All articles by: Darren Chettleburgh

Horse Racing Preview – Bath – 2nd October 2017

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Today’s horse racing preview comes from Bath with two selections from the meeting.

 

14.10 Bath – Dribuild Group Fillies Novice Median Auction Stakes (5.6f)

David Evans horses have found a new lease of life, as has the jockey riding them in Fran Berry, and the team pair up here with Time For Wine. She is the daughter of Equiano and has been on the go since June without landing success, however she has been consistent and with the season at the back-end now, you would like to think she should be landing a race of this type. Some might feel she is looking exposed with her strings of seconds, but leaving her around these ranks instead of taking her handicapping and have her bomb out, this is a good move to keep her in this sphere.

The danger to all though has to be Jamie Osborne’s Fab who also has a similar profile to the selections, she has been running well until finishing second last to Jim Rockford in Nursery company over 5f here at Bath two weeks ago. She returns but over slightly further, and with the second Deviate running well again at Kempton you would have thought she is the main danger.

TIME FOR WINE : 2pt Win @ SP (BOG)

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14.40 Bath – ISG Fillies Handicap (0-70) (5.1f)

This is probably a good opportunity for Richard Price’s Bellevarde to record her second career success under her usual pilot Josephine Gordon. She was seen winning a 0-70 at Chepstow in poor conditions when just holding on to beat Kinglami who was rated 14lb her superior. She had to settle for second when behind Delegate This Lord in a 0-80 contest over course and distance two weeks ago and if she can pull that form out of the hat she should be winning this.

Main dangers could come from Spirit of Rosanna who will relish getting back on this surface after showing two good runs on soft and heavy ground, but she seems to leave her best form for Chepstow, however off her weight and a lenient mark of 59 she should be on the premises.

BELLEVARDE : 2pt Win @ SP (BOG)

 

Best of Luck, Bet Responsibly

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Horse Racing Preview – Chantilly – 1st October 2017

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Today’s horse racing preview selections all come from Chantilly, with top action in France with six Group 1’s which includes the feature, the Arc de Triomphe.

 

13.10 Chantilly – Total Prix Marcel Boussac – Criterium des Pouliches (Group 1) (8f)

Favourite backers can get off to a good start here with Freddie Head’s Polydream, The unbeaten daughter of Oasis Dream has been impressive on both of her starts with her most recent run in the Prix Calvados when beating Laurens by one and three quarter lengths, that form took a positive boost when Laurens landed the May Hill Stakes at Doncaster last week.

The fourth place Capomento is one of my selections on Friday and runs in the Rockfel Stakes, main dangers look to come in the way of Soustraction who got off the mark at the second attempt when landing the Group 3 Prix d’Aumale over course and distance three weeks ago, but as the winner this should be going to Polydream to extend her unbeaten record.

POLYDREAM : 3pt Win @ 11/10 (BOG)

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13.45 Chantilly – Qater Prix Jean-Luc Largadere (Grand Criterium) (Group 1) (8f)

Masar beat a good field in this years Group 3 Solario Stakes at Sandown almost four weeks ago. The Godolphin owned juvenile has some big entries coming up this year and for next with being aimed at the Racing Post Trophy next month. Ballydoyles Happily was the outsider of three when landing the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh earlier this month. She probably surprised a few when overturning stablemates Magical and September, the latter will compete in the first race on the card the Marcel-Boussac.

The one of more interest in this is Charlie Appleby’s Mythical Magic who finished third in the Group 2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster two weeks ago. Beaten favourite she can be taken very seriously considering she was taken wide and infringed and would have been a lot closer.

MYTHICAL MAGIC : 2pt Win @ 4/1 (BOG)

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15.05 Chantily – Qatar Prix de l’ Arc de Triomphe (Group 1) (12f)

Enable is going to be a tall order and her odds reflect how the world see her winning the race. She has bagged a fantastic draw in stall 2 and should take full advantage of landing this race for John Gosden. She comes into this with only the one defeat which came at the hands of Shutter Speed in a conditions race at Newbury.

Since then she has been the filly of the year, winning five on the bounce which have included the Epsom Oaks, Irish equivalent, King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes and last months Yorkshire Oaks, she is a force here. The other filly is Winter who has also had a cracking season landing the 1000gns, Irish equivalent, Coronation Stakes and Nassau Stakes, her run came to an abrupt end when she was surprisingly beaten by stablemate Hydrangea, she tackled the 12f for the first time and will have to come from barrier 8 which wont be that easy, it has been done in the past, but she is unknown over the trip which is a concern.

The plum draw has gone to Ulysses, the Coral Eclipse & International Stakes winner has had four attempts at 12f already in his career and has been successful on one occasion when landing the Group 3 Gordon Stakes back in July. It was not the strongest of contests to be fair, his attempt at this higher level saw him four and a half lengths behind Enable in the KG & QE Stakes when giving a stone at the weights, very hard to see that form reversed, but from a good draw he could definitely get into the money.

Over priced here is definitely Andre Fabre’s Cloth of Stars, he was beaten last month by Dschingis Secret in the Prix Foy to one and a quarter lengths. That came on soft ground, it was only his third run at the index, but acted well on the ground so can run well, the other is obviously his successor Dschingis Secret. His Prix Foy win followed up two wins in Germany which included the Group 1 Preis Von Berlin, we know he stays and the ground the softer the better, has to over come a wide draw which is a strong negative.

So on to my selection here, I will play each way and without the favourite, Jean Rouget’s Brametot was last seen finishing fifth to Eminent in the Group 2 Prix Guillaume going behind by three lengths at the wire. On pedigree being by Rajsaman, you would have thought he could not get this index with the sire better known as a 8-9f competitor. There is stamina on the dams side, With a good draw in stall 4 and the fact he processes a good turn of foot, this new trip could be the key to success but as a wager, the W/O fav looks a good way to go with an each way single.

BRAMETOT : 2pts each way @ 16/1 (BOG) – W/O Fav

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15.50 Chantilly – Prix de l’Opera Longines (Group 1) (10f)

Pascal Bary’s Senga has to bounce back from her defeat in the Group 2 Prix de la Nonette where she finished third, but even though the trainer is in fine form, his representative here has struggled in the past on ground that has come up softer than good, but she does get the services of a legend around here in Stephane Pasquier who rides Chantilly well.

British trainers have taken this race for the past two years and would like to think Sir Michael Stoute’s filly here Queen’s Trust can go close for the second time for the trainer. Winning this race back in 2003 with Zee Zee Top he has a live outside chance of landing the spoils here. The only worry is the ground, she has the ability for sure and it would be good to see if Jim Crowley gets the booking here.

A horse that has disappointed me slightly this year is Charlie Appleby’s Wuheida, she looked to have a lot of potential as a juvenile when landing the Marcel Boussac at this meeting last year, she was not seen again until July this year when finishing runner up to Roly Poly in the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket, which to be fair was a respectable run considering coming off a nine month layoff. She was pulled from the Nassua Stakes and has been beaten by Lacazar this year in the Group 1 Preis Der Diana – German Oaks, she finished behind the likes of Winter in the Group 1 Matron Stakes, and if putting her best foot forward and with the trainer in good form she deserves to be recognised in this open race.

WUHEIDA : 2pts each way @ 7/1 (BOG)

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16.35 Chantilly – Prix de l’ Abbaye de Longchamp (Group 1) (5f)

Blink and you will miss it, the ground dependable Marsha takes her chance here after beating Lady Aurelia in a on the bob finish in this years Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York, a race that had embarrassments for Frankie Dettori and jubilation’s for trainer Sir Mark Prescott, but can she repeat the same feat, the draw will have to be favourable for her to do so, but I am against her despite coming here as reigning champion.

Fashion Queen will relish the ground and if getting some luck in the draw and a good run through she has a massive chance, her recent third here when running three parts of a length behind Lady Macapa was a good preparation for this, she has come out of the race well and a big run is expected again.

FASHION QUEEN : 1pt each way @ 16/1 (BOG)

 

Best of Luck, Bet Responsibly

Horse Racing Preview – Newmarket – 30th September 2017

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Today’s horse racing preview selections come from Newmarket, with two Group 1’s on the Newmarket card which include the Cheverley and Middle Park Stakes, a possible guidance for next years Guineas.

13.50 Newmarket – Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes (Group 2) (8f)

An opener that is very tricky with some potentially good juveniles on show. Aidan O’Brien will be looking to land his sixth winner of this years renewal when he saddles Nelson. He is one of two Frankel progeny’s in the race and looked smart when landing the Group 3 Willis Towers Watson Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown three weeks ago, but for me it was not the greatest of contests, and with an official rating of 109 he will have to step up to prove he is a worthy 11/10 shot.

John Gosden won this back in 2015 with Foundation, his representative here is the smart Roaring Lion who is looking to keep his 100% record in tact. Already proven on the surface when winning over course and distance back in August, however it is a maiden that has not been working out that well and looks vulnerable to better bred individuals here.

I was taken with the way Mark Johnston’s Mildenberger fended off Albishr in the Listed Stonehenge Stakes at Salisbury, but once more that form has taken a knock with the runner up very much disappointing in yesterday’s Somerville Stakes, with an official rating of 104 again he is another that will have to improve to win this.

The value of the race I feel is Roger Charlton’s Herculean who represents the genes of the mighty Frankel. His debut was impressive when winning his maiden at Ascot on soft ground. The maiden is still to be developed. However, I feel he beat a few good types that day especially Owen Burrows Wadilsafa who will no doubt be winning on his next visit to a race course. With a Sire who had a rating of 140 and a dam who had a 110, it should be potentially good enough to win a Group 2 of this nature, the rain will definitely help the cause this afternoon.

HERCULEAN : 2pt Win @ 3/1 (BOG)

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14.20 Newmarket – Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes (Group 1) (6f)

One horse blew me away in this field when making her debut at Goodwood, Mark Johnston’s Threading could not of been more impressive that day at Goodwood when pulling away from her field literally on the bridle recording an official six lengths win. She followed that up when winning the Group 3 Lowther Stakes at York in again a style that she was a very nice filly going forward. She had Madeline and Special Purpose well cooked in the Lowther and I honestly feel she is going to be a force when she turns three.

I am not convinced Heartache is going to be better stepping up to 6f on this ground, all of her runs have come at the optimum trip and Clive Cox’s daughter of Kyllachy was probably all out when landing the Flying Childers when beating the smart Havana Grey. Even though she was getting on top at the line at Doncaster, Havana Grey was closing her down despite the tabloid opinion feeling Heartache was going away, I have to disagree.

Ballydoyle send over Clemmie who will have the aid of the tongue tie for the first time, she was pulled from this years Moyglare Stakes purely the only reason I can come up with was the ground had come up to heavy for her, she is not going to get a honest run here either with all the rain we have been having, will she be subject of not being declared again? She is the ante-post favourite to land the race, but at 7/4 there are better improved horses in the race. One of interest is Jeremy Noseda’s Betty F who is definitely an unknown quality.

She won a novice’s contest over course and distance last month, now the race is still suspect with a few not really going on to achieve, however she is the daughter of Frankel, out of an un-raced mare Instance, she will have to step up, however Pat Smullen takes the mount.

THREADING : 2pt Win @ 9/2 (BOG)#

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14.55 Newmarket – Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes (Group 1) (6f)

The perfect trial for next seasons 2000 Guineas, who will be victorious? I am probably going to get it wrong as these days you can never trust Ballydoyle, but on this occasion they could have it right with US Navy Flag possibly doing the donkey work for Sioux Nation. However, I am away from the Irish raiders here and feel Karl Burke Prix Morny winner, Unfortunately, has far more to offer.

Owned by Cheverley Park Stud who won this back in 2006 with Dutch Art, have a lively contender here and the fact he beat Havana Grey convincingly and had taken the Prix Robert Papin previously when beating Frozen Angel and Heartache who attempts to step up to 6f for the first time when contending the Cheveley Park Stakes. He is a likeable type who is probably for me at the peak of his career as a juvenile, Society Rock progeny’s do get better with age.

Norfolk Stakes winner Sioux Nation is probably his main danger, he went on to take the scalp of Beckford in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes with US Navy Flag back in fourth, the Irish raiders I feel look up against it here. Richard Fahey’s Sands of Mali who surprised me no end when landing the Gimcrack Stakes in impressive style, with Cardsharp back in third and Invincible Army back in second who was given a terrible ride recently to finish runner up in last weeks Mill Reef Stakes.

Can he show that run was no fluke, there are more likeable types i feel here, and to follow up on a group penalty is not going to be easy at all.

UNFORTUNATELY : 2pt Win @ 9/2 (BOG)

 

Best of Luck, Bet Responsibly