All articles by: Darren Chettleburgh

Horse Racing Preview – Huntingdon – 17th October 2017

Today’s horse racing preview has two selections from Huntingdon & Kempton.

 

14.50 Huntingdon – 32Red Handicap Chase (23.9f) (0-105)

Trojan Star (114)
Sirius Star (111)
Florida Calling (106)

Not the greatest of contests to be fair in this race at Huntingdon. Nigel Twiston-davies Ballypoint was beaten around this class two runs back at Worcester, the fact he was doing most of his late work from the second last shows that once more this trip just might be a tad too short for him. He was a winner off 122 as a hurdler, but over the larger obstacles he is becoming exposed being 0-7, however he is rated 16lb below his hurdle mark and has declined this year to that magnitude in this class, a concern for me.

Florida Calling has been posting marks to suggest that he is a winner in waiting, his two runs this year over three miles on good ground when runner up on both occasions suggests this significant drop in the weights would give him a live chance for Tom George’s yard. Trojan Star is now a third season chaser and won here at Huntingdon last November over two and a half miles, as Ballypoint did, Trojan Star also had Hepijeu well beaten. Two runs now over this trip has seen him run well, third in a 0-120 two runs back at Kempton going on to finish fourth at Huntingdon in what was probably a very disappointing run against lesser opposition.

If Kim Bailey’s seven year old bounces back and runs up to his Kempton defeat he would be far superior to this moderate bunch and a big plus is Tom Bellamy back on board. Last but not least, Sirius Star, who is getting lumps of weight from his rivals this afternoon under claimer Jamie Hamilton. This second season chaser has been on the cold list since his win at Market Rasen on his chasing debut, but his resume does not read well over today’s trip and looks vulnerable to proven types.

TROJAN STAR : 2pt Win @ SP (BOG)

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17.45 Kempton – 32Red Handicap (0-90) (5f)

Arzaak (103)
Shamshon (93)
Gentleman (89)

Useful looking contest for a 0-90, and the selection here is Chris Dwyer’s Arzaak, but I will get back to him in due course. Firstly, Shamshon who I actually thought would have won more coming off his Newmarket win, he has not really extended his current mark and has been dropped 2lb lower than when winning that Newmarket race. His last all weather run over this trip came at Wolves when off a mark of 93 and actually ran up to that mark that day hence why I have him rated that high.

Nicole Currie’s 7lb claim could make things easier for Gentleman here, he finished fourth over course and distance two runs back, but I do feel the handicapper still slightly has him within its grasp off this mark of 89. Now on to the selection, its is not the easiest of races and what does not help is the seven runners, as I do feel Arzaak could finish in the top three here.

His last run over the index came at Southwell when winning off a mark of 73 under champion elect De Sousa, his 73 mark was definitely lenient considering he put an easy distance between the rest of his rivals. That does not put his form for top rating from that race, with his last run coming on turf at Yarmouth when he posted a far superior rating than his 85 suggested and he went on to run well again in this years Sprint Championship at Lingfield, despite finishing second last over 6f.

The horse’s he was taking on were rated over 25lb his superior, and to run a solid race off 73 and the fact he was still in contention before the furlong pole suggests that he can be involved here, a good booking I think of claimer Lewis Edmunds and the horses age allowance, I expect him to run well at what could be a big price.

ARZAAK : 1pt each way @ SP

 

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Horse Racing Preview – Musselburgh & Windsor – 16th October 2017

Today’s horse racing preview selections come over two meetings, Musselburgh & Windsor. There are some seriously well handicapped horses out today, lets hope I have got this spot on.

 

14.50 Musselburgh – 100% Racing UK Profits Back to Racing Handicap (7.1f) (0-100)

Lualiwa (106)
Heavens Guest (106)
Von Blucher (104

A tight nit Class 2 Handicap to bring in the first selection this afternoon, all of the three I have put forward this afternoon are definitely well handicapped on what they have been showing of late, especially the top two. Heavens Guest was last seen when finishing fourth at Ascot over 8f, which he does not often do, also he does not get his actual ground that often either, but this afternoon the official going is good which has shown his true form. However these days he seems to show his true colours at Northern tracks such as York or Thirsk and has only ventured away on four occasions from home surroundings without success.

The fact that Heavens Guest is coming into this off just 89 is giving him a chance, if we go back to his second over distance and ground at York last May, he was seen to be just denied by Jallota who has recently won the Listed Guisborough Stakes when beating Von Blucher, posting a rating of 110 in the process, so even though Heavens Guest is now seven he cannot be disregarded lightly and looks to have enough weight to hold the form with Lualiwa.

With Von Blucher mentioned, this brings me on to Lualiwa of Kevin Ryan’s, he has a bit to find with the selection this afternoon when they met at Ascot last month in the Cunard Handicap, Heaven Guest was just a length in front that day, however the selection was conceding 2lb, with the age weight allowance and Andrew McNamara’s 3lb claim it is hard to see that form being reversed.

HEAVENS GUEST : 1pt each way @ 9/1 (BOG)

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15.20 Musselburgh – Breeders Backing Racing EBF Flying Scotsman Conditions Stakes (5f)

Ornate (105)
Alpha Delphini (94)

Robert Cowell’s Ornate should be using his 6lb turnaround at the weights with Alpha Delphini this time around, the latter beat the selection when they met at Beverley last month, there were two and three quarter lengths between them on that occasion with the selection having to concede 6lb to the winner, its all reversed today and off level weights that should be reversed.

The race I got the rating off for my ratings is when Ornate finished behind Waady at Leicester, even though Waady has been beaten twice recently that has come at pattern and Listed level. I would like to think the race will pan out between these two, with Ornate getting revenge.

ORNATE : 2pt Win @ 13/8 (BOG)

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15.30 Windsor – Call Star Sports On 08000 521 321 Fillies Handicap (8f) (0-80)

Hidden Steps (94)
Clef (89)
Killay (79)

The two top rated here look miles ahead of this field, Richard Fahey’s Clef was last seen thirteen days ago when finishing second to the smart Jay Kay who has once more defied a penalty to win in 0-85 company last week. This is a downgrade for Clef considering that last run came in a 0-90 race, so in theory that puts Jay Kay well into the nineties on paper.

But he won’t find it easy to fend off Andrew Balding’s Hidden Steps who was beaten by Enable in this years Cheshire Oaks, fair enough she was not in that league, but we now know the heights that filly fullfilled. Even Hidden Steps last run at Haydock would give her a good chance off 82 here, it does look just between these two possible good fillies this afternoon with the slight vote going to the Balding entry.

Killay would probably have to improve 10lb to overhaul the top two in the ratings, but we have to see if she gets this stiff mile around Windsor this afternoon.

HIDDEN STEPS : 1pt each way @ 18/1 (BOG)

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16.55 Mussleburgh – Finest Collection of Racing on Racing UK Handicap (7.1f) (0-75)

Sexy Legs (90)
Lucky Violet (78)
Geophony (77)

I would seriously like to think Rebecca Menzies Sexy Legs is still very much ahead of the handicapper even though coming here on a 6lb penalty. Her run when holding on gamely to take the scalp of Arnarson who was fancied to win that race for Ed Dunlop, The ex David Wachman in-mate, has only competed at 7f twice in her career, but if we disregard her run at Catterick in may and concentrate on when she finished three lengths off the likes of 92 rated Stormfly when in her days as a three year old in Ireland, she was even a fairly useful juvenile when finishing a good three lengths off the smart Cursory Glance in the Group 3 Albany Stakes, that winner went on to land the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes.

It’s a long way since those days and now she is competing at this moderate level, a level she definitely exploited last time out an can do so again quickly. Iain Jardine has been making a name for himself around both codes this season and saddles Lucky Violet here. She looked in need of the run last time when down the field over 8f here at Musselburgh. She drops back to the 7f distance her that saw her winning off 67, she was beating horses that day who were rated 10lb above her grade so now she comes into this off 73 she has probably been slapped with a big enough penalty to maybe holt her this time around.

You can never overlook an out of form horse form the Mark Johnston stable, Geophony has not shown any significance that a win is imminent, however she is a course and distance winner when winning her maiden around here last July, she even had a recent spell over hurdles which to be honest was not that enlightening, she would have to improve quite a few pounds to trouble the two top rated here in my opinion.

SEXY LEGS : 2pt Win @ 5/1 (BOG)

 

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Horse Racing Preview – Goodwood – 15th October 2017

Today’s horse racing preview comes from Goodwood, where there will be just the two selections this afternoon.

 

15.10 Goodwood – Goodwood Racehorse owners Group Irish EBF Nursery Handicap (0-85) (7f)

Ocean Side (87) NB
Deadly Accurate (78)
Travelcard (78)

Today’s Nb comes in the way of Richard Hannon’s Ocean Side. Despite his form showing moderate at this level the company he has been keeping is another matter, we first saw him at Newbury on debut when finishing last of eight, the winner has already competed around Listed company, the third has been also competing in good handicaps. He once more showed nothing when again finishing eighth at Sandown over today’s index.

Now considering that maiden has produced the likes of 94 rated Bathsheba Bay, the runner up also looks a nice type in Breathe Caught, the fourth Graffiti Master won at Kempton last month posting a mark of around 78 on only his second career run. This son of Dark Angel seems to have an issue with the number eight as once more his return to Sandown saw exactly that when attempting a mile for the first time. All of his three runs have been at big odds, so once more I am hoping it is the same situation here as this does look an ease in class to get his head in front this afternoon.

Deadly Accurate I have concerns about before I even did his rating, he has posted an average rating of 78 which was not setting the world alight, trainer and jockey have been moderate over the past month, however the horse won’t have an inkling into that , on merit though he has been in the winning enclosure around the Novice ranks. His first stab at Handicap company came at Newbury when finishing third to 79 rated Rogue, to be fair he was probably ridden erratically that day when losing his pitch half way through the race, but stayed on well in the closing stages.

Mark Johnston has sent out over seventy horses over the past fortnight with only eight entries finding the winning enclosure, they saddle Travelcard here who probably posted his best effort when third at Thirsk last month on soft ground. The front pair were nicely clear which included Roger Varian’s Qianlong, but I am not convinced 7f is the right trip to be trying to gain his second career win, will be interesting to see if he lasts home again, PJ McDonald will do the steering who has been in good form recently.

OCEAN SIDE : 2pt Win @ SP (BOG)

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17.25 Goodwood – Bet £10 Get £20 At 188Bet Handicap (0-85) (8f)

Ice Slice (95)
Dhalam (87) NAP
Noble Peace (85)

If John Gosden’s Dhalam turns up in the same frame of mind that saw him land his first success which came on the all weather at Wolverhampton over today’s trip then I cannot see why he wont record his second career win. We still have to give that race some recognition considering the third place finisher Inshiraah has gone on to win three of her last four races and now posts a rating of 93, in fact its a race that is not only producing winners but I have no doubt will keep on doing so. All Dhalam has to now divert that run back on to turf in which she has been beaten twice including over this trip, but is one to beat on paper.

Ice Slice is top rated purely because he produced probably an above average run when finishing behind Mythical Magic at Haydock back in June, but he has failed to build on this and has not shown much determination or interest on soft ground on past two runs. Noble Peace was unlucky not to add to his previous win here at Goodwood when just denied by Truth or Dare, but he does have to show that he gets the 8f on turf this afternoon, he has had just the one crack at 8f which saw a mid finish on the all weather back in April.

My gut feeling tells me Dhalam is probably well handicapped here off 87 and leaves much open for improvement, Ice Slice has to give weight all round and has not shown much since on this ground, and Noble Peace has disappointed me on more than one occasion.

DHALAM : 3pt Win @ SP (BOG)

 

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