Category Archives: United Kingdom

United Kingdom

Saturday Tips: All-Weather UK

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2.20 Lingfield: Class 3 Handicap, 6f

I expect a brisk pace here which should suit the short priced favourite. Hold Tight should definitely go well and won’t mind the drop in trip, but bottom weight Luis Vaz De Torres looks excellent value after an impressive performance lto.

He pulled extremely hard throughout the race in a slowly run affair which doesn’t suit him well, nonetheless he quickened nicely and looked good for more. The handicapper has been lenient, so this is a big opportunity to achieve a career best.

Luis Vaz De Torres @ 8/1 Ladbrokes – 5pts Win

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2.45 Chelmsford: Conditions Stakes, 7f

No doubt, Lamar sets a very high standard and on ratings looks hard to beat. The drop to 7f isn’t a problem for the prolific mare and she is sure to run her race.

But I feel lightly raced My Call will give her plenty to think about it and might get the better thanks to receiving 3lb and further improvement very likely. She won really nicely when last seen, which was only her third start and while this is tougher, she is expected to have learned plenty and take another big step forward, particularly with the step up in trip sure to suit.

My Call @ 7/4 VC – 10pts Win

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3.20 Chelmsford: Class 2 Handicap, 10f

Quite an open race, albeit very competitive. The underestimated runner could be William Haggas inmate Our Channel. Not quite a straightforward individual, but surely talented, he impressed at his comeback run last month at Lingfield.

I expect him to come on quite a bit for that runner-up effort. He steps up to 10f now, a trip he has won at in the past – back in 2012 the Derby Trial Epsom, in fact. Off a mark off 95 he travels quite nicely into this race too.

Our Channel @ 6/1 Ladbrokes – 5pts Win

United Kingdom

Al Khan can land Suthwell Feature

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Wet Dundalk Polytrack

1.40 Southwell: Class 3 Handicap, 7f

A quite intriguing contest with a handful of course and distance scorer. It’s easy to see why Westwood Hoe is well fancied though, given he overcame some trouble in a better class over CD three weeks ago. He’s certainly well treated off only 2lb higher today.

Certificate also scored when last time seen, then at Lingfield. He’s trying the fibresand for the first time and that is always a concern but if he handles it he must have a serious shot in this race.

Previous course and distance winners Philba and Showboating can’t be discounted. The former one in particular is progressive on the fibresand and has the advantage of a low weight.

No love in the betting for top weight Al Khan, although he’s also has been successful at Southwell in the past. However the gelding is 5lb above his last winning mark, but managed a head-beaten runner-up effort in a hot Ayr Handicap off his current rating back in September.

Since then Al Khan was largely a disappointment, result wise even though he was never far beaten. When last seen at Lingfield he finished well from an impossible position, suggesting he might be in better form than bare results suggest.

A return to the fibresand may well help him to turn things around. From a good draw he should be able to track the pace which I expect to be red hot, which should suit him perfectly.

Al Khan @ 12/1 William Hill – 5pts Win

United Kingdom

Quick Witted worth a punt

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1.30 Chelmsford: Maiden Stakes, 1m 2f

This seems a rather hot affair for a maiden on a dreary Sunday at the Chelmsford All-Weather. Plenty of trainers and jockey come out here for only this one race.

So does Harry Dunlop and Pat Cosgrave. Dunlop saddles the one time raced filly Quick Witted, who was a modest seven of 13 on her debut three weeks ago at Kempton over 1m. She was seriously outpaced over three furlongs out but run on well to the line, if one wants to give her credit.

She’s quite nicely bred for a race of this type though, and clearly should enjoy the step up to 10f today, which looks more a trip suitable.

The fact that Cosgrave comes down for this one ride suggests she may not only in for another educational ride, given the jockey has been remarkably hot in the last couple of weeks. The filly is a huge price in the betting nonetheless, but for that reason worth a nibble.

Quick Witted @ 22/1 Coral – 5pts Win

United Kingdom

Chemlsford: Flighty will enjoy new trip

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Newmarket Rowley Mile Winning post

2.00 Chelmsford: Class 4 Fillies’ Handicap, 1m 5f

This looks an open contest with more than half of the field in with realistic chances. However High And Flighty went into my notebook back in November when an excellent runner-up at Wolverhampton over 12f, as she was the only one from those up with the pace able to sustain a real effort to the line, while I thought back then a step up in trip could be interesting for this filly.

She tries this slightly further distance for the first time now after a disappointing run at Lingfield in the meantime, although in a hot little race.

High And Flighty has still not too many miles on the clock and looks capable off her current mark. Now going against her own sex she could be really competitive in a race like this here.

 High And Flighty @ 8/1 VC – 5pts Win

United Kingdom

Saturday NAP

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Dundalk All-Weather

2.00 Southwell: Class 4 Handicap, 7f

Shootingsta is the solid form choice and deserved favourite. Good second over course and distance lto, though current mark doesn’t leave much room for error.

The main dangers might be: The filly Assault On Rome, who has won at Wolverhampton over 7f when last seen, only 3lb up and still likely to be on a fair mark judged on past form. Southwell debut but may be alright if preference for soft going on turf is any indicator. Stays further.

Captain Revelation drops to a handy mark, 1lb below last win. Front-runner who has been placed at Southwell in the past. Visor off and back from break.

Golden Highway has been poor since getting off the mark on debut at Chelmsford last year. However drops markedly in trip and mark and might be well suited by this test with pedigree suggesting he’ll act here however has been off for half a year.

Verdict: I feel Assault On Rome is a huge price given her good recent form and the fact she has a good draw and stays further. She should be up with the pace, which I expect to be lethal, and in a slug to the line she might be able to grind it out, given she acts on the fibresand.

Assault On Rome @ 10/1 Coral – 5pts Win

United Kingdom

Monday Betting: All-Weather

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Laytown2

2.30 Wolverhampton: Class 6 Nursery, 1m 141y

Favourite Ripoll could still be on the up, but at a much bigger price Monday Club is an intriguing contender as he finished only one place behind Ripoll when the two met the last time here at Wolverhampton – form that looks very strong and is franked through Ripoll, who was subsequently a runaway winner at Kempton.

Monday Club had the widest draw to overcome in that race, travelled well but was briefly off the bridle over 4f when trying to close the gap to the leading pack, which seemingly slipped away. He came back on the bridle, travelling strongly into the home straight, though seemed to hang a bit to his left then and wasn’t helped by shifting horses who prevented him from a clear run.

He probably was a tired horse at that stage anyway, so the slight drop in trip should suit perfectly. He gets 2lb off his mark and has a decent 3lb claimer on board today. From a handicapping perspective he must have strong claims in my mind.

Working against him will the unkind draw – again widest of all. He will have to get all the brakes and need to be well in to overcome in a race like this, but at a huge price is certainly worth the gamble.

Monday Club @ 25/1 Coral – 5pts Win

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5.20 Kempton: Class 4 Handicap, 7f

I firmly have my eyes on Loyalty who seems underestimated here. His last run in much better class 4lb out of the handicap at Chelmsford wasn’t a bad one, but I thought he was most eye-catching over course and distance on his return when he made all from a wide draw and just tired in the final furlong, probably in the need of a run.

He’s got a decent draw and is on a fair mark at the moment, although the trip could be on the sharp side. However he has won over 7f in the past and loves Kempton. Given he’ll make this a stamina test from the front again he could be primed for a big run today.

Loyalty @ 18/1 William Hill – 5pts Win

Uncategorized, United Kingdom

Preview: Hennessy Gold Cup

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3.00 Newbury: Hennessy Gold Cup (Grade 3 Handicap)

It’s great to see Bobs Worth back as a contender for a big race. His prep over hurdles when beating Simonsing was encouraging but I find it hard to trust him to back it up stepping up to 3m plus in a much tougher race.

Ante-post favourite Saphir Du Rheu has top credentials. His trainer knows what it takes to win the race. The six year old could still be on the up and looked striving on his seasonal debut. That says 11-12 is a tough ask and it needs a special performance.

I struggle to see why Smad Place is as short as he is, as in my mind he will struggle in a deep race like this off a big weight. If In Doubt has still not too many miles on the clock for a seven year; he could bounce back given he’s on a handy mark.

Ned Stark and The Young Master will enjoy this test of stamina in soft conditions. Both have fair credentials and could still have a bit more to offer.

Seemingly not too much love from the punters gets last years Hennessy runner-up Houblon Des Obeaux. True, his seasonal return late in October wasn’t all too encouraging, but also not completely off putting, given another crack at the Hennessy was always the target.

He was a fine second behind subsequent Grand National winner Many Clouds but is one pound lower rated today. If in the same sort of form he must have a big chance given he backed this run up with two other strong performances subsequently.

Houblon Des Obeaux @ 14/1 Paddy Power – 5pts Win

United Kingdom

Chelmsford: Jassur deserves another chance

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Gordon Lord Byron

6.10 Chelmsford: Class 6 Nursery, 1m 2f

Competitive affair and more open than the market suggests in my mind. The favourite has a big shout of an unchanged mark after an excellent performance lto but looks a skinny price nonetheless.

Goldenfield and Jassur both ran eye-catchingly in the same race last month, which looks strong form in my mind.

Goldenfield fared better, tracking the pace and just came up short. A 2lb hike in the mark is fair and he may improve again.

Jassur is more interesting though, given his big price tag. He set a suicidal pace the last time but was still there in the home straight; it was no surprise to see him fade badly eventually. The merit of the performance looks better than the bare result suggests

He won at Chelmsford over 10f before by a street and could easily have more to offer off his current mark, particularly with a different ride.

Jassur @ 10/1 Paddy Power – 5pts Win

United Kingdom

Wolverhampton: Clockmaker Can go Close

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Laytown 3

20.15 Wolverhampton: Class 5 Handicap, 7f

Despite his age, nine year old veteran Clockmaker makes plenty of appeal in this race from his good draw. He is certainly down a good mark, given he’s a couple of pounds below rated below his last (turf) winning mark and has won off his current rating on the All-Weather before.

His most recent performance here at Wolverhampton over the 7f trip in a better race was most eye-catching given that he ran off like a lunatic, leading the field by several lengths, even when approaching the home straight. It wasn’t a surprise to see him tire soon after, yet he led the field into the final furlong and finished a good 4th in the end.

With a slightly better judged race he can go very close given the handicapper left his mark unchanged.

Clockmaker @ 14/1 Paddy Power – 5pts Win

United Kingdom

Kempton: Menelik a prime chance with Coackley booked

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Dundalk All-Weather

7.10 Chelmsford: Class 6 Handicap, 1m

My attention is drawn to three horses here in this low grade Handicap. Favourite Bridge Of Sighs won a poor class 7 race the last time, however on his first try over 1m. His lightly raced profile, modest rise in the mark and 3lb claimer on board gives him a decent chance to follow-up.

Two form horses but at the same time with eye-catching runs the last time are Thermal Column and Menelik. The former on is clearly very consistent since changing yards.

Three starts in the last weeks resulted in a placed effort, a hard fought win and an eye-catching runner-up effort most recently. Off an unchanged mark he is a serious contender, although a poor draw makes life difficult.

Menelik is down to a very handy mark at the moment and has been placed the last two of his current rating off 60. He caught the eye the last time at Wolverhampton when he overcame a wide draw and engaged in a fierce fight for the lead early on.

He made allot in those first two furlongs of the race but eventually settled in fourth, tracking a mad pace. He travelled strongly around the home turn approaching the straight leading the pack but was soon headed by the eventual winner and worn down by him as well as the runner-up in the final furlong.

He still came clear a long way of the rest and wasn’t beaten fast. Given that first and second came from way off the pace while he committed allot this rates as a very strong performance.

The slight drop back to 1m will help here, so will the kind draw. Most interestingly is the jockey booking. A good Irish 5lb claimer is over to ride this one race at Chelmsford. His allowance gives Menelik a prime chance in this field.

Menelik @ 8/1 Bet465 – 5pts Win