 |
| So in the words of Jona Lewie, "Can you stop the cavalry?"... it'll take a mighty performance by something else for sure. |
In the 2:05, Roseburg is clearly the class horse in the race. He's won his last three races but the handicapper has not let this go unnoticed. The next horse down the racecard carries 12 pounds less and the ones at the bottom are carrying a relative featherweight. Factor in the fact that Roseburg would appear to want softer ground would mean that he is well worth opposing today. A horse who benefits massively from Roseburg's presence is RAINBOW ROCK. Even though he is five pounds out of the handicap, he still carries an extremely low weight and Cam Hardie's five pound claim negates the pounds he loses in the handicap. He won his last race very cosily and the fact he gets 26, yes 26, pounds off Roseburg means he goes into this race with a massive chance. EXAMINER should also go well, his last two runs have been very solid, bearing in mind they were his first two runs on turf after all his previous starts being on the all weather. This could even be a little easier than the Newmarket handicap he ran in last time out, he may have been lucky in not being raised anything for that performance.
The Richmond Stakes (2:35) should probably go the way of Ivawood who is one of the best juveniles we have seen so far this season. However, his price means he is of no interest to me whatsoever so the speculative vote goes to JUNGLE CAT in the hope that he can somehow reverse the July Stakes form with the favourite. He is a decent horse in his own right, his third in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot is very solid form and in a field where the majority look either too inexperienced or just much of a muchness to land a blow, he is worth putting a little bit of money on.
 |
| Jungle Cat (green, red cap) and Ivawood (right) do battle again |
In the Lillie Langtry Stakes, there is another warm favourite courtesy of Missunited. She has adopted that position following her amazing third in the Gold Cup. However, many may deem this a fluke and given that she was always to the fore that day, many would argue that she would not be able to do that again. Somewhat was a prime example of this on Wednesday, his official rating was miles clear of the rest he raced against based solely on his Eclipse third at 100/1. Although he ran well behind Snow Sky and Windshear, he did not win and Missunited may be another who cannot follow up a surprise performance with a win. Certianly at the price she is currently you would have to oppose her. My selection is WAILA, who gets her ground and has been running well of late without actually winning. She has come second on her last two runs but chances are she ran into two decent types and it could be safe to say that a repeat performance of those efforts will see her go mightily close on Thursday. As for the others, Talent just has not built on her Oaks win and will probably want it softer, Stella Bellissima is impeccably bred being by Sea The Stars and a half sister to strong stayers Duncan and Samuel but she may just lack a little experience and Nymphea may just find one too good, as she was beaten by Moment In Time, a horse who Waila got the better off at York last time out. Whatever happens, it may prove to be that the John Gosden trained Stella Bellissima is the best horse to come out of this race in the long term.
 |
| Waila (yellow cap) trouncing her rivals at Newmarket |
There is a decent handicap at 4:50, where CHAMPIONSHIP should go close as things just seem to be coming together nicely now for him and ALMARGO is also a player on ground he is crying out for and a distance that should pose no problems at all. If he is allowed to dictate from the front he may be hard to peg back.
And a couple for Galway...
I may be a fool for fancying a John Ferguson horse in an extremely competitive hurdle race but PARLOUR GAMES is an intriguing runner. He has won two out of this three starts over timber, the only time he did not win may have been due to the ground. It will not be as firm as it was that day at Stratford but it will be good ground which should hopefully pose no problems. Barry Geraghty is an interesting jockey booking and although he will have to improve massively on his previous National Hunt outings, he is one to keep an eye on. DARWINS FOX should also go well for Davy Russell. His second behind the useful dual-purpose horse Simenon last time out looks solid form and he looks to have a chance.
 |
| Parlour Games (left) |
Enjoy the racing on offer today
Happy Punting!
No comments:
Post a Comment