The weekend racing spans just about all corners of the UK as well as Ireland so tonight’s preview of Saturday and Sunday promises to be a bumper editions. Hopefully I will be able to point you in the direction of some winners.
For no particular reason I am going to start with Musselburgh on Saturday with the sprint handicap at 2.10. Eric Alston has three runners in this including the top weights Princess Ellis and Quiet Elegance. The former is a course and distance winner and looks like starting as favourite. She was third to Peace Offering in a listed race at Newmarket 9 days ago and that sort of form probably marks her down as the one to beat here. Her highest winning mark is 69 and she now runs off 87 so perhaps a current price of around 4/1 may not represent value.
Her stable companion, Quiet Elegance is a half sister to Reverence and has only had 6 runs. Her 3rd at Haydock last time out on fast ground that may not have suited her certainly puts her in the frame for this. The mare How’s She Cuttin’ has never been out of the first two when racing at Musselburgh and clearly has to be respected. Quiet Elegance and How’s She Cuttin’ would be my two against the field.
Tom Tate’s West with the Wind remains a maiden after 6 starts and was a beaten odds on favourite last time out. The horse seems to lack gears and the step up in trip in the 2.40 tomorrow may help him, although the stable has not been going particularly well which is a slight negative. At around 8/1 he has an each way chance.
The 3.15 is a wide open handicap with several proven performers such as Reverence, Fullandby, River Falcon and Hogmaneigh. At a big price I would take a chance with Brian Smart’s Aegean Dancer.
Another runner from Tom Tate’s yard from my list to follow is Inspector Clouseau in the 5.25, who is also looking for his first win of the season. He has been dropped a few pounds by the assessor which gives him a chance of a place here.
The main flat meeting of the day is at Ascot which kicks off with the Group 3 Cornwallis Stakes at 1.10. I don’t have any strong views on this one but Archie Rice, winner of a Newmarket maiden last month, and recent Rome winner Mrs Kipling could go well at decent prices.
Young Mick has been well supported for the 2.20 based on his fine record at Ascot where he won 4 times in 2006. He was runner up on both his last two visits to the track and would be a popular winner. Pevensey is another Ascot specialist and would have an each way chance with some give in the ground.
There are two runners from our list to follow in the 4.05, the bottom pair in the weights, Amanjena and Ascot Lime. Amanjena has been a profitable horse to follow winning at odds of 8/1 and 10/1. Ascot Lime has been progressing with his races this season. He may not have quite got home when runner up to Ajhar at Kempton on his last start and the drop back to 10 furlongs should be in his favour. Amanjena and Ascot Lime look to have sound chances as both are on the upgrade. Slight preference is for Ascot Lime.
They race at Wolverhampton in the evening where there are two runners from my list to follow in action; Peruvian Prince in the 7.20 and Royal Jasr in the 8.50.
There is jumping at Bangor where Oliver Sherwood saddles Sprosser in the 2.25. A winner of a couple of small field novice chases last season he finished the season with a staying on 4th over an inadequate trip at Cheltenham. Cruising River represents new trainer Jamie Snowden. Formerly trained by Henrietta Knight he has some decent form to his name and with a very capable conditional jockey on board should give a good account of himself. The third one I like is Native Coral, a winner over hurdles and fences last season. These would be my 3 to concentrate on with Sprosser just preferred to Native Coral. Neither would want the ground too soft.
Donald McCain saddled the winner of the 3.25 a couple of seasons ago and relies on top weight Khachaturian this time. A tough consistent sort who is suited by good ground he may prove better over 3 miles in time. He looks the form horse and gets the vote here.
Breedsbreeze, winner of the Tolworth Hurdle last season will be a warm order to make a winning start over fences in the 4.00. Rightway Star was successful in two hurdle races at 2m 1f and 2m 3f on good to soft ground last season but is likely to be even better over fences. Andytown was an Irish points winner and when trained by Nicky Richards last season he was a winner over hurdles at Catterick. He is now with Nicky Henderson and has apparently schooled well over fences. Safari Run had some fair form over hurdles and won a small race over fences at Sedgefield in May. She is another to have changed stables and is with rising star Tim Vaughan. Breedsbreeze clearly has the best form but I am reluctant to take odds on about a novice chaser first time over fences. The other 3 mentioned could cash in if the favourite disappoints and at around 7/1 I will take a chance with Andytown.
What a Buzz who runs in the 4.35 is yet to win a race but has put up some solid performances in defeat. Most notably when 3rd at 80/1 in a novice hurdle at Cheltenham last season when trained by Paul Darcy. The form of that race has worked out very well and What A Buzz should be able to win a novice hurdle for new trainer Donald McCain.
Kim Bailey runs Braybrooke Lady in the bumper at 5.10. The trainer has made a good start to the season and this one has a bit of an each way chance. It might be worth keeping an eye on her progress regardless of whether she wins or not tomorrow.
Nudge and Nurdle Pictured below) won a couple of novice chases last season and should be a horse to follow this season. He runs in the 1.25 at Chepstow and should strip fitter for his recent run at Market Rasen.
Boychuk has been described as a bit of a monkey by his trainer and failed to win last season. If he gets his favoured good ground in this race tomorrow though he could be the one to beat. The Real Deal took a while to get the hang of things over fences but once the penny dropped he looked a progressive sort. It would be no surprise to see him back in the winner’s enclosure during this season and he is the third horse I would consider in this race. The fourth horse on my rather lengthy short list is Seymar Lad, trained by Emma Lavelle. He is a good jumper and has won hsi last two starts over fences. At the prices I am going for Seymar Lad.
Crack Away Jack is being talked about as a potential Champion Hurdle horse. If that dream is to be realised he probably needs to win or go close in the 2.00 tomorrow. He won the Fred Winter at Cheltenham beating David Pipe’s Ashkazar and sets the standard here. Five Dream won handicaps at Cheltenham and Sandown last season. He is likely to go novice chasing after this run. Squadron was 2nd to Crack Away Jack at Sandown in February giving his rival 10 lbs. As he is now getting 19 lbs from Emma Lavelle’s horse he does not look badly treated. The fourth horse to consider for this race is Songe who was 4th in the Triumph Hurdle. An interesting contest this and at the weights I would just favour Squadron (pictured below).
Crescent Island was made favourite at Perth a couple of weeks ago but ran out when passing the stables, something he had done earlier in his career in a bumper. The left handed track should suit him and he is worth another chance in the 2.35 at Chepstow.
Oscar Gogo was behind when he unseated 3 days ago. A former bumper winner he could be quite well treated in handicap hurdles and I am inclined to stick with him in the Chepstow 3.05.
Howard Johnson is getting plenty of winners already and I am very keen on his Striking Article in the 2.15 at Hexham tomorrow. After winning a bumper at Carlisle and a novice hurdle at Wetherby he had injury problems which affected his last two runs. Hopefully he is back to fitness now and should make a winning start to his career over fences.
Sunday
Flat races for national hunt jockeys are probably not the greatest betting mediums but I quite fancy Wyeth in the 2.00 at Goodwood. He is a half brother to George Washington but took some time to win any sort of race. He got off the mark at the 9th time of asking over 13 furlongs and then won at Plumpton on his hurdles debut. Having got the winning habit I am hoping he can make it 3 in a row in Sunday.
Mountain Pride has done his job for my list to follow by winning at 20/1 at Sandown in June. He has disappointed since and I couldn’t give him a vote of confidence in the Goodwood 3.45. The Fifth Member runs in the same race and in contrast to Mountain Pride he has been admirably consistent. His 2 wins this season have been on the all weather at Kempton but he has performed well on turf as well. He has run well on his previous visits to Goodwood and he will be hard to keep put of the frame.
Like Mountain Pride, Fearless Warrior is trained by John Dunlop and is another horse that has paid his way for my list to follow. Two wins have come at 9/1 and 11/4 but he was last of 8 on his most recent run and it may be that the handicapper has caught up with him. He runs in the 5.25.
Over in Ireland I am interested in Carrigeen King in the 5.20 at Limerick on Sunday. This gelding comes from a good family and has done enough to suggest that he can win over fences. He won a Clonmel bumper beating a horse that went on to win next time out at Limerick. After falling on his chase debut he finished 2nd Tipperary on May 1st and should be able to notch his first win over fences soon.
Pandorama put his rivals to the sword in no uncertain fashion when winning a bumper at Fairyhouse by 22 lengths in March. This winning pointer is expected to make a big impression over fences eventually but in the meantime his education continues in the bumper at Naas (6.00).
Acknowledgements: The 3 pictures illustrating Saturday’s racing are courtesy of Karen Davies. Sunday’s picture is courtesy of Sally Martin. My thanks to Tracy Roberts (Turfpix) for the photos.
ahorse 