Weekend Group 1 Recap

Hi all,

In today’s main piece, I’m reviewing the weekend’s big race action.

There was Group 1 racing on offer in Ireland and France, but Britain was very much in the post-Royal Ascot blues.

Lambourn Lands Derby Double

Lambourn became just the 20th horse to complete the Epsom/Irish Derby double with a gutsy win at the Curragh on Sunday. It wasn’t flashy — as Gary O’Brien put it, he “won ugly” — but it was effective.

They went a strong gallop early, and Ryan Moore couldn’t get to the front on the winner, so he helped force the pace alongside Sir Dinadan. Lambourn was being niggled along from a long way out, but he kept finding. When Serious Contender loomed up with a strong challenge inside the final furlong, it looked like we might see an upset — but Lambourn dug deep and pulled away close to home.

Given how close he was to that strong early pace, his performance can be marked up. He’s a relentless galloper and looks tailor-made for the St Leger.

Some questioned Gavin Ryan on the runner-up, suggesting he wasn’t hard enough on Serious Contender. Not for me. He gave the horse seven strikes with the whip and was simply beaten by a stronger stayer and a better horse.

Lazy Griff, second to Lambourn at Epsom, put in some excellent late work to snatch third. He was the only one to make late gains from off the pace on a day when the pace was holding up. Like Lambourn, he’s St Leger-bound, but he’ll need to find more to reverse beat the winner. I know which one I would want to be on.

This isn’t a vintage crop of middle-distance 3-year-old colts, but Lambourn is clearly the best of them.

Calandagan Finally Gets His Group 1

Over in France, Calandagan finally got his Group 1 in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. After four runners-up finishes in Group 1’s, the 4-year-old finally shed his bridesmaid tag. He had too much speed for his rivals here as he cruised to an easy success. He’s been called a few harsh names, and he may still be a bit of a ‘thinker’, but you couldn’t fault him on Sunday.

Whirl Outbattles Kalpana in Pretty Polly

Saturday’s Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh shaped up as a head-to-head between Kalpana and Whirl and that’s exactly how it played out.

Ryan Moore sent Whirl to the front and cleverly slowed the pace mid-race. Kalpana loomed up at the furlong pole looking poised to win, but Whirl, displaying real tenacity, dug in and pulled away for a decisive success.

Kalpana may have preferred easier ground and was conceding 12lb, but I was slightly disappointed with her finishing effort.

This was the first Group 1 clash of the generations over middle distances this season and the 3-year-old came out on top. Whirl benefitted from the drop back to 1m 2f, and if Aidan O’Brien sends her to Goodwood for the Nassau Stakes, she’ll be tough to beat.

Premier Racedays: What’s Going on Here?

Don’t get me wrong I love York racecourse. But can someone explain why Saturday’s card was granted Premier Raceday status?

Yes, they had the Group 3 Criterion Stakes, moved from Newmarket, but beyond that, the card didn’t warrant the Premier label. Meanwhile, Newcastle — just up the A1 — was staging the Northumberland Plate, a proper heritage handicap. And to add to the mess, Chester was also racing on Saturday afternoon.

Which brings us to the wider problem: what exactly is going on with Premier Racedays?

There was supposed to be a protected window between 2pm and 4pm, designed to give marquee meetings breathing space. Well, that seems to have vanished. On Saturday, both Chester where racing alongside Newcastle & York during the protected window. Another example of an idea that’s lost its way.

Front-Running Masterclasses Light Up Saturday's Action

Diligent Harry bounced back in style, taking the Group 3 Chipchase Stakes at Newcastle with the reapplied cheekpieces doing the trick. Smartly away, Saffie Osborne got the fractions spot on and established a good lead. Annaf came out of the pack 1f out with a big challeng but couldn’t get past the game winner, who found more close home. A peach of a ride from Saffie — the first of three we saw on ITV Saturday.

Meanwhile, Group 1 winning sprinter Kind Of Blue was weak in the betting beforehand and ran exactly how the market suggested — flat.

In the Northumberland Vase, Savrola made all under another fine front-running ride, this time from Connor Beasley. He looked cooked when Tryfan headed him 2f out but battled back well to regain the lead and knuckled down better than the runner-up.

And it was Jason Hart who completed the day’s front-running hat trick aboard Quinault in the Group 3 Criterion Stakes at York. Given no early pressure from Lethal Levi, and with the help of tailwind he was never headed and made it 3-3 at York. Expect him back at the Ebor Festival for the City Of York Stakes. His his early speed and love for the Knavesmire will make him a threat again.

Room Service, who was outpaced early, finished strongly to snatch second close to home. He needs softer ground and remains a potential winner at Group level when he gets his favoured underfoot conditions.

Lake Forest was the disappointment of the race. Whether it was a dislike for York or still feeling the effects of his Royal Ascot run but he never looked like he would win.

Spirit Mixer Serves Up Plate Surprise as Trends Strike Gold

The JenningsBet Northumberland Plate looked wide open on paper, but it turned into a private battle in the final furlong and a half between Spirit Mixer and Dancing In Paris. Just a neck separated them at the line, with the winner — runner-up in this race three years ago showing real grit to hold off Dancing In Paris.

Well-backed favourite East India Dock was dropped in from a wide draw and made up plenty of ground late inside the final two furlongs to finish 6th. He continues to run well, and with a handier early position, might well have won. From where he was, though, he had too much to do.

I was on Dancing In Paris, but his narrow defeat didn’t sting too much. Victor Value subscribers were already sitting on profits thanks to earlier wins by Savrola and Squealer.

As for the trends I flagged up in Thursday’s column – they delivered. Three of the four qualifiers in this year’s race finished 1st, 2nd, and 5th.

Always nice when the data works out even if I wasn’t on the winner. Hopefully some of you did land on him.

Monday’s Racing

Windsor

7:45 – Dante’s Lad improved for the step up to 1m 2f when winning a York handicap 30 days ago. A 2lb rise looks lenient given he’s open to further progress at the distance. He’s my idea of the winner. However, at 7/4 at the time doesn’t appeal, especially with a lack of pace suggesting a potentially tactical race.

Approval, a winner over C&D and successful at Goodwood last summer, has been well below form in three starts this season. However, he gets the first-time tongue tie and could bounce back. Calumet, an easy C&D maiden winner last July, drops back in trip and sports first-time cheekpieces. He’s another who could bounce back to form returned to Windsor.

Good luck with your Monday bets.

John