Tag: Gifted Girl

Lingfield Thursday Preview

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Nabatean kept our noses in front at Nottingham on Wednesday and the flat racing switches to the all-weather tomorrow for a valuable card at Lingfield.

My regular followers will know that I am always keen on Newmarket maiden form but the 1.20 sets a bit of a poser with two promising with form from HQ. William Haggas saddles Sharqeyih, second to 50-1 shot Irish Rookie on her debut in a big field. She stayed on well without being given a hard time and is a nicely-bred daughter of Shamardal.

The big danger is Marco Botti’s Alfajer, equally promising when touched off by John Gosden’s Lady Correspondent. The race has split into two divisions and I would quite happily have backed them both if they hadn’t landed in the same heat! I may be clutching at straws here but Colorada finished closer to Alfajer on her debut than she did to Sharqeyih so I am going to side with the Haggas filly.

The longest race of the day is the Listed River Eden Fillies’ Stakes at 3.20 over a mile and five furlongs. Godolphin won it last year with Speckled who is back for another try but the money has been pouring on stable companion Hidden Gold. I watched the latter when she was thrashed by Rocket Ship at Pontefract in August and I would not have considered her for a race like this at the time. However, she went from last to first under hands and heels here last time out and has clearly improved.

Kikonga has been slightly disappointing this season and was beaten here a year ago while Tamasha is taking a big step up in class after winning easily at Salisbury. It may be one of those occasions when it is wise to follow the money.

Andrew Balding has provided this column with four winners in as many days and bids to extend the sequence with Intransigent. He won a shade cosily in a very valuable race at Ascot at the start of the month and meets disappointing favourite Prince’s Trust on 2lbs better terms here. He did put in one moderate run at Goodwood but has a touch of class about him and the stable are flying at present.

I have looked at the form for the Fleur De Lys Fillies’ Stakes inside out and upside down but cannot form a strong opinion. Water Hole comes out best on official figures but this is her sixth race in a reasonably short period. Dutch Rose was unlucky last time out but all of her wins have been at seven furlongs while Gifted Girl wouldn’t be out of it with the blinkers left off. She may be the best value in a really tricky race.

Sharqeyih 1.20 @10-9 Betfair

Gifted Girl 2.50 @12-1 Bet365

Hidden Gold 3.29 @9-4 Ladbrokes

Intransigent 3.50 @3-1 Bet365

York Thursday Preview

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The opening day of the York Dante meeting proved tough going with That Is The Spirit saving our bacon in the 3.50. Regardez did finish in front of Cambridge but was only good enough to take third in the Musidora, a race which looked anything but an Oaks trial.

The Dante does not look likely to have much impact on the Derby picture unless something wins by a street. The prime candidate to do that is True Story, the mount of Keiren Fallon. The form of the Feilden Stakes is patchy and I was very disappointed with Somewhat at Chester last week. Even so, he did win by seven lengths so he is entitled to be hot favourite here.

You could argue that Arod has similar credentials in that he pulled hard but still won easily at Windsor. However, he beat little and this is a shot in the dark. Bunker’s form received a boost with the French Guineas last weekend and he is not out of it, although the Hannon horses seem to need a run so far this season. The only sensible policy is to sit this one out.

For my main bet on the card I’m going for the unlucky Spring Cup runner-up Spa’s Dancer in the Hambleton Handicap. At seven-years-old he is not likely to be improving but he may well have caught Gabrial’s Kaka at Newbury with a clear run. Haggas throws a spanner in the works with the un-raced pair Queensberry Rules and Fury, either of whom could win on their best form.

The Middleton Stakes is also a bit of a puzzle. I was a keen supporter of The Lark last season and took 33-1 each-way in the Oaks (third) and backed her to win at Doncaster. She has a liking for soft ground but this looks on the sharp side first time out.

Secret Gesture may have been flattered by her 10 lengths Lingfield Oaks Trial win last season and her second at Epsom may have been as good as she is. Thistle Bird is probably the form choice but has not run this season while Gifted Girl may step up on her Newmarket third. It’s a tricky one but we’ll side with Gifted Girl at an each-way price.

I would probably have as much chance of finding the winner of the opening sprint with a sharp pin but Top Boy ran well enough at Chester to warrant support.

Top Boy 1.45 York at 12-1 Bet365

Gifted Girl 2.15 York at 6-1 Paddy Power

Spa’s Dancer 3.15 York at 13-2 Totesport

Arlington Park August 17th Preview

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I previewed the Arlington Million earlier in the week and there is a cracking supporting cast to Saturday’s big race. Trainer Marco Botti won the inaugural running of the American St Leger last season with Jakkalberry and is now poised to duplicate that success with the popular Dandino.

Dandino was formerly owned by the Elite Racing Club so had plenty of admirers. He didn’t let them down, giving them the pleasure of a Royal Ascot victory and a win at the Epsom Derby meeting. He has gone on to land the Group 2 Jockey Club Stakes and the Group 3 September Stakes but his best days could still be ahead of him.

The American St Leger is only his first target with the Melbourne Cup a long term objective. Jakkalberry finished a highly creditable third in the Cup last year after being written off by many following a poor run in the Caulfield Cup. Ryan Moore has been snapped up to ride Dandino and the bookies seem to be in some disagreement about his price. William Hill have him at odds-on whilst you can still get 7-4 elsewhere. I’m happy to take the 7-4 with a little each-way at 33-1 for the Melbourne Cup in November.

Grandeur has been drawn in stall 13 on the wide outside for the Million. Our midweek selections Mull Of Killough (8) and Little Mike (11) have fared a little better. Moore rides Hunter’s Light in the Million but is over mainly to partner Dank in the Beverly D Stakes for Sir Michael Stoute.

Even Moore admitted to being surprised at how well she won in Ireland last time and it is not impossible that she could turn the tables on her Ascot conqueror Duntle. The one that both have to worry about is the progressive Gifted Girl, trained by Paul Cole. She has done nothing but improve this season and overcame firm ground to win a decent race at Pontefract last time. This is a big step up in class but she looks the value bet at around 13-2.

Yeager did us a nice favour when scoring at 20-1 in a handicap at Ascot last time out and now finds himself running in the Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes. At first glance that seems like a huge step up in class but this race may not take as much winning as  you might think. Moore also has the leg up on this one and I’m happy to re-invest some of the return from that Ascot race at 8-1 for a follow up.

Dandino 7-4 American St Leger Paddy Power

Dandino 33-1 Melbourne Cup Stan James

Gifted Girl 13-2 Beverly D Stakes Paddy Power

Yeager 8-1 Secretariat Stakes Bet Victor