Good morning all,
There is a veritable feat of summer racing to look forward to over the next ten days. Ascot and York get the show underway on Friday with two-day meetings. On Monday its start of the Galway Festival and Tuesday it’s the start of five days racing on the Sussex Downs at ‘Glorious’ Goodwood.
The best of Saturday’s action at both Ascot & York can be seen on ITV as part of a seven-race programme.
Well, it was nice while it lasted. It looks like the heatwave is coming to a crashing end on Friday night and Saturday. Mind you given how hard it’s been to sleep at night. Maybe that’s no bad thing.
The UK Met Office has issued a severe weather warning for heavy rain and thunderstorms for Saturday with up 100mm rain being forecast for parts of the UK over the weekend. That’s going to have a potentially big impact on the going at both Ascot and York and other racecourses.
Connections of runners in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes will be keeping a big eye on the weather front.
The change in weather will also have an impact on Goodwood. Plenty of rain is being forecast for Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. However, after that the forecast looks more uncertain. There are likely to be some showers over the five days but hopefully they will be light. The one thing that we can guarantee is that it will be much cooler than it has been this week. Which is no bad thing for both horses and jockeys alike.
Will Love get top of the ground that she needs?
Will there be enough rain to ease the ground for Wonderful Tonight?
Given the possibility of plenty of rain. The 14/1 available with Coral & Ladbrokes about Wonderful Tonight is becoming very tempting, albeit they are only playing two places. Likewise, the 13/2 available with William Hill about the chances of Lone Eagle are also of interest. He’s just 9/2 with Coral & Ladbrokes.
Looking at the ante post betting for the Moet & Chandon International Stakes (Heritage Handicap). The real possibility of easing ground brings Danyah, a best priced 15/2 with William Hill but just 6/1 with Paddy Power, into the mix and at bigger odds Escobar who’s two best RPR’s have come here on the straight course has to be of interest at the 20/1 available with William Hill & Bet365.
Thursday Racing
There’s plenty of action with seven meetings across Britain & Ireland today. I’m off to Sandown for a first Thursday patent.
Sandown
Sandown hosts a seven-race card. The field sizes aren’t big due to the good to firm ground. However, there’s the juvenile fillies only British Stallion Studs EBF Star Stakes (Listed Race) (2:10) and interesting juvenile 7f maiden (1:35). In the latter race Thesis, a half-brother to Quadrilateral, trained by Roger Charlton makes his racecourse debut. It will be interesting to see what the market makes of his chance.
Three handicaps conclude the card and those that interest me most from a betting perspective.
3:20 – Old News was beaten a nose at Yarmouth 8-days ago. Can race off the same mark here and won off 1lb higher on the all-weather last autumn.
3:55 – Civil Law won at York (good to firm) two starts back for previous trainer Brian Ellison. Just failed to bring up the hat trick when a 3-length 3rd of 8 at Lingfield 10-days ago and Andrea Atzeni is a good jockey booking for the 4-year-old. Preference though for Russian Virtue who was a ½ length 2nd of 10 over C&D two starts back but didn’t stay 1m 3 ½ f at Windsor last time and will be suited by a return 1m 2f.
4:30 – Mowaleda was tenderly ridden when 3rd of 12 in a Kempton novice 22-days ago. Has since changed connections but Jim Crowley who rode the filly at Kempton remains in the saddle. She remains open to more improvement on her handicap debut.
Sandown Patent:
3:20 – Old News
3:55 – Russian Virtue
4:30 – Mowaleda
Good luck with your Thursday bets.
John
John Burke is the tipster behind the long standing Victor Value service you can join him here – https://victorvalue.uk