Wednesday 26th June

[Devasteve]

Well no credit for picking the winner on Saturday, although I wouldn’t have been backing it at 7/2 in a field that size. See if the recent change of fortune holds up at Salisbury, not a course I often patronise,

Salisbury 15.50 Cl 2 Hcap 124 (90.3) 8f gd/fm – 10 Run
3yo = 10lbs wfa allowance

Last year – 124 (88.7) gd/fm – 9 ran
Power Of Darkness 3/1 F 3-8-6 (84) Dr 6 by 0.02l from Wahash 16/1 4-10-0 (96) Dr 2

Nicklaus 4-9-12 (93) Dr 6 (126.6)
08 Jun Cl 2 Hcap (259/93.1) 8f AW Chelm 16/1 8-13 2.75l 3/11 off 93 – 122.6
chased leader 3f, remained handy, 2nd again over 2f out until inside final furlong, kept on same pace in 3rd
19 Sep Cl 3 3yo-Hcap (79/84.9) 8f gd/fm Yarm 5/1 9-6 0.5l 1/7 off 89 – 126.6
in touch, ridden and headway entering final furlong, quickened to lead inside final furlong, pushed out
Winner of an 80/81.0 over C&D here last July and ended the season with his third success at Yarmouth in September; likely needed the race when returning in a 311/91.6 at Epsom in May. But was a creditable 3rd at Chelmsford a week later; entitled to come on for that and Moore replaces the apprentice today; however, carries 6lbs more physical weight than he ever has before.
Plus: class (F); going (W); distance (W); course (W); form run lto (18 days);
Minus: 4lbs above last winning mark;
Verdict: entitled to show improvement, although weight qualifies strength of his challenge
Power Of Darkness 4-9-10 (91) Dr 5 (127.1)
04 May Cl 2 Hcap (311/97.0) 9f gd/fm Nwmkt 7/2 8-5 4.5l 7/10 off 91 – 124.4
keen held up, effort over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
18 Apr Cl 2 Hcap (162/93.6) 8f gd/fm Nwmkt 7/1 8-12 0.1l 2/8 off 89 – 127.1
steadied start, held up in rear on far rail, headway tracking leaders when not clear run and switched left inside final furlong, went 2nd final 50 yards and closed quickly, unlucky
Runs off a 7lbs higher mark and carries 18lbs actual weight than when taking last year’s renewal on his final start as a 3yo; has since been gelded and undergone wind surgery; made a powerful return when perhaps a little unlucky not to win at Newmarket in April, but didn’t seem to quite get the trip in the former Suffolk Stks there in early May; even negating the loss of his wfa allowance, he still has to carry 8lbs more physical weight than last year, or than he ever has in fact.
Plus: class (W); going (W); distance (W); course (W); recent outing (53 days);
Minus: 8lbs above last winning mark;
Verdict: showed promise on return, but major rise in physical weight to overcome.
King’s Slipper 4-9-10 (91) Dr 10 (125.5)
04 May Cl 2 Hcap (249/89.7) 8f gd Thir 4/1 9-1 12l 15/16 off 91
mid-division, weakened over 2f out
12 Apr Cl 4 Hcap (65/80.8) 8f AW Kemp 9/4 F 9-9 0.75 1/14 off 87 – 125.5
mid-division, headway over 1f out, chased leader inside final furlong, ran on to lead closing stages
Winner at Windsor and Kempton last season, was gelded between seasons; returned to take a modest Cl 4 at Kempton in mid-April, but then found the demands of the Thirsk Hunt Cup far beyond his capabilities off a 4lbs higher mark; no relief from the handicapper as yet and is asked to carry 9lbs more physical weight today.
Plus: going (W); distance (W); course (F);
Minus: class; no form run lto;
Verdict: yet to prove capable at this level and not a contender carrying 9lbs more than at Thirsk.
Family Fortunes 5-9-8 (89) Dr 2 (119.3)
03 Jun Cl 3 Hcap (72/83.9) 8f gd/fm Wind 7/1 9-2 1.25l 3/7 off 89 – 119.3
held up disputing 5th, headway chasing leaders, ridden over 1f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, stayed on same pace, lost 2nd well inside final furlong
Fine record on AW, but less so on turf, although latest effort at Windsor at the start of the month was one of his best; runs off the same mark today and with his rider’s claim will only carry 1lb more physical weight; however, has never run at this level before.
Plus: going (F); distance (W); form run lto (23 days);
Minus: class (?); course (?);
Verdict: yet to win on turf, or run at this level, so up against it.
Swift Rose 3-9-6 (97) Dr 9
Won a 6f mdn at Wolverhampton on his debut in November and then not disgraced in group races at Meydan early in the year; latest effort was when 9/10 over 10f in the Gr 3 Musidora stks at York last month; makes his hcap bow today, but nothing to rate him off, although does look to have a tough opening mark as 9-6 is a lot for a 3yo to carry in an open handicap.

Of others, Wahash is 21lbs better in with Power Of Darkness than when only beaten a nose in last year’s renewal. Of course, 10lbs of that was wfa allowance, but 11lbs for a nose is a lot, plus he didn’t run badly when 3/12 in a 311/91.8 at Bath in April. However, while he’s 2/8 on the AW, his turf record stands at a less than impressive 0/21.

King’s Slipper and Family Fortunes can join the list of other no-hopers here, which leaves me Nicklaus, Power Of Darkness and perhaps Swift Rose and Wahash. No doubt Power Of Darkness has been aimed at this again, but in a race where the presence of Swift Rose has skewed the weights, I’d be more inclined to go for Nicklaus to open his season’s account. So Nicklaus from Power Of Darkness and maybe Wahash would be my suggestion.