The tips for today’s TV racing are here. Very brief. Will explain more tomorrow.
1:30 CHELTENHAM (not on TV)
DANCING QUEEN – Favourite but deserves to be. We have backed her before
1:50 NEWMARKET Each Way Extra At bet365 Hcap Cl2 (3yo 0-100) 6f 9 run
ROHANN only had a couple of Turf races last season, both on unsuitable ground. Back to the Turf and a faster surface, his AWT form suggests there is still a decent turf horse lurking underneath and the partnership of Ryan Moore will at the very least give a guide to his next move.
ROHANN e/w
2:05 CHELTENHAM NAF Fillies’ Juvenile Hcap Hurdle (G3) Cl1 (4yo) 2m1f 9 run
FIVEANDTWENTY Win – TALKING ABOUT YOU e/w
2:25 NEWMARKET bet365 Wood Ditton Maiden Stakes Cl3 (3yo) 1m 11 run
KINGSOFTHEMIDLAND has been specifically aimed at this race. €600k. Considered “quality” by yard. RAJMEISTER is considered “quirky” at home and the sire was not a huge success. However, the colt is rumoured to be quick and as I have mentioned before in these pages, Jack Mitchell is better than most. Neither we nor the horse know anything at this stage, but 50s seems too big. Take as many places as you can for odds better than 20/1. Archie Watson has SOUTHERN VOYAGE and is considered a nice type. Charlie Appleby runs VALIANT PRINCE who was £220k.
RAJMEISTER e/w 28/1 for 6 places with Bet365 e/w (28/1 5 places with Betfair!)
2:40 CHELTENHAM Citipost Mares’ Hcap Hurdle (Listed) Cl1 (4yo+) 2m4½f 10 run
THE BAY BIRCH e/w
3:00 NEWMARKET bet365 Abernant Stakes (Gp3) Cl1 (3yo+) 6f 7 run
OXTED is 11lb+ in hand of his rivals, and there is no reason to suppose that on pure form anything here is capable of beating him. SUMMERGHAND keeps flattering to deceive and has cost us plenty in his seven Group attempts to date. He is Listed or Class 2 at best. EMERAATY ANA won the Gimcrack as a 2yo, and then backpedalled for 2019 and managed a third to Oxted in this last year and then tail-end Charlie in the Nunthorpe. If there is to be a tactical race, however, then I can see the pair of them given a nasty fright by the front-running SHINE SO BRIGHT with the ace of the front-runners Sylvestre de Souza on boardjust hitting the front and trying to stay there. That might unsettle the rhythmn of the race – perhaps.
OXTED Win – SHINE SO BRIGHT e/w – RFC the pair
3:35 NEWMARKET bet365 Craven Stakes (Gp3) (Colts & Geldings) Cl1 (3yo) 1m 10 run
I have this down to three on a package of weak trends and they are the Aiden O’Brien pair and the rockabilly singing duo of Crisford and Son’s entry ROYAL AIR FORCE. I’m not sure that KHARTOUM’s Curragh win looks especially strong – yet – but the runner-up in SANDHURST’s maiden has won a Group 3 since. On similar thinking, I think Charlie Appleby’s LA BAROSSA is probably stronger than his stable companion MASTER OF THE SEAS and Charlie knows how to send out seasonal debut winners, so I have no concerns there. It’s tricky, but I think the play here is…
LA BAROSSA Win – SANDHURST e/w