Where do we start with the story of the moment of even year as the government looks to a gambling review that may yet affect us all. The bottom line is we live in a World where allegedly democracy is King, yet here we are with the risk of all our accounts being subject to ridiculous scrutiny, the possibility of not just our own bank statements needing to be sent off to the bookmakers but those of anyone who has paid in to our account. Yet somehow, we the sensible gamblers are in the massive majority) 99.7% apparently), and all this is being done on behalf of the louder minority who admittedly need help and support, but perhaps not at our expense.
Meanwhile here we are again, apologising every week for covering races with three four or five runners – but what can we do to make racing that bit more competitive? The bottom line is I suspect that most things have already been looked at and even tried, but as usual racing fails to keep us rowdy punters informed, and we all sit here wondering what is coming next. To some peoples horror, I personally feel we need more racing series (greys, geldings, veterans, syndicate owned, whatever it takes), geographically if necessary, with bonuses that van be sourced from those still making money out of the business. Auction houses, breeders, racecourses et al all need to reach deep in to their pockets on racing’s behalf, because bigger fields means more betting, means more levy, means more money back in to racings coffers -but we all have to pull in the same direction, which is yet to happen in my lifetime.
As I look to try to end my musings with a good news story (trust me, it isn’t easy), how about the success of Emblem Road in the Saudi Cup last weekend, the richest race in the World at present. Don’t forget we sent last year’s winner Mishriff, while the Americans were also well represented, but the Mitab Almulawah trained winner showed them all a clean pair of heels to keep the prize money at home. If there is a jockey with a better name than Wigberto Ramos then I am yet to meet him, but he rode the winner with plenty of confidence and although it would be ridiculous to suggest Saudi Arabia are a force in World racing, this will have grabbed the attention of some very rich people who may now look to expand their acing operations as the Middle East looks to increase its influence on the racing World.
Bored of reading – simply click here https://theworldofsport.co.uk/2022/03/03/dundalk-kelso-doncaster-lingfield-navan-and-meyday-so-something-for-everyone/ to listen to the podcast by me Sean Trivass, and my colleague Ron Robinson of World of Sport fame.
On to the racing…..
Friday
8.00pm Dundalk
Interestingly for a Listed race in March, only three of the eight runners have actually had a start this year, so we reach the standard battle of form versus fitness. Juncture looks to be the form line to follow after she won her maiden at Leopardstown and followed that with a solid enough second to Agartha in the Group Three Silver Flash Stakes at the same venue, but I note that the winner was trained by Joseph O’Brien, suggesting he may know exactly what is needed to beat her again here. He will be relying on the thrice raced In Ecstasy here, who has won his last two starts over course and distance, and has already proved he can act on the all-weather surface. He does need to improve to score at this level but his yard are in great form already and he looks the one to beat, though I am wary of Johnny Murtagh’s improving Angel Girl who could surprise a few at a bigger price.
Saturday
1.32pm Kelso
A cracker of a race to start our day with a list of winning form for all the runners, and three of them arriving here unbeaten. Official ratings point to the chances of North Lodge (dropping back in trip and has to give weight away) and Richmond Lake (second to the mighty Jonbon at Haydock) who unsurprisingly fill the first two spots in the early betting, but you know me, I have found an alternative. Bold Endeavour was sorely tempting as he bids to make it five wins in a row but I will take a chance on Dan Skelton’s Sholokjack, bought for £75,000 after winning a point-to-point at Mainstown in Ireland, after which he won a maiden at Leicester and a novice hurdle at Wetherby. He does have 4lb to find on the official ratings but is one of those horses who only ever does enough without being over exuberant, and if his hurdling stands up in this better (and possibly quicker) contest, then he will hopefully cruise round before being produced late by jockey Harry Skelton.
2.40pm Kelso
If Espoir De Romay strips fitter for his return effort then the forecast odds against (2/1) looks pretty good value regardless. His overall form stands out here with two wins from four starts last season plus a second to Gold Cup hope Royal Pagaille at Haydock (beaten seven lengths), and a fall at Aintree two out when leading by a couple of lengths in the race won by Chantry House. Nothing else here can boast that level of form and although he did disappoint when third at Carlisle in October, the step up to three miles is expected to see further improvement, as is this lesser opposition.
4.19pm Lingfield
Who doesn’t love a Listed contest on the Lingfield all-weather, reminding us that the Flat season proper is a matter of weeks away, and this seven-furlong contest may yet have some relevance over the early races on the grass. Today we have a maximum of seven three-year-olds racing here, and with all of them open to further improvement, it a tough race to even try to solve. William Haggas has won three of the last five renewals so Canonized warrants plenty of respect, but he was comfortably beaten by El Caballo last time out at Newcastle and will need to find a few pounds to turn that form around on the same terms. Karl Burke’s son of Havana Gold was impressive that day, making all despite ducking away at the start and coming home alone, and if he improves at all for his first start in close to three months, he could take all the beating here as well.
3.58pm Navan
A Grade Three Novice chase is the only race in Ireland worth talking about today, and a mere six runners will hurt those like me who prefer to find a decent each-way shout. Gentleman De Mee looks all set to go off odds-on here for Willie Mullins after winning easily enough last time out, but I won’t be getting involved at that price having watched him hit far too many fences for my liking. If he gets round cleanly he probably wins, but that is not guaranteed and if I do have a bet (which I won’t), then Stand Off may be worth a chance. One run over fences so far saw a comfortable success at Fairyhouse where he didn’t need a strong ride to come home close to three lengths clear, and in a fast run race as seems likely, he may, just may, be able to sit in behind and come with a late rattle.
2.20pm Doncaster
This is one of those contests where the favourite could easily romp home by a wide margin, but there are sufficient reasons to think otherwise to suggest I look for an each way bet instead. Get A Tonic is the likely jolly here, and perhaps rightly so after she finished a three length second to Marie’s Rock at Warwick in a four horse race. She is officially rated 9lb superior to all of her rivals and if she sees out the three miles plus then she will take some beating, but the fact is she hasn’t raced over this sort of trip since her win in a point-to-point in October 2020. If she does stay the probability is she will win, but at the forecast prices I will be on So Said I to pennies in the hope of a place. The grey had won her last two starts over three miles so we know that stamina is not an issue, and if she can get clear of this field early one as hoped, she won’t be stopping close home despite a big rise in class today.
11.35am Meydan
Luckily for me I have a lot of contacts out in Dubai (no I am not going for the World Cup this year, tempting as it was), and that includes being sent transcripts from trainer interviews etc ahead of all the bigger meetings. Unsurprisingly, Godolphin do particularly well on their home track but I was surprised to read that Charlie Appleby, who has trained the winner of this for the last four years, described Global Storm with the words …”we feel that he has a good chance of making the frame”. That certainly doesn’t sound as positive as I would have expected ,and although that does not mean he won’t win, I will row in with Hukum as the likelier to come home in front. Owen Burrows trains the five-year-old who was last seen winning the Group Three Cumberland Lodge Stakes at Ascot last October an there is a nagging feeling that this is a prep race for World Cup night, but the form book doesn’t lie and if he is fit enough, I am confident that he is good enough here.
1.55pm Meydan
A Group One in Dubai with just the one Godolphin runner (Dubai Icon) and a 25/1 shot at that – the World really has gone mad! Salute The Soldier won this last season for Fawzi Abdulla Nass and will make a bold bid to defend his crown but I think I have a decent each way shout for you here with Bhupat Seemar’s Avant Garde who is currently trading at odds of 20/1. A giant of a horse at 17 hands, his trainer admits he is hard to get fit and he should strip a lot fitter for his recent seventh over a mile here in mid-January. Slowly away that day, he lost too much at the start to ever have a chance, but was eating up ground late on to be beaten less than eight lengths at the line. With that run under his belt and an added two furlongs here we may see a far better performance, with stablemate Remorse also expected to well and mount a serious challenge.
3.30pm Meydan
Older horses dominate the betting ahead of this one mile one furling contest with nine-year-old Lord Glitters and eight-year-old Barney Roy the first two in the early betting. Lord Glitters is the in-form horse after winning the Singspiel Stakes last time out, but Charlie Appleby reports that Zakouski, third and beaten a couple of lengths that day, has come on for the run and he is the pick of William Buick, ahead of both Barney Roy (James Doyle), Land Of Legends (Frankie Dettori), and Highland Avenue (Mickael Barzalona). Cheekpieces are added to the suggestion to help him concentrate in the finish and at the current odds, he may yet prove to be the value option.
Sean’s Suggestions:
Sholokjack each way 1.30pm Kelso
Avant Garde each way 1.55pm Meydan (Dubai)
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