Horse Racing Preview – Chester & Ripon – 12th May 2017
Plenty of cards this afternoon to keep you all occupied, today’s horse racing preview come from Chester and Ripon.
15.35 Chester – Boodles Diamond Ormande Stakes (Group 3)
This race could shed some light on this year’s St Leger chances, at the top end of the market is Ballydoyle’s US Army Ranger. Last year’s Derby runner up returns to put his stamp on things over middle distances and beyond this season.
We all know he handles Chester when winning last year’s Chester Vase on his way to Epsom, but he probably felt the excursions from his Derby run when failing to make any impact. His first run back this season saw him beaten in the Alleged Stakes when behind Air Pilot.
For me the son of Galileo has some big listed engagements this year, the further he goes the better in my opinion and would like to see him land this in good style and head for Doncaster at the back end of the season.
Midterm was also beaten in reappearance beaten to just over two lengths in the John Porter at Newbury. This is a new trip this afternoon, and it looks like Sire Galileo will take this race either way.
John Gosden’s Western Hymn has not shown his three-year-old form, last year’s Gordon Richards and Brigidair Gerard Stakes winner has not really for me shown his true character and potential. Runner up in last year’s Huxley Stakes, the now six year old has had four failed attempts at 12f last year, but finally got a win on his return to the all-weather when winning at Kempton to make it 2-2 and three years in duration between the two runs on the all-weather when winning the Listed Floodlit Stakes.
It’s hard to catch him right these days, if this race was run at Kempton he would probably be close to challenging for favouritism, personally even though I have tipped the horse on many occasions last year he has disappointed me every time, today I have over looked him which might be a backing tip in its self and put egg on my face.
Lively outsider is Ralph Beckett’s Diamonds Pour Moi, she ran creditable in last year’s Cheshire Oaks when one length off Somehow who has won both starts this year emphatically which included the Dahlia Stakes last weekend. Something went a miss when coming back sore when pulling up in the Epsom Oaks, she finished off her campaign winning at Saint-Cloud.
Any support in the market for Beckett’s filly here should be noted, she doesn’t have many miles on the clock and could have more improvement to come.
US Army Ranger : 3pt Win @ 9/4 (BOG)
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18.00 Ripon – SIS Trading Services Novice Auction Stakes (5f)
There are a couple of well thought of individuals in this which include Mark Johnston’s well-bred filly Starlight Mystery and David O’Meara’s Highland Bobby who both have entries in this year’s big juvenile encounters.
The former got off the mark at the second attempt at Brighton ten days ago in what could be a useful looking Novice Stakes race. She never looked in trouble when cruising in hand by two lengths, she should make her presence felt here.
Highland Bobby finished fifth in a similar contest at Beverley eleven days ago, a race that is surely going to turn out winners as the season comes on, but one I have opted for here is Ben Haslam’s speedy bred Funkadelic who did not run badly on debut when finishing sixth of twelve when behind Koditime, the runner up Dahik was the eye catcher in the race as was Central City.
Ben is a hard trainer to catch winners with, but it’s a I yard I do like to follow at the northern based tracks and he could be a fair price if the tissue of around 7/1 is available on the day. One other that most definitely deserves a mention is Tim Easterby’s Aristodemus who showed potential when third at Ripon behind Black Orange who was just denied by a nose in the Lily Agnes Condition Stakes at Chester on Wednesday.
It’s a hard one to call as I like two against the field and it’s that time to put the right one forward, the Black Orange form is solid due to the winners form this week at Chester, the top two yards have also very nice improved entries, but I’m going to hold my original thoughts on Aristodemus who outran his 66/1 price tag on debut, looks interesting and is owned by an excellent syndicate, Ontoawinner, who are well worth getting involved in.
Aristomedus : 1.5pt Win @ SP (BOG)
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