Category: Racing diary

 

Kempton

12.50 Dual bumper winner Spirit of Shankly was a little disappointing on his last start and I prefer River Maigue who should come on for his run at Cheltenham last month when second to Dodging Bullets.

1.25 Coole River made a very encouraging comeback at Wincanton and should revel in the ground.

2.00 Dynaste has been most impressive over fences so far beating subsequent winner Court in Motion on his last start. He should win but is a short price. Other possible candidates are Poungach and Lovcen. The former beat subsequent winner Super Duty at Haydock last time on soft ground and should stay this trip. Lovcen lacks experience over fences but is a point to point winner and looks an out and out stayer.

2.35 Raya Star won a couple of competitive handicaps before finishing runner up in a Grade 2 at Ascot. Darlan was a close second to Cinders and Ashes in the Supreme Novices at Cheltenham last season and has reportedly come on during the summer. Cinders and Ashes was well beaten at Newcastle on his last start but may have been below his best that day and I am going to burden him with my selection.

3.10 Long Run clearly has a good chance here but he has never quite recaptured his form of a couple of years back and it may be worth taking him on. Cue Card should be suited by the track, he has won on soft ground and his win at Exeter last time was impressive.

3.45 Katkeau and Faultless Feeling are my two against the field.

Down Royal

2.30 Fickle Fortune

Fontwell

1.30 Umadachar

Leopardstown

12.20 Urano

2.55 Oscars Well

Market Rasen

2.10 Overyou

Towcester

3.05 Buddy Bolero

Wincanton

2.15 Captain Sunshine

Wetherby

1.10 Prince Blackthorn

1.45 Helpston

2.55 No Planning

Picture courtesy of the artist Jane Dunn

Ascot

12.55 De La Bech may start favourite and has solid claims. A point to point winner with solid bumper from in Ireland he won over hurdles at Lingfield last time out on heavy ground. A chaser in the making he should go well but I am not sure he is value for money. I am going to take a chance with the unpredictable Wings of Icarus who may be well handicapped and should appreciate this trip based on pedigree.

1.30 Solix is a course and distance winner with winning form with plenty of cut in the ground.

2.20 This could be between Smad Place and Trustan Times.

2.35 Hold on Julio is a tentative selection. I have slight reservations about him handling very testing conditions but he has stamina and that could be a key factor.

3.10 Cash and Go, a multiple winner in Ireland on soft ground was runner up in a big handicap at Cheltenham on his seasonal reappearance. He us used to running in big fields and should go well. It’s a Gimme was an excellent second over course and distance last month and is another for the short list. Balder Succes won a 4 runner event on his last start. He has winning form on heavy ground and is 2 from 2 at Ascot. Ranjaan won his last two starts last season and makes his return here. He would be my selection normally but he is bred for the flat and I am not so sure about him in testing conditions. I will go with two; It’s a Gimme and Cash and Go.

Haydock selections

1.10 Scholastica

2.15 Mac Aeda

 

Newbury

12.50 Handy Andy is a bit of a Newbury specialist and should go well.

1.20 Snake Eyes was a beaten favourite at Kempton last month but is worth another chance.

3.00 An interesting novice hurdles. I have been following Pearl’s Legend but he was beaten at Fontwell last time and I am going to give him a miss this time. Like Pearl’s Legend Brassick is giving weight away and may prefer better Ground anyway. The two I would recommend are Royal Guardsman who has some solid bumper form and Cocktails at Dawn who fell at the last in his point to point when challenging to the lead. He is well thought of by connections and the trip is likely to suit him.

 

Folkestone

1.00 Barlow

 

Ffos Las

3.15 Ulis de Vassy

Plumpton

1.00 Oscar Dara

 

Selections for Sunday

Carlisle

3.00 Real Milan

Hererford

12.40 Rendl Beach

Musselburgh

12.20 Lord Wishes

3.20 Present Lodger

Navan

12.55 Simenon

Today’s picture of Hereford racecourse is courtesy of Ruth S Harris

 

Cheltenham

12.45 Our Father impressed when winning here last month. He handles soft ground and will be hard to beat.

1.55 According to Trev was third here last month and may well be better over a longer trip tomorrow. Both trainer and jockey are in excellent form.

2.30 I am going to put a couple forward for this big handicap chase. Astracad goes well at Cheltenham and his recent 4^th at the track should put him straight while Cristal Bonus came back to something like his best at Down Royal and should appreciate the testing conditions.

3.05 Zarkandar won the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton last month and is a course and distance winner.

Doncaster

11.55 Vintage Star was a good second at Carlisle last time out and should appreciate the conditions.

1.00 Rocky Creek looks the one to be on in this.

2.45 Sametegal jumped well when winning at Wetherby and could upset the favourite.

Lingfield

1.45 Court in Motion should benefit from tackling 3 miles. Runner up to Dynaste last time he doesn’t face anything of that quality in this.

 

Bangor

12.00 Malt Master showed plenty of potential last season.

Cheltenham

12.15 This could be between Super Duty and Broadbackbob. Broadbackbob gets the selection with Super Duty the main danger.

3.40 Eduard and Melodic Rendezvous are the two I like here. I narrowly favour Melodic Rendezvous. Jeremy Scott’s six-year-old split hurdles winners Champagne Fever and Mozoltov (won yesterday in Ireland) in a Grade 1 at the Punchestown Festival.

 

Leicester 2.40 Module was a faller at Exeter but had jumped well up to that point and is worth another chance.

 

We are on a good run at the moment with a string of winners over the weekend.

There is not much to go at tomorrow. At Fakenham in the 2.20 Fine Parchment is running off a mark some way lower than his last winning rating.