Good morning all,
The start of a new week and what a week its set to be. It’s the start of my favourite of the summer flat racing festivals: York’s Ebor Festival. All the action gets underway on the Knavesmire at 1:50 on Wednesday. I have already started looking at the first day’s card and I can’t wait for all the action to get underway. It’s nice to be going into the meeting in winning form and I have a few nice priced selections lined up over the four days.
Inside today’s main piece you can read my review of weekend’s big race action. Plus, a few thoughts on Monday’s racing at Windsor.
Palace Doubles Up
A busy week high-class racing got underway yesterday across the English Channel with the latest running of the Group 1 Prix Jacques Le Marois with Palace Pier bidding for back-to-back wins in the race.
Palace Pier just got the better of the 3-year-old Poetic Flare in an exciting finish. He seems to just do enough to win his races and did so again yesterday. The runner-up was closing at the finish and went down on his shield.
Interestingly after the race trainer John Gosden said the winner was only 80% fit, if that’s the case his performance can be marked up.
Palace Pier is the best miler in the world and becomes only the third horse, after Miesque & Spinning World, to win the race for a second time.
Newbury: Hungerford Day
The Group 2 Hungerford Stakes was the feature race of decent card at Newbury on Saturday. My highlight performance came from Masekela, Hukum and Sacred in the big race.
Masekela
Masekela, runner-up in head bobber in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes on his previous start, was taking a drop class in the Listed Denford Stakes . The colt had to dig deep to prevail after being headed inside the final furlong by Bayside Boy. The winner showed a good attitude to get back up putting his head down at just the right time on this occasion.
Both the winner and runner-up should have futures. However, despite having had two more starts than Bayside Boy Masekela is the still the one to be with long term. He’s got plenty of scope to make a useful 3-year-old. In the process of winning he paid a high compliment to his Superlative Stakes conqueror Native Trail.
Hukum
Hukum was sent off the 8/11 favourite to win the Group 3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes for a second year running. He was clear on ratings of his seven rivals so won as he was entitled to. He travelled strongly as ever and picked up when asked by Jim Crowley. It was a very professional performance from the 4-year-old who seems to be getting better with age.
It looks like Hukum will be heading on his travels in the autumn with trainer Owen Burrows hinting that he could be aimed at the Breeders Cup Turf. Given how well he travels during his races the Del Mar track could suit him perfectly.
Sacred Performance
Danyah was morning non runner in the Hungerford Stakes. However. I don’t think he would have beaten the winner Sacred even if he had taken his place in the line-up.
Sacred was having her first start since finishing 7th in the 1,000 Guineas. At Newmarket she didn't really settle and failed to stay the mile. Connections had been waiting to race the filly on good ground and they got that on Saturday.
Nando Parrado was lit up by the first-time blinkers and set a strong gallop and that really suited the winner. Nicely settled at the back of the field she breezed through the race with her jockey waiting for the right moment to press the button. Once he did she went clear of her rivals to win by a length from Laneqash with Njord running on into third.
When she gets her favoured underfoot conditions Sacred is a very good filly. Its possible she might get a mile on a turning track and the Breeders Cup Mile was mentioned by the jockey after this race. Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing the strong travelling filly tried in a Group 1 over 6f.
Laneqash was making a belated seasonal reappearance. It was a cracking effort by the colt who could still fulfill his juvenile potential. He needs a sound surface to be seen at his best but there are surely races to be won with him.
Monday Racing
Windsor
4:50 – Osin Murphy is an eyecatching jockey booking for the consistent Blue Moonrise. However, preference is for Coco Beach who finished strongly to win at Brighton last month. Up 7lb in the weights for that success but could be capable of defying it.
5:55 – Country Carnival took advantage of a drop in the weights to get up at Doncaster 16-days ago. Osin Murphy has booked for the ride and the filly should go close from just 2lb higher.
The Daley Express finished a ¾ length 2nd of 8 over C&D 14-days ago. He can race off the same mark as last time and is now 4lb below his last winning mark.
6:55 – Prince Of Harts hasn’t shaped badly on his three starts this season and ran respectably enough when 3rd of 7 in an amateur rider’s race at Sandown. He's now down to a winnable mark and won't be far away provided the ground isn't too quick.
Twice a C&D winner Glen Esk bids for the four timer. He's only up 2lb for his latest win here and the handicapper has given him a decent chance of landing the four timer. Albeit, this is a slightly higher class of race.
Monday Selection:
Windsor
5:55 – The Daley Express – 13/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Good luck with your Monday bets.
Cheers
John
John Burke is the tipster behind the long standing Victor Value service you can join him here – https://victorvalue.uk