Racing Chat - Saturday 21st May

[ipswich45]

little early i know to start the thread off but there are some `raiders' about

Auteuil
1258 - 1 Ispano Star  (R Blackmore)
1450 - 10 Instit (P Townend / W Mullins)
1600 - 1 Klassical Dream (P Townend / W Mullins),  2 Kemboy  (R Blackmore / W Mullins),   3 Tornado Flyer (D Mullins / W Mullins) 

Curragh
1335 - 5 Congo River (R Moore)
1410 - 1 Blackbeard (R Moore)
1445 - 2 Brad The Brief (W Buick),  3 Glen Shiel (H Doyle / A Watson)
1520 - 5 Ivy League (R Moore), 7 Native Trail (W Buick)
1555 - 12 Wordsworth (R Moore)

Haydock
1510 - 1 Beauty Inspire (M Enright / G Lyons)

York
1530 - 4 Mighty Blue (D McMonagle / J O'Brien) 

[The Brigadier]

Haydock 1.25

This 12F 56-75 class 5 handicap is surprisingly been shown on ITV and to be honest is not a race I have much interest in. As I’ve said before we don’t need to bet in every race so I’m happy to keep my powder dry for the other races then get involved here although Screaming Petrus looks an interesting runner if my hand was forced.

 

Goodwood 1.45

This class 2 7F handicap features a dozen handicappers and as always the draw comes into effective with low numbers holding the call. Evocative Spark looked good last time when bolting up at Beverley but has been raised 12lb and is berthed in stall 11. He could win but for those two reasons I’ll be looking elsewhere. John and Thady Gosden run a pair in Find, who’s well drawn but has become increasingly disappointing and Alotaibi who must have a decent chance from a favourable stall 3. He was only touched off over course and distance on his re-appearance despite having a rough passage and off of only a pound higher mark could be the one here.

 

ALOLTAIBI 1 point each way @ 5/1 Bet365 1/5^th 1234

 

Haydock 2.00

A dozen stayers go to post for this two mile class 2 handicap which features a warm favourite in the Charlie Appleby trained Bandinelli who did us a good turn last time out on the all weather at Kempton. He’s only been raised 3lb for that victory and has to be part of the staking plan here. There are a couple of others in the race that can put it up to him mind in the shape of the Andrew Balding trained Valley Forge who steps up to two miles for the first time and may have needed his re-appearance run at Newmarket when 5th to Cemhaan and maybe more interesting Miranda trained by legendary jumps trainer Paul Nicholls and ridden by his daughter Megan. The 7 year old mare is a smart hurdler who is currently rated 145 in that sphere but races back on the level here off of 91 in a first time tongue tie. She could be well treated and is worth an each way saver against the main selection Bandinelli.

 

BANDINELLI 2 points win @ 11/4 William Hill

MIRANDA 1 point each way @ 17/2 william Hill 1/5^th 1234

 

Goodwood 2.15

The listed Festival Stakes sees nine go to post and has an open look about it. Both Brentford Hope and last years winner Stormy Antarctic may find today’s ground not soft enough for them whilst the Varian pair of Father Of Jazz and Movin Time are over looked due to the poor form of the stable. The best in at todays weights is the Paul and Oliver Cole trained Majestic Dawn but I fancied him last time out at Chester where he cut out very quickly so is another I’m striking off of my list. I’ll take a chance on the fitness on the Charlie and Mark Johnstone runner West End Charmer who was last seen running a rival of his today in Victory Chime to a length over course and distance last September. On that run there shouldn’t be a great deal between the pair with the Johnstone runner now 3lb better of and with Franny Norton riding will do for me.

 

WEST END CHARMER 1 point each way @ 8/1 Paddy Power 1/5^th 123

 

Haydock 2.35

Only ten go to post for the Silver Bowl Handicap, a three year old handicap run over a mile. John and Thady Gosden’s Mighty Ulysses head the weights and must have a big chance. He appeared to improve for stepping back to this trip last time at Newmarket under today’s jockey Benoit De La Sayette and the fact that his trainers entered him in the Group 1 St James Palace only last week is a tip in its self. He should go very close. Bottom weight and Irish raider Mister Wilson is an interesting runner for Gavin Cromwell whilst handicap debutant Tollard Royal of George Boughey’s is another with each way claims along with Chester winner Outgate but this is all about Mighty Ulysses who can outclass his field here.

 

MIGHTY ULYSSES 3 points win @ 7/4 Coral

 

York 2.55

Fourteen more speedsters line up here for the 5F class 2 handicap. Four of these ran in a similar handicap at the Dante meeting 9 days ago with David O’Meara’s Alligator Alley coming out best of the quartet by finishing 4th to Fine Wine beaten some 3 1/2L. Track specialist Copper Knight was disappointing in 8th some 4L away with Jawwaal a further 1 1/2L away. The latter wasn’t knocked about any any stage having started slowly and I fully expect him to get closer to the three that finished ahead of him that day. I also like the top weight Atalis Bay trained by sprint specialist trainer Robert Cowell. He was having his first run for Cowell when a credible 9th of 12 beaten 5 1/2L in a group 3 at Newmarket on his re-appearance and with that run behind him may prove hard to catch as he likes to blaze a trail. A tough call with slight preference for Atalis Bay over Jawwaal.

 

ATALIS BAY 1 point each way @ 17/2 William Hill 1/5^th 12345

 

Haydock 3.10

The 6F Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes is a stepping stone to the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot and has attracted a field of eleven this year. 8 of the 11 hold entries in the Commonwealth Cup and I think it can be fought out by recent Ascot winner Go Bears Go and Karl Burke’s El Caballo. It’s hard to split the pair but preference is just for the latter who’s chasing a six timer following five wins on the all weather. It was his latest run that shows he’s a proper sprinter when touching off the subsequent Newbury listed winner Tiber Flow on All-weather championships day at Newcastle. His sectional times were excellent and he can take this en route to a tilt at the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot next month.

 

EL CABALLO 2 points win @ 11/4 William Hill

 

Curragh 3.20

The Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas run over a mile looks destined to go to the Charlie Abbleby trained Native Trail. He’ll be no price but it’s hard to oppose him as he brings easily the best form to the table here as last seasons top two year who’s carried that form forward this season in winning the Craven and finishing runner up to his stable companion Coroebus in the 2000 Guineas. Appleby is chasing a unique 2000 Guineas treble having also secured the French version last weekend with Modern Games. Native Trail’s biggest danger maybe the progressive Joseph O’Brien runner Buckaroo but it will be a major disappointment if he can’t win this.

 

York 3.30

Only 7 go to post for the Group 3 Brontë Cup for 4 year old and upwards fillies and mares. Despite the fact that the Varian stable had a winner on Thursday evening in Greatgadian they’ve been very much out of form the last few weeks and I’m happy to take on Believe In Love for that reason alone. Irish raider Mighty Blue from the Joseph O’Brien stable has definite claims so is on the short list along with Andrew Balding’s Silence Please whom may have just needed her latest start (her first for Balding). I’ve always been a fan of Eileendover but there’s no room for sentiment in this game so I’ll be sticking with Mighty Blue to small stakes.

 

MIGHTY BLUE 1 point win @ 3/1 William Hill

 

Haydock 3.45

A dozen sprinters assemble for this year’s renewal of the Group 2 Temple Stakes with a warm favourite in Tim Easterby’s Winter Power who we haven’t seen since flopping in heavy ground in the Prix de l’Abbaye last October. He has run well fresh winning on his seasonal re-appearance last season by 3L at York. He misses a group one penalty for this by eleven days having won the Nunthorpe at York last August and if straight enough will be very hard to beat today. He’s officially rated 9lb and more superior to his eleven rivals and although a short enough price I find him hard to oppose here. Existent had Twilight Calls (5th) and Came From The Dark (10th) behind him in the group 3 Palace House Stakes last time out and is maybe the value each way being at least twice the price of that pair here but it’s all about Winter Power and David Allan for me.

 

WINTER POWER 2 points win @ 7/4 William Hill