Thursday, July 27, 2017

7.55 Down Royal 1M 6F Her Majesty's Plate (Listed ) (Fri 28th July )


On Friday evening we have interesting staying listed contest, in Northern Ireland at Down Royal .8 runners declared for Her Majesty's Plate over 1M 6F at 7.55 on ground described as good .The three main contenders look to be Twilight Payment , Savannah Storm & Grandee .

TWILIGHT PAYMENT : 4-Y-0 Bay Colt ,winning 2 out 9,including winning 2 mile listed race at Curragh last season on  heavy ground.Has been running consistently this season,finishing placed three times ,including finishing 2.5 lengh second to Order St George in 1M 6F listed race last time .Has 3lb listed penalty ,though should go well in this easier looking race .

SAVANNAH STORM : 4-Y-0 Bay Colt,winning 1 out 5.Has shown progressive form this season,since stepping up in trip ,including finishing close second in 1M 5F handicap at Navan in June,off mark 87 .Also finished creditable staying on third in 1M 3F listed race at Roscommon earlier this month .Looks open to more improvement over this longer trip .

GRANDEE : 3-Y-0 Bay Colt ,winning 2 out 8,including winning 1M 4F listed contest at Leopardstown in June on soft ground .No show in Irish Derby, finishing last of 9 ,though will be suited returning to listed company .Should be thereabouts,receiving plenty of weight .

VERDICT : Twilight Payment will be popular here,having twice chased home Ascot Gold Cup winner Order Of St George ,though odds around 15/8 look short enough,for horse that is not the most prolific winner .

 The lightly raced SAVANNAH STORM should go well,after finishing promising third in similar race at Roscommon last time ,staying on nicely at the finish .The step up to 1M 6F should be ideal .Odds around 9-2 look solid each-way value .

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SAVANNAH STORM 7.55 DOWN ROYAL 
£30.00 EACH-WAY @ 9-2 BETVICTOR* 
(UNPLACED SP 6-1 LOSS £60.00 )

Wednesday, July 26, 2017

7.30 Naas 6F Dark Angel (EBF) Listed Stakes (Wed 26th July )


On Wednesday evening we are back in Ireland, for good quality listed race at Naas .

13 runners declared for 6F Dark Angel EBF Listed Stakes at 7.30 on ground described as good/firm.( Showers forecast ) This looks wide open sprint listed race .The three main contenders look to be Only Mine , Rehana & Music Box .

ONLY MINE : 4-Y-0 Bay Filly,winning 4 out 16,including winning the G3 Lacken Stakes over C&D at Naas in 2016 .Also been in good form this season ,finishing good second in both G2 Greenlands stakes & G3 Ballyogan stakes.Returned to winning form winning  6F Listed Stakes at the Curragh last time.Should go well under 3LB penalty,though best form on good or softer.

REHANA : 3-Y-0 Bay Filly,winning 2 out 7 , including winning the G3 7F Athasi Stakes at Naas in May.No show in Irish 1000 guineas ,should find this a lot easier,though has 5lb G3 penalty. Best form over 7 furlongs,this drop back to 6 furlongs has to be question mark . 

MUSIC BOX : 3-Y-0 Bay Filly,winning 2 out 10 on turf .Has shown improved form recently ,including winning handicap over C&D at Naas earlier this month .Also finished creditable 2ND in 1 mile listed race at Killarney last week ,though appeared not to quite stay the 1 mile trip .Looks open to improvement returning to 6 furlongs  .

VERDICT : This looks competitive sprint listed contest,with A.P O'Brien running six in the race .The Dermot Weld trained Rehana is top rated on official ratings (106) ,though won't find it easy under 5LB penalty.Odds around 5-2 look too short,with doubts about this shorter trip.

The improving MUSIC BOX has bit to find on official ratings ,though should go well returning to this shorter trip,after finishing creditable second in 1 mile listed race at Killarney last time,that looked fair effort ,after appearing not to quite last home.The return to 6 furlong's will suit ,having won decent handicap over C&D three weeks ago .Odds around 15-2 look fair each-way value .

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MUSIC BOX 7.30 NAAS
£30.00 EACH-WAY @ 15-2 BET365*
(SECOND SP 8-1 PROFIT +£18.00 )

Saturday, July 22, 2017

Godolphin Charging Toward Lennox Stakes Success


The Qatar Goodwood Festival.

Who doesn't love Glorious Goodwood? The elegance of linen suits and Panama hats, Pims, beautiful ladies, majestic equine. The beauty of Sussex down captures the heart of racing fans across the world. Quality horse racing of the highest calibre.

The Qatar Lennox Stakes Group 2 . A Class 1 race for three-year-old horses and older on this sweeping 7f. Named after the Duke of Lennox one of the Dukedoms of the Duke of Richmond and present owner of Goodwood Racecourse.

This race was established in 2000 and won by Observatory, trained by John Gosden.

A number of class horses have won this contest since its inauguration including Paco Boy, winning 2008 for Richard Hannon Sr. He also excelled with Toormore for Hannon Jr in 2015.


Looking back to the early years Nayyir (2002, 2003) proved a powerhouse for Gerard Butler winning in consecutive years. 

The first declaration stage of this year's race sees 35 entrants. A wealth of talented thoroughbreds including Limato, trained by Henry Candy, who has the highest official rating of 120. 

Interesting to note that Godolphin has 5 horses entered: Dutch Connection, Home Of The Brave, Jungle Cat, Richard Pankhurst & Dream Castle. 

One connection but a mix of trainers including Charlie Hills, Hugo Palmer, Charlie Appleby, John Gosden & Saeed bin Suroor. 

Dutch Connection proved victorious last year when winning ''readily'' at 9/4f from Home Of The Brave. 

If all goes to plan it, we could see this durable pair fighting out a finish once more. 

The horse betting sites suggest Jungle Cat and Richard Pankhurst will be making up the numbers and most likely entered as a precaution just in case the major hopes don't make the big day. 

However, the duo may not be alone as Dream Castle, trained by Saeed bin Suroor, is pretty fancied in the betting. Considering Bin Suroor has been kept in the shadows this season with Appleby taking the cream of the crop it would be just desserts for him to enjoy a timely success. 

Certainly, Home Of The Brave has been in tremendous form this season winning both starts. This son of Starspangledbanner ran on gamely to win the Criterion Stakes Group 3 at Newmarket from Jungle Cat. 

By contrast, Dutch Connection has been slow to find his form this season. He wasn't disgraced when racing at Royal Ascot when 6th in the Queen Anne Stakes Group 1. However, better was expected when going to the Curragh competing in the Qatar Airways Minstrel Stakes Group 2. The joint favourite finished 6th and although not beaten far it does leave a question mark. 

HOME OF THE BRAVE could well prove a good each-way bet and presently priced 5/1 with leading bookmakers.

Thursday, July 06, 2017

3.25 Sandown 10F Gala Listed Stakes (Fri 7th July )


On Friday afternoon we are back at Sandown Park, for the days feature race the 10 furlong Gala listed stakes at 3.25 .

7 runners declared for interesting looking 10F Listed contest at Sandown.The three main contenders look to be Ayrad ,Kidmenever & Spark Plug .

AYRAD : Six-year-old gelding ,winning 3 out 19  .Often highly tried in group company,though has decent record in listed company (2 out 5),including winning this race last year over C&D .Also made creditable seasonal reappearance, finishing staying on 2L fifth of 16 in the Listed Wolferton handicap at Royal Ascot ,off mark 109 .Should go well for inform Roger Charlton stable .

KIDMENEVER : Four-year-old colt ,winning 5 out 22 .Formerly trained in France ,till switching to Charlie Appleby stable in January 2017.Has shown some fair placed form ,including finishing 3RD at Royal Ascot in Listed Wolferton stakes.Looks closely matched with Ayrad on Royal Ascot form,though has yet to win in Listed Company (0 out 5)

SPARK PLUG :Six-year-old gelding,winning 4 out 22,including winning the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket in September,off mark 104.Also finished close 2ND in Festival Listed Stakes at Goodwood in May ,though was bit disappointing in 1 mile listed race at York last time .Should be suited returning to this longer trip ,though seems better in big field handicaps .

VERDICT : Last years winner AYRAD looks solid ,after finishing promising fifth at Royal Ascot last time.Should improve for that first run of the season, and can reverse Royal Ascot form with Kidmenever on 5lb better terms.Also has proven record in small field Listed races .Odds around 3-1 look decent value .  
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AYRAD 3.25 SANDOWN 
£60.00 WIN @ 3/1 CORALS & BETVICTOR*   
(UNPLACED SP 10/3 LOSS £60.00)

Saturday, July 01, 2017

3.15 Newmarket 7F Criterion Stakes G3 (Sat 1st July )


On Saturday we are back at Newmarket on July Course, for feature race the seven furlong G3 Criterion Stakes at 3.15 .

8 runners declared for 7F group three Criterion Stakes on ground described as good/soft .The three main contenders look to be Breton Rock , Home Of The Brave & Thikriyaat .

BRETON ROCK :Seven-year-old gelding ,winning 7 out 28 ,including winning this race last year  .Made creditable reappearance in G1 Lockinge Stakes in May, finishing 5L third to Ribchester,though followed that with slightly disappointing fifth of 8 in G3 John Of Guant stakes at Haydock last time .Should be thereabouts, with ground conditions in his favour.

HOME OF THE BRAVE : Five-year-old entire , winning 5 out 14 ,including winning G3 John Of Guant stakes at Haydock last season .Made winning reappearance in 7F King Richard 111 Listed stakes at Leicester in April .Solid claims ,though best form has been on fast surface .

THIKRIYAAT:Four-year-old gelding ,winning 4 out 8,including winning 1 mile G3 Thoroughbred Stakes at Glourious Goodwood .Also finished good 2ND in Jersey stakes at Royal Ascot behind Ribchester in 2016 .Returned to form last time ,finishing close 3RD to Arabian Hope in 1M Listed race at York .Should go well returning 7F ,having won twice at Newmarket's Rowley Mile course over the distance.

 VERDICT : THIKRIYAAT makes plenty appeal returning to 7 furlongs ,having shown some decent form last season over the trip (211) ,including winning Listed Race and finishing excellent 2ND in Jersey stakes .Looked on the way back in Listed race at York last time .Odds around 6-1 look each-way solid value .

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THIKRIYAAT 3.15 NEWMARKET
£30.00 EACH-WAY @ 6-1 888SPORT *
(UNPLACED SP 11-2 LOSS £60.00)