Mick Channon has a few horses in his string whose names have connections with Southampton. Last season’s winning 2 year old Woolston Ferry is one – I remember catching the ferry to go to the cinema at Woolston to watch the Bond film “You only live twice.” I don’t know if the ferry, or come to that, the cinema is still there now. Anyway, I latched on to Archers Road (pictured below) this year partly because I used to live there – a street opposite the Dell where Channon was so often the hero in his footballing days. The horse is as tough as they come and scored for the third time at Beverley yesterday. He is yet to be out of the first two in 7 starts!
I was really pleased with Friday night’s preview which yielded quite a few winners. Apart from Archer’s Road the one that particularly pleased me was Moheeb who seemed to have everything in his favour and absolutely dotted up. Exceptional Art gave us a 12/1 winner and there were several more winners from my list to follow.
It was good to see the Temple Stakes fought out by two of the most genuine horses in training and both from unfashionable yards.
Sunday was not quite such a success story but at least Casual Conquest gave me something to shout about. It is of course a frustrating old game as demonstrated by Jimmy Styles who went and won just when I decided to desert him.
There are plenty of meetings around and about tomorrow but I have just picked out 7 horses to look at.
Starting at Chepstow where Barry Hills has Park Lane in the 2.50. On his debut as a two year old Park Lane was beaten 6.75 lengths by Nasri despite being unfancied at 33/1. He has finished 2nd on his last couple of starts, both on the all weather at Lingfield. The form of that last run has hardly worked out well as both the winner and the 3rd have finished last on their subsequent outing. Barry Hills has his horses in great form and Park Lane has obvious claims in what looks a weak race but at around 5/2 I just don’t think he is value.
The next one I considered was Dannios in the 4.00 at Chepstow. Luca Cumani’s 3 year old ran 3 times last season over 6 furlongs in the space of about 5 or 6 weeks. Stepped up to a mile in handicap company off a mark of just 65 he could well be leniently treated and at around 8/1 he looks a reasonable bet.
At Leicester John Quinn runs Surprise Pension in the 2.05. This horse has been dropped to a mark of 54 and with a useful apprentice taking some more weight off is handicapped to be competitive. The stable have had a few winners recently after a quiet spell but I would just worry that the horse might prefer some juice in the ground so although I am tempted at 8/1 I am going to pass him over.
High Office remains a maiden although he has been placed on 4 out of his 5 starts. He has gone up 5 lbs for finishing 2nd at Beverley which seems a bit harsh. He has a chance in a trappy looking race.
Nanton was 2nd in the Cambridgeshire last season and is only 2 lbs higher for the Zetland Gold Cup tomorrow (Redcar 3.55.) Quick ground suits him and if at his best 16/1 would be a big price about him.
They race at Cartmel tomorrow evening where my selections are Knockara Beau (3.35) and Pay On (5.20).
My thanks to Dan Maudsley for his unusual photo of a sheepdog on the racecourse at Cartmel.
The photo of Archer’s Road is by kind permission of British 2YO Racing.
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