ALL VIEWS ARE MY OWN
Not much of an article this week as I am cream crackered after all my recent travelling, but I try not to leave you with nothing to read, and have had a look at the major races this weekend to offer up some opinions.
Other than that, I do need to at least mention the Parliamentary debate on Monday evening, basically three hours of my life I won’t get back. MP after MP stood up arguing racing’s case for affordability checks in their current form to be put on the backburner with the odd exception, all pointing out the potential disastrous effect on the sport, but after two and a half hours, it was the turn of the Minister Stuart Andrew to reply (or that’s what. I thought). Bottom line, with the exception of the odd nod in the right direction, Stuart read out a pre-prepared speech that seemed to offer nothing new, suggesting the runaway train was still set to call at Disasterville in the not too distant future. As I write, some MPs are talking of going over the Minister’s head straight to the Prime Minister (Rishi Sunak this week) looking for clarification and a change of tack, but I stupidly thought they might be listened to in the first place, otherwise what exactly was the point of the debate?
On to the racing (while my blood continues to boil)…
With all bar one of the races at Newbury fiendish handicaps, my first bet this weekend will be in the bumper that closes the card at 4.40pm. Donald McCain heads south with the once raced Not Now Nathaniel, a son of (you guessed it) dual Group One winner Nathaniel, who could be very well bought at 12,6500 Guineas as a yearling. Debuting at Newcastle on the all-weather in late January, he pulled far too hard for his own good but showed plenty of resolution to win by a neck, with the third a coup-le of lengths adrift. The odds-on runner-up has finished second since to give the form a more solid look about it, and as the suggestion can only improve if and when he learns to settle, there is every chance he can double up this afternoon.
At Doncaster, the Skeltons send a strong team and ought to come away with a winner or two, with Nube Negra my idea of their best chance in the 2.35pm . Classy at his best, he has been a bit frustrating so far this year with four top four finishes but no victories, so they try first-time cheekpieces looking to eke out a touch of improvement. Fourth in the Clarence House Chase at Cheltenham last time out, his best run was a three length second to Editeur Du Gite at Kempton in December, and a repeat of that off the same mark ought to prove more than enough in what looks a fractionally weaker contest, though at 5/1 or thereabouts, I will be playing each way.
Kelso is the Premier Raceday meeting this Saturday which is good to see, and if we can get a place out of Geronimo in the 2.50pm I will be very happy. Looking for his hat-trick after wins at Doncaster over two miles and two and a half, he does suffer an added 8lb from the handicapper this afternoon, but he clearly gets on well with Charlie Maggs who claims 7lb off his back and he certainly looks overpriced at the current 25/1. Of course he needs to improve again to take a hand in the finish, but that is not impossible, and a fast run race as expected here may see him sitting handy throughout before being sent on two out or so to put his added stamina to good use.
One more out of the left field for you all this weekend, and he runs in Dubai at Meydan in the 12.40pm UK time, the Group Three Burj Nahaar over the mile. His name is Laurel River, and he won some decent races when trained by Bob Baffert including the Grade Two Pat O’Brien Stakes at Del Mar on his last start stateside in August 2022. Moved to Dubai and the stable of Bhupat Seemar, reappearing after 17 months off over six furlongs here when sent off the 6/5 favourite. He hadn’t read the script that day and trailed home a 10 length seventh, but with that run under his belt and the step up in trip, I am expecting a much better effort on Saturday, and hopefully at an each way price.
Sean’s Suggestions:
Nube Negra 2.35pm Doncaster each way
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