Friday
The Mallard Handicap opens proceedings on Day 2 of the St Leger meeting and it looks in the hands of the young up and comers. Of those I do really like SHADOW DANCE who threatens to improve past the 5lbs he was handed for his victory at York. The step up to 1m 6f should really see some improvement in Roger Varian’s 4 year old and he wouldn’t need to improve much to take this I don’t think. The two three year olds are right down at the bottom but I think the selection is better than them although he will need to be in order to carry his big weight.
BIG MOJO bids to follow in his stablemate’s footsteps in the Flying Childers stakes at 3pm and I think he has a very good chance of doing so. He looked the likely winner at York last time out at the furlong pole but he didn’t quite see out the 6f trip on what was only his third start. This race doesn’t look much easier but the drop to 5f should see him see out his race much stronger and if so then I don’t think many will get by him.
The Dick Poole stakes has been rearranged at Salisbury today with most of the original field maintaining their place in the line up. I was very taken by JEWELRY on debut who made a good field look pretty ordinary. She travelled well into the race and put the result beyond all doubt in impressive fashion. She looks a high classy filly who might just be better than these so 10/3 looks a fair punt.
If she isn’t a superstar like I think she might be then BETTY CLOVER could be there to pick up the pieces. I think she is way too big a price when you consider her form in the book and if you forgive her her last run then her run at Ascot puts her right in the mix here.
Doncaster 1.50 – Shadow Dance
Doncaster 3.00 – Big Mojo
Salisbury 3.55 – Jewelry / Betty Clover
Saturday
I’m taking aim at the Portland on Saturday as I think it looks a very winnable race this year. I’d be happy to forgive HOLKHAM BAY his last run as the firm ground might just have caught him out. A return to an easier surface here might just see him continue on the upward curve he found himself on before.
Lurking right down the bottom of the weights is ABERAMA GOLD who is definitely a winner in waiting before the season is out as he has dropped to such a low mark he simply has to go in. I’m hoping he goes close in this as the softer ground should be in his favour.
Another horse who should appreciate the softer conditions is RHYTHM MASTER who has been running well on decent ground which surprises me given his previous demand for soft ground. This suggests the horse is in great form and he too is lurking on a low mark compared to his best and is therefore dangerous to discount.
Across at Chester the Stand Cup looks between the top two in the market but I’d hold a strong preference for last year’s winner AL QAREEM who holds crucial course form over his market rival La Yakel. The latter is a giant of a horse who isn’t sure to enjoy the tight nature of Chester so if the selection can dictate on the front end I think he could pinch a few lengths out of his main danger around the bends and make him pay up the straight.
The Watergate Handicap looks an open renewal but I think the top weight TASHKAN looks a little too big at 7/1. He won here last year off a big weight and then went on to run fine races at a higher grade. He comes here with something to prove on recent outings but the ground should really suit him and I hope he can show his class.
Doncaster 2.25 – Holkham Bay / Aberama Gold
Doncaster 5.25 – Rhythm Master
Chester 2.05 – Al Qareem
Chester 2.40 – Tashkan
