A number of good races on the cards across England tomorrow, including the Celebration Mile at Goodwood and the big races of the summer at Beverley and Windsor.
Goodwood (Good To Soft)
2.15 Windflower March Stakes (Listed) 14f, 3-year-old+ (6 runners)
Drunken Sailor (Luca Cumani/Kieren Fallon) 5/4fav
Despite carrying top weight, the in-form Drunken Sailor can claim this race for the second year running, after winning the Group 3 Glorious Stakes at this track last month. Motrice (Sir Mark Prescott/Seb Sanders, 7/4) should come closest to beating the favourite.
2.50 Prestige Stakes (Group 3) 7f, 2-year-old fillies (7 runners)
Regal Realm (Jeremy Noseda/Jimmy Fortune) 9/4fav
The favourite finished second in the Princess Margaret Stakes on her last appearance, that was on softer ground and the step up in trip should bring out further improvement. Questing and Lily's Angel will offer the most resistance.
3.20 Celebration Mile (Group 2) 8f, 3-year-olds+ (7 runners)
Poet's Voice (Saeed Bin Suroor/Frankie Dettori) 11/8fav
Making his belated UK season debut, last year's Queen Elizabeth II Stakes winner looks the class act in this field as he drops down a grade. The Godolphin four-year-old also won this last year and should edge out 2000 Guineas runner-up Dubawi Gold (Richard Hannon/Richard Hughes, 4/1) and the in-form Beacon Lodge (Clive Cox/Adam Kirby, 5/1).
3.50 Heritage Handicap (Class 2) 7f, 3-year-olds+ (20 runners)
Eton Rifles (David Elsworth/Kieren Fallon) 9/1ew or Docofthebay (David Nicholls/Adrian Nicholls) 12/1ew
Only his third run of the season, but Eton Rifles comes into this race on the back of a decent fourth placed finish in the Group 3 Chipchase Stakes at Newcastle. He doesn't mind a bit of cut in the ground and has a decent jockey on board. Docofthebay has been running consistently well in class 2 handicaps all year, and once again, runs well on a softer surface.
Newmarket (Soft)
3.30 Memorial Hopeful Stakes (Listed) 6f, 3-year-olds+ (9 runners)
Monsieur Chevalier (Richard Hannon/Pat Dobbs) 5/2fav
The favourite acted superbly on soft ground at Royal Ascot to grab second in the Group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes. Anything close to that form here will see him record an easy victory.
Beverley (Good To Firm)
3.35 Beverley Bullet Stakes (Listed) 5f, 3-year-olds+ (15 runners)
Duchess Dora (John Quinn/PB Beggy) 7/2fav or Tangerine Trees (Bryan Smart/Tom Eaves) 16/1ew
A race that depends a lot on the draw. Duchess Dora is the favourite due to her making massive strides this season. The four-year-old filly is drawn low in stall four and is given a massive weight allowance. Tangerine Trees is capable of performing in better company, and runs well at Beverley, but was last seen struggling in Group 1 company at Royal Ascot. Captain Dunne (Tim Easterby/David Allen, 5/1) would probably be favourite if it wasn't for his high draw.
Windsor (Good To Soft)
6.10 August Stakes (Listed) 11f135yrds, 3-year-olds+ (8 runners)
Elusive Pimpernel (John Dunlop/Eddie Ahern) 7/4fav or Opera Gal (Andrew Balding/Jimmy Fortune) 7/1ew
John Dunlop's runner hasn't progressed as expected following a superb two-year-old campaign, but he should act on slower ground and is the class horse in the field. Opera Gal looks a decent price for each-way money following decent performances in listed contests this year.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
York's Ebor Festival - Day 2
York (Good To Soft)
2.00 DBS Premier Yearling Stakes (Class 2), 6f, 2-year-olds (20 runners)
Crown Dependency (Richard Hannon/Richard Hughes) 5/2fav or Roger Sez (Tim Easterby/David Allen) 16/1ew
2.30 Lowther Stakes (Group 2), 6f, 2-year-old fillies (11 runners)
Fire Lily (David Wachman/WM Lorden) 13/2ew or Best Terms (Richard Hannon/Richard Hughes) 8/1ew
3.05 Addleshaw Goddard Stakes (Class 2 Handicap), 8f, 3-year-olds+ (20 runners)
Pintura (David Simcock/Jamie Spencer) 17/2ew or Dubai Dynamo (Ruth Carr/Hayley Turner) 25/1ew
3.40 Yorkshire Oaks (Group 1), 12f, 3-year-olds+ fillies & mares (9 runners)
Blue Bunting (Mahmood Al-Zarooni/Frankie Dettori) 11/4fav or Banimpire (JS Bolger/KJ Manning) 6/1ew
4.15 EBF Selkirk Galtres Stakes (Listed), 12f, 3-year-olds+ fillies & mares (9 runners)
Field Of Miracles (John Gosden/William Buick) 4/1 or Mirror Lake (Amanda Perrett/Pat Dobbs) 9/1ew
4.50 Class 3 Handicap Stakes, 16f, 4-year-olds+ (17 runners)
Hawk Mountain (John Quinn/Jamie Spencer) 9/1ew or Deauville Flyer (Tim Easterby/Kieren Fallon) 7/1fav
2.00 DBS Premier Yearling Stakes (Class 2), 6f, 2-year-olds (20 runners)
Crown Dependency (Richard Hannon/Richard Hughes) 5/2fav or Roger Sez (Tim Easterby/David Allen) 16/1ew
2.30 Lowther Stakes (Group 2), 6f, 2-year-old fillies (11 runners)
Fire Lily (David Wachman/WM Lorden) 13/2ew or Best Terms (Richard Hannon/Richard Hughes) 8/1ew
3.05 Addleshaw Goddard Stakes (Class 2 Handicap), 8f, 3-year-olds+ (20 runners)
Pintura (David Simcock/Jamie Spencer) 17/2ew or Dubai Dynamo (Ruth Carr/Hayley Turner) 25/1ew
3.40 Yorkshire Oaks (Group 1), 12f, 3-year-olds+ fillies & mares (9 runners)
Blue Bunting (Mahmood Al-Zarooni/Frankie Dettori) 11/4fav or Banimpire (JS Bolger/KJ Manning) 6/1ew
4.15 EBF Selkirk Galtres Stakes (Listed), 12f, 3-year-olds+ fillies & mares (9 runners)
Field Of Miracles (John Gosden/William Buick) 4/1 or Mirror Lake (Amanda Perrett/Pat Dobbs) 9/1ew
4.50 Class 3 Handicap Stakes, 16f, 4-year-olds+ (17 runners)
Hawk Mountain (John Quinn/Jamie Spencer) 9/1ew or Deauville Flyer (Tim Easterby/Kieren Fallon) 7/1fav
Friday, August 12, 2011
Cape Blanco tackles America: Part Two
Four excellent Grade 1 races are set for Saturday afternoon, with the Arlington Million taking centre stage.
AP O'Brien sends Cape Blanco raiding across the Atlantic for a second time this season, but the four-year-old has company this time in the guise of Epsom Derby runner-up Treasure Beach. Cape Blanco tackles the Million, while Treasure Beach features in the Secretariat Stakes at the same track.
Arlington Park (Arlington Heights, Il) (Good)
3.52CT (9.52BST) $400,000 Secretariat Stakes (Grade 1) 10f, 3-year-olds (10 runners)
Willcox Inn (Michael Stidham/R Albarado) 5/1 or Banned (Thomas F Proctor/GK Gomez) 9/2
Irish Derby winner Treasure Beach is the 6/4 favourite and takes a drop back in trip from a mile and a half. I'm going to oppose the 3-year-old, however, with American Derby winner Willcox Inn. Virginia Derby runner-up Banned is another to consider.
4.33 (10.33) $750,000 Beverly D. Stakes (Grade 1) 9f110yrds, 3-year-old+ fillies & mares (11 runners)
Dubawi Heights (Simon Callaghan/J Rosario) 12/1ew or River Jetez (MF De Kock/Christophe Soumillon) 4/1fav
Former British runner Dubawi Heights has made a seamless transition to American racing with three victories this year, including the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes at Hollywood Park. Globetrotting 8-year-old South African River Jetez sets a good standard following her runs in the UAE, Britain and the Far East.
5.15 (11.15) $1,000,000 Arlington Million (Grade 1) 10f, 3-year-olds+ (10 runners)
Cape Blanco (AP O'Brien/Jamie Spencer) 2/1fav or Rahystrada (Byron G Hughes/Sheldon Russell) 14/1ew
Cape Blanco's American debut couldn't have gone any better in the Man O'War Stakes at Belmont Park in June and the four-year-old looks primed to make it a second victory of the season this side of the Atlantic. Rahystrada won the Colonial Turf Cup at Colonial Downs and looks an interesting each-way price. Also, a note for British female jockey Hayley Turner who rides second favourite Wigmore Hall for Michael Bell.
Saratoga (Saratoga Springs, NY) (Good)
5.50ET (10.50BST) $500,000 Sword Dancer Invitational Stakes (Grade 1) 12f, 3-year-olds+ (8 runners)
Drosselmeyer (William Mott/Jose Lezcano) 8/1ew or Boisterous (Claude R McGaughey III/JR Velazquez) 4/1
Last year's Belmont Stakes winner has had a tough time so far this year, but I'll take a chance that he retains some of the ability that saw him take the showcase race. Boisterous ran well behind Cape Blanco in the Man O'War Stakes and makes the step up in trip.
AP O'Brien sends Cape Blanco raiding across the Atlantic for a second time this season, but the four-year-old has company this time in the guise of Epsom Derby runner-up Treasure Beach. Cape Blanco tackles the Million, while Treasure Beach features in the Secretariat Stakes at the same track.
Arlington Park (Arlington Heights, Il) (Good)
3.52CT (9.52BST) $400,000 Secretariat Stakes (Grade 1) 10f, 3-year-olds (10 runners)
Willcox Inn (Michael Stidham/R Albarado) 5/1 or Banned (Thomas F Proctor/GK Gomez) 9/2
Irish Derby winner Treasure Beach is the 6/4 favourite and takes a drop back in trip from a mile and a half. I'm going to oppose the 3-year-old, however, with American Derby winner Willcox Inn. Virginia Derby runner-up Banned is another to consider.
4.33 (10.33) $750,000 Beverly D. Stakes (Grade 1) 9f110yrds, 3-year-old+ fillies & mares (11 runners)
Dubawi Heights (Simon Callaghan/J Rosario) 12/1ew or River Jetez (MF De Kock/Christophe Soumillon) 4/1fav
Former British runner Dubawi Heights has made a seamless transition to American racing with three victories this year, including the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes at Hollywood Park. Globetrotting 8-year-old South African River Jetez sets a good standard following her runs in the UAE, Britain and the Far East.
5.15 (11.15) $1,000,000 Arlington Million (Grade 1) 10f, 3-year-olds+ (10 runners)
Cape Blanco (AP O'Brien/Jamie Spencer) 2/1fav or Rahystrada (Byron G Hughes/Sheldon Russell) 14/1ew
Cape Blanco's American debut couldn't have gone any better in the Man O'War Stakes at Belmont Park in June and the four-year-old looks primed to make it a second victory of the season this side of the Atlantic. Rahystrada won the Colonial Turf Cup at Colonial Downs and looks an interesting each-way price. Also, a note for British female jockey Hayley Turner who rides second favourite Wigmore Hall for Michael Bell.
Saratoga (Saratoga Springs, NY) (Good)
5.50ET (10.50BST) $500,000 Sword Dancer Invitational Stakes (Grade 1) 12f, 3-year-olds+ (8 runners)
Drosselmeyer (William Mott/Jose Lezcano) 8/1ew or Boisterous (Claude R McGaughey III/JR Velazquez) 4/1
Last year's Belmont Stakes winner has had a tough time so far this year, but I'll take a chance that he retains some of the ability that saw him take the showcase race. Boisterous ran well behind Cape Blanco in the Man O'War Stakes and makes the step up in trip.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Back to Saratoga
An excellent evening for my picks this side of the Atlantic as Turbulent Descent and Tizway blazed clear of their respective opposition to win with lengths to spare. Today it's the turn of the sprinters at Saratoga in the Vanderbilt Handicap.
Saratoga (Fast)
5.45 (10.45BST) $250,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (Grade 1) 6f, 3-year-olds+ (8 runners)
Noble's Promise (KG McPeek/Andy Garcia) 10/1ew or Apriority (David Fawkes/Ramon Dominguez) 4/1
Noble's Promise took the Grade 3 Aristides Stakes at Churchill Downs in June before finishing third in a Grade 2 handicap last time out while carrying top weight. Apriority has finished second in all three of his big race runs this year, including in the Grade 2 Churchill Downs Stakes in May.
Saratoga (Fast)
5.45 (10.45BST) $250,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (Grade 1) 6f, 3-year-olds+ (8 runners)
Noble's Promise (KG McPeek/Andy Garcia) 10/1ew or Apriority (David Fawkes/Ramon Dominguez) 4/1
Noble's Promise took the Grade 3 Aristides Stakes at Churchill Downs in June before finishing third in a Grade 2 handicap last time out while carrying top weight. Apriority has finished second in all three of his big race runs this year, including in the Grade 2 Churchill Downs Stakes in May.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Saturday at Saratoga
Saratoga (Fast)
5.12 (10.12BST) $250,000 Test Stakes (Grade 1) 7f, 3-year-old fillies (9 runners)
Turbulent Descent (Mike Puype/D Flores) 10/11fav
5.45 (10.45 BST) $750,000 Whitney Handicap (Grade 1) 9f, 3-year-olds+ (11 runners)
Tizway (HJ Bond/R Maragh) 6/1 or Mission Impazible (Todd Pletcher/JJ Castellano) 11/2
5.12 (10.12BST) $250,000 Test Stakes (Grade 1) 7f, 3-year-old fillies (9 runners)
Turbulent Descent (Mike Puype/D Flores) 10/11fav
5.45 (10.45 BST) $750,000 Whitney Handicap (Grade 1) 9f, 3-year-olds+ (11 runners)
Tizway (HJ Bond/R Maragh) 6/1 or Mission Impazible (Todd Pletcher/JJ Castellano) 11/2
Friday, August 5, 2011
Saturday's tips for the Shergar Cup, Rose Of Lancaster Stakes and Sweet Solera Stakes
England, Ireland, Europe and the Rest of the World compete for the Shergar Cup at Ascot today, with a number of competitive handicaps making up the competition.
The Group 3 Rose Of Lancaster Stakes is the feature race on Haydock's card and the big two-year-old race of the afternoon in the Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket.
Ascot - Shergar Cup (Good To Soft)
12.50 Shergar Cup Mile Handicap (Class 2) 8f, 4-year-olds+ (10 runners)
Snow Bay (David Nicholls/Jim Crowley) 13/2ew or Autumn Blades (Alan Bailey/Hayley Turner) 14/1ew
1.25 Shergar Cup Stayers Handicap (Class 2) 16f, 4-year-olds+ (10 runners)
Ermyn Lodge (Pat Phelan/Hayley Turner) 7/2fav or Dayia (Lydia Pearce/Jim Crowley) 12/1ew
2.00 Shergar Cup Dash Handicap (Class 2) 5f, 3-year-olds+ (10 runners)
Duchess Dora (John Quinn/F. Berry) 9/2 or Dungannon (Andrew Balding/Hugh Bowman) 6/1ew
2.30 Shergar Cup Classic (Class 3 handicap) 12f, 3-year-olds (10 runners)
Halifax (Mark Johnston/Olivier Peslier) 10/1ew or Ithoughtitwasover (Mark Johnston/Richard Hughes) 10/3fav
3.00 Shergar Cup Challenge (Class 3 handicap) 12f, 4-year-olds+ (10 runners)
Averroes (Clive Cox/Mirco Demuro) 11/2 or Chock A Block (Saeed Bin Suroor/Richard Hughes) 9/1ew
3.35 Shergar Cup Sprint (Class 2 handicap) 6f, 3-year-olds (10 runners)
Firebeam (William Haggas/Paul Hanagan) 13/8fav or Morache Music (Peter Makin/FM Berry) 14/1ew
Haydock (Good To Soft)
2.45 Rose Of Lancaster Stakes (Group 3) 10f, 3-year-olds+ (8 runners)
Sajjhaa (Saeed Bin Suroor/Ted Durcan) 7/2fav
3.15 Dick Hearn Fillies' Stakes (Listed) 8f, 3-year-olds+ (12 runners)
Heavenly Dawn (Sir Michael Stoute/William Buick) 15/8fav or Sylvestris (Ralph Beckett/Stevie Donohoe) 12/1ew
Newmarket (Good)
3.15 Sweet Solera Stakes (Group 3) 7f, 2-year-old fillies (11 runners)
Discourse (Mahmood Al-Zarooni/Frankie Dettori) 2/1fav or Lily's Angel (Richard Fahey/Tony Hamilton) 12/1ew
The Group 3 Rose Of Lancaster Stakes is the feature race on Haydock's card and the big two-year-old race of the afternoon in the Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket.
Ascot - Shergar Cup (Good To Soft)
12.50 Shergar Cup Mile Handicap (Class 2) 8f, 4-year-olds+ (10 runners)
Snow Bay (David Nicholls/Jim Crowley) 13/2ew or Autumn Blades (Alan Bailey/Hayley Turner) 14/1ew
1.25 Shergar Cup Stayers Handicap (Class 2) 16f, 4-year-olds+ (10 runners)
Ermyn Lodge (Pat Phelan/Hayley Turner) 7/2fav or Dayia (Lydia Pearce/Jim Crowley) 12/1ew
2.00 Shergar Cup Dash Handicap (Class 2) 5f, 3-year-olds+ (10 runners)
Duchess Dora (John Quinn/F. Berry) 9/2 or Dungannon (Andrew Balding/Hugh Bowman) 6/1ew
2.30 Shergar Cup Classic (Class 3 handicap) 12f, 3-year-olds (10 runners)
Halifax (Mark Johnston/Olivier Peslier) 10/1ew or Ithoughtitwasover (Mark Johnston/Richard Hughes) 10/3fav
3.00 Shergar Cup Challenge (Class 3 handicap) 12f, 4-year-olds+ (10 runners)
Averroes (Clive Cox/Mirco Demuro) 11/2 or Chock A Block (Saeed Bin Suroor/Richard Hughes) 9/1ew
3.35 Shergar Cup Sprint (Class 2 handicap) 6f, 3-year-olds (10 runners)
Firebeam (William Haggas/Paul Hanagan) 13/8fav or Morache Music (Peter Makin/FM Berry) 14/1ew
Haydock (Good To Soft)
2.45 Rose Of Lancaster Stakes (Group 3) 10f, 3-year-olds+ (8 runners)
Sajjhaa (Saeed Bin Suroor/Ted Durcan) 7/2fav
3.15 Dick Hearn Fillies' Stakes (Listed) 8f, 3-year-olds+ (12 runners)
Heavenly Dawn (Sir Michael Stoute/William Buick) 15/8fav or Sylvestris (Ralph Beckett/Stevie Donohoe) 12/1ew
Newmarket (Good)
3.15 Sweet Solera Stakes (Group 3) 7f, 2-year-old fillies (11 runners)
Discourse (Mahmood Al-Zarooni/Frankie Dettori) 2/1fav or Lily's Angel (Richard Fahey/Tony Hamilton) 12/1ew
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