here last season on good ground and has had a wind op!
I’m on now. 3.45 treacle tart. Just got touched off by a debromhead horse in a novice hurdle round here last year so gets up the hill and hosed up in a novice chase lto
Yahooo; just back from latest bash in Koln and on a bit of a downer ....................... mood lifted immediately when I discovered Cheltenham tomorrow!!!!!
Yep not going to be running on Saturday. The jumps is back and talk about exciting! 89 runners over the races tomorrow.. oh and then there is Saturday! I will be there.. can't wait!.
Morning Big race in Australia this morning is the Manikato Stakes [11.30am] Think the filly Houtzen will run well Each Way @ 13-2 [Bet Victor]
