Thursday 23rd May

Any comments on today's racing. Please don't just put in selections ... please add some reason why you think a runner will win
Devasteve
Posts: 546
Joined: Fri Jan 16, 2015 8:29 am

Thursday 23rd May

Postby Devasteve » Thu May 23, 2019 11:42 am

Thanks Martin, I was indeed fortunate with my second choice on Sunday, although no comment on the main selection who to put it mildly, disappointed! First day this week we’ve had anything worth looking at, but again there are some complications that would suggest it’s a race best left alone.

Goodwood 14.35 Cl 2 Hcap 156 (93.6) 7f gd – 9 Run

Last year – 156 (91.1) gd/fm – 8 ran
Love Dreams 9/4 F 4-9-7 (100) Dr 7 by 2.25l from Charles Molson 8/1 7-8-11 (90) Dr 9

Zhui Feng 6-9-7 (105) Dr 8
11/2* Cons 27 AB 514* Lto 230* SF 107* Rat 120*
CB: 12 May ’18 Cl 2 Hcap (650/94.5) 7f 28/1 9-10 0.25l 2/27 off 106 – 113*
raced towards far side, overall leader, ridden over 1f out, ran on well inside final furlong, caught last strides
Winner of 2017 Hunt Cup on fast ground at Ascot carrying 9-0 off 100, subsequently finished 7/17 in the Betfred Mile here in the August; not seen then until reappearing in the Victoria Cup where he was only just run down by Ripp Orf (-23) in the final strides off 106; largely disappointing thereafter save for winning a modest 4-horse listed contest at Windsor at the end of June; no sign of form on last two starts, weakening inside the final furlong on both occasions; however, was both gelded and underwent wind surgery during the off-season and returns in lowest class race for some time; goes well fresh, but noted the normal cheekpieces are not fitted today; leader on ability and certainly has capability based on last year’s return showing, plus has rating support; however, not currently consistent and a contender with questions on return.

Intransigent 10-8-2 (86) Dr 7
14/1 Cons 7# AB 197* Lto 120 SF 85 Rat 83
Won a 70 (81.5) on sf at Chester in mid-September, but could never get to easy leader when runner-up in a 60 (79.6) there a fortnight later carrying 9-4 off 85; one-paced in the final furlong in a 120 (89.5) at Lingfield in January on only AW start of the winter; returns here after 132-day break and while consistent outside the forecast and second highest on ability, has little other support and hard to see the returning 10yo as a contender from 1lb out of the handicap.

Apex King 5-8-2 (86) Dr 4
14/1 Cons 14# AB 117* Lto 310* SF 86 Rat 85
Won in listed class as a 2yo but has failed to build on that since, only success coming in a 120 (88.0) at Lingfield in January carrying 7-9 off 77 when beating Breden (+26) by 1l; has had a couple of decent placed efforts at around that level since, though has struggled off this mark of 86 in higher class, as last time here when weakening in the final furlong; third highest on ability and coming from a more valuable (though less classy) race lto, has no rating support and only 5th most consistent; not a lot going for him.

Raucous 6-9-2 (100) Dr 6
8/1* Cons 6* AB 116* Lto 130* SF 97 Rat 117
09 May Cl 2 Hcap (130/94.5) 7f AW Chelm 8/1 9-0 2.25l 2/6 off 100 – 104*
chased leaders, ridden to challenge over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, not pace of winner
19 Apr Cl 2 HCap (310/90.6) 7f AW Ling 9/1 9-6 0.5l 2/12 off 97 – 104*
led, headed over 5f out, stayed prominent, led again entering final furlong, headed towards finish
30 Mar Cl 2 Hcap (160/95.2)) 6f AW Kemp 10/1 9-2 1.25l 2/11 off 97 – 102
went left start, tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, led briefly inside final furlong, stayed on
Has been in consistent form on the AW of late recording career best the last twice over 7f; however, one does wonder how he’ll fare with a full paced 7f on turf, as he’s never won beyond as yet; his best came at this meeting last year when carrying 9-6 off 90 in taking a 160 (90.1) over 6f on gd/sf by 0.25l from George Bowen (0); consistent within the forecast and fourth highest on ability, but no ratings support; this looks a tougher task over 1f further than his last win and off a 3lbs higher mark on faster ground; not the strongest contender perhaps.

Love Dreams 5-8-11 (95) Dr 3
5/2* Cons 8* AB 109* Lto 310* SF 106* Rat 118*
16 May Cl 2 Hcap (310/94.1) 7f gd/fm York 8/1 9-4 2.25l 4/14 off 95 – 100
led, driven over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra close home
04 May Cl 2 Hcap (310/89.9) 7f gd Good 4/1 9-4 1l 2/11 off 93 – 101
led, clear over 1f out, ridden headed and not pace of winner final 125 yards
09 Mar Cl 3 Hcap (90/89.3) 7f AW Kemp 7/1 9-6 0.75l 2/11 off 92 – 99
chased leaders, went 2nd over 4f out, ridden over 1f out, lost 2nd inside final furlong, regained 2nd last strides but not pace of winner
24 May Cl 2 Hcap (160/91.1) 7f gd/fm Good 9/4 F 9-7 2.25l 1/8 off 100 – 110*
made all, pushed along and readily went clear over 1f out, kept on well and always in command in final furlong, ridden out
Front-runner who has been in consistent form of late and actually dropping in class from the race in which he finished 4th at York last week; runs off a 5lbs lower mark and carries 10lbs less weight than when taking last year’s renewal; consistent in forecast, fifth on ability and dropping in class from lto, he also enjoys solid rating support; on the face of it a strong contender to repeat last year’s victory.

Game Player 4-8-10 (94) Dr 5
5/2* Cons 7* AB 58 Lto 70 SF 103* Rat 120*
03 May Cl 3 Hcap (70/86.7) 7f gd Ling 11/8 F 9-6 1.5l 1/6 off 89 – 102*
tracked leaders, pushed along 3f out, stayed on to challenge inside final 2f, soon ridden, led entering final furlong, driven out, in command inside final 100 yards
18 Apr Cl 2 Hcap (160/97.9) 7f gf Nwmk 13/2 8-7 3.25l 4/10 off 91 – 91
tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong
Raced twice as 2yo without success, but following gelding won 2 of his 5 starts as a 3yo ending the season with a form run at Ascot off 86; raised in class in return at Newmarket in April and by no means disgraced in finishing 4th to Mubtasim who was giving him a stone; eased 2lbs by the handicapper, he was dropped in class on the turf at Lingfield lto and responded by gaining a commanding victory in a career best; has been raised 5lbs for that, but carries 10lbs less actual weight as he goes back up in class again; consistent in the forecast and has ratings support, but lacking in ability and class of lto race; all in all I don’t believe he has the ability to make it two in a row going up in class of opposition.

Of the others, I can’t find any evidence to suggest that either George Of Hearts or Makzeem should enter the equation despite both being dropped in class. While Love Dreams looks the strongest contender to repeat last year’s success, I am mindful that it’s a Mark Johnston horse! I’m also mindful that Zhui Feng is very capable on his day and can go well fresh, plus having been gelded and had a breathing operation between seasons may well be an improved animal this year. Game Player, meanwhile, looks to be an improving sort. I think it should lie between the three of them and would go for Love Dreams from Zhui Feng, although there is enough confusion to suggest it might be a race best left alone!

Return to “Race Discussion”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 11 guests