ALL VIEWS ARE MY OWN
No chat no podcast – and some would say no point – but I am STILL shattered from Royal Ascot where I put in the miles for some success and plenty of failure – it was fun but it was also tiring!
Therefore this week sees an “article lite” for you – racing on Saturday and nothing else, so enjoy the peace and quiet while you can, and maybe use the free time to crack open a drink or two?
Saturday Racing - and we are only looking at the Group races to go a bit up market!
2.04pm Newcastle
Kinross heads the market here ahead of his return to action and although he missed Royal Ascot because the ground was too quick for him, the formbook does show a win on good to firm at York last summer so soft ground may see him at peak, but it is not necessarily required for him to perform. The big question here after eight months off the track has to be his fitness level – is he coming here because he is jumping out of his skin and they cannot wait to get him to the track – or does he need a run to put him right for other targets? I am hoping connections are wary of a dry summer limiting his options and are coming here for the money, in which case it is noted that he has a one win from two starts record on the all-weather, is a Group One winner running in a Group Three contest, has 5lb or more in hand over all his rivals on today’s terms, and has run well before over a truly run six furlongs, even if he is better over seven, all of which suggest he has a pretty decent chance.
2.20pm The Curragh
Second guessing Ryan Moore is clearly a pretty futile pastime and the fact that he has picked Aidan’ O’Brien’s Truly Enchanting here of the stable trio tells its own story, but she failed to impress at Royal Ascot back in 13thand needs to do more here. Of course she could win, but at the early prices I will take a risk each way on stable companion Easy Mover, the mount of Declan McDonogh. A daughter of Wootton Bassett, she made a winning debut when running on to get up late on after showing signs of inexperience and I think she can improve considerably for that run, making her a major player here at a much bigger price.
2.55pm The Curragh
Irish racing, check, Aidan O’Brien runner check – if only life was that simple eh? The facts are that the master of Ballydoyle is in a class of his own as we all know, as are his horses on most occasions, and having won five of the last 10 renewals of this race, I am not going to dare to bet against Jan Brueghel here. A once raced son of Galileo and a full-brother to Group One Irish Derby winner Sovereign, he made an impressive debut when winning by eight lengths over course and distance in late May despite being fairly weak in the early markets. He already holds Group One entries including in the Juddmonte Stakes at York which suggests he is held in high regard, and if he is that good then this Group Three contest ought to be bread and butter to him under Ryan Moore.
3.25pm Newmarket
A frankly disappointing field of six for the Group Three Criterion Stakes despite close to £50,000 to the winner, but it does at least still look competitive even if each way bets seem pretty irrelevant. Charlie Appleby’s Noble Dynasty was last seen winning a Class Two handicap at Newmarket on the Rowley Mile and heads the market at 9/4 and although he does seem progressive, I am happy enough to look elsewhere for the winner. Nostrumis one of those horses I have followed over a cliff ever since his winning debut, and from his next six starts I have collected twice (at odds of 7/4 and 11/10) and lost my money four times, so not a profitable experience. He returned with a last of six at Sandown and has been gelded since as they look to get him back to his best form, and although not the most reliable sort, he is the best horse in the race officially.
3.30pm The Curragh
The Brits have won four of the last 10 renewals of the Group One Pretty Polly Stakes including last year, and we have strong chances of gaining some small revenge for Royal Ascot once more in 2024. Bluestocking heads the betting for Ralph Beckett after winning the Group Two Middleton Stakes at York last month, and with only eight career starts, the four-year-old may well have even more improvement to come. She can go well, but thew word in Newmarket has been all about the rejuvenation of Emily Upjohn in recent weeks, and with the Gosdens firing in the winners, she is my narrow preference. Already a dual Group One winner, unlike her market rival, she drops back in trip but connections feel that may be a massive advantage here, and are very keen to let her take her chances.
Sean’s Suggestion:
Jan Brueghel 2.55pm The Curagh
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