Racing Chat - Thursday 7th July

[The Brigadier]

Newmarket 1.50

A small but select field of five go to post for the group 3 Bahrain Trophy Stakes for three year olds only over a trip of 1m 5F. Favourite Masekela, trained by Andrew Balding was some 63 lengths ahead of his main rival here Walk Of Stars in the Epsom Derby in June and with the Derby form working out well (3rd Westover won Irish Derby in good style since and 5th Changingoftheguard winning the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot) looks the one to be on here. Godolphin’s Walk Of Stars was bitterly disappointing that day and has been gelded since and can no doubt do a fair bit better. The other form line here is the Queens Vase run at Royal Ascot when Freddie and Martyn Meade’s Zechariah was run down late on by the progressive Eldar Eldarov with Al Qareem and Green Team behind in 5th and 7th and looking held today. Both Masekela and Zechariah are rated the same officially but clear preference is for the Derby 4th to be ridden today by Andrea Atzeni.

 

MASEKELA 2 points win @ 7/4 bet365

 

Newmarket 2.25

A fascinating two year old contest is up next with the group 2 July Stakes run over 6F which has attracted eight runners. We have two juvenile races from Royal Ascot pitted against each other with the Norfolk form represented by Aidan O’Brien’s Little Big Bear who kept on well to beat subsequent winner Rocket Rodney a neck and steps up a furlong here which really shouldn’t be a problem. The Coventry form is represented by runner up Persian Force who couldn’t quite get to the smart Bradsell going down by a length and a half but having four of these behind and seemingly held. He’s held in very high regard by his trainer Richard Hannon who has compared him to Canford Cliffs. Charlie Appleby saddles Mysterious Night an odds on novice stakes winner at Newbury but he needs to step up here (the runner up that day was very disappointing at Ffos Las on Tuesday evening) and preference is for the Coventry runner up Persian Force.

 

PERSIAN FORCE 2 points win @ 7/4 William Hill

 

Carlisle 2.45

The ITV cameras are also at Carlisle for this 6F class 4 fillies handicap which features a couple of un exposed three year old handicap debutants in William Haggas’s Razeyna and Iain Jardine’s Monica. It may pay to concentrate on this lightly raced pair with slight preference for the latter who made a good impression when winning over course and distance last month scooting home by five lengths with a subsequent winner back in third. Jardine’s Havana Gold filly may have got in lightly and is worth backing each way especially if able to secure a fourth additional place.

 

MONICA 1 point each way @ 5/1William Hill 1/5th 1234

 

Newmarket 3.00

A competitive nineteen runner class 2 heritage handicap run over 6F for three year olds is next. Likely favourite is the William Haggas trained Khanjar who looked good when winning by three lengths from the re-opposing Azure Blue at Ripon last time. He should go well but is up 9lb and with no favourite winning this in the last ten years I’ll look elsewhere for some value. Le Beau Garçon is an interesting runner, trained in Yorkshire by Mick and David Easterby. Little went right for him last time at Musselburgh when slowly away and forced to race wide when finishing runner up to Sophie’s Star. He’s up 2lb for that fine effort and can be competitive here. Ingra Tor was very disappointing in the valuable 6F York three year old handicap last time but the stable could offer no explanation for that poor run afterwards so there has to be a question mark hanging over him now. Karl Burke’s Lethal Levi is a horse in form who was just touched off over course and distance last time and is another with each way claims along with many others including Burke’s other runner Aasser who’s visored for the first time and has the assistance of William Buick in the saddle. A tough contest but I’ll play small each way Le Beau Garçon with the additional places.

 

LE BEAU GARCON 1 point each way @ 9/1 BetVictor 1/5th 12345

 

Newmarket 3.35

Yet another small field of only six go to post for the group 2 Princess Of Wales’s Stakes. Run over 1m 4F it may turn into a battle between the two Newmarket powerhouses of Charlie Appleby and John & Thady Gosden. The Godolphin runner is Yibir but can we fully trust him? Beaten favourite on his last three starts including when a 1/4 chance here at the Rowley course in April he certainly has the ability to win but I’m not interested at a short price and my money will be on the Gosden runner Mostahdaf. He appeared to relish the step up to this trip last time at Royal Ascot in first time cheek pieces when chasing home Broome in the Hardwicke with subsequent French flop Hurricane Lane back in third. He’s a solid horse who may just want it more than Yibir. The other four runners all have it to do on official ratings.

 

MOSTAHDAF 2 points win @ 11/8 William Hill

 

MOSTAHDAF / PERSIAN FORCE / MASAKELA 1 point win trixie

[maxironchin]

Thanks to The Brigadier for pointing me in the direction of the 13.50 at Newmarket.

My preference is for Deauville Legend. Was only just beaten in the King George V at Ascot in June and was running on strongly at the end. Today's race is a furlong further and gives him a chance to show his finishing strength again. He has a chance to show he is far better than his official rating.