Tag: Marco Botti

Chester Preview – Friday 8th May

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Betcirca followers were in profit for the second consecutive day at Chester with wins for Collaboration (9-4), Hans Holbein (5-2) and Navigate (10-1).

Aidan O’Brien has mopped up the first two classic trials of the week in the Cheshire Oaks and Chester Vase. He now sets his sights on the Dee Stakes on Friday where he is represented by Smuggler’s Cove. He has much the best two-year-old form having finished third to Belardo in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes.

He had previously won at Dundalk by seven lengths to earn his trip to Newmarket. He is by Fastnet Rock out of a Sadler’s Wells mare and has an extra three furlongs to travel here. The race has been hit by non-runners due to the give in the ground and it could develop into a very tactical affair. Ryan Moore rides Smuggler’s Cove with main market rival Disegno to be partnered by Ted Durcan.

Sir Michael Stoute’s colt also had decent form as a juvenile and was a fair third to Golden Horn first time out this season. He looked very short of pace that day and that could count against him on this tight track.

The feature race of the day is the Group 3 Ormonde Stakes at 3.10 and conditions have come right for Marco Botti’s Tac de Boistron. The grey has won nine races in his career, all on soft or heavy ground. He has also won after a lengthy lay-off in the past so fitness is unlikely to be an issue. He has a very high cruising speed and is preferred to the consistent Windshear.

The opening seven-furlong handicap looks wide open. One Word More won well for Tim Easterby last time but I’m put off by his draw in stall ten. He usually comes from off the pace and a slow start here would virtually put him out of it.

Alejandro just gets my vote, although the concern with him is the ground. He has not won on soft ground, although he has run some decent races on it. He ran well for a long way at Haydock first time out when fourth to Emell. The winner was very unlucky not to follow up under a penalty next time so Alejandro clearly met a horse in peak form that day.

Alejandro 2.10 @8-1 Betfair

Smuggler’s Cove 2.40 @6-4 Coral

Tac de Boistron 3.10 @2-1 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 Thursday Preview

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The National Hunt racing is modest on Thursday ahead of the big weekend meetings at Sandown but the all-weather flat action continues at Kempton.

Jockey Luke Morris recently chalked up a career best tally for the year when surpassing last year’s tally of 168 winners. He could not be described as a stylish jockey by any stretch of the imagination but he gets the job done. He must also be a nightmare for the handicapper to read while trying to assess his winners, particularly those late developing three-year-olds of Sir Mark Prescott.

Morris should be on the score sheet again on Thursday on hat-trick seeking Vaguely Spanish in the 6.45 race. The son of Oratorio is trained by Tony Carroll and showed previous little until finishing an unlucky fourth at Brighton in October. He got off the mark at Windsor later the same month when bursting through late off a modest handicap rating of 49.

The handicapper put him up only 3lbs and Luke Morris did the steering on him when following up at Wolverhampton last month. He looked in a tricky position turning for home but responded gamely when pulled out wide and beat Gracefully by half a length. He is only up a further 3lbs here and the opposition looks extremely weak.

In the earlier maiden races I like the look of Richard Fahey’s Star Of The Stage at 5.45. The son of Invincible Spirit has missed the break on both of his starts so far, running on strongly at the finish to take third here last time out.

He races in the colours of Cheveley Park Stud so will be expected to pay his keep. The danger could be Stamp Of Authority who was still going strongly in the lead at the furlong pole over seven here last time out. He faded close home to finish only fifth but this drop in trip should see him go close.

You don’t often see runners in maiden races here that have finished second at Ascot first time but that is the case with Ajmal Ihsaas in the 6.15. Marco Botti is stepping the filly up two furlongs here but she could be a little better than your average maiden winner. Rock Kristal appeared to resent racing in a hood last time for John Gosden and could pose the main threat without the headgear.

Star Of The Stage 5.45 @2-1 Betfair

Ajmal Ihsaas 6.15 @4-5 Betfair

Vaguely Spanish 6.45 @11-8 Paddy Power

Cesarewitch 2014 Preview

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The Cesarewitch Handicap at Newmarket always used to be one of my favourite races of the season. Back in the 1980’s it was not too difficult to find the winner with the likes of Popsi’s Joy, Halsbury, Mountain Lodge, Kayudee, Nomadic Way and Double Dutch all well fancied.

The same cannot be said of the most recent winners. First we had jump trainers monopolising the race such as Messrs Pipe, Hobbs and Henderson. That last four winners needed Mystic Meg with Aaim To Prosper winning twice (16-1 and 66-1) along with Never Can Tell (25-1) and Scatter Dice (66-1). Could we be in for a third successive “double carpet” winner this year?

Not according to the bookmakers who are running scared from Irish raider Quick Jack. The high-class hurdler won at Galway in July when hooded for the first time. It was not exactly the kind of race where you can rely on the form too much but the third horse was only just beaten at Ascot recently. By my calculations the horse has been raised 9lbs but there seems to be plenty of confidence behind him. If you have managed to get on at a double-figure price you should be well pleased but he is less tempting at around 6-1.

Big Easy and Ray Ward are next in the betting. The former was a staying on second in the trial race here last month but finished only 21st a year ago and has not won since scoring over three miles at Cheltenham in April last year. Ray Ward was behind Big Easy last time and was beaten by Teak at Goodwood in July. You have to go back just as far for his last victory. Teak followed up by winning over an extended three miles at Plumpton!

Maid In Rio bolted up at Ascot in July off a mark of 93 but is now 10lbs higher and has looked laboured in her last three races. Earth Amber was quietly fancied here a year ago and only beat one horse home. Her form varies from second in a Group 3 on the flat to second in a maiden hurdle at Fakenham!

I’ve been very impressed with Cam Hardie this season and he teams up with the progressive Rhombus for Ismael Mohammed. He carries only a 4lb penalty for his win at Newbury, a race in which he gave his rivals a good six lengths start. Waterclock was second here last year and is lower in the weights, unfortunately so low that he may not even get into the final line-up.

Big weights are not necessarily a bar to success in this race so Suegioo should not be discarded with 9st 8lb. Marco Botti’s gelding stayed on well at Doncaster last month behind Stomachion and should give Martin Harley a good ride.

Rhombus @25-1 Coral

Suegioo @18-1 Paddy Power

Each-way ¼ odds, 1,2,3,4,5 non-runner – no bet

York Saturday Preview

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Sole Power and Pale Mimosa (both tipped here at 7-2) put Betcirca followers nearly 30 points up on the week. The York Ebor meeting comes to a close on Saturday with some very competitive racing with the feature race due off at 3.50.

The gamble of the race is Pallasator for Sir Mark Prescott. The five-year-old has now been bought by Qatar Racing and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him contesting some big Cup races next season. Apart from having missed any value in his price, I am put off by his draw in stall 22. It shouldn’t be too much of an issue over a mile and three-quarters but I’m sure connections would have been happier if he had been in a low to middle stall.

One that fits the bill is Marco Botti’s De Rigueur in stall 6. He has beaten Pallasator before at Haydock and should finish close to the favourite on that evidence. He is three times the price and has to be the each-way selection.

The day’s racing gets off to a subdued start with seven runners lining up for the Strensall Stakes. Having tipped Farraaj in the John Smith’s Cup and collected three times previously on Graphic, something has to give. The drop back to a mile may count against Farraaj but he is a free-running sort and I just give him the verdict.

The Melrose Handicap is every bit as competitive as the Ebor with a whole host of improving three-year-olds. Connecticut’s form has been boosted time and again and he looks the sort who will find more when necessary. With Cumani’s team in such fine form he is hard to oppose but I am going to have a saver on Captain Morley who should appreciate this trip.

He was desperately unlucky at the Chester May meeting when flying through into second and made amends on his next visit. He was then a fair third at Royal Ascot behind Elite Army, staying on up the straight. He could give Jamie Spencer the winner that he has been waiting for this week.

Baitha Alga has also been a good friend to this column with three victories on the trot. He has not been out since Royal Ascot and that may leave him vulnerable in the closing stages. He also has to shoulder a 3lbs penalty and I think Muhaarar may run him close. He didn’t settle over seven furlongs at Ascot and was previously third to the classy Ivawood. He was inches behind Jungle Cat but that one ran disappointingly at Goodwood.

Ajman Bridge ran a cracker at Goodwood when just failing to catch Sennockian Star. He has another tough task in the 5.00 but deserves to win a decent prize.

Farraaj 2.05 York @7-4 Totesport, Stan James

Connecticut 2.40 York @6-1 Bet365

Captain Morley 2.40 York @10-1 (each-way) BetVictor

Baitha Alga 3.15 York @14-5 BetBright

Muhaarar 3.15 York @8-1 BetVictor

De Rigueur 3.50 York @14-1 (each-way) BetVictor

Ajman Bridge 5.00 York @5-1 Coral, Ladbrokes

Ascot Friday Preview

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A handy treble at Doncaster and Yarmouth on Thursday has kept us nicely in profit for the big Ascot meeting this weekend.

Hopefully Ascot are putting plenty of water on the course to prevent a glut of non-runners and it looks set for two excellent day’s sport. The opening race on Friday looks like an ideal opportunity for Mick Channon’s Malabar to get off the mark.

The filly was a little unlucky when second on her debut and Channon decided to let her take her chance in the Group 3 Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot. She was settled towards the rear and gradually weaved her way through the pack before flashing home in fourth place.

Fourth in any race at the Royal meeting is usually good enough to win a maiden and it will be disappointing if she cannot take the opener. Her main market rival will be Richard Hannon’s Crystal Malt but she has had three attempts to get off the mark and may have to wait a little longer.

The Brown Jack Stakes is one of my favourite staying events on the calendar and Mark Johnston runs two last-time-out winners in Sir Frank Morgan and Maid In Rio. Both won with plenty in hand last time and look well in at the weights but Maid In Rio’s Haydock win just reads better than the Catterick success of her stable companion.

She looks to have relished stepping up in distance and Silvestre De Sousa should feel confident about kicking for home early in the straight. With Elidor being a free-running sort, he is not certain to get the trip and Sir Frank Morgan is feared most.

For the treble we shall put our faith in the luckless Euro Charline who has met trouble in two of her last three races. She ran a blinder to finish third to Rizeena in the Coronation Stakes at the Royal meeting last time after finishing fifth in the 1000 Guineas. That form puts her well ahead of some disappointing rivals, several of which have lost their way completely.

Kiyoshi has shown no sparkle at all this season while Gifted Girl does not seem to be the same filly that ran second to Dank in the Beverly D Stakes last season. Woodland Aria is another who has failed to show her best form in recent starts and this looks set up for the Botti filly.

Malabar 2.10 Ascot

Maid In Rio 3.20 Ascot @5-2 Paddy Power

Euro Charline 3.55 Ascot @6-4 William Hill