Tag: Andrew Balding

Wetherby stages first ever flat race card

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National Hunt fans can be forgiven to double-check their racecards on Sunday as Wetherby stages its first ever flat card after 123 years. The new initiative is apparently to diversify and attract new customers to the Yorkshire track and jump racing remains its staple diet.

The opening day has attracted 91 runners so no shortage of support from local trainers and also from those further afield. My two best bets on the card are travelling from down south with Barry Hills and Andrew Balding aiming to add Wetherby to their list of winning courses.

Barry Hills is well into the veteran stage and only returned to training following the tragic loss of his son. He will retire for a second time at the end of the season with the yard being transferred to Owen Burrows but he still hopes to make his mark. He can strike on Sunday with the maiden filly Wardat Dubai in the 2.35.

She ran a most encouraging race on her debut when a close fifth behind Aloft at Newmarket over a mile. She then came up against a very smart filly in Luca Cumani’s Pamona at the same track, fading in the closing stages to finish third in soft ground. She is by Mawatheeq out of an Efisio mare and should be up to winning in this grade with any normal improvement from two to three.

The feature race is the five-furlong sprint at 4.40 with Andrew Balding saddling the top weight Secret Hint. She raced five times as a three-year-old, winning at Doncaster and Newmarket. Both races were over six furlongs and she was also tried over seven at Goodwood in July. She was drawn badly that day and failed to last home but showed improved form on her next visit to the Sussex track.

She raced on her own for much of the race but was still only beaten a length and a half by the in-form Inciting Incident. She then won at Newmarket on good ground in September, holding off the persistent challenge of Remember to win by three-quarters of a length. She has only been raised 4lbs for that success and looks to have more scope than her rivals here.

If she continues to progress, Balding will be hoping to secure some black type later in the season with the daughter of Oasis Dream.

Wardat Dubai 2.35 @2-1 Bet365

Secret Hint 4.40 @5-2 Bet365

Sandown Friday Preview

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Betcirca followers have been among the winners this week with four at Epsom on Wednesday and three more at Bath and Beverley on Thursday. Hopefully the good run can continue at a high quality at Sandown on Friday, highlighted by the Group 2 Bet365 Mile.

There is very little between half a dozen of these on official ratings, although it could be argued that Shifting Power is the class act. He chased home Kingman in the Irish Guineas last summer and was only narrowly beaten by Charm Spirit at Chantilly. My worry with him is whether he will be suited by the fast ground and the same certainly applies to Breton Park and Top Notch Tonto.

Bow Creek improved out of all recognition at the end of the season and represents Godolphin but I am siding with Andrew Balding’s Here Comes When. I’ve followed this one since he won at Chester handicap as a three-year-old and he could still be on the upgrade. The Balding horses are in good form and Here Comes When usually runs well fresh.

There is unlikely to be a Shergar in the Bet365 Classic Trial and the withdrawal of Grey Lion has weakened the contest. Commemorative does not have much of a turn of foot so I’d expect him to be prominent but Cape Clear Island has fitness on his side. He was outpaced at Newmarket last week but fairly rattled home and could be good value against the favourite.

Cannock Chase was unbeaten in three starts last season and looks a typical late improver for Sir Michael Stoute. It would be no surprise to see him land a Group 1 this season. He faces Postponed who won the Great Voltigeur for Luca Cumani last season but was behind Cannock Chase at Ascot. Arab Spring showed that Stoute can get them ready to win first time out and I’m prepared to take a chance on the horse’s fitness.

The Esher Cup looks a cracking good handicap to open the card at 1.30 but Purple Rock arrives with a big reputation. He still holds a Derby entry and he would have to win this off a mark of 85 to justify at trip to Epsom. Both Spring Offensive and Tom Hark ran with a great deal of promise in a hot handicap at Musselburgh while Yeenaan was unlucky in running last time out.

Purple Rock 1.30 @9-2 Paddy Power

Cannock Chase 2.00 @9-4 William Hill

Here Comes When 2.30 @11-2 Stan James

Cape Clear Island 3.00 @3-1 Coral

Newbury Saturday Preview

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Richard Johnson stole the show at Newbury on Friday with a treble including two for Philip Hobbs. It’s good to see the Hobbs yard back in form after a miserable Cheltenham where they sent out 15 runners to no avail, one-third of them failing to complete the course.

It was not such a good day for Nicky Henderson but he could be back in the winners’ enclosure after Saturday’s big race with Spartan Angel. The EBF Mare’s Hurdle Finale takes some winning and there are eighteen set to line up on Saturday. You could make a case for most of them and it is no surprise to see the bookmakers going 7-1 the field overnight.

The weight range is no more than 13lbs but bottom weight gives Spartan Angel an excellent charge for the Lambourn stable. She has been very lightly raced since winning a small race at Worcester in the summer. The daughter of Beneficial raced twice at Ascot before Christmas and was a fair second to Batavir. David Pipe’s gelding followed up at Wincanton before disappointing in the Doncaster race won by Call The Cops.

Henderson’s stable were not firing on all cylinders at the time and it may be that she has simply been put away for better ground and/or this race in particular. Hannah’s Princess is another worthy of consideration after winning comfortably on similar ground last time.

Every Tony McCoy winner is cheered to the rafters at present and Financial Climate should go close in the 3.10 race. He never really looked in any danger once he kicked on two fences from home at Sandown and a 4lbs penalty could be lenient. The opposition are a mixture of ageing chasers and unreliable handicappers.

Andrew Balding has kept Storm Force Ten for hurdling this season but he was a late withdrawal from the Cheltenham festival. I had given him a chance in the Fred Winter after a couple of encouraging runs, notably when fourth to Triumph winner Peace And Co. Four-year-old handicaps are a devil to unravel but he won’t mind the quicker ground and may have most to fear from Gimme Five. Alan King has been running this one on the all-weather and he looks quite well in with 10st 10lb.

2.35 Spartan Angel @7-1 Bet365

3.10 Financial Climate @9-2 William Hill

3.45 Storm Force Ten @7-2 Bet365

Lingfield Winter Derby Trial day preview

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It is Winter Derby Trial day at Lingfield on Saturday with a fine supporting card. The action starts at 1.15 with eight races including the valuable Ladbrokes Handicap and the Listed Cleves Stakes.

Ryan Moore is in attendance, mainly to ride Grandeur in the big race but he is also certain to have his supporters on Nigel’s Destiny in the opening race at 1.15. The lightly-raced four-year-old will be having only the seventh race of his career and could be one to follow this season. He is up against some in-form opponents here including Presumido and Until Midnight. They won last time out at Kempton and Chelmsford respectively but I am going to go for Franco’s Secret.

Peter Hedger’s gelding has improved steadily in recent months and showed an electric turn of foot to win here last time. Charles Bishop has ridden him in each of his starts to date and will be planning to arrive fast and late again here.

I am a big fan of Andrew Balding’s Intransigent who went from strength to strength last season. He seems equally effective at six and seven furlongs and starts his new campaign in the Listed race at 1.45. My only concern is that he seems a better horse in the autumn and winter and may not quite be at his peak at present. Foxtrot Romeo was runner-up in the Irish 2000 Guineas in 2012 and recorded his first win since at Wolverhampton in November. Marco Botti may have finally unlocked the key to the son of Danehill Dancer and he just gets the vote.

The Ladbrokes Handicap looks like a minefield for punters with various lines of form. The key to the race could be the form of Shyron’s recent victory when he beat Grey Mirage, Brave Echo, Brigliadoro, Related and Firmdecisions here. Having watched the re-run several times, I see no real reason to think that the placings should be any different here. I would expect Related to finish closer but Shyron can confirm the form.

Godolphin are mopping up the maiden races on the all-weather tracks and Chorus Of Lies could be another winner for them at 2.50. He showed plenty of potential on turf last winter and has only Balding’s Opera Lad to fear, a promising third on his racecourse debut.

In the Winter Derby Trial, I am reluctant to oppose Grandeur who has done us a few good turns in the past. He won this race last season but was beaten by the draw in the Winter Derby. He faces some useful opponents including course specialist Maverick Wave and the promising Cloudscape. The latter could be one to follow this season but I am siding with another Botti runner in Grendisar. He does not always find as much off the bridle as appears likely but he is ultra-consistent and could just take this if Grandeur is a little rusty.

Franco’s Secret 1.15 Lingfield @4-1 Betfair

Foxtrot Romeo 1.45 Lingfield @6-1 Bet365

Shyron 2.15 Lingfield @7-2 William Hill

Chorus Of Lies 2.50 Lingfield @11-4 Bet365

Grendisar 3.25 Lingfield @5-1 Betfair

Kempton Wednesday Preview

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All-weather racing fans are in for some saturation coverage on Wednesday with sixteen races across Lingfield and Kempton.

The highlight of the day is the Listed mile race at 6.25 which has attracted a very strong field of 12. The probable favourite is Roger Charlton’s Captain Cat who comes out on top on official ratings after a tremendous season.

He has shown his versatility by winning on the all-weather and on the turf, most notably claiming a Group 3 prize at Haydock in September. He then stepped up to Group 2 company at Newmarket where he was beaten by an in-form Custom Cut. He ended his turf campaign with a respectable fourth in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes in desperate ground.

William Haggas runs two here in Graphic and Her Majesty The Queen’s Prince’s Trust. I was a great fan of Graphic last season as he worked his way up the handicap but he has found it tougher in a higher class. He is still a rattling good miler but it is difficult to oppose Prince’s Trust after his second easy victory in three races.

The four-year-old son of Invincible Spirit won with a ton in hand at Yarmouth first time out and was backed to win a valuable race at Ascot despite a 12lbs rise in the weights. He proved very disappointing, weakening right out of contention behind Intransigent. He showed that form to be all wrong last time when beating that rival, again appearing to have plenty in hand. Intransigent boosted the form with a win at Lingfield last Saturday but Prince’s Trust needs to improve again to win this.

Tenor is another leading contender here having gone up almost 40lbs in the handicap this year. He won a Listed race at Sandown in September and ran a fine race to finish fifth in the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket. Providing that the long season has not taken its toll, he must have each-way claims.

I also like the look of Andrew Balding’s Duretto in the earlier maiden race at 5.25. He ran an eye-catching race on his debut when second to Firmament at Newbury. He was blocked in his run and had to switch to the outside of the winner before finishing strongly. That looked a far better race than he faces tomorrow and he can take this on the way to better things.

Duretto 5.25 Kempton @10-11 Betfair

Prince’s Trust 6.25 Kempton @5-1 William Hill

Mackinnon Stakes Preview

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There are four Group 1 races on Victoria Derby Day at Flemington on Saturday including the $1million Mackinnon Stakes.

A year ago Andrew Balding’s Side Glance claimed the prize with a gutsy run, holding off Dear Demi by three-quarters of a length. The seven-year-old is rapidly becoming as well-known in Australia as he is in the UK after finishing third in the Caulfield Stakes and fourth in last week’s Cox Plate.

His run in the Cox Plate was typical in that he kept battling on when looking certain to be swamped by those finishing in behind. At the line he was barely half a length behind Aidan O’Brien’s Adelaide on the wide outside. Included in a group of eight that crossed the line within a length were Foreteller, Happy Trails and Criterion.

You could make a case for each of them but the draw has favoured Side Glance (barrier 7) while Foreteller (10) and Happy Trails (13) must come from his outside. Criterion finished second in the Caulfield Stakes but I’m not sure that barrier one will suit him. He seems to hit a flat spot in his races before running on again and he may find himself trapped on the inner. Foreteller kept responding to pressure and has to be a contender if he can get a good position from the starting gate.

He’s Your Man is bidding for a hat-trick after winning the  Kingston Town Stakes and the Epsom Handicap. The six-year-old will break from barrier five and is an obvious threat while Caulfield Cup runner-up Rising Romance will also be popular with punters.

Jamie Spencer is at Santa Anita for the Breeders’ Cup this weekend so the ride on Side Glance goes to Craig Williams. He won the Mackinnon Stakes on Alcopop in 2012 and there is no better judge of pace around Flemington.

I would have fancied Roger Varian’s Farraaj to run a big race with a low draw but he is on the wide outside in barrier 15. Adelaide managed to overcome a similar handicap last week but Farraaj is much more of a free-running type and won’t be ideally suited by dropping in behind.

Mick Channon did well with Amralah to win nice races at Newbury and Haydock and he now makes his Australian debut for Robert Hickmott. His Haydock win over Hillstar reads well after the runner-up won the Grade 1 Canadian International Stakes at Woodbine. The Melbourne Cup was his intended target but he is yet to prove that he stays that distance.

Foreteller @11.0 Sportsbet

Each-way ¼ odds, 1,2,3

*Side Glance was withdrawn through injury