There always seems a bit of a lull in the racing calendar mid August and I don’t have too many strong fancies for Saturday.
Still, the show must go on and let’s see if we can find something of interest.
I am a supporter of the Shergar Cup thing but it doesn’t make finding winners any easier.
Bouboulina represents the list to follow in the opener at 1.20. She is lightly raced with only 4 career starts and this is her first appearance in a handicap. She is also tried at sprint distances for the first time so is a bit of an unknown quantity. Our old friend Sierra Vista will be ridden by Hayley Turner and the combination look to have an each way chance. Old Sierra Vista rarely runs a bad race. Lady Livius has only won twice – at odds of 20/1 and 100/1!
King Orchisios finally found his form last time out and gave us a 7/1 winner. Now that he has got his head in front he may well take some catching. The consistent Didn’t We is the likely threat. He comes from a stable whose horses are often named after song titles.
We have a couple of “listers” in the 1.40 at Haydock. Rio Riva looked good when winning first time out at Redcar but his two subsequent starts have been much less convincing. If he can recover his best form he would have a good each way chance at value odds of 12/1. In Full Cry won on his only start as a juvenile but has not been able to get his head in front this season. He has looked a bit onepaced in his recent runs so it is a bit of a surprise that he is dropped in trip here. Of the rest Audience is due a win and has been running consistently. He is decent on his day and is quite well handicapped at present. Sir Nod is from the stable as Rio Riva. He is 25/1 in the Racing Post and that is probably a fair reflection of his chance in the 2.15.
Hinterland has done us proud already this season with a couple of wins in good handicaps but he tackles Group 3 company in the 2.45. He deserves to take his chance and both trainer and jockey have been in fine form lately. It is not impossible that he could bridge the gap to Group 3 class but I wouldn’t take too short a price.
In the 3.20 Pagan Sword, Kamanda Laugh, Prince of Light and Mutawaffer are the four from our list. Pagan Sword was a fast finisher at Good wood last week after failing to get a clear run and looks interesting here. He is maybe a little high in the handicap and is also a bit of a quirky sort but if things drop right for him he could win this. Kamanda Laugh usually shows his best form at Newmarket and is probably best with a bit of give in the ground. Mutawaffer has been expensive to follow this season and it is now a long time since he actually won a race. He has been threatening to win something though. He has been running over shorter distances until stepped up to this trip last time at Newmarket when he was a creditable 2nd. Not out of it but I have put him forward unsuccessfully too many times to make too strong a case now. Our last runner is the consistent Prince of Light who rarely runs a bad race. He has already won for us this season and I feel may have a better chance than some of the experts give him credit for. Things didn’t quite go his way last time at York and he will probably be on the premises here.
Grigorovitch won at Newcastle a fortnight ago and has gone up 4 lbs as a consequence. The 3.50 looks pretty competitive and Grigorovitch is not well drawn.
Alambic looks likely to make it win number 6 in the 4.55.
Down at Lingfield Jafaru didn’t show much on his first run last month but has stamina in his pedigree and may do better at this trip. Newcomer Sonovishi is bred to win as a 2 year old.
English Ballet impressed me when she won on her debut at Windsor with the first 2 well clear of the remainder. She runs in the 3.10.
Hughie Morrison may have found a winning opening for Intrepid Jack in the 3.40. He has been running well in better races than this. Our other runner is Banjo Patterson who has been disappointing this season.
In the 4.15 there have been some good reports about debutante filly Orange.
In the 4.50 our list horse Art Investor looks like being the outsider of the party. I thought he ran well enough last time at Newmarket where he was returning after a lengthy absence. He has a better chance that the tipsters give him credit for. Of the others Shahmina made a pleasing debut when 4th to Early Evening at Nottingham.
Up at Redcar we have 2 runners in the 7 furlong handicap at 2.50. Confide has won twice and is only up 3 lbs for his last win. He is a nice type and should go well again. Our other runner is Ryedale Ovation who put in his best effort for a while when 4th at Thirsk on his last run.
I will be back tomorrow for a look forward to Sunday’s racing.
ahorse 