They must be desperate for schedule filler at ITV to be covering the very ordinary racing at Goodwood and Beverley today. The prize money is above the usual level that one might expect to see for a mediocre midweek Beverley fixture but the reality is that the six races still consist of 0-70 handicaps, 0-80 handicaps and a maiden race; proper Bank Holiday weekend dross.
The last day of the Deauville Festival offers little in the way of betting prospects. The nine race card is a combination of handicaps on the kitty litter and Group races on the turf.
James Doyle is over to ride Wathnan Racing’s Make Me King in the Prix Quincey (1:33) but I think there is a good chance the prize money will be staying in France, possibly with Fast Raaj, whose fourth in the Prix Messidor last time does not look too shoddy after fifth home Ice Max won at Goodwood yesterday. In the Group 2 Grand Prix de Deauville (2:50), I would not want to be on Arrest at odds on as he has not won for a year. If he wins by a street then will he become more prominent in the Arc betting? I already mentioned the Prix de Meautry (3:25) in an earlier post and my inclination, if I were looking for a bet in the race, would be to chance the local Coeur De Pierre against the British raiding party because of his form last time out with Nunthorpe winner Bradsell, a repeat of which would be good enough to win a Group 3. Whilst much of the Deauville Festival is not very well attended (like much racing in France), I imagine that the crowd will be even sparser today with no Group 1 finale.
