Hi all,
There’s very little to get excited about on these shores on the eve of the Dublin Racing Festival (DRF). Even Friday’s Meydan card on the Flat struggles to lift the mood. I’ve done the DRF stats for the column over the past couple of days, so that box is ticked. Now it’s about analysing the races, with final declarations in for Saturday’s card.
If you’d like my previews and selections, they’re available for a one-off £9.99 here.
Sandown’s hurdles course passed a Thursday morning inspection albeit further heavy run would warrant a further inspection. That means it won’t be an all-chase card and the £100,000 Virgin Bet Heroes Handicap Hurdle (3:10) will be run.
Leopardstown has had 170mm or about seven inches, for older readers, of rain over the past ten days, with more forecast today (possibly another 13mm) and a further 10mm on Friday night.
At most tracks, that would put the meeting in serious doubt. At Leopardstown, it doesn’t.
The course drains quickly, and I’d still expect the chase track to ride no worse than soft by Sunday. With a couple of dry days, it could even edge back towards good to soft. Ok, that’s a fanciful outcome but I’m not expecting heavy in the going description
The hurdle track is another story altogether. That is likely to be a proper slog in the mud if further rain arrives.
Inside today’s main piece, I focus on three turf races from Meydan this afternoon, plus one from Southwell.
Friday Racing
Meydan
3:50 – Symbol Of Honour looked set for a good season when winning at Newbury & Haydock (Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes) but struggled on two subsequent starts in Group 1 company. Drops in class on return from a break and did win twice over C&D earlier last year. He’s the one to beat from a yard that has won four of the last five running’s of the race.
Two Tribes, last season’s Goodwood Stewards Cup winner, returned to winning ways under a big weight in a C&D handicap earlier this month. A quick ground 6f suits the 5yo and he looks worth his place in a Listed race.
4:25 – Dubai Millennium Stakes (Group 3) – 1m2f
Charlie Appleby has won the last eight running’s of the race and looks set for a ninth. He saddles By The Book and Arabian Light.
By The Book was an easy winner of a handicap here (1m4f) last month. The lightly raced gelding is now 3 from 4 and it’s interesting that William Buick has opted for him ahead of his stablemate.
Arabian Light, a dual course winner, has similar form to By The Book. He returned from a break looking as good as ever when landing a C&D handicap 28 days ago and shouldn’t be far away.
5:35 – Chaldero looked in need of further when a 5 ¼ length eighth of 16 in a handicap here (7f) 21 days ago. The 6yo won a couple of handicaps in France last season both times ridden by Mickael Barzalona who is back in the saddle for the first time since winning on the horse at Longchamp in September. He looks well treated on that Longchamp form and looks to have handy low draw in stall 3. Given he’s trained in the Czech Republic I’m hoping the UK bookies underestimate his chance.
Southwell
3:03 – Handicap (Class 3) – 7f
Down To The Kid’s eight career wins have all come at Southwell. He seems to have improved for the drop back and made it 2 from 2 over C&D 7 days ago. Up a notch in class here but a 4lb penalty won’t prevent him from going close given his current vein of form.
Doctor Khan Junior, a past C&D winner, took a big step forward from his Newcastle comeback run last month when a length fourth of 7 at Kempton 23 days ago. He’s just 1lb above his last winning mark and looks the biggest threat to the hat trick seeking Down To The Kid.
Friday Free Tip
Meydan
5:35 – Chaldero – 33/1 – Coral & Ladbrokes (paying 4 places)
Good luck with your Friday bets.
John