Racing Chat - Tuesday April 12th

[The Brigadier]

After the weekend’s excitement of the Grand National it’s back to some quality flat racing from headquarters with four races coming from ITV and here’s my early thoughts on ground that’s going to ride good.

 

Newmarket 1.50

A competitive looking thirteen runner 6F handicap where fitness is going to be paramount as always at this time of the year as well as a watchful eye on the market. Gale Force Mayo ended last season with two 6F fast ground handicap victories at Pontefract and here followed by a short head second in a listed contest to She Do. Trained by Michael Dods who had a winner at Pontefract last week he looks the most likely winner if straight enough. Chipstead hasn’t been seen since completing a hat trick of 5F handicap wins at Bath in September for trainer Roger Teal and is another with a chance along with top weight Popmaster for Ed Walker who kept good handicap company last season. Best of the double figure odds runners may well be the Jane Chapple-Hyam trained Full Authority who is on a winning mark and showed some promise on his re-appearance run at Wolverhampton last month and is worth a small stakes saver. 

GALE FORCE MAYA 1 1/2 points each way @ 6/1 William Hill 1/5th 12345

FULL AUTHORITY 1/2 point each way @ 14/1 Bet365 1/5th 1234

 

Newmarket 2.25

A disappointing turnout of only five go to post for this year’s renewal of the Free Handicap run over 7 furlongs of the Rowley Mile. I’m ruling out outsider Honey Sweet and the Hannon runner Tacarib Bay out on account of the ground as both would possibly need it softer than they are likely to encounter today. The latter was actually pulled out on good ground with the ground as an excuse here in the Autumn Stakes last October. Ribhi comes here having won two of his three starts as a juvenile and Marcus Tregoning’s grey colt has claims. The Godolphin runner New Science has to be the bet here. Along with Tacarib Bay they are the only ones holding the 2000 Guineas entry and although that is unlikely to be the plan with Charlie Appleby holding all the seemingly aces for that race with Native Trial and Coroebus heading the market he can still take this. A winner at two at Yarmouth on his debut and a listed contest at Ascot he blew out on his final two starts in France and Dubai but had valid excuses and is apparently working extremely well at Moultons Paddocks this Spring. 

NEW SCIENCE 2 points win @ 7/4 William Hill

 

Newmarket 3.00

Seven runners will head down to the seven furlong start for the Group three Earl Of Sefton Stakes with the race looking to be a battle between the Appleby and Gosden runners. Megallan trained by the Gosden father and son combo of John and Thady showed decent form as a three year old in 2021 winning at Newcastle and Salisbury with his best effort coming in defeat when chasing home Hurricane Lane in the Dante at York in May. A reproduction of that effort gives him every chance here. His big danger is the Godolphin runner Master Of The Seas, winner of the Craven at this meeting last season as well as a short head runner up in the 2000 Guineas to Poetic Flare. He’s been gelded since we last saw him but is reportedly fit and working well and he looks sure to run well today although slight preference is for Megallan. Bar the ex South African import Catch Twentytwo now in the care of Jane Chapple-Hyam the remaining four have 11lb and upwards to find and this can go to the second favourite. 

MEGALLAN 2 points win 11/4 Bet365

 

Newmarket 3.35

Nine three year old fillies, six of which hold the 1000 guineas entry, go to post for this year’s renewal of the Group 3 7F Nell Gwyn Stakes. The two with the best form from last season are David Loughnane’s Hello You and George Boughey’s Cachet. The pair met twice last season with the current score between the pair being one all. Both won first time out as a juvenile so there shouldn’t be too many worries about going well fresh for either with slight preference being for the Boughey horse as Hello You has to shoulder a 3lb penalty here which may be decisive at the finish. 8lb behind the pair on official ratings is the Haggas runner Perfect News who progressed as a juvenile winning a nursery over course and distance before stepping up to finish third in the group 3 Oh So Sharp Stakes again over course and distance. She’ll need to improve again but that is quite possible. The same can be said about the remaining six runners with the selection here the William Buick ridden Cachet. 

CACHET 2 points win @ 9/4 William Hill

 

[richard-westwood]

150 newm 

Gale force maya   8.9  11/2 

Punchbowl flyer   8.7  16/1 

Dancinginwoods   8.3  

Boogie time     8.2 

I'll try top 2 5pt ew 5places