After a War and Peace version of my weekly article last time around there is a little less to talk about this week (you will be glad to hear), though it needs mentioning for starters that others are now speaking out against affordability checks and the likely harm they will do to the sport of horse racing both in the short and the long term. Gary Moore chipped in this week (and everyone likes Gary), commenting in simple terms that less betting means less levy means lower prize money means less owners – though why the period that be at Westminster and elsewhere can’t see that is beyond me I am sorry to say.
Meanwhile, I have only seen three days of York by the time this goes to press, but a few things did stand out. Jamie Spencer’s ride on Equilateral in the opener (no horse rated that high had won that race in over a quarter of a century according to my records) was sublime even if I did back something else, Ryan Moore’s ride on Continuous reminded everyone why he is considered the best jockey in the World, and Frankie delighted his fans with (perhaps) an an even better ride on Mostahdaf to take the Juddmonte – though I still feel Paddington was not at his best on the day.
On Thursday Dragon Leader beat a high class field with ease and looks a real money-maker for Clive Cox with better races surely on the horizon now, while Warm Heart was a game winner under James Doyle in the Yorkshire Oaks, even if he did bet Aidan O’Brien’s first string in to third! Savethelastdance ran a blinder on ground far too quick for her to finish third and I stand by my view that she will be the stable’s number one come the Arc in October when the going is more likely to be in her favour.
Friday was more of a damp squib for me, though if you weren’t excited to see Adam West take the Nunthorpe with the unfancied Live In The Dream then there must be something wrong with you! The sheer unbridled (pun intended) emption among connections after his win brought a tear to many an eye, and if you look at the clock this was no fluke. A time of 56.87 seconds for the five furlongs is mightily impressive, and if he does head to the Breeders Cup which appears the plan, he may be able to serve it up to the Yanks in their own back yard. The rest of the meeting failed to excite me too much (with the possible exception of King’s Gamble, third in the Gimcrack but all set to make a much better three-year-old).
On to the racing and with no podcast this week I can cherry pick my own races for a change so best of luck that works out and produces a profit!
Saturday Racing
1.50pm York
With York proving far too tricky for most of us, it may make good sense to switch our attentions elsewhere this Saturday in the never-ending hunt for winners and profit, with the one exception. Nostrum is a personal favourite of mine, the winner of two of his three starts as a two-year-old, and third to 2000 Guineas winner Chaldean in the Group One Dewhurst Stakes on his final outing last year. He returned this year later than hoped after some minor setbacks, but easily won the Listed Sir Henry Cecil Stakes last month but disappointed a little at Goodwood when only second in the Bonhams Stakes. He pulled a bit too hard for his own good that day but hopefully will have learned from that experience, and in receipt of weight from his elders here, he ought to get back to winning ways.
2.05pm Goodwood
We all like a bigger priced option now and then (even if they are a much riskier proposition) and I am sorely tempted to have a small each way bet on Elegant Madame in the Prestige Stakes from Goodwood at 2.05pm. She is, quite rightly, a huge price here, but she caught my eye when winning on her only start to date on the all-weather course at Lingfield. A half-length winning margin in a Class Five obviously leaves her with plenty to find, but she cruised throughout before being produced to win as she pleased, with the promise of more to come. She will need the run of the race to get into the mix here but in my imagination I can see them going off hell for leather from the off, and if she can keep tabs on the early leaders, she can thread her way through and go close at the very least this afternoon.
5.06pm Cartmel
Something slightly different next as I head off to Cartmel of all places for the Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle due off at 5.06pm. Nadim keeps in improving with wins in all of his last three starts, and over trips ranging from two miles to two and a half miles, at Stratford, Market Rasen, and most recently, Worcester. He seems to be one of those horses who only ever does enough to get to the front where it matters, and that has made it difficult for the handicapper to get his measure. Upped another 3lb for his last odds-on success, he has the benefit of Bradley Harris in the saddle again here, and as he has ridden the four-year-old to those three successes, there is every reason to think he can go in again.
5.50pm Windsor
With the Clive Cox team on fire recently it may be best to side with the once-raced James’s Delight in this Novice Stakes after the son of Invincible Army made a winning start at Newbury. An easy to back 12/1 shot that day, I always see that as a suggestion that there is more to come, and if he learns from the experience, he could give weight away to all of his rivals via his winner’s penalty. Richard Kingscote gave him a peach of a ride that day, educating him with every stride before pouncing late on for a neck success, and with the partnership renewed this evening, there is every chance of a comfortable follow-up.
6.50pm Windsor
Passenger has become a bit of a forgotten horse in some eyes, but his overall form profile looks good as he takes in the Group Three Winter Hill Stakes this evening at Windsor looking to redeem his reputation. An easy winner of the Wood Ditton at Newmarket on his debut (unraced as a juvenile), he was deemed an unlucky loser in the Dante at York when continually denied a clear run before coming home third to the Foxes, and then failed to see out the mile and a half at Epsom when well beaten in the Derby. He drops down in class and trip here on his first start since early June,
Sean’s suggestions:
Passenger 6.50pm Windsor
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