All articles by: Darren Chettleburgh

Horse Racing Preview – Newmarket – 7th May 2017

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Horse Racing Preview – Newmarket – 7th May 2017

Today’s horse racing preview comes from Newmarket with 3 selections from the meeting. What a total washout yesterday became, some disappointing no shows on the Rowley. Looking back at the 2000gns you could not take away how well Churchill picked up and to be fair dominated the race inside the final furlong.

 

13.50 Newmarket  – Qatar Racing Handicap (0-105) (12f)

The front two at the market look value to get involved with here. Michael Appleby’s Big Country has taken two victories this year over 12f & 11f on the all-weather at Wolverhampton and more recently at Kempton when landing a 0-105 handicap.

The ex Charles O’Brien inmate had fitted in just nicely at Appleby’s yard, De Sousa retains the mount this afternoon for connections The Horse Watchers who could have a useful type this season over middle distance handicaps.

Charlie Appleby trains Frontiersman has course form when winning a 0-100 handicap at the back end of last season. The runner up has run well again when denied by Sternrubin in a 0-85 last week, but this is a stiffer task having to give 7lb to Big Country.

Both Stoute and Johnson had winners yesterday, their representatives here are Mainstream and Final. The former won a 0-85 at Salisbury around this time last year, but has run consistently up to the end of the season. Will the queen get a winner? Personally a place is possible at best.

Final has been on the go since the turn of the year, has recorded two wins on the all weather at Lingfield and Newcastle, ran well at Ripon when just beaten in a 0-95 recently, the index should not confirm him with winning over 12.4f on the all weather.

Big Country : 3pt win @ 11/4 (BOG)

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14.20 Newmarket – Charm Spirit Dahlia Stakes (Group 2) (9f)

Somehow comes here off the back of landing the Listed Victor McCalmont Memorial Stakes at Gowran Park seven days ago, O’Brien seems to strike whilst the iron is hot with his filly.

Last year’s Cheshire Oaks winner, who flopped in the Epsom Oaks, makes her way over from Ireland for only the third time in her career. She took the scalp of Skiffle last August beating her adversary by just over seven lengths. Dropping back to 9f is probably her maximum index on what she showed last year, but stays further.

One to take her on with is Roger Varian’s filly Nezwaah who ran well at Yarmouth in a Listed event when behind So Mi Dar who went on to finish third at Chantilly. Back in third was the smart Arabian Queen who beat the likes of Golden Horn.

Varian’s yard are in good fettle at the moment, she is nicely drawn in stall five so should get a good toe into the race under Atzeni. One at a price could be Marco Botti’s Aljazzi who won a Listed event last year at Haydock, Muffri’ha was well beaten that day. The form though is now working out well, the runner up Mix ‘n’ Mingle has come out and won this year with his runner up Tabarrak franking that form.

She made a pleasing return at Kempton when winning the Listed Snow Drop Fillies Stakes, Frankie takes the ride and she could be the dark horse in the race.

Nezwaah :  1pt each way @ 5/1 (BOG)

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15.35 Newmarket – Qipco 1000 Guineas Stakes (Group 1) 

It’s the turn of the fillies and it would be interesting to see how forward they are this year, I really can not take on Balydoyles filly Rhododendron in this. Her win at the back end of the season showed her class when taking the Fillies Mile here at Newmarket.

The runner up Hydrangea won the Irish 1000 Guineas trial at Leopardstown with Intricately back in fourth. The third Urban Fox was beaten in this year’s Group 3 Dubai Duty Free Stakes behind Dabyah. We will see Hydrangea, Winter and Intricately oppose each other once more.

Fair Eva represents Frankel, it’s fair to say that the Sires fillies have shown more over the past season,  Group 3 Juddmonte Stakes winner ran creditable in the Rockfel and Lowther Stakes last season, this is a big step up, she will run her race but not good enough around this sphere.

John Gosden’s unbeaten filly Daban won the Nell Gwyn by three parts of a length, she was impressive which is more than I can say about who she beat. As the season progresses she will be seen picking up a race or two somewhere.

Rhododendron : 5pt Win @ 7/4 (BOG)

 

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Horse Racing Preview – Newmarket – 6th May 2017

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Horse Racing Preview – Newmarket – 6th May 2017

Today’s horse racing preview comes from Newmarket, with 4 selections from the meeting including the Quipco 2000 Guineas. We have some good races to get through before the guineas, I would expect the course to be slightly watered, but riding fast on the day with some quick times expected.

 

13.50 Newmarket – Spring Lodge Stakes (Handicap) (9f)

I can’t see much of an upset in the first race with the selection coming in Sir Michael Stoute’s Dansili gelding Ballet Concerto whose profile fits a race of this type after finishing strongly to win a big field handicap on the opening day of the flat season at Doncaster

Ryan Moore eased him through the gears and picked up when hitting the rising finish going away I thought, plenty more in the locker. His nearest rival will be Godolphins Next Stage who took what I think now was an average contest over 8f here on the Rowley. The runner up Shaiyam has shown a poor return when finishing second last on the all weather at Chelmsford.

One thing in his favour is probably the drying ground which saw him come on from average runs in soft conditions, but as the likely winner I really cannot see it this afternoon. Best of the rest looks to come in Charles Hills Grapevine. A very busy three year old campaign when winning two 0-80 handicaps at Windsor and Epsom.

Two defeats at the back end of the season in 0-85 & 0-90 company showed consistency and could be the each way of the party, but I cannot see him going closer than a place at best.

Ballet Concerto : 2pt Win @ 3/1 (BOG)

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Newmarket – Longholes Palace House Stakes (Group 3)

Washington DC’s form away from Ireland is for me very questionable, with just the one recorded win on British soil which came in the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes almost two seasons ago.

I put him forward as a good bet on this blog last time out when he kept his emphatic Irish form when winning the Woodland Stakes at Navan. He is 3-9 over the minimum trip and will get the services of Ryan Moore, a strange call considering Moore has not won on him since that Royal Ascot win.

Muthmir got his 2017 campaign off to a good start when landing a conditions stakes at Bath. His drop back to the dead 5f could make him vulnerable on what he showed over the optimum with his last win at the index coming at Glorious Goodwood last year when winning the Group 2 King George Stakes, not sure at seven now he can mix it here.

One I think has thrived this year already on the all weather is the Richard Fahey runner Kimberella. Even though I have stated that Fahey’s yard is not round up yet, Kimberella had notched up a good brace at Lingfield which included on Champions day. He was seen winning a 0-105 handicap at Chester this time last year, I think they have over looked his chances here, Sole Power won this at seven back in 2014, cannot be discounted.

Kimberella : 1pt each way @ 16/1 (BOG)

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14.55 Newmarket – Dunaden Jockey Club Stakes (Group 2)

Ballydoyle brings one of the smart prospects in Seventh Heaven to Newmarket, last year’s Irish and Yorkshire Oaks winner ran too badly to be true when beaten at the Breeders Cup. Her sole start this year saw her beaten in the Sheema Classic when beaten by Jack Hobbs by two and a quarter lengths.

She looks on career performances that we will see the best of her around this time, she warrants the utmost respect. One I was taken with and put up here is Mark Johnston’s Galapiat who won with plenty in hand at Epsom ten days ago, well bred by Galileo he looks an out and out stayer, if he makes his presence felt here we could see a crack at this year’s Derby or even the St Leger.

Galapiat : 1pt each way @ 5/1 (BOG)

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15.35 Newmarket – Qipco 2000 Guineas Stakes (Group 1)

The first classics of the 2017 campaign and all eyes will be on Ballydoyle’s Dewhurst Stakes winner Churchill. The form has really taken a massive boost this week when third place Blue Point won a shade cosily in the Pavilion Stakes at Ascot.

If he succeeds here what will the price be of him landing this year’s Derby? Short I expect. There has not been your usual hype around an O’Brien entry as there is usually, I presume they will let him do the talking at the track this afternoon.

So is he beatable, nothing is a sure thing in this game but I would like to think he is the banker of the day. I’m going to take him on though; Barney Roy set some hot fractions when landing the Group 3 Greenham Stakes which has been a relevantly good trial for this race in past years.

Makfi was the last trained French winner, and I have honestly been on Al Wukair ever since he won at Deauville as a juvenile, the transition run went well when winning at Maison-Laffitte and has the pedigree being by placed site Dream Ahead.

Frankel won this in freak time and is highly represented here with Eminent and Dream Castle, the latter was given a lesson in speed when beaten in the Greenham when two lengths behind Barney Roy, I actually think the penny dropped too late and I would like to think Godolphins entry here is far better than that stepping up to a mile.

Eminent could be anything, 2-2 at the course which is going to be a big plus, the thing is can he go and sustain the form with Dream Castle? The Rivet form coming into the race I thought was suspect, which is why I prefer Dream Castle to reverse the form and for me is a good price for an each way.

Dream Castle : 1pt each way @ 18/1 (BOG)

 

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Horse Racing Preview – Lingfield & Fontwell – 5th May May 2017

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Horse Racing Preview – Lingfield & Fontwell – 5th May May 2017

Today’s horse racing preview comes from two meetings in Lingfield and Fontwell. Very disappointed in the running of Theo’s Lolly yesterday, not sure at present on Richard Fahey’s yard, I suppose a stable that had a good turnover of horses this expected.

At least a nice winner with Mukalal who has definitely come on, and will be worth keeping an eye on where Something To Be will turn up next after being pulled up yesterday. I will be doing a full race by race preview on Saturday and Sunday being it the first classics for Colts and Fillies.

 

14.10 Lingfield – Join Us For Countryside Day – 3rd June Selling Stakes (8f)

I would like to think Rod Millman’s Isis Blue can be involved around this sphere. Winner off 69 last year at Kempton, it took him nine attempts to record his last win which came at Bath over 10f in a 0-60 hcp.

This is his first visit to Lingfield, and there is no reason why he cannot be competitive under the good booking of young Ryan Tate. Best of the rest looks to be Richard Hannon’s Willwams who won with something in hand in a claimer over 7f here back in March, was beaten over course and distance in a maiden on debut. Looks vulnerable.

Isis Blue : 1pt each way @ 10/1 (BOG)

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15.40 Lingfield Park – Greater London Properties Handicap (0-85)

An opportunity for Mark Johnston’s Highly Sprung to get back into the winning enclosure, the son of Zebedee was seen hacking up at Yarmouth last September in this company over 6f. With a race mixture of turf and all weather runs he has failed to progress and his losing run goes to 0-7.

Regardless of the current status, he looked back to good form when finishing third at Leicester, drops down to the minimum trip this afternoon and, would like to predict that we once more see a bold showing at the front of the pace, should be on the premises.

Main danger and selection comes from the old boy trained by Andrew Balding in Dungannon. Has won twice on the all-weather this year at Southwell which included off a mark of 81. Up 6lb and comes into this off current outside rating of 87.

Won off 89 last year when beating Brother Tiger easily by four lengths off level weights. His all-weather form is far superior throughout his career. The tactics is important with him, from stall three he should be getting cover being closer, it has to be right for him, but very capable under today’s seven pound claimer.

Dungannon : 1pt each way @ 13/2 (BOG)

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17.25 Fontwell – Mortimor Arms OffJunction2 M27 Near Newforest Handicap Chase (0-110)

Where do they get the names of these races, I am sure the name of the establishment would have been sufficient enough, but it is what it is. On to the race and Dr Richard Newlands Jaunty Inflight has been beaten favourite on four of his seven past encounters.

He recorded his second chase win at Taunton last month when fending off a low grade individual. This is his first visit to Fontwell, a track I think will suit his style of running. With just the 4lb penalty to contend with he will have to pull out more off this career highest mark, but it’s not the strongest of contests this afternoon and the services of young Sam Twiston-Davies he should be making his presence felt over this trip.

Ex Tim Vaughan trained Lake Chapala has to be respected off the back of his Plumpton win last month when winning over 16.9f by 7 lengths. Not being hit that harsh from the handicapper he will most definitely be involved once more getting three pounds from the Jaunty Inflight. Gary and Jamie Moore team up with Halling’s Wish who has not won over hurdles for two and a half years which came over 18.5f here at Fontwell, but his old form really stands out.

On his Chase mark of around 104 he could also be interesting returning to chasing after a long spell on the flat on the all-weather which has seen him placed on all three outings this year.

Halling’s Wish : 1.5pt win @ 5/1 (BOG)

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19.35 Fontwell  – Chancelloroftheformchecker Champion Jockey 2016 Jamie Moore Handicap Chase (0-100)

Paul Henderson is a yard I tend to follow around these average night meetings. His entry here, Thepartyisover, was a winner over hurdles 18 months ago when off a mark of 96. The regular visitor to Fontwell has failed on his past ten visits around the hurdle ranks, but the twelve-year-old made his chasing debut over course and distance last month when finishing fourth of eight when beaten over twenty lengths

Considering that was a 0-105 contest, he was taking on proven chasing stayers. That run was off a mark of 78 going up against horses that were rated 20lb his superior.

Connections must have been content with the run, being pitched in here again over the same trip against two horses in Itoldya who bested him on chase debut by over twenty lengths when getting 23lb at the weights. He meets Itoldya off worse terms, but eye catching jockey booking of Paddy Brennan speaks volumes.

Dangers obviously Itoldya of Linda Jewel’s, had the ability to win a race of this nature considering he won a 0-120 over 26.5f two years ago, but it’s the fact his losing streak now goes back twelve runs, is still well handicapped on old form to be involved again, but just finds one too good most times.

Thepartyisover : 2pt win @ 7/2 (BOG)

 

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