Charlie McCann’s Wednesday round-up

News yesterday that Tim Easterby’s Wells Farrh Go would miss next week’s St Leger having pulled up lame on the home gallops yesterday. The colt, arguably, never had his ground this season but still won the Gp 3 Bahrain Trophy on the July course mid-summer and that form was franked by the subsequent Group successes of the runner up Loxley.
Kew Gardens has been cut to 5/4 with BetVictor with his Gt Voltigeur conqueror Old Persian 6/1 – note Lah Ti Dar is also 6/1 with BetVictor for classic glory but she is more likely to go to Longchamp the following day for the Prix Vermeille.
There is a listed race at Longchamp this afternoon which has three British challengers including Royal Ascot winner Agrotera who was such a bitter disappointment at Haydock on lightning fast ground last time.
The filly is on something of a retrieval mission this afternoon, but I just favour Charlie Appleby’s Poetic Charm (2.05) who is unlikely to bump into anything as talented as Andre Fabre’s Wind Chimes who beat the selection in a Deauville group 3 last time. Note Poetic Charm has a bit to find with Agrotera on Royal Ascot running even with an 8lbs pull in the weights.
On the polytrack at Lingfield Canavese (2.10) was only beaten a length after a protracted duel with the winner (Concello) at Salisbury last time and the winner has since followed up under a penalty at Redcar. Today’s additional furlong should suit the selection who receives 5lbs from the Kempton debutante winner Meringue although that did not look the best of contests for the track.
Sir Mark Prescott replaces cheekpieces with a visor on True North who was never happy at Kempton last time although he still ran a decent race when fourth over 12 furlongs. He drops back in trip this afternoon and must go close as must Champs De Reves reverting to the all-weather after disappointing at Salisbury last time.
The narrow vote, however, goes to El Ghazwani (3.10) who is making his handicap debut, having run with promise in three maidens earlier in the summer. Hugo Palmer has his string in good form and the hope is that he has freshened up his colt who is bred to be better than his current mark.
The hope is that Irish challenger Not For You’s (2.15 Southwell) poor effort at Wexford was due to the fact that the 10-year-old was running just eight days after his Killarney success. Irish conditional jockey Kevin Brouder who has ridden 12 winners in Ireland takes off a valuable 7lbs and trainer Charles Byrnes has won with two of his last three runners in Ireland.
Chieftain’s Choice is turned out under a penalty having won well at Stratford last week over an extended two-and-a-quarter-miles. Today’s 7lbs penalty is partly negated by Richard Patrick’s 3lbs claim and the step up in distance should be no concern given he has won over 2m3f at Catterick as a novice.
The narrow vote, however, goes to The Jam Man (4.20) who is ridden by Brian Hughes for Irish handler Ronan McNally. Hughes was in the plate when Chieftain’s Choice scored at Stratford but also rode the selection when he won at Hexham back in June.
At Wolverhampton I hope to see Silver Crescent (8.55) bounce back after failing to get home over Beverley’s stiff track last time when well supported. The gelding had previously finished runner up over today’s C&D in first-time blinkers although the headgear has subsequently been left off. I feel the return to today’s surface will be the key.
For all your racing odds go to BetVictor.com