The various betting scandals and other problems concerning our jockeys have not done the image of the sport any favours over the last couple of years. I was sorry to see Tony Culhane become the latest to suffer a ban. Culhane partnered old Quito to 14 of his wins to date including the Ayr Gold Cup in 2003.
On a more positive note I read an article in one of the Sunday papers highlighting the number of promising young jockeys that are coming though at the moment. Luke Morris, who gave such a super ride to Juniper Girl in the Northumberland Plate, and Greg Fairley who won on Hearthstead Maison yesterday were among those featured.
A young newcomer that has caught my eye this season is Adele Rothery. She rode Just James and Danzig River, neither an easy ride, to victory earlier in the season and then took Turnkey from last to first at Pontefract last week. She is one to watch out for as she is well worth her allowance.
Star of the show today was Sakhee’s Secret who took the July Cup in style with Dutch Art finishing well in second. This was his 4th win of the season which is the best score for any of the horses on our list to follow. Copernican, Tax Free, Bollin Felix and How’s She Cuttin’ come next on 3 each. The biggest priced winner so far is Hearthstead Maison at 25/1, with Deserted Dane and Mount Kilimanjaro having both won at 20s.
Going back to this afternoon’s racing I was hopeful about Artimino and We’ll Come in the opener at HQ but although they ran well in 2nd and 3rd respectively they were no match for Tybalt who really flashed home in style.
Newcomer Laureldean Gale, who I mentioned last night was a well backed winner of the 2 year old maiden at Newmarket while Mutajarred revelled in the mud at York to win the 4.30 by a wide margin. Blazing Heights (2nd) and Princess Valerina (3rd) ran well in their respective races.
Once again there is no shortage of meetings on tomorrow and Sunday. I will take them in alphabetical order starting at Ascot tomorrow. Cesare is yet to win in Group company but he has his favoured ground in the Group 2 Sony Summer Mile at 2.50. Of the rest both Dunelight and Royal Oath have shown their best form on a sound surface.
There are 2 runners from our list to follow in the 5.40. Dig Deep won early in the season on the all weather but has not shown the same form on turf. On the other hand the consistent Obstructive seems to handle both types of surface and with a useful apprentice in the plate he looks sure to run well.
Dr Sharp loves soft ground and is a course and distance winner so should give a good account of himself in the 4.45 at Chester.
There are some real old Russellform favourites running in the 7.20 at Hamilton. If Seafield Towers retains any of his old ability he must win eventually off his current low mark while the 11 year old Legal Set gave his supporters club cause for optimism when finishing 4th on his last run. The one they will have to beat though will be Harrison’s Flyer, a winner at Brighton 18 days ago.
Tomorrow’s Dancer, trained by Kevin Ryan , returns to Hamilton where he was 4th over course and distance 11 days ago. He has place claims.
Eagle Mountain has posted solid efforts in 3 classics this year and now goes for the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris at Longchanp tomorrow (7.20). As long as the ground does not end up soft he should go close.
Steve Drowne should be in good heart after his win on Sakhee’s Secret. He partners Gull Wing tomorrow for Michael Bell in the 4.15 at Nottingham where there is a morning inspection. Gull Wing has been placed several times this season and the step up in trip here may well suit her. She ran well in 2nd on her only previous visit to Nottingham. Mia’s Boy is the other runner from our list. He is trained by Peter Chapple-Hyam whose horses remain in good form and Mia’s Boy looks to have every chance in the 5.20. I see that the top weight in this race is called Rain Stops Play and I rather fear that that could well be an omen!
Count Ceprano’s last win came on the all weather last September. He was quite well supported in the market when 5th on his last run at Windsor when 5th and would have an each way chance in the 8.05 at Salisbury.
Bo McGinty is on a 17 run losing sequence so I don’t want to get over confident about his chances in the 2.40 at York. He’s a bit of an old rogue but not short of ability and he has been running on late in some of his races recently. He has been 2nd at York twice before so I wouldn’t want to rule him out.
There are two runners from our list to follow in the 48th running of the John Smith’s Cup at 3.15. Star of Light is a good horse but needs the weather to dry up to be seen at his best while Hassaad also has to prove himself on the soft surface, his win 3 runs ago having come on good to firm. Hitchcock has ticks in the right boxes and would be my selection.
Moving on to Sunday Stuart Williams send Hogmaneigh over to The Curragh for the 1.55 where he is set to carry 9 stone 12. Hogmaneigh won the Vodaphone Dash at Epson earlier in the season and goes with give in the ground.
The other runner from our list to follow is Coup D’Etat in the 4.50 at Haydock. After a miserable run of form he will be fitted with first time blinkers.
Have a good weekend
ahorse 