Tag: Ryan Moore

Sandown Wednesday Preview

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The weekend racing was top class on all fronts with the St Leger at Doncaster, the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown and the Arc trials in France. George Baker falling out of the side door with the race at his mercy on Cotai Glory pretty much summed up my Doncaster meeting but it is back to the daily bread and butter stuff this week.

The exception is the clash of two potentially top-class two-year-olds at Sandown on Wednesday. Latharnach and Time Test are set to meet over seven furlongs and both colts hold entries for the top two-year-old events later in the year.

Godolphin are yet to find a genuine colt this season and they are still chasing a first Group 1 victory in Europe. Latharnach made his debut in a maiden race at Newmarket that has proved to be a goldmine for punters. Incredibly, nine of the eleven runners have won since including Basateen, Best Of Times and Typhoon Season.

Last season I highlighted the maiden race won by Taghrooda which produced a high percentage of winners but that has been surpassed by the Newmarket race. Ironically, it was won by Lexington Times who has proved to be a very ordinary juvenile. Latharnach duly obliged next time out here and the form has been boosted by Elm Park who finished third.

Time Test made his debut at Newbury and looked set to win easily until weakening in the closing stages behind Stec. Whether it was fitness or inexperience I am not sure but he made no mistake next time out, beating Sweet Dreams comfortably over course and distance. I am siding with Time Test here but both colts should have a future.

My second tip on the card is for Shama’s Crown in the 4.45. Jeremy Noseda’s filly looks very nicely weighted on a line through Pleasant Valley. Shama’s Crown gave that filly a real fright on her debut and she has gone on to win easily off a mark of 78. She is now up to 87 and contests a Listed race at Yarmouth on Wednesday. That surely leaves Shama’s Crown with a great chance off a mark of 80.

Ryan Moore rode her to a comfortable success over a mile last time out at Windsor but she steps back up to a mile and a quarter here.

Time Test 3.05 Sandown Wednesday @5-6 Betfair

Shama’s Crown 4.45 Sandown Wednesday @13-8 Bet365

Doncaster Friday Preview

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Favourites were wiped out at Doncaster on Thursday but Blue Waltz (7-2) clawed back some of our outlay.

Friday’s card features the Doncaster Cup with Her Majesty The Queen’s Estimate bidding to get back to winning ways after a good second last time out at York. The former Ascot Gold Cup winner appeared to suffer from the dreaded “Bounce factor” at Goodwood on her previous start when she ran a lifeless race. She went straight to Ascot this year without a prep race and ran her heart out in second place. If she is in the same kind of form on Friday she will be difficult to beat.

She is a very short price and I prefer to side with Times Up who is seeking a third consecutive win in this race. Ed Dunlop has shown that he is a master at preparing these older horses for the big day with the likes of Red Cadeaux. Times Up was behind Estimate at York but that run may have been needed to bring him to his peak.

The card opens with the Flying Childers Stakes over five furlongs. Moonraker looked unlucky last time out when just pipped after a troubled passage. Mick Channon had a winner on Thursday and Moonraker looks worth an each-way bet under Ryan Moore but Cotai Glory has even stronger claims. He had his rivals in trouble a long way out at Goodwood and will presumably try to burn them off from the start again here.

Adventure Seeker ran a fine race at York and looks worth a bet against his elders in the Mallard Handicap. Most of the opposition is fully exposed with the exception of Cumani’s Sir Walter Scott. He could improve on his Ebor effort but Adventure Seeker looks a safer bet.

Muraaqaba looks a worthy favourite for the May Hill Stakes after her game win at Newmarket. The further she went, the better she went that day. Her biggest danger is likely to be the Irish raider Agnes Stewart who finished ahead of subsequent winner Raydara last time out. Whatever the fate of Sir Walter Scott, Cumani should add to Thursday’s double with White Lake at 4.25. He was a 25-1 shot on his debut at York but outstayed the opposition in great style, despite racing wide throughout. He looks like a decent colt but will have to be to see off the likes of Nafaqa and Toolcoolforschool.

Cotai Glory 1.40 @11-2 BetVictor

Moonraker 1.40 @9-1 BetVictor (each-way)

Adventure Seeker 2.10 @5-1 Stan James

Times Up 2.40 @4-1 William Hill

Muraaqaba 3.15 @13-8 Paddy Power

White Lake 4.25 @13-8 Paddy Power

Lingfield Wednesday Preview

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Last Minute Lisa (tipped at 4-1) saved our bacon at Goodwood on Tuesday after a touch of “seconditis”. An odds-on winner and a non-runner left us all square on the day so we are still in funds going on to Lingfield’s Wednesday card.

The meeting is split between the all-weather and the turf and the pick of the action is the mile and a quarter handicap at 5.05. Paddy Power are offering a generous 5-1 about Shama’s Crown (although I am not sure how long that will last).

She is trained by Jeremy Noseda and ran a great race first time out when chasing up Luca Cumani’s Pleasant Valley. The winner went on to win impressively at Doncaster off a mark of 78 which suggests that Shama’s Crown is something to bet on off a rating of 81. She duly obliged on her second start over an inadequate mile with Ryan Moore bringing her down the centre of the track to win going away.

With Moore claimed for Alex Vino, Kieren Fallon gets to do the steering on this likeable filly and 5-1 looks an each-way steal.

There are two other runners that I like on the card, both two-year-olds. Charming Thought has to be the selection in the opening maiden race in the blue of Godolphin. He ran a fine race on his debut when chasing home Flash Fire. The winner was narrowly beaten in a decent little nursery at Goodwood on Tuesday but Charming Thought looks the sort to improve a few pounds.

He holds an entry in the Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury later this month so anything less than a win here would be disappointing. Her Majesty The Queen’s Kinematic was probably flattered by her proximity to Ivawood at Sandown but will probably be the biggest threat with the Balding stable in such fine form.

My final selection is Majestic Manner in the maiden at 3.30, trained by William Haggas. Her dam was Majestic Roi who won the Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes in her time. Majestic Manner stayed on well at Windsor first time out under a considerate ride from Ryan Moore and will relish the extra furlong she gets on Wednesday.

There are a whole host of well-bred newcomers up against her including two from Sir Michael Stoute’s stable and one from John Gosden’s yard. Providing that there is nothing exceptional among them, Majestic Manner can get off the mark.

Charming Thought 2.0

Majestic Manner 3.30 at 14-5 Betfair

Shama’s Crown 5.05 at 5-1 Paddy Power

Salisbury Wednesday Preview

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Salisbury must be one of the most pleasant racecourses in the UK and Wednesday’s card is the highlight of the season with the Listed Upavon Stakes.

The one I like here is Richard Hannon’s Lustrous who finished strongly to take second to Bracelet in the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot. That form entitles her to start favourite here but she has since run poorly in Ireland and was only fifth at Goodwood.

I am prepared to overlook the Irish Oaks form as you sometimes get horses that just don’t travel well but I am a little concerned by her Goodwood defeat. There are a whole host of promising fillies in this race including the unbeaten My Spirit and the rapidly improving Kleo. Both should run well along with Godolphin’s Tearless who already has a comfortable course and distance win to her credit.

Richard Hughes won’t be keeping the video of the ride he gave When Will It End at Goodwood in his archive. Every gap he went for seemed to close immediately and he can be counted an unlucky loser. He is 4lbs better off with the winner Grigolo but that need not necessarily guarantee that he will reverse the form. Mark Johnston’s horse was not stopping in front and it should be close between the pair. However, I am hoping that Sir Michael Stoute’s Darshini can beat them both.

He made the running at Sandown last time out and Ryan Moore looked to have kept a little up his sleeve. The bare form isn’t outstanding but he can lead his rivals a merry dance here.

The same combination should be back in the winner’s enclosure half an hour later with Tercel. The gelding won nicely at Sandown, this time with Moore arriving late on the scene. He did not really have to ask for everything that day and there is plenty of room for improvement. Potentate looks the obvious danger for the Hannon and Hughes team.

Moore can make it three for the day when he partners Luca Cumani’s Petticoat lane in the 4.30. The daughter of High Chaparral ought to have won at Sandown last time out but was blocked in her run up the rail and had to switch to the outside. Although only fourth of five, she was beaten less than two lengths by the winner and can make amends.

Darshini 2.50 Salisbury at 5-4 Paddy Power

Tercel 3.25 Salisbury at 6-4 Paddy Power

Lustrous 3.55 Salisbury at 11-1 Bet Victor Non-runner

Kleo 3.55 Salisbury at 15-2 Sportingbet (each-way)

Petticoat Lane 4.30 Salisbury at 9-4 Paddy Power

Goodwood Thursday Preview

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Goodwood Cup day opens with yet another tricky handicap for punters to unravel. Roseburg was impressive at Haydock last time out for the in-form Luca Cumani but I’m a little concerned about the quicker ground for him.

The one that catches my eye is Amanda Perrett’s Astronereus. I strongly fancied Razor Wind at Newmarket last time but he had no answer to Astronereus once Richard Hughes had extricated him from a pocket. Arable won well at Haydock but has been given a 10lbs hike in the handicap so I shall side with the Perrett horse for a Sussex-trained winner.

Ivawood should take the Richmond Stakes but the bookmakers are taking no chances by offering only 4-7 about the July Stakes winner. His form certainly looks far superior to his rivals with the exception of Jungle Cat who will probably give him most to do.

Estimate will start favourite for the Goodwood Cup and can get the better of Brown Panther, providing the rain stays away. The latter was beaten in heavy ground in France last time out but generally shows his best with a little cut in the ground. It was good ground last year when he won decisively and he is the danger to Her Majesty’s mare.

John Gosden’s incredible season continues and I think he could spring a surprise in the Lillie Langtry Stakes at 3.45. Stella Bellissima won her only start at Newbury despite falling out of the stalls. She made her challenge on the wide outside and did well to get up and win. What tempts me to have an each-way investment on the filly here is the fact that the runner-up came out and won by 19 lengths at Newmarket! Missunited is obviously the one to beat after her magnificent effort in the Gold Cup.

Finally, in the 4.50 I’m going to recommend another speculative investment on Andrew Balding’s Secret Hint. The filly will be having only her third start and is 2lbs out of the handicap but there are question marks about many of her rivals. She is also set to receive plenty of weight from Magnus Maximus who beat her at Kempton on her debut.

The draw is a bit of a concern with stall 12 far from ideal. David Probert can hopefully get her out quickly and tuck in behind the pace. Sir Michael Stoute’s Royal Seal is feared most after running over six furlongs last time at Newmarket. That was patently too short for him and he should go well under Ryan Moore.

Astronereus 2.05 Goodwood @5-1 William Hill

Estimate 3.10 Goodwood @9-4 Betfair

Stella Bellissima 3.45 Goodwood @8-1 Paddy Power

Secret Hint 4.50 Goodwood

Leicester Thursday Preview

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Two out of three at Lingfield on Wednesday kept us ticking over nicely. Sometimes it is nice to thumb through the form book at these smaller midweek meetings and back something at short odds. I am not a great fan of odds-on betting but there are a couple of favourites at Leicester on Thursday that are crying out for a win double.

Last year, Sir Michael Stoute used the conditions race on this card to re-launch the career of Telescope. It was only an egg and spoon race but Ryan Moore rode him out to a 24-length victory. It was quite refreshing to see a horse unleashed like that rather than being tip-toed over the line with the jockey risking a neck injury in search of non-existent dangers.

Tomorrow it is the turn of Arod to see if he is in that sort of class following his fine fourth place in the Epsom Derby. He won a Windsor maiden by five lengths before finishing second in the Dante at York. That race was won by subsequent French Derby winner The Grey Gatsby, although I stand by my claim that it is no longer a “Derby” as it is run over a mile and a quarter.

Arod ran well at Epsom without ever threatening to win and now reverts to a mile and a quarter. Trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam insists that the colt really wants fast ground and he should get that on Thursday. With only two rivals, the danger has to be some kind of silly crawl but Spencer should be able to steer him home in front.

The double can be rounded off nicely by Perfect Persuasion in the fillies’ handicap half an hour later. As my regular followers will know, William Haggas is in terrific form and this filly ought to have added another victory last time out. Ryan Moore was guilty of giving her too much to do at Kempton and she ran on bravely from an impossible position to finish third. I don’t like to criticise Moore too often because he is about the best around at the moment and he can make amends tomorrow.

The main threat may come from Roger Varian’s Laftah who won well enough last time. She races in a hood but seems genuine enough but Perfect Persuasion should have her measure.

Arod 3.25 Leicester @4-11 Paddy Power

Perfect Persuasion 3.55 Leicester @8-11 Paddy Power