Tag: Roger Charlton

Horse Racing Preview – April 23rd

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The horse racing action moves on to Beverley and Bath on Thursday with the unusually dry weather already having an impact on the ground. The going is good to firm on the Yorkshire track, good in places, but firm at Bath.

Hopefully there won’t be too many non-runners and the cards will hold up pretty well overnight. The 2.30 at Beverley is a competitive three-year-old handicap over seven furlongs and it may be worth taking a chance on Keith Dalgleish’s Go Dan Go. He is yet to score in five attempts but did little wrong when chasing home Second Wave at Redcar last time. The Godolphin-owned winner could turn out to be quite useful and Go Dan Go is worth another chance at this level.

Sir Michael Stoute got one on the board at Newbury at the weekend with Arab Spring in the John Porter Stakes. He saddles an interesting runner in Pleiades in the 3.00 race with Graham Lee on board. The son of Galileo looked a bit weak as a juvenile but Lee made all on him to win over course and distance in September. Graham Gibbons is in the saddle on Thursday and a mark of 84 may prove to be lenient.

Over at Bath, Roger Charlton saddles Master Zephyr in the 6.55 race with William Twiston-Davies in the saddle. He was unplaced in decent maiden races at Sandown and Newbury last season but ran out a good winner when dropped in grade at Wolverhampton in October. Although he had only a neck to spare over Romance Story, he was staying on powerfully at the finish and this race looks a fairly gentle introduction.

Austin Friars is an all-weather winner for Godolphin and the majority of those have struggled when switched to the turf. Triple Dip cannot be supported with any confidence after being beaten at the odds of 1-20 last time out so Master Zephyr gets the vote.

The runners in the maiden at 7.25 are not the quickest on four legs but Crisscrossed, Honourable Action and Ya Hade Ye Delil have all shown signs of ability. Frankie Dettori has made a great start to the season and I’m hoping to see him try forcing tactics on Ye Hade Ye Delil who has looked very one-paced in his previous races.

In the closing handicap, Akavit can defy a further 5lbs rise for Ed de Giles. He was in front a long way from home last time and Lorelei may have been flattered by her proximity at the line.

Go Dan Go 2.30 Beverley @9-2 Paddy Power

Pleiades 3.00 Beverley @9-4 Coral

Master Zephyr 6.55 Bath @9-4 Bet365

Ya Hade Ye Delil 7.25 Bath @9-4 Bet365

Akavit 7.55 Bath @2-1 Bet365

Sandown Friday Preview

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Racing has been distinctly low key in the UK this week after the excitement of the York Ebor Festival. Sandown provides the entertainment on Friday where all eyes will be on Roger Charlton’s Time Test.

The two-year-old son of Dubawi had caught the eye of several shrewd judges ahead of his debut at Newbury. He has been handed some big-race entries for later in the season so it was disappointing that he could not get past Stec over seven furlongs.

The race itself was extremely modest with just four runners but James Doyle looked to have matters well under control until his mount found nothing under pressure. It may have been a classic case of a horse needing the run and he can go some way to redeeming himself on Friday. There are several newcomers from the big Newmarket yards in opposition, notably Sir Michael Stoute’s Stravagante and John Gosden’s Sugar Boy. Neither hold big race entries and it will be disappointing if Time Test fails again here.

The colt runs in the all-conquering Abdullah colours, as does Torrid for Amanda Perrett in the 3.35 race. This colt is by Three Valleys who was a smart juvenile and he has not been seen since winning by eight lengths at Nottingham last season. He beat a horse called Saab Almanal who was not beaten far in the Dante at York and has since won his maiden at Newmarket. He is rated 95 so Torrid has scope to improve beyond his current mark of 90.

The two concerns are his lengthy absence and the softer going. He has been given an entry in the Cambridgeshire and the stable are generally performing better than they were a month ago. Ryan Moore needed all of his strength to persuade Beach Bar to win at Haydock while Imshivalla has been winning on quicker ground. I’ll take a chance on Torrid’s fitness.

There are several potential improvers in the closing handicap. Dance Of Heroes and Ski Lift both won with a little in hand last time out and have to be respected. I also felt that The Character showed himself capable of winning races when running on well into third at Chester last time. But the one that really catches my eye is Stoute’s Savant.

The grey has had three very quiet races to date, most notably last time out when tenderly handled into fifth place at Kempton. He looks ready to improve for the step up in distance and Ryan Moore takes over in the saddle.

Time Test 3.0 Sandown 9-5 Betfair

Torrid 3.35 Sandown 7-1 BetVictor

Savant 4.45 Sandown 11-2 BetVictor

Epsom Tuesday Preview

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The victory of Muhaarar in the Gimcrack Stakes on Saturday gave us a profit on all four days of the York Ebor meeting. We finished the week over 30 points in profit after Dutch Connection (16-1), Tapestry (12-1), Sole Power (7-2) and Pale Mimosa (7-2).

The racing is not up to the same quality this week but there are a couple of interesting handicaps at Epsom on Tuesday that may be worth a flutter.

The old expression about following over cliffs springs to mind looking at the form for Mission Approved. His last six races have yielded three seconds and three thirds and he is likely to be a popular choice yet again in the six-furlong John Akehurst Handicap.

Formerly with Sir Michael Stoute, the gelding is now with Luca Cumani and almost popped up at 20-1 at Goodwood last time out. He certainly did not appear to shirk the issue when battling to the line and was unlucky to be beaten a short-head by Barnet Fair. The handicapper has put him up 3lbs for that run which must be frustrating for connections.

Huntsmans Close was not far behind him while Duke Cosimo won a very competitive race at Ripon last time. Both should go well along with track specialist Swiss Cross but I’ll keep faith with the luckless Mission Approved.

In the closing race I’m going to go with Roger Charlton’s Marzante. The grey ran a cracking race when narrowly beaten by Cherry Princess on his first outing for three years. He set a modest pace and looked like being swallowed up early in the straight but kept finding extra all the way to the line. Cherry Princess arrived fast and late and Marzante looked unlucky not to hold on.

The handicapper has put him up 3lbs for his troubles but he should run well for George Baker who has impressed me this season. Cherry Princess re-opposes and Gabrial The Thug should also pose a threat. Perhaps the biggest threat is the so-called “Bounce factor”. Many believe that horses running well after a lengthy layoff could suffer a bounce effect next time and run poorly. Marzante would be a prime candidate but, not knowing the reasons for his lengthy absence, I am prepared to take a chance.

It is difficult to get very excited about the rest of the card but hopefully the racing will pick up during the week.

Mission Approved 3.25 @4-1 Betfair

Marzante 5.05 @9-2 BetVictor

Sandown Thursday Preview

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The pick of the action in the UK on Thursday comes from Sandown’s evening fixture with a six race card starting at 5.40.

The most interesting event on the card is the handicap for three-year-olds at 7.25 over ten furlongs. Several of these have plenty of room for improvement with three of them having won last time out. John Gosden’s Prince Of Stars has been notable by his absence since winning at Chester back in May and has been well supported in the early skirmishes for his handicap debut.

He didn’t beat much at Chester and the Wood Ditton form has taken a few knocks so he is passed over at odds of around 5-2. Mythical Madness won a poor race last time and Hoop Of Colour overcame trouble in running to win a five-runner race at Pontefract. He is up a few pounds but the form of Lady Cecil’s stable does not inspire confidence.

Luca Cumani’s Comedy King is probably better than he showed last time out while Hedge End is incredibly consistent but has not won since December. She finished well at Goodwood last week behind Magique and runs off the same mark here. She seems to try her heart out and is the each-way selection in a tricky contest.

Roger Charlton’s Tides Reach is a bit of a puzzler in the closing handicap. She has always looked more of a soft ground filly but won by eight lengths at Windsor on good to firm last time out. I think she was flattered by the runner-up having been virtually eased to a walk by Richard Hughes at the line and she is worth opposing.

I have been impressed by the way in which Silvestre De Sousa has kept his head down after the poor treatment he received from Godolphin. He teams up with Unison who has run a couple of solid races and should go close here. He is closely weighted with Sweet Martoni but can just sneak it.

Over at Brighton, I think Lear’s Rock can improve on his debut fourth at Sandown and may be good enough to beat Hawkmeister. Richard Hannon’s runner is fitted with the blinkers here after a disappointing run at Lingfield last time out. Azmaam’s run at Sandown last time is best forgotten after a tardy start and he showed enough on his debut to win Haydock’s 2.40 race.

Lear’s Rock 3.20 Brighton

Azmaam 2.40 Haydock

Hedge End (each-way) 7.25 Sandown at 7-1 BetVictor

Unison 8.25 Sandown at 5-1 Paddy Power

Goodwood Friday Preview

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The colts take centre stage at Goodwood on Friday with The Cocked Hat Stakes attracting some promising types. It is a long time since this race had any merit as a Derby trial but a couple of these still hold entries at Epsom.

The one that stands out is Roger Charlton’s Observational. He is yet to win a race after finishing second in both starts but has shown plenty of promise. He was second at Newbury in soft ground on his debut in October, staying on well without threatening to catch Chatez.

He did not reappear until April and ran a cracker in a valuable sales race at Newmarket over ten furlongs. He launched his run on the wide outside and looked likely to win with a furlong to travel but found Sudden Wonder just too strong. Charlton’s horses are usually better for their first run and the son of Galileo can get off the mark tomorrow.

Postponed is the obvious threat after finishing third in the Craven Stakes and fourth behind Barley Mow. That latest effort was slightly disappointing and Derby entries for both he and Observational look a shade optimistic.

Tioga Pass is my selection for the staying handicap in receipt of two stone from Lady Cecil’s Phaenomena. The latter beat Sir Michael Stoute’s Astonishing last season and that filly romped home next time out. Phaenomena let down her supporters next time and she looks vulnerable with ten stone first time out. Tioga Pass was stepping up in trip for the first time when winning at Kempton for Paul Cole and looks capable of improving further.

Our third and final selection is Red Refraction in the sprint for Richard Hannon and Richard Hughes. The colt by Red Clubs has a poor win to run ratio but it was difficult not to see him as a desperately unlucky loser last time at Ascot. Held up in rear, he was guided inside by Sean Levey while the winner Blessington took the opposite course.

Levey ended up having to cut through runners late on to take second but the winner had flown. That was over six furlongs but he has raced over tomorrow’s distance of seven before and this looks a soft race. If you back him, don’t expect to see Hughes appear until late on.

Red Refraction 2.50 Goodwood at 2-1 Bet365, William Hill

Tioga Pass 3.25 Goodwood at 5-1 BetVictor

Observational 4.00 Goodwood at 5-2 Bet365

Newmarket Saturday Preview

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The Coral Sprint at Newmarket has been quite a successful event for me in the past with some useful three-year-olds competing over six furlongs.

Trainer Roger Charlton sets us a poser by running both Stomp and Stars Above Me. The latter was all the rage for a Newmarket handicap at the Guineas meeting and looked to be travelling easily with a furlong to travel. She did not find as much as Buick expected and changed her legs in the closing stages, perhaps resenting the quicker ground.

The going is expected to be just on the fast side of good on Saturday so it should be a close call in a re-match with the winner Nova Champ. The going is also a slight concern with Stomp who burst through to win easily at Lingfield having previously won on soft going at Windsor. Stomp has been raised 8lbs but that may not be enough to prevent him completing a hat-trick.

Parbold is yet another that might prefer easier ground when he lines up in the King Charles II Stakes. He didn’t run badly on his seasonal debut but I remember Richard Fahey saying that the going was a bit quick for him at Royal Ascot last year. He’s top rated on official figures but there is just a lingering doubt in my mind.

Ahead of him at Newmarket was Aeolus, a colt by Araafa trained by Ed McMahon. He looked a shade unlucky to beaten just half a length into third after meeting trouble in running. He was second to shock 2000 Guineas winner Night Of Thunder at Doncaster on soft ground in October, a far better run that it appeared at the time. He looks the form choice.

Punters of a certain vintage will remember a horse called Miner’s Lamp rattling off a sequence of handicap wins for Robert Sangster, Barry Hills and Steve Cauthen. The name is now carried by another useful colt by Shamardal who runs in the blue of Godolphin.

He ran well enough here when second to Zee Zeely to suggest that he can go one better in the 5.15 race on Saturday. There are a few promising types in opposition including seven-length winner Talmada. To be fair it was only a four-runner race but her third to Bright Approach at Newbury was a fair effort and she is set to receive 8lbs from Miner’s Lamp. That could be decisive.

Aeolus 2.55 Newmarket at 4-1 William Hill

Stomp 3.30 Newmarket at 3-1 BetVictor

Talmada 5.15 Newmarket at 9-4 BetVictor