It was hard not to feel for CRUYFF TURN last week at Ayr. Held up in a muddling race, Tim Easterby’s horse just couldn’t catch a break as he tried to weave his way through the field. He finished with plenty of running as he steamed into fourth and if granted a clear passage I think he would have won. Connections have decided to turn him out quickly before the ground turns and I hope he can handle the quick turnaround because if he does he is a steal at 8/1.
It’s a big day for the two year olds at Newmarket and normally a day I like to watch rather than punt but one has caught my eye at a price which looks all wrong. GO BEARS GO has done very little wrong in four starts to date and looks to be right up amongst the best two year olds around this year. Perfect Power looks right out of the top drawer but the nature of Newmarket on quick ground may not suit and the selection might just get a roll on out in front. At 9/1 he looks a good each way punt.
The big race of the day is the Cambridgeshire and it looks as filthy as ever this year. I’m having two punts in it and first up is IRISH ADMIRAL who may just be coming into form at the right time. He would have been well punted for this race about 3 months ago but never scaled the heights everyone thought he would. However, a confidence boosting win at Redcar last time out may just give him that boost that he needed. If he is on the right side I can see him going close.
SPIRIT DANCER is one of my horses to follow this Autumn and I’d rather see the word soft in the description here but he takes his chance and I’ll have to have a saver on him. All his form stacks up well and he is undoubtedly well handicapped. Victory Chime who beat him last time at Chester won a listed race earlier in the week and I’d fancy the selection to step forward from that run which bodes well for his chances here. If he handles the ground, I think he will run well.
The final selection of the weekend is INTRINSIC BOND who is completely the wrong price at 9/1. Tracy Waggott’s horse has been in fine form all year and tends to save his best for Ripon. He ran a mighty race in a very good Portland handicap last time out and a repeat of that will see him go very close here.
Haydock 2.05 Cruyff Turn
Newmarket 3.00 Go Bears Go
Newmarket 3.40 Irish Admiral / Spirit Dancer Ripon 4.05 Intrinsic B
