Racing Chat - Saturday 21st September

[The Brigadier]

Ayr 1.15

The first of nine races covered by ITV is this class 2 1M handicap which features a maximum field of fourteen runners. It looks a wide open affair with top weight Mirsky for the David O’Meara stable bringing a decent piece of form to the stable which a last time out runner up (beaten 1/2L) in the Clipper Handicap at York won by Thunder Run. He’s 2lb higher now and may struggle to confirm the form with Andrew Balding’s Aragon Castle who was 1 3/4L back in sixth and is now 2lb better off. One of only two three-year-olds in the race he may still have further improvement to come and with P J McDonald in the saddle can reward an each way wager. There are many others with claims however including last year’s winner Revich who’s now 7lb lower in the ratings.

 

ARAGON CASTLE 1/2 point each way @ 7/1 bet365 1/5th 1234

 

Newbury 1.30

The Dubai International Airport World Trophy Stakes is a Group 3 contest run over 5F which has attracted a field of eleven runners. The best in at the weights and a good 8lb and more ahead of his field is the Mick Appleby trained Annaf who was denied a clear run in the Haydock Sprint Cup last time out trailing in 15th of the 16 runners. I’m not entirely sure this Grade 2 7F winner wants a drop back to the minimum trip and is opposable. With a band of rain forecast the ground could easily ride on the slow side and that will be music to the ears of connections of the Rod Millman trained Adaay In Devon who’s been on the go since the first day of the season at Doncaster in March but appears to keep her form remarkably well. Her ideal conditions are 5F on soft ground and having run well on her last two starts on fast ground should appreciate stepping back on an easier terrain today. She looks good each way value under Silvestre De Sousa.

 

ADAAY IN DEVON 1 point each way @ 5/1 bet365 1/5th 1234

 

Ayr 1.50

The Doonside Cup is a listed contest run over 1M 2F and has attracted a field of nine this year. Joint best in here on official ratings is the Ricard Hannon trained three-year-old Persico who holds the Group 1 Champion Stakes entry at Ascot next month. He should run well but I’m not sure drying ground is his favoured ground conditions so pass him over in favour of the penalised Phantom Flight. George Scott’s five-year-old carries a 3lb penalty for winning a listed contest on his first run for the stable back in July and has run well twice since in Group 3 company. Runner up last time out to See The Fire in the Strensall Stakes at York when he had the re-opposing Roger Varian runner Enfjaar 2 1/2L behind in sixth. The latter is now 3lb better off and can get closer especially as he had a wide trip that day but may just struggle to make up all of the ground on the selection.

 

PHANTOM FLIGHT 1 point win @ 11/4 Betfred

 

Newbury 2.05

A valuable class 2 1M 5 1/2F handicap has attracted fifteen runners and a very worthy favourite in the David Menuisier trained Waxing Gibbous who certainly won’t mind if the rain hits the Berkshire track. The four-year-old filly stepped up his form when moving up to 1M 6F in the valuable handicap the Old Borough Cup Handicap at Haydock earlier this month when going down by just a neck to Epic Poet. This will only be her eighth career start and may have further improvement in her. Shes fairly berthed in stall 8 and should be highly competitive with the Andrew Balding runner Lieber Power looking a likely threat .

 

WAXING GIBBOUS 1 point win @ 4/1 bet365

 

Ayr 2.25

The first of the two 6F cavalry charges today is the Virgin Bet Silver Cup Handicap which features 23 runners. One horse stands out here to me and that’s the six timer seeking Craig Lidster trained Alfa Kellenic. The three-year-old filly has been a revelation this season rising some 23lb since starting her run and her recent victory at York over 7F has been boosted since by the 2nd and 4th finishing 2nd and 3rd in a Group 3 since. That victory came off of a mark of 88 and taking today’s jockey William Pyle’s 3lb claim into account is now only 2lb higher and should appreciate stepping back to 6F. The ex Archie Watson runner Rhythm N Hooves is interesting having his first run for sprint specialist Robert Cowell but this is all about Alfa Kellenic who it would be no shock were he to be well backed exiting from stall 22.

 

ALFA KELLENIC 1 point each way @ 11/2 Quinnbet 1/5th 12345

 

Newbury 2.40

Eleven run in this valuable class 2 1M 2F handicap. Any easing in the ground is maybe against the likes of Flying Frontier and Quietness who are close to the head of the market and there may well be some each way value to be found in the shape of the Harry Eustace trained Mustazeed who always seems to run well at the Berkshire track with form figures here which read 01148. The David Probert ridden six-year-old is due to run at the track on Friday so may not be a certain runner but if he does run he’s worth a saver bet for sure. The main bet though is the Simon &b Ed Crisford trained three-year-old Involvement who was two necks behind the re-opposing Flying Frontier at Sandown last time and can turn that form around on 2lb better terms. He also has form on soft ground so may not mind were things to get muddy.

 

INVOLVEMENT 1 point ew @ 9/2 bet365 1/5th 1234

MUSTAZEED 1/2 point each way @ 20/1 bet365 1/5th 1234

 

Ayr 3.00

Thirteen have declared for the Group 3 Firth Of Clyde Stakes run over 6F for two-year-old fillies. Arguably the form horse is the George Boughey trained Englemere, a winner in listed company and 4th in a Group 3 last time but she has yet to try this distance and it may be worth chancing one of those stepping up in class. William Haggas saddles his Newbury maiden winner Sky Majesty (runner up won in the week) and should be thereabouts along with the Henry De Bromhead trained Town And Country who was last seen winning a maiden at Navan from the 90 rated Snapdragon. Of the pair I prefer the former who is owned by Tony Bloom and can take this step up in grade in her stride under Callum Rodriquez.

 

SKY MAJESTY 1 point each way @ 9/2 Betfred 1/5th 1234

 

Newbury 3.15

A field of ten have declared for the Group 2 Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes run over 6F for two-year-olds. Richard Fahey’s Powerful Glory looked smart when landing a gamble on his debut at Pontefract winning by an easy 5 1/2L with his trainer saying all the right things about him afterwards and nominating this race as a target. That was on good to firm ground though with Fahey staying he is ‘a very fast horse’. I just wonder if rain softened ground will suit and prefer the more established form line of the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes from York in which Charlie Appleby’s Shadow Of Light had a head in front of Adrian Keatley’s subsequent winner Symbol Of Strength. There shouldn’t be much between them with slight preference for the former who will be ridden by William Buick. Closely related to heavy ground Group 1 winner Earthlight he may not be inconvenienced by the likely easier ground so is the pick.

 

SHADOW OF LIGHT 1 point win @ 11/4 William Hill

 

Ayr 3.35

The day’s feature handicap is the Virgin Bet Ayr Gold Cup Handicap run over 6F with a maximum field of 25. As you would expect there are many with chances including last weekend’s gambled on Portland Handicap winner American Affair who should appreciate stepping up half a furlong but does have to race off of a handicap mark 5lb higher. The one that takes my eye is the David Evans trained six-year-old Rohaan who was seventh in this last year from a modest draw only beaten 1 3/4L and returns off of a handicap mark 8lb lower. He bounced back to form with a credible third at Ascot last time out under today’s jockey Tom Queally and looks a very well handicapped at present as three of his handicap victories have come from a significantly higher handicap mark. Theres a lot to like and if drawn on the right side (he’s in stall 8 next to front runner Sergeant Wilko) can run a big race.

 

ROHAAN 1 point each way @ 12/1 bet365 1/5th 123456

[richard-westwood]

Silver cup with class rating 

Alfa kellenic. 397 11/2 

Two tribes. 397 16.0

Mr wagyu. 394 22/1 

Summerghand 389 

Alfa kellenic doesn't know how to lose ....but this is tough against so many high class sprinters ....two tribes would have hated the heavy ground lto and is better on faster ground ......Mr wagyu has been running crap but is one horse who pops up when you least expect him to ...so When he is top 3 rated I sit up and take note 

5 PT wins top 3 and forecasts 

 

 

Edited September 20 by richard-westwood