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United Kingdom

Preview: Pomfret Stakes

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4.00 Pontefract: Pomfret Stakes (Listed), 1m

The boys in blue have a red hot favourite here in Let’s Go. This three year old gelding recently smashed some decent handicappers on only his second ever career start and on that evidence, given the weight for age allowance, he might be hard to beat today.

However it’s completely different – i.e. stronger – opposition as well as a different surface he meets here – we’ll find out how he handles it. Given his skinny price I look elsewhere.

I feel there isn’t much between the others well fancied rivals. Mondialiste can bounce back from a slightly disappointing effort at Royal Ascot. He’s having a strong season nonetheless and his third behind French Navy in Group 3 company sets the standard.

Short Squeeze ran his heart out at Windsor last month; he’ll be competitive today as long as he can overcome the track bias. He usually comes from well off the pace, however Pontefract suits more prominent runners.

Consistent Fire Ship is unbeaten over course and distance and has some creditable performances to his name this year: a fair third behind Top Notch Tonto when last seen, and an excellent 3rd in a hot Leopardstown Group 3. He’s hasn’t won since 2013, though.

Birdman has been a revelation this season. He’s now as highly rated as he has been back in his promising juvenile days. He deserves a shot at this race but I feel this could be too hot for him. The other 3yo in the field, Hail The Hero, will find this a tough assignment her, despite WFA in his favour.

Verdict: Whether the quick ground will hold up with rain falling right now, I’m not sure. But if it goes into the ground it shouldn’t inconvenience too many. However I feel Fire Ship is overpriced in this field. He loves it around this track, won’t mind the rain, and has been in good form. I don’t see why he is twice the price of Mondialiste. There isn’t much between them.

Fire Ship @ 8/1 Paddy Power – 5pts Win

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Palpitation ready to strike on Nursery debut

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Finally a winner last night, Mujasaam hacked up at Salisbury under a strong front-running ride. Could have been even better as Astley Hall ran a massive race but was beaten in a photo unfortunately. To the naked eye there was nothing that could differentiate him from the eventual winner, but I’ve to trust the judges here.

2.40 Carlisle: Nursery, Class 5, 5f

Open little Nursery with a strong favourite but I feel Palpitation is a capable rival. This Fast Company son has been gelded since his last run and that usually works out pretty well for this sire.

He showed a bit of promise in three maiden races, but is expected to do much better now switched into Handicap company. he is quite well bred, though his future should lie over a bit further. An opening mark of 65 is fair and first time cheek-pieces may offer some additional assistance.

Palpitation @ 9/2 Betfred – 5pts Win

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Mujassam bound for a big run

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5.10 York: Nursery, Class 3, 5f

Astley Hall looks overpriced here if he could find back to the form he showed on his impressive debut run. That day he looked extremely green throughout, completely messing up the start but still was overcame that all to win well in a decent maiden.

He was disappointing in his two starts subsequently, but now dropped down to 5f again on quick ground should help on his nursery debut. An opening mark off 77 doesn’t look impossible.

He has been gelded since his last run There are positive sire stats for this kind of procedure and Richard Fahey often gets it right if it comes to geldings.

Astley Hall @ 16/1 Sportingbet – 5pts Win

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8.15 Salisbury: Handicap, Class 4, 7f

Roger Varian has only one runner at Salisbury today and that looks significant. His Mujassam is an intriguing contender, dropping in class off a lowered mark with ground likely in his favour. He didn’t show too much in two starts this year but remains with potential.

A gelding now, this may help him to focus a bit better on his racing too. Kyllachy’s often improve as geldings and Varian has a positive track record for first time geldings too. He could go well tonight.

Mujassam @ 13/2 Betfred – 5pts Win

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Preview – King George VI

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Ascot Grand Stand, by Florian Christoph

Will Golden Horn run? We don’t know yet. The ground is soft, and despite the fact that the sun is out, it won’t help to dry quickly enough. I suspect that the hot favourite won’t take up his chance here. But regardless of whether he is in or not, it should be an intriguing affair as not too many are suited by the conditions.

Well, Clever Cookie surely is. He’ll love every drop of rain in the ground. He is in top form, won two on the bounce and should have things the way he likes it. I think he is potentially overpriced, but also feel he may be tactically disadvantaged with his usual running style – he simply might get going too late. It could be difficult to peg back some others who are attempting more aggressive tactics.

I believe Snow Sky is a major runner here today, with or without Golden Horn. He stays further than 12 furlongs and might be actually better over two additional furlongs, but he proved his class in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot over this trip when he was very impressive to land it from the front.

He may not get the lead this time, but will surely be prominent nonetheless. That will enable him to kick on 3f out, turning for home. He has a bit of a change of gear, so may be able to put some lengths into the rest of the field at this stage. And one thing is assured – he’ll stay.

This Nayef son is a typical Sir Michael improver, he’s blooming this year. The ground of course is a question mark. His best performances came on a quick surface. However he used to win his maiden on bottomless ground with ease, so he is probably fine.

There aren’t too many others who appeal to me. Flintshire is a quality runner, but he’ll hate the ground. Eagle Top isn’t sure to enjoy it either. While Postponed remains one with potential but has never encountered these conditions before. Romsdal has yet to win on turf, though the filly Madame Chiang has course and distance form on soft ground as she was victorious at British Champions Day last year.

She is an intriguing contender. Track, trip and ground will suit. Her seasonal comeback run over shorter 10f in the Middleton Stakes wasn’t all that bad, however she hasn’t been seen since, which is a concern.

And what about Golden Horn – if he runs? Of course he’s the one to beat. His record speaks for itself and he has the vital weight for age allowance on his side. But the ground is a major worry. Yes, he won his maiden on good to soft, but he looked so exceptional on a fast surface – I’m worried.

Verdict: I’m prepared to take on Golden Horn in these conditions ans believe Snow Sky has a major chance. He shouldn’t mind the ground and tactically the race could pan out to perfection for him. He’s a big price.

Snow Sky @ 15/2 Betfred – 5pts Win

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Preview – Lightning Spear has the class!

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Newmarket July Course

It has been rather quite this week for me personally…. there was brilliant racing on offer the last number of days at Newmarket, but I couldn’t been arsed. Life is busy, and some days off the horses can do the world of good sometimes. I feel fresh and rejuvenated in that sense at least. Let’s give it a proper go today – there is top class sport on offer!

2.45 Ascot: Summer Mile Stakes (Group 2), 1m

I’m prepared to take on favourite Arod. He’s clearly top class but the slight drop in trip is not sure to suite on lightning fast ground. He is a fair price, but nothing more.

In the same ownership, progressive Lightning Spear made giant strides this season. He followed up on an impressive display at Lingfield with an even more impressive performance at Salisbury last month. Bumped at the start, stuck in traffic until late, he stormed clear under 9st 10lb when finally in the clear. He’s a major player today.

The joker, if you wanna say so, is Bow Creek. Excellent last season, he was clearly not himself on his seasonal reappearance at Sandown earlier this year. If he can find back to his best he’s dangerous.

Lightning Spear @ 7/2 VC – 5pts Win

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2.35 Newmarket: Superlative Stakes (Group 2), 7f

Hard to look past Aiden O’Brien’s extremely well bred Air Vice Marshal. He was pretty green on his debut but came on a truckload the next time. Admittedly, the maiden he won at Gowran Park isn’t worth an awful lot but the way he did it was ultra impressive. He could have won by any distance. He is good looking, big and scopey and has the pedigree to do well as a juvenile

Main danger is William Haggas’s War Department. Forget his Ascot run, it just wasn’t to happen for him that day. He looked good on his debut though and should be competitive today. But on the prices, I feel the Irish raider is  overpriced and should be a full point shorter in my book

Air Vice Marshal @ 3/1 Coral – 10pts Win

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3.45 Newmarket: July Cup (Group 1), 6f

Two big prices against the two hot favourites: Due Diligence is one. I’m inclined to give him one last chance. At this time last year he had the world at his mercy, yet things didn’t go right from there on. Two disappointing efforts this year, a particularly dismal one at Royal Ascot – it might be that he has never recovered from his injury – but Aiden O’Brien wouldn’t bring him over if he wouldn’t think Due Diligence is in with a chance.

The other one I like is Danzeno. Rather lightly raced, he may still be able to pull out a bit more. He was unlucky at Newcastle last month following his excellent seasonal reappearance in the Temple Stakes. Trip, track and ground are sure to suit perfectly.

Danzeno @ 20/1 Sportingbet – 5pts Win
Due Diligence @ 25/1 Sportingbet – 5pts Win

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4.55 Newmarket: Class 2 Nursery, 7f

Favourite Majdool was very impressive at Chelmsford over this trip, albeit it was a poor maiden. He was fair runner-up behind Beaverbrook before, however, so is clearly the one to beat today on that evidence. Spongy shares collateral form with him and has a chance on the weights today, but probably needs a bit further given the way he stayed on to win lto.

Mark Johnston has his juveniles in top form this season. Aleko is no exception. Off the mark in a 6f maiden in excellent style, he failed to follow up at Epsom, though. Might be wise to ignore that run as he missed the break and was never comfortable at the track throughout. The step up to 7f is sure to suit on pedigree, and this well bred individual should do better now in nurseries.

Aleko @ 4/1 Betfred – 5pts Win

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5.05 Ascot: Class 2 Handicap, 1m 4f

Space Age performance at Royal Ascot was freakish to a point, given his wide draw and the frenetic pace he set – yet it seemed it suited him to be in front alone. H deserves to be hot favourite today. He is up by 8lb but could be well able to defy this new mark.

But it’s Dartmouth who appears to be quite well handicapped, given he wasn’t disgraced in the very same race and can race off the same mark. He had a wide draw to overcome and had to travel three wide. throughout. Given the circumstances he ran a fine race. He is well bred, still lightly raced, and can do better today.

Dartmouth @ 8/1 Betfred – 5pts Win

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Merry Me Can Upset in Pipalong Stakes

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3.10 Pontefract: Pipalong Stakes (Fillies’ Listed), 1m

Favourite Temptress should be hard to beat given her brilliant run at Royal Ascot when she followed up on an ultra impressive performance on her seasonal debut. However her draw and running style are a slight negative at this track, so she might be vulnerable to someone who gets first run.

I feel this could be Merry Me. The filly seems on the upward with age. She left a poor season opener behind with a massive run in a Handicap at Epsom. She travelled strongly chasing the pace, didn’t seem to be impacted by a bit of a rough ride in the home straight and went clear inside the final furlong, just to get a bit tired or idle in the dying strides when eventual winner Gratzie came out of nowhere to get up on the line.

Merry Me didn’t have time to respond to this challenge and gave a good deal of weight away to the winner as well. The slight drop to 1m should suit perfectly today though as well as track and ground.

Merry Me @ 6/1 Coral – 5pts Win

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Ejaazah Value in Dragon Stakes

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Sherlock Holmes looks a really nice prospect. He’s a real stayer, a relentless galloper, as he proved last night at Bellestown once again. He didn’t win by much, but he finished the job, despite unsuited by the track and despite looking green. He won’t go up for much in the mark and wherever he pops up next will be potentially well in. Not so much luck with the other two, though they run well in fairness.

2.50 Sandown: Dragon Stakes (Listed), 5f

Red hot favourite Soapy Aitken was’t disgraced when fourth at Royal Ascot. But he’s not an outstanding chance in this field in my eyes. On paper, the form of Riflescope looks stronger, as he ran on strongly to finish fourth in the Norfolk Stakes. Is he speedy enough though?

The lightly raced filly Ejaazah makes appeal. She showed prime speed in a hot maiden on debut, progressed from that in a good manner when she won at Chester subsequently. She is well bred and open to any kind of improvement. She is overpriced in this field.

Ejaazah @ 15/2 Paddy Power – 5pts Win

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Plutocracy Can Win Fresh

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Iron Major Dundalk

This week didn’t started as I would have hoped – Starshaped made a mess of his race right at the start on Monday night. The widest draw is never easy but he was lazily out of the box, caught wide, way to far off the pace eventually and had zero chance. He stayed on very well, but clearly lacked focus. He needs blinkers I guess and will be of massive interest the next time once again – if headgear is fitted.

8.45 Kempton: Handicap (Class 3), 1m 4f

This race looks to be between the top two in the betting. You can forgive Majeed’s recent poor showing at Newmarket. He is better judged on the impressive performance here at Kempton before. However I feel the additional furlong today as well as the much bigger weight will make life tough and he’s easily oppose for that reason, particularly given his short price.

No doubt Plutocracy is a very talented, but also fragile individual. He had only ten career starts to date, which is low mileage for a fife year old. That says he’s best fresh anyway, his record clearly indicates that. I think you can draw a line under his Doncaster performance in November when last seen. Testing ground was never to suit. He run with loads of credit the other two times last season, though.

Off a handy mark today, he has a major chance in this field if he is fit and ready to go. Th trip is no issue and the All-Weather shouldn’t be one either. The yard is going well and the trainer/jockey combo has a 35% strike rate over the last twelve month – Plutocracy looks overpriced today.

Plutocracy @ 4/1 Coral – 5pts Win

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Starshaped’s a “Good Thing” at Musselburgh

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Thanks to gutsy Bondi Beach the weekend didn’t end in a draught. The 9/1 winner of the Group 3 Curragh Cup clearly limited the losses, nonetheless it wasn’t a particularly good weekend at Irish flat racing’s HQ – from a punting perspective at least. Here’s hoping for better this week….

9.15 Musselburgh: Handicap (Class 6), 1m

Usually I avoid these low grade handicaps, but I believe to have found a “good thing” in this particular race. Starshaped has been moved to the UK after three poor performances in maiden company in Ireland. He took advantage of a lenient opening mark in a low grade handicap at Newcastle four weeks ago.

Up with the leading pack, he quickened away from 2f out once the pace collapsed. He won pretty easily in the end. 7lb hike in the mark for this success looks fair but may not stop him. He has been gelded in the meantime and that as well as natural progression should bring out a bit more.

He has been allocated a poor draw but may be able to overcome it – and hopefully does, since it is an advantage to be up with the pace at Musselburgh. Positive tactics were employed the last time, so it’s likely to be same today. If they make a bit of use of his stamina early on it shouldn’t be a problem as he is entitled to stay further on pedigree.

So I’d expect him to be in the right position when it matters. It’s a very winnable race and it looks significant that jockey Ronnan Whelan comes over from Ireland for this one single ride.

Starshaped @ 10/3 Betfred – 10pts Win

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Progressive Life Less Ordinary Can Bounce Back

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Jamie Spencer

Oh yeah, that feels good – back with a bang last night! After an unbelievable week, with dramatic losses, the new week started SO much better at Ballinrobe. 2 selections, 2 winners – I really needed that. Sherlock Holmes didn’t enjoy the tight track but still managed to win. He’s a nice prospect for the stayers division. Oceania Queen overcame some in-running trouble to get up impressively eventually – both winners drifted to 11/8 and 6/1 SP respectively.

3.45 Salisbury: Class 3 Handicap, 1m 4f

This looks a wide open race with plenty of question marks over each and ever runner. So I’m puzzled to see a rather clear favourite emerging with Darshini. Sure, the lightly raced colt with first time headgear may well improve for experience and the new trip, yet it is not a given that he stays, nor that he is capable of overcoming a career highest mark off 90. He’s opposable in my mind.

Process is one of few who is sure to stay the trip as he has form over 12f. He won a mediocre race at Kempton and followed up with a decent runner-up effort at Newmarket, which however implicated that this Nayef son has already reached his limit. He is vulnerable to any improver.

Oceane was only seen in France so far. It’s a tough task assigned today and he is best watched. Simple Verse is a distance winner and was a fine second at Goodwood recently. She could have more to offer but the handicapper takes no chances with her – 5lb up for 3/4l defeat – that’s a bit harsh.

Unexposed Life Less Ordinary won a 12f Handicap at Windsor in very taking style. He was quickly turned out again but the drop in trip as well as softish ground didn’t seem to suit. He travelled like the winner for a long time but hung badly in the closing stages. Back to 12f with quick conditions sure to suit, appeals as an improver.

Roger Charlton’s Marmot won a class 5 Handicap at Brighton recently. He may get the new trip but much more is required here today up in class. Polarisation looks a bad price given his overall record. The step up in trip seems more like the last resort than anything likely to suit.

Man Look is lightly raced and was not disgraced in fourth the last time. As feather weight in this contest he can’t be underestimated. Steady Major is well exposed and hard to fancy.

Verdict: On the prices on offer I feel Life Less Ordinary is the overpriced runner in this field. He looked to have tons in hand when he won at Windsor and travelled equally well the next time for a long time while conditions seemingly didn’t suit. Back from a little break and with trip and ground in his favour today, he strikes me as a potentially well handicapped individual.

Life Less Ordinary @ 15/2 VC – 5pts win