A cracking day of racing this Saturday with the Ayr Gold Cup taking centre stage. A field of 27 will lineup for the six furlong contest, with many seemingly having a chance to emulate last year's winner Redford. Elsewhere there is plenty of group company and handicapping action, including the Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury, where Caspar Netscher bids to claim another Group 2 prize.
Ayr (Good To Soft)
2.45 Firth of Clyde Stakes (Group 3) 6f, 2-year-old fillies (12 runners)
Miss Work Of Art (Richard Fahey/Paul Hanagan) 4/1fav or Kohala (David Barron/Phillip Makin) 5/1
Richard Fahey's Miss Work Of Art started her career with three wins on the spin before struggling up in grade and trip during two July outings. Showed she could handled six furlongs when second to Bogart at York last month in softer conditions though, and could play a leading role. Kohala has performed with credit in group company so far, but the step up to six furlongs might be to her disadvantage.
3.20 Ayr Gold Cup (Heritage Handicap) 6f, 3-year-olds+ (27 runners)
Son Of The Cat (Brian Gubby/Silvester De Sousa) 25/1ew or Below Zero (Mark Johnston/FM Berry) 28/1ew
A large number of this 27 runner field have good chances, including the inform Eton Rifles, but I've gone for two larger priced horses that will appreciate the distance and softer conditions. Son Of The Cat has split his time this season between listed and handicap events, winning the Stewards' Sprint Stakes at Glorious Goodwood in July. He appears to be on a good mark following two decent listed runs since. His low draw is a bonus. Below Zero has won two handicaps over six furlongs this season, one on soft ground, and has generally been consistent in larger handicap fields. Croisultan is another horse of interest following a good performance in an Irish Group 3 race last weekend.
4.30 Doonside Cup Stakes (Listed) 10f, 3-year-olds+ (5 runners)
Hot Prospect (Roger Varian/Eddie Ahern) 9/4jf
Roger Varian's runner has been consistent enough this year, racing three times over 10 furlongs. Doesn't mind the softer ground and appears to be the horse with the best form.
Newbury (Good To Soft)
2.00 Arc Trial (Group 3) 11f, 3-year-olds+ (8 runners)
Dangerous Midge (Brian Meehan/Martin Dwyer) 11/2 or Sea Of Heartbreak (Roger Charlton/Richard Hughes) 12/1ew
Last year's winner Dangerous Midge ran well first time out in 2010, and finished that campaign with victory in the $3,000,000 Breeders' Cup Turf contest at Churchill Downs, Kentucky. Conditions may not suit this time, but he's a strong candidate nonetheless. Sea Of Heartbreak has put in four strong performances this season, winning last time out in the listed Chalice Stakes at this course. Others possibly stronger, but worth considering each-way.
2.30 Mill Reef Stakes (Group 2) 6f, 2-year-olds (9 runners)
Caspar Netscher (Alan McCabe/Kieren Fallon) 2/1fav or Factory Time (Mick Channon/Chris Catlin) 20/1ew
Despite carrying a penalty for his victory in the Gimcrack at York last time out, Caspar Netscher is very much the one to beat with form, distance and conditions on his side. Factory Time put in a great performance to finish second at Doncaster in the valuable Weatherby's Insurance Stakes last week and looks sure to run well again at a big price.
3.05 Handicap (Class 2) 10f, 3-year-olds+ (20 runners)
Labarinto (Sir Michael Stoute/Richard Hughes) 4/1fav or Kirthill (Luca Cumani/Kieren Fallon) 7/1ew
Siding with three-year-olds at this time of the season can prove a good strategy and Labarinto could continue his handicap improvement by winning for a second successive time. Kirthill and Oceanway are two other three-year-olds worth looking at at.
3.40 World Trophy (Group 3) 5f, 3-year-olds+ (11 runners)
Dinkum Diamond (Henry Candy/William Buick) 8/1ew or Katla (JF Grogan/Kieren Fallon) 12/1ew
Another race where three-year-olds could prosper from the weight allowance, none more so than Dinkum Diamond, whose consistency this year makes him a great each-way shout if the price remains around 8/1. Katla is another of the classic generation who could feature at a larger price following good runs in Irish listed events recently.
Newmarket (Good To Firm)
2.20 Median Auction Stakes (Class 2) 6f, 2-year-old fillies (14 runners)
Roedean (Richard Hannon/Richard Mullen) 5/1 or Lemon Rock (Noel Quinlan/BA Curtis) 8/1ew
Not the greatest of auction races, but Richard Hannon's record in contests of this type marks Roedean out as one to consider. She is at the bottom of the weights and is a consistent performer. Lemon Rock runs best when the ground is firm.
2.50 Median Auction Trophy (Class 2) 7f, 2-year-olds (16 runners)
Coupe De Ville (Richard Hannon/Pat Dobbs) 7/2fav or Alkazim (David Wachman/WM Lordan) 10/1ew
Coupe De Ville has the best form of this field, and is weighted appropriately, but should go close for Richard Hannon. Alkazim comes over from Ireland, and despite finishing second in all three starts so far, will surely go close.
3.30 Cesarewitch Trial (Class 2 Handicap) 18f, 3-year-olds+ (18 runners)
Montparnasse (Mark Johnston/Luke Morris) 16/1ew or Eshtyaaq (David Evans/Cathy Gannon) 14/1ew
Mark Johnston's four-year-old finished fifth in this race last year and is now 10 pounds lower in the weights. Likes the ground to be firm and ran well last time out, albeit over 12 furlongs. Eshtyaaq has moved up the weights in the last couple of months following three second placed finishes in a row. Upped in trip again for this.
No comments:
Post a Comment