Hi all,
Inside today’s main piece I have some future winners from last week’s racing.
I'm off to Nottingham races today with Darren Power and will be meeting up with former Daily Punt columnist David Massey and a few other well-known racing pundits/bloggers. It should make for an excellent afternoon being able to meet up with some people who I really respect in the game.
Ok, the racing isn’t of the highest quality and normally I wouldn’t be betting on it if I’m honest. However, I will be having some ‘fun bets’. Darren has already put the pressure on me by saying he’s never been to the races with me and not made a profit. Why does the phrase famous last words come to mind?
The Final Furlong
I mentioned in yesterday’s column that I was impressed by a couple of Charlie Appleby juveniles Ancient Truth & Desert Flower. It looks like Appleby and Godolphin have a decent group of 2-year-olds and Ancient Truth & Desert Flower will be competitive in Group 1’s this season.
Besides Saturday’s July Cup which I looked at in Monday’s column. Saturday’s other Group 1 contest was the Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp. Sosie, trained by Andre Fabre, third to Look De Vega in the French Derby went two places better here and ran out a nice winner. In victory the son of Sea The Stars boosted the French Derby form but also put himself forward as a contender for the Arc.
Queen’s Vase winner Illinois couldn’t match the pace of the winner 1f out, but he stayed on well to finish runner-up. He needs further than 1m 4f and this was a good trial for a possible tilt at the St Leger.
Delius lost his unbeaten record but ran well from the rear to take third. Jockey Cristian Demuro set the favourite an impossible task from his position. I’m not sure but he must have thought he was riding the reincarnation of Pegasus given the task he set the colt. The son of Frankel looks up to Group 1 level in a more strongly run race.
Future Winners
I have a handful of eyecatchers from last week’s racing.
Carrytheone unlucky in the run when third in the Buckingham Palace Handicap at Royal Ascot was sent of the 5/1 favourite for Saturday’s Bunbury Cup at Newmarket. He didn’t get a clear run between the final two furlongs but motored home to grab fourth close to home. With a clear run he would surely have gone close. That’s the problem with the 7-year-old needs all the cards to fall right if he’s to take advantage of winnable mark. He’ll be one of the leading fancies for the International Handicap back at Ascot later in the month but given his hold-up style he’s not one to take to short a price on.
Palmar Bay – Ralph Beckett
Palmar Bay caught the eye when a 3-length 6th of 13 to Sergeant Wilko in handicap (6f) at Newmarket on Thursday. He was doing his best work at the finish having got slightly outpaced 2f out. On goodish ground he probably needs 7f although he might be worth preserving with over 6f on soft ground. He looks on a winnable mark and given his mark of 85 he’s also eligible for lesser contests than Thursday’s race.
Saturday’s John Smith's Cup Handicap at York provides this week’s final future winners.
Kingfisher King – William Haggas
Kingfisher King made a belated seasonal reappearance in Saturday's John Smith's Cup. Having his first start since October the lightly raced 4-year-old was an encouraging 2 ½ length 4th of 20 to Enfjaar. A bit of ease in the ground suits him and he can land a nice handicap at around 1m 4f later in the season.
Epic Poet – David O’Meara
Epic Poet runner-up in the Duke Of Edinburgh at Royal Ascot on his previous start, had a tough draw in stall 22 to overcome and it proved beyond him. However, he ran a cracker to finish a 3 ¼ length fifth given he got no sort of run down the stands rail 2f out. He’ll be lively outsider for next month's Ebor Handicap if he stays 1m 6f. Whatever his fate there he remains one for a middle-distance handicap in the second half of the season.
Tuesday Racing
Nottingham
I’m planning to have a good look at the Nottingham card on the train and so my final bets are yet to be decided. Despite a lack of any quality there are two handicaps on a six-race card that look tricky puzzles. Here’s a quick preview of one of them.
3:45 – Despite just the nine runners for the 5f handicap but you can make good claims for four of the runners.
Majeski Man improved for a return to turf when a length 2nd of 7 at Leicester 19 days ago. He won over C&D last May. He’s now 4lb lower than for his C&D success and looks nicely treated.
Le Beau Garcon gained a breakthrough handicap success when beating 11 rivals at Thirsk 22 days ago. A 3lb rise is workable but he might need quicker ground.
Huddle Up has gone close on two of his last three starts including when a ¾ length 3rd of 8 at Ayr 9 days ago. Rossa Ryan is a good jockey booking and despite a losing run that goes back to October 2021 should be thereabouts.
Four Adaay is a former previous C&D winner and his two best RPR’s have come over C&D. Went close here two starts back and needs respecting if reproducing that performance. On a good mark and shouldn’t be far away.
I'll be waiting to see how much rain there's been before I make my final bets but I could see my splitting stakes on two of the above.
Good luck with your Tuesday bets
John