Racing Chat - Friday April 29th

[The Brigadier]

Goodwood 1.30

A small but select field of four go to post for this intriguing one mile conditions stakes contest. The most interesting runner has to be the William Haggas contender Al Mubhir who was last seen when winning a Newmarket maiden last October and holds entries in the Irish 2000, Dante and St James Place, with the latter the most telling as that entry would of been made earlier in the week. It’s a bit disconcerting mind that he sports a first time tongue tie. Tuscan looked good when winning on his re-appearance in a Newmarket conditions stakes from a potential Gosden improver Audience whilst Charlie Appleby’s New Kingdom comes here following two placed efforts in Dubai at the turn of the year. Dawn Of Liberation, a Doncaster maiden winner makes up the quartet but he has a bit to find after a disappointing last effort. I’ll go with the promising Al Mubhir with his fancy future entries.

 

AL MUBHIR 2 points win @ 5/2 Bet365

 

Newmarket 1.50

An interesting four runner 10F listed race that throws together Andrew Balding’s Craven Stakes third Hoo Ya Mal who has entries in most of the big group one races available to him over the forthcoming couple of months, the highly promising Roger Varian trained Subastar who’s course maiden win in September has been franked several times since and holds an English and Irish Derby entrant plus a King Edward Vll entry at Royal Ascot which would have been made earlier this week and then there’s the likely favourite of Charlie Appleby’s Nations Pride who’s won his last three races with the latest coming in the Jumeirah Derby at Meydan in February. Mark & Charlie Johnstone saddle Austrian Theory who is the outsider of the quartet although no mug himself. I’m getting very good vibes from Newmarket for the Varian runner and he’s the bet here.

 

SUBASTAR 3 points win @ 10/3 Bet365

 

Newmarket 2.25

Another small field with five going to post for the Betfair King Charles ll Stakes, a listed event run over 10F. Messr’s Appleby and Buick have another favourite here in Noble Truth who is the only runner in the field who holds a future group entry (Irish 2000 Guineas). He ran a shocker when last seen 62 days ago in the Saudi Derby but that was his first try on dirt and he obviously didn’t take to it at all. He has some smart juvenile form including a Doncaster listed win and 3/4L 2nd in the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagadere on Arc day. Even with a 3lb penalty he looks the one they all have to beat if he’s got over his Saudi exertions although at the current odds is scant value. Richard Hannon saddles Gubbas who ran a perfectly respectable 4th in the Greenham on his re-appearance and at todays weights is officially rated only a pound behind Noble Truth. The Shadwell runner Ribhi also ran with credit on his re-appearance when 3rd in the Free Handicap at the Craven meeting and should have come forward for that effort. The two outsiders Eldrickjones and Honey Sweet are relatively exposed and the selection here is the Marcus Tregoning trained Ribhi who hopefully will have come forward from his latest run.

 

RIBHI 2 points win @ 7/2 William Hill

 

Goodwood 2.40

Ten sprinters go to post for this class 2 0-100 handicap which has an open look about it. David Menuisier’s 7 year old Atalanta’s Boy is a real track specialist winning 5 of his 8 starts here but is best at 6F so is over looked here. Top weight and the Robert Cowell trained Clarendon House is chasing a hat trick of wins although we haven’t seen him for 273 days. Raasel will have no doubt benefited from his recent run at Musselburgh and is on my shortlist of two with the Andrew Balding trained Stone Of Destiny who is the one I like. He’s not a horse that wins often (he last won back in September 2020 in the Portland at Doncaster off of a pound lower mark) but wasn’t beaten far in his latest outing at Newmarket and was runner up in this contest a year ago (only a five runner contest mind). He looks sure to be involved and at the prices can be backed each way.

 

STONE OF DESTINY 1 point each way @ 4/1 William Hill 1/5th 1234

 

Newmarket 3.00

Only seven go to post for this 7F class 2 0-105 handicap. Karl Burke’s Wizard D’Amour looks opposable to me carrying a 5lb penalty for his win at Catterick last week especially when you consider he’s only due to go up 3lb in future handicaps making him 2lb ‘wrong’ here. I’ll take the Andrew Balding trained Shine So Bright to take the prize with the trainer in such good form recently. 10 winners in his last 57 runners including 3 in his last 5 (up to Wednesday) is certainly not shabby and this six year old who’s last win came back in August 2019 in the Group 2 City Of York Stakes at the York Ebor meeting looks attractively handicapped in a first time hood and with 7lb apprentice Harry Davies taking over. He’s won first time out before and in what amounts to a weak handicap by Newmarket standards is the bet for me to small stakes only because it’s been a while since he visited the winners enclosure.

 

SHINE SO BRIGHT 2 points win @ 5/2 Bet365

 

Goodwood 3.15

This is a 1m 4F listed contest for fillies and we have seven going to post. The best in at the weights today on official ratings is the Andrew Balding runner Silence Please. She’s joined Balding from Jessie Harrington and has to respected if straight enough for her first run for her new yard for 215 days. Roger Varian saddles a brace of runners and both have claims. Save A Forest who had a light three year old campaign including a 4th in the Epsom Oaks (beaten 19L mind) and a win in a listed contest at Newmarket in July. Varian’s other runner is Lady Hayes who has the same official mark as her stable mate and kept good company last season without winning. I’m led to believe she’s in foal and that may improve her. Ed Walker runs a nice filly in Glenartney whilst William Haggas saddles the lightly raced Bartzella that won two of her three outings last season but is upped in grade. A tough call but I’ll take a chance on the mum to be Lady Hayes.

 

LADY HAYES 1 point win @ 5/1 William Hill

 

Newmarket 3.35

The 12F Group 2 Betfair Exchange Jockey Club Stakes looks a gimme for the boys in blue with their four year old Yibir, who’s form is head and shoulders above his five rivals today. He was given far too much to do when flying home to finish runner up in the Sheema Classic at Meydan last month and this four time winner at three should have little trouble in beating the likes of Living Legend , West End Charmer and Outbox. He’s too short to back but if you’re looking for a bet maybe the distance market at over three lengths could be the way to go.

 

[richard-westwood]

240 good 

Stone of destiny   8.8 4.6 

Tone the barone   8.4  8.0 

2x 5pt wins 1pt rev forecast