Two bumper cards on the all-weather today and we begin our
preview back at Newcastle where there is a fascinating Mile Handicap featuring
a number of horses who will be hoping to get a run at Royal Ascot in a
fortnight’s time in either the Royal Hunt Cup or, more likely, the Silver Hunt Cup
one of six extra races added to the meeting this year.
When Fifth Position (1.20) beat Space Blues in a Nottingham
Novice last spring I thought he would make up into a Group horse but he did not
go on as I thought and hoped he would and he makes his all-weather debut today
with, arguably, something to prove. The selection – 10/3 with bet365 -was tried
over trips ranging from a mile to 11 furlongs last season and ended the
campaign finishing eighth in the Cambridgeshire – 1m 1f – when he finished
behind Mark Johnston’s Dark Vision who is 3lbs better off today but lacks the
headgear that coincided with his improved form towards the end of the season.
Dark Vision was considered a live Guineas contender after
landing the Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood as a juvenile, but he has
failed to get his head in front in 12 subsequent appearances. He will have his
supporters, but I have never been his biggest fan.
The 7f Handicap for 3-year-olds is a cracker and you can put
a line through the last run of Amazing News (1.55) who failed to handle the
turn into the home straight at Lingfield last time when very well backed to
follow up a facile Wolverhampton win. Silvestre De Sousa takes over in the
saddle this afternoon and 15/2 with Unibet looks a fair price for George
Scott’s gelding who can be a tad keen and likes to race prominently. He gets
the each way vote ahead of Sir Michael Stoute‘s Jean Baptiste who finished
second in his last couple of juvenile starts at this trip at Kempton.
Jim Crowley was at Gosforth Park on Monday but stays down
south today and leaves the ride on Mubakker (2.30) to Dane O’Neill who was in
the plate when the grey ran out a fluent winner at Kempton back in September.
The Stoute colt is unbeaten in two starts on the all-weather, has a good record
fresh and, after just four career starts, is open to further improvement. The 7/2
with bet365 on Sunday was too big – he is now a best-priced 9/4 with William
Hill – although he lacks the experience of several of today’s seasoned
handicappers.
Lockdown would be a fitting winner of the first 2-year-old
race of the season for Hugo Palmer although early season juvenile races are not
really my bag.
In the finale the Brighton maiden winner Medal Winner was
well backed on Sunday afternoon for Archie Watson, but I am convinced today’s
trip of 10f is the optimum distance for Cape Cavelli (6.00) and hope to see a
bold run from the Crisfords’ four-year-old. The selection is making his
all-weather debut today and his ability to handle tapeta must be taken on
trust, but his record at a mile-and-a-quarter stands at 212 and at 11/2 with
bet365 he is another each way recommendation.
Just the nine races at Kempton and in the 6f Maiden I’m
looking forward to seeing the return of Cold Front (3.20) who is the first
runner of the campaign for William Haggas. The selection – Evens at Boylesports
– was caught close home at Newbury on debut back in October over an extended 6f
and todays slight drop back in trip should suit. James Doyle keeps the ride.
City Walk has not been seen since finishing third in a 5f
maiden at the Craven Meeting and it will be interesting to see what the market
makes of his return. Crisfords’ Perfect Focus is another who shaped with
considerable promise when runner up at Newcastle back in October behind an
exciting filly from the yard of Karl Burke.
There is a hot Mile Maiden on the card and Her Majesty’s
First Receiver was drawn 14 of 14 here when second to a previous winner on his
second start. He is likely to get further than a mile in time and he has again
been drawn out wide in stall 12 this afternoon.
The once-raced Haggas’ colt Born A King is likely to have
his supporters – especially if Cold Front has gone close in the previous race –
but I hope to see Imrahor (3.55) go one better than was the case on debut at
Newbury. The winner has done little for the form in two subsequent starts, but
the third (Hukum) and fourth (Evening Sun) have certainly franked the form and it
is worth noting that the selection had the third five lengths back at the
Berkshire track. The each way selection is 11/2 at bet365.
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