A dreadful day yesterday, with not even a hint of potential success.
Chesham Stakes (Listed) – 2:30pm
Karl Burke’s two-year-olds have been a wonder this week 5R-2W-1P, and he runs MOTWAHIJ here. He ran an encouraging race at Hamilton and should progress with this step up in distance. Since it was purchased in the Craven Breeze-ups for 285K Gns, this has been the planned route. AGE OF GOLD would not be a surprise, given his dad – Frankel – cost – €625K. His sectionals on his Newmarket debut showed he speeded up in the second half of the race and won easily and going away.
AGE OF GOLD 6 pts win – MOTWAHIJ 3 pts e/w
Hardwicke Stakes (G2) – 3:05pm
The market is probably right in this case, a straightforward battler between CONTINUOUS and MIDDLE EARTH. However, that also suggests that there is some wriggle room concerning the podium spots. I fancy CONTINUOUS to win and I think CANDLEFORD’s Orby victory at the Curragh – where the 2nd has come and won a G3 since, suggests a podium is more than possible.
CONTINUOUS 7 pts Win – CANDLEFORD 2 pts e/w
Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (G1) – 3:45 pm
I know BELIEVING ran on Tuesday in the KC3 Stakes – but it was by no means a disaster with a decent run undone by the draw. I can, therefore, understand his market price. MITBAAHY was behind WASHINGTON HEIGHTS and MILL STREAM in the Abernant on his debut for his new stable, then ran over shorter. He was impressive at the Curragh, accelerating in smart style to beat Regional, who ran well on Tuesday when ART POWER was fourth and SHOULDVEBEENARING was 6th. I keep trying to fancy ART POWER who heads so many ratings (OR – TF – RF) but who I just think won’t handle the ground. So with all that, I’m going to have a little on SHARTASH, almost for no other reason but that these owners have spent so much money trying to buy racing glory – they deserve a bit of luck! He used to be with Johny Murtagh, who is nobody’s fool and James Doyle in the plate is encouraging. But the clincher is that Archie Watson’s spring stats for the meeting under various conditions suggest a 40% strike rate.
MITBAAHY – SHARTASH 5 pts e/w each
Jersey Stakes (G3) – 4:25pm
HAATEM and RIVER TIBER will have appeared in hundreds of doubles and trebles across the Ascot card this week, which I think is both brave and foolish. This is by no means as certain as the market is suggesting. They ran 2nd and 3rd in the Irish 2000 Guineas behind St James Palace winner Rosallion and there was approx 1¼l between the pair. RIVER TIBER hadn’t had the benefit of a season run like the front two which was interpreted as him not seeing out the trip. So he’s back to 7f in order to reverse the form. He did have HAATEM nearly 3 lengths behind him when the pair met in last year’s Coventry Stakes over 6f, but overall I think there are surprises to come. To that end, I’ve had a look at TASK FORCE, NIGHT RAIDER and CHICAGO CRITIC. the latter is being backed from 150 to 66 and you can get 80s with Coral and Ladbrokes. I’d fancy NIGHT RAIDER but for the No 1 draw…
TASK FORCE 4 pts e/w – CHICAGO CRITIC 2 pts e/w
Wokingham Stakes (Heritage Handicap) – 5.05pm
Please check the number of places your bookie is offering. It is 6 places generally. 8 with Skybet, 5 with Ladbrokes and Boylesports and 7 with Betway.
My trends shortlist is as follows: HARRY THREE – RUMSTAR – DARK TROOPER. Ryan Moore is the clincher
HARRY THREE 4 pts e/w
Golden Gates Stakes (Handicap) – 5:40pm
CAMBRIDGE 4 pts e/w – DAM BUSTER 3 pts e/w
Queen Alexandra Stakes (Conditions) – 6:15pm
NACHTGEIST – MAGELLAN STRAIGHT – MAXIDENT 2 pts e/w each