Today’s horse racing preview comes from two meetings, with the selections coming from Pontefract and Uttoxeter.
15.30 Pontefract – Sky Bet Go-Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival Pomfret Stakes (Listed) (8f)
It is unbelievable that Richard Fahey’s Gabrial has not seen the winning enclosure for fifteen runs now, stretching back to his win at Windsor on soft ground. The eight-year-old has been keeping strong opposition around pattern and Listed company since. Fourth in the Ganton Stakes at York, he was then beaten once more, this time with a bit more authority at Ascot in the Group 3 Summer Miles Stakes, if your finishing in front of the likes of Sovereign Debt then this would probably be a walk in the park on those ratings.
Custom Cut is attempting to win the race for the second time, also now eight, his win in the Amethyst Stakes at Leopardstown back in May would give him a live chance, however, he has six lengths to find with Gabrial off the same weights. Back in 2012 when trained by George Kent in Ireland he was a prolific winner on soft ground, but as he has aged the wins have been far from showing any strong confidence that he handles this kind of ground now.
The two that are probably the most exposed in this are John Gosden’s Tashweeq and Battle of Marathon. The former gained an injury after his sixth place finish in the Criterium International, a Group 1 for juveniles, missing all of the 2016 season he has now had three runs under his belt this year which included third in the Royal Hunt Cup, the fourth Ballet Concerto has gone on to land the John Smiths Cup, the sixth place Remarkable was just touched off recently in a 0-110 handicap at Newbury last weekend. Another Touch was five lengths in his wake when giving 1lb, they meet now off level weights, but Another Touch has plenty to do to reverse the form.
I am going to take a stab though with John Ryan’s Battle of Marathon, fifth in the Royal Hunt Cup last year with an official rating of 110, was behind Custom Cut and Gabrial in the Summer Mile Stakes last year when not even turning up, was stone last in the Lincoln at the start of the season and I just feel he has not had the luck of the weather, with best career runs coming on soft to heavy ground he could be a major player in this small field.
BATTLE OF MARATHON : 1pt each way @ SP (BOG)
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14.15 Uttoxeter – Junior Brewers Mares Novices Hurdle (15.9f)
Ian Williams Rebel Yeats is the one to concentrate on here, she was bought out of Peter Fahey’s yard last winter and made a pleasing addition when winning on debut at Warwick. Not only did she win her maiden, she routed them on soft ground. Her last two runs can be over looked even though she has run two good seconds at Market Rasen and Stratford, her Market Rasen run being the best so far when six lengths behind Lithic who now has a rating of 130.
Obvious danger is the top weight here in Listen to the Man who secured her fourth career win last month at Worcester, however she is rated a fair few pounds behind the selection here I feel, last but not least course and distance winner Bridane Rebel who was thrashed on handicap debut off a mark of 105, has a lot to improve to beat the top two in the betting.
REBEL YEATS : 3pt Win @ SP (BOG)
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