Sunday's Meetings Leicester Flat 7 Races 2:00-5:00p.m. Downpatrick N/H 7 Races 2:17-5:22p.m Wolverhampton A/W 6 Races 2:37-5:07p.m. Haydock(E) Flat 7 Races 3:45-6:45p.m. Racecards At The Races Sporting Life Racing Post Good Luck
When I looked at the entries for the Prix Maurice de Gheest (3.05 BST) midweek, it looked like being almost the European Sprint Championship. Several of the big name British and Irish contenders have dropped out but it has still left a notable presence of foreign raiders. The bookmaker chappies have made it not worth bothering to assess from a betting point of view. I cannot recall the last time that the first four in the betting for any sprint race were French as it is the one sphere of racing that Britain and Ireland have dominated for the last fifty years. The favourite at around Evens is Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes winner Lazzaat, winner of last year’s race in which he beat July Cup winner Mill Stream (fifth, one of four British runners) and local rival Beauvatier was third. Charlie Appleby runs two three year olds, Shadow Of Light and Symbol Of Honour, while Kevin Ryan has reached for the blinkers for the disappointing Inisherin. Christopher Head’s six year old Topgear will have to do a lot better than when stone last at the Royal meeting so it looks like the main threat to the favourite will be the local three year olds Rayevka (third in the Commonwealth Cup) and Woodshauna, both trained by Francis-Henri Graffard; and of course the latter did me a big favour winning the Prix Jean Prat over a little more than course and distance last time (Shadow Of Light fourth) at 16/1 when my each way bet. The supporting card offers little in the way of opportunity with William Haggas providing a short-priced favourite for the Prix Daphnis (4.15) in the form of unbeaten three year old Scoville, the main rival looking to be Prix Jean Prat disappointment Silius ahead of fellow raider Khafiz. In the two Listed sprints that open the card, there is nothing with consistent form to inspire any confidence. Of the raiders in the second race (1.31), Clarendon House has become totally unreliable for even starting the race but Clive Cox’s Redorange has been running well in handicaps (third off a rating of 100 at Goodwood last time) and ought to give a good account against some ordinary local rivals, headed by Vicious Harry, runner up in a conditions race at Dieppe last time with Megarry third. Having no financial interest is good news for me as I am off for a walk with a mate of mine around the Hole of Horcum on the North York Moors this afternoon so won’t be watching!
Lazzat was stuffed at 8/15 by a 28/1 French compatriot. Scoville weakened badly to finish stone last. The hype merchants already had him as another Baaeed but for now he was 106 rated and there was no substance at all to his form. He was a 14 length winner on his second start as 1/8 Fav in a class 4 novice but the 3rd that day was only 4th of 5 in a class 5 handicap next time when 6/5 Fav at Leicester. So Scoville is not as hot as first thought and I wonder if Unibet will take him out of the betting for the 2000 Guineas now or at least lengthen the odds on the horse who turns 4yo on 1st January ffs.
