Hi all,

Inside today’s main piece you can read my thoughts on Saturday’s big race action.

The Northumberland Plate aside and that was on the all-weather, it was a poor fare on Saturday this side of the Irish Sea.

More small fields at Newmarket on the July Course. Outside the July Meeting, the racing there just doesn’t excite me betting wise.

The once respected Northumberland Plate Card run on a synthetic surface. It’s not something I feel at ease with even seven years after they switched the race from the turf. A race sacrificed on the altar of commercialism by the owners of Newcastle racecourse to the detriment of the sport.

The Northumberland Plate ‘Pitman's Derby' was the nearest thing we had to the Melbourne Cup. It was a race won by some popular equine characters, like Tug Of War and Sergeant Cecil, to the classy but quirky Ascot Gold Cup winner Celeric.

I can remember Lindsey Charnock booting home the Jimmy Fitzgerald trained Treasure Hunter off bottom weight of 7-7 when it used to be one of the betting highlights of the post Royal Ascot period.

Whilst not wanting to take anything away from this year’s winner. Sadly, the race is now a pale imitation of the exciting race it used to be.

Northumberland Plate

Despite forecast strong pace the early gallop was a modest. Calling The Wind won a race where it was hard to come from behind. It was a well deserved success by the winner. The 7-year-old had finished a good second in the Ascot Stakes at the royal meeting just 11 days ago had been running well in staying handicaps without getting his head in front.

Golden Rules well backed ante post ran well to finish second. However, he couldn’t peg back the winner who was slightly better positioned. He’s one to note in staying races on the synthetic surfaces.

The rest finished in a bit of a heap behind the first two home which was showed how the race was run.

My grumpy old man rant out of the way at least we had the Curragh and Irish Derby Weekend to focus on. However, that meeting ended up being unsatisfactory for other reasons.

Curragh

You had to be on the pace at the Curragh on Saturday and it proved difficult to win from off the rear. One of the few winners to come from off the pace came in what looked an interesting clash of the generations in the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes.

Via Sistina lands Pretty Polly

Via Sistina proved herself a Group 1 performer in coming from behind to win. Mind you it turned out to be a dramatic race as the winner hampered several of her rivals coming to 1f out.

The best horse won and given she was 2 lengths clear of her rivals at the line she was never going to lose the race. That said when will the stewards stop horses from drifting across the track to win their races. Do we need a jockey or horse to be seriously injured before they do?

Given the pace Via Sistina showed to win the race you can see why connections are considering dropping back to a mile for the Falmouth Stakes. I suspect the mare was finding the ground a bit too quick on Saturday. On genuinely quick ground I would be concerned about her but on softer ground she will be tough to beat. There’s another Group 1 in her but it’s likely to come when she has more ease in the ground.

Above The Curve had the run of the race and had no excuses in third. She did show enough pace to think that she could take up her entry in the Falmouth Stakes.

Stay Well bounced back to form to snatch second in the final half furlong.  Good ground suits the 4-year-old and a return to further than 1m 2f will suit her.

The 3-year-old’s Never Ending Story and Comrha both bought classic placed form to the race but were disappointing. The race may have come to quick for the former but the latter's performance is harder to explain.

Al Riffa disappoints on seasonal return

Mashoor got a great front running ride to win the Group 2 International Stakes (1m 2f).  Breaking quickly, he put his race fitness to good use and put his rivals to the sword early in the race.

Al Riffa who had looked a smart prospect when winning the Group 1 National Stakes on his last juvenile start was making his seasonal reappearance. The 5/6 favourite never looked like he would catch the leader and probably needed the run more than the market expected. Better can be expected next time but this still goes down as a disappointing effort.

Alfred Munnings was back from a 12 month absence looked in need of the run and should improve next time.

Aidan unleashes another smart juvenile

Aidan O'Brien unleashed another smart juvenile in City Of Troy who was an impressive winner of the 7f maiden that opened the card. The further they went the better he looked. Derby 2024 quotes seem fair given he’s bred for 1m 4f as a 3-year-old.

Matrika runner-up to Porta Fortuna in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot won a messy Group 2 Airlie Stud Stakes. She was far too good for her six rivals here and given her Albany performance came just 8 days ago the filly clearly stands her racing well. Likely to prove competitive in Group 1 races over 6f later in the season.

I will look at the highlights from Irish Derby Day in tomorrow’s column.

Monday Preview

Here are few thoughts on Monday’s action.

Windsor

The Class 2 Fitzdares Sprint Series Handicap (6:45) is the best quality race on Monday. Top weight and previous C&D winner Tanmawwy is sure to be popular with punters. The 5-year-old was withdrawn after bolting before the start of the Wokingham Handicap at Royal Ascot. He was suited by the run of the race at Newmarket last time and is better judged on seasonal reappearance 2^nd of 15 at Newbury.

Aphelios was a progressive sprint handicapper in 2022 winning over C&D for his previous yard and subsequently at Carlisle & Kempton.  Scoped dirty after a disappointing last of 11 at Newmarket (7/1) on his return to action. Has been given a 75 day break and can bounce back on quick ground that suits.

Pontefract

There’s a six race card at the West Yorkshire track this afternoon and there’s a couple of interest.

4:25 – Ottoman Prince a winner at 80/1 at Chelmsford (7f) on his racecourse debut last October was back to winning ways at Wolverhampton (6f) on his return to action 39 days ago.  Steps up two furlongs in trip here but should stay the mile and is open to further improvement on turf/handicap debut. Yard going great guns being 5-12 in the past 14 days.

5:00 – Corinthia Knight had a great record around here 6 -10, 8 places and in July is 5-8, 6 places. The 8-year-old has handy low draw in stall 1 and is 11lb below his last winning mark. He returned from a 4 month absence with a solid 2 length 4th of 10 over C&D three weeks ago and looks set for a big run.

Monday Selection:

Pontefract

5:00 – Corinthia Knight – 13/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes.

Good luck with your Monday bets.

John