Good morning all,

I had to take our lass to a hospital appointment on Tuesday. So, I began writing Wednesday’s article in the café at Harrogate District Hospital. I must say the public WIFI is better than the one I have at home.  Going to a hospital is one of the few occasions these days that you are aware that the Covid19 pandemic isn’t totally over and of course could return at any time.

Inside today’s main piece I start to look ahead to the weekend action. Plus, I have put two of today’s races at Catterick and Kempton under the microscope.

The Weekend Starts Here – Part 1

It may not have the kudos of an Ebor Festival but there is some decent quality to look forward too. The big race action begins on Friday at the Curragh. The Paddy Power Irish Cambridgeshire Premier Handicap (6.45) and the Group 3 Snow Fairy Stakes (5.15) are the highlights of an eight-race card. This side of the Irish Sea the highlights are the Silver Bell handicap (6.40) at Hamilton and Goodwood stages the first day of a three-day bank holiday fixture.

Saturday’s highlights include the second day of action at Goodwood with the Group 2 Celebration Mile (3.35) worth £125,000. It is highlight of a valuable card which also includes two Group 3s, the £100,000 March Stakes (3.00) and £60,000 Prestige Stakes (1.50).

The ITV cameras will also be broadcasting four races from Goodwood plus the best of the action from Newmarket and Beverley where its Beverley Bullet Day.   

The weather looks set fair for the rest of the week. So, we should be looking at good quick ground for the weekend.

Goodwood – Saturday

3:35 – tote Celebration Mile (Group 2) – 1m

The best race of the weekend. It’s possible we could see the return of the high class Benbatl who hasn’t raced for almost a year. He also holds an entry in Group Winter Hill Stakes at Windsor on Saturday evening though.  Drying ground is a big positive for the 7-year-old who has won off a lay off in the past and would take the beating if coming here.

Exciting William Haggas trained colt Baaeed had been a possible for the race but wasn’t declared and now heads for next month’s Group 1 Prix du Moulin at Longchamp. Instead of Baaeed, Shadwell look to run the Charlie Hills trained colt Mutasaabeq. The 3-year-old was back to form back on track when easily seeing off three rivals in a minor event at Haydock last month.

Contenders:

Mutasaabeq an impressive winner at Newmarket’s Craven Meeting. He was well fancied for the 2,000 Guineas (6/1) but found the race too hot, on just his third career start, finishing 7^th of 14. Ran no sort of race in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot. Ground versatile, he should stay a mile and although he needs to improve to win, could yet fulfil his early potential.

Duke Of Hazzard won this in 2019 and his form figures here on good or quicker ground are 1112. His only poor run here came in this race last year. However, the ground was soft that day which wouldn’t have suited. Not at his best so far this season. Although he did run with a bit more promise at York last Saturday and a return to Goodwood could see him back to his best.

The 3-year-old Perotto goes well here, twice a winner in the past, and he wasn’t disgraced when 4^th of 7 in his first run in pattern company over C&D two starts back. The return to a sounder surface suited him even better when a 1 length 3^rd of 10 in the Group 3 Sovereign Stakes at Salisbury 16-days ago. Needs to improve again but he’s a 3-year-old going the right way.

Chindit, a very useful juvenile. He looked set for a good season when coming from behind to win the Group 3 Greenham Stakes at Newbury on his seasonal reappearance. Fourth in the 2,000 Guineas on his next start. He’s been highly tried in Group 1 company since at Royal Ascot and when a 3-length 5^th of 8 behind Palace Pier in the Jacques le Marois at Deauville last time. Slightly calmer waters and if he handles the Goodwood undulations, won’t be far away.

Wednesday Racing

Wednesday sees an afternoon jumps card at Bellewstown plus flat action from Catterick, Lingfield and Musselburgh. There’s also evening all-weather action at Kempton and Wolverhampton.

Its not often that a Ryan Moore ridden horse goes off at 16/1 but Bear Force One did. And, he went on to win last evening’s Newbury Class 2 handicap. My Monday selection Itkaann ran well to finish 2^nd but if you’re a subscriber to Victor Value you were also on the winner.

There are no Class 2 handicaps to get stuck into today. In fact, there’s only one race higher than Class 4 and that’s a Class 3 contest at Kempton (8:30).

Kempton

8:30 – The Sir Michael Stoute trained Ziknay has been mildly progressive this season. However, I think he might be worth taking on given he looked like he needed to go further than 1m 4f, when finishing runner-up at Salisbury 13-days ago.

Irish Legend was a good 4^th of 13 at Goodwood last time. He’s 2-2 on the all-weather and has been gelded since his last run. The blinkers he wore at Goodwood are replaced by the reapplied cheekpieces and he appeals more than the Stoute horse.

Pied Piper was 3 ½ lengths behind Irish Legend at Goodwood. However, I don’t see why he should finish ahead of that one here.

King Of Tsavo won a nursery here last December and is 1-1 at Kempton. He hasn’t really built on the promise of his Haydock seasonal return but there was encouragement from his 7^th of 12 at Newcastle (1m 2f) last time and he shaped like he’s worth another try at further. The first-time blinkers are applied and they could eke out the improvement that he needs to win.

Marching Army made all to win a quick ground Leicester novice two starts back. He looked a nice middle-distance prospect that day. However, he struggled on good to soft on his handicap debut at Goodwood 26-days ago.  He’s surely better than his last run and remains capable of better. Osin Murphy who rode him at Leicester is back in the saddle.

Catterick

2:30 – Embour ran a cracker when a 4 ½ length 6^th of 20 in the Great St Wilfrid Handicap at Ripon last time.  Top-weight of 10-2 to carry. However, he drops two notches in class and this his first start in Class 4 handicap. Well suited to a quick ground. He’s now 4lb below his last winning mark, and has a handy low draw in stall 1.

Lezardrieux is also handily drawn in stall 2. He bounced back to form when runner-up at Pontefract 10-days ago. Trainer Grant Tuer’s horses continue in fine form – 6-15 35% +17 – in the past 14-days. He’s been a trainer to follow in Catterick handicaps – 8 winners from 20 runners 40% +53. He also has saddles Restless Endeavour who won over C&D last August. A winner at Thirsk two starts back, she showed she remained in good form when 3^rd of 5 at Newmarket last time. Of the pair Restless Endeavour goes well on quick ground but Lezardrieux maybe better with some ease.

Lady Nectar, won nicely at Thirsk in April, off 2lb lower, and ran well when a 1 ¾ length 3^rd of 7 at Redcar 38-days ago. The filly won over C&D last summer and her three career wins have come on a sound surface. The first time cheekpieces are an interesting addition for trainer Ann Duffield whose horses are going well.

Wednesday Selection:

Catterick

3:00 – Dirchill won off 8lb higher over C&D (soft) last October. But also won at Redcar last summer on good to firm. Not much signs of life in 2021. However, a 3-length 6th of 11 over C&D 9-days ago was a step back in the right direction. The 7-year-old is very handicapped on the best of last season’s form and has each way claims. Yars had a welcome winner at Musselburgh yesterday.

Dirchill – 30/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook

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Good luck with your Wednesday bets.

John