Racing Chat - Saturday 13th August

[The Brigadier]

Newbury 1.20

Eight go to post for this 10F class 4 handicap where William Haggas saddles the likely favourite in Frantanck. He was disappointing on his handicap debut at Sandown last month when last of four beaten just under 10L in a race where the 3rd has won since. The excuse from the stable representative at the time was that the colt was unsuited by the slower pace. Hopefully in a bigger field today he can show that he’s better than that and take this contest. Ralph Beckett’s Definite may have some improvement to come and should also be thereabouts.

 

FRANTANCK 1 point win @ 9/4 Coral

 

Ripon 1.40

The 5F Hornblower Stakes has a great tradition and is for two year olds who have not won a class 1 contest. Only five go to post with the most likely winner being James Tate’s New Definition who’s run well on all five starts this season including last time when going down by a neck to Looking For Lynda at Musselburgh. He has been beaten twice at odds on mind so is a bit vulnerable to an improver. There’s two of them in this race in Ben Haslam’s Wen Moon, a winner over course and distance a month ago although the five that he beat that day have all been beaten since. Keith Dagleish’s Prince Of Pillo won a fifteen runner novice stakes on his debut at Ayr a month ago with the 5th that day winning a decent nursery at Goodwood since. Not a race I have a strong opinion on but I’ll play him to small stakes.

 

PRINCE OF PILLO 1 point win @ 3/1 BetVictor

 

Newbury 1.55

This looks an excellent opportunity for the Charlie Appleby trained Victory Dance to get back to winning ways. A 700,000 guineas foal by Dubawi he made a winning debut at Newmarket in June getting up on the line under an inspired ride from Mikel Barzalona. Upped in grade he probably bumped into a smart opponent in the Brain Meehan trained Isaac Shelby in the group 2 Superlative Stakes back on the July course three weeks later. He should be more than capable of beating his four rivals today including the promising Candle Of Hope who can chase him home. He’s too short to back so it’ll be a sit back and enjoy spectacle.

 

Newmarket 2.10

A 1m 6F class 2 handicap is up next with a warm favourite in the Gosden’s Atlantis who will be a tough nut to crack under Frankie Dettori. The grey daughter of Sea The Stars broke her duck on her handicap debut when an easy 4 1/2L winner at Doncaster. She’s stepping up 2F here with a 9lb rise in the handicap and can beat her four rivals none of whom really appeal.

 

ATLANTIS 2 points win @ 6/5 William Hill

 

Newbury 2.30

A very disappointing turnout of only five go to post for the group 3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes. The only three year old in the race is the Freddie and Martyn Meade trained Zechariah who was runner up in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot prior to a credible 3 3/4L 3rd in the Bahrain Trophy to the useful Deauville Legend. A reproduction of that effort may well be good enough to take this against his elders. The best of whom may well be Ismail Mohammed’s Away He Goes. Not a great punting heat but a small win stake on Zechariah may pay dividends.

 

ZECHARIAH 1 point win @7/4 William Hill

 

Ripon 2.50

The 6F Great St Wilfrid Handicap has attracted a rather disappointing turnout of only 15 in a race where the maximum is 20 and there were 35 at the 5 day stage. This really is a ‘draw’ race in that the last six winners have been drawn high in stalls 19, 17, 15, 19, 10 & 13 with all six of those winners making all on the stands side running rail. Last years winner and natural front runner Justanotherbottle is 13lb higher this time around but is unbeaten in three starts at the Yorkshire track and from stall 10 can be competitive especially if his jockey Kevin Stott can get over to the rail. Favourite Blackrod is having his first run for Ed Bethell having left Michael Dodds and with group one entries is an exciting prospect who was 7th in the Wokingham last time. He’s drawn stall one though and at around 4/1 and drawn out in the middle/far side can be taken on here. My main fancy though is top weight Misty Grey trained by Tom Dascombe. He won on his only start here as a two year old when quickly bagging the rail and winning easily by 7L. He arrives here following a win in a decent class 2 handicap at Chelmsford (Emperor Spirit badly drawn and well beaten)and most importantly has drawn stall 15. He doesn’t have to lead but jockey Pierre-Louis Jamin will be mad not to get an early position on the rail and make the most of that advantage. He’s my main selection but I can’t resist a small each way saver on last years victor Justanotherbottle.

 

MISTY GREY 2 points each way @ 14/1 bet365 1/5th 12345

JUSTANOTHERBOTTLE @ 1 point each way @ 8/1 William Hill 1/5 12345

 

Newbury 3.00

A 7F class 2 handicap is up next with just the seven runners. Some firms are paying three places here so if may well pay to back Kevin Frost’s Documenting who although the oldest by far in the contest has run well all season including last time out when a fine 5th to Fresh in the Ascot International Handicap. He looks overpriced at around the 12/1 mark and should run his race under Jack Mitchell. The only three year old in the contest is the Richard Hannon runner Gisburn who has a good record here having won two of his three starts at the Berkshire track. He should run well but a better value bet to my eyes is Documenting.

 

DOCUMENTING 1 point each way 14/1 bet365 1/5th 123

 

Newmarket 3.18

The 6F grey horse handicap has only attracted seven runners this year and a right motley crew they are. The in form Come On Girl trained by Mick Appleby has won two of her last three starts but they were on the all weather whilst top weight Mister Bluebird represents Heather Main. I’ll take a chance again each way with the firms paying three places on the veteran Wentworth Falls trained by Geoffrey Harker who is back on a winning mark and ran second in this unique race last year from a 3lb higher handicap mark. Franny Norton steps in for the ride.

 

WENTWORTH FALLS 1 point each way @ 10/1 bet365 1/5th 123

 

Newbury 3.35

A fair field considering the lightning fast ground of ten go to post for the feature race of the day at Newbury - the group 2 Hungerford Stakes. The best in at the weights officially is Charlie Hills’ consistent Pogo who looks the one they all have to beat who followed a group 3 win at Newmarket with an excellent 1/2L third to Sandrine in the group 2 Lennox Stakes. Chindit has to shoulder a 3lb penalty today but is most certainly not out of it whilst this is the optimum trip for Chris Wall’s stable star Double Or Bubble. Of the three three year olds the best may turn out to be the Roger Varian trained Tiber Flow although he does look short enough in the betting considering on official ratings he has 8lb to find with the selection Pogo.

 

POGO 2 points win @ 4/1 Ladbrokes

 

[calva decoy]

Some very disappointing total of runners on Doncaster & Newmarket's card this Saturday , top much racing , too expensive to travel , weather too hot , poor prize money probably a mixture of all 4 unfortunately .