Racing Chat - Friday August 19th

[The Brigadier]

York 1.50

A near maximum field of nineteen go to post for this 1m 4F heritage handicap. It’s wide open with many having claims. The draw can be important here with a wide draw not ideal. William Haggas’s Mahrajan has claims in first time cheek pieces. Cormier would have been the selection if the ground was soft following a good win at Chester last time as he still looks well handicapped. William Knight’s Moktasaab can run well although I’m not sure stepping back up to 1m 4F is what he really wants. An outsider I think can run well and worth a small each way interest with the extra places is Kevin Ryan’s Thundering. The only three year old in the field he may have more improvement to come and his latest second beaten a head by Pride Of Priory on the all weather at Newcastle has been boosted by the subsequent victory of that horse at the Shergar Cup. He’s been raised 2lb for that and has the assistance of the under used Josephine Gordon today.

 

THUNDERING 1 point each way @ 11/1 bet365 1/5th 12345

 

York 2.25

The group 2 Lonsdale Cup is a cracker this year. run over 2m 56 yards of the Knavesmire it features the Gosden’s Stradivarius who’s won this race three of the last four years and is unbeaten here in six starts. Placed on his last two starts behind Aiden O’Brien’s super stayer Kyprios at Royal Ascot and Goodwood he looks sure to run well under Andrea Atzeni. A length and a quarter behind him at Goodwood was Alan King’s Trueshan who’s chance will increase if by any chance the track was hit by any thunderstorms as he loves to get his toe in. It’s hard to fancy Coltrane and Tashkan who appear held by the aforementioned pair whilst Quickthorn may do best of the rest. But I feel this may turn out to be a straight shoot out between Stradivarius and Trueshan with preference just for the former with the ground likely to be more in his favour than Trueshan.

 

STRADIVARIUS 2 points win @ 11/8 BetVictor

 

York 3.00

A dozen fast juveniles assemble for the 6F group 2 Gimcrack Stakes. Coventry third and Richmond winner Royal Scotsman looks the one they all have to beat although he does have to shoulder a 3lb penalty for his Goodwood victory. Karl Burke’s Marshman steps up in grade having looked a smart prospect when winning at Ayr and Thirsk. He’s hard to assess but shouldn’t be dismissed lightly. Charlie Appleby’s Noble Style also steps up in class following victories at Ascot and Newmarket and this 525,000 Gns yearling looks smart. I’ll be surprised if the winner doesn’t come from one of this trio although I was told that Kevin Ryan’s Chuzzlewit who cost a cool 450,000 Gns as a yearling and is a full brother to the smart sprinter Advertise was a good thing on his racecourse debut at Redcar where he was left at the start but ran on to be beaten only 2 1/2L at the finish. This is a big step up in class but at a big price is worth a tiny each way play alongside my main fancy Royal Scotsman who can defy his 3lb penalty for father and son combo of Paul and Oliver Cole and will be ridden by Jim Crowley who had such a good spin round in Baaeed on Wednesday.

 

ROYAL SCOTSMAN 2 points win @ 11/4 William Hill

CHUZZLEWIT 1/4 point each way @ 40/1 bet365 1/5th 1234

 

York 3.35

The feature race of day three is the 5F group one Nunthorpe Stakes. Warm favourite is the James Tate trained Royal Aclaim who steps up from a very impressive win in listed company over course and distance when beating Mondammej (beaten twice since in handicaps) with the very disappointing favourite Winter Power (winner of this event last year)back in 6th. Now he may well be very good and he certainly travelled like a top class sprinter last time but at around 7/4 represents no value here whatsoever and is opposable to me. Second favourite is two year old The Platinum Queen who receives a chunk of weight from her rivals and will be ridden by Hollie Doyle as her usual pilot Oisin Orr can’t do the weight. I’m also against her and at around 4/6 the pair combined I’ll be looking elsewhere. John Quinn’s Highfield Princess is a top class mare who really seems to have come to herself this season winning a group 2 here in good style over 6F and the group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville 12 days ago over 6 1/2F. She is a genuine group one horse and I don’t think dropping down a furlong will hinder her chance. She looks excellent each value to me especially with extra places.

 

HIGHFIELD PRINCESS 1 1/2 point each way @ 10/1 bet365 1/5th 1234

 

York 4.10

An eleven runner fillies handicap run over 10F 56 yards concludes ITV’s terrestrial coverage for the day. Three years have won the two years that this handicap has been run and that generation is represented today by two Roger Varian handicap debutants in Croachill and Shampion. The latter is very interesting as she ran the subsequent winner Shaara to a length and a half on her seasonal debut at Haydock in July prior to opening her account when a very easy winner at Windsor early this month. She can be a bit headstrong although it didn’t stop her from winning at Windsor and sports a hood today which she’s worn on both starts this season. Croachill got turned over at 1/5 last time and doesn’t appeal as much as her stablemate. Ralph Beckett’s State Occasion also has solid claims having beaten Rousay a length and a half in a similar handicap at Goodwood last month. The runner up has gone on to win in listed class giving the form a significant boost and she is the one I want to be with each way today although I can’t resist a small win only saver on Shampion.

 

STATE OCCASION 1 1/2 points each way @ 5/1 Betfred 1/5th 1234

SHAMPION 1 point win @ 7/2 bet365

 

[Tedthewolf]

More tough races today at York. Nothing of big interest for me.

Two small e/w singles and a e/w double.

1.50 York Ravenscraig Castle  20/1 Bet 365 6places bog

4.10 York  The Flying Ginger 25/1 Corals  4places bog 

Good Luck All