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Saturday 26th May

Posted: Sat May 26, 2018 11:54 am
by Devasteve
Sorry, but too many things to do today, so yet another rushed Saturday offering.

York 14.00 Cl 2 Hcap 156 (108) 7f gd – 11 Run
3yo = 11lbs wfa allowance

Last year – 187 (109) gd/fm – 6 ran
Golden Stunner 7/1 4-9-1 (96) Dr 5 by 2l from Firmament 7/4 F 5-10-0 (109) Dr 2
Get Knotted 7/2 5-9-5 (100) Dr 6 was 3.5l 3rd

Eastern Impact 7-9-2 (96) Dr 7
06 May Cl 2 Hcap (311 u) 6f gd/fm Nwmk (109) 7/1 2.1l dh 7/15 off 97
Broke well, chased leaders, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong
Not won since taking Group race at Ascot back in October 2015 and may be finding the younger sprinters a bit too quick for him nowadays as he did last time at Newmarket; whether or not he stays 7f is open to question though as he finished down the field on his only other attempt at the trip back in October 2014; even trainer admits this is a bit of a fishing trip, although having been dropped another lb continues to be well weighted.
Plus: class (W); going (W); course (F); trainer (14d) form run lto (20 days); down 1lb;
Minus: distance; up in trip;
Verdict: (41) question about trip means he’s not the strongest contender for me despite being well handicapped.
Salateen 6-9-10 (104) Dr 2
05 May Cl 2 Hcap (125 d) 7f gd Donc (102) 7/2 0.05l 1/6 off 102
Close up, led halfway, ridden over 1f out, driven inside final furlong, held on well towards finish
Struggled with his mark over the past year, but back to form win at Doncaster at the start of the month when holding off Truth Or Dare; raised just 2lbs for that, but faces stiffer opposition today; nevertheless, conditions suit and can’t be ignored.
Plus: class (W); going (W); distance (W); course (W); form run lto (21 days);
Minus: up 2lbs;
Verdict: (37) back to form and a contender to add to his tally.
Hayadh 5-9-2 (96) Dr 8
05 May Cl 2 Hcap (259 u) 8f gd/sf Weth (100) 20/1 0.25l 2/15 off 93
Prominent, ridden to lead 2f out, headed just inside final furlong, kept on
Had been off the course since his 2yo days when transferred from the Gosden yard in January; won first up for his new connections over 7f at Wolverhampton in February and finished midfield in the Lincoln on his return to turf, shook off a disappointing run over 7f at Musselburgh at the end of March to put in a career best when only just going down in the transferred Hunt Cup at Wetherby at the start of the month; has been raised 3lbs for that, but lightly raced for a 5yo and may well have more to give; slight question about with turf form coming on gd/sf, although did win on gd/fm on 2yo debut.
Plus: class (W); distance (W); form run lto (21 days); career best lto; drops back to 7f;
Minus: going; course (?); up 3lbs;
Verdict: (37) question about ground, but a potential contender on Wetherby running.
Golden Apollo 4-9-3 (97) Dr 11
Progressive as a 3yo over 6f last season winning 3 of his 9 starts and didn’t shape too badly on his return here 10 days ago; now returns to 7f over which he does have form at lower levels; no reason to believe that trip will be a barrier today.
Plus: class (W); going (W); distance (F); course (F); trainer (14d); down 1lb;
Minus:
Verdict: (35) needs to come on for his return run, but a likely contender returned to 7f.
Gilgamesh 4-9-2 (96) Dr 6
12 May Cl 2 Hcap (654 u) 7f gd/fm Ascot (106) 25/1 2.02l 7/27 off 92
Held up near side, progress 2f out, ridden to lead group inside final furlong, never on terms with far side, 1st of 8 in group
Won his second and final start as a 2yo and then won his first 3 starts of 2017, although then not seen from early May until finishing 4/13 at Chelmsford in mid-November; another long break until finishing down the field on his return in the Newbury Spring Cup last month; showed benefit of the run when coming through to lead his group on the ‘wrong’ side in the Victoria Cup lto and finish a close 7th overall; plenty to build on there, and this will only be his 6th turf start (9th overall).
Plus: class (F); going (W); distance (W); form run lto (14 days);
Minus: course (?); up 4lbs;
Verdict: (35) must warrant serious consideration on Ascot running and another contender.

So Beloved runs off a 12lbs higher mark than when taking the 2015 renewal and has it all to do under a steadying 10 stone impost; small wonder that Tudhope has instead opted to ride Salateen who came back to form at Doncaster lto. Get Knotted was 3rd last year, but runs off a 4lbs lower mark today, plus his rider claims a useful 3lbs. However, his run in the Victoria Cup gave little encouragement and I can’t fancy him today.

Turning to my shortlist, the serious question about the trip leads me to pass on Eastern Impact. There are some questions about the trip for Golden Apollo too, but my worry is his outside stall, plus he does need to step up a bit today. There’s not a lot between the remaining trio though, even if the odds on Gilgamesh do look a little cramped. That’s no reflection on his claims, but as such I’d perhaps be more inclined to go for Salateen and Hayadh, as I believe the latter would be a shorter price if from a more fashionable stable. So sticking my neck out I’m going for Hayadh from Salateen with Gilgamesh the most likely to spoil the party.

Chester 14.55 Cl 2 Hcap 280 (105) 7.5f gd – 12 Run

Last year – 280 (103) gd/fm – 10 ran
Fastnet Tempest 5/6 F 4-8-10 (94) Dr 1 by 0.25l from Penwortham 50/1 4-8-3 (87) Dr 5
Above The Rest 16/1 6-9-3 (101) Dr 10 was 2.1l 4th
Sound Advice 8/1 8-9-5 (103) Dr 6 was 11.87l 10th

The Feathered Nest 4-8-5 (89) Dr 3
09 May Cl 4 Hcap (77 u) 7f gd Chest (85) 7/1 0.75l 1/12 off 85
Midfield, ridden and headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, led final 75yds
Highly consistent on turf last season and made a promising return by recording a career best when scoring over 7f here earlier in the month; has been raised 4lbs for that and is up in class, but won in Cl 2 to close out her turf season last July; moreover, jockey booking jumps out, as few ride Chester better than Norton, and the extra half furlong should not prove a bother.
Plus: class (W); going (W); distance (W); course (W); trainer (14d); trainer (C); form run lto (17 days); career best lto;
Minus: up 4lbs; up 2 classes;
Verdict: (49) winning return and likely more to come, a contender.
Baraweez 8-8-9 (93) Dr 2
Looked the part when winning over C&D here earlier in the month with a number of these behind; thinks didn’t go as well at York last week, however, off 1lb higher mark over 8f on fast ground; things should go better back at Chester with a good draw and claimer has won here; however., maybe worth noting that win here was his first since August 2015!
Plus: class (W); going (W); distance (W); course (W); trainer (14d); trainer (C); recent start (9 days);
Minus: up 3lbs;
Verdict: (48) chance on win here, but consistency not his strong suit and not the strongest contender.
Sabador 4-8-10 (94) Dr 6
12 May Cl 2 Hcap (654 u) 7f gd/fm Ascot (106) 9/1 0.6l 4/27 off 93
Tracked overall leader far side, ridden to challenge over 1f out, upsides inside final furlong, not quicken last 75yds, 4th of 19 in group
Won 2 of his first 3 starts as a 3ypo before disappointing the Britannia at Royal Ascot; very impressive on first start since with a career best when 4/17 in the Victoria Cup a fortnight ago; has been raised 1lb for that, but this is nowhere near as competitive; first visit to Chester, plus will he ‘bounce’?
Plus: class (F); going (W); distance (W); trainer (14d); form run lto (14 days); career best lto;
Minus: course (?); up 1lb;
Verdict: (45) contender providing he can handle the course and this doesn’t come too soon after Ascot.
Sound Advice 9-9-0 (98) Dr 1
11 May Cl 2 Hcap (212 d) 7.5f gd Chest (105) 7/1 3.5l 4/15 off 98
Midfield, hampered after 1f, ridden and headway to chase leaders over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, not pace of leaders
Fine record here through the years, but didn’t get the best of runs behind Barweez (-12) here lto; meets him on 3lbs better terms today, but that not necessarily enough to turn the table and as a 9yo may be reaching the end of his competitive career.
Plus: class (W); going (W); distance (W); course (W); trainer (C); form run lto (15 days);
Minus:
Verdict (42) not getting any younger and perhaps not the strongest contender.
South Seas 4-9-7 (105) Dr 4
11 May Cl 2 Hcap (212 d) 7.5f gd Chest (105) 10/1 4.85l 7/15 off 105
Missed break, held up, forced slightly right on bend well over 1f out, soon ridden, switched left inside final furlong, stayed on towards finish, never able to challenge
Smart form at 2yo, nothing in a pair of 3yo starts, gelded and not seen again last season; missed break on return here but ran on well to finish 7/15 to Baraweez (-19); meets him on 7lbs better terms today and can perhaps be expected to turn the tables today (if getting away on terms!); moreover, claimer 0/7 here.
Plus: class (W); distance (W); trainer (C); recent outing (15 days);
Minus: going; course;
Verdict: (28) much potential, but not sure he’s a contender off this mark under this rider.

Very rushed, so sufficient to say I have it between The Feathered Nest. Baraweez and Sabador and will go for The Feathered Nest from Sabador adn Baraweez and hope that last year’s runner-up, Penwortham doesn’t come back to form to spoil my ideas.

Re: Saturday 26th May

Posted: Sun May 27, 2018 9:43 am
by martinkil
I see you you've taken the interesting approach of hiding the winner as your third selection - how experimental of you! :)